Gambling
Philly Mobster Anthony ‘Ant’ Staino Sentenced to Eight Years
(Associated Press) - A self-described “CFO” of the Philadelphia mob has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison in a racketeering case.
Fifty-seven-year-old Anthony “Ant” Staino was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Philadelphia to 97 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Terrorists Using Online Gambling to Launder Funds Claims FOP President
A Senate Subcommittee hearing early Tuesday to discuss the legalization of real money online gambling also addressed fears over terrorism.
“There are indications that terrorists in Afghanistan have been using online gaming to launder their funds,” said Chuck Canterbury, national director of the Fraternal Order of Police. “There is no legal or regulatory framework for law enforcement to shut down this activity.”
Senate Hearing on Regulated Online Gambling (Live Video)
You can watch live streaming of the Senate Subcommittee hearing on regulated online gambling here. Starts July 17, 2013 10:15 am EDT.
Witness Testifies in Whitey Bulger Trial: ‘Either Pay Him or Get Killed’
BOSTON (Associated Press) — A businessman testifying in the racketeering trial of reputed gangster James “Whitey” Bulger on Tuesday described terrifying moments in 1982 when, he said, Bulger shoved a machine gun between his legs and threatened to kill him if he didn't pay him $400,000.
Bally Technologies Buys SHFL Entertainment
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — Bally Technologies said Tuesday that it has agreed to buy fellow gambling equipment maker SHFL Entertainment for about $1.3 billion in cash.
SHFL shares shot up up 21.6% in trading on Tuesday, and Bally's shares were up 6.3%.
Bally says the addition of SHFL will complement its existing product portfolio, while also providing new access to land-based and online table games markets around the world.
Philly Mob Boss is Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison
A Philadelphia mob boss has been sentenced to 137 months behind bars.
Total Gambling Revenue Flat for Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — Total gambling revenue at the state's 11 casinos was flat for the fiscal year that just ended, but gross revenue from table games grew 7.4 percent on the strength of continued strong growth at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and the first full year of play at Valley Forge Casino Resort, according to annual figures released by state regulators Tuesday.
Wayne Root: NFL Should Worry About Murder and Thugs, Not Sports Betting
2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate and sports handicapper, Wayne Allyn Root, talks the NFL’s REAL PROBLEMS…and they aren’t SPORTS BETTING. Be sure to check out Wayne's site www.rootforamerica.com
Genovese Crime Family has Ties to Costa Rica-Based BetEagle.com Say Prosecutors
A complaint unsealed in a Newark, New Jersey federal court early Monday morning (July 15, 2013) alleges that long established BetEagle.com out of Costa Rica has ties to organized crime figures residing within the USA.
Senate Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Legalized Internet Gambling July 17
A Senate Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing for this coming Wednesday pertaining to the legalization of Internet gambling in the USA.
The Expansion of Internet Gambling: Assessing Consumer Protection Concerns Jul 17 2013 10:00 AM ET Russell Senate Office Building – 253 –
There will be live streaming of this hearing on the Net.
This news follows the announcement that Texas Congressman Joe Barton, a Republican, has introduced his own bill to legalize online gambling at the federal level.
- Patrick Flanagan, Gambling911.com
Appeals Court Finds IRS Can’t Tax Some Gambling Winnings
In a ground breaking decision that should make many gamblers living in the USA smile, an Appeals Court has ruled that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot tax types of gambling winnings. There is, however, an emphasis on the word “living”.
Bookie Service: 2013 NFL, College Football Season
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Packages include the following:
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$5/month, 24/7/365 online wagering, Bet on 80+ leagues, Online support
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Slain Man's Wife Implicates Mobster Whitey Bulger
BOSTON — (Associated Press) - It was Mother's Day weekend 1982, and Michael Donahue stopped in at his wife's salon for a haircut.He said he was going to get some bait to take their 8-year-old son fishing. She never saw him alive again.
Donahue was gunned down that night as he and another man left a Boston restaurant.
Kevin Costner Asking $14 Million for Deadwood Casino
DEADWOOD, S.D. (Associated Press) — Hollywood actor Kevin Costner is asking $14 million for 1,000 acres of land he owns near the Old West gambling town of Deadwood in western South Dakota's Black Hills.
The property includes the site of the ill-fated Dunbar casino resort, a $100 million project that would have included a golf course and a steam-powered passenger train. It never materialized.
Mobster Whitey Bulger was Able to Cross US Border Into Canada While Still a Fugitive
It was confirmed Thursday that mobster James “Whitey” Bulger had crossed the US border into Canada to watch Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Stadium in Toronto. At the time, he was a fugitive and is currently standing trial for racketeering in Boston.
CO Gambling, Marijuana License Files Go Up in Smoke Due to ‘Hardware Malfunction’
DENVER - (Associated Press) - Colorado officials say a hardware failure that destroyed some computer files regarding gambling and medical marijuana licenses also has affected recordings of driver license hearings held from March 1 to May 17.
In June, state officials said the problem had destroyed files regarding the gambling and marijuana industry licenses.
Predictious Bitcoin Online Prediction Market Unveiled
Welcome Predictious.com as the newest online gambling website and like none other that exist today. Not only does the site promise to be a step up from now defunct intrade.com, Predictious.com will also be accepting the digital currency Bitcoin (note that credit cards can also be used).
The new site is slated to debut this coming Thursday July 9, 2013.
Belize Players Were Asked to Fix Games vs. USA
Reports have surfaced that the Belize national team was approached about fixing football matches against the US team.
Nevada Gambling Revenue Up, Zynga Rises
(Associated Press) - The state Gaming Control Board reports Nevada casinos won $897.3 million in May, posting a 1.37 percent increase from the same month a year ago.
The May winnings pushed the fiscal year-to-date total to more than $10 billion, 2.4 percent more than last year.
Taxes collected on the May win totaled $57.5 million, an increase of 10.9 percent.
The Las Vegas Strip posted a 6.4 percent monthly gain over May a year ago and is now 5 percent ahead of 2012.
Casino winnings in Reno jumped 9.8 percent.
Bwin.party Lower Margins in Sports Betting Hit Q2
The second quarter of 2013 for Bwin.party was mired by lower margins in sports betting, the City reported on Wednesday.
Bwin is dealing with a turnover tax on sports betting in Germany, its largest market, and competition in the bingo sector in Britain and Italy, according to the City.
“While the revenue performance was down on last year, we remain on course to deliver the targeted €70m (£60m) of cost savings in 2013 with more to follow in 2014,” chief executive Norbert Teufelberger said in a statement.
Atlantic City has Worst Year Ever
ATLANTIC CITY – (Associated Press) - This year is shaping up to be the worst for the Atlantic City casino industry in the last 22 years.
Figures released Wednesday by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement show the city's 12 casinos are on a pace that would see them take in less than $3 billion from gamblers for the first time since 1991.
For the first six months of the year, the casinos won $1.38 billion, down 10.7 percent from the same period last year.
Zynga Unveils Real Money Gambling Apps for Facebook
Zynga was in the process of unveiling its real money gambling apps during a conference in Barcelona, Spain.
From ValueWalk.com:
Paddy Power to Offer Real Money Sports Betting on Facebook
The UK’s third largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, has announced it will be offering real money sports betting on Facebook.
The news broke early Wednesday with beta testing currently in progress. The new platform was developed by Paddy Power’s team out of Bulgaria.
“The app will add social engagement to online betting, enabling customers to bet on a wide variety of sporting events through Facebook while also giving them visibility of, and the opportunity to engage with, other users. Player participation will be subject to strict age verification checks,” said Paddy Power.
MGM Funds Pro Casino Group in Massachusetts
BOSTON — (Associated Press) - MGM Resorts International, which hopes to build a resort casino in Springfield, spent nearly $1 million over a six-week period in an effort to convince voters to back a July 16 referendum on the proposal, according to campaign finance records.
The leader of a group opposing the casino said it has spent little and is relying on grassroots efforts to get its message across.
Foreigner Wins Case Against IRS on How Gambling Should be Taxed
WASHINGTON — (Associated Press) - An appeals court has sided with a South Korean businessman in a dispute over how his gambling winnings in the U.S. should be taxed.
Sang Park gambled away thousands of dollars at slot machines during trips to the U.S. The Internal Revenue Service said he had to pay taxes on every winning pull.
Park argued that he should be allowed to calculate his winnings on a per-session basis - the way that U.S. citizens are treated.
Cell Phone Usage, Computers Now Illegal in Florida as Part of Gambling Crackdown
Residents of Florida can no longer use their cell phones or computers.
It’s all due to a recently enacted gambling crackdown on Internet cafes.
The bill, passed into law two months ago, is so broad, it could be interpreted as prohibiting usage of cell phones and computers in the Sunshine State.
From CNN:
Whitey Bulger to Trial Witness in Court: ‘F*** You Too, You Suck!’
BOSTON — (Associated Press) - James “Whitey” Bulger and his once-loyal criminal apprentice had an angry, profanity-laced exchange in court Tuesday during Bulger’s racketeering trial after the former aide called Bulger and his partner “the two biggest rats.”
Nine Men Indicted in NYC Mob Crackdown With Ties to Online Gambling
(Associated Press) - Nine reputed members of the Bonanno crime family were charged in an indictment unsealed Tuesday with what prosecutors called old-school mob activity: gambling, loan sharking, extortion and drugs.
Italy Online Poker Future is Bleak
For a time, Italy had become one of the most lucrative online poker epicenters with its population just shy of 60 million.
Steve Wynn on Conclusion of Investigation: ‘Only Damn Newspapers Cared’
US federal investigators are now through looking at a US$135 million donation given to a university in Macau by casino giant Wynn Resorts.
The Securities and Exchange Commission concluded Wynn Resorts, which has a casino in the gambling enclave of Macau, did nothing wrong and will not be perusing enforcement action.
“We were so sanguine that we never paid any attention to it; we had no exposure. It was a non event except for the damn newspapers,'' CEO Steve Wynn said.
