Sportsbook News
Memo to Calvin Ayre: Head for Hong Kong…or Zimbabwe!
They say Laos is lovely this time of year.
So are Qatar, Angola and Nepal.
Vietnam gets a little hot, however, as does Cambodia and Indonesia.
And of course Libya, Tunisia and Syria are hot spots right now too, but in a different way.
For Canadian billionaire and Bodog.com founder Calvin Ayre, however, these Third-World hell-holes might be looking like islands of paradise right about now.
Pirates Come to Ayre’s Defense
The Pirate Party of Canada has lashed out at the US Government’s indictment of native son and Bodog founder, Calvin Ayre.
Techdirt.com: Federal Agents Did Not Gamble on Bodog.com
An interesting argument was raised by a colleague of Gambling911.com Tuesday following the indictment of Bodog.com and four individuals connected to the company.
The US Attorneys Office in Maryland announced the indictment Tuesday immediately following the seizure of the Bodog.com domain.
Almost Paradise: Poker Site Sees Sharp 33 Percent Decline
Paradise Poker, once among the top three largest Internet card rooms in the world, witnessed a sharp decline in revenues of 33 percent in the first 6 months of its financial year to end January 2012.
The company, which is owned by sports betting powerhouse Sportingbet Plc, called the current poker market conditions “challenging”.
Poker makes up 6.0 percent of gross gaming revenue.
Sportingbet overall recorded a loss for the period.
Ayre Don’t Care: Bovada, Bodog Say Business as Usual
Following an indictment against Bodog founder Calvin Ayre Tuesday after a year’s long investigation into online sports betting, Ayre told his own self-named news website his life won’t be impacted.
Bodog, Calvin Ayre, et al. Indictment (Full Court Document)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA :
v.
BODOG ENTERTAINMENT GROUP S.A., d/b/a BODOG.com, CALVIN AYRE, JAMES PHILIP,
DAVID FERGUSON, and DERRICK MALONEY,
Defendants.
: : CRIMINAL NO. : (Conducting gambling business, : 18 U.S.C. §1955; Money : laundering conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. : §1956(h); Aiding and : abetting, 18 U.S.C. §2; : Forfeiture, 18 U.S.C. : §§982(a)(1) and 1955(d)). :
...ooo0ooo... INDICTMENT COUNT ONE (Conducting gambling business)
Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre Indicted
Federal prosecutors in Baltimore on Tuesday unsealed an indictment against Calvin Ayre following the seizure of the Bodog.com domain name late Monday night. Ayre was profiled in the cover story of the Forbes Billionaire issue.
A press release was expected by the US Attorney’s Office out of Maryland shortly.
Rod Rosenstein, the U.S. Attorney in Baltimore, indicted Ayre and three other men, James Philip, David Ferguson and Derrick Maloney. The company, Bodog Entertainment Group, is also under indictment and its domain name has been seized by federal prosecutors.
Defendants in Hellinger Case to Reach Plea Agreement Tuesday
Gambling911.com has learned that defendants in an online gambling case dating back to 2005 are set to enter pleas on Tuesday.
The US Attorney’s Office in Eastern Pennsylvania charged Don Hellinger and four other men with illegal distribution of over $40 million in Internet gambling winnings during the years 2005 and 2006 through a money transfer company, Payment Processing, Inc. Hellinger was also alleged to have been involved in mail fraud.
Bodog.com Domain Seizure ‘Dog’ Years in the Making
The sudden seizure of the Bodog.com domain name late Monday night was not so sudden, Gambling911.com can reveal, nor was it exactly easy to achieve.
The US Attorney’s Office in Maryland, which was responsible for a series of online gambling company domain seizures last May, had been probing Bodog and the company’s colorful founder, Calvin Ayre, since 2003.
US Government Responds to Hellinger Case Motion to Continue
The US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Friday responded to defendant Jami Pearlman’s Motion to Continue and Sever the March 12, 2012 trial whereby he and five other individuals are charged with illegally processing payments for various online gambling companies during a period from January 2005 to February 2006.
William Hill Eyes US Entry
William Hill on Friday announced its expansion plans, and they include the lucrative US market.
"Nevada is a land-based opportunity and we will see what happens in the US thereafter. But we first of all have to get these licenses and we expect that to happen some time this year," Hill CEO Ralph Topping said.
i-Gaming North America 2012 Conference to Take Place March 4-6
Everybody with even the slightest interest in the potential for legalized Internet gambling in North America will be in attendance at the first ever i-Gaming North America 2012 Conference, being held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas March 4 thru 6.
i-Gaming North America describes itself as the first networking and educational event designed to introduce the land-based gaming businesses of North America to the global iGaming industry.
Speakers include:
Alexandra Berzon, Reporter, Wall Street Journal
WagerWeb.com Online Sportsbook, Casino Joins the Gambling911.com Family
Gambling911.com is thrilled to announce the return of WagerWeb.com to its portfolio of fine online sportsbooks just in time for March Madness.
Over 200 Sports Fixing Probes in Last Four Years
The Daily Star this weekend reports that there were over 200 sports match fixing probes in the United Kingdom in just the last four years.
From The Daily Star:
Of 210 cases probed by the Gambling Commission since September 2007 nearly all have been over sporting fixtures.
And the majority involve football, horse racing, tennis and snooker.
But they also show that very few cases ever get to court.
Ladbrokes Punters Bet £13 billion in 2011: Poker Revenues Down 25 Percent
Ladbrokes reported strong returns for 2011 with punters staking £13 billion in 2011 and profit per shot increased 6.9 percent over 2010.
Gaming machines drew almost £10.5 billion, up 13.7% on a year earlier while over-the-counter betting enjoyed £2.5 billion in bets placed.
Everleaf Poker Should Never Have Been Allowing Washington State Citizens to Play
We have finally learned after days of speculation that Everleaf Poker’s woes come from transmitting funds for online poker to and from the state of Washington. It is the only state in the U.S. to make playing Internet poker a Class C felony and has done so since 2009 when the investigation into a payment processor utilized by Everleaf had commenced.
Title 18 U.S.C 1084(b) was cited in the seizure affidavit issued by the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Radio Host Sid Rosenberg Allegedly Owes Over $44k to Online Sportsbook
A representative of a small Costa Rican-based online sportsbook, 1BetVegas.com, is contending that WQAM-560 AM afternoon host Sid Rosenberg owes the shop $44,500 in gambling debts.
Music Execs Streaming Pirated NFL Games as DOJ Seizes Hundreds of Similar Websites
The music industry has been behind a massive push to knock file sharing and download websites offline while engaging in the same practice they condemn last week.
VEVO, a music portal owned by a few major record labels in the US reportedly had a pirated NFL playoff game playing on screens throughout its ‘PowerStation’ venue at last week’s Sundance festival, according to TechCrunch.
World Sports Exchange $700k Behind on Payouts (Video)
SBR Forum video analyst Peter Loshak breaks down the latest sportsbook industry news with troubled World Sports Exchange (WSEX.com) at the forefront.
William Hill Becomes Official Sponsor of England Football Team
The United Kingdom’s largest bookmaker, William Hill, has been confirmed as an official sponsor of the England football team.
Peter Daire, the FA's Head of Sponsorship, said:
"We are delighted to have William Hill on board.
Super Bowl Safety Cuts Into Sportsbook Profits
Sunday’s Super Bowl safety hurt the sportsbooks bottom line both in Vegas and across the Web.
At MGM, one lucky sports bettor reportedly made off with $50,000 after placing a $1000 wager on the safety being the first scoring play.
And there was more.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Seizes 16 Live Streaming Sports Sites Days Before Super Bowl
U.S. prosecutors seized 16 websites that streamed live sports events on Friday, just two days prior to Sunday’s Super Bowl. A Michigan man was charged with running nine of those websites.
Yonjo Quiroa (AKA Ronaldo Solano), 28, faces one count of criminal infringement of a copyright and will likely not serve any prison time.
2012 Super Bowl Prediction: BetOnline Analyst Says Patriots Win It, So Go With The Giants
Tony Bryant, an analyst for the fastest growing online sportsbook BetOnline.com, offered up his 2012 Super Bowl prediction. He says go with the Patriots. In a moment we’ll explain why we think Tony may be secretly on the Giants (may be). By the way, BetOnline.com is one of the few offering the Patriots at -2.5 plus you can get up to $900 in free cash when you join here (based on initial deposit/what you open your accou
Odds on Whether US Law Enforcement Takes Down Online Sportsbook for Super Bowl 2012
Gambling911.com has been covering all the hundreds of 2012 Super Bowl betting props that are currently out there. Each year there are always a few novel prop bets such as this year’s What Color Will Madonna’s Hair Be and we’re still waiting on those Gisele Bundchen bets.
So with the US Government’s aggressive action against online gambling websites over this past year, we couldn’t help but wonder what the odds might be for a Super Bowl surprise.
Bet The 2012 Super Bowl and Play Online Poker at the Same Time
Americas Cardroom has incorporated a sportsbook into its expansive platform so gamblers can now place a bet on the 2012 Super Bowl and play online poker at the same time. It’s called multi-tasking.
Ladbrokes Buys Stakes in US-Based Stadium Technology Group
One of the United Kingdom’s largest bookmakers has bought a 65 per cent stake in US-based Stadium Technology Group, which specializes in sports betting technology and is used by a number of Las Vegas sportsbooks.
“The size of the US market and potential for positive regulatory change in the coming years make it a sensible place to establish a presence,” said Richard Glynn, Ladbrokes’ chief executive. “Stadium Technology is already one of the key software suppliers to casinos in Nevada and Delaware and it has the potential to expand.”
LowVig.com Reduced Juice a Bargain for Bettors During 2012 NFL Playoffs
Experienced sports bettors are celebrating the New Year with toasts, returning to the days of ‘reduced juice’ on NFL and NBA betting at high limits at the new sportsbook, LowVig.com. The online betting site is currently offering low vig for the 2012 NFL Playoffs. You can view lines here.
World Sports Exchange Slow Paying 123 Players $738,852 to Date
World Sports Exchange (WSEX.com) is like Somalia, a failed state….but they still exist. SportsBookReview.com is reporting that it has documented 123 players currently waiting on payments that total $738,852. Many players have been waiting over a year for payouts, though it should be noted a few are trickling in.
Public Policy Polling Has Ron Paul One Percentage Point Behind Gingrich
Most of the national polls have GOP candidate Ron Paul tied with Mitt Romney in the Iowa Caucus but at least one poll now has Paul closing in on Newt Gingrich.
The long time Texas Congressman is coming in one point behind Gingrich the Public Policy Polling.
Ongame Sale Unlikely to be Finalised by Year’s End
LONDON (SHARECAST) – Online gaming company Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment has reported a 'solid' performance since September, with its core margin for the full year set to be between 22% and 24%.
However, investors were disappointed by news that the sale of Ongame B2B is unlikely to be finalised before the end of the year despite being at an "advanced stage".
The firm said revenue performance since the end of September has been in-line with management's expectations and it remains on-track to deliver around €40m of annualised synergies in 2012 and €65m in 2013.
