Sportsbook News
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.
Ladbrokes Agrees to Debt Facility With Banks
LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Ladbrokes, Britain's second-biggest bookmaker, said it had agreed a new five-year, 540 million pounds ($847 million) debt facility with its banks.
Ladbrokes, which has 2,100 betting shops in the UK, on Friday said the new facility would mature in 2016 and replaces its existing 560 million pounds facility that was due to mature in 2013.
The company estimates that the new blended rate of interest for the group will be 7.5 percent in 2012.
Belgium Online Gambling Blacklist Likely to Feature Bwin
Belgium has announced plans to incorporate a so-called “blacklist of online gambling websites”, a move that is seen as shocking in most industry circles.
Belgium’s biggest city of Brussels is considered the de facto capital of the European Union. The EU has worked hard to abolish individual nation prohibition of Internet gambling within its membership organization, even going as far as to condemn the United States for its position against Web gambling.
Sky Bet, Other British Bookmakers Slaughtered After This Week’s Premier League Action
Sky Bet bookmakers were left reeling after a week where all of the Premier League favourites walked off victorious.
It was the “worst day in their sports betting history” according to a company statement.
Sky Bet paid out to thousands at 7/1 with Manchester City, Southampton, Charlton and Southend all winning.
Sky Bet's Head of Football Trading Sandro Di Michele said: "Pretty much everything that could of gone wrong for us today did, with the 'What If' market just one of our enhanced accumulators to have come in.
Overnight and Weekend Binary Options Funded By Bitcoin Announced at Digibookie
Wholesale sports and financial bookmaker, Digibookie, announced today that it will be offering overnight binary options on all major financial stocks, commodities, and indices to accounts funded by the hot new digital currency, Bitcoin. Until now, Digibookie has catered exclusively to retail credit bookmakers and binary options brokers across the globe. The retail investors have embraced the binary options revolution in a big way.
Betfair Poaches Paddy Power Second-in-Command
The world’s largest betting exchange announced Thursday it has hired away Breon Corcoran from rival Paddy Power to become its new CEO. Corcoran replaces David Yu.
The Financial Times of London reported that Corcoran’s Paddy Power contract was understood to have had a six-month notice period, with a non-compete clause for two-and-a-half months. As such, Corcoran is said to be on “gardening leave” until August.
Bernie Madoff and Ken “The Shrink” Weitzner: Birds of a Feather
American TV show "60 Minutes" ran a segment on convicted ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff on Sunday, and revealed how he and his wife unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide after he was exposed as a con man and arrested.
The story had an eerie similarity to the tale of Ken "The Shrink" Weitzner, the sleazy Internet entrepreneur who created a pair of websites devoted to gambling and who took his own life last year.
Many of the details of both men's controversial lives are coincidentally alike.
Such as:
*Both men were middle-aged Jews from New York.
Chris Christie Finally Backs Sports Betting in New Jersey: Voters Get Their Ballots
After initially supporting sports betting in the state then seemingly backing down, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie came forward Wednesday to offer his full support for the referendum appearing on next week’s ballot.
As Gambling911.com reported earlier in the day, a number of state residents have been notifying us of the referendum appearing on the ballot that would allow NJ voters to get sports betting legalized in the state.
According to recent polls, voters overwhelmingly support legalized sports wagering in the state.
888 Holdings Sees Record Quarterly Rise
Publicly traded 888 Holdings, which runs the 4th biggest online poker room in the world, has reported a record quarterly high.
888 climbed as much as 5.3 percent, the most since August 30, before trading 2.3 percent higher at 33.75 pence as of 9:10 a.m. in London, according to Bloomberg News Tuesday. This gives the Gibraltar-based company a market value of 117.1 million pounds ($187 million).
LSU vs. Alabama Betting Shatters Records for Gambling911.com
With an early release of betting odds for the LSU vs. Alabama College Football game this coming Saturday, Gambling911.com has seen some of its best traffic numbers for wagering coverage for a single regular season College Football game.
Germany Liberalises Sports Betting Market: Still Banning Online Poker Games
15 Prime Ministers in Germany overwhelmingly approved a measure that will liberalise the gaming market in that nation. Most advantageous to betting shop businesses will be the concession fee reduced from 17 to 5 percent.
Still, Germany will not concede when it comes to restricting licensed operators to 20 while continuing to ban online poker and casino games.
JAXX SE, a financial holding company with holdings in international companies in the gaming industry, believes the German restrictions will not fly with the European Commission.
Clive Archer Has Left The Building
BetOnline, the fastest growing sportsbook in the US, today announced the departure of Clive Archer. During his tenure within the organization, Clive held various roles including Director of Business Development and Chief Executive Officer. The parting was by mutual agreement.
“Clive very successfully helped us re-position the organization for growth and brought many in the industry to the BetOnline table,” said a BetOnline spokesperson. “We wish him only the best with all future endeavors.”
William Hill Shares Up: Claims Business Back to Normal
William Hill claimed operations were “back to normal” on Tuesday following a highly publicized walkout of its entire online staff based out of Tel Aviv, Israel, last week.
Following a drastic drop in the company’s share price and one analyst even issuing an advisory, Will Hill saw a slight increase of 0.26 percent at GBP2.285 valuing the company at GBP1.6 billion.
Its staff in Tel Aviv and two satellite offices in Manila and Bulgaria walked out following reports they would be relocated to the company’s Gibraltar headquarters.
Tel A-Heave Ho: Fish Feeder, Rabbi, Hairdresser on Books at William Hill Tel Aviv Office
The turmoil continues at William Hill following a mass exodus of employees in its Affiliates United Tel Aviv-based online support centre last week. The company revealed on Monday that it had canned three of its managers based out of Israel.
The support centre is 79 percent owned by Hill and 21 percent owned by its software provider, Playtech.
William Hill Execs Locked Out of Their Own Office: Implosion Within, Shares Fall
The riff between William Hill and its Tel Aviv-based online support and affiliate center, Affiliates United, continued through the weekend following a mass employee walkout last Sunday. Fewer than 20 employees reported back to work.
The Affiliates United employees were told by a former manager of the support center that they would be relocating to William Hill’s Gibraltar base.
Oklahoma Online Bookie Gets Four Years Behind Bars
An Oklahoma online bookmaker was sentenced to a four year prison sentence following a plea agreement that would require him to cooperate with prosecutors.
David Roy Tune, 62, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of violating anti-gambling laws and one count of conspiracy. Most of the wagers were placed online with a now defunct Costa Rica sportsbook.
It was revealed that Tune forwarded some of the money collected from losing bettors to a man in a man in Costa Rica beginning in 2008.
William Hill Promises Its Affiliates United Branch Staff Six Months Notice of Termination
The United Kingdom’s largest online bookmaker, William Hill, has promised its Tel Aviv-based online affiliate staff, Affiliates United (AffUtd), one month's extra pay and six months notice in the event their jobs are set to be terminated.
William Hill Share Price in Tizzy Following Tel Aviv Uprising
William Hill’s share price was -4.1p at 224.7p Wednesday as executives from the company tried desperately to quash an uprising in its Tel Aviv Internet support centre.
The company issued a statement on Tuesday that several higher-ups at that office would receive disciplinary action for suggesting to employees they were either being relocated to the company’s Gibraltar office or that their jobs might ultimately be disposed of altogether. More than 200 of the Tel Aviv employees abandoned their jobs as a result of this news.
William Hill Takes Action Against Tel Aviv Execs
England’s biggest bookmaker says it is taking actions against executives in charge of its Tel Aviv online gambling support center for wrongly telling employees they were being relocated to Gibraltar.
Headlines were made this week when more than 200 employees walked out after reports surfaced that the Tel Aviv office would be shut down. William Hill dispatched a team of senior executives to help quell concerns.
Mass William Hill Walkout Could Have Effect on Internet Business
The resignation of Eyal Sanoff, the chief marketing officer, from William Hill has prompted a mass walkout of over 200 staff members from the company’s Tel Aviv online support centre, the Sun reports. That office handles nearly all of William Hill’s Internet marketing.
The Israeli-based staff is worried over rumors that Hill’s CEO Ralph Topping is preparing to dump them and move all operations back to the United Kingdom and Gibraltar.
BetOnSports Founder Gary Kaplan Out of Prison
The founder of BetOnSports.com, Gary Kaplan, has completed his prison sentence in connection with running what was considered the biggest North American facing sports betting business of its kind during its heyday. Numerous sources have confirmed to Gambling911.com that Kaplan is out of jail, whereabouts unknown.
BetOnSports and nearly a dozen of its executives were indicted in July of 2006 just prior to the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in October of that same year. Charges included racketeering, money laundering and mail fraud.
