Business & Financial
PokerStars to Enter Daily Fantasy Sports Market by Start of NFL Season
It may be one of the worst kept secrets that online poker sites in recent months have been looking to expand their product base by offering daily fantasy sports contests.
Hence, it shouldn’t come as a shock that PokerStars, the world’s largest real money Web card room, has announced its plans to begin offering daily fantasy sports by the start of the 2015 NFL season.
Connecticut Casinos Stand to Lose $570 Million
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The Native American tribes proposing to build new casinos in Connecticut released a report Monday that says new facilities in New York and Massachusetts, if left unchecked, will siphon away $570 million annually in gambling revenue.
The leaders of the Mohegan Tribe and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation said they were not surprised by the forecast, but they hope the report they commissioned will help inform others including the governor, who has been noncommittal about his position on opening more casinos.
Full Tilt Poker Takeover of PokerPages.com Leads to Google Disaster
Full Tilt Poker took over what they probably believed to be an excellent SEO-entrenched vehicle, PokerPages.com. While the purchase reportedly took place over a year ago, PokerPages has remained untouched during that time….and probably with good reason.
Amaya Outlines Future Plans for PokerStars
(Reuters) - Amaya Inc, which recently acquired online gambling sites PokerStars and Full Tilt, reported a near eight-fold rise in quarterly adjusted earnings on Tuesday, and outlined plans to seek a secondary listing on the Nasdaq.
The Montreal-based company said it plans to win new clients and supplement growth from its core poker business through expansion into other areas such as sportsbetting, social gaming and fantasy sports.
Las Vegas Drags Down State Overall Gambling Numbers
LAS VEGAS — (Associated Press) - Nevada's casinos won $916 million in February, but it was less than they won a year ago and still a ways from the state's more than $1 billion winning high-point two years ago.
The Las Vegas Strip lagged, dragging down the state's overall numbers.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board released its latest statistics Tuesday. They showed the amount casinos won from gamblers rose everywhere except the Strip, where winnings declined 4.38 percent to $531 million.
Nevada Lawmakers to Soon Decide on Academy Awards, Olympics Betting
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – (Associated Press) - Olympic fans visiting Nevada during the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro might get to do something that hasn't been done in Sin City for years: Make a wager on who wins a medal.
Whether its archery or synchronized swimming, a casino operator and several sports books are lobbying Nevada gambling officials to allow betting on the Olympics.
They also want a change in the law that could allow bets on nonsporting events such as the Academy Awards, the most valuable player in Major League Baseball, or even "American Idol."
Casino Gambling in Japan Suffers Another Blow as Bill to be Delayed
(Reuters) - Prospects for legalising casino gambling in Japan suffered another blow on Monday as proponents said they would delay a bill allowing "integrated resorts", as the ruling coalition remains divided on the controversial measure.
Pro-casino lawmakers had said last week they would resubmit a previously failed bill by Tuesday, the end of the fiscal year. But they backed away from that plan on Monday as efforts continued to get the backing of the junior partner in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's coalition.
Participants, Organizers Talk First Ever Daily Fantasy Sports Expo (Video)
The first ever Daily Fantasy Sports Expo has an entire industry excited. Hundreds of company executives, investors, attorneys and players will be congregating in sunny South Beach this August 6-7 to take part in this event.
Gambling911.com is a premiere sponsor and promoter for the event with Publisher Chris Costigan discussing the importance of attending for those who have even the slightest interest in Daily Fantasy Sports.
Just How Big is Daily Fantasy Sports: Researchers, Numbers Crunchers Reveal All
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- There's an explosion of fantasy sports leagues in the USA right now, and with that explosion comes the need to track the trends that fuel it.
That's where Eilers Research, LLC comes in. (They will be appearing at the first ever Daily Fantasy Sports Expo in Miami Beach this August 6-7, 2015.)
BetOnline Becomes The Latest Big Online Sportsbook to Introduce Bitcoin
With the start of the NCAA Tournament last week, online betting giant BetOnline.ag saw more March Madness players in on the action than ever before.
Many Daily Fantasy Sports, Software Companies Attending Fantasy Sports Expo
The first ever Daily Fantasy Sports Expo in Miami Beach is shaping up for quite an impressive debut.
Marc Lesnick, the conference organizer and someone who has regularly put on top trade shows in the world of online gambling and i-Dating, tells Gambling911.com the initial response for this event has been unprecedented.
“We are getting new inquiries to speak on a daily basis,” Lesnick revealed.
MGM Breaks Ground on $800 Million Springfield Mass Casino
(Associated Press) - With confetti and fanfare, MGM officially broke ground Tuesday on an $800 million casino in western Massachusetts that represents the largest economic development project the region has seen in generations.Hundreds attended the ceremony held on a cold but sunny day in front of an old school the casino plans to raze to make way for a parking lot.
The groundbreaking was largely symbolic: Casino officials say there’s more to be done before construction can start in earnest.
Did Sheldon Adelson Buy Committee Hearing?
A hearing to deal with H.R. 707 or Restoration of Americas Wire Act is scheduled to take place March 25. The witness list – All four are pro online gambling prohibition. The backer of said legislation is none other than GOP megadonor and casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
Trump Casinos Must Pay Fine for Allowing Underage Gamblers
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey — (Associated Press) - Trump Entertainment Resorts has been fined for not notifying the state about a patron who was assaulted at one of its casinos and has to hand over more than $2,600 won by underage gamblers.
The company is forfeiting $2,648 that Trump Plaza won by gamblers later found to be underage. The fines involved 22 players from December 2012 through May 2014. Trump Plaza closed Sept. 16, 2014.
Sheldon Adelson VegasGoblinKing Now on Twitter
Casino kingpin and GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson is now on Twitter….well sort of.
It turns out a Twitter account was recently opened in his name with the descriptor of “VegasGoblinKing”, enough to realize this is no friendly Twitter account.
Disney, DraftKings Deal Possible But Not Likely
Rumors have been circulating that ESPN and its parent company Disney may be looking to back one of the largest daily fantasy sports sites Draftkings. The odds of this happening: Not likely.
Optimal Payment Solutions to Acquire Skrill for £800m
AIM-listed Optimal Payment Solutions has announced it is set to acquire Skrill (formerly Moneybookers) for a cool £800m, which translates into $1 billion US and some change.
Skrill is the leading alternative payment solutions company in the online gambling space. Both companies produced earnings of $90m last year. Optimal was slated to have an enterprise value of well over £1bn. They are also seeking a move to the LSE's FTSE-250 Midcap Index.
Las Vegas Sands Gets Downgraded as Macau Fears Grow
Credit Agricole on Wednesday morning downgraded Las Vegas Sands Corp. from a buy rating to an outperform rating. Many analysts having growing fears over casino companies with exposure in the Chinese gambling hub of Macau following a recent crackdown by that country’s government.
The firm has also downgraded shares of Wynn Resorts, Limited, another company with operations in Macau, from a buy rating to an outperform rating.
In the midst of the crackdown, gaming revenue is forecast to decline.
WBX Betting Exchange Shuttered: Regulatory Climate Spelled Doom
Online betting exchange WBX has unceremoniously closed its doors for good though the company insists players are able to withdrawal their funds in full and that any future wagers will be decided “in the normal way”.
Dire Warning Issued By Connecticut Tribes: 18000 Casino Jobs Could Be Lost
HARTFORD — (Associated Press) - The leaders of Connecticut's two federally recognized Indian tribes made a united pitch Tuesday to open at least one, jointly-owned casino, warning lawmakers the state could lose 18,000 jobs once a casino in neighboring Springfield, Massachusetts opens in 2½ years.
That figure includes both jobs at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino, as well as hundreds of vendors and other affected businesses across the state.
Satisfy Your March Madness Fantasy Fix With a Twist of TradeSports
While most daily fantasy sports websites are shunning March Madness the way Major League Baseball shuns Pete Rose, one fantasy site sees the NCAA's annual, 68-team, basketball free-for-all as too good an opportunity to ignore.
Tradesports (www.tradesports.com) will be offering contests for the tournament, but with a twist.
You don't put your money on players, you put it on props (short for propositions).
Monday Hearings on Revel Casino Postponed
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – (Associated Press) - Hearings on the tumultuous Revel casino sale have been postponed.
A bankruptcy court judge was to hear a series of contentious motions on Monday, after she refused on Friday to approve the sale of the shuttered casino to a Florida developer for $82 million.
Revel's owners were expected to ask the judge to reconsider. She also was to hear requests from its power plant to allow it to cut off service to the building due to unpaid bills, and to appoint a trustee to liquidate the property.
Skybet Gets Reamed for ‘Odds Error’ Tied to PSG Shock Extra Time Win
One of the United Kingdom’s largest online bookmakers, Skybet, found itself caught up in a major controversy over the weekend following an odds error on its mobile phone app.
The app, which has been downloaded some 700,000 times to date, presented odds of 25-1 for a PSG win in extra time over Chelsea only to have the payout as 9-2 by Skybet. The bookmaker has since claimed the odds were a mistake.
New Fantasy League Site Swagger Stadium One of Few to Embrace March Madness
WAYZATA, Minn. -- When the annual college basketball tournament known as March Madness gets underway in a few days, most Internet-based fantasy sports leagues won't be involved, for various reasons.
But one start-up fantasy sports league, based in this Minneapolis suburb and called Swagger Stadium (www.swaggerstadium.com), wouldn't think of ignoring America's second-biggest sporting event (after the Super Bowl).
NJ Online Gambling Revenue Down 10 Percent in February Despite Snow, Frigid Temps
New Jersey has released its February online gambling revenue numbers and they are not very good. A decline of nearly 11 percent was seen from January.
Winning Poker Network Looking to Push the Envelope Even More
San Jose, Costa Rica – Over the past six months, Winning Poker Network (WPN) has delivered more unique selling propositions to its players than all of the other networks combined.
Iowa Senate Votes to Allow Fantasy Sports
DES MOINES (Associated Press) — The Senate has passed a bill that would allow a person in Iowa to win money in fantasy sports contests.
The Senate voted 32-16 to approve the bill Thursday. It now heads to the House, where lawmakers are considering a similar bill.
Red Bull Energy Drink Fuels PokerStars Live Macau
ONCHAN, Isle of Man – March 13, 2015 – PokerStars.net, an Amaya Inc. (TSX: AYA) company, today announced that Red Bull, the world’s best-selling energy drink, has become the Official Energy Drink Provider of PokerStars LIVE Macau.
The iconic drink will give wings to poker players who will get complimentary cans of Red Bull when they compete in PokerStars LIVE Macau’s four major main events of 2015:
• Macau Poker Cup 22: February 27 - March 15
• APPT 9 Macau: May 27-31
• Macau Poker Cup 23: August 28 - September 13
Atlantic City Casino Revenue Down Another 14.8 Percent
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey — (Associated Press) - Atlantic City's February casino revenue declined by 14.8 compared with a year ago, when there were 11 casinos operating instead of the current eight.
Even the eight surviving casinos saw their revenue fall by 1.9 percent compared with February 2014.
The casinos won $178.4 million in February, a month beset by snowy weather.
Bwin.Party Potential Suitor Talks Reach Fever Pitch
LONDON - (Reuters) - Online gambling firm Bwin.party said talks about selling all or part of its business had become more serious, as it battles headwinds such as the decline of regulated poker markets in Europe.
Bwin, which was created by a merger of sports betting group bwin and online poker group PartyGaming in 2011, said in November it was considering a range of proposals from interested parties.
Canada's Amaya Gaming, which last year bought online gambling sites PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, was one party named in media reports last year as being interested.
