Crime

How Do Bookies Make Money? Online Casinos, Live Betting Help Pad Profit Margin

Bookies make money through smart money management and knowing how and when to move the lines.  Most bookies – especially those with large client bases – utilize Price Per Head companies to do this for them.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Jul/13/2015

City of Boston Claims Wynn Representatives Were Aware of Mob Association

(Associated Press) - Recently discovered interviews with at least five people show that Wynn Resorts knew that a mob associate with felony convictions would profit from his stake in the waterfront land where the Las Vegas casino giant plans to build a resort, the city of Boston argued in its latest court filings.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jul/13/2015

Son of Former Genovese Crime Boss Sentenced to Over Two Years for Illegal Gambling

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Associated Press) - A reputed mob member has been sentenced to just over 2 years in prison for running an illegal gambling business.

Daniel Pagano was also given three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine when he was sentenced Friday in federal court in White Plains.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jul/13/2015

FSU 2015-2016 ACC Conference Championship Odds May Take Hit With More Bad News

(Gambling911.com Sports Wire) – First it was that horrifying video of quarterback De’Andre Johnson slugging a girl in a bar followed by a subsequent suspension, now comes word that FSU running back Dalvin Cook may be charged with battery, assuming State attorney Willie Meggs gets his way.

Submitted by Don Shapiro on, Jul/10/2015

Curfew for Crime Boss Tied to Two Homicides Relaxed As Wife is Set to Get New Kidney

Crime boss Rocco Arico has had his strict curfew relaxed from 9 pm to 6 am to 1 am to 5 am following news that his wife is about to undergo a kidney transplant.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jul/10/2015

Man Accused of Bringing Counterfeit Chips to Poker Tournament Indicted on Theft

TRENTON, NJ (Associated Press) - A North Carolina man accused of bringing millions of dollars in counterfeit poker chips to a tournament in New Jersey has been indicted on theft charges.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jul/09/2015

Gambino Crime Family Captain Appeals Guilty Verdict in Murder Over Spilled Drink

A Gambino crime family captain convicted in 2013 for the murder of two bar owners over a spilled drink is appealing the guilty verdict.

Bartolomeo “Bobby Glasses” Vernace was convicted of racketeering conspiracy spanning 1978 through 2011.  Charges included heroin trafficking, robbery, loansharking, illegal gambling and the 1981 double homicide of bar owners Richard Godkin and John D’Agnese. 

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jul/08/2015

Italian Authorities Seize $1.7 Billion in Real Life ‘Godfather’ Case

Italian authorities have taken control of $1.76 billion from a Sicilian construction company believed to have ties to organized crime in Corleone.

The Corleone name became synonymous with the Italian Mafia thanks to the Francis Ford Coppola classic film “The Godfather” and its two sequels. 

Unlike the “Godfather” fictional Coleones, the real-life Mafia family appears less interested in gambling enterprises and more interested in winning contracts of – drum roll please – honest businessmen.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jul/08/2015

Phil Mickelson Comments on Money Laundering Allegations… Sort of

GULLANE, Scotland (Associated Press) — Five-time major champion Phil Mickelson refused to comment on allegations linking him to an illegal gambling operation, saying Wednesday he is used to being an "object to be discussed."

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jul/08/2015

Charges Against Giants Player Jason Pierre-Paul Dropped: Latest Odds

(Gambling911.com Sports Wire) - Police in Coral Springs, Florida have confirmed that charges against Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, or JPP for short, have been dropped following a fireworks accident that left him with an injury to his hand.

Submitted by Mary Montgomery on, Jul/07/2015

Man Accused of Cheating at Poker Game Now Charged With Murdering Accuser

A Minnesota man accused of cheating during a poker game Thursday night has now been charged with murder.

Police were called to the scene of Willy’s Bar in Coon Rapids around 12:41 am Thursday after a reported shooting.  29-year-old Rayontra Raydell McCall was found with gunshot wounds to his hand and chest.  McCall was transported to Mercy Hospital where he later died.

Submitted by Ace King on, Jul/07/2015

Disgraced FSU QB De'Andre Johnson to be Featured on ESPN ‘Outside the Lines’ Wed

(Gambling911.com Sports Wire) - Oddsmakers have yet to react to FSU quarterback De’Andre Johnson’s suspension after clocking a girl in a bar.  The incident was caught on video surveillance.  Johnson was not believed to be the top pick for starting QB this upcoming season. 

Johnson, who was named "Mr. Football" in Florida as a senior at First Coast High School in 2014, is charged with misdemeanor battery and will be represented by famed defense attorney Jose Baez.

Submitted by Don Shapiro on, Jul/07/2015

New Jersey Online Gambling Sites Hit by Cyber Attack: Bitcoin Ransom Demanded

New Jersey online gambling sites are not immune to cyber attacks that have long plagued offshore wagering companies and those based out of Europe.  That was demonstrated this past weekend after four of the state’s Web casino sites were hit.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Jul/07/2015

Man Who Blew Up Home Over Gambling Debts Wanted to Buy Ferrari Afterwards

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Associated Press) — A man accused of blowing up his Indianapolis home for the insurance money, killing two neighbors and devastating a neighborhood in the process, told a former friend some days before the explosion that his house had blown up and that he wanted to buy a luxury car, the ex-friend testified Monday.

Mark Duckworth said Mark Leonard told him that strong winds had caused the explosion, but that the story didn't ring true.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jul/07/2015

Poker Players Continue to be Questioned in Slain Tycoon’s Death

Four poker players who remain suspects in the murder of a wealthy nightclub owner have been brought back for questioning.

The individuals reportedly owed a Bt4-million gambling debt to Thai tycoon Somyot Suthangkool.

The suspect list is not limited to just these poker players, however.  Somyot's office had been handling 10 lawsuits, most of which were drug-related.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jul/06/2015

Police Chief Blows Funds From DEA Gambling at Casino: Faces Charges

WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania — (Associated Press) - A police chief who resigned after nearly 40 years as an officer in a southwestern Pennsylvania township faces an October non-jury trial on charges he blew $10,000 from a federal Drug Enforcement Administration fund at a casino.

Former Cecil Township chief John Pushak waived his right to be tried by a jury at a pretrial conference Thursday in Washington County, where he's now scheduled to stand trial starting Oct. 1.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jul/03/2015

Asian Tycoon Shot Dead Monday: Motive May Have Been Poker Debt

Thai former night-entertainment tycoon Somyot Suthangkool was shot dead Monday night with the motive likely stemming from a Bt4-million gambling debt four poker players owed him.

Other possible motives included his line of work as the owner of a lawyer's office and conflict over the purchase of a plot of land on which Rama IX Cafe was located.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Jul/03/2015

Feds Won’t Appeal Poker Pro Paul Phua Gambling Case After Rights Violation

Federal prosecutors have confirmed they will not be appealing a judge’s dismissal of an illegal gambling case against wealthy businessman Paul Phua.  Daniel Bogden, Nevada U.S. Attorney, confirmed this news to the Las Vegas Review Journal on Thursday.

Submitted by Ace King on, Jul/02/2015

Philadelphia Mob Boss Set to Tell His Story in ‘Lost Lives and Forgotten Vows’

90’s Mob boss Ralph Natale will tell his story in “Lost Lives and Forgotten Vows”, due to be published in the Fall of 2016.

Natale ran the Philadelphia Mob during the mid-1990’s and would later serve 11 years behind bars for financing drug deals.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Jul/02/2015

Witness Testifies Ex Blew Up Home That Killed Two to Pay Off Gambling Debts

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Associated Press) — An Indianapolis woman whose house exploded, killing two people, testified Wednesday during her former boyfriend's trial that he was determined to burn the home down for insurance money and became angry when the first two attempts failed.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jul/02/2015

Gambino Crime Family 'Made Man' Guilty in Murder of Miami Subs Founder

After two days of deliberations, jurors have found alleged Gambino Family mobster Anthony “Big Tony” Moscatiello guilty in the murder of South Florida businessman and Miami Subs restaurant franchise founder Gus Boulis. 

Moscatiello was found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.  He is facing the death penalty when sentenced on September 15.

Prosecutors claim that the Gambino Crime Family ordered Boulis killed over a dispute related to control over his SunCruz Casinos boat fleet.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jul/01/2015

Attorney Who Led $300 Million Gambling Ring Wants Case Thrown Out

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Associated Press) - An attorney convicted of leading a $300 million gambling ring that used a veterans charity as a front is asking an appeals court to throw out his 6-year prison sentence.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Jul/01/2015

Sex, Drugs and Gambling: How to Pay for Your College Tuition

A shocking survey conducted by Save the Student revealed this week that one fifth of university students have had to resort to gambling, the drug trade and even prostitution to pay their skyrocketing tuition bills.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Jun/30/2015

In Remembrance of Jonathan Duhamel’s Psychotic Ex-Girlfriend

With Jonathan Duhamel winning the 2015 WSOP High Roller for One Drop event and nearly $4 million to go along with yet another bracelet, we can only hope that the 2010 World Series of Poker champ invests in a better home security system.

Submitted by Ace King on, Jun/30/2015

Bitcoin Online Gambling Site Primedice Hacked for One Million Dollars

Bitcoin online gambling website Primedice.com claims it was hacked out of $1 million and has offered a reward to anyone who can locate the culprit and all stolen funds.  The player reportedly exploited its random number generator last year.  The site identified the alleged Bitcoin thief as one Hufflepuff.  This individual was said to be betting upwards of $8,000 in bitcoin every second for hours.

“Our entire team was shocked that Hufflepuff continued to beat the house edge (1%) and stack up more and more profit over time,” a Primedice.com spokesperson said.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Jun/29/2015

Phil Mickelson Implicated in Gambling Case: Won’t Face Charges

Golf great Phil Mickelson has been tied to a $2.75 million gambling case, according to ESPN.  Mickelson has not been charged with any crime and is not under investigation. 

From the San Diego Union Tribune:

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Jun/29/2015

Australian Politics Infiltrated by Italian Mafia, Investigation Suggests

In a shocking report published Monday, it was revealed that Italy’s Calabrian mafia, known as 'Ndrangheta, used a number of well-known donors to parties on both sides of the Australian political divide to legitimise its activities.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jun/29/2015

Billionaire Who Blew Millions Gambling Blames the Devil: Won’t Pay Casino

A billionaire who gambled away £2million at London’s Ritz Casino is now refusing to pay his debt, claiming the devil made him do it.

The 52-year-old business mogul Safa Abdulla Al Geabury made that claim to a psychiatrist and it was presented to the High Court.

The frenzied gambling spree occurred in February of last year.  Mr. Al Geabury claims the urge to gamble was as if he had been possessed and that the casino should have stopped him instead of continuing to offer a £5million credit line.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Jun/29/2015

Seals With Clubs Bitcoin Poker Site Owner Pleads Guilty

An individual who ran the now shuttered Bitcoin-only online poker room Seals With Clubs from his Las Vegas home, Bryan Micon, has plead guilty to running what authorities say was an illegal and unlicensed site. 

It was the first time that action had been taken against a Bitcoin operator in the Internet gambling space.

Submitted by Ace King on, Jun/29/2015

Macau Gambling Junket Operator Accused in Money Laundering Probe

(Reuters) - A storied Macau junket operator, who has been the focus of a lengthy police investigation, has been accused of laundering HKD1.8 billion (USD232 million) through bank accounts in Hong Kong, according to court documents released this week.

Cheung Chi-tai, a former major shareholder of one of Macau's biggest junket operators the Neptune Group, is facing three separate charges of money laundering.

In November last year, the Hong Kong police launched a money-laundering investigation related to Cheung and had frozen his assets.

Submitted by Reuters on, Jun/27/2015

Breaking News

Is Mobile Gambling Killing the Desktop Casino?

Over the last decade, gambling has followed the rest of the internet into the palm of our hands. Gambling used to be a desktop-first experience, but now it’s shifted to mobile as phones and tablets have grown more powerful, faster, and easier to use. It’s so convenient to use your phone to play from anywhere that it’s changed how people interact with casino games. Yet some players and operators still cling to the desktop experience. So, is mobile gambling just the new normal, or is it replacing desktops altogether?