Australian Kids Copy Parents Gambling Habits

Punters, January continues to be a huge month from the land down under in Australia. We've got kids copying their parents gambling habits, more gambling crocodile tests from Australia's Northern Queensland, Aussie casino and media wars, casino haters VS casino lovers and more. Media Manand Gambling911 with yet another red hot report...

Australian Kids Copy Parents Gambling...

Aussie kids are adopting the gambling and sports betting habits of their parents and guardians new academic research shows. Of course, the question needs to be asked if the data can be trusted, as the readership is well aware of many "junk science" reports from academic institutions that service to act as propaganda, if delivering results and data the the Australian Labor Party wants to see, and many times sponsored educational programs doing the research! Think Japanese "scientific research", but on with the story. In a the latest report, 60% of 13 to 17-year-olds reveal that they have gambled at least one time in the year. The Australian Psychological Society study states that household exposure to gambling by adults, especially dads, increases the risk that kids will become passionate punters and will develop gambling problems in later life! We hear you shaking your head already. Report co-author Associate Professor Paul Delfabbro gave a stern warning that there was already frequent exposure on the www. "All the time they are reminded of the opportunity to gamble and this awareness, in addition to opportunities like at poker machines or betting at the TAB, can pose risks for young people," Prof Delfabbro said. It's currently being debated that interactive gambling services such as online casino games are prohibited in Australia, but many operates such as Betfair, Centrebet, PKR and PartyGaming offer a range of games, some for free play, some for money. Prof Delfabbro warned that even everyday pastimes such as card games could normalise gambling for young people. "All the evidence shows that we do what our parents do, and if kids are learning casino-style card games that teach them how to gamble, they will repeat that behaviour elsewhere," he said. He encouraged parents to have mature conversations with their kids about the risks involved in gambling and the likelihood of success. "The important thing is that young people should recognise the nature of the industry is to make a profit like any other business," he said. "The industry knows how to ensure that they make money from your behaviour." Prof Delfabbro cautioned parents against telling young people that they won't win in the short term. "In order to lose large amounts of money, most people have to win big first," he said. "The problem is that gamblers can't win in the longer term," he said. UnitingCare Wesley spokesman Mark Henley said young people were particularly susceptible to online gambling. "Young people are much more tech-savvy than their parents and with online gambling you don't even need to leave the house," he said. "The fact is if parents are gambling in any form, children are more likely to gamble too." Henley said children should be educated at school about the dangers of gambling, just as they are taught about sex and drugs. A Media Man spokesperson said "Fair and balanced information on gambling and the risks involved are the way to go. We advise to stick to strong and trusted brands when possible, like PartyGaming, Betfair and Centrebet. Stick to brands and sources you can trust, and keep things fun. If the gambling stops being fun, you know you have a problem".

Tabcorp Business Split Up Speculation...

There is more solid info coming in about the split up, although no one is betting on either arm surviving as a stand-alone operation for long, with predators already getting hungry for both divisions. James Packer's gambling operation, Crown Limited, has been cited as a likely purchaser of Tabcorp's casinos while Tattersall's chief executive, Dick McIlwain, has a noted interest in the wagering and gaming business, which would put all Aussies traditional wagering pools under one roof for the first time in history.

Northern NSW: Internet Gambling Study From Southern Cross University...

Researchers from Southern Cross University have launched an online survey aimed at understanding internet gambling behaviour in Australia. SCU’s Dr Sally Gainsbury will collaborate with an international team to understand one of the fastest growing forms of gambling in Australia. “My hope is that it will assist key stakeholders, including governments, regulators and gambling operators to develop appropriate policies to regulate internet gambling,” she said. “My aim is that the results will give a clearer indication of the behaviour of gamblers and the participation rates in all forms of gambling.” Two members of the research team, Professor Alex Blaszczynski of Sydney University and Nerilee Hing of SCU, were appointed to the Ministerial Expert Advisory Group on Gambling last year. “The establishment of that group shows that there is increasing recognition from politicians, regulators, gambling operators and the community that we need to develop more knowledge about gambling and its prominence in society,” Dr Gainsbury said.

Central Queensland University Students And Teachers Love Gambling Crocodile Study; Popular Thesis And Fun Subject!...

Crocs are once again being used to shed light rays on the numerous factors that make punters more likely to become "problem gamblers". Psychologist, Dr Matthew Rockloff and Nancy Greer of Central Queensland University in Bundaberg, reported their findings in the Journal of Gambling Studies. It is well known that gambling is often exciting and causes measurable symptoms of physiological arousal such as increased heart rate, says Rockloff. In the gaming environment, players often interpret such excitement as a "lucky feeling" and there is significant suggestion that this makes them more likely to take higher risks. Like "double of nothing" or pressing the "gamble" button on a pokie. Rockloff says casinos already use methods that cause excitement, including ringing bells, flashing lights and an open gaming floor. It's a bells and whistles type environment, and never boring! "They don't know why it works but they've noticed that if they have small gaming venues that they don't make as much money as larger gaming venues," he went on record with. Rockloff is interested in testing whether excitement really does cause you to lose yourself and take greater risks, and if so under what circumstances! In previous experiments, he blasted white noise at people who were gambling. This caused people to gamble more intensively, playing faster and placing larger bets. "If you do that in a casino environment, you're going to lose more money more quickly." Next up, he wanted to find a more clever and secret way of getting people excited, so he could see whether the same thing happened. So, enter 'The Crocodile Test' - Who is smiling? - read on...The smiling professor designed an experiment that recruited some 103 visitors to a Queensland crocodile farm to play a simulated Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) on a laptop computer. A control group were asked to play the EGM before seeing the crocodiles. The test group were asked to play after taking a tour of the farm, during which time they were told stories about crocodile attacks, saw a crocodile jumping at a piece of meat and even got to hold a live young croc. Each participant was given $20 bucks, which they could use as credit for their gambling so they felt they were gambling with their own money. No participants knew of the connection between the crocodile farm and the gambling study. "They just thought it was a convenient place for us to carry out the study," says Rockloff. Rockloff found that people with a pre-existing gambling problem who appeared to have fun holding the live crocodile took greater risks in the gambling than those who were anxious and nervous as hell after touring the crock farm. He also found some people in the control group (who had not yet had contact with the crocodiles) took more risks if they had high negative emotions, compared to those who said they were feeling happy. Rockloff says the crocodile experiment was not "highly controlled", but taken together with the 'white noise' experiment suggests there is a three-way interaction between previous gambling history, emotion and physiological excitement. He says the findings suggest problem gamblers should watch out for certain emotional states that are likely to make them gamble greater amounts. "Don't go to the casino when you're depressed. Don't go to the casino when you're feeling so lucky you're absolutely sure you're going to win." There you have it punters. As always, only bet what you can afford to lose, and for God's sake, keep it fun.

Aussie Casino And Media King James Packer Gets $43 Million Dollar Compound - Mansion In Sydney's Eastern Suburbs...

He's got 3 properties already purchased and 2 houses now demolished, billionaire James Packer is well on his way to building a massive compound in Sydney's east.

It will include 13-car garage, 23m pool, underground cinema, gym and staff quarters. News Limited is understood to be first to break the news, with it spreading like wildfire on the web and across news wires. The renovations alone will cost close to $13 mill, and that's on top of the $30m already spent consolidating the three properties in upmarket Vaucluse. Although the title deeds are now in Packer's name, the paperwork behind the deals shows the three properties were transferred to him only in mid-December by a Manoc Developments Pty Ltd "without monetary consideration". The "capital investment value" will be $12.96m, according to the report, which praised the overall design process and consultation with heritage consultants, describing it as "exemplary" and "a best-practice model". In addition to the new "module", renovations and additions will occur in the main house, made out of "a lightweight glass and steel structure". Any neighbours will find it difficult to peek. At least two pedestrian entrances are to be sealed off and the only access will be via "two new 1.7m-high metal picket vehicular entry gates". Once past these gates, visitors will then find themselves facing a 2.4m-high "metal security fence". Well, casino and media types do seem to get a lot of attention, sometimes too much.

SkyCity New Zealand Enters Asia Pacific Casino Wars; Hunting High Roller Whales...

High-rolling whales from mainland China gambling at SkyCity in Auckland are up a solid 33% in the past 6 months. Not content, they are reaching for the stars and is looking to boost the market "many times over". Last year, Macau casinos reported record takings of US$23.5 billion ($31.1 billion). That's 4 time the revenues generated at the world famous Las Vegas Strip...largely because of mainland Chinese punters. SkyCity says it is keen to lure some of these high-spending players to New Zealand. An agreement had been reached with Air New Zealand for priority access to ticketing and the casino is working with Immigration New Zealand to "fast-track" visas for "known players" from the mainland, said SkyCity's international business president, Ejaaz Dean. In the 5 months ending in November, SkyCity's international business grew more than 100% - with China topping the list, ahead of Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. "Most of what's fuelling the growth are from mainland China," Dean said. Regional rivals, such as Singapore, which last year opened 2 glitz and glam casinos, are competing hard for the market, but SkyCity is undeterred. "Sure, we have lost some of our Singaporean clients, who now prefer to gamble locally, and that's understandable. But we have a lot of things in New Zealand that Singapore cannot replicate," Dean said. "We have great golf courses here, we have great vineyards, and these are things that attract high-rollers here, rather than Singapore." SkyCity had already been booked by 30 high-spending dolphins and whales from China to spend Chinese New Year, which falls in early February, in Auckland rather than in Asia, Dean said. The gambling and entertainment company expects to have 4 dedicated private gaming rooms for high-rollers, up from 1, by the middle of the year, and is also undertaking several facility upgrades at its hotels, restaurants and bars to ensure they are world class all the way. SkyCity is targeting a net profit of at least $127.4 million for the year to June. Dean said having a dedicated sales office in Singapore had helped in "redirecting" some of the high-value punters to New Zealand. Macau's casinos last year cashed in 188.3 billion patacas ($31.1 billion), up from 119.3 billion patacas in 2009. That's four times higher than the US$6 billion gamblers were expected to have spent on the Last Vegas Strip in 2010, Hong Kong-based brokerage CLSA told AFP. Aaron Fischer, a CLSA gaming analyst, said Macau's revenue was largely driven by high-roller gamblers, including many wealthy Chinese tourists riding high on the country's surging economy. The biggest spending punters are in order from highest: China, Thailand, Singapore / Malaysia, Australia and then Pacific Island nations.

Queensland Gets Two Lotto Millionaires Within 48 Hours...

Queensland got two more millionaire lottery winners in the past 48 hours. The two lucky families bring the tally of millionaire winners to 5 since the year began 6 days ago. A dad on Brisbane's westside couldn't believe his luck when he found his family was $1 million richer after all their numbers came up in last night's Gold Lotto draw. "When I saw that I had won I started shaking, but quickly reminded myself not to get too excited in case there had been a mistake," he said. It took until this morning, when Golden Casket verified the win, for the family to have their hopes confirmed. The dad, who bought his ticket online, still can't quite believe it's really happening. "This is unbelievable. It means so much to us," he said. We'll pay off the mortgage and set up scholarship accounts for our children." The other division one winners from last night, a Sunshine Coast couple, had no idea they had picked up the big prize until Golden Casket gave them a million-dollar wake-up call this morning. The couple said they had been playing lotto every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday since the 1980s, and their dedication finally paid off to the tune of $1 million when their numbers came up last night. "What amazing news. We'll use some of the prize money to help our children and the rest to fund our retirement," they said. The two wins have added to Queensland's huge group of millionaire winners thus far in 2011. The earliest lotto millionaire of the year was the mystery recipient of a $1.35 million first division prize, who finally claimed her win on New Years Day, exactly 2 weeks after the draw. On Tuesday, a Brisbane man picked up a cool $10 million on Oz 7 Lotto after playing for more than five years, joking that he would use the winnings to pay off his debts, retire and top up his go card. And the identity of another Queensland lotto millionaire still remains a mystery, with a $1.6 million prize remaining unclaimed. The winning ticket was for the New Year's Eve Gold Lotto Megadraw, and was purchased at the Kenmore Tavern Plaza News in Brisbane's Western suburbs. A spokeswoman from Golden Casket said Queensland Lotto players are on a roll with close to $17 million in prize money claimed in the past week.

Embattled Australian Aristocrat Technologies Pokie Maker To Be In The Mix At London's ICE 2011...

ICE is being held from January 25 to January 27, the International Casino Exhibition (ICE) this year will celebrate 21 years of high-stakes gaming at the event. Australia's embattled Aristocrat is in the mix of one armed bandit makers who will exhibit. Readers will recall from last month that there's a legal situation between Aussie Aristocrat and American made IGT (International Game Technology).  IGT is claiming copyright infringement and a whole lot more, and Aristocrats shares price has not been pretty to say the least in recent months. The event will see exhibitors Aristocrat Technologies, Barcrest Group, CMS, Cummins-Allison, Eurocoin, Funworld and TCSJohnHuxley represented, according to Clarion Gaming, the organiser of the event. As well as the big-name exhibitors, more than 400 companies will be present. The 20,000 square metres of space will be taken up by those active in the online, casino, mobile, betting, bingo, lottery and street gaming sectors who will deliver "the most comprehensive insight to the latest gaming innovations from every corner of the world." Clarion Gaming has described ICE 2011, to take place at London's Earl Court Exhibition Centre, to be "the most comprehensive and international business-to-business gaming event on the world stage." Kate Chambers, Show Director for ICE 2011, stated that "our opening ceremony will celebrate 21 years of working in partnership to provide a source of product innovation and inspirational ideas for the international gaming industry." "Few could have thought some 21 years ago that a pioneering niche within an existing exhibition would flourish in such a way," she continued. Chambers also stated that "most, if not all, of the ground-breaking and iconic gaming products to impact the sector over the last 21 years have been launched at ICE and I'm certain that the breakthrough product of 2011 will also be found at ICE, which is why the exhibition remains the immense asset it is to the global gaming industry and a must-attend event." ICE 2011 promises to be an exciting event with plenty of exhibitions to keep visitors occupied. Aussies, Yankees, Canooks and Pommies are looking forward to downing a few drinks and inking a few details together, as the industry looking forward to seeing better days, with last year being one of the worst in history as far as many firms bottom lines went. All power to those who attend, and we hope you get your money's worth. Stand don't always come cheap!

Queensland - Gold Coast Might Get 'Sin City' Kings Cross Style Make Over; `Kings Cross Strip' Surfers Paradise Prop With City Council Powers That Be...

'Real Life Underbelly' might be coming to Surfers' Paradise. Some say is already there. Plans filed with the city council on Christmas Eve for a multi-level adult nightclub in Surfers Paradise have sparked fears it could turn into a Kings Cross-type slum. Area councillor Susie Douglas said the proposal had not been discussed with her but it was the type of development the council wanted to shut out. "The Hilton will put us on the international map and we can't afford to have visitors leaving thinking we are a sleazy city," she said. The proposal, by the Hollywood Showgirls nightclub owners Duffy Night Club No 1, wants to expand the first floor and connect it to the neighbouring nightclub 21, which has approval for a second nightclub on its first floor.

Australian Bee Gees Show Hits Las Vegas Strip...

The Australian Bee Gees Show...A Tribute to The Bee Gees, will make its exciting debut at Excalibur Hotel and Casino Tuesday, Feb. 1 when the talented tribute band brings the music of the famous Gibb brothers to the Las Vegas Strip. Tickets priced at $54.95 and $44.95, plus tax and service fees, are now on sale. Performances are Tuesday-Sunday at 7 p.m. nightly. To charge by phone call (702) 597-7600. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Excalibur box office and online. The 75-minute multi-media concert event is a contemporary perspective featuring state-of-the-art sound, superb lighting and giant screens featuring video clips, live camera images and stunning graphics. It is the definitive live celebration of five decades of memorable music written by the Brothers Gibb, one of the most successful and adored acts in musical history. Adam Steck, CEO of SPI Entertainment and producer of the show, said, "I grew up on Bee Gees music so I'm especially thrilled to bring this amazing tribute to Las Vegas. They nail their unbelievable harmonies and the show literally turns into one big sing-along!" Excalibur's President and COO Renee West said, "The legacy of The Bee Gees and their music has been incredibly enduring, appealing to generation after generation. This tribute show is sure to be a fun and energetic celebration of music and memories that visitors from around the world will relate to." Since 1996, The Australian Bee Gees Show - A Tribute to The Bee Gees has performed to more than 1 million people in sold-out theaters and concert halls across the globe in more than 40 countries. The group's unbelievable resemblance and sound of the legendary Bee Gees has garnered international kudos from media and show goers alike. The show has become the world's leading Bee Gees show and Terri Bridge, president of the U.S. Bee Gees Fan Club said, "In my opinion they are the best Bee Gees tribute in the world." About Excalibur Hotel and Casino: A myriad of entertainment, fine food and comfortable accommodations make for an inviting atmosphere within contemporary castle walls at Excalibur Hotel and Casino. The resort offers 3,981 guest rooms, including 2,000 recently remodeled Widescreen Rooms, delightful dining experiences including Dick's Last Resort and The Steakhouse at Camelot, the Tournament of Kings Dinner Show, the all-male revue Thunder From Down Under and the hilarious comedy of the Broadway smash Defending the Caveman. Excalibur also offers dozens of shops, an expansive pool complex, a wedding chapel featuring costume ceremonies, the Royal Treatment Spa & Fitness Center and a convention area with more than 12,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. Excalibur is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International. It's a good night, go on, get your ass in there!

Berg's Gaming: Bondi Icebergs Club Gaming Not On Par With Other On Site Amenities; North Bondi RSL Club Much Better Pokies Plus Poker Nights...

Don't get us wrong, we love Bondi Icebergs, but the gaming facilities are a bit lacking. Granted, the pokies are not the main attraction of the club, the pool, restaurant, bar, entertainment and view are, but if you're going to have pokies, have more up to date ones (like Sinatra and Top Gun), or don't have them at all. We couldn't even find Cleopatra Queen Of The Nile, Black Rhino or Penguin Pays. Also, how about a poker and bingo night, like the other competing club down the road, North Bondi RSL Club does. For the record Media Man is a member of both clubs, but North Bondi RSL has it all over 'The Bergs' as far as gaming and gambling goes, but The Icebergs wins in just about every other category. Gaming and business tycoon is a big fan of Bondi Iceberg's restaurant, as is U2 front man Bono (Paul Hewson), even if he did have to wait for a table, like everyone else. Hey, just sayin!

Hoff Hits Bondi Beach, Sydney; Next Beach To Hit - Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Australia...

Yeah, we know, 'The Hoff' doesn't have much to do with gaming and gambling, but its big enough entertainment news to get a run. Oh, an online Baywatch slot machine was released a number of years ago, but Aussies can't access that one any way, so on with the story... Former Knight Rider and Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, fresh of his hot Bondi Beach swimming and posing with hot women a few days back, will now hit the golden sands of the Gold Coast's Main Beach to promote Streets new ice creams Splice Real Fruits. Yeah, there's the product plus. I guess someone has to do the job don't they, as who better than 'The Hoff'?! Hoff hit Bondi Beach on an inflatable rescue boat aka 'rubber ducky' wearing his famous hot red shorts, and surrounded by blonde goddesses beach babes (but no Jaime Wright - original Bondi Blonde) in Baywatch-style swimsuits. The 58-year-old's running action no longer requires editing to appear in slow motion, yet 'The Hoff' still has what it takes to draw a crowd. But if you head to check out the spectacle remember one thing: don't hassle The Hoff.

Sydney Red Hot Brothel Raided By Thieves For Cold Hard Cash...

Two blokes men have robbed a Sydney brothel, clobbering the manager with an iron bar, then robbing the female working girls. Cops say the pair burst into the business in Cosgrove Road, South Strathfield, about 1.45am last last Saturday and hit the 51-year-old manager. They snatched cash from the female staff and a till, then bolted off. The manager was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition. The robbers were described as being of Pacific Islander appearance and wore blue hooded tops. Police want to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity around the brothel this morning. Who will talk, that's the question.

Punter Fev On Leave After Huge New Years Eve; Into Rehab...

AFL's most notorious (and nocturnal we understand) play, bad ass Brendan 'Punter Fev' Fevola has been granted indefinite leave from the Queensland's Brisbane Lions after being arrested during drunken New Year’s Eve celebrations in Bris Vegas (Brisbane), not be be confused with 'Sin City' Sydney! Feb might be trying to get Brissy a reputation for sin, but you will still have to try harder next time mate... just kidding. Fev was released from lockup about 11am after spending in excess of 5 hours in the watchhouse. You know, in "the can". He was bailed out on charges of public nuisance and obstructing police and will appear in a court of law on January 18. QLD police confirmed a 29-year-old Norman Park chap was arrested in the nightclub lurks of Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley aka 'The Valley' (where Underbelly 4 and perhaps 5 will be featured). In a statement yesterday, the Brisbane Lions advised Fevola had request indefinite leave "in order to receive professional assistance for a number of personal issues. The request for leave was made by Fevola following an incident in the early hours of this morning where he was arrested and charged with public nuisance and obstructing police in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley," the statement says. "Fevola was released from police custody at around 11am and immediately sought leave from the Lions to receive professional assistance. As a result, Fevola will not be at training this Monday when the team resumes its preparations for the 2011 AFL Season. While the Brisbane Lions AFC places the well being of all its staff as a primary focus, the club will hold talks next week regarding what action may be required as a direct result of this morning’s incident." AFL General Manager Football Operations Adrian Anderson said the Lions had told him of Fevola's latest incident, the latest in a string, with Crown Casino's antics likely being the most famous, captured on film. He advised the club was still gathering the full details and the AFL would await Brisbane's detailed report before considering any action. It’s believed Lions officials are seething about this latest incident and he now faces an uncertain future. Club officials state it’s unlikely the Lions will have an emergency board meeting to discuss Fevola’s future. However, that could change. The Lions investigated terminating Fevola’s hefty contract last year after claims he allegedly exposed himself to a mum of four at a local football club function. The club had major salary cap issues which played a major role in key midfielders Michael Rischitelli and Jared Brennan leaving to join the Gold Coast Suns. As was the case then, Fevola could also face action from the AFL for bringing the game into disrepute. An AFL spokesman said the league could issue a statement this afternoon. This latest incident is another black mark on Fevola’s chequered career. On New Year’s Eve Fevola tweeted: ‘‘Good bye 2010 thank god! Bring on 2011 lions will roar again :)’’. The Lions full-forward endured a turbulent 2010. He was accused of releasing nude photos of former lover and model Lara Bingle, who at the time was engaged to stand-in Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke. The AFL later said there was "insufficient evidence" to show Fevola had distributed the photograph. Queensland police were later unable to lay charges he had exposed himself to the mother of four because of a lack of evidence. He was only cleared in recent weeks by the AFL of bringing the game into disrepute. Fevola also confirmed he had major gambling debts, with some estimating these were as high as $200,000. In his first year at the club since he was dumped by Carlton, Fevola also endured a wretched on-field season because of a serious groin injury as the Lions, finalists in 2009, tumbled to the bottom wrungs of the AFL ladder.

Pokies Not The Only Answer To Aussie Pub Profits...

Pokies might not the the big drawcard for Aussie pubs that they used to be. Pokies hit the scene about 10 years ago and did a roaring trade, but they seemed to have lost at least some of their appeals in the clubs. Some publicans have revamped facilities and pokie rooms, at some media reckons drinkers and those wanting a good feed, beers and other other forms of entertainment may have suffered. A Media Man spokesperson said 'When you visit an Aussie pub these days and look around the pokie machines, they are definitely quieter than they used to be. It's got the be the recession. Let us not also forget that many punters are also hitting the pokies and other casino games on the web theses days. Some Aussies got a big worried at the violence at some Aussie pubs with glassings becoming a frequent thing. Now beer is often served in plastic cups, thanks to a few morons who spoil it for everyone. Advertising, media man and bloke of business brilliance John Singleton has not being quite hitting the jackpot with the pubs as much as predicted either.  That man knows beer. Oh, a few yews ago he did 'Whale Safe Beer' at North Bondi with our friends at Sea Shepherd, followed a few years late with Bondi Blonde at Icebergs, but that's another story. If Singo isn't going that great in pubs what chance does an average Aussie bloke have hey! insiders will know he recently purchased 4 pubs with his mates and is looking for return on investment. It may take longer than at first anticipated. Is Singo next to join the online gambling biz, following the trends that sees James Packer and Richard Branson making giant ways, with 2011 set to be a year it creates a massive tidal wave effect. Catch the wave and stay tuned to Gambling911 and Media Man.

Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? How did you see in the new year? Tell us in the forum.

If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered