Business & Financial
Betfair’s £80m Payout Error: Who Benefitted?
The world’s largest betting exchange, Betfair, has admitted to making a £80m payout mistake during the years 2011-2013. Punters saw none of it, however.
The company admitted on Sunday that they had paid out investors in this amount in violation of accounting rules.
Betfair essentially paid out more in dividends and share buybacks than it was legally permitted to.
Rhode Island, Providence Bookies Going Down in Latest Shakedown
Rhode Island is the latest state that is proving to be inhospitable to bookies.
On Friday, August 1, it was announced that a state grand jury had returned indictments in connection to an alleged sports betting ring operating in the northern part of the state.
Web Based Binary Platform vs. Download: Advantages and Disadvantages
When trading Binary Options should I use a downloadable platform or one that is web-based?
Any fears related to using a web-based binary platform can be diminished in these modern times, as Hillel Fuld of DailyForex.com notes, especially as it applies to the trend towards cloud computing.
Bally Technologies One of the Darlings of the NYSE Friday: Share Price Skyrockets
Bally Technologies Inc. was up $17.53 to $77.70 Friday and was one of the biggest movers on the New York Stock Exchange.
The gambling equipment maker is being bought by rival Scientific Games Corp. in a deal worth $5.1 billion, including debt.
Bally shareholders will get $83.30 a share, representing a 38% premium to the stock's closing price on Thursday.
Based in Las Vegas, Bally Technologies makes slot machines, video lottery systems, table games and other products.
Amaya Gaming Completes Acquisition of PokerStars
MONTREAL - Amaya Gaming Group Inc. (TSX: AYA) ("Amaya" or the "Corporation") announced today the completion of its previously announced acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of privately held Oldford Group Limited ("Oldford Group"), the parent company of Isle of Man-headquartered Rational Group Ltd.
Borgata Posts Quarterly Loss for Online Poker in New Jersey
The Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, partnered with bwin.party, has posted a quarterly operating loss of $1.8 million for the period of June 30.
It did, however, reach a “key milestone” by breaking even during the month of July.
The Borgata and bwin.party were widely seen as having gotten off to the strongest start in the newly opened New Jersey online gambling market through aggressive ad campaigns. Ongoing payment processing issues, particularly with a high credit card decline rate, have stymied growth since that time.
How to Choose the Best Binary Options Platforms for Betting
Zvezda Geek on Friday featured a series of useful tips for those looking at choosing the best binary options platforms online to support all your binary betting needs.
Speaker Line-up Announced for Inaugural Crypto Valley Summit
Industry titans, government personnel and Adam Wood, Lieutenant Governor and the Queen’s personal representative, are among more than 30 speakers due to make a powerful statement of the Isle of Man’s commitment to cryptocurrencies, as the speaker line-up for the inaugural Crypto Valley Summit is announced.
Ireland Government Blasts Paddy Power Failure to Expose Breach
Government officials in Ireland have slammed that country’s largest bookmaker for failing to alert the public regarding a massive data breach that occurred in October 2010. News of the breach only became known on Thursday (July 31, 2014), nearly four years later.
Amicus Brief Filed By Bitcoin Foundation in Miami Criminal Case
The Bitcoin Foundation announced Thursday afternoon that they have filed an amicus brief with respect to a criminal case surrounding bitcoin transactions in the state of Florida and more specifically a case involving two subjects arrested last February in Miami Beach.
Paddy Power Suffers Massive Data Breach: More Than 649,000 Customers Compromised
More than 649,000 customers of the UK’s third largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, have had their personal information stolen, it was revealed on Thursday. Of those, approximately 120,000 are based in Ireland.
No customers who signed up after 2010 are impacted by the breach.
Global Gaming Expo 2014 to Feature Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn
The Global Gaming Expo 2014 to be held in Las Vegas Tuesday September 30 thru October 2 will feature the likes of casino giants Sheldon Adelson, Chairperson of Las Vegas Sands Corp, Steve Wynn, Head of Wynn Resorts, and Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International.
Others confirmed for the world’s biggest gaming event include Patti Hart, CEO of IGT, Jamie Odell, CEO of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, David Baazov, CEO of Amaya and James Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and Chairman of Hard Rock International.
How the Giants and other Brands approach Consumer PR
One of the best ways to connect with your customer base is to put a relatable face on your franchise. This is even more impactful in entertainment sports such as NFL football. Sure, in most cases, the quarterback will be the face of the franchise, but there is almost always another player who is also out there, and also relatable to the market. A player that more fans can see themselves as, or at least see themselves as friends of.
John McCain Introduces Legislation to Block Arizona Casino Project
PHOENIX (Associated Press) -- Arizona's two U.S. senators are proposing legislation to block construction of a Phoenix-area casino planned by a southern Arizona tribe.
If enacted, the bill introduced Monday by Republicans John McCain and Jeff Flake would block the casino resort project planned by the Tohono O'odham Nation for a site on unincorporated land adjacent to Glendale.
The senators said in an announcement that their bill is a companion measure to House legislation approved by that chamber and sponsored by Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks.
Numis: William Hill, Paddy Power Should Merge
Broker Numis on Monday suggested that two of the UK’s biggest bookmakers should merge in an effort to offset negative regulatory changes.
“This would create a much more attractive investment than either alone,” Numis said.
“Taking the best from each company would result in a business with outstanding technology and marketing. Plus, we really like Will Power as a name for the company.”
State Senator Will Attempt to Get Around Sports Betting Ban in New Jersey
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) will attempt to get around a sports betting ban by pushing through legislation with strong bipartisan support in hopes that Governor Chris Christie signs the bill into law.
Christie has long supported the legalization of sports betting in New Jersey but the professional sports leagues and NCAA successfully blocked such efforts in the court.
From the Newark Star Ledger:
Regulators Approve $100k Fine Against Aria Casino for Shoeing Away Agents
LAS VEGAS — Regulators have approved a $100,000 fine for the Aria casino on the Las Vegas Strip after state agents said they were shooed away from a high-stakes roulette table.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1Ad7H83) twwhe Nevada Gaming Commission approved the settlement with the resort on Thursday.
Nevada Gaming Revenue Up 22 Percent
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) -- Nevada officials say casino revenues shot up more than 14 percent in June thanks to a banner month on the Las Vegas Strip.
The state Gaming Control Board reported Friday that Nevada casinos brought in about $907 million in June.
Las Vegas Strip casinos pulled in $532 million in June, up more than 22 percent from the same month a year ago. Downtown Las Vegas casino revenues of $41million were up 12 percent.
Showboat Casino Employees Protest Closing
ATLANTIC CITY – (Associated Press) - Chanting “Keep Showboat open,” hundreds of casino workers and supporters staged a noisy, enthusiastic protest Thursday night on the Atlantic City Boardwalk aimed at getting the owners of the Showboat Casino Hotel to reverse their decision to close it next month.
More than 400 protesters marched from a small park near the Boardwalk to Caesars Atlantic City, where a small group met with a labor attorney for the parent company that owns both casinos.
5Dimes Becomes Latest Online Sportsbook to Accept Bitcoin
Popular 5Dimes.com, a US-facing online sportsbook, has become the latest to embrace the anonymous digital currency bitcoin.
5Dimes began accepting bitcoin deposits early this month but withdrawals via this method will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
Bitcoin will be converted into US currency at the time of deposit as, as such, customers will not be exposed to fluctuations in bitcoin’s exchange rate.
Over the past month, bitcoin has traded slightly above $600 on average across the various exchanges.
Matchbook.com Exits Canada Market for Unknown Reasons
Canadian customers of the sports betting exchange Matchbook.com have been advised that they must withdraw all funds from their accounts by August 22 (2014).
The decision was made on Wednesday (July 23) to exit the Canadian market though rumors began swirling earlier in the week. A reason for the departure was not immediately known.
Revel Casino has Six Potential Buyers: May Avert Closure
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) - Atlantic City's mayor said Wednesday there are six potential buyers for the Revel Casino Hotel, which is up for sale next month at a bankruptcy auction.
Don Guardian also said his administration has been in talks with the current owners of the former Atlantic Club casino about selling it to a new buyer.
Satoshi Poker Closes: Players Migrated to BurnTurn Amidst ‘Blame Game’
Satoshi Poker unceremoniously shut its doors after just over one year in business and it has done so amidst much finger pointing.
One of the first bitcoin-only poker sites, Satoshi sold to new owners last month, however, this group plans to abandon the Satoshi Poker software in favor of their own including the migration of all remaining players to BurnTurn.com, a soon-to-open online poker room.
Fuggedaboutit Jason Ader: Four Reasons Why Vegas Won’t Get an MLS Team
As reported by Gambling911.com during the early morning hours of Wednesday, Bwin.party activist investor Jason Ader has announced his plans to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Sin City.
Mississippi Gambling Revenue Steady After Harrah’s Closure
JACKSON, Miss. (Associated Press) - Gambling revenues tumbled in Mississippi's river region in the first month after Harrah's Tunica Hotel & Casino closed, but the trend didn't worsen much. Meanwhile, Gulf Coast casinos posted their best June in years.
State figures show casinos statewide won $174 million from gamblers in June, up less than 1 percent from June 2013.
The 18 river casinos won $78.7 million, down 12 percent from a year earlier. The 12 coastal casinos won $95.7 million, up 13 percent from June 2013.
’Girls Gone Wild’ Founder Joe Francis Slapped With $5k Daily Fine
The founder of the raucous and salacious DVD franchise “Girls Gone Wild” has been ordered to pay a $5000 fine each day he fails to return two luxury automobiles.
Joe Francis claims he no longer has the vehicles and that they were taken by an angry Mexican businessman.
Bwin Activist Investor Jason Ader Wants to Bring Major League Soccer Team to Vegas
An activist investor at one of the world’s largest online gambling firms Bwin.party is floating the idea of bringing a Major League Soccer team to the gambling Mecca of Las Vegas.
Jeter ‘RE2PECT’ Commercial is Top Shelf Viral PR
These days, YouTube “commercials” are commonplace. Advertisers are waking up to the reality that one viral video with relatively low overhead can have more expansive and long-term impact than a multi-million-dollar TV spot.
9 Biggest Screw-ups in Bitcoin History
With more and more online gambling sites popping up that incorporate the anonymous digital currency bitcoin, CoinDesk.com featured an interesting piece Monday that unveils nine of the biggest screw-ups in bitcoin’s short – and some would say shaky – history.
As you can see, these aren’t just simple screw-ups.
Sands Sees Slower Than Expected Earnings: Shares Sent Reeling
Sands Las Vegas reported slower-than-expected revenue growth from its Macau operations resulting in second-quarter adjusted earnings that were $0.04 below the consensus of $0.89.
Sands traded recently at $73.02, down about one percent.
The casino company’s competitors shares were adversely affected as a result of the poor performance.
Wynn Resorts was down 1.4 percent Thursday. Wynn is expected to post second-quarter earnings in August of $1.97 per share on revenue of $1.44 billion.
Melco Crown Entertainment was also down 1.4 percent.
