Business & Financial
Billionaire Macau Real Estate Developer Joseph Lau Found Guilty of Bribery
(Reuters) - Real estate developer Chinese Estates Holdings said on Sunday its Chairman and Chief Executive Joseph Lau has resigned after he was found guilty of bribery and money laundering charges in Macau.
New Hampshire House Kills Gambling Bill
CONCORD, N.H. (Associated Press) - New Hampshire's House has stuck to its long-term tradition of opposing a casino and killed a bill that proposed licensing one casino with up to 5,000 video slots and 150 table games.
The House voted 173-144 Thursday to kill a bill that was the result of a special commission appointed to study regulatory issues after a casino bill failed in the House last year. The House has repeatedly rejected efforts to legalize casinos.
Caesars Claims Hidden Agenda Behind Mass Unflattering Background Check
Attorneys for Caesars Entertainment are citing newly released information from a Massachusetts Gaming Commission report as the main reason for an “unflattering background check” that prevented the casino giant from landing a lucrative contract in the state.
Mandalay Bay Will Pay Half-Million Dollars After Drug, Prostitute Bust
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) - The Mandalay Bay Resort plans to pay a half-million-dollar fine after employees at an upscale Las Vegas Strip lounge provided prostitutes and drugs to undercover officers.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board filed a proposed settlement with the casino this week. It’s awaiting approval by the Nevada Gaming Commission.
Bwin.Party Sees Return to Growth Ahead of World Cup: Activist Investor Watches
(Reuters) - Online gambling company Bwin.Party said this year's soccer World Cup would help it to return to growth after problems in Greece and a shift away from riskier markets cut earnings in 2013.
Bwin.Party is concentrating on fewer markets where regulations are more clear cut and is expanding in the United States as gambling rules are relaxed there.
Rival Betfair, another of a cluster of online gambling companies that have grown up over the past decade, is pursuing a similar strategy.
Internet Gambling Growth Slows in New Jersey
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) — The growth of New Jersey's Internet gambling market slowed somewhat in its third full month of operation, with the Atlantic City gambling websites posting a nearly 9 percent revenue increase in February.
The 16 online gambling sites had posted a 28 percent gain in January, to $9.5 million. In February, the online sites won $10.3 million.
Las Vegas Gambling Pioneer Jackie Gaughan Dies at 93
(Associated Press) - A Las Vegas gambling pioneer who once owned much of the downtown casino market has died. John "Jackie" Gaughan was 93.
Clark County coroner's officials say Wednesday that Gaughan died in hospice care.
Gaughan is most closely associated with the El Cortez casino, which he used to own. He lived in a penthouse apartment there and was known to play poker in the casino almost every day.
He has also been associated with the Showboat, the Golden Nugget, the Pioneer and Boulder clubs, the Flamingo and the Royal Inn.
Online Poker Room TigerGaming.com Now Offering 24 Hour Payout Guarantee
The management of the Chico Poker Network are once again thrilled to announce that, after their acquisition of the network, they can now put out a very strong and positive message to all players at TigerGaming.com! They are offering 24 hour payouts, guaranteed - via Skrill, Neteller and EcoPayz, to all their players online!
Sands Casino Guest Credit Card Information Hacked Into
If you have stayed at the Sands Bethlehem Casino or any of the other Sands Las Vegas affiliated casinos, including the Venetian, you may want to double check your credit card bill. It turns out that customer credit cards have been compromised as part of a hacking that took down all of Sands site an entire week last month.
Satoshi Nakamoto Claims Not to Have Been Creator of Bitcoin (Video)
LOS ANGELES (Associated Press) - Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto said Thursday that he is not the creator of bitcoin, adding further mystery to the story of how the world's most popular digital currency came to be.
The denial came after Newsweek published a 4,500-word cover story claiming Nakamoto is the person who wrote the computer code underpinnings of bitcoin.
‘I’m Not a Sore Loser’ Says Man Suing Casino That Let Him Lose $500k Drunk (Video)
"Just picture a drunk walking the street and he's drunk, and someone pickpockets and takes his money from him. That's how I characterize it," Mark A. Johnston said in an interview with CNN. "I feel like it's the days of old Vegas, the way they've been extorting me with letters and attorneys."
Paddy Power Stops Pistorius Bet: 1000 Wagers Taken, Over 5000 Complaints
Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has finally caved in and ceased taking wagers on the Oscar Pistorius murder trial in South Africa. Pistorius shot his wife dead last year, mistaking her for an intruder. The paraplegic runner insists the shooting was an accident.
Some Payment Processors to Block Unlicensed Online Gambling Sites in UK
Some of the UK-based payment processors have agreed to block money transactions to and from unlicensed online gambling sites.
Ultimate Gaming Joins Forces With Peppermill Resort Spa Casino
LAS VEGAS - Ultimate Gaming, America’s first regulated online gaming operator, and Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Reno’s premier AAA Four-Diamond resort, have agreed to terms in a joint marketing partnership.
5000 Plus Complaints Lodged Against Paddy Power Pistorius Bet Ad
As Gambling911.com reported yesterday, Irish bookmaker Paddy Power was forced to remove an ad promoting wagering on the Oscar Pistorius murder trial following some 5000 complaints filed with the Advertising Standards Authority.
Bitcoin Exchange Executive Found Dead: No Foul Play According to Police
SINGAPORE (Associated Press) — The CEO of a virtual currency exchange was found dead near her home in Singapore.
A police spokesman said Thursday that initial investigations indicated there was no suspicion of "foul play" in the Feb. 26 death, meaning officers do not suspect murder.
The spokesman said police found 28-year-old Autumn Radtke, an American, lying motionless near the apartment tower where she lived.
Police have so far classified the death as "unnatural," which can mean an accident, misadventure, or suicide.
Paddy Power in Hot Water With ASA Over Pistorius Advertisement
“It’s Oscar Time” – such read an advert from the controversial Ireland-based bookmaker PaddyPower.com.
Oh yes, punters love to bet on the Oscars, and they did in droves this past Sunday.
There’s just one small problem. Paddy Power’s ad had nothing to do with the Academy Awards, although it certainly looked to capitalize on them.
Phil Hellmuth Squares Off Against Global Poker Index Head Alexandre Dreyfus
Poker pro Phil Hellmuth and Global Poker Index (GPI) head man Alexandre Dreyfus duked it out last night while attending the LA Poker Classic.
It was all in good fun.
Two weeks ago, Hellmuth criticized the GPI for not being “egalitarian” enough.
Zynga Hits One-Year High: Surges 8 Percent on Poker News
Social gaming company Zynga saw its shares rise 8% Tuesday on news that it planned to enter the real money online gambling market in jurisdictions where the activity is legal.
CEO Don Mattrick spoke at a Morgan Stanley conference regarding his company’s mobile plans and expansion into more real money gambling markets.
The stock closed up 8.02% to $5.66, up 42 cents from its previous close of $5.24. It amassed a volume of 56,531,323, more than double its average of 27,192,600. It hit a low of $5.43 for the day and holds a one-year low of $2.50.
Equity Poker Network Acquires Action Poker
San Jose, Costa Rica - EquityPokerNetwork.com (“EPN”) announced today that it has acquired the long established Action Poker brand. The Network is positioning ActionPoker.com (“Action Poker”) as the European sister brand to the recreational poker site FullFlushPoker.com, which has quickly grown in popularity and player numbers since it’s real-money gaming launch in November last year.
Outrage Over Paddy Power Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial Betting Intensifies
The public – and presumably a chunk of Paddy Power’s customer base – have taken to Twitter to lambaste the Irish bookmaker for continuing to take bets on the outcome of South African paraplegic runner Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial.
Florida House Bill Would Not Permit Major Casinos in South Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (Associated Press) - The Florida House is saying no to bringing major casinos to South Florida.
Japan Finance Minister Gathering Facts on Bitcoin Exchange Mt.Gox
(Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that the government is still trying to figure out what has led to the collapse of the Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox and is not sure whether crime is involved.
"We still have not had a clear grasp of the situation," Aso said in response to a reporter's question after a cabinet meeting. "(We) don't know if it was a crime or just a bankruptcy."
Bitcoin Businesses Subpoenaed by US Attorney Preet Bharara
(Reuters) - Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has sent subpoenas to Mt. Gox, other bitcoin exchanges, and businesses that deal in bitcoin to seek information on how they handled recent cyber attacks, a source familiar with the probe said on Wednesday.
In the attacks - known as distributed denial of service attacks - hackers overwhelmed bitcoin exchanges by sending thousands of phantom transactions. At least three exchanges were forced to halt withdrawals of bitcoins on February 7, including Mt. Gox, which was the largest at the time.
Paddy Power Defends Taking Bets on Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial: Angry Tweets
Controversial Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has defended its decision to offer betting on the outcome of Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial.
Pistorius, a paraplegic runner, claims he shot into a locked bathroom believing an intruder had entered the residence he shared with Steenkamp. Instead he fatally wounded his girlfriend.
Yahoo Sports Teams Up With Quicken Loans for ‘Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge’
Detroit-based Quicken Loans, the nation's third largest mortgage lender, today announced it has teamed with Yahoo Sports as the technology provider for the now named 'Quicken Loans Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge with Yahoo Sports' contest. Yahoo Sports designed the online bracket experience and will host the exclusive destination (www.quickenloansbracket.com) for the challenge as college basketball fans take their shot at becoming America's next billionaire.
What is a Good Pay Per Head for College Basketball?
With March Madness just around the corner, you might be asking yourself What is a good Pay Per Head business to handle your players for College Basketball?
Real Bookies has just joined the Gambling911.com family and we are thrilled to have them on board.
So what can Real Bookie offer your players?
Here is just a sampling:
Hard Rock Could Purchase Revel Casino in New Jersey
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) - The Seminole Indian tribe of Florida, through its Hard Rock franchise, has indicated a renewed interest in the Atlantic City casino market.
Hard Rock, the global casino and entertainment company, asked New Jersey gambling regulators for a ruling on whether the tribe would need to qualify for a casino license should the company acquire or build one here.
Hard Rock has been rumored for months to be interested in the struggling Revel Casino Hotel, whose owners are considering selling it.
Macau Revenue Surges 40 Percent in February
(Reuters) - China's gambling hub Macau raked in 38 billion patacas ($4.8 billion) in gaming revenues in February, boosted by strong spending from wealthy punters during and after a week-long national holiday.
Gambling revenue growth in Macau, a special administrative region that is the only place in China where casinos are allowed, was up 40 percent in February, far ahead of analyst estimates of between 29-35 percent.
Neteller Returns to the US: Shares Surge Nearly 3 Percent
Online payment solutions company Neteller announced Monday that it will be relaunching services in the US.
The company was forced to flee the US market in January 2007 after two of its founders were charged with violating anti-gambling laws. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed just two months prior to the highly publicized arrests, with Gambling911.com breaking that news story.
