Business & Financial
Zynga Gets Bids to Offer ‘Real Cash’ Online Poker
GTECH G2 and Playtech confirmed to have submitted bids to provide the social giant Zynga Poker with a real cash online poker platform, according to eGaming Review Magazine Monday.
Last week, Zynga founder Mark Pincus (pictured) confirmed the social media firm was exploring “real money” online poker ventures.
Macau Murder Spate Worrisome as Growth Slows in Casino Mecca
HONG KONG (Reuters) - In Macau, three murders in the past two weeks have raised fears that violent crime is growing more common at the same time as the island's casino operators are struggling with slower growth.
Revenues Way Up at 32Red: Will Enter Italy Market
Shares at 32Red have risen 3.3 percent, valuing the company at £30 million following an upbeat forecast of full year revenues.
Its first half revenues rose 50 percent to to £16.5 million. The Gibraltar-based betting firm, backed by Gervais Williams’ Diverse Income Trust, says it plans to launch online gambling websites in the lucrative Italian market.
Bookmakers May Become Extinct Like the Dinosaurs
The Ice Age killed off the dinosaurs and it appears the Internet may soon kill off the bookmakers.
What is widely considered the second oldest industry in the world after prostitution, bookies throughout Ireland have had to contend with the Internet and turnover numbers that have seen a massive 19 per cent decline during the first half of 2012.
Ring Fencing Policy at iPoker Network Clarified
The world’s 3rd largest online poker network (and sometimes 2nd as a result of alternating positions with rival PartyPoker), iPoker, has attempted to clarify its policy on ring-fencing for its dozens of online poker skins.
Individual skins will be subject to “partial” ring-fencing should they fail to meet predetermined performance criteria.
Churchill Downs Applies for Online Poker License
Kentucky’s Churchill Downs is the latest entity to apply for an online poker license in the state of Nevada.
The Silver State became the first to legalize online poker late last year and has been accepting applications over the past few months.
Churchill Downs, which currently offers legalized horse betting on the Web, already signaled its interest in offering Internet poker after purchasing the media venture Bluff Magazine earlier in the year.
If approved, Churchill Downs would be permitted to offer legal “real money” online poker within the state of Nevada.
Casino Mogul, Political Donor Sheldon Adelson Lashes Out Over Prostitution Claims
(AP) Las Vegas Sands Corp. chief and leading Republican political donor Sheldon Adelson is firing back at his former Macau casino executive's claim that Adelson personally approved prostitution at company properties in the Chinese gambling enclave.
Social Gaming Updates: Camasino.com, Bam Poker
In the coming weeks, Gambling911.com will be presenting a series of interviews with some of the newest social gaming websites including Camasino.com and Bam Poker.
Camasino.com is already offering “real money” play across the world, but is restricted within the US to free play while we await legislative moves, which once again seem to be heating up.
Heartland Poker Tour to Celebrate 200th Episode With $250K Prize Pool in Albuquerque
The Heartland Poker Tour, the nationally-syndicated poker show produced out of Fargo, North Dakota, is set to film its 200th episode on Monday, July 30 at Route 66 Casino in Albuquerque, NM. A $250,000 prize pool guarantee in the Main Event will ensure the landmark episode is action-packed. Poker pro Greg “Fossilman” Raymer will lend some star power to the event.
NorthBet Joins the Gambling911.com Family
NorthBet.ag has joined the Gambling911.com family just in time for the upcoming NFL season. Their “invite only” business model has quickly become one of the most effective ways to take care of preferred clients all across the industry.
Homeless Poker Players From US Have Hope From Poker Refugees
Following last year’s shock exits of PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker from the US market, the vast majority of poker pros have been left with few options in which to play online. While sites like Americas Cardroom welcome high stakes players by offering such enticements as a $60k Progressive Rake Race (a la “The Beast”), sites still catering to US players operate primarily using a recreational model.
Wynn Resorts 2Q Net Income Rises, but Revenue Down
By SAMANTHA BOMKAMP
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — (Associated Press) - Wynn Resorts Ltd. said Tuesday its second-quarter earnings rose from the same quarter last year, which was weighed down by a hefty charge. But revenue fell at its operations in both Las Vegas and the Asian gambling center of Macau.
Big Boss at Paddy Power Appears on ‘Undercover Boss’
Soon-to-be Head of Operations for Ireland’s biggest bookmaker Paddy Power, William Reeves, is currently appearing on tonight’s episode of “Undercover Boss”, airing in the UK.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission: No Addressing the Status of Absolute Poker, UB.com (Video)
General Counsel not asked about Absolute Poker payment status nor does he bring it up
SBR newswoman Natalie Rydström interviews Murray Marshall, General Counsel for the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Since 1999, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission has been the licensing and regulatory authority for Canadian interactive gaming companies. Mr. Marshall discusses in detail how the KGC operates.
What many people want to know is “What’s the status of UB.com and Absolute Poker”?
Lock Poker to Boost Online Support Beginning July 22
Lock Poker, which started its own online poker network June 1 (a rebranding of the Cake Network), has been overwhelmed by the sheer number of players that have come on board in recent weeks.
Skillbet.com The Newest ‘Legal’ Online Poker Site for US Players
Those living in the United States now have a new place in which to play online poker. Introducing Skillbet.com.
How is it legal, you ask.
Skillbet.com claims to remove the element of chance from the equation by pitting two poker players against one another.
888 Poker, Casino Revenue Stun Investors: Share Price Rises 14 Per Cent
The week ended solid for 888 Holdings, parent company of the world’s 4th largest online poker venture, 888Poker.com.
Stocks sored up 14 per cent on news that company profits were “materially ahead”, due in part to a strong presence in the Spain market.
The firm is now the second-biggest player in the Spanish poker market after PokerStars.
Las Vegas Visitation Up, Gambling Down
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Las Vegas saw slightly more visitors this May compared with the same month last year, although gambling was down more than 10 percent in Clark County.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says about 3.5 million visitors came to Las Vegas in May. That's 2.4 percent up from the same month last year, when 3.4 million people visited Sin City.
Caesars First Time Falling Below IPO
Gaming giant Caesars Entertainment has fallen slightly below its IPO price for the first time since it went public five months ago. At that time the stock had shot up 71 percent during its first day of trading, reaching a high of $17.90.
Paddy Power Passes Preliminary Review to Operate Online Gambling Site in Nevada
While it is yet to name a potential business partner from the US, the United Kingdom’s third largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, was granted a preliminary finding of suitability to operate in Nevada by state gaming regulators Wednesday.
"The U.S. is a key potential new market for us," Paddy Power Chief Executive Officer Patrick Kennedy said on Wednesday. "We're looking at all opportunities in the U.S., but our expertise is in online gaming. That's obviously what we're looking at doing in Nevada and in other states."
Texas Online Poker Payment Processor Agrees to Forfeit $6m
A Texas-based online poker payment processor indicted April 15, 2011 has agreed to forfeit $5 million.
LST Financial of San Antonio and managing director Gregory Colton also promised "not to knowingly provide, either directly or indirectly, payment processing services for Internet gambling, including Internet poker”.
The company claims it was duped into processing the payments by three online poker rooms that were also charged at the time, including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and UB.com.
PokerStars Full Tilt Poker Deal Still On Despite Rumors to the Contrary
PokerStars Head of Corporate Communications, Andrew Feldman, shot down rumors Wednesday that the company had backed out of a deal to purchase the assets of shuttered Full Tilt Poker. Stars was widely expected to pay back monies owed to players of the one time second largest online poker company in the world.
This tweet appeared late Wednesday:
Andrew Feldman @AFeldmanESPN
The Head of Corp Communications for @PokerStars @erichollreiser says the Twitter rumors of PS folding on the FTP deal is "false"
Liquidator Appointed for Purple Lounge Online Poker Room, Casino
The parent company of shuttered online poker and casino site Purple Lounge has appointed a liquidator, the UK firm of Chartered Accountants, Baker Tilly Restructuring and Recovery LLP. A creditors meeting will be held July 23.
Facebook Introduces New Game ‘Hotel Casino’
There has been much discussion this week over Facebook apps like Zynga’s Farmville and Texas Hold’em Poker offering real money play down the road. Add Hotel Casino to that list as it seems custom made for such a platform.
Hotel Casino is Facebook’s newest game, described as “allowing players to manage their own hotel casino, and play each other at their favorite casino games for simulated bets and rewards”.
Revel Ranks 8th of 12 Atlantic City Casinos 3rd Month in a Row
By Wayne Parry on July 10, 2012
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Three 8s is a lousy poker hand, and it's an equally inauspicious way to launch a casino.
Yet that's exactly what Revel has to show for itself after three months of operation, ranking 8th out of Atlantic City's 12 casinos in terms of gambling revenue in each of those months.
New Jersey's newest casino took in $14.9 million in June, up $1 million since May, when it took in $13.9 million. In April, its first month of operation, it won $13.4 million.
Gambling Company News and Tweets – July 10, 2012 (3 pm EST)
Here is all the latest Twitter chatter related to the gambling sector – poker, sports betting, financials, entertainment, politics and more. Be sure to follow Gambling911.com on TWITTER here to get all the latest updated gambling news as it happens.
Top Current Company News: Bwin Euro 2012 results, Betable.com, Zynga
Euro 2012 Marred Results at Bwin.Party
(Reuters) - Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment (BPTY.L), the world's largest listed online gaming group, said a run of predictable results in the Euro 2012 championship marred a solid performance in its casino and bingo operations in the second quarter.
The company said its trading performance since the beginning of April was broadly in line with expectations, with solid performances in bingo and casino being offset by continued pressures in poker.
Darvin Moon Blasts Epic Poker Head Jeffrey Pollack: He’s a Douchbag
2009 World Series of Poker Main Event runner up Darvin Moon has lashed out at former Epic Poker Chairman Jeffrey Pollack, accusing him of “f***ing up “ the Heartland Poker Tour, one of Epic’s only successful assets.
So Just Who Are The 5 Supporting Ray Bitar: Poker Boss Backers Should be Exposed
It came to light Monday night that Full Tilt Poker disgraced CEO Raymond Bitar was released after posting $2 million in cash and property to secure his $2.5 million bond. This included a warehouse owned by the one-time Internet poker kingpin.
None of this was entirely surprising. Immediately following his arrest at New York’s JFK Airport last week, a judge had indicated Bitar would be allowed out on bail.
Full Tilt Poker CEO Ray Bitar Released From Prison
The disgraced CEO of shuttered online poker company Full Tilt Poker has been released from prison after surrendering to law enforcement in the US last week.
Raymond Bitar was freed on $2.5 million bond only after agreeing to post $2 million in property to ensure he returns to U.S. District Court in Manhattan when prompted to do so.
