Business & Financial
Everleaf Gaming Skin Luvin Poker: ‘DOJ Did Not Seize Our Funds’
In what has been a hectic and harrowing 48 hours for customers of the Everleaf Gaming Network, finally some clarity came from Jennifer Winters, a spokesperson for what is widely believed to be the network’s second largest room, Luvin Poker.
Winters sent out an email to customers of the online card room essentially denying initial reports that the Department of Justice had seized the company’s funds as previously reported.
World Poker Exchange Shuts Down
In an ominous sign of things to come at World Sports Exchange, the struggling online poker site’s World Poker Exchange has announced it is closing its doors for good.
WSEX.com has engaged in slow payouts over the past two years and is believed to owe players close to one million dollars.
At last check, the online poker room only had an average of 10 reach cash players at any given time during the week.
The following message was sent out to customers and affiliates on Friday.
Churchill Downs Buys Bluff Media
Churchill Downs Incorporated announced today that it acquired the assets of Bluff Media, an Atlanta-based multimedia poker content, brand and publishing company. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Bluff Media's assets include:
-- the industry-leading poker periodical, BLUFF Magazine;
-- BLUFF Magazine's online counterpart, BluffMagazine.com;
-- ThePokerDB, a comprehensive online database and resource that tracks and ranks the performance of poker players and tournaments;
Golden Nugget Latest to Launch Free-Play Online Poker Site With ChiliGaming
The Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas will be the second Sin City property to launch a free-to-play online poker site in so many months.
Full Tilt Poker Suitors Now Having Doubts: Postpone Re-Launch Date
French firm Group Bernard Tapie (GBT) is now doubting the viability of Full Tilt Poker, once the second largest online poker room in the world.
The company revealed FTP’s financial woes were much worse than originally believed. Group Bernard Tapie accuses Full Tilt Poker pros of owing approximately $17 million to the firm.
Everleaf Leaves US Market
The Everleaf Poker Network has left the US market and there are questions regarding the solvency of this poker network and whether customers in the rest of the world are safe playing here.
While a representative from Everleaf’s largest online poker skin, MintedPoker, suggested on Thursday that this is due to the current legal environment, others have speculated that the company could be having cash flow issues, perhaps brought on by a payment processor shutdown. It should be noted that Everleaf has been slow paying customers outside the US over the past month.
Vegas Stripped: South Point Casino Reality TV Show Debuts on Travel Channel (Video)
Vegas Stripped debuted on the Travel Channel last night (February 8, 2012) at 10 pm PST. It is a reality show that looks behind the scenes of the inner workings of Las Vegas’ South Point Casino.
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Makes Out Big With Caesars IPO...And Wynn?
Among those who benefitted from Wednesday’s debut of Caesars Entertainment on the Nasdaq trading platform was none other than New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
While Kraft may have suffered a pretty huge loss Sunday, his luck changed with the Caesars IPO and his $1.3 million stake. Shares rose dramatically Wednesday afternoon.
World Sports Exchange $700k Behind on Payouts (Video)
SBR Forum video analyst Peter Loshak breaks down the latest sportsbook industry news with troubled World Sports Exchange (WSEX.com) at the forefront.
Caesars Begins Trading Wednesday: Goes Public and Floated with 1.4 Million Shares
Casino giant Caesars Entertainment Corp. went public on Wednesday (February 8, 2012), with its stock price surging 71 percent after completing an initial public offering.
The IPO was significantly reduced from its 2010 attempt.
William Hill Becomes Official Sponsor of England Football Team
The United Kingdom’s largest bookmaker, William Hill, has been confirmed as an official sponsor of the England football team.
Peter Daire, the FA's Head of Sponsorship, said:
"We are delighted to have William Hill on board.
PartyPoker has Biggest Cushion Between It and iPoker Network Since Summer
PartyPoker has pulled far ahead of the iPoker Network to take firm control of the number two spot for most trafficked online poker rooms in the world. Since the shut down of Full Tilt Poker last June, Party and iPoker have alternated between the number two and three spot. Until recently, the highest peak difference between the two rooms was around 250 average real cash players.
Zynga Rigging Poker Games?
The world’s largest online poker room, Zynga Poker, is being accused of rigging poker games.
The free-to-play poker application came under fire on social news website Reddit.com by a former contractor.
From PokerUpdate.com:
Record Breaking Run Continues at 888
LONDON (SHARECAST) - Online gaming solutions provider 888 said trading in 2012 has continued at record levels, building on the strong performance in the final quarter of 2011.
Fourth quarter revenue was up 28% to $91m from $71m in the corresponding quarter of 2010.
As at 31 December 2011, 888 had 10.6m casino, poker and sport registered customer accounts, excluding those running virtual "try before you buy" accounts, representing an increase of 22% from 31 December 2010.
Former Singer, Drug Addict Robbie Williams Helps Launch Online Poker Site
Famed pop singer and former drug addict Robbie Williams is lending his face and name to a newly launched online poker site, drawing criticism from Liberal Democrat MP Tessa Munt and others.
Ms. Munt told The Daily Mail: 'I’m outraged by this. It directly targets his fans, including children. The money he makes should go to addiction charities.'
Subject Poker Shut Down
The popular, and sometimes controversial, poker news website SubjectPoker.com has shut down. Reason:
Editor Noah Stephens-Davidowitz and Subject: Poker co-founder, Thomas Bakker are starting their own online poker security firm, it was revealed on Monday.
While not a prolific website, the detailed reports on such things as the status of Full Tilt Poker proved interesting.
Super Bowl Safety Cuts Into Sportsbook Profits
Sunday’s Super Bowl safety hurt the sportsbooks bottom line both in Vegas and across the Web.
At MGM, one lucky sports bettor reportedly made off with $50,000 after placing a $1000 wager on the safety being the first scoring play.
And there was more.
Lock Poker Signs Pedro "pls3betme" Maia
Lock is excited to announce the new addition to their LockPRO ELITE team.
South Florida Destination Resorts Casino Bill Dead
Local7 in South Florida on Friday was reporting that the bill authorizing three destination resort casinos in South Florida abruptly died in a House of Representatives subcommittee Friday morning when the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, asked that it be temporarily postponed.
Wikileaks Exposes Sheldon Adelson: Cable Discusses ‘Missteps’ in China
Casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp. is under federal investigation into whether it has complied with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and a recently uncovered Wikileaks cable suggests Adelson may be in some hot water in China as well.
Adelson is alleged to have “bribed” foreign officials in exchange for lucrative business deals. His casino empire enjoys a massive presence in the Asian gambling Mecca of Macua.
From Salon.com:
Bwin.Party Responds to DOJ Megaupload.com Complaint
The world’s largest Internet gambling company, Bwin.Party, responded to the US Department of Justice complaint that mentions its role as part of the high profile Megaupload.com indictment. Megaupload.com, a file hosting service, was taken down two weeks ago. The DOJ has accused the website of engaging in copyright infringement and pirating.
Bwin.Party had advertised on the service and was named in the complaint as a result. The gaming firm insisted it had terminated the contract with Megaupload.com once it became aware of the file sharing company’s activities.
Fertitta Interactive the Latest Company Seeking to Run Online Poker Room
Fertitta Interactive, which late last year purchased California online gaming company CyberArts Licensing LLC., announced Thursday it is seeking a license to operate a real money online poker room within the United States.
Macau Gambling Revenue Rises 35 Percent in January 2012: Casinos in General Have Great Month
Casino companies gained after revenue in Macau, the world's largest gambling hub, rose 35 percent in January (2012). MGM Resorts International climbed 0.7 percent to $13.14. Las Vegas Sands Corp. increased 0.8 percent to $49.50.
Third Straight Week Drop for Online Poker Traffic
Online poker traffic the world over fell 0.6 percent this week according to PokerScout.com.
Atlantic City’s Newest Casino Revel to Impose Term Limits on Employees
If you are thinking about getting a job at the all new Revel Casino in Atlantic City, you might want to think twice.
Newly hired employees of the Revel Casino will be subject to term limits of four to six years, just like some politicians. At the end of said term, employees will have to re-apply.
The policy will "attract the most highly professional people who are inspired by a highly competitive work environment," Revel wrote in a statement.
Magic KingDOME: Wife of Purple Lounge Casino Director Must Stand Trial After Disney 'Toilet" Incident
The wife of Media Corp PLC Non-Executive Director Chris Gorman will be forced to stand trial after an alleged sexual encounter and assault in an Orlando, Florida nightclub bathroom this past August.
Breaking News: Full Tilt Poker Class Action Suit Thrown Out
The Ifrah law firm won a favorable ruling on behalf of Full Tilt companies and the individual poker professionals who were named as defendants in the first class action suit brought by former U.S. Players in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York last summer.
888 Holdings, Caesars Extend Online Gambling Agreement
Online gambling firm 888 Holdings and Caesars Entertainment Corp on Tuesday announced they have extended a licensing agreement that would allow Caesars to utilize 888’s Internet poker software in the United States.
888 said the agreement would see its arm, Dragonfish, power a selection of private poker brands of Caesars, one of the largest casino operators in the United States and owner of the famed Caesars Palace, once online gaming is permitted under the new regulatory regime.
Player Panel Comes to Terms With PokerStars Over Rake Structure Change
After weeks of planned player boycotts and outrage in the online poker community over PokerStars change in its rake structure, a panel assembled by members of the popular poker forum TwoPlusTwo.com have arrived at a compromise.
Rank £250 Million Offer for Gala Coral
Rank has reportedly offered £250 Million to rival Gala Coral as part of a potential acquisition bid. Should it go through, the combined company would become the biggest casino chain in Great Britain.
Rank currently operates 35 gambling establishments while Gala has a total of 24 casinos.
In a statement, Rank said: “The terms of any such acquisition have not been finalised and there is no certainty a transaction will occur.”
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
