Business & Financial
Free Online Poker Las Vegas Casino South Point Joins the G911 Family
Gambling911.com is thrilled to announce that South Point Poker, the first online poker website run by a Las Vegas casino operator, has joined our family of fine partners.
Sportingbet Has Sold Its Turkish Business to GVC Sports
Following news this week that takeover talks involving Ladbrokes had fallen through, Sportingbet has sold its Turkish sports betting business to GVC Sports for €142.5m. Gambling restrictions in that nation forced the sale.
Andy McIver, Sportingbet’s chief executive, offered the following statement:
“Given our other big markets, Spain and Greece, have recently regulated their gambling markets, Turkey was the one which stood out [and] that has often been cited as an overhang on our equity,” he said. “So it was a question of when, not if.”
Verisign Wants Power to Seize Domains: ACLU Says “Not So Fast”
In the wake of a number of Internet gambling websites and music downloading website having their domains seized, Verisign has signaled they would like to pursue the policy even further.
Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results with Game-Changing Public Relations
Zynga Distances Itself From Facebook
The popular free online poker and gaming site Zynga has announced it is diversifying its business beyond Facebook with a focus on its own Web platform.
The move makes sense. Facebook currently takes a 30 percent cut of Zynga’s business.
Zynga chief executive Mark Pincus said of the company’s new direct-to-consumer strategy, called Zynga Direct, that it will allow “a direct relationship with consumers… where we can give you a whole sandbox and create socialness around the games.”
Four new games will debut as part of the new platform, including bingo.
Up, Up and Away: Merge, Lock Poker Begin Accepting New Customers Worldwide
Merge Poker to Begin Accepting New US Players Again Tonight?
PokerUpdate.com is reporting that the Merge Poker Network will once again start accepting new players from the US with the exception of certain states such as New York and Maryland as early as Midnight October 12.
The site claims to have sources close to the company who confirmed the time while noting that “some details are still unconfirmed”. Gambling911.com has not independently confirmed these details.
Everleaf Poker Peak Traffic Rises in October
With 126 online poker skins associated with the network, the most in online poker today, Everleaf should be among the top 10 networks in terms of overall traffic. It is not.
Everleaf just happens to be one of the only US-facing Internet poker rooms.
That said, PokerScout.com observed a fairly significant increase in peak traffic during the month of October compared to previous months.
Alderney Gambling Control Commission Talks Full Tilt Poker With J Todd (Video)
J. Todd of Perspectives Weekly was on hand at the Global Gaming Expo this past week where he managed to grab an interview with Andre Wilsenach, the CEO of Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC). The AGCC last week revoked Full Tilt Poker’s license.
Ladbrokes Ends Acquisition Talks With Sportingbet
Ladbrokes and Sportingbet announced on Monday the two gambling firms have terminated merger talks as part of a mutual agreement.
A statement from Sportingbet on Monday said: “The boards of Sportingbet and Ladbrokes agreed to end discussions as the parties were unable to agree either a suitable structure or one that delivered sufficient value to shareholders in a meaningful time frame.”
Daniel Tzvetkoff to be Star Witness in Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars Trial
Australian entrepreneur Daniel Tzvetkoff will act as a star witness in the trial of 10 men charged in connection with the operation of three giants in the online poker sector – Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and Absolute Poker.
MGM CEO: “Time has Come for Legalized Online Poker”
MGM CEO Jim Murren on Wednesday delivered the key note address at this year’s Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. As part of his address, Murren urged Congress to legalize Internet poker, predicting it would help, not hurt, the US economy.
“We feel the time for talking is over and that the time for action is right now,” Murren told attendees.
Full Tilt Poker Faces Another Law Suit
Yet another lawsuit has been filed against Full Tilt Poker, this one by Cardroom International.
A statement was issued by the company:
Revealed: Lock Poker Puts Its Pros Up In French Castle
Lock Poker pros from throughout Europe and North America had something to be excited about this week as they were treated to exclusive use of a centuries old French castle just outside of Lyon.
“There are going to be many more of these events upcoming,” Lock CEO Jennifer Larson told the nearly 50 guests in attendance. “We are all a family and you are all going to get a taste of the Lock treatment.”
The Gambling911.com crew was also invited to stay at the fabulous Chateau de Bagnols castle.
Michael Gaughan Online Poker Site Approved by Nevada Gaming Board
The highly anticipated debut of the South Point Hotel and Casino online poker site comes with the blessing of the Nevada Gaming Board.
SouthPointPoker.com, a website developed by our good friends at Level Media, entered the play-for-fun-while-we-wait-for-legislation-in-the-US market on Wednesday.
Michael Gaughan’s property in the first US-based casino operation to open an Internet poker room in the US.
Lock Poker Retreat Comes to a Close
The highly anticipated Lock Poker retreat has completed with everyone leaving Thursday morning. Gambling911.com will not discuss details of this incredible event until after everyone has departed.
Some of us at Gambling911.com closed the party Wednesday night with a little dancing but Wednesday was a fun-filled day, which began with a hot air balloon flight followed by a horse and carriage excursion followed by a wine tasting at two different vineyards (7 taste tests) then an amazing dinner and dancing. We were all up by 6:30 am and most of us went to bed by 3 am.
G911 Exclusive: A Sneak Peak at the South Point Casino New Online Poker Room
The very first Las Vegas casino to launch its own online poker room is South Point Casino and that takes place later on Thursday (October 5, 2011). However, Gambling911.com has been provided with an exclusive look at the new site here.
Level Media was the agency selected by South Point to build the new online poker room. It is now live.
South Point Poker will offer a play-for-free registration online poker platform in anticipation of legalization within the USA.
Lock Poker is Full of Hot Air….Literally!
Today, Gambling911.com and the Lock Poker pros woke up at the crack of dawn. Well actually it wasn’t quite dawn and many of us had not yet fallen asleep.
Tuesday evening’s sunset hot air balloon flights were postponed until the early AM on Wednesday due to high winds in the region. So basically, the late Tuesday night dinner, drinking and poker-for-fun event ran right into the hot air balloon flights. Hence, there were a few drunkards taking flight in the early AM hours.
PartyPoker Builds Strong Margin Between It and iPoker Network
The battle over number two has been won by PartyPoker for the time being as it builds a solid 500 player lead over its closest competitor iPoker. The two online poker sites have been battling to be the second largest ever since Full Tilt Poker was shut down on June 29.
Throughout much of last month, iPoker had occupied the number two spot. In recent weeks, Party has taken over and it now has since build the largest margin between it and the iPoker Network since the FTP closure.
Situation Looking Bleak Again for Those Owed by Full Tilt Poker
Hopes appear to be dashed that French investors Bernard and Laurent Tapie can save shuttered online poker room Full Tilt Poker, at least where payment to customers is concerned.
Alderney Gambling Control Commission Tells Full Tilt Poker Players to Notify Local Police
Betfair Scandal: Critical Credit Card Hacking Data Withheld From Players
The world’s largest betting exchange, Betfair, has found itself in the middle of a major scandal that resulted in the firm’s Head of Security stepping down.
More than three million customers were affected by a massive credit card hacking scheme. The company made the situation worse by failing to advise customers. The hacking incident in question occurred over 18 months ago.
Full Tilt Poker’s Raymond Bitar Challenges US Justice Department
It seems a little late but Full Tilt Poker founder Raymond Bitar has now filed a claim against forfeiture allegations by the US Justice Department. Bitar and another executive of the company were both charged with money laundering and bank fraud on April 15. Bank accounts and homes belonging to Bitar were seized by US Feds.
From PokerWorks.com:
Full Tilt Poker Acquisition Right Now Just a Prelude Stresses Attorney
An attorney for the embattled online poker company Full Tilt Poker stressed to the New York Times Friday afternoon that a potential sale of the company was still in the initial stages.
It was “merely a prelude to a formal acquisition, pending resolution of the civil suit”. Players waiting since April 15 to see their funds will likely still have to endure a long wait and there are no guarantees this deal will not ultimately fall through.
Still, affected customers have more to grasp onto than they did yesterday.
French Business Tycoon Bernard Tapie Agrees to Buy Full Tilt Poker on Condition
French business tycoon Bernard Tapie has agreed to buy Full Tilt Poker on condition that it settles legal concerns in the US. Executives of what was once the world’s second largest online poker room were indicted on April 15, charged with money laundering and bank fraud.
Full Tilt has also said there is a plan in place to repay deposits of players worldwide, which suggests that any winnings will not be paid.
Chili Poker Moves Into US Market
Chili Poker is the latest European-based online poker site to delve into the US market.
No, they won’t be offering real cash poker. Chili will be opening a free to play social networking online poker venture.
Players will be able to utilize a virtual currency system.
Obviously, Chili Poker is positioning itself to gain a solid foothold in the US market should the activity become legal at the federal level as it applies to real cash play.
Alderney Revokes Full Tilt Poker License
The Alderney Gambling Control Commission as expected as revoked the license for Full Tilt Poker.
The AGCC had yanked the license on June 29 after Full Tilt Poker failed to pay its US customers following indictments against two executives by the US Justice Department. They were charged with money laundering and bank fraud.
Since that time Full Tilt Poker has failed to pay players across the world including Europe.
