Gambling Companies
Gambling Companies, Gambling Stocks
Source Close to IGT Proxy Fight Gives Skinny on Tuesday’s Critical Vote
Gambing911.com Senior International Correspondent Jenny Woo had an opportunity Friday to speak to someone intimately close to the IGT power struggle that will culminate on Tuesday into a final vote that determines a potential new makeup of the world’s leading slot manufacturer’s board.
Revolution Poker Launches Fair Play Technology, Lock Lifts Player Segregation
Gambling911.com can report that the largest US-facing online poker network (also accepting players from around the world), Revolution Poker Network, has just launched Fair Play technology
What is Fair Play Technology?
The new feature groups players into three categories (recreational, normal and advanced) whereby each category of players represents roughly 33 percent of the active Network player liquidity.
William Hill Buys Out Online Partner Playtech
(Reuters) - William Hill is to pay 424 million pounds ($643 million) for full control of its online business, marking an acceleration of the expansion of Britain's largest bookmaker.
The deal to buy out the 29 percent stake in William Hill Online held by software company Playtech was the company's second major deal in the past three months.
It has already agreed to pay 460 million pounds for the Australian and Spanish operations of online gambling company Sportingbet, deal set to complete on March 19.
US States Race to Capture Online Gambling Bonanza
(Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie this week finally approved online gaming in the Garden State. Now comes the hard part: banding together with other states to attract more gamblers, drive up jackpots and lure players away from offshore websites.
Bitcoin ‘Best Performing Currency Year-to-Date’
Bitcoin, used by a small number of online casino operators, is being touted as the “best performing currency year-to-day” according to Tyler Durden of ZeroHedge.com.
Durden writes:
Girls Gone Wild Goes Bankrupt in Wake of Wynn-Francis Lawsuit
The company that produces racy videos of half naked women dancing and drinking has filed for bankruptcy. “Girls Gone Wild” filed for bankruptcy protection citing $16 million in debts, according to court papers obtained by Reuters on Thursday.
The franchise’s founder, Joe Francis, owes a $10.3 million debt to Las Vegas gambling magnate Steve Wynn according to papers filed in U.S. federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Analyst Paints Rosey Outlook for Zynga
Joseph Stauff of Susquehanna Financial Group believes the “sky is the limit for Zynga” in the wake of a third state this week legalizing “real money” online gambling.
That state is New Jersey. Governor Chris Christie signed a measure legalizing Web gambling for those logging on within the state. Because New Jersey is within an easy reach of two major metropolitan centers, the industry could potentially tap into a market that nearly doubles the Garden State’s population of 9 million.
Atlantic City Casino Shares Up on NJ Internet Gambling News
(Reuters) - The legalization of online gambling in New Jersey gave a boost to shares of Caesars Entertainment Corp and Boyd Gaming Corp, on expectations that this will revive business in Atlantic City, the second-biggest U.S. gaming destination.
The companies, which together account for more than 60 percent of Atlantic City's gaming revenue, would benefit from new gaming rules that give preference to existing New Jersey casino operators in issuing online gaming licenses.
Gambling Companies, Zynga Shares Get Boost With Christie Decision
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signing a bill that would legalize online gambling in the state gave publicly traded casino and bookmakers a much needed boost.
Zynga, which plans to offer “real money” Web poker by year’s end or early 2014, witnessed a 3 percent rise on top of a 15 percent increase witnessed over the past week. The world’s largest free-to-play online poker company has been on a roll ever since Nevada legalized interstate Web gambling last week.
Chris Christie on Legalizing Web Poker: ‘A Critical Decision’
Speaking to John Brennan of NorthJersey.com Tuesday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie had this to say regarding his decision to legalize Web gamblnig in the Garden State: “This was a critical decision, and one that I did not make lightly."
Christie, who had sat on previous bills up to the final hours, signed this third reincarnation within minutes of it hitting his desk.
More IGT Talent Jumping Ship: Competition Snatching Them Up
Last week, Gambling911.com and other media outlets reported on how IGT continued to lose some of its best talent over the past year. On March 5, shareholders will determine whether new members join the board as part of a nasty proxy fight brought on by investor Jason Ader.
Zynga Will Bring Online Gambling to the Masses, CEO Claims
Zynga CEO Mark Pincus insists that Zynga will help bring the online gambling industry to the next level. His company’s share price has seen a 15 percent jump in the past couple of days, fuelled, at least in part, by news that the state of Nevada will now allow interstate Web gambling.
From Cnet.com:
Zynga Shares May Gain Further Momentum as Christie to Sign Web Gambling Bill
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has said he will sign a bill into law legalizing online gambling once it hits his desk either Wednesday or Thursday of this week, and all eyes will be on the world’s largest free-to-play Internet poker site Zynga.
That company’s shares rose 15 percent to $3.67 Monday morning, representing the single biggest intraday gain since February 8. Zynga’s shares were already up 35 percent on the year.
Why the surge?
Something Fishy: Lock Poker Partitions Players for Improved Ecology
Lock Poker is the latest online site to begin partitioning (or segregating) players. In other words they are separating the so-called “fish” from the high stakes players, also known as “sharks” on the other smaller sharks rooms.
A Lock Poker representative tells Gambling911.com in an exclusive interview that these changes were necessary, and it has absolutely nothing to do with liquidity issues, as some have speculated.
"We segregated because we need to protect our recreational player base," the rep said.
Slots vs. Online Gambling Focus of IGT Proxy Battle: Comes to Head March 5
A March 5 annual meeting will determine the fate of the world’s largest slot manufacture’s board.
Investor Jason Ader is embroiled in a nasty proxy fight with IGT’s current management. Ader wants to place his own hand-picked executives on the board.
He also feels the company has lost its focus.
Ladbrokes Gaining Ground in Online Gambling
(Reuters) - Ladbrokes, Britain's second-largest bookmaker, expects to see payback this year from a 50 million pound ($77 million investment in an online business that had failed to keep pace with rivals.
While growing numbers of people are gambling via smartphones and tablet computers, Ladbrokes has been hit by delays upgrading its technology. It has lost ground to market leader William Hill in online and faced competition from smaller rivals.
IGT’s Best Talent Have Been Jumping Ship: Endorse Ader Move
With the turmoil at IGT, some of that company’s best talent have decided to walk away.
PokerStars to Open Macau’s Largest Branded Poker Room at City of Dreams
ONCHAN, ISLE OF MAN –– PokerStars will launch a branded live poker room at City of Dreams, one of Asia’s leading integrated entertainment resorts offering the foremost in premium world-class leisure, gaming and entertainment, establishing Macau’s largest dedicated poker room to meet the growing interest and demand in poker in Asia.
IGT Urged to Commence 'Dutch Auction' Tender Offer
NEW YORK -- Orange Capital, LLC (“Orange Capital”), a New York-based investment firm, has issued a second open letter (text below) to the Board of Directors of International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) (“IGT” or the “Company”) in response to the Company’s recent share price performance and election contest with the Ader Group:
The full text of the letter follows:
February 20, 2013
Philip G. Satre Chairman of the Board International Game Technology 6355 South Buffalo Drive Las Vegas, Nevada 89113
Dear Mr. Satre:
The Plane Truth: IGT CEO Appeared to Use Company Jet for Private Use
In Grave Turmoil: That’s not what IGT, the world’s largest slots manufacturer, stands for, but it may as well be.
Forbes.com on Wednesday published a scathing report that seems to suggest IGT CEO Patti Hart may have used a company jet for her own personal use.
Hart is currently embroiled in a nasty proxy fight with investor Jason Ader, who is seeking to wrestle away control and plant three of his own executives upon the board.
Institutional Shareholder Services Backs Ader Group in IGT Proxy Battle
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) recommends that shareholders of International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) use the GOLD proxy card to vote at the company’s March 5th annual meeting. ISS is one of the nation’s leading independent proxy voting advisory firms, providing voting recommendations to thousands of pension and mutual funds and other institutional investors.
Fahrenkopf on Christie’s Obama ‘French Kiss’, House Web Poker Bill in 2 Weeks
Appearing on the Ralston Report Tuesday evening, outgoing American Gaming Association chief Frank Fahrenkopf blasted New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for what he called an “overboard” reaction to US President Barack Obama’s visit to the Garden State following Super Storm Sandy’s massive destruction.
“He kissed him. He didn’t have to French-kiss him. I think he went overboard.”
Revel Casino in Atlantic City to File for Bankruptcy Protection
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) -- Revel, the casino many people had hoped would turn around Atlantic City's sagging fortunes, said Tuesday that it will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March, less than a year after it opened.
The voluntary, prepackaged bankruptcy envisioned for late March will wipe away about two-thirds of its $1.5 billion in debt by converting more than $1 billion of it into equity for lenders.
Kevin DeSanctis, Revel's CEO, said the restructuring will give the casino resort more flexibility to operate.
PokerRoom.com Shuts Down Again
A year after it reopened. Ongame skin PokerRoom.com has shut its doors once again.
Customers can move their funds to parent company party.bwin, which has assured them that their funds are safe.
A forum community associated with PokerRoom.com, Pokah, has also been shuttered.
No advance warning was apparently provided.
PokerRoom.com initially launched in 1999 and was one of the very first online poker rooms. It was purchased by Bwin in 2005 prior to that company’s merger with PartyGaming.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
IGT Employee: ‘I Feel Like a Battered Wife Who Can’t Leave My Husband’
CEO forces staff to drink liquid concentrate forms of coffee while she insists on having her's freshly ground. Does not talk to employees face-to-face.
As if the situation weren’t complicated enough with a proxy battle underway at IGT, the world’s largest slots manufacturer employees have begun reaching out to Gambling911.com offering their own personal horror stories as to what it is like working for the beleaguered gaming firm.
Alabama Casino VictoryLand Raided
MONTGOMERY, Ala. Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange announced Tuesday morning that gambling machines and cash were seized at VictoryLand casino in Macon County.
VictoryLand’s developer and others involved with the casino were charged last year with vote selling. The casino had previously been shut down in 2010 after a crackdown by then-governor Bob Riley.
A release from Strange's office made mention of a months-long investigation into electronic bingo machines that authorities determined were illegal.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
Hart Attacked! Forbes Stops Short of Calling IGT CEO ‘Incompetent’
A Forbes.com piece published online Monday questions whether Patti Hart can maintain her post as CEO of the world’s largest slot manufacturer IGT.
Hart is currently embroiled in a nasty proxy battle with Jason Ader, whose group is attempting to place three of its own handpicked individuals on the IGT board and, presumably, remove Ms. Hart.
PokerStars Now Refers Poker Players to Morningside Recovery After G911 Story
Following Gambling911.com’s Senior International Correspondent Jenny Woo’s interview with Morningside Recovery’s gambling addiction specialist Dr. Elizabeth Waterman, Psy.D, the world’s largest online poker site, PokerStars, has begun referring their own pros to this prestigious organization.
Las Vegas Review Journal Picks Up on G911 IGT-Bringit Exclusive
The IGT proxy fight is getting uglier by the day, even with a national holiday occurring in the States.
The Las Vegas Review Journal picked up on Gambling911.com’s exclusive whereby IGT CEO Patti Hart failed to disclose material information to all investors that a Silicon Valley-based investment bank where her husband is a top executive oversaw the slot machine maker's purchase of a small social gaming technology company last year.
Why Zynga Fell Hard Tuesday: Abusive Short Selling Uncovered
Just after Gambling911.com reported on how online gaming company Zynga had been flying high on the stock market, its share price collapsed by nearly 12 percent with volume three times the norm.
