Crime
Germany Targets Online Gamblers: Fines Man €65,000
A 25-year-old German blackjack player has been fined €65,000 for patronizing a Gibraltar-based site that holds a United Kingdom license. The player in question had amassed €201,500 in winnings this past summer.
Poker Staking Could Be in Trouble in Nevada With New Bill Introduced
A new bill in Nevada could threaten staking deals in poker.
SB 40 aims to reduce money laundering in sports betting but the impact could be felt among poker players who depend on the deals to hedge high variances experienced during live tournaments.
From PokerFuse.com:
Malaise in Malaysia as Government Officials Clash Over Phua FBI Letters
It just keeps getting uglier in the world of Malaysian politics as it pertains to millionaire businessman and poker pro Paul Phua.
PA Drilling Exec Faces 7 Years Behind Bars for Embezzling $9 Mil to Gamble
A one-time chief operating officer for a Western Pennsylvania drilling company is facing more than seven years behind bars when he is sentenced for embezzlement Friday.
Fifty-four-year-old Larry Dean Winckler pleaded guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud and income tax fraud in February and was to be sentenced in July but the sentencing was then delayed for more than six months.
Judge Drafts Decision in Phau Case Involving FBI ‘Cable Repair’ Ruse: Appeal Likely
A federal judge says she will issue a ruling over the next few days as to whether it was illegal for undercover FBI agents to shut off Internet service and pose as cable repairmen in an effort infiltrate a global World Cup betting ring.
Sports Agent Drew Rosenhaus’ Wife Partied Hard With Dan Bilzerian Before Fight
A Sunday night altercation between sports mega agent Drew Rosenhaus and his estranged wife Lisa Thompson may have been spurred on by her hard partying with poker and Instagram Playboy Dan Bilzerian.
Police were called to the Rosenhaus Miami Beach residence Sunday night to calm the situation.
The New York Daily News obtained a copy of the police report.
Motorcycle Gang’s Existence Revolved Around Meth, Gambling, Prosecutors Claim
A Mount Clemens, Michigan national motorcycle gang, the Devil’s Diciples, is accused of running an elaborate meth, gambling, theft and violence ring. Six individuals have been charged and are currently standing trial in connection with the scheme. 35 others are named in a federal indictment and all are in custody.
DOJ Settles in Fake Facebook Case: All Eyes on Paul Phua Cable Tech Ruse
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has reached a $134,000 settlement with a New York woman after federal drug agents used information from her cellphone to set up a fake Facebook page in her identity, a tactic that raised privacy concerns and led to a federal government review of the ruse, according to court papers filed Tuesday.
Mortgage Scammer Pleads Guilty for Operating Illegal Sports Betting Ring
FARGO, North Dakota — (Associated Press) - A Minnesota man accused of running an illegal gambling operation in North Dakota has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.
Court documents show Gerald Greenfield, of Bloomington, Minnesota, plans to plead guilty to transmitting wager information and money laundering. KFGO-AM reports that details of the plea agreement have not been released.
Greenfield is charged in federal court with three counts, including conducting a sports betting business and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Man Sentenced for Internet Poker Fraud: Ordered to Return £1 million
Poker pro Darren “DooshCom” Woods has been sentenced to 15 months prison time for an online poker fraud he committed between the period January 2007 to 2012. His father was also implicated in the criminal activity.
Investigation Widens Into Footballer Michael McIndoe and Gambling Exploits
Former Scotland B international footballer Michael McIndoe is accused of recruiting other players into investment ventures which collapsed and the United Kingdom's biggest bookmaker has turned over all relevant information tied to McIndoe's betting account for investigating authorities.
Colorado The Latest US State to Want Legalized Sports Betting: Success With Pot
Colorado’s biggest bookie made millions. His high profile bust has lawmakers insisting that sports betting in the state should be legalized.
And no state should know better the potential for industries on the fringe. Colorado, after all, has witnessed a massive windfall following its legalization of marijuana only a year ago.
Ho Nephew Arrested for Involvement in Prostitution Ring
A nephew of Macau Gambling tycoon Stanley Ho has been arrested for suspicion of running a massive prostitution ring from the gambling Mecca.
Alan Ho, a long time senior manager at SJM Holdings, was charged along with five others on Saturday with running the ring from one of the company’s largest properties, the Lisboa Hotel.
Paul Phua and Son Prohibited From Playing Poker: Judge’s Order
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — A judge says a Malaysian businessman and his son can't play poker at Las Vegas casinos while they await a ruling on whether the FBI illegally entered their hotel suites to investigate what prosecutors say was a $13 million illegal Internet gambling ring.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl Hoffman said Thursday he won't lift an order for Wei Seng "Paul" Phua and his son, Darren Wai Kit Phua, not to gamble while they're free on a combined $2.5 million bail.
Pay Per Head Sites Down Due to DoS: PayPerHead.com Vows to Stay Up
In recent weeks a new spate of Denial of Service attacks has taken down online gambling sites, most notably Internet poker rooms. But Pay Per Head sites have also been the targets of these distributed attacks during one of the most critical periods of the year.
Convicted Denver ‘Biggest’ Bookie Kerwin Sande Gets 15 Months Prison Time
One of Denver’s biggest bookies, Kerwin Sande, has been sentenced to 15 months behind bars.
Sande was charged back in August with running a multi-million dollar sports betting ring called Play Fast Sports. It catered to some of the Denver area’s most well known individuals and establishments.
Ex-Fraternal Order of Police President Pleads Guilty in $300 Mil Gambling Ring Case
A former President of the Fraternal Order of Police in Jacksonville, Florida has plead guilty for his involvement in a $300 million gambling scheme.
He was indicted on 100 counts, plead guilty to two felonies and one misdemeanor.
Malaysian Official Accused of ‘Atrocious English’ Paul Phua Letter: G911 Investigates
The soap opera involving Malaysian poker pro Paul Phua continues and keeps getting more surreal by the day.
Sports Betting ‘Consultant to the Stars’ Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ in Bizarre Threat Case
(Associated Press) - A Florida sports betting consultant pleaded not guilty Monday to allegations that he threatened a Wisconsin customer into giving him more than $25 million.
Adam Meyer, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., appeared with his attorney in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee. Meyer's trial was set for March 16, and a judge continued his $1 million signature bond.
Bitcoin or Bit Con: $730 Million Bitcoin Heist May Have Been Inside Job
As more and more online gambling websites mull over the anonymous digital currency bitcoin, there appears to be good reason why said companies have had reservations up to this point.
Business Insider in the UK reports that Japanese authorities are investigating whether a $730 million heist this past year could have been an inside job.
‘Sopranos’ Bada Bing Strip Club Robbed for Second Time in Just One Month
New Jersey’s famed Bada Bing Strip Club, featured prominently in the HBO mobster series “The Sopranos”, has been hit by a second robbery in just under a one month period.
Malaysian Police Were Wrong Regarding Paul Phua 14K Triad Connections
Officials are pointing the finger at Malaysian police for “getting it wrong” about gambling czar and poker pro Paul Phua’s alleged involvement with the Hong Kong-based transnational organized criminal outfit 14K Triad.
Canadian Mass Murderer Had Massive Gambling Debts
A man charged with killing eight people in Edmonton, Canada this week had piled up huge gambling debts and was forced to file bankruptcy last February after running up a debt of nearly C$500,000 (NZ$551,124).
Malaysian Official Intervenes in Federal Case Against Poker Pro Paul Phua
A high ranking Malaysian government official has intervened in a federal case involving poker pro Paul Phua and his son Darren. Phua is a Malaysian businessman who is facing prison time and potential deportation back to his native country.
Dan Bilzerian, Sheldon Adelson and Phil Ivey: The Year in Gambling 2014 Top Stories
It’s that time of year that everybody dreads – the Top 10 Stories of the past 12 months. But everyone is doing it, regardless of the industry, so we shall as well.
Art Dealer Helly Nahmad Spotted for First Time Following Release From Prison
Billionaire art dealer Helly Nahmad has been spotted for the first time since serving a brief stint for his role in a high stakes $100 million gambling operation with ties to the Russian Mob.
Paul Phua Trial Delayed Pending Ruling on FBI Tactics
LAS VEGAS — (Associated Press) - Trial has been postponed pending a federal judge's ruling on whether the FBI improperly entered Las Vegas Strip hotel suites without a warrant before arresting and accusing a Malaysian businessman and his son of illegal Internet gambling.
Court records show a Jan. 12 trial date was vacated Monday for Wei Seng "Paul" Phua and his son, Darren Wai Kit Phua. No new date was immediately set.
Thousands Arrested on Charges of Gambling, Porn
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China has detained over 30,000 people during a two-month clamp down on pornography and gambling, state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday.
In the latest arrests, police in the southern province of Guangdong arrested 3,014 and put more than 8,000 in criminal detention as of Dec. 15, Xinhua reported the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department as saying.
San Antonio Man Embezzled Nearly $2 Mil on Escorts, Gambling
SAN ANTONIO — (Associated Press) - A man has admitted in federal court in San Antonio to spending most of the $1.7 million he embezzled from his employer on escorts and gambling.
The San Antonio Express-News (http://bit.ly/1wMy7f1 ) reports Bexar Waste employee Michael Dennehy pleaded guilty Wednesday to a single count of bank fraud, admitting he forged numerous company checks over six years. Sentencing is set for March 9. He faces up to 30 years in prison.
Ex Saints Safety Darren Sharper Refused Bail: Co-Defendant a ‘One-Man RICO Case’
One-time New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper was denied bail Friday after being indicted in rape-related drug charges.
During three hours of testimony before a federal magistrate judge, two FBI agents testified that the man accused of supplying Sharper with his “rape potion”, Brandon Licciardi ,was a runner for a St. Bernard Parish bookie and drug trafficker for clubs on Bourbon Street.
