Gambling News
Hawaii, Iowa Internet Poker Bills Dead Again
Attempts to pass laws legalizing Internet poker in both Iowa and Hawaii have failed for a second time.
Both states tried passing similar legislation last year.
Hawaii’s bill failed to gain enough attention to be heard in the state’s House Finance Committee.
The State Sen. Jeff Danielson-sponsored online poker measure in Iowa failed to clear a full Senate subcommittee.
PokerStars Atlantic City Bid Still has AGA Up in Arms
(Associated Press) - A bid by the world's largest online poker website to buy an Atlantic City casino is touching off a battle with brick-and-mortar casinos that is getting very nasty, very quickly.
The Rational Group, the parent company of PokerStars, wants to buy The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel. If approved, it would mark the first ownership of an American casino by a solely-online gambling company.
Atlantic City Revenue Down 12.5 Percent in February
(Associated Press) - Atlantic City's casinos took in 12.5 percent less from gamblers in February than they did a year ago.
Figures released Monday by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement show the city's 12 casinos took in $212.3 million.
The decline was helped by the fact that 2012 was a leap year in which February had 29 days, compared with the usual 28 this year.
Revel, the city's newest casino which will file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition this month, saw revenue rise to $9 million, up from $7.9 million in January.
Report: Yahoo Could be Looking to Purchase Zynga
Shares in online poker company Zynga surged over 8 percent Monday on news that Yahoo! was possibly considering buying the company.
Zynga’s shares have risen over 50 percent in recent months as the games developer makes plans to enter the real money online gambling market. So far, New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware have legalized various forms of online gambling.
Intrade Shuts Down: Online Gambling Firm Fell on Bad Times
Troubled Dublin-based betting site Intrade.com has shut its doors.
Customers Monday were greeted with the following message upon landing on the Intrade.com website:
With sincere regret we must inform you that due to circumstances recently discovered we must immediately cease trading activity on www.intrade.com.
888 All American Poker Network to Become First Based in US
888 Holdings on Monday unveiled its new subsidiary, the All American Poker Network. It will be the first US-based online poker network following 888 obtaining a license to operate out of Nevada last week.
888 has joined forces with investment firm Avenue Capital Group. In addition to its own portfolio of brands, land-based casino Treasure Island will be among the first to offer real money Internet poker on the network.
Ex-Playtech, Asian Logic Man Greg Fermont Joins Bodog Asia
With Bodog Asia growing as both an operator and B2B provider the long search for a COO to join Managing Director, Robert Gustavsson and his team is finally over.
Greg Fermont’s industry experience speaks for itself with stints at Playtech, Asian Logic and most recently Sun City. Greg brings not just gaming knowledge to Bodog Asia but also years of regional experience so vital to success in the area.
Playtech, Ladbrokes Agree To Online Gambling Deal Based on Rev Share Model
Ladbrokes, the UK’s second largest bookmaker, has entered into a five-year deal with online gambling software firm Playtech.
As part of the deal, Ladbrokes will set up a separate digital marketing team based out of Israel.
The Ladbrokes-Playtech partnership closely resembles that of William Hill’s often tense relationship with the software provider, that was severed a week ago.
Team PokerStars Defeats Full Tilt Poker Pros
Negreanu: “Team PokerStars SCOOPS all three, winning 8 of 9 games!” LONDON, ENGLAND – Team PokerStars crushed the Full Tilt Poker ‘Professionals’ in the Full Tilt v PokerStars Heads Up contest held today at the London Poker Festival with a clean sweep of all three matches.
Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier (PokerStars) defeated Victor ‘Isildur1’ Blom (Full Tilt Poker) 3-0.
Kai Chang Wins 2013 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star and Over $1.1 Million
Kai Chang has won the 2013 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star and a grand prize of $1,138,350. Among the finalists for this event was Erik Seidel who, with life time earnings in live tournaments now at just over $17 million, ranks 2nd as poker’s biggest earner to date.
Chang also managed to upset Paul Volpe, who has taken in just shy of $1.6 million at live tournaments to date.
Angelo Scola Favorite to be Named Next Pope
We’ll know when the smoke signal rises but for now Angelo Scola of Italy was the stand alone favorite to be named next Pope at Paddy Power.
Scola was coming in at 2/1 odds.
For some time, Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana had been favored along with Scola but his odds have gotten longer at 4/1.
Tarcisio Bertone was at 5/1 while Cardinal Odilo Scherer of Brazil was new to the front runners at 7/1 odds.
Team PokerStars Pros vs. Full Tilt Poker Pros Pre Match Comments From the Pros
This weekend Team PokerStars Pros take on Full Tilt Poker’s The Professionals in the ultimate heads-up showdown at the London Poker Festival, we caught up with some of the players and spectators for their pre match thoughts...
Gus Hansen – Full Tilt Professional
Online Poker Promotions March 2013 at Cake Include Boost in Ring Game Rewards
March 8th, 2013 – Popular online gaming site, Cake Poker (CakePoker.eu) is continuing its $20,000 Gold Card Match & Win promotion and announcing Turbo Gold Card rewards.
Nevada Gambling Revenue Down 12.5 Percent in January
CARSON CITY, Nev. —(Associated Press) - State officials say Nevada gambling revenue was down 12.5 percent in January, while state collections went up that month.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board reports casinos brought in $909 million in January.
The $507 million in winnings on the Las Vegas Strip were down nearly 19 percent in January, while downtown Las Vegas revenues of about $45 million were down 5 percent.
Casinos in Washoe County won nearly $53 million, which is down 2 percent from the same month a year ago.
Malta the Next Macau of the Mediterranean
It is already a major hub for online gambling sites. Now Seeking Alpha’s Jonathan Yates has pondered the idea of Malta becoming the “Macau of the Mediterranean”.
Macua is the largest gambling destination in the world and Yates believes Malta has the potential to some day achieve that coveted position, at least where the Mediterranean region is concerned.
RCMP Releases Names of Those Charged in Platinum SB Gambling Probe
As the result of an on-going illegal gaming investigation, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) has charged the following individuals with the offences of Commit a Criminal Offence for the Benefit of a Criminal Organization and Conspiracy to Commit the Indictable Offence of Engage in Bookmaking
Illinois Latest State to Consider Legalizing Online Gambling
New legislation, approved by the Illinois Senate Subcommittee, is looking to legalize online gambling.
The bill includes expansion of the state’s brick and mortar casinos, including the addition of a casino in Chicago.
Governor Pat Quinn said he would welcome expansion of gambling “under certain conditions”.
Full Tilt Poker vs. PokerStars: Professionals Head-to-Head Stats Revealed
LONDON, UK –It’s just three days until Team PokerStars Pros take on Full Tilt Poker’s The Professionals in the ultimate heads-up showdown at the London Poker Festival, so it’s time to have a look at the key stats...
Americas Cardroom Online Poker Site Announces $200k Guarantee April 7
San Jose, Costa Rica – With the sheer magnitude of the Online Super Series still fresh in the minds of poker players across the country, Americas Cardroom is supersizing its Sunday tournament this April. The US-facing online poker site today confirmed a $200,000 Guaranteed Texas Hold'em tournament is scheduled to take place on April 7th at 7:00pm ET.
NCAA Lifts Ban on Games Played in New Jersey
The NCAA has lifted a ban on games played in New Jersey following a judge’s ruling that the state cannot allow legalized sports betting. Governor Chris Christie has vowed to appeal that ruling, however.
The NCAA had cancelled a series of championship games that were to be played in the Garden State this past year.
888 Holdings Approved for Nevada License
(Reuters) - European online gaming operator 888 Holdings Plc cleared a key hurdle in its return to a reopening, regulated U.S. online poker market after the Nevada Gaming Control Board voted to recommend approval of its application for a state interactive gaming license at a hearing scheduled for March 21.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board on Wednesday said it recommended the approval of Gibraltar-based 888's applications, including one as a manufacturer of an interactive gaming system, one as a distributor and another as an interactive gaming service provider.
Bitcoin Now Accepted at World’s Largest Online Poker Network iPoker
Some of the biggest Bitcoin news yet as iPoker Network online poker skin WinPoker has announced it will begin accepting the virtual currency.
This is the first time a poker room on a major network has begun to accept Bitcoin for deposits and withdrawals. iPoker is the world’s largest online poker network. Bitcoin’s price has enjoyed a staggering rise over the past two months from $14 to $40.
Names of Those Arrested in Platinum SB Probe Yet to be Released
Though the RCMP announced it would be identifying those arrested Tuesday March 5, 2013 in connection with a massive bookmaking operation in the Ontario region today, this was yet to occur as of Wednesday evening.
Full Tilt Poker Defendant Ray Bitar ‘Medical Condition’ Suspends Plea Deal Talks
“Black Friday” defendant Ray Bitar, who was named as one of the key executives at Full Tilt Poker, is suffering from a medical condition of unknown origin. The matter has resulted in the suspension plea deal talks.
The story was first reported by FlushDraw.com.
Ex-Texas Attorney Gets 10 years for Theft to Support Gambling Addiction
NEW BOSTON, Texas (Associated Press) — A former lawyer in Texas and Arkansas who allegedly had a gambling problem must serve 10 years in prison for stealing nearly $250,000 from clients.
The Texarkana Gazette reports 65-year-old Don Cooksey was taken into custody Tuesday following sentencing in New Boston.
Blake Bohn Wins $3,200 Chicago Poker Classic Main Event
2013 Main Event sees 392 entrants create a $1,200,720 prize pool.
Hammond, Ind. — Blake Bohn from Savage, Minn. won the 2013 Chicago Poker Classic Main Event Monday night in Hammond, Ind. pocketing $288,171. The win, which came in one of the country’s few $3,200 main events, marks the largest score of Bohn’s career.
“It feels great. I work really hard at it,” Bohn said. “It’s really exciting to run deep. That’s why we put in so many hours, to have a victory like this.”
PokerStars was Offered Purchase of World Series of Poker, Rio Hotel
Reports surfaced Wednesday that Caesar’s had offered to sell their coveted World Series of Poker (WSOP) and Rio Hotel properties to PokerStars last month but the later refused.
This news comes on the heels of the American Gaming Association, based out of Nevada, submitting a letter to New Jersey officials urging them not to allow a proposed sale of Atlantic City’s Atlantic Club Hotel and Casino to PokerStars.
Heavy Betting Action on Christoph Von Schonborn as Next Pope Says Sportsbook
While Angelo Scola has been made the new 2/1 favorite to be named next Pope at Sportsbook.com, the popular online gambling company has also reported that Christoph Von Schonborn is suddenly receiving substantial betting action.
Zynga’s Mark Pincus Loses Billionaire Status
While casino magnate Sheldon Adelson ranked number 15 on Forbes newest Billionaire list, Zynga’s Mark Pincus has dropped off of it.
Poor Mark Pincus’ wealth has dropped into the hundreds of millions.
He’s appeared on the list over the past two years Zynga has been publicly trading.
18 More Arrests Made in Connection With Platinum Sportsbook Probe
The RCMP arrested another 18 individuals in connection with an ongoing case tied to Web-based sports betting operator Platinum Sportsbook (or Platinum SB).
