Gambling News
Judge Weinstein’s Ruling on Poker as ‘Game of Skill’ Could Spark Resurgence Online
Last week’s ruling by New York Supreme Court Judge Jack Weinstein that poker is a “game of skill” and not “one of chance” has many believing an online poker resurgence is on its way. So-called “games of chance” were previously prosecuted under a law used to eradicate organized crime.
In making his decision, Judge Weinstein relied extensively on the findings of a defense expert who analyzed online poker games.
No Casino in Chicago as Illinois Governor Rejects Gambling Expansion Plan
By SOPHIA TAREEN
CHICAGO (Associated Press) - Gov. Pat Quinn has rejected a plan to expand gambling in Illinois, including a land-based casino in Chicago.
The Democrat announced his veto Tuesday, saying the proposed bill lacked sufficient regulatory oversight.
The bill proposed five new casinos, including the Chicago facility and four more on riverboats.
Illinois Governor Must Decide Today on Gambling Expansion, Chicago Casino
CHICAGO • (Associated Press) - Gov. Pat Quinn will announce Tuesday the fate of a proposal to expand gambling in Illinois, including a new land-based casino in Chicago, weighing ethical and social concerns against the possibility of bringing a jackpot of jobs and revenue to the state.
With two of his predecessors in prison, the Chicago Democrat has made it clear he must preserve his political integrity in the plan, which also proposes establishing four new riverboat casinos and allowing slot machines at racetracks.
Schleswig-Holstein Awards More Online Gambling Licenses
The Northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein this week has awarded 4 more online gambling licenses, bringing the number thus far to approximately a dozen.
Those licensed this week include 888, Admiral Sportswetten (Rettingen), Admiral Sportwetten (Gumpoldskirchen in Austria) and Cashpoint Malta Ltd (Malta).
PokerAce.com Launches as Newest Online Poker Network: Targets Asian Players
A new online poker network emerged this past week, which looks to target the Asian poker playing market. PokerAce.com has launched with a bang, offering up the likes of World Series of Poker Main Event champion Joe Hachem and JC Tran as its spokespersons. The company has developed its own proprietary card room and will license to other “skins” using a model similar to that of Merge Gaming and iPoker.
Alabama Casino Lobbyist, Legislator Head to Prison for Gambling Vote Selling Scheme
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — (Associated Press) - A casino lobbyist and a former legislator who pleaded guilty in Alabama's gambling corruption case are now in federal prison.
A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons said lobbyist Jarrod Massey reported Monday to the minimum-security prison camp at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. Former state Rep. Terry Spicer of Elba reported to the minimum-security prison camp in Marion, Ill.
Online Sportsbook Seeing Nice Spike Ahead of NFL, College Football Betting
The boutique online sportsbook, Northbet, tells Gambling911.com they are already seeing some decent traffic coming in ahead of the upcoming College Football and NFL betting season, economy aside.
“The economy is always a factor, but we don't expect it to be any different than the past 2 years,” a Northbet representative tells Gambling911.com. The company is heading into its third College Football and NFL betting season.
Fifth Street Gaming Takes Over Casinos at Gold Spike and Siegel Slots in Vegas
(Associated Press) - Fifth Street Gaming says it is taking over gambling operations at two Las Vegas hotels, the Gold Spike and Siegel Slots and Suites.
Both hotels are properties of the Siegel Group, which owns several boutique hotels, apartment complexes and other developments.
The contracts announced Monday are subject to approval by gambling regulators. Terms weren't disclosed.
Golden Route Operations currently operates gambling at the two properties.
Everest Poker to Join iPoker Network
Everest Poker is doing away with its own proprietary online poker software to join the world’s second largest network, iPoker.
The move comes at a time of slumping traffic over the past six months that has resulted in a 30 to 40 percent decline in cash game action.
Poker Pro Nancy Todd Attempt to Gain Control Over Arkansas Casinos Fails
Professional poker player Nancy Todd has lost her fight to gain exclusive operating rights to Arkansas casinos on Monday.
Illinois Governor Won’t Say If He Plans to Sign Gambling Legislation
CAROL STREAM, Ill. (Associated Press) - Gov. Pat Quinn isn't giving any hints about what he'll do with a gambling bill that Illinois lawmakers sent to his desk.
Tuesday is the deadline for Quinn to take action on legislation that would establish five new casinos in the state, including one in Chicago. It would also allow slot machines at horse racing tracks.
At an unrelated event in suburban Chicago on Monday, Quinn said he spent the weekend reading the bill and he'll announce his decision Tuesday. He declined to say if he'd arrived at a decision.
Shuttered Moore Games to Resume Payments to Poker Players
Good news is here as Moore Games has announced it will begin paying back customers after the online poker room was forced to shut down.
The former iPoker Network skin claims that it has received funds from the network to begin the payout process.
As reported by PokerFuse.com Monday:
Bid Farewell My Pretty! eBay Bans Gambling Spell Potions
The online auction site eBay on Monday announced it will no longer be permitting the sale of magic potions, one of which claims to help individuals win at gambling.
“Windfall Money Riches Fortune Gambling Good Luck Spell” ($8.99) has been cut along with “magical demon destroyer potion” ($51), “powerful female succubus lover spell” ($24.99) and a number of voodoo dolls.
eBay SPELLed it out in plain English, releasing this statement regarding the policy decision:
84 Players Remain at World Poker Tour Legends of Poker 2012: Jonathan Aguiar Survives
There were 84 players left after Day 2 of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Legends of Poker at the Bicycle, including pro Jonathan Aguiar, who had gotten into a brawl Friday afternoon with fellow pro Matt Marafioti.
Under China's Watch, Macau Won't Return to 'Gangster's Paradise'
(Reuters) - Three murders, hammer-wielding heavies, and a high-profile police swoop have raised concerns that Macau, the world's casino capital, may be backsliding to the bad old days of the late-1990s. And that's even before ex-triad boss "Broken Tooth" ends a 15-year jail sentence in December.
All this at a time when China's economy, the world's second-biggest, is growing more slowly - hitting gambling revenue and possibly making junket operators, who collect gambling debts in exchange for commission from casinos, more aggressive.
Galaxy's H1 Net Profit Jumps Ninefold on New Casino
HONG KONG - (Reuters) - Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment, posted a ninefold increase in first-half net profit, beating expectations as its new casino cashed in on a steady flow of Chinese visitors keen to try their luck in the world's largest gambling destination.
Although China's economic slowdown is threatening to rein in the flow of visitors that made Macau one of the fastest-growing economies in 2011, Galaxy is seen as better positioned than most rivals as its new casino benefits from high traffic on Macau's glitzy Cotai strip.
Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Allegedly Tied to Organized Crime Figure
Reuters was reporting late Sunday that the Las Vegas Sands had allowed a man identified by the US Senate as an “organized crime figure” to move US$100k in gambling credit from the Sheldon Adelson managed Sands to one of its Macau-based casinos.
Documentation of this alleged incident emerged in the wake of a lawsuit filed by a former Sands employee who previously claimed prostitution was permitted on the Sands Macau property.
From Rueters:
Poker Pro Jonathan Aguiar Seeks Restraining Order Against Matt Marafioti After Bicycle Brawl
Jonathan Aguiar wants a restraining order against Matt Marafioti following Friday night’s brawl during the WPT Legends Tournament at the Bicycle
He tweeted:
Been told that if I got a restraining order against Matt he wouldn't be able to play any tournaments I play, is that a thing?
Multiple Top 10 FINNishes: Poker Phenom Ilari ‘Ilari FIN’ Sahamies Double Dips
As if finishing in 2nd place at the 2012 EPT Barcelona and winning €629,700 weren’t enough, Finnish poker phenom Ilari "Ilari FIN" Sahamies also managed to clean up online over the past week.
Earlier in the week, Sahamies managed a 4th place finish in the EPT Barcelona Super High Roller event to take away €291,900.
Finnish Poker Pro Jens 'Jeans89' Kyllönen Buys In for Virgin Galactic Space Travel
Finnish poker pro Jens 'Jeans89' Kyllönen is looking to become only the third person from that Scandinavian nation to travel into space.
Kyllönen recently offered up a mere $200,000 for his Virgin Galactic space journey.
“Space has always fascinated me. The first opportunity to try out one of the first space flight, I took the opportunity,” Kyllönen said.
Robert Pattinson Next Girlfriend: Elizabeth Olsen The Frontrunner Says Oddsmakers
Oddsmakers had Paddy Power have made Elizabeth Olsen the favorite to become Robert Pattinson’s next girlfriend.
Laurent Polito Wins 2012 EPT Barcelona €10,000 High Roller Event
Surprise winners are part and parcel of major poker tournaments, but they tend to be rarer in High Roller events.
Fired CFO of Philly Archdiocese gets 2-7 Years in $900k Theft for Gambling Addiction
PHILADELPHIA — (Associated Press) - A finance executive who linked her $900,000 embezzlement from the Philadelphia archdiocese to the church’s sex-abuse scandal was sentenced Friday to two to seven years in prison.
Anita Guzzardi, 42, said she succumbed to gambling and shopping addictions after feeling betrayed by the church over the priest sex-abuse scandal.Guzzardi had worked at the Roman Catholic archdiocese since she was 20, and was making $124,000 a year as chief financial officer when she was fired last year.
Jonathan Aguiar on Matt Marafioti Brawl: ‘How is Anyone Surprised I Didn’t Fight Back’
A brawl between poker pros Matt Marafioti and Jonathan Aguiar at the famed Bicycle Casino Friday afternoon could result in a lifetime ban for Aguiar, according to witness David “Doc” Sands.
The player tweeted:
Poker Pros Matt Marafioti and Jonathan Aguiar Fight at WPT Legends: Security Dispatched
A near fist fight broke out this afternoon at the WPT Legends event between two controversial poker pros, Matt Marafioti and Jonathan “ADZ” Aguiar. Both had to be escorted out of the famed Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California just as the event was getting underway this August 24.
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2012 EPT Barcelona Final Table has Ilari ‘Ziigmund’ Sahamies Chip Leader
Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies leads EPT Barcelona final. Student Samuel Rodriguez, from Barcelona, is second in chips - he won his seat in a €50 re-buy on PokerStars.
A total of 1,082 players entered the €5,000 tourney, creating a total prize pool of €5,247,700; 160 places are being paid. The winner gets €1,007,550 plus an amazing Slyde watch from HD3.
Cancelled $100k Horse Bet in Final Seconds at Emerald Downs Causes Chaos
A $100,000 bet placed and canceled within seconds of the start of the 6th race at Emerald Downs on Thursday caused chaos at the tracks with odds on the No. 2 horse moving from 5-1 to 1-20 as the horses were being loaded into the gate.
Disgraced Former Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano Turns to Poker to Pay for $25k Theft
Former Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano wants to repay $25,000 he stole from his department through the sale of wood carved poker chip trays.
Solano, 48, plead guilty last year to five counts of felony fraud in connection with the illegal sale of county property that included bullet proof vests and gun holsters. He served six weeks in jail.
"I'm trying to just do everything right and pay back the restitution that is required of me," Solano told the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper. "I'm trying to go back to some sense of normalcy with my family, life and everything."
Reno Nevada’s Atlantis Casino Resort Spa Among Those That Get First Online Poker License
Monarch Casino & Resort Inc, owners of Reno Nevada’s Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, received final approval to operate an online poker venture within the Silver State’s borders on Thursday. Las Vegas hotel and casino, South Point, and Global Cash Assets Holdings were also granted a license by the state Gaming Commission.
Ilari Sahamies €2,000 All Day Massage at EPT Barcelona Gets Him Close to Final (Video)
Finland’s online poker phenom is making a run for the live event at this year’s EPT Barcelona. Ilari Sahamies was one of a lucky 13 still remaining after Thursday’s play.
Sahamies made the best of it, spending €2,000 (plus tip) on an all-day massage.
The high stakes Finn has €29,400 locked up with a solid shot at the €1,007,550 title, so what’s €2,000?
Lynn Gilmartin caught up with the Finn during the break to discuss the EPT Barcelona event and talk a little more about that expensive massage.
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