Gambling News
Duhamel Wouldn’t Have Been Sitting Duck in USA
In a tongue-in-cheek essay earlier this month about New Year's resolutions we'd like to see from poker players, Gambling911.com joked that 2010 WSOP Main Event champ Jonathan Duhamel, who was recently beaten and robbed in a home invasion, should resolve to buy a home security system and some guns.
In all reality, however, Duhamel, who lives in suburban Montreal, really can't buy a handgun to protect himself or his home, because under strict Canadian anti-gun laws, it's almost impossible for a private Canadian citizen to legally get a handgun!
UK Online Gambling Tax Could Backfire
The United Kingdom is proposing a point of consumption tax on online gambling of 10 percent that could force current operators offshore.
In anticipation of this tax, William Hill conducted its own study and found the following, a la the Telegraph:
Suspects in Jonathan Dahamel Home Invasion to Appear in Court Today
Four individuals charged in a brazen home invasion outside of Montreal, Quebec will appear in court today. They are alleged to have forced their way into the home of 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Jonathan Duhamel just days before Christmas. One of the suspects is a former girlfriend who accompanied the pro to this year’s WSOP in Las Vegas. Duhamel was badly beaten during the attack.
Action Poker Network Now Chico Poker Network: Players Still May Be Leery
Following an announcement that PlaySafe had sold its Action Poker Network to Seychelles-based Julian International Holdings Limited, players were hopeful they may start to see their payouts in a more expedient fashion.
For the past several months, the Action Poker Network has taken weeks – if not months – to pay players despite not allowing US customers. Poker players in the US have come to expect intermittent longer delays due to the lack of payment processing ventures available.
No Political Betting For Nadex… For Now
If last night was any indication, the political betting arena should be an exciting one. Too bad the North American Derivatives Exchange (Nadex) won’t be able to take part, at least for the time being.
Three-Man Race in Iowa Caucus Overnight
It was Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul winning in the Iowa caucus overnight. All three were essentially favorites to win coming into Tuesday.
As of 10:30 pm EST, Santorum was winning by a very slight margin. Mitt Romney came in second. Ron Paul came in two percentage points behind but was still very much in the race. By 11 pm EST, Paul was determined to have finished in third place.
On Tuesday, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum were engaging in a nasty little tift.
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak Not Wasting Time With Online Gambling Move
Following his success at getting a referendum to pass legalizing sports betting in the state this past November, State Senator Raymond Lesniak was quick to jump on the Internet gambling bandwagon even before most of us were through nursing our New Year’s Eve hangovers.
More Stars Defections: Online Poker Traffic Up 0.1 Percent
British star John Duthie decided against extending his contract with the world’s biggest online poker room, PokerStars. He is the latest in a series of pros who have either decided not to stick around with Stars or have otherwise been cut.
PokerStars, while being named in an infamous April 15 indictment by the US Government, has managed to continue running without a hitch. All US players were paid in a timely fashion after the company was forced to flee that market.
Duthie was the European Poker Tour (EPT) 2004 winner.
Online Gambling Fight Now About Who, When….Not If
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The fight to fully legalize online gambling in the U.S. is now less about whether Americans will be able to play and more about who will bring the action to them — and when.
A recent U.S. Justice Department opinion opened the door for cash-strapped states and their lotteries to bring online gambling to their residents, as long as it does not involve sports betting.
Iowa Caucus Odds of Winning Have Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney in Dead Heat
Rick Santorum has become the “new flavor of the week” at just the right time with the Iowa Republican Caucus taking place Tuesday evening. The former Pennsylvania Senator is in a dead heat among the oddsmakers with Ron Paul and Mitt Romney to win it. This promises to be one of the most exciting Caucuses to watch the results flow in. Paddy Power, which does not accept bets from US citizens, had Santorum and Paul at 15/8 odds while Romney was listed at 5/4.
Nothing New With Groupe Tappie Full Tilt Poker Talks With US Government
PokerNews.com spoke this week to the US-based attorney representing Groupe Tappie’s interest in Full Tilt Poker, stating that there was nothing new in regard to any attempts at reaching a settlement with the US Justice Department. The DOJ seized millions of dollars from Full Tilt Poker on April 15, indicted two of the company’s executives and FTP has failed to pay US players since.
Attorney Behnam Dayanim told PokerNews.com:
American Tribal Casino Industry: DOJ Stance No Big Deal
The US Department of Justice decision not to apply online poker to The Wire Act had the Indian Tribes greeting the news with a shrug of the shoulders, claims Gail Courey Toensing of the Indian Country News.
Toensing referenced Indian gaming expert Joe Valandra.
Bookmaker Denise Coates Receives Queen’s New Year’s Honors for Good Deeds
Bookies can be good people too. Denise Coates, founder of Bet365 in Great Britain, has been awarded the prestigious Queen’s New Year’s Honors for 2012.
Ms. Coates was honored for her community service work.
Her father, Peter, had this to say about Denise and what she has meant to the Bet365 firm, which is currently the biggest private sector employer in Stoke-on-Trent:
"We are all delighted and all proud of her.
"She has done an absolutely amazing job for bet365, building it up from scratch.
Phil Ivey Ex Not Happy With Divorce Settlement
Despite receiving millions of dollars and a $1.2 million purse collection, Phil Ivey’s ex-wife Luciaetta Ivey does not believe the couple’s divorce settlement to be fair.
A court document filed Tuesday with the Nevada Supreme Court, Luciaetta Ivey "has attempted only to secure information to confirm that she received a fair settlement."
"That Phil has refused to voluntarily provide the information that Luciaetta seeks only supports her belief that the settlement was not fair," her attorney, Bruce Shapiro, wrote.
Las Vegas Hotel Rates January 2012: South Point $51 Per Night
It’s a little nippy in Las Vegas this time of year, but the Las Vegas hotel rates for January 2012 are super hot. Case in point, the four-star South Point Hotel has slashed its average night rate from $64 to $51 during the first two weeks of the month.
Most of the four-star Strip hotels were running $59 and up. The Hard Rock was at $60 per night while the MGM was $109 per night.
Jonathan Duhamel Speaks About Home Invasion: “They Threatened My Parents Lives”
A terrified Jonathan Duhamel spoke to the media just one week after a harrowing home invasion left him badly beaten and robbed of his 2010 World Series of Poker bracelet. The suspects, four in total, have been arrested. One of those charged is a former girlfriend of Duhamel’s, Bianca Rojas-Latraverse, who we are learning actually accompanied Duhamel to the WSOP Main Event this past year.
"I've played hockey all my life, so I've had some fights -- but not one like this one," Duhamel, 24, said in an interview Friday.
888 Holdings Among Biggest Surging Stocks on London Exchange Thursday
888 Holdings ranked among the biggest moving shocks on Thursday in the wake of a US Justice Department decision whereby the Wire Act will no longer be applied to online poker. The new stance opens the door for individual US states to begin legalizing Web card rooms. 888 Holdings currently operates the world’s 4th largest online poker site and has entered into a partnership agreement with Caesars Entertainment. The state of Nevada has already approved intrastate Web poker.
888 saw its shares rise 4.15 percent by 4 pm Thursday and was now listed at 40.88.
ABC, CNN Talk Sweeping Changes for Internet Poker in 2012 With DOJ New Stance
The Department of Justice (DOJ) last week announced that it will no longer apply The Wire Act to online poker, thus placing the gambling sector into a frenzy during what would normally be a slow holiday season. Essentially, the new stance allows individual states to begin allowing legalized regulated Internet poker for real money without the threat of federal intervention provided the activity takes place within that state’s borders. Nevertheless, pooling of players from multiple states may become an option similar to what we see with Powerball.
Jonathan Duhamel Suddenly Becomes Relevant: Opens Up About Home Invasion
Nothing against Jonathan Duhamel. We know he’s a great poker player. But up until last weekend he was one of many World Series of Poker Main Event champions who were – let’s just say – forgettable.
Duhamel was best known for becoming the first Canadian to win the Main Event.
Kelly Clarkson Twitter Endorsement of Ron Paul
GOP candidate Ron Paul got an unusual endorsement from none other than American Idol Season One winner Kelly Clarkson.
She tweeted on Thursday:
"I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination and no one gave him a chance. If he wins the nomination for the Republican party in 2012 he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't."
Clarkson fans don’t appear to be Ron Paul fans. She came under their wrath for her endorsement.
Michele Bachmann Calls Former Iowa Campaign Chairman “Sell Out” to Ron Paul
GOP Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann called her former Iowa campaign chairman, Kent Sorenson, a “sell out” after he jumped ship Wednesday and headed over to the Ron Paul campaign. She accused Sorenson of essentially being paid off by the Paul camp. Texas Congressman, Ron Paul, is leading in some Iowa caucus polls while Bachmann trails far behind.
Caesars IPO in 2012 Includes Provision for Legalized Internet Poker in US
Caesars is preparing an IPO for the upcoming year 2012 and, in it, there is a provision for legalized Internet poker in the United States, which the casino giant obviously believes will be bountiful to its future business.
From Pokerati.com:
Gambling News: Bill Will Allow Pari-mutuels to Become Casinos in South Florida
Revisions to a bill that would bring destination casinos to South Florida would now allow for existing pari-mutuels like racetracks and jai-alai frontons to become full fledged casinos.
Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, sent fellow Florida legislators a draft of tweaks to her bill, based on feedback gleaned from two major workshops held on the issue in Tallahassee, she said.
Breaking News: Jonathan Duhamel Assailants Arrested
Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the home invasion of World Series of Poker Main Event 2010 winner Jonathan Duhamel. He was the first Canadian to ever win the coveted WSOP Main Event bracelet and walked away with $8.9 million US.
Arrests Made in Jonathan Duhamel Home Invasion
Arrests have been made in last week's brazen home invasion of 2010 WSOP winner Jonathan Duhamel with a rolex found but bracelet still missing.
Four individuals have been arrested and taken into custody following last week’s home invasion and beating of World Series of Poker Main Event 2010 winner Jonathan Duhamel.
The attack occurred at Duhamel’s home in Longueuil, just outside of Montreal.
Police say two men and one woman were charged Wednesday in connection with the case and a fourth person was arrested and questioned.
Commission Must Act on NADEX Political Betting Request by January 4
The North American Derivatives Exchange (NADEX) has filed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to permit offering of betting on the upcoming political elections. The deadline for a decision is January 4 and should the Commission fail to act, NADEX could begin offering such bets (or trades) within the next couple of weeks.
Three of those on the Commission must vote against the proposal for it to be discarded. So far, only one Commissioner has come forward to oppose the NADEX request.
South Point Poker Expecting to Move to Real Money Play Soon
The South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa could find itself the biggest name in online poker by the end of 2012 if they play their cards right (pun intended).
Already offering a free-to-play online poker website, prominently featured throughout Gambling911.com, South Point Poker is expecting to offer real cash play as soon as their license is granted by the state of Nevada, quite possibly as early as February.
Top Gambling Stories of 2011 Revealed and Daring Predictions
Gambling911.com has compiled its list of the top 10 stories in gambling for 2011. Few of our regular readers will be surprised as to what story tops the list. Additionally, we attempt to offer a few predictions for 2012.
Ron Paul Surging in Iowa: 4 to 5 Odds Favorite to Win Caucus
GOP candidate Ron Paul continues to climb in Iowa state polls. His odds of winning next week’s Caucus were now at 4 to 5 at PaddyPower.com, which does not accept bets from US citizens at this time.
Fox News noted that Paul’s success places him first in line to become the primary political punching bag.
SOPA is the End of Us Say Bloggers: TwoPlusTwo.com Could be Wiped Off the Web
Politico had an interesting read Wednesday morning on how bloggers believe SOPA will ultimately kill their business, not to mention those around them. As Gambling911.com has been reporting, there is something truly ominous about this particular ACT and its far reaching consequences.
