Massive Online Gambling Bust Nets Over 400 People in China
Police from China, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar shut down a US$1.75 billion online gambling operation based in China’s Hubei Province on Thursday.
The investigation has been ongoing for two years now and involved some 400 individuals of which 37 have been detained thus far.
Social Gambling & Gaming Summit Kicks Off in LA Today: Gambling911 is in the House
Gambling911.com is here in beautiful Marina Del Rey, California to take part in this week’s Social Gambling & Gaming Summit that kicks off this morning (Thursday December 13) with keynote speaker Niranjan Nagar, Head of Games and Apps for Facebook.
The Social Gaming & Gambling Summit is a conference focused on the intersection of mobile gaming, immersive worlds, real-life brands and social networking.
IGT Poker Network Shuts Down for Good
The IGT Poker Network has shut down its European online poker network for good. The company still plans to offer Internet casino products such as bingo and slots as well as sports wagering.
Fahrenkopf: Unless Congress Acts Now, Online Gambling Could Proliferate
Frank Fahrenkoof, President of the American Gaming Association, sent out an ominous warning on Wednesday as part of an opinion piece for Politico.com. Ominous, if you think the expansion of online gambling at a reckless pace in the United States is a bad thing, and there are, believe it or not, some who believe it is not.
Zynga Elite Slots Announced Ahead of Real Money Gambling
On Wednesday, the world’s largest free-to-play online poker company, introduced free slots ahead of anticipated real money Web gambling.
The new game will be called “Zynga Elite Slots”.
"We've been very focused on this," said Josh Gause, one of the game’s designers, in an interview with CNET.
"We've taken the visuals very seriously, and we've taken the sound very seriously as well," said another designer Nathan Ratcliffe.
Ramzi Jelassi Leads at 2013 EPT Prague After Day 4
IPT Sanremo champion Ramzi Jelassi from Sweden is chip leader at EPT Prague as the €5,300 Main Event goes into Day 4 with 55 players remaining.
Menikos Panagiotou Wins Eureka Season 2 finale in Prague
Player Menikos Panagiotou from Cyprus has won Eureka Prague, the final event of the second Season of the Eureka Poker Tour. He won €137,100 prize after beating a record field of 651 other players at the Hilton Prague Hotel in the Czech capital, December 5-9, 2012.
Phil Ivey Returns to Full Tilt Poker as ‘Polarizing’: First Time Since ‘Black Friday’
Poker pro Phil Ivey, formerly one of the most prominent faces behind Full Tilt Poker, has begun playing at the site for the first time since the company was forced to exit the US market in April 2011.
PokerStars Welcome in New Jersey: Wants to Purchase Atlantic City Casino
State Senator Raymond Lesniak, who is behind efforts to legalize online gambling in the state of New Jersey, says he welcomes PokerStars. The world’s largest real money poker site is looking to acquire the Atlantic Club Casino in Atlantic City.
Philadelphia Casino Fined Over Banned Gamblers
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — State gambling regulators say the operators of Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia have agreed to $15,000 in fines for three cases in which patrons gambled there even though they were banned from entering casinos in the state.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday announced the fines against HSP Gaming LP, which operates Sugarhouse.
The board says one case happened when a person banned from gambling in the state played table games at the casino from June 29 to July 3.
Horseshoe Casino Set to Open in Cincinnati
The highly anticipated $400 million Horseshoe Casino is set to open its doors on March 4. The establishment will employ some 2000 people.
The Horseshoe Cincinnati is the fourth and final casino approved by voters in 2009 via a constitutional amendment. It will be operated by Caesar’s Entertainment.
888 Launches Real Money Facebook Platform
888.com, which operates the 6th largest online poker room in the world, has announced the launch of “real money” online poker on Facebook in the UK. They are the second operator after Bingo Friendzy to do so.
888 Holdings’ shares rose 3.7 per cent to 113.25p in morning trading.
Itai Freiberger, 888’s chief operating officer, said: “888 has long recognised the potential for social gaming. Our Facebook freemium [play for fun] offerings have found a significant audience, and we are very excited by the opportunity that real money gaming on Facebook provides.”
Defense: Philly Mob Boss was Rainmaker
PHILADELPHIA — (Associated Press) - A mob lawyer in Philadelphia tried Tuesday to persuade jurors that an alleged La Cosa Nostra boss was a rainmaker at a trash disposal company, not a no-show Teamsters worker.
Miami Police Under Investigation by Feds in Bookmaking Case
At least a half dozen Miami police officers are under investigation by the FBI for allegedly providing protection to a Liberty City sports gambling operation, according to the Miami Herald. At least one officer has been relieved of his duties.
Kyl-Reid Internet Poker Bill Looks Dead Despite Enough Republican Votes
A controversial US federal Internet poker bill drafted by Senators Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) appears to be going nowhere as Reid issued a pessimistic statement late Tuesday.
Iosif Beskrovnyy Leads EPT Prague 2012 at End of Day 2
Russian player Iosif Beskrovnyy is still leading EPT Prague with 161 players left. He has a whopping 625,200.
This season's EPT Prague is the richest poker tournament ever held in the Czech Republic. A total of 864 players from 63 countries entered, creating a total prize pool of €4,190,400. The winner will get €835,000 with 128 places being paid. The huge field is 142 more than last season's EPT.
Massachusetts Exploring Online Gambling Opportunities
The state of Massachusetts is the latest to explore opportunities in the online gambling realm.
State Treasurer Steven Grossman wants the Massachusetts lottery to offer various games of chance and even fantasy sports betting.
“Until the Legislature acts and passes legislation, none can be done online,” Mr. Grossman said.
"Anything we do would have to be approved by the Legislature,” he said.
From The Telegram:
Americas Card Room Presents the Online Super Series II With $1 Million Guaranteed
If there was ever any doubt that Americas Cardroom is serious about pleasing tournament players, today's announcement should put those doubts to rest. Just a year after holding its first Online Super Series that featured $150,000 in guaranteed prize money, Americas Cardroom today confirmed that the US-facing online poker site is holding its sophomore OSS from January 13th through 27th, 2013.
Marcin Wydrowski Wins WPT Prague 2012: Rodrigo Caprioli Lifetime Achievement Award
Poland’s Marcin Wydrowski has won the WPT Prague 2012 Main Event and the €325,000 cash prize that came with it.
This was only Wydrowski’s second cashout in live tournament play.
Also taking place in Prague is the EPT Prague 2012, which concluded Day 1 on Monday with 315 out of a record 864 taking part.
On Tuesday, 31-year-old Brazilian Rodrigo Caprioli, accepted a lifetime achievement award on the stage at EPT Prague in recognition of reaching five million VIP Player Points at PokerStars.
Who Would Have Thunk It: Larry King a Successful NFL Bettor
Larry King is killing it this season with his NFL bets! Yes, THAT Larry King!
The radio and CNN icon now picks games on his new online show at Ora TV.
California Online Poker Bill to be Reintroduced in 2013
California Senator Roderick Wright will reintroduce his online poker bill (SB 1463) next month (January 2013) without amendments. The bill has previously come under fire from the powerful Tribal casinos.
From PokerUpdate.com:
Fox Poker Club in London Abruptly Shuts Down: Will Reopen Spring 2013
Without much advance notice, the Fox Poker Club in London has closed its doors but will reopen next Spring as a newly named Genting casino.
The Fox Poker Club, which is currently operated by Genting, tweeted the announcement at around 5 pm local time.
Fox Poker Club is now CLOSED. Thanks to all of our customers for supporting the club over the past two years.
More announcements quickly followed:
The club may be closed but the location will be refurbished and reborn in Spring 2013 as an exciting new Genting venue
New Jersey Casino Revenue Record Loss From Sandy: State Prepares for Online Bets
The numbers are in and they are terrible. Super Storm Sandy not only ravaged the New Jersey coastline, it also crippled the state's all-important casino sector.
Revel was among the worst hit with revenues down 33 percent from the $9.3 million generated in October of last year.
Revel exhausted most of its mid-August $100 million credit line as of the end of November.
EPT Prague 2012 Sets New Record: 864 Poker Players Participate
This season's EPT Prague is the biggest ever with 864 players from 63 countries competing in the Main Event at the Hilton Prague. The bumper field is 142 more than last season's EPT and makes this the richest poker tournament ever held in the Czech Republic.
Yesterday 336 players competed, with 180 making it through to Day 2. Today's Day 1b field numbered 528.
Poker Maximus III – Final Day Recap
The final Sunday of the Poker Maximus II series brought plenty of action as the series wrapped up its 11-day event with four Main Events ranging from $10-$500 buy-ins. After 35 great events we would like to congratulate all the players that took part in Poker Maximus III. It was another great 11 days of poker action and congratulations to all the winners of the 35 events. Here’s how the final day’s action concluded: Play online poker for FREE or REAL MONEY at Carbon Poker here
Paris Hilton Wins $30K Playing Blackjack
Her former beau Rick Solomon claimed to be an online gambling kingpin early on in his illustrious career. Now Paris Hilton is winning big at the Vegas casinos.
Celebrating her 31st birthday, the socialite declared on her Twitter page she had just won $30,000 at the Blackjack tables. Way to go Paris!
European Commission Issues Stern Warning Regarding Schleswig State Treaty
The European Commission this weekend voiced outrage over the German State Treaty on Gambling signed by all but one of 16 Bundesländer, or states, as it applies to online gambling.
From InterGame.com:
Former Ladbrokes and OpenBet Directors to Launch Locus Gaming in January 2013
Ed Andrewes and Mick d'Ancona have created Locus Gaming and are putting the final touches on their first B2C product to be launched in January 2013. The company are keeping a tight lid on exact details of the forthcoming product but they have received an important boost by gaining a licence from the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission.
Antigua Seeks Sanctions Against US in Online Gambling Dispute
KINGSTON, Jamaica — (Associated Press) - The tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua & Barbuda intends to pursue retaliatory sanctions against U.S. commercial services and intellectual property as part of its David vs. Goliath trade battle with the United States, the islands' finance minister announced Sunday.
Poker Tournament News: Menikos Panagiotou Wins Eureka Pride 2012
The champion of Eureka Prague, the biggest ever Eureka poker tour event, is Menikos Panagiotou. The 29-year-old Cypriot had already outlasted 644 players to reach the final eight and he absolutely ran over the final table today, eliminating six of his seven opponents to claim the first prize of €137,100.
