Gambling
USA Today: Nevada Gearing Up for Court Fight Over Gambling Tax Hike
USA Today reported on Monday that a petition drive to raise taxes on Nevada’s biggest casinos has been met with strong opposition by the gaming lobby via a lawsuit filed in Carson District Court.
Pregame Cries Foul Ahead of March Madness Over Covers.com Sports Capper Exclusivity Demands
Two of the most powerful and respected sports handicapping websites are embarking on a bitter feud, Gambling911.com has learned exclusively.
Covers.com has reportedly ordered its sports handicappers to sign exclusivity deals preventing them from working at rival Pregame.com.
FBI Probes Auburn Point Shaving: Guard Varez Ward Implicated (Video)
The FBI has begun a probe into possible point shaving at Auburn, specifically suspended point guard Varez Ward. He is accused of attempted point shaving in at least two games, according to a Yahoo Sports report filed Thursday.
The FBI began its investigation in late February centering on losses to Alabama on Feb. 7 and Arkansas on Jan. 25.
Lobbyist: Casinos Want Fair Online Gambling
LAS VEGAS — A top lobbyist says commercial casinos companies want a fair shot for everyone when it comes to online gambling — not a leg up over state lotteries, American Indian tribes and others jockeying to be first in line.
Horse Racing Group Won’t Oppose New Jersey Bill to Make State Hub for US Online Gambling
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak believes his co-authored legislation to make the Garden State an Internet gambling hub should pass on March 15 with actual money play likely by September.
Arizona Senator Jon Kyl Removes Internet Gambling Statement From Site
Arizona Republican Senator Jon Kyl, who has been rumored to be in talks regarding amending the current Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA), a prohibition bill he co-authored in 2006, has removed a statement on his own website suggesting a change of stance regarding Internet gambling.
The statement removed read as follows:
Internet Gambling
New Jersey Could Approve Internet Gambling as Early as March 15
In an exclusive interview with PokerNews.com this week, New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak predicted that Internet gambling could be approved in the state as early as March 15 (2012).
All 6 Defendants in Alabama Political Gambling Corruption Case Acquitted
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — (Associated Press) - A jury acquitted a casino owner, three current or former state lawmakers and two other defendants on all counts Wednesday in a high-profile federal case that alleged the legislators were being bribed to legalize gambling in the state.
Playtech Enters Into Online Gambling Agreement With Mexico’s Caliente
Online gambling software firm Playtech has entered into an agreement with Mexico’s land-based casino and sportsbook operator, Caliente, to provide the company with online gambling software.
Caliente is looking to provide a suite of casino games created by Playtech.
“We are delighted to have secured this agreement with one of Latin America's largest and most respected gaming operators with whom, over time, we expect to develop a valuable relationship,” said Mor Weizer, Chief Executive Officer for Playtech.
Wired.com: Uncle Sam’s Iron Grip on the .Com Domain Name
In light of several high profile seizures of .com domain names within the online gambling sector as well as Web streaming and imitation merchandise, Wired.com has published a well thought out piece regarding the current climate and how Uncle Sam is expected to continue going after .com domains.
Banker, One Time Billionaire R. Allen Stanford Found Guilty on 13 of 14 Counts
A billionaire banker who maintained a significant presence in Antigua, R. Allen Stanford, has been found guilty on 13 of 14 counts.
Antigua is among the leading Internet gambling jurisdictions serving the US market. It was widely reported at the time of his arrest that gambling operators maintained accounts with Stanford’s bank on the Caribbean island.
NJ Sen. Jim Whelan: ‘I Feel Like I Am Being Blackmailed (By Horse Racing Association)’
A measure to legalized online gambling in New Jersey has moved one step closer to reality with a 3-0 passage in the state senate. Horse racing groups have threatened a derailment of the bill after an earlier funding commitment was removed however.
Racing industry lobbyist Barbara DeMarco has hinted at possible legal action, telling the Daily Record: “Undoubtedly the racing industry will push to have a constitutional amendment.”
Jury in Alabama Gambling Corruption Case Deliberates for 5th Day
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – (Associated Press) - The jury in Alabama's gambling corruption trial deliberated for a fifth day Monday, with a juror who became ill Sunday returning for the day's talks.
Deliberations were cut short Sunday afternoon when a juror with a known blood pressure problem became ill. A court official said the juror was checked out by a doctor and resumed work Monday morning with the rest of the panel.
Bodog Shuts Down Costa Rica Office
Bodog has shut down its Costa Rica based office. Employees reported arriving to find they were locked out.
The company still operates from bases outside of Montreal, Quebec, Antigua and in London.
Odds of Israel Striking Iran by Year’s End at 40 Percent Says Betting Exchange
There has been a lot of talk about Israel possibly striking Iran some time in 2012 should they fear an advancement of that regime’s nuclear program. The betting public remains somewhat skeptical, however, as only 40 percent believe a strike is imminent by year’s end.
State Legislators Want Push to Legalize Online Gambling at Federal Level Stopped
The push to legalize Internet gambling at the federal level seems to be losing steam as individual states jump head first into the fray.
The National Conference of State Legislatures has come out in opposition to the federal legalization of Internet poker, writing a letter addressed to both Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate.
Cyprus Drops Gambling Charges Against Grannies
(Reuters) - Cyprus authorities say they will drop charges against dozens of elderly women for gambling after reports of their prosecution triggered disbelief among the public.
Some 42 women aged between 60 and 98 had received a summons to appear in court this month after police nabbed them playing a local version of gin rummy at a private residence in 2009.
Gambling for even the smallest amounts - in the women's case, police netted a total figure of about 100 euros ($130) - is banned on the east Mediterranean island.
Memo to Calvin Ayre: Head for Hong Kong…or Zimbabwe!
They say Laos is lovely this time of year.
So are Qatar, Angola and Nepal.
Vietnam gets a little hot, however, as does Cambodia and Indonesia.
And of course Libya, Tunisia and Syria are hot spots right now too, but in a different way.
For Canadian billionaire and Bodog.com founder Calvin Ayre, however, these Third-World hell-holes might be looking like islands of paradise right about now.
Pirates Come to Ayre’s Defense
The Pirate Party of Canada has lashed out at the US Government’s indictment of native son and Bodog founder, Calvin Ayre.
Zynga May Partner in Online Gambling Venture
SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones)--Zynga Inc. (ZNGA) Chief Executive Mark Pincus said Wednesday he sees "mind blowing" possibilities for weaving real-money gambling into social games pending regulatory changes in the U.S., and suggested the company may partner with a traditional casino company before the end of this year.
Pincus, speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, said his San Francisco-based company sees a great deal of opportunity "to start to bring this gambling element into more than just casino games."
Think the US is Bad When it Comes to Online Gambling: The Dutch are Far Worse
When one thinks of the Netherlands, the first thing that typically pops into their mind is the European nation’s liberal stance on just about everything from smoking pot to legalized prostitution. When it comes to online gambling, however, Holland’s approach has become even more hard line than that of the United States.
The Dutch Supreme Court this week ordered Internet gambling firms that operate outside the country to install blocking software to prevent its citizens from gaining access to said sites.
Say what?
Online Gambling Payment Processor Facilitator Don Hellinger Pleads Guilty
Nylon Magazine Publisher and one time online gambling payment processor facilitator, Don Hellinger, has plead guilty to Count number 2 of an indictment filed against him.
Hellinger admitted to “operating an illegal money transmitting business” during a period of time in the early to mid portion of this past decade.
Techdirt.com: Federal Agents Did Not Gamble on Bodog.com
An interesting argument was raised by a colleague of Gambling911.com Tuesday following the indictment of Bodog.com and four individuals connected to the company.
The US Attorneys Office in Maryland announced the indictment Tuesday immediately following the seizure of the Bodog.com domain.
Kentucky, Indiana Looking at Internet Gambling Options Though Odds Against It
In a report filed by Grace Schneider of the Louisville Courier it was revealed that both Kentucky and Indiana may be interested in legalizing online gambling, albeit she notes, it won’t be any time soon.
“Our job right now is to look at what the options can be,” said Arch Gleason, the Kentucky Lottery’s president.
Ayre Don’t Care: Bovada, Bodog Say Business as Usual
Following an indictment against Bodog founder Calvin Ayre Tuesday after a year’s long investigation into online sports betting, Ayre told his own self-named news website his life won’t be impacted.
Bodog, Calvin Ayre, et al. Indictment (Full Court Document)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA :
v.
BODOG ENTERTAINMENT GROUP S.A., d/b/a BODOG.com, CALVIN AYRE, JAMES PHILIP,
DAVID FERGUSON, and DERRICK MALONEY,
Defendants.
: : CRIMINAL NO. : (Conducting gambling business, : 18 U.S.C. §1955; Money : laundering conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. : §1956(h); Aiding and : abetting, 18 U.S.C. §2; : Forfeiture, 18 U.S.C. : §§982(a)(1) and 1955(d)). :
...ooo0ooo... INDICTMENT COUNT ONE (Conducting gambling business)
Bodog Founder Calvin Ayre Indicted
Federal prosecutors in Baltimore on Tuesday unsealed an indictment against Calvin Ayre following the seizure of the Bodog.com domain name late Monday night. Ayre was profiled in the cover story of the Forbes Billionaire issue.
A press release was expected by the US Attorney’s Office out of Maryland shortly.
Rod Rosenstein, the U.S. Attorney in Baltimore, indicted Ayre and three other men, James Philip, David Ferguson and Derrick Maloney. The company, Bodog Entertainment Group, is also under indictment and its domain name has been seized by federal prosecutors.
Defendants in Hellinger Case to Reach Plea Agreement Tuesday
Gambling911.com has learned that defendants in an online gambling case dating back to 2005 are set to enter pleas on Tuesday.
The US Attorney’s Office in Eastern Pennsylvania charged Don Hellinger and four other men with illegal distribution of over $40 million in Internet gambling winnings during the years 2005 and 2006 through a money transfer company, Payment Processing, Inc. Hellinger was also alleged to have been involved in mail fraud.
Bodog.com Domain Seizure ‘Dog’ Years in the Making
The sudden seizure of the Bodog.com domain name late Monday night was not so sudden, Gambling911.com can reveal, nor was it exactly easy to achieve.
The US Attorney’s Office in Maryland, which was responsible for a series of online gambling company domain seizures last May, had been probing Bodog and the company’s colorful founder, Calvin Ayre, since 2003.
Japan Considers Legalizing Gambling
For the first time, Japan is looking to possibly legalize gambling.
Casino gambling would "help promote tourism, encourage business, create jobs, and boost local development," Takeshi Iwaya, a lawmaker from the biggest opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party, told the Wall Street Journal this week. "Neighboring areas are contemplating similar plans, so if we don't hurry, we may risk missing out on a big opportunity."
