Gambling
Anonymous Takes Down FBI Website
Reacting to news of a US Justice Department indictment against streaming upload site magaupload along with the website’s seizure, the hactivist group Anonymous has taken down none other than the US Justice Department website.
Power Struggle at Wynn: Another Ugly Divorce Battle
Have you all been following the power struggle at Wynn Resorts Inc?
It seems their largest shareholder, Japanese pachinko mogul Kazuo Okada, recently nominated up to four people to the board of the U.S. casino company. He is currently suing founder Steve Wynn and accuses the Vegas casino titan of blocking access to records related to his investment in the company as well as objecting to an “inappropriate” $135 million company donation to the University of Macau.
Ladbrokes Buys Stakes in US-Based Stadium Technology Group
One of the United Kingdom’s largest bookmakers has bought a 65 per cent stake in US-based Stadium Technology Group, which specializes in sports betting technology and is used by a number of Las Vegas sportsbooks.
“The size of the US market and potential for positive regulatory change in the coming years make it a sensible place to establish a presence,” said Richard Glynn, Ladbrokes’ chief executive. “Stadium Technology is already one of the key software suppliers to casinos in Nevada and Delaware and it has the potential to expand.”
Betfair Signs Olympics Deal, Casinos in Miami: Who Needs ‘Em? More…
The largest sports betting exchange in the world, Betfair, has signed a deal with the International Olympics Committee. Has nothing to do with advertising or sponsoring athletes, it’s all about monitoring bets and ensuring a corruption-free Olympics this year in London.
From Gambling Kingz:
The SOPA Blackout: Ron Paul, Nancy Pelosi, Michele Bachmann on Board
The uber popular web news and aggregation site Reddit.com is planning to blackout their site next Wednesday January 18 in opposition of Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act (better known as SOPA). And you won’t believe whose supporting the efforts to block this controversial bill: The likes of Ron Paul, Nancy Pelosi and Michele Bachmann just to name a few. Talk about a bipartisan issue!
Wikipedia founder James Wales has proposed a similar blackout while Google, Yahoo, AOL and other major Web companies continue to condemn SOPA.
Sununu Takes Aim at Sheldon Adelson: “Not So Bright” (Video)
If ever there was a time when US citizens could cry foul over big businesses and campaign donations influencing politicians, that time might be now.
World Sports Exchange Slow Paying 123 Players $738,852 to Date
World Sports Exchange (WSEX.com) is like Somalia, a failed state….but they still exist. SportsBookReview.com is reporting that it has documented 123 players currently waiting on payments that total $738,852. Many players have been waiting over a year for payouts, though it should be noted a few are trickling in.
MGM Resorts International Granted Injunction Against Cybersquatters
A federal judge has sided with MGM Resorts International in its complaint against a group of so-called cybersquatters looking to capitalize on the companies name.
The court ordered GoDaddy.com Incorporated, Wild West Domains Incorporated and Melbourne IT Incorporated to place the following domains on hold: bellagioonlinepoker.com, circuscircuspoker.com, excaliburpoker.com, luxorpoker.com, mandalaybayonlinepoker.com, mgmpoker.com and ariapoker.com.
Ice, Ice, Baby - Bigger and Better ICE Online Gambling Affiliate Party January 2012
The Sports Betting Community (SBC) in association with iGaming Super Show announced that its second Ice, Ice, Baby party will be bigger and better than last years.
New Jersey Approves Sports Betting in Final Minutes
With only hours to go before a legislative session deadline, the New Jersey Assembly approved legalized sports betting in the state.
Early in the day, the Senate had approved the measure.
Last November, voters gave the approval for legalized sports betting in the state by a 64/35 margin. Bets could be placed on professional sporting events at Atlantic City’s 11 casinos and 4 racetracks.
Online Poker Tournament $100,000 Guaranteed, Newt’s New Money Man is Adelson
There is an amazing online poker tournament going on at Carbon Poker, a Sunday $100,000 Guaranteed Freezout. We also have some important news related to Sheldon Adelson, Chairman of the Sands of Las Vegas, and his efforts to ensure President Barack Obama is not a two-term President. First, he had to get frontrunner Mitt Romney out of the way.
New Jersey Measure to Legalize Sports Betting Approved by Senate Lawmakers Monday
A measure to legalize sports betting in New Jersey was sent to the legislation on Monday and approved in the Senate. New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved the referendum by more than 65 percent this past November.
The measure would allow casinos, racetracks and some restaurants and bars to take bets on sporting events.
A legislation vote was seen as highly likely since a similar measure was approved last year prior to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoing it. He now has offered his support for the bill.
Bail Decision for Bianca Rojas-Latraverse and Accomplices Will Come Tuesday
A Quebec Court judge is weighing a decision to release Bianca Rojas-Latraverse and two other accomplices out on bail after she was charged with orchestrating the forced entry and robbery of her former boyfriend’s home, 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel.
Lottery Checks Bounce for 85 Illinois Residents
Eighty-five Illinois lottery winners discovered they were not as lucky as they thought.
Their checks, worth $159,000 combined, did not clear the bank.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois lottery offered the winners a formal apology after their bank failed to authorize payment to several scratch-off winners.
Lesniak Working With Governor Christie to Bring Internet Gambling to New Jersey
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak is wasting little time in getting a bill drafted that would legalize Internet gambling in the Garden State and he may have a very powerful ally.
Lesniak advised that he met with Governor Chris Christie and the two seem to be in agreement: Internet gambling in New Jersey could prove lucrative for the state’s stagnant economy.
Politico: DOJ New Stance on Internet Gambling Splits Tribes
A new ruling by the Department of Justice stipulating that The Wire Act no longer applies to online poker has caused a split between the Indian tribes in the US. The tribes have long resisted legalized Internet gambling.
From Politico.com:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Casinos in New York City: Bloomberg Offers His Support
Mayor Bloomberg on Tuesday offered his support for having casino gambling in New York City.
Governor Andrew Cuomo backs the idea of having casinos based in the Big Apple.
“Whatever he decides to do,” Bloomberg said of the governor in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, alluding to Cuomo’s potential plans, “we’ll be supporting him. I just want to make sure that if there is gambling, some of those revenues do come to New York City. We need the revenues as well, just like every other part of the state.”
GoDaddy.com Gets Crushed by Supporting Domain Seizure Policy
GoDaddy.com, one of the largest registrars, has bowed to pressure from consumers and changed its support of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
Harrah's Atlantic City Pays Out Another $1M Poker Jackpot
(NewJerseyNewsRoom.com) A woman won $1 million on a $20 poker bet at Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City on Sunday. She became the second player in the casino’s "Three Card Poker 6 Card" bonus jackpot promotion, started September 26, to earn $1 million.
According to an Associated Press report on NJ.com, officials at Harrahs said the woman, whose name was not disclosed, had been playing at the table for about two hours before she hit the promotion’s top prize— a royal flush in diamonds.
Xmas Gifts We’d Like to See for Poker Players, Online Gambling Folks, Politicians More…
With Christmas just around the corner, Gambling911.com takes this opportunity to tell you what Christmas gifts we'd like to give to some of our friends in the gambling industry.
To Full Tilt Poker part-owners Howard "The Professor" Lederer and Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, who've been accused by the U.S. government of running a ponzi scheme: A "Get out of Jail Free" card.
To Full Tilt Poker part-owner Phil "Poison" Ivey, who's now suing Full Tilt Poker: A copy of the best-selling book "How to Sue Yourself."
New Jersey Drops Online Gambling Provision From Sports Betting Bill
(Associated Press) - Lawmakers have dropped provisions in a proposed sports betting law that would have let state residents place bets from their home computers or smartphones.
Sponsors said the changes were necessary to keep Gov. Chris Christie from vetoing the bill like he did with a measure in March that would have made New Jersey the first to approve in-state online gambling.
The bill would still let people bet on sports at Atlantic City casinos and horse tracks around the state.
