Maryland Senate Gives Preliminary OK to Gambling Bill
Brian White, Associated Press
The Maryland Senate gave preliminary approval to expanding gambling to allow table games like blackjack and a new casino near the nation's capital.
The Senate, which took a recess on Friday until 6 p.m., planned to take a vote in the evening.
Senators spent much of the afternoon rejecting amendments, including one that would have lifted a provision in the bill to ban political contributions from casino owners.
California Online Poker Bill Near Dead
Don’t bet on Internet poker in California. A bill to regulate the activity is about to die a quick death in the California legislature. The man who helped draft the measure has said it himself.
NFL Okay With Female Replacement Official Shannon Eastin Past Participation in WSOP
No worries for NFL replacement official Shannon Eastin in regard to her World Series of Poker back in 2007.
Maryland Lawmakers Gather in 2nd Special Session to Consider Gambling, Pit Bulls
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — (Associated Press) - Maryland lawmakers convened for the year’s second special session Thursday to consider a significant expansion of gambling in the state to raise more revenue and create jobs.
The measure, which is tailored to make Maryland more competitive with neighboring states with a larger variety of gambling options, would allow table games like craps and a new casino in Prince George’s County near the nation’s capital.
Record $1.13 Billion Bet at Aqueduct Racetrack in July
(Associated Press) - More than a billion dollars bet by nearly a million customers last month is the latest evidence that the “racino” at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York City is capitalizing on its prime location and drawing dollars and gamblers from neighboring states’ casinos.
Clinkville: Facebook Online Poker Players Ask for Leniency, Face 7 Months in Prison
11 poker players in Jakarta, Indonesia have been charged with playing online poker via Facebook, with each facing up to 7 months behind bars for their crime.
Online chips were transferred during the commission of the crime. The chips are deemed to be “virtual cash” since Facebook does not permit real money gambling in Indonesia.
The seven poker players were identified as: Kesuma Wijaya Sidauruk; M Nasir, aka Aldo; Eman, aka Liang Sun; Hendry, aka A Hen; Haris Pratama Putra; A Seng, aka M. Ikhsan; and M. Zulfikar.
Absolute Poker Liquidation Confirmed by Kahnawake
Claims of ownership interest in Absolute Poker parent company Blanca need to be settled prior to the distribution of liquidated assets, PokerFuse.com was reporting on Wednesday.
Former Philadelphia Mayor's Daughter, 15 Others Charged with Running Massive Bookie Biz
Federal prosecutors claim to have broken up a massive bookmaking business based in suburban Philadelphia that spanned beyond state borders into New Jersey, Florida and Costa Rica.
Philadelphia Mob ‘Capo’ Pleads Guilty: Won’t Turn Rat in Joseph Ligambi Trial
A Philadelphia Mob lieutenant, Martin “Marty” Angelina, 50, has plead guilty to racketeering but has refused to cooperate in the fall trial of alleged crime family boss Joseph Ligambi.
Mobile Gambling Comes to Atlantic City
TRENTON — (Associated Press) - Adults who patronize Atlantic City’s casinos will soon be able to gamble at the pool, in their hotel rooms or while waiting in line at the buffet.
Gov. Chris Christie has signed legislation increasing gambling options to include handheld devices.
Mobile gambling will be restricted to the casino property.
Plans for Maryland Casino Expansion Unveiled
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — (Associated Press) - Casinos could be able to collect more revenue than currently allowed under the long-awaited details of a bill released Tuesday by Gov. Martin O’Malley’s administration ahead of a special session on gambling.
Maryland’s 67 percent tax rate on casinos is considered unusually high. Under the bill, casinos could get a lower tax rate if they buy or lease expensive slot machines instead of the state and, in some cases, to make up for added competition from a new casino site in Prince George’s County.
New Jersey Sports Betting Moving Forward Despite Lawsuit
Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (imega.org) head Joe Brennan, Jr. tells Gambling911.com that a suit filed Tuesday on behalf of the four professional sports leagues and NCAA will not stop legalized sports betting from moving forward in New Jersey.
“The leagues should not get an injunction since they cannot prove irreparable harm,” Brennan noted, with a sports betting measure expected to be approved in November.
Facebook Friendzy ‘Real Money’ Online Gambling Appears to Target Little Ones
With the “real money” online gambling launch of Bingo & Slots Friendzy on Facebook in Great Britain Tuesday, courtesy of provider Gamesys, mums across the nation have begun condemning the deal.
Indeed, the new app appears to have the look and feel of a child’s game.
"If my child came and asked me for money to play on this, I'd be livid," one mother said, speaking with TechEye.com. "But then I couldn't blame him, it looks like a very simple child's game."
Brennan Jr on Sports Betting Suit: ‘New Jersey Will Win Against Sports Leagues in a Blowout’
Joe Brennan Jr. of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association reiterated to Gambling911.com on Tuesday New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak’s remarks that the professional sports leagues and NCAA had “taken the bait” where legalizing sports betting in the Garden State is concerned.
Lesniak on Major League Sports, NCAA NJ Sports Betting Suit: ‘Bring It On’
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak, who co-sponsored a bill to legalize sports betting in the Garden State, laughed off reports that the four major sports leagues and NCAA had filed a suit to prevent his bill from moving forward.
Breaking News: NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, NCAA Sue New Jersey Over Sports Betting
(Reuters) - U.S. college and professional sports leagues filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to stop New Jersey's plans to legalize sports betting.
The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey says that a law signed in January to allow sports betting at the state's racetracks and at Atlantic City casinos violates a broad federal ban on wagering on sports events.
No Internet Gambling for Maryland
As quickly as the topic arose, the plug has been pulled just as fast on the topic of Internet gambling in the state of Maryland.
Facebook Launches Real Money Online Gambling in UK with Bingo Friendzy App
Breaking News 5:45 am EDT: Facebook announced this morning that it will begin to offer real money online gambling to UK residents 18 years and up beginning today, August 7, 2012, via a new Bingo Friendzy
app in conjunction with Gamesys, one of the UK’s largest online gambling operators.
“Gambling is very popular and well regulated in the UK . . . for millions of bingo users it’s already a social experience [so] it makes sense [for us] to offer that as well,” said Julien Codorniou, Facebook’s head of gaming for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Legalized Online Poker in California Faces Long Odds in Final Weeks: Bill Not Likely to Pass
The deadline to get an online poker measure passed in the California legislature is looming.
That August 31 date leaves little wiggle room to pass such legislation that would make the activity legal online within the Golden State.
Betting the NFL on a Tablet Now Possible as Bookmaker Unveils New Website for iPad Users
Bookmaker has unveiled its new tablet website just in time for the 2012 NFL betting season.
A tablet computer is a mobile device larger than a phone, the most popular of which is the Apple iPad.
Connecticut Bookie Pleads Guilty to Alleged Mob Connected Website 44Wager.com
A New Haven bookie, Michael Pepe, 33, has plead guilty in a federal court Monday to two counts of operating an illegal online sports betting business with alleged ties to the Gambino crime family.
William Hill Appeals Horse Race Betting Levy
William Hill, the largest bookmaker in the United Kingdom, announced on Monday (August 6, 2012) it was appealing a case in the Court of Appeal that exempts customers of betting exchanges from being liable for paying a horse racing levy.
Hill has specifically cited rival betting exchange Betfair in regard to the exemption.
Wynn to Introduce 6 Max Cash Game August 10, 2012
Wynn Resorts continues to strive for excellence and distinguish themselves from other Las Vegas properties. This becomes apparent with the introduction of 6 Max Cash Games.
A TwoPlusTwo.com posting forum member broke the news:
Indian Tribes More Willing to Back Internet Gambling Though Some are Screwed
Indian Tribes see the writing on the wall. When it comes to Internet gambling, if they can’t beat ‘em, they might as well join them.
Case in point, Washington State’s Tulalip Tribes condemned the idea of legalizing Web gambling just eight months ago. On July 26, the Tulalip Secretary, Glen Gobin, told a Senate panel that tribes "must have equal footing to participate".
Macau Raids Casinos After Deadly Attacks on Guests
Macau police in operation with Chinese and Hong Kong authorities raided a number of casinos and hotels during the late night and early morning hours of August 3 and 4 (Friday and Saturday) in what is being codenamed “Operation Thunderbolt”.
The raid follows a series of murders and attacks targeting tourists. 1300 people have been questioned and 150 of those detained as a result of the investigation.
Congressman John Tierney May Face Ethics Probe in Connection to ‘Bookie-Gate’
Eight-term Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney continues to fight for his political career after it was revealed that three nonpartisan open-government groups want the Democrat investigated by the House Committee on Ethics.
Tierney is accused of failing to publicly disclose more than $200,000 that his wife received while managing a bank account with money that came from her brother’s illegal gambling business.
Illegal Gambling Yet to Target London Olympic Games
(Reuters) - Illegal gambling has not yet targeted sports during the London 2012 Olympics after almost a week of competition, the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday.
The IOC has set up a monitoring system for illegal gambling on the 26 competitions during the July 27-August 12 Games as it seeks to counter the growing threat in professional sports.
Allowing Internet Gambling in Maryland Would Ease Opposition
Maryland Live Casino owner David Cordish listed permission to offer Internet gambling as one of the conditions that could persuade him to ease his opposition to a proposed casino in Prince George's County, according to a report in the Baltimore Sun on Friday.
Man Pleads Guilty in Philadelphia Mob Case Involving Gambling
PHILADELPHIA – (Associated Press) - A man charged in a Philadelphia mob case has pleaded guilty in federal court.
Federal prosecutors say 59-year-old Gaeton Lucibello pleaded guilty Thursday to participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving extortion and illegal gambling. Authorities say he admitted that he assisted in shaking down a bookmaker for "street tax" payments and operated two illegal video poker machine businesses.
Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26.
Lawmakers in Maryland Gather for Special Session Next Week to Discuss Internet Gambling
ANNAPOLIS -- (Associated Press) - As the battle for gamblers' dollars intensifies in the mid-Atlantic region, the possibility of developing Internet games in Maryland will be considered when lawmakers gather for a special session next week to expand gambling, the House speaker wrote in a memo.
