Business & Financial
Laurent Tapie Relocates to Dublin to ‘Take Over Full Tilt Poker’
Laurent Tapie, the man behind the supposed deal to acquire shuttered Full Tilt Poker, has reportedly moved to that company’s Dublin base where he will reopen FTP for European players. Tapie’s firm, Group Bernard Tapie, operates out of France.
Full Tilt Poker is now going on one year owing customers millions of dollars after it had several bank accounts seized by US authorities. An indictment was handed down against two company executives charging them with bank fraud and money laundering. Full Tilt’s licensing arm eventually pulled the plug on the company last summer.
Illinois Lottery Tickets Now Sold Online: First State to do so
Illinois became the first state to begin selling lottery tickets online Sunday.
Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, UB.com Given Extension by US Attorney
The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York has given online poker sites Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and UB.com an extension deadline of May 14, 2012 in which to respond to an amended civil complaint.
Everest Poker Sees Sharp Decline
Everest Poker, the world’s 19th largest network, and 7th if combining its French website, reported a sharp decline in revenue over the past year.
No Dash Poker From Merge
There is no Dash Poker coming to the Merge Gaming Network as previously reported on this website and elsewhere, Gambling911.com can now confirm.
Fred Wallin Becomes Sports Handicapper for Gambling911.com
Thomas Somach announces Gambling911.com’s new sports handicapping platform and the introduction of picks expert and sports commentator Fred Wallin to our team.
You asked for it, and now you've got it!
Our readers have been asking us for a long time to provide them with sports handicapping selections from a top sports handicapper who is honest, successful and consistent, and now we've got them, just as March Madness is heating up!
Daniel Negreanu Calls Full Tilt Poker CEO Ray Bitar a ‘Weasel’
Last week, we were told for the umpteenth time that a deal was about to be finalized (the next day, supposedly) for the purchase of “dead weight” Full Tilt Poker, a company that has not paid its US customers in almost a year.
Days later, no announcement.
A French company, Groupe Tapie, was expected to acquire the firm (what’s left of it). Some of the ASSets (no typo with the CAPS) include the very folks that ran Full Tilt Poker into the ground in the first place - Raymond Bitar being one. We say this because he is still said to be actively involved in the sale of FTP.
Unibet to Introduce Fast Poker in Coming Month
Leading European online poker room Unibet is set to launch the new fast-paced poker platform aptly named Fast Poker within the next 30 days (April 2012).
Australian Online Poker ‘Snitch’ Daniel Tzvetkoff to Come Out of Hiding for Trial
The man many believe is solely responsible for the takedown of online poker giants, Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and UB.com in the United States is finally about to come out of hiding, according to reports in Australian media.
Relax Gaming, Fast Poker Receives 100th Alderney License: Not Hurt by Full Tilt Poker
The 100th Alderney eGaming license has been issued and it goes to Relax Gaming, developers of the fast-paced online poker platform, Fast Poker.
Fast Poker will allow for fast play and quick transfer of a pool of player to another table upon folding their cards. Fast Poker is set to be implemented with a handful of European Internet cardrooms in the coming days including iGame, Betsson and Unbibet.
‘No Collusion’ Says Bodog Poker: Hole Cards to be Revealed
In response to concerns over possibility of collusion at Bodog Poker, the company has announced that players will now be able to request hand histories revealing hole cards.
Zoom Poker Making Waves in Online Poker Sector
Zoom Poker, PokerStars fast-paced ring game format, has been introduced in beta format this past week and it is the talk of the Internet poker world.
Not since Full Tilt Poker’s now defunct Rush Poker has a similar format been introduced.
PokerStars explains the Zoom Poker format and why it’s such a hit with players:
Managers with 40 Plus Years Experience Sacked at Star Casino
Seven mid-level managers, some with more than 40 years experience, have been sacked by Australia’s Star Casino for a breach in email policies. One of the managers reportedly forwarded an internal email revealing how the casino had apparently permitted international high rollers to gamble 24 hours straight.
Epic Fail: Poker League “Mountain of Debt” Claims Clarified by Execs
Responding to claims reported by CardPlayer.com that the Epic Poker League had left behind a “mountain of debt” as it seeks to reorganize under a Chapter 11 filing, the league’s CEO David Goldberg and Jeffrey Pollack attempted to clarify the situation in an interview with PokerNews.com.
Fast Poker vs. Zoom Poker: Two New Fast-Paced Platforms Debut
Just as PokerStars.com has unveiled its new fast-paced online poker game, Zoom Poker, a new game modeled after the now defunct Full Tilt Poker brand, Rush Poker, is set to debut on a number of European skins.
PayPal Cracks Down on March Madness Betting
PayPal has restricted some accounts for their apparent participation in March Madness betting, according to a report appearing in Bloomberg News Thursday.
Emails were sent to those suspected of using PayPal’s service for violation of the gambling policy.
The emails read:
“It has been determined that you are in violation of PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy regarding your sales/offer of March Madness sports pool,” according to the report.
Targeted customers are required to sign an acceptable use affidavit prior to their account being reactivated.
Fool’s Gold: Jamie Gold Poker Room at Tropicana No More After One Month
In a blink of the eye, the much ballyhooed Jamie Gold Poker Room at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is no more after only one month.
The poker room is still open. It’s just not called the “Jamie Gold Poker Room” and any association with the WSOP champ seems to have been erased.
Gold is the biggest winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event ever, having won in 2006. Ultimately he had to split the funds with a promoter as part of a settled lawsuit.
Gold promotional posters have since been replaced with March Madness promos.
Full Tilt Poker Deal Could Happen This Week
Reports have surfaced that the Groupe Bernard Tapie (GBT) is fully prepared to acquire the Full Tilt Poker website as early as this week. While we have heard the same song and dance for months now, there is renewed optimism as a result of the specific time frame being announced.
Former US Vice Presidential Candidate Wayne Root Looks to Launch Online Poker Site in US
Nevada based online social media and gaming company W Technologies Inc. is looking to launch an online poker within the USA that could eventually embrace “real cash” play.
Matchbook Betting Exchange Looks to Expand in Europe, Asia With Multi-Currencies
Matchbook Betting Exchange is delighted to announce the release of their new multi-currency platform. This will allow all customers to bet in Euro, Sterling, Canadian and Hong Kong Dollars, as well as the previously available US Dollars. Since being newly acquired in early 2011, there has been heavy investment in the product and this is the first of a number of exciting announcements, including a fully functional mobile application, to come in the next few months.
Sportsbook Review Defendant in Trademark Infringement Lawsuit
Stevo Design, Inc. is suing SBR Marketing Ltd. over a trademark infringement. SBR Marketing runs the popular Sportsbook Review website and posting forum.
Court Description:
Annie Duke: ‘You Can’t Ride a Green Unicorn Because They are Impossible to Tame”
On her Huffington Post blog Monday evening, poker pro Annie Duke talked of green unicorns in making a point about good decision making and drawing parallels to the recent financial crisis.
William Hill to Open Talks With Playtech Following Tel Aviv Debacle
(Reuters) - William Hill (WMH.L) is to open talks with Playtech (PTEC.L) this month to try to salvage the companies' joint online venture following a breakdown in relations last year, the Financial Times reported on Monday.
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.
Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta Cites Irregularities with Everleaf Poker Network
The Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta (LGA) has finally broken its silence regarding the Everleaf Gaming poker network, and it’s not good. The regulatory body has discovered irregularities with the firm following its delayed payouts to customers and abrupt exit from the US market early last month.
Sanctions were issued against Everleaf by the LGA.
An investigation yielded “a number of irregularities in their operation” resulting in the network “being monitored closely to ensure its operation respects Maltese law.”
Lobbyist: Casinos Want Fair Online Gambling
LAS VEGAS — (Associated Press) - 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.
Bwin.Party Formally Applies for Nevada Internet Poker License
Bwin.Party, the world’s largest real money gambling firm, has officially filed for a Nevada state Internet poker license.
Nevada looks to allow intrastate online poker in the coming months following passage of legislation late last year. Nevada could incorporate multi-state pacts in the future as well. Ultimately, the state was looking to become a hub for online poker companies following the passage of a federal law, however, many experts now believe the industry will develop exclusively at the local state level.
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.
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.
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.
