Crime
Alabama Casino VictoryLand Raided
MONTGOMERY, Ala. Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange announced Tuesday morning that gambling machines and cash were seized at VictoryLand casino in Macon County.
VictoryLand’s developer and others involved with the casino were charged last year with vote selling. The casino had previously been shut down in 2010 after a crackdown by then-governor Bob Riley.
A release from Strange's office made mention of a months-long investigation into electronic bingo machines that authorities determined were illegal.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
Playing With Fire: Dozens of Credit Cards Compromised at ICE Gambling Event
Dozens of attendees at this month’s ICE online gambling event in London, England have reported that their credit cards had been compromised.
ICE, or International Casino Exhibition, is one of the largest and most comprehensive b2b gaming exhibitions held during the year. The 2013 event took place February 5 thru 7.
The cards were reportedly compromised via smartphone usage at the event itself.
Attendees reported suspicious charges they themselves did not attempt.
Soccer Faces Epic Fight Against Match Fixing
(Associated Press) - The fortunes of popular soccer teams like Manchester United and showered millions in TV revenue on clubs that get into tournaments like Europe's Champions League.
Online Poker Akin to Pedophilia in Washington State: Lawmaker Wants Change
Class C felonies in the state of Washington include child molestation, multiple DWI offenses and drug dealing and – drum roll please – playing poker online.
That’s right. The state that just legalized marijuana usage criminalizes those who are caught playing poker on their computers and smartphones. It’s been this way for over 6 years now and you can thank former Governor Christine Gregoire for that one as part of her overzealous attempt to protect Tribal casinos in the state.
Singapore Gets Black Eye in Wake of Football Match Fixing Scandal
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore has long cultivated a reputation as a clean, safe and regimented place to live and do business in a turbulent region, but the apparently major role of Singaporeans in a global football match-fixing scandal shows a seamy underside often out of view.
Mob Slayings Up in Montreal With Return of Vito Rizzuto
With mobster Vito Rizzuto out of prison for a mere four months, mob slaying are up in Montreal.
Asia Soccer Match-Fixing Investigation Intensifies
Singapore - (Reuters) - Gambling houses in Southeast Asia form the foundation for organized crime gangs to generate huge profits from sports match-fixing, according to Chris Eaton, ex-FIFA head of security and director of Qatar's International Centre for Sport Security.
Split Verdict at Philly Mob Trial
PHILADELPHIA — (Associated Press) - Reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi will seek bail after a jury deadlocked Tuesday on a racketeering charge against him, and deadlocked or acquitted him of all eight lesser counts in a gambling and loansharking case.
The federal jury convicted underboss Joseph “Mousie” Massimino and two others of racketeering, and convicted a mob associate of two loansharking counts. But the jury deadlocked or acquitted the seven defendants on most of the approximately 60 counts.
Philly Mob Jurors Reach Verdict on Some Counts, Deadlocked on Others
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — The judge in a Philadelphia mob racketeering trial says the jury has reached a verdict on some counts but is deadlocked on others.
Asian Match Fixing Scandal Rocks Soccer World
(Reuters) - Hundreds of soccer matches have been fixed in a global betting scam run from Singapore, police said on Monday, in a blow to the image of the world's most popular sport and a multi-billion dollar industry.
Costa Rica Based Bookmaker Platinum SB Shut Down by RCMP
The RCMP raided a Super Bowl party Sunday in Ontario and shut down the Costa Rican-based bookmaking operation Platinum SB in the process.
Police also seized $2.5 million during the raid.
The RCMP claims that 6 of the over 2300 people in attendance at the Le Parc Banquet Hall party had ties to the gambling operation and the mob.
RCMP Raids Super Bowl Party: Canadian Bookies, Mobsters in Attendance
The RCMP on Sunday raided a Super Bowl party attended by some 2500 people and, in so doing, claims to have dismantled an alleged mob-linked multi-million dollar illegal gambling ring.
Many of Canada’s more successful bookies were in attendance at the “invite-only” party as heavily armed tactical officers entered the premises at Le Parc Banquet Hall in Markham, Ontario.
Deliberations Resume Monday In Philly Mob Trial
PHILADELPHIA - (Associated Press) — Jurors will begin another week of deliberations Monday on racketeering charges against reputed leaders of the Philadelphia mob.
The federal court panel considered the case for about six hours Sunday but reached no verdict.
Philly Mob Jury at Impasse, Will Work Through Super Bowl
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — A jury weighing racketeering charges against reputed leaders of the Philadelphia mob say they're at an impasse but were sent back to work Saturday.
PokerAgent Botnet Harvested More Than 16,194 Facebook Credentials
PokerAgent Botnet, a trojan designed to steal user and credit card information, reportedly stole some 16,194 Facebook log-in credentials during the last two years, according to Robert Lipovsky of ESET. This included customer credit card information tied to Facebook and Zynga accounts.
Full Tilt Poker’s Chris Ferguson in Extensive Talks With US Government
Poker pro and one time stakeholder in Full Tilt Poker, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, is in extensive talks with the US Government to settle allegations that he helped orchestrate a ponzi scheme. Court papers were filed on Tuesday, CardPlayer.com reported.
No Verdict Yet in Philly Mob Trial as Jurors Finish 14th Day of Deliberations
14 days of deliberations and still no verdict in the trial of Philadelphia Mob boss Joseph Ligambi.
Earlier in the day, jurors asked to hear more audio tapes from the 10-week trial, according to John P. Martin of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Philly Mob Trial Judge: Jurors Could be Forced to Work Through Super Bowl
PHILADELPHIA – (Associated Press) — A Philadelphia mob jury could work Super Bowl Sunday if the panel doesn’t reach a verdict this week in the sports betting and loansharking case.
Jurors have been deliberating over four calendar weeks, although they’ve twice had to start over when alternates replaced original jurors.
Chaos at Philly Mob Trial But Jury Resumes Deliberations
PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — A jury weighing mob racketeering charges in Philadelphia is back at work after a chaotic week in which two jurors were replaced and a foreman quit the post.
M88 Site Named in Gambling Bust
Seven individuals have been arrested for their connection to a Vietnamese sports betting ring said to have taken in US$48 million.
Those arrested early January 17, 2012 include Nguyen Le Sang, 37; Nguyen Le Giang, 50; Le Van Hai, 25; Nguyen Thai Ngan, 22; Pham Thi Kim Loan, 41; Cu Huy Giap and Nguyen Anh Thai.
Poker Player Known as ‘The Don’ Convicted for $1.2 Billion UK Property Fraud
A Greek businessman, known as ‘The Don’ on the international poker circuit, has been convicted for a $1.2 billion United Kingdom property fraud. Those convictions include two counts of conspiracy to defraud.
Achilleas Kallakis, 44, and co-conspirator Alexander M. Williams, also 44, defrauded banks to borrow 740 million pounds ($1.18 billion) and acquire 16 properties, the U.K. Serious Fraud Office said in a statement.
Online Gambling Pioneer Sentenced to Three Years Probation
Bill Scott, the founder of once powerful World Wide Tele Sports, has been sentenced to three years of probation for violating the US Wire Act and money laundering. Scott also had to forfeit $6,786,934.65 from various US bank accounts.
Crown Gambling CEO Linked to Taiwan Gambling Probe
Crown Ltd CEO Rowen Craigie has been named in an investigation into the alleged channelling of $US180 million in illicit gambling funds from Taiwan to Macau.
From the Sydney Morning Herald:
Harry Reid Denies Attempting to Derail Investigation of Online Gambling Figure
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid denied any involvement in an alleged effort to help derail a federal investigation into Jeremy Johnson’s Utah businesses. Johnson was a central figure at the SunFirst Bank of Utah that helped process funds for online poker firms Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars. Each of these businesses were later named in an indictment filed April 15, 2011, a day commonly known within the Web poker community as “Black Friday”.
Palms Casino in Vegas Caught Up in Drug, Prostitution Sting
LAS VEGAS -- Gambling regulators are fining the Palms casino in Las Vegas $1 million after nightclub employees provided undercover agents with prostitutes and drugs, including cocaine and prescription painkillers.
College Student Gets 60 Years in Prison for Robbing Poker Game
A Gaithersburg, Maryland man has received a 60 years sentence for robbing a poker game at a College Park apartment.
24-year-old Sergio Hernandez had earned a scholarship to Georgetown University. He was convicted of 52 counts out of 53 back in September. Those charges include robbery with a deadly weapon, first and second-degree assault and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.
The robbery occurred in August 2011.
Three Bookies Sentenced to Five Years in Prison: One Shot His Wife
COLUMBIA, SC – (Associated Press) - Three men have been sentenced for their role in a Columbia gambling ring authorities say is connected to a double murder suspect.
U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles says Lanny Ray Gunter was sentenced Tuesday to five months in prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Harry Benenhaley and Ronald Dale Spence were each sentenced to five years probation.
The men pleaded guilty in October to running a gambling operation, taking in thousands of dollars on any given day.
Former Detroit Mayor’s Dad Gambled Away $218k: On Trial as Tax Cheat
The father of former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick stands trial for allegedly gambling away approximately $218,000 and underpaying on his taxes. A former IRS agent testified in the trial this week.
The trial returned following a 12-month holiday break.
Kilpatrick reportedly took in more than $2.2 million as a business consultant during his son’s tenure as mayor.
He gambled away much of his money at casinos in both Detroit and Las Vegas.
From The Detroit News:
Convictions Upheld Against Chinese Bankers Who Laundered Money at Casinos
A federal appeals court panel upheld convictions of two former Bank of China managers along with their wives. They are accused of stealing over $480 million from a bank and using a portion of those funds at various Las Vegas casinos.
Online Gambling Software Pioneer Facing Prison Time
An Arizona-based Internet gambling software pioneer, Robert (Bob) Stuart, has been charged with promoting gambling in New York because authorities claim the software in question was used by other individuals for “illegal” purposes.
