Gambling
Canadian Police Refuse to Identify Paddy Power Hacker: 649,000 Accounts Breached
Ontario authorities this week stated they will not be releasing the name of an individual said to have hacked some 649,000 customer accounts at Paddy Power, the UK’s third largest bookmaker.
‘FIFA Makes Me Sick and Blatter Runs it Like a Dictator’ Claims Sports Broadcaster
Popular BBC sports broadcaster and a former footballer who holds the record for most goals scored by an English team in the World Cup, Gary Winston Lineker has blasted FIFA saying that the organization “makes me sick and (Sepp) Blatter runs it like a dictator”.
Rhode Island, Providence Bookies Going Down in Latest Shakedown
Rhode Island is the latest state that is proving to be inhospitable to bookies.
On Friday, August 1, it was announced that a state grand jury had returned indictments in connection to an alleged sports betting ring operating in the northern part of the state.
Bookies in Northern California: San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, Modesto
Bookies in Northern California, just like their counterparts in the southern part of the state previously profiled here at Gambling911.com, have access to some of the wealthiest folks on the planet. In the case of Northern California we are talking about Silicon Valley and the many successful businesspeople who reside here.
Borgata Posts Quarterly Loss for Online Poker in New Jersey
The Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, partnered with bwin.party, has posted a quarterly operating loss of $1.8 million for the period of June 30.
It did, however, reach a “key milestone” by breaking even during the month of July.
The Borgata and bwin.party were widely seen as having gotten off to the strongest start in the newly opened New Jersey online gambling market through aggressive ad campaigns. Ongoing payment processing issues, particularly with a high credit card decline rate, have stymied growth since that time.
Ireland Government Blasts Paddy Power Failure to Expose Breach
Government officials in Ireland have slammed that country’s largest bookmaker for failing to alert the public regarding a massive data breach that occurred in October 2010. News of the breach only became known on Thursday (July 31, 2014), nearly four years later.
‘Do Nothing Congress’ Wants to Try to Do Something: Ban Online Gambling Via Holder
A handful of US Senators wrote a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking for his support of their bill to reinstate a federal ban on Internet gambling.
Christie Signs Law for Gamblers to Ban Themselves: Like Getting a Vasectomy
On Thursday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed into law a measure that permits residents to ban themselves from playing at any of the state’s casinos or licensed online gambling websites.
Paddy Power Suffers Massive Data Breach: More Than 649,000 Customers Compromised
More than 649,000 customers of the UK’s third largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, have had their personal information stolen, it was revealed on Thursday. Of those, approximately 120,000 are based in Ireland.
No customers who signed up after 2010 are impacted by the breach.
Five Arrested for Brazen Atlantic City Casino Robbery: Former Guard Among Them
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) — Authorities say a former security officer and four other people stole more than $180,000 from security workers during an armed robbery at an Atlantic City casino earlier this month.
Global Gaming Expo 2014 to Feature Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn
The Global Gaming Expo 2014 to be held in Las Vegas Tuesday September 30 thru October 2 will feature the likes of casino giants Sheldon Adelson, Chairperson of Las Vegas Sands Corp, Steve Wynn, Head of Wynn Resorts, and Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International.
Others confirmed for the world’s biggest gaming event include Patti Hart, CEO of IGT, Jamie Odell, CEO of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, David Baazov, CEO of Amaya and James Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and Chairman of Hard Rock International.
‘Hoffa’ Producer Joe Isgro Linked to Mob-Run Gambling Ring: Pleads Not Guilty
(Associated Press) - He's been one of the nation's most influential record promoters, the producer of an Oscar-nominated movie, a defendant who successfully fought racketeering charges in a high-profile payola case, and an admitted loan shark who shook down borrowers in ritzy Beverly Hills.
Now the roller-coaster life of Joe Isgro is taking another plunge, with new charges that he helped run a mob-linked gambling operation.
Sentencing of Greenville Man Highlights South Carolina Zero Tolerance of Bookies, Gambling
The conviction and subsequent sentencing of a Greenville, South Carolina man this week charged with illegal gambling highlights that state’s policy towards eradicating the activity whether it be in the form of bookmaking, poker or video gaming machines.
Pinnacle Sports Alleged Owner Stanley Tomchin Pleads Guilty to Minor Charge
This morning the 29th of July 2014, the criminal prosecution of Stanley Tomchin – featuring an indictment charging Mr. Tomchin with 56 separate felonies – ended quietly with an agreed upon plea to a minor offense with a sentence involving no incarceration or even probation supervision.
John McCain Introduces Legislation to Block Arizona Casino Project
PHOENIX (Associated Press) -- Arizona's two U.S. senators are proposing legislation to block construction of a Phoenix-area casino planned by a southern Arizona tribe.
If enacted, the bill introduced Monday by Republicans John McCain and Jeff Flake would block the casino resort project planned by the Tohono O'odham Nation for a site on unincorporated land adjacent to Glendale.
The senators said in an announcement that their bill is a companion measure to House legislation approved by that chamber and sponsored by Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks.
Southern California Bookies: Los Angeles, San Diego
Southern California bookies can stand to make some serious coin thanks to the wealthy clientele that place wagers in this region from San Diego up to Los Angeles and the cities in between.
Top sports teams from this region with significant fan bases include the likes of the San Diego Chargers, UCLA Bruins and both the LA Lakers and Clippers. There is also the USC Trojans, who are among the top 10 teams with the shortest odds to win the College Football Championship. Both the University of Southern California and UCLA are located in Los Angeles.
Numis: William Hill, Paddy Power Should Merge
Broker Numis on Monday suggested that two of the UK’s biggest bookmakers should merge in an effort to offset negative regulatory changes.
“This would create a much more attractive investment than either alone,” Numis said.
“Taking the best from each company would result in a business with outstanding technology and marketing. Plus, we really like Will Power as a name for the company.”
Pope Hits Out at Mafia Once Again
Pope Francis called for nature to be protected from criminal abuse on Saturday during a visit in the southern Italian town of Caserta, near Naples, in a region long blighted by illegal toxic waste dumps and the pervasive grip of the Camorra mafia.
During a televised open air Mass before around 200,000 people, Pope Francis said that the love of God meant respecting life, the environment and nature.
State Senator Will Attempt to Get Around Sports Betting Ban in New Jersey
New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) will attempt to get around a sports betting ban by pushing through legislation with strong bipartisan support in hopes that Governor Chris Christie signs the bill into law.
Christie has long supported the legalization of sports betting in New Jersey but the professional sports leagues and NCAA successfully blocked such efforts in the court.
From the Newark Star Ledger:
Louisiana Bookies: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and the Slippery Slope
Louisiana bookies have been an endangered species in recent years. During the year 2008 alone over 100 bookies were rounded up across the state.
Man Who Forced Sunwing Flight Back to Toronto had Gambling Problem
A man arrested for making terroristic threats on board a Sunwing flight from Toronto to Panama City, Panama, has been let out on bail on $1000 bond.
Convicted Casino Lobbyist Questions Rick Perry Online Gambling Stance
The biggest casino lobbyist and an individual who served time for that activity, Jack Abramoff, has spoken out regarding Texas Governor Rick Perry’s stance on Internet gambling.
Regulators Approve $100k Fine Against Aria Casino for Shoeing Away Agents
LAS VEGAS — Regulators have approved a $100,000 fine for the Aria casino on the Las Vegas Strip after state agents said they were shooed away from a high-stakes roulette table.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1Ad7H83) twwhe Nevada Gaming Commission approved the settlement with the resort on Thursday.
Nevada Gaming Revenue Up 22 Percent
LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) -- Nevada officials say casino revenues shot up more than 14 percent in June thanks to a banner month on the Las Vegas Strip.
The state Gaming Control Board reported Friday that Nevada casinos brought in about $907 million in June.
Las Vegas Strip casinos pulled in $532 million in June, up more than 22 percent from the same month a year ago. Downtown Las Vegas casino revenues of $41million were up 12 percent.
UK Opposition Weighs Betting Levy to Fund Grassroots Sport
(Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party is considering imposing a new levy on online betting and Premier League TV income to support measures to encourage more people to take part in sport, it said on Thursday.
Boosting the number of Britons who play sport regularly was one of the aims of the 2012 London Olympics, but the results have been patchy two years on.
Showboat Casino Employees Protest Closing
ATLANTIC CITY – (Associated Press) - Chanting “Keep Showboat open,” hundreds of casino workers and supporters staged a noisy, enthusiastic protest Thursday night on the Atlantic City Boardwalk aimed at getting the owners of the Showboat Casino Hotel to reverse their decision to close it next month.
More than 400 protesters marched from a small park near the Boardwalk to Caesars Atlantic City, where a small group met with a labor attorney for the parent company that owns both casinos.
5Dimes Becomes Latest Online Sportsbook to Accept Bitcoin
Popular 5Dimes.com, a US-facing online sportsbook, has become the latest to embrace the anonymous digital currency bitcoin.
5Dimes began accepting bitcoin deposits early this month but withdrawals via this method will be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
Bitcoin will be converted into US currency at the time of deposit as, as such, customers will not be exposed to fluctuations in bitcoin’s exchange rate.
Over the past month, bitcoin has traded slightly above $600 on average across the various exchanges.
Matchbook.com Exits Canada Market for Unknown Reasons
Canadian customers of the sports betting exchange Matchbook.com have been advised that they must withdraw all funds from their accounts by August 22 (2014).
The decision was made on Wednesday (July 23) to exit the Canadian market though rumors began swirling earlier in the week. A reason for the departure was not immediately known.
Revel Casino has Six Potential Buyers: May Avert Closure
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) - Atlantic City's mayor said Wednesday there are six potential buyers for the Revel Casino Hotel, which is up for sale next month at a bankruptcy auction.
Don Guardian also said his administration has been in talks with the current owners of the former Atlantic Club casino about selling it to a new buyer.
Mississippi Gambling Revenue Steady After Harrah’s Closure
JACKSON, Miss. (Associated Press) - Gambling revenues tumbled in Mississippi's river region in the first month after Harrah's Tunica Hotel & Casino closed, but the trend didn't worsen much. Meanwhile, Gulf Coast casinos posted their best June in years.
State figures show casinos statewide won $174 million from gamblers in June, up less than 1 percent from June 2013.
The 18 river casinos won $78.7 million, down 12 percent from a year earlier. The 12 coastal casinos won $95.7 million, up 13 percent from June 2013.
