Gambling
Convicted Mobster Whitey Bulger Transferred to Oklahoma Prison
Former Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger has been moved to a federal prison in Oklahoma, although it was not immediately clear if he is there to stay.
The 84-year-old Bulger was being held Tuesday at FTC Oklahoma City, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons website. The facility is a transfer point for many federal prisoners.
Churchill Downs, Wynn, Station Casinos Gets Seats on AGA Board
The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced three new seats to its board on Tuesday. Among the new additions are Wynn Resorts, Station Casinos and Churchill Downs.
Station Casinos is behind the first ever licensed real money online poker site to operate from the US, Ultimate Poker. The company currently operates within both Nevada and New Jersey but does not permit customers to play beyond those respective state borders.
Internet Gaming Expo to be Held in Atlantic City, New Jersey January 25
The first ever Internet Gaming Expo will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center January 25 (2013). The one-day event is being organized by iGamingPlayer.com.
91,000 Online Gambling Accounts Set Up in New Jersey After One Month
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) -- New Jersey casinos added 20,000 Internet gambling accounts last week.
The state's Gaming Enforcement Division said Monday that 91,531 accounts had been created as of Sunday. The number of individual gamblers who have played so far has yet to be determined, though, as some users have created accounts with multiple gambling websites in New Jersey.
Wynn Resorts Suitable to Open Casino in Massachusetts
(Associated Press) - The Massachusetts Gaming Commission's investigative unit has found Wynn Resorts suitable to open a resort casino in Everett.
The commission wasn't planning to take a final vote Monday, but the recommendation is another hurdle Wynn has cleared as it seeks to win the one eastern Massachusetts casino license allowed under the 2011 casino law.
The commendation comes after four commission members signed off on a revised real estate deal for the proposed casino.
Colorado Latest State to Consider Legalizing Online Gambling
The state of Colorado is the first in the Mountain Zone to consider legalizing online gambling.
Already three states in the US have legalized Web gambling within their respective borders: Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware.
PayPal Admits to Sharing Customer Info With Company Tied to UB Poker Scandal
According to PayPal's Privacy Policy, the popular payment company contracts Iovation to "retrieve risk information regarding the IP and device from which you are accessing PayPal [and] research and testing as to appropriateness of new products and services."
Former Crime Boss Son Charged With Possession of Kiddie Porn
The son of one-time Genovese Crime boss Arthur (Artie) Nigro was arrested in the Bronx Wednesday for promoting a sexual performance of a child under the age of 17.
Adelson Ditches Plans to Build $30 Billion Mega Casino in Madrid
Feisty 80-year-old gambling tycoon Sheldon Adelson has cancelled plans to build a $30 billion gambling and leisure complex outside of one of Europe’s biggest metropolises, Madrid, Spain.
No way had been found to meet the "necessary criteria" for the project, the head of Las Vegas Sands Corporation said in a press release.
North Korea Leader Kim Jong Un Uncle Executed Over Gambling, Drug Usage
The uncle of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has been executed after being charged with disloyalty to the regime.
Skrill to Stop Online Gambling Transactions in Canada
The popular payment processing firm Skrill has decided to halt transactions for online gambling activity for the foreseeable future.
The change is anticipated as of January 2 of this coming year (2014). Transactions from merchants will end effective January 31.
New Jersey Gambling Expansion on the Table
TRENTON, New Jersey — (Associated Press) - Some New Jersey lawmakers are busy preparing for the day they expect casino gambling to expand to the Meadowlands.
A state Assembly committee on Thursday is considering a bill that would create a commission to study expanding casino gambling to East Rutherford.
Caesars Files Suit Against Massachusetts Gambling Panel Head
BOSTON — (Associated Press) - A lawsuit filed by Caesars Entertainment against the state's top gambling regulator alleges he failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest in a timely manner.
Caesars had been a partner of the Suffolk Downs horse track in a casino bid but withdrew after a background check by commission staff.
The federal lawsuit challenges the ''constitutionality, objectivity and fairness'' of Caesars' treatment by Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby.
Graphic Video of Shooting Outside Bally’s Nightclub Drai’s Released (Video)
Video surveillance of an October 21 shooting outside Drai’s After Hours club inside Bally’s Las Vegas casino was released to the public on Tuesday.
Benjamin Frazier, 41, is charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon.
Frazier opened fired following a dispute over a $30 cover charge, according to a Metro Police arrest report.
Breaking News: New Jersey Suspends Review of PokerStars
In a major blow to the world’s largest online poker firm, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has suspended the review of PokerStars application for an online gambling license for two years.
Tribes Set to Begin Offering Online Gambling, Some to Target Most US States
Some of the 240 Indian tribes in the U.S. are eager for a piece of that market, writes Pamela M. Prah of PewStates.org
The tribal online gambling efforts might exceed those at the state level where only three states have so far legalized Web gambling: Nevada, New Jersey and tiny Delaware.
Prah notes:
The Hill: Sheldon Adelson’s Futile War on Internet Gambling
TheHill.com released a compelling op-ed piece this week on Nevada gaming tycoon Sheldon Adelson’s attempt to quash legalized Internet gambling in the US, calling it “futile”. Michael Minton of TheHill.com writes:Congressional Subcommittee Looks at Internet Gambling at Federal Level
(Associated Press) - Organizations and advocates on all sides of the online gambling debate are cheering a Congressional hearing on the state of online gambling.
The hearing took place Tuesday before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade.
In his testimony, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman praised the hearing as timely. He said the gambling lobby appreciated Congress' leadership.
The Gaming Association is pushing for a national regulatory structure for online gambling.
NJ Governor Chris Christie Going to Supreme Court Over Sports Betting
Fourth time is a charm perhaps as New Jersey’s attempts to legalize sports betting in the Garden State have failed three times already in federal courts.
Governor Chris Christie has cried foul against the National Basketball Association, National Football League and other professional sports association that filed suit against the state to prevent such wagering in Atlantic City casinos.
Former Portsmouth, Blackburn Players Arrested as Part of Match Fixing Probe
Second division team Blackburn Rovers confirmed Monday that striker D.J. Campbell had been taken into custody by police as part of an undercover investigation into claims that the players accepted bribes to ensure certain outcomes during a match -- known as spot-fixing -- for betting purposes, CNN reported.
In all, six players have been taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation into match fixing attempts of a championship game.
MGM Approved to Operate Casino in Massachusetts
BOSTON — (Associated Press) - The investigative arm of the state gambling commission recommended on Monday that MGM Resorts be found suitable to proceed with a bid for a casino in downtown Springfield, provided company officials adequately explain to the five-member commission several concerns raised during a lengthy background check.
The Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement said its 10-month review did not find any factors that would disqualify MGM from doing business in Massachusetts.
North Korea Acknowledges Purging of Leader’s Uncle for Gambling, Drug Use
(Associated Press) - North Korea on Monday acknowledged the purge of leader Kim Jong-un’s influential uncle for alleged corruption, drug use, gambling and a long list of other “anti-state” acts, apparently ending the career of the country’s second most powerful official.
Johnny Manziel Celebrates 21st Birthday in Vegas
Texas A&M Aggies star quarterback Johnny Manziel celebrated his 21st birthday this weekend in style, frolicking around Las Vegas.
TMZ.com stumbled upon the College Football standout playing blackjack at the Hard Rock Casino.
From TMZ.com:
Sources in the casino tell us the guys played for roughly an hour -- from the looks of things, Johnny was doing his gambling with a short stack of the standard $5 red chips.
WagerWeb's Stephanie Wynters Nominated for Best Affiliate Manager Sports Betting
WagerWeb.com’s Stephanie Wynters has been around the online gambling industry from a while now and all her hard work is beginning to pay off. She just made the short list at the iGB Affiliate Awards 2014 so let's get her some votes!
While I like her partner-in-crime, Marty Davis, and miss rubbing his shaved head and other assorted body parts we won't discuss on this family website, Marty missed the cut this year. I do miss my little Shreky-poo.
‘Operation Gotham City’ Sports Betting Ring in South Florida Busted
Law enforcement authorities have busted a major illegal sports betting ring in South Florida dubbed “Operation Gotham City” following a year-long investigation.
12 people were charged Friday (December 6, 2013) in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Five of the twelve remained at large as of late Friday evening.
Adam Green, 52, has been identified as the ring leader of the sports betting operative.
Taxman Catches Up With British Bookmakers
LONDON - (Reuters) - Bookmakers are preparing for a tax avoidance crackdown on online gambling in Britain that will cost the industry 300 million pounds ($490 million) a year, putting a brake on the fastest growing part of their businesses.
Many bookmakers have set up internet operations in territories such as Gibraltar, allowing them to sign up British gamblers while benefiting from benign local tax regimes.
Massachusetts Gambling Chief Steps Aside on Everett Ruling
BOSTON — (Associated Press) - The head of the Massachusetts gambling commission said he was withdrawing from a crucial review of the land deal for a proposed casino in Everett because one of the site's owners was a longtime friend and former business partner.
Stephen Crosby said he has known Paul Lohnes, co-owner of the 29-acre site, since they were in the National Guard in the 1970s and that they were business partners from 1983 to 1990.
Computer Hacker Steals Fantasy Game Items From RuneScape Customers
A computer hacker is accused of stealing virtual property from online fantasy gamers as a means of paying off real debt he had incurred.
Steven Burrell, 21, spent 16 months hacking into player profiles on the fantasy site RuneScape.com. Some 200 million players use the RuneScape website.
Because the items in question existed in a “medieval fantasy world”, Burrell has not been charged with theft. Instead, the 21-year-old has been charged with hacking.
Two England Footballers Charged as Part of Match-Fixing Probe
(Reuters) - Two players from an English sixth tier semi-professional team have become the latest to be charged as part of an investigation into soccer match-fixing, British police said on Thursday.
Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22 and from Whitehawk FC in Brighton, were charged with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law and have been bailed to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court next Wednesday.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Online Gambling Business
A Florida man entered a guilty plea in connection to his involvement in an illegal online gambling business based in Stanford, Connecticut.
Craig Caffro, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and one count of operating an illegal gambling business.
Caffro was one of 20 individuals arrested for their role in running the now shuttered online gambling site 44Wager.com. All but one of these individuals have agreed to forfeit money and property
