Let your mouth speak archive

During the past three decades, legalized gambling revenues in America have ******exploded. Commercial and Indian casinos and state ******lotteries now collectively rake in about $100 billion in profits annually.

In its upcoming term, Congress will be weighing a variety of gambling-related measures, including some that would spur that growth and others that might slow it down. And lawmakers also may be getting closer to passing a measure that for the first time would give a federal agency the authority to begin studying the "harmful consequences" of gambling addiction.

Members of Congress already this year have introduced at least seven bills that specifically address gambling matters. Most of the measures concern Internet gambling or American Indian gambling facilities located outside of a tribe's reservation.

At least two dozen law firms representing American Indian communities, casinos and other players in the gambling industry lobbied federal officials on issues related to American Indian and online gambling during the first half of 2011.

The gambling bill that has garnered the most attention is a measure that would regulate Internet poker. Currently, online poker players in the United States can play for money, but can't legally collect their earnings. In April, the U.S. Depart******ment of Justice indicted 11 people linked to online gambling operations and moved to shut down three of the top Web sites.

Some jurisdictions, including the District of Columbia, are taking steps toward regulating online gambling, and Congress is looking to do the same.

The Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act introduced by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) in June would require a company to obtain a state- or tribe-issued operation license if it wishes to accept online poker bets from individuals in the United States. (UIGEA refers to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.) The act would create an office in the U.S. Commerce Department that would oversee state and tribal licensing.

"We want to have an iron-clad system to make sure that those who play for money are playing in an honest, fair system where they can reap the benefits of their winnings," Barton said in a statement. "To put it simply, this bill is about having the personal freedom to play a skill-based game you enjoy without fear of breaking the law."

The bill is similar to legislation previously introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.). Frank is one of the measure's 19 Democratic and six GOP co-sponsors.

The American Gaming Association (AGA), the trade group for the commercial casino industry, has not taken a position on the bill. But the organization supports regulated Internet poker.

"[W]e are pleased that Rep. Barton wants to protect American consumers and understands the need for regulating online poker in our country," the AGA said in a statement. "The millions of Americans who are playing poker online deserve to know they are playing safely with law-abiding operators, but strong enforcement of illegal operators and unambiguous U.S. laws governing online gambling are equally vital."

The group spent $1.2 million during the first half of 2011 lobbying Congress on Internet gambling regulation and other gambling issues, according to congressional records. Three AGA officials and lobbyists from seven firms — including Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Holland & Hart and Ropes & Gray — advocated for the organization during that period.

William Moschella, a Brownstein partner lobbying for the AGA, referred inquiries to the group. Officials at the AGA could not be reached.

The Poker Players Alliance, which says it represents more than 1 million players, is lobbying the 12 members of the congressional "super committee" to incorporate the legislation into its deficit-reduction plan. The committee is tasked with making a recommendation before Thanksgiving on how to cut the deficit by at least $1.2 trillion during the next 10 years.

John Pappas, executive director of the Alliance, said regulated online poker has "a lot of economic benefit." Specifically, he said his group believes online poker could raise between $10 billion and $40 billion in tax revenue during the next decade.

The Alliance spent $810,000 during the first half of 2011 lobbying Congress on Internet gambling regulation, according to congressional records. Pappas and lobbyists from nine firms — including Barnes & Thornburg and Ryan MacKinnon Vasapoli and Berzok — advocated for the organization during that period.

Not everyone is behind the online gambling push. "We think government needs to get out of the predatory gambling business because the evidence is overwhelming that it is a failed public policy," said Les Bernal, executive director of Stop Predatory Gambling, a nonprofit raising awareness about what it calls the failed government policy of profiting from casinos and state lotteries.

TRIBAL DISAGREEMENTS

Barnes & Thornburg also advocates for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which had a plan for an off-reservation casino rejected by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2008. According to the department, only five tribes have received authorization for off-reservation gambling since the 1988 enactment of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which established federal regulations for tribal gambling operations.

Currently, tribes wishing to open a gambling facility in off-reservation lands obtained in trust after 1988 must secure support from Interior, and the governor of the state where the facility would be located. But bills offered this year by sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) would place more restrictions on off-reservation gambling.

The Off-Reservation Land Acquisition Guidance Act, which McCain introduced in July, would codify off-reservation language in a George W. Bush-era memorandum rescinded by the Obama administrat

With the cancellation of her Oxygen reality show, The World According to Paris, Miss Paris Hilton is regrouping and making the decision to train to become one of the world’s top female house music DJs. So far she’s shadowed top DJ Deadmau5 in Las Vegas and apparently she’s serious about the gig because she’s been traveling around the world in hopes of getting the lowdown on top DJ techniques and style.

Apart from gaining world recognition for electrifying crowds with her Paris beats, she wants to take her career a step further and design a whole line of DJ related clothing. Not really, but you can see that coming can’t you? Seriously, she’s currently working with renowned DJ David Guetta in hopes of slapping together an album hopefully by the end of the year.

She claims to be taking on the venture because she simply loves house music and well, her persona revolves around hanging out at swanky nightclubs so somehow, it all fits.

According to TMZ, sources close to the star claim that the industry is wide open for a woman to step in and spin with the boys and that apparently, “No woman has ever taken over in that arena.” Well, there are plenty of female DJs out there but it seems that it’s tough for them to breakthrough to compete with big names such as Tiesto and Armin Van Buuren but with Paris’ popularity, she just may have a shot.

Spain’s new law to regulate online gaming in the country planned to boost the economy, which betting shop services can see is very important in a troubled worldwide economy.

After Spain’s decision to pass an online gaming law, licenses are being given and benefits are expected to arrive. One benefit that everyone looks forward to is a big boost given to the local economy. Besides a job increase, the actual figure mentioned is €137.5 million in new income in 2012 for Spain.

Betting shop services know that extra income is always welcome, considering what was happening to the world’s economy, and maybe that’s the reason why Spain was rushing to authorize the first online license.

Casino Gran Madrid was given the first license in the Madrid area. Betting shop services found out that the casino has been authorized to offer a variety of games which include roulette and poker, and they engaged Playtech, the well-known software provider, to assist them in implementing their website.

The Spanish law is coming at a time when many countries are looking for ways to raise income through taxes and make the economies more stable. Maybe that’s why other countries in Europe are assessing their state of gambling, looking at state legislation, taxes, player habits, etc.

It was estimated that in 2010, Spain was home to over 370,000 gamblers who were playing online betting sites. Over the previous year, this was a pretty big increase – 33 percent. One suspected reason is high speed internet’s accessibility, which lets players easily get online from home, restaurants, or cafes, and enjoy better gambling experiences with the betting sites, as well as better graphics.

Politicians have been focusing on more than the legislation’s financial incentive. They spoke about the role it will be playing in keeping gamers who are underage off the betting sites, and protecting gamers with a history of gaming addiction. As many can confirm, increased income is very important, but so is secure and safe betting sites, and betting shop services fully agree.

It was 1989, when the mega hit movie Back to the Future II rolled into theatres with Marty McFly traveling back in forth in time in hopes of saving his future, wearing those awesome sneakers that if you were old enough you probably tried to recreate somehow. Now, Nike has recreated the futuristic shoes and is auctioning 1,500 pairs through EBay in hopes of pleasing die-hard fans as well as raising funds for Micheal J. Fox’s Parkinson’s foundation.

So just how close did Nike get to recreating the futuristic shoes? According to ABC Action News, Nike used their Air Mag shoe design and adapted it to look like an exact replica of the Back to the Future II hi-top shoes complete with a glowing LED panel and a logo that can glow for up to five hours. The only thing missing are the power laces which unfortunately, they could not make happen due to patent issues, but will hopefully make a reality come 2015.

MTV claims that Nike approached the writers and producers of BTF with the idea which they were keen on making a reality and the fact that part of the proceeds were going to charity just sweetened the deal. Creators of the shoe used both the movie as a reference as well as old designs created by Nike designer, Tinker Hatfield, in order to recreate the famed sneaks.

If you’re looking for a pair of these awesome shoes, you’ll have to dish out some cash but remember that it is for charity. There will be 150 pairs of the Nike McFly shoes auctioned off daily via E-Bay, good luck! 😁

A new advisory board headed in Washington D.C. for online gambling was recently formed by Tom Ridge, the former Secretary of Homeland Security, Parry Aftab, an internet safety expert, and Greg Raymer, a well known professional poker player. These three men have stood up to say that while they completely support the stance of Congress in relation to illegal internet gambling, they are very determined to ensure that online gambling is secure and safe for all players in the United States who enjoy playing poker and other casino games online for money.

While FairPlay USA has stated that the fully support the definition of illegal online gambling by Congress and will enforce the regulations, the advisory board has noted that they will be providing a new framework that can assist in creating strict regulatory laws when it comes to online poker. Numerous members of the consumer protection agency, law enforcement field, gaming industry as well as professional poker players have come out to support FairPlay USA.

The first action of this advisory board is to petition the Congress to further crack down on all illegal offshore gambling websites and start establishing strict regulation for online gambling in the United States with a strong focus on safety and integrity. This comes in response to the numerous Americans that enjoy online gambling and want to legally gamble online for money in the United States. FairPlay USA believes that with strict regulation of online gambling websites, it will be safe for Americans rather than gambling illegal through offshore gambling websites.

There are three main areas of concern FairPlay USA is looking to address. These areas include law enforcement in regards to illegal and unregulated casino websites, child protection, as well as the various rights associated with adult poker players and their ability to enjoy online casino on a regulated and secure website.

Four Dutch Socialist parties are concerned about the consequences of MP Fred Teeven’s proposal for a regulated and taxed Dutch online gambling industry as its very likely to upset Dutch Muslims.

According to casino gambling news, four Dutch leftist political parties are concerned about the consequences of MP Fred Teeven’s proposal for regulated and taxed Dutch online casinos since any such law is guaranteed to upset Dutch Muslims.

Four of Netherland’s most progressive political parties have strongly come out against legalized and regulated online gambling after the moderate Dutch Muslim community allegedly

hinted to the MPs that such a move would be seen as Islamophobic and may inflame the community.
The Dutch Green Left, the Christian Union, the Socialist Party and the Labor Party have unanimously spoken against legalized gambling within the country, stating that the proposed legislation in its current form just doesn’t do enough to combat against gambling addiction by those who will be tempted the most.

In more private conversations, the four socialist pro-immigration parties are concerned that Dutch Muslims will get upset, setting back fragile relations between Dutch and naturalized Muslim immigrants after the assassination of film director (Theo Van Gogh) by a moderate Muslim.

Dutch politicians are very concerned about the possible repercussions from a “small minority of Dutch Muslim extremists.”

Deputy Minister Fred Teeven’s legislation to create a regulated, licensed and taxed online gaming market was met with wide approval to do away with the Holland Casino monopoly and open up the Dutch gambling market to competition.

Dutch Muslims see gambling as a direct contradiction of the Koranic Sharia Laws, which govern all aspects of their lives.

Sharia laws are indeed firmly against all forms of gambling and were created long ago by the Muslim Prophet Mohamed, who historians believe was not a big fan of gambling.

The pro-immigration MPs are very concerned that Deputy Minister Teeven new gambling watchdog will not have enough real power to prevent Muslims from breaking religious law and becoming addicted to gambling.

The Dutch gambling market is currently controlled by the Holland Casino monopoly. During the past week, a Dutch-Turkish-Muslim won a lawsuit against Holland Casino for allowing him to gamble despite knowing that he was firmly against gambling.

The trend towards group buying power has come alive in the age of the internet. Online gambling is also included in the coupon marketing trend and a few firms have come to the forefront to supply the goods and services. BetHalf is the first group buying voucher portal and is focused on promoting Daily Deals for Poker, Casino, Sports Wagering, and Bingo using it unique platform. BetHalf provides all the services required to give gaming firms and their affiliates payment solutions, coupon acquisition and facilitation of the entire process.

Recently BetHalf launched it integrated solution for payments by putting together MyPayLinQ and PICClub. The options provided by BetHalf include Visa, MasterCard, Citadel, Western Union, Money Gram and UKASH. The integrated solution gives the customer group buying power by making a platform that combines buyer that have similar requirements. The amalgamated e-wallet works in a variety of countries with ease and functionality.

The CEO of BetHalf, Blake Benson, commented, "Given the breadth of their global customer base, it was a natural fit for us to work exclusively with Chuck Kidd and MPLQ”, Benson continued, "Our decision was also based on MyPayLinQ's decision to allow BetHalf to offer our group buying platform exclusively to its current merchants and members. Customers can enjoy the benefits of half-price deals to try out new gaming sites while online gaming companies have the opportunity to attract new customers they would not have been able to before."

Ike Turner,Marketing Manager for BetHalf, also commented on the arrangement, , "Integration with MyPayLinQ leapfrogs us ahead of any potential competition with our Groupon-style promotions for poker, sports or any other iGaming category." Turner added, "MyPayLinQ has hundreds of merchants and thousands of players from around the world which saves us the time needed to plug into each merchant separately. With US football now kicking off, there is no better time for us to start selling."

Since the death of troubled singer Amy Winehouse back in July, father, Mitch Winehouse has been desperately trying to clear the air concerning the real reasons behind his daughter’s death. On a recent appearance of Anderson Cooper’s new variety talk show, which airs on Monday, he explains how he believes her death was due to a seizure she experienced while detoxing.

Amy was found dead in her London home back in late July and due to her troubled past with drugs and alcohol, many assumed that may have been the cause of her death. According to the Associated Press, Amy’s father Mitch together with her step mother and aunt appeared on the show to discuss toxicology findings and to finally clear the air about Amy’s death.

He talked about how Amy was actually trying to quit drinking and how traces of the drug Librium were found in her system, which is a drug used to fight anxiety for those trying to put an end to their habit. While there was alcohol found in her system, Mitch explained how she was actually trying to get on the right track.

He talked about how during her periods of detox, she would experience seizures and pass out for long periods of time but apparently this was all part of the process. He told Anderson, “the periods of abstinence became were becoming longer, and the periods of drinking were becoming shorter. It was heading in the right direction.”

Since her death, there has been an outpour of support from around the world for the Grammy Award winning artist including a recent tribute during the MTV VMA Awards show as well as a special tribute by rock band, Green Day, who is releasing the song “Amy,” in her memory.

Massachusetts is already discussing a bill that, if passed, will allow the state to expand its land gambling projects. On Friday September 9, State Representative Dan Winslow has filed an amendment to the bill to allow for online gambling in the form of Internet poker.

Winslow is a Republican from Norfolk. He said that his proposal fits into the window allowed in the gambling bill and has support from experts in the field. It could provide a significant revenue source, create high tech jobs in the software and regulatory arenas and cater to the demand for online gambling in Massachusetts. The Winslow amendment is likely to come for discussion next Wednesday according to reports in the Boston media. Winslow added, "This one, I think, is a great opportunity for Massachusetts to take the lead. No state in the country has yet enacted legislation to authorize and regulate Internet poker." Online gambling proposals have been moved in New Jersey, Hawaii, Florida, California and Nevada but have not yet been implemented.

Winslow has spelt out the details of the proposal, which envisages that there should be five licenses awarded each with a life of five years. A rake of 10% would be levied on every pot and the state of Massachusetts would receive 70% of the rake. Unlike the proposals of some of the other states in America, Winslow's proposal is not restricted to intrastate online gambling. Players from all over the world could sign up with the licensees. Winslow also offers several justifications for this online gambling amendment. Poker is widely accepted as a game of skill and is therefore different from other online casino games. Online poker is a fact of life in Massachusetts. It needs state regulation so as to assure integrity.

Winslow has met instant and vehement opposition from state Treasurer Steven Grossman, who called the plan "reckless and irresponsible" as well as a violation of federal law. He said that introduction of online gambling would undercut the value of the three land casino licenses that are being considered in the main bill and would cause a loss to the state exchequer. He also objected to the amendment being introduced without prior discussion with anybody in the legislature. This has led to a war of words with Winslow accusing the Democrats of secrecy and closed door discussions.

Winslow's plan, if passed, would require the newly created Massachusetts Gaming Commission to develop model legislation and regulations for online poker by July 1 next year.

With a vote on how to regulate EU gambling scheduled for September 19, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are torn between permitting individual member states to create their own laws or requiring adherence to EU-wide legislation.



The debate between those supporting internal versus international online gambling legislation is a complicated and longstanding one. A green paper issued March 24 by Jürgen Creutzmann, Liberal MEP from Germany, suggested online gambling legislation be regulated throughout the EU. Though Creutzmann dismissed the notion of uniform laws governing all EU member states, he did call for greater cooperation among them.



Said Creutzmann: "Member states alone are not in a position to regulate all areas of internet gambling. Much-expanded co-operation between national regulatory bodies is therefore essential.”



At present, individual member states oversee online gambling websites at their discretion. Some have elected to regulate online gambling; others have banned it entirely; and still others have chosen to simply ignore its existence entirely. Because online gambling is an activity that operates without regard for national borders, these different approaches create a variety of issues, among them taxation, competition and consumer protection.



Hence the reason that some EU lawmakers view EU-wide standardization as crucial.



If the MEPs are able to reach an agreement as to legislation on September 19, a final vote will be held October 12 in Brussels.

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is finally speaking out about Abercrombie and Fitch's blatant marketing ploy when they publicly announced that they'd pay him not to wear their clothing.

The clothing line, often worn by folk who like to pop their collars, tried to piggyback on the success of the Jersey Shore star by offering him a substantial amount of money to stop wearing their clothing, which is rather hypocritical, since they marketed "The Situation" t-shirts that read "The Fitchuation."

The company said in a statement to CNN, "We are deeply concerned that Mr. Sorrentino's association with our brand could cause significant damage to our image. We understand that the show is for entertainment purposes, but believe this association is contrary to the aspirational nature of our brand, and may be distressing to many of our fans."

Now, The Situation is firing back, saying, sending the company a cease and desist letter to take the t-shirts that are clearly using his name for their gain, off the shelves.

And the kicker – The Sitchuation wants all the profits Abercromie & Fitch made off the shirts arguing that his company, MPS Entertainment, owns the trademarks and the clothing co. is infringing on them.

According to Sorrentino's letter, the company has until Tuesday to respond. Want to bet on reality TV? Bet on our Dancing with the Stars odds in the Bodog Sportsbook today.

Dear Member's we have update ixgames forum. Thanks you for your Complain!! Have a nice day! :dirol

I know there shouldn't be jokes made about old drivers, but it's the stereotype that seems to rear its ugly head on the road. Now, Reese Witherspoon has fallen victim to the elderly drive. The Academy Award-winning actress was out for a jog in Santa Monica when an 84-year-old driver missed a light and plowed into her.

Witherspoon was rushed to the hospital, but since the driver was only going 20 mph at the time, she only sustained minor injuries and was sent home.

The driver was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian and released, though apparently she feels awful about hitting Witherspoon but also blames a large tree at the intersection, which she says impaired her vision and caused her to hit the actress.

Along with Witherspoon, the driver was also very shaken up by the accident and has stayed off the road since. The citation she received requires her to retake her driving test and she is due in court October 7.

As for Witherspoon, her rep says that she is comfortably resting at home.

According to NBC L.A., Santa Monica Police spokesman Sgt. Richard Lewis said Witherspoon, "suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for medical treatment."

Forum is updated and we are back in business :dirol

Kentucky voters could be choosing in November 2012 whether to allow expanded gambling.

If Mike Nemes, a Louisville Republican, has his way, all counties in the commonwealth would be doing just that in 14 months. He has filed two bills for the 2012 session that, if approved, would allow the vote on expanded gambling.

"This issue has been debated for years in the commonwealth on whether to allow gaming in Kentucky, even whether it needs voter approval or not," said Rep. Nemes. "While the commonwealth drags its feet on this issue, other states like Indiana and Ohio have approved legislation on expanded gaming. It's time for the voters of Kentucky to end debate and decide whether Kentucky needs to legalize expanded gaming."

BR 189 would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot for the 2012 general election for voters to come to a decision on whether expanded gaming should be legal. BR 246 would establish a new section of KRS Chapter 239 for implementation of expanding gaming. Nemes says BR 246 is different than past proposals for expanding gaming for various reasons:

It allows counties to vote on whether or not to allow expanded gaming in their community.

Allows horse racing facilities in counties that approve expanded gaming an option for a limited gaming license.

Allows counties with horse racing facilities to vote on whether to allow only a limited gaming license or both full and limited licenses.

Opens bidding for a full casino license to all entities including but not limited to horse racing facilities in counties that approve expanded gaming.

Gives horse racing facilities the option to take the winning bid with all amenities and add eight percent to obtain the full license in that county that approves expanded gaming.

Gives counties a fee of $1 per admission from those entering a casino.

Gives counties a say to restricting and the minimum requirements for acceptable facilities.

Gives counties a say as to which bid is accepted for expanding gaming facilities in their community.

In addition, Nemes' bills also sets up a statewide program to provide counseling and assistance for compulsive gamblers.

Casino gambling will likely become legal in Massachusetts by the end of this year, according to state Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill.

Dempsey, who heads the House Ways and Means Committee, has been deeply involved in writing a bill that would allow casinos. He said debate in the House is expected to begin Wednesday.

Last year, the effort to bring casinos to the Bay State broke down because legislative leaders wanted to permit 2,500 slot machines at racetracks and Gov. Deval Patrick wouldn't budge with his opposition, Dempsey pointed out.

This time around, the governor has compromised with House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Dempsey and other legislative leaders. The current bill permits 1,250 slot machines at four racetracks, Dempsey said.

The measure would authorize three casinos, in the western part of the state, Greater Boston and southeastern Massachusetts. It's likely the latter casino would be operated by the Wampanoag tribe, Dempsey said.

"We will create jobs," he said of the move to bring casinos to Massachusetts. The veteran lawmaker, who has represented Haverhill for more than two decades, estimated the casinos will bring 15,000 jobs to the state. That includes the construction jobs needed to build the casinos, then the various positions that are required to run a casino, he said.

Legalized gambling will also inject an additional $300 million into the state Treasury each year through taxes, Dempsey said.

Massachusetts residents now spend $1.1 billion a year at casinos in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

"We want to try to recapture as much of that as possible," he said. "We think we can recapture 30 to 50 percent of that."

Any casino built in Massachusetts, he said, will have to have a hotel. Furthermore, the casinos will be required to promote the Massachusetts Lottery by offering tickets, games and other products for sale.

The jobs that will be created by the casinos are not going to be high-paying, high-tech jobs and some people have criticized the casino plan because of that. Dempsey said the casinos are certainly not going to produce the well-compensated positions of a biotechnology company, but not everyone is qualified for those types of jobs, he noted.

"We need service jobs in the Commonwealth," Dempsey said.

Casino gaming revenue will be taxed at 25 percent, while slot machine receipts will be taxed at 40 percent, Dempsey said. Those rates are competitive with other states that allow gambling, according to Dempsey.

The casinos will be regulated by a five-member Gaming Commission. The governor, Attorney General and state Treasurer will each appoint one member. The remaining two members will be named jointly by those same statewide officials.

"This has to be a strong board," Dempsey said.

He acknowledged there are pros and cons to legalizing casino gambling. The bill calls for spending $5 million to help people who become addicted to gambling, he noted.

"We believe the pros outweigh the cons," he said.

Joseph Bevilacqua, who heads the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce and used to serve as economic development director for Haverhill, said he likes the idea of recouping at least some of the millions of dollars that leave Massachusetts and end up in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

"There is an opportunity in the state to attract an activity that is now escaping the state," he said.

Optimal Payments Plc (LSE: OPAY), a leading online payments provider, will be sponsoring and speaking at the eGaming Review Power Summit USA on 12 to 13 September, to be held at the Sanctuary Resort on Camelback Mountain, Scottsdale, Arizona.

(PRWE😎 September 12, 2011

Optimal Payments Plc (LSE: OPAY), a leading online payments provider, will be sponsoring and speaking at the eGaming Review Power Summit USA on 12 to 13 September, to be held at the Sanctuary Resort on Camelback Mountain, Scottsdale, Arizona. Joel Leonoff, President & CEO of Optimal Payments, is scheduled to speak on the Payments, Fraud and Social Responsibility panel on Tuesday September 13, at 10.45 a.m.

The chief executives, presidents and COOs of some of North America's largest land-based casinos, tribes, lotteries and race wagering businesses will gather at the Sanctuary Resort for this exclusive, invite-only, online gambling event organised by eGaming Review in partnership with Macquarie Capital. Around 50 senior executives from some of the most powerful US gaming companies, with a combined EBITDA in excess of US$5bn, will meet with their European counterparts to discuss how they can work in partnership as the US looks to regulate online gambling in the coming years.

The specially designed content across two days will educate US operators on key operational considerations in running an online gaming business, and provide them with key data and insight into understanding and benchmarking the offering and performance of potential partners. An important element of the event is high level networking where delegates will be able to interact and seek out potential partners during a number of specially designed events including golf and a poker tournament.

Optimal Payments, a leading provider of online payment solutions since 1996, offers turnkey merchant accounts and payment gateway solutions. It provides credit/debit card processing and alternative payment methods to eCommerce businesses worldwide. Its proprietary gateway is feature-rich, reliable and secure.

Joel Leonoff, CEO of Optimal Payments, said "We are proud to be sponsoring this industry-leading event and helping to raise the awareness of how payments and fraud solutions are a key part of the total package that gaming businesses need to consider in their online offerings. Optimal Payments has an established track record in providing more than just payments solutions to leading companies in this industry, and we look forward to working with new participants as the North American markets evolve over the next few years."

It’s been two months now since singer Jennifer Lopez announced her divorce from Latino crooner Marc Anthony and she’s already making headlines about a possible romance with Hangover star, Bradley Cooper after the two were seen having an intimate dinner over the weekend at a New York City restaurant.

While the star has been deeply involved in her work and is gearing up to reprise her role as an American Idol judge with an astounding $20 million salary, a massive leap from last season’s $12 milllion, she still seems to be making time for her personal life and this weekend she surprised fans when she and Bradley Cooper were seen sharing what could have been an innocent dinner that caused quite a buzz.

Access Hollywood claims that the two were simply on a “business meeting” discussing possibly working together on a new project which could very well be true but being the mega stars that they are, they have to expect that their meeting was going to generate some hype.

Cooper has been known around Hollywood as a ladies’ man who has been tied to many leading ladies including Renee Zellwegger, Olivia Wilde and Cameron Diaz and does this mean that Jennifer Lopez is next? Could that little old business meeting put Bradley in line to become the next “Branifer”?

Andy Whitfield, star of the Starz Entertainment sword-and-sandal series "Spartacus," died in Australia on Sunday at the age of 39.

The muscled actor succumbed to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer with which he was diagnosed in March 2010, according to The New York Times.

Whitfield was born in Wales, but made his home in Australia, where he first came to attention after stints in a number TV shows, including "All Saints" and "Packed to the Rafters." The sometime model had his biggest breakthrough, though, when he was cast in the Starz series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," in which he played the title role of a soldier who leads a rebellion against the Roman Empire. The series was an instant hit thanks to his turn in the classic role that had previously been filled by such screen icons as Kirk Douglas.

Look back when Hollywood Crush named Andy Whitfield a Hump Day Hottie last year.

After his diagnosis last March, Whitfield began to undergo treatment in New Zealand, which led to the delay of the second season of the show and the filming of a six-part prequel, "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena," for which he provided some voiceover work. He was initially declared cancer-free a few months after treatment, but suffered a relapse later in the year that forced him to abandon the role, which was recast.

His wife, Vashti, issued a statement on Sunday confirming his death. "On a beautiful sunny Sydney morning, surrounded by his family, in the arms of his love wife, our beautiful young warrior Andy Whitfield lost his 18-month battle with lymphoma cancer ... he passed peacefully surrounded by love," the statement said. "Thank you to all his fans whose love and support have helped carry him to this point. He will be remembered as the inspiring, courageous and gentle man, father and husband he was."

The cable network Whitfield called home also released a statement on his passing. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Andy Whitfield," said Starz President and CEO Chris Albrecht. "We were fortunate to have worked with Andy in 'Spartacus' and came to know that the man who played a champion on-screen was also a champion in his own life. Andy was an inspiration to all of us as he faced this very personal battle with courage, strength and grace. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. He will live on in the hearts of his family, friends and fans." 😔

The government will tax online gambling from 2012, National Economy Ministry György Matolcsy told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.

Answering a question by a committee member, Matolcsy said the concept for taxing online gambling was being prepared. Levying the tax will be a technically difficult task, he added.

Matolcsy confirmed government plans to raise the gambling tax on gaming machines from November 1, 2011. The bill on the increase is already before Parliament, he said.