Let your mouth speak archive

Venture capitalists are betting on a bright future for online gambling.

Betable, a London-based startup providing real-money gambling tools to game developers, raised $18.5 million in a round of funding led by Venture51, says Christopher Griffin, Betable’s chief executive officer. Previous backers Greylock Partners and Founders Fund also contributed to the round, which brings Betable’s total financing to $23 million.

Videogame makers have dipped their toes into gambling in recent years as they seek new streams of revenue and as restrictions on real-money betting over the Web have begun to ease in some places. Betable provides software code that plugs into a game and enables betting, freeing developers to focus on the look and feel of the app without worrying about the hassles that go along with real-money wagering, such as payments, fraud detection, regulatory compliance and complex math modeling.

Online gambling will be a $43.3 billion market by 2015, up 28% from last year, predicts research firm H2 Gambling Capital. Much of that growth is expected to be driven by large casinos, which have begun offering online betting in the U.K., where it’s legal; they have pushed for relaxed regulation elsewhere, including the U.S.

This month, New Jersey will join Delaware and Nevada as the only states to permit online gambling, and at least three other states–California, Pennsylvania and New York–could join them next year.

What’s still missing from that picture is innovation, says Griffin, a former private equity analyst who founded Betable in 2011. Most betting apps currently available are bland copies of casino games such as slots, roulette and blackjack, and make no effort to introduce real-money gaming to the millions of smartphone users who aren’t gamblers but might like to try it out, he says.

If you’re racing a virtual hot rod in an iPhone driving game, why not make it interesting and bet a few dollars? What if beating the 50th level of Candy Crush Saga meant winning a cash reward?

Betable’s tools helped Quebec gaming studio 3OAK Gaming build a suite of real-money games including “Battle Keno,” a mobile version of the classic “Battleship” game where choosing where to strike an opponent on a grid of 81 squares earns you money and taking direct fire costs you money. The title, which took less than $100,000 to produce, is an experimental step into gambling apps, says Mikael Lefebre, the studio’s director.

“Because we are in such early stages of this real-money wave there’s no need to build large-scale, multimillion-dollar games,” he says. “We can just push out fun, small, real-money games.”

Larger game makers are tepid about real-money gaming, says Doug Creutz, an analyst who covers gaming at Cowen & Co. The casino business is intensely competitive, and comes with the label of being a “sin company or sin stock,” Creutz says.

And while partnering with a service like Betable lets developers avoid the headache of becoming a heavily-regulated entity, it also means they have to divvy up the profits.

“If they’re going to invest a lot of money in building a new line of business, they don’t want to split the profits with somebody else,” Creutz says. One of the biggest potential players in online gambling, Zynga, signaled it was withdrawing from the market earlier this year when it dropped a bid to pursue a Nevada gaming license.

Venture capitalists are counting on a pack of young startups to lead the charge. SGN, a mobile game startup led by MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe, has raised more than $25 million from investors, and is developing its own casino games. Bee Cave Games, a startup created by former Zynga executives Erik Bethke and Jeremy Strauser, raised $1.3 million in July from VCs including Matrix Partners.

Betable has close ties to the gaming industry – many of its executives are veterans of Zynga, Electronics Arts, Microsoft, and other game giants. Their know-how and relationships will help Betable as it seeks to expand, said Ryan Swagar, co-founder of Scottsdale, Arizona-based investor Venture51.

“What attracted us is the team,” Swagar says. “They’ve assembled this team that can disrupt this regulated industry.”

Betable’s tools are used primarily in games on Apple and Android devices, both platforms which permit gambling in jurisdictions where the practice is explicitly legal (“white” markets like the U.K., as opposed to “gray” markets where it’s sometimes permitted or “black” markets where it’s outright banned, Griffin says).

The company has also been spending more time sizing up Facebook, which has recently tested gambling apps abroad but has refused to open up its social network to all betting apps.

“It’s a platform we would love to be on,” says Griffin. “It’s a very big opportunity for our partners and a very big opportunity for Facebook as well.” A Facebook spokeswoman declined to comment.



Betable Banks Funding to Push Online Betting Tools - Digits - WSJ

Play’n GO is a Swedish developer of premium mobile games and content, focusing on an exclusive collection of long term brands. The games and content are developed by an in-house studio, and highly talented external developers.

The developer has announced it will supply the BetVictor Casino with the entire portfolio of internet casino games, usable on PC, iOS, Android, Tablets and other mobile devices. In the Play’n GO studios, games are produced in a structured development process, where highly experienced technical engineers and designers are constantly pushing the limits from both a technology and a game design perspective.

Online gambling and sports betting firm BetVictor has selected Play’n GO because of its flexibility and innovation.
Play’n GO customers are a select group of content collectors, mobile operators, online gambling portals, international games publishers and handset hardware manufacturers. The Play’n GO team works in tandem with its clients in order to customize the resulting games to the specific requirements of each market or devise.
The Chief Executive Officer at Play’n GO, Johan Törnqvist said he is very “proud” of the deal he has made with BetVictor. Commenting he said, “Play’n GO is proud to have been selected by Victor Chandler and we are confident that our product portfolio will be a perfect match for the players at BetVictor-com. Our focus on established and regulated markets globally and in the UK is strengthening with this partnership.”
Chief of eGaming at BetVictor, Andrew Dymock, is “excited” about the addition of the new titles from Play’n GO. In a press release he stated, “We are excited to add the Play’n GO suit of web, phone and tablet games to our existing casino offering. We are always looking to add to and improve the BetVictor products for our customers and Play’nGO have developed some of the best mobile slots available. We currently have a fantastic mobile casino and the addition of these slots will certainly make our product even stronger.”



BetVictor Online Casinos Strikes Deal With Play'n GO

New Jersey and for the most part Atlantic City have been in the news a great deal regarding the regulated introduction of online gambling. The investment that the big brick and mortar casinos and hotels have in Atlantic City has been eroding along with the shore line for a number of years. Now as the launch date for internet betting approaches the scramble is on to get the best seat in the house. Nine of the twelve land based casinos in Atlantic City have partnered with internet gambling operators to provide the cyber equivalent for punters in the Garden State.
Americans gambled an estimated $2.6 billion on offshore internet casinos. None of which is traceable or taxable.
Governor Chris Christie has stated he thinks that during revenues in over $180 million can be generated by the introduction of online gambling in New Jersey. It has been suggested this estimate may be exaggerated somewhat, with analysts in other circles putting the actual number at $35 million during 2013/2014.

Comparing the revenue estimates in Nevada and Delaware the New Jersey offering is more complete and versatile. Nevada only has internet poker to offer while Delaware has a very small population from which to gain revenue estimated to be between 3 or 4 million. New Jersey has much more potential with it massive population and infrastructure in Atlantic City.

Although investors have become a little gun shy after the Black Friday crackdown on internet poker when those who had put their money in internet operator stock lost a bundle. Similar to the introduction of banking restrictions on internet gambling back in 2006 which shut down some operators in the USA shredding investment portfolios again.
Investors are banking on what New Jersey is counting on a resurgence of gambling and the return of a valuable revenue stream and employment. As the launch date of November 26 2013 approaches the share prices of the partnership firms such as 888 Holdings, Betfair and others will climb and gain momentum.


New Jersey Online Gambling Launch Update

SHE might have taken to the stage nearly half an hour late but that was swiftly forgotten just minutes into Beyonce's concert at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre last night.

Rocking a short, wavy blonde bob, she appeared on stage in a flash of fireworks and flames, and made up for lost time by launching into hit single Run the World.

While pop stars will come and go last night the 32-year-old US singer proved she's a performing force to be reckoned with. With her mantra of female empowerment and feminine sensuality running throughout the show, Beyonce didn't disappoint and backed up that message with a series of videos that allowed time for several costume changes.

Flanked by an all female band and talented troupe of backing singers, the show was a well oiled machine despite some issues with sound levels early in the set.

Backing up her strong vocal with those trademark dance moves the talented mother of one was the consummate professional oozing star power and whipping the crowd into an energetic frenzy.

While she gave her vocal a rest on some occasions, relying on a backing track Beyonce was simply saving her might for some truly stand out singing moments. Among these were Party, for which she was joined by back up singers dubbed The Mamas as well as a blistering acapella effort for Why Don't You Love Me. But the biggest kudos vocally has to go to her impassioned rendition of the octave scaling Love On Top.

Then there were the added extras - ballerinas, guitars with fireworks, dancing twin brothers and flames - this was a show with all the trimmings.

Clad in a glittering jumpsuit Beyonce climbed atop a piano for a rousing rendition of 1+1 before seemingly floating (via harness) to a B stage where she performed Irreplaceable.

But the biggest cheers of the night were reserved for hits Crazy in Love and Single Ladies which were delivered towards the end back on the main stage. After a short break Beyonce capped it off with an encore that ran I Will Always Love You into Halo before singing happy birthday to some teary audience members who were also gifted a set list.

With a back catalogue as vast as hers Beyonce had a lot to fit into the show which is one of two she will perform in Adelaide, completing her SA dates on Wednesday night again at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.



No Cookies | thetelegraph-com.au

THE slogan for the responsible gambling foundation, Kidbet, insists that "kids and betting should never go together". Well, good luck with that.

Kids like to bet, just as I did when I was a kid. And although the disappointment of being hustled out of my prized tombola by the schoolyard sharpshooter stayed with me for some time, it didn't prevent me from betting with mates on all kinds of schoolyard games.

Things haven't changed much over the decades, except that kids these days prefer to challenge each other through computer games rather than race their billycarts or pushbikes for "dosh" or smokes, as we did when we were kids.

It was after my grade-five teacher organised a class sweep on the day before the Melbourne Cup (which I won on Gala Supreme) that set me on the path to punting. By the time I was in high school, I'd often ask my father to lay small bets on my behalf at the local TAB. And as I got better at betting, he took me to the track for firmer on-course odds through the bookies.
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Racing spoke to me through the form guide. And I particularly remember studying it with immense intensity after my high school mathematics teacher convinced me that punting was indeed a science. With patience, diligence, mathematical knowledge and a semi-professional attitude it was possible to win. He did, however, emphasise that winning was no easy feat. Nothing of value comes easy. This was the first bit of advice I took out of school and applied to life beyond the track. So there you have it, something good can come from punting.

My teenage plunge into punting also taught me to accept responsibility for my actions. There was no point blaming others for my dumb bets. And as my dad often reminded me before we'd head off to the track, "If you feel like a mug and look like a mug, then you probably are a mug."

The problem with online betting these days is that it keeps the mug punter out of the public frame. The emergence of remote gambling has given the mug punter anonymity, shielding him from kids' view. Children are less likely to see blokes blowing their entire week's wage on a single bet and attempting to retrieve it in the next race with the rent money, as we used to see. And they won't hear the tobacco-affected voice whispering tips and cursing as one losing ticket after another was ripped with nicotine-stained fingers.

The permanent look of disappointment and disgust was the face of the mug punter that we came to recognise. And if this wasn't going to warn us of the dangers of gambling, then nothing would.

Understandably, the racing industry prefers to focus on the glamour and fun of punting, ignoring the wagering tragedies that unfold online every day. In fact, The Australian Racing Board, in its submission to the Gambling Productivity Commission Inquiry, makes no secret of targeting young adults through the provision of digital features and devices that makes the delivery of mobile gambling easier for the younger generation.

The confluence of high speed broadband with the rising steam of television advertisements is set to draw a digital dependent generation to a world that promises instant gratification and success.

The gambling advertisements that appear before, after and during scheduled breaks in all live sport and sporting programs, between the hours of 8.30am and 4pm, as well as after 7.30pm give the impression to the sports fan that a good win is just a click away, suggesting that quick easy money is immediate. All you need is a bit of luck.

There is no denying that gambling awareness organisations such as Kidbet provide excellent resources that engage teenagers and help them make informed choices around gambling. And the advice to parents and teachers on how to protect kids from the risks of gambling is invaluable. But to insist that kids should never punt probably won't get us far.

My advice to kids who are keen to bet is to stick to horse racing. If you want to test your luck, then learn to read and study the form guide, preferably with your maths teacher's assistance. Stay away from simulated casino card games or electronic slot machines on apps and social media, which are essentially designed to corral a new generation of gamblers into suburban "poker machine" lounges.

Finally, if you're not prepared to put the time and effort into mastering the science of the punt, then don't bother. You'll only end up a mug.

Chris Fotinopoulos is a Melbourne writer, teacher and ethicist. Twitter @Cfotinopoulos




No Cookies | Herald Sun

Most Americans know the U.S. Virgin Islands for warm weather and beautiful beaches that they can visit without having to get a passport. But thanks to a recent ruling from the islands’ Attorney General, this vacation spot may soon become just as well-known as a home for online gambling.
Attorney General Weighs In

V.I. Attorney General Vincent Frazer issued an opinion to other Virgin Islands officials, stating that the 2001 V.I. law that allowed for Internet gambling companies to operate in the country would not clash with any federal laws in the United States, meaning that the law could finally be used to allow the territory to host Internet gambling companies. Until now, the territory had held off on actually allowing any online gaming to go forward, because of warnings issued from the federal government.

However, as is often the case in these situations, things aren’t quite that clear cut. The law only allows for two companies to operate as “master service providers” in the territory, shutting out any other potential operators. And at least one of those companies says that they’ve lost most of their investors in the 12 years since the law has passed, due to the uncertainty around whether or not they’d ever be able to offer online gaming to players.
Major Economic Impact

But if the two companies were allowed to go forward with offering online gaming worldwide now, it could have a huge impact on the territory. According to Nick Pourzal of USVI Host – one of the two companies that could offer Internet gaming under the current law – he estimates that as much as $30 million could go into the territory’s General Fund if both companies were operating at full capacity.

Frazer’s opinion wasn’t entirely positive, however. Over six pages, the Attorney General gave many cautionary notes, including the fact that the Justice Department has changed its mind several times on exactly what states were permitted to do, and that legislation at the federal level could still change the game, as happened when Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in 2006.

“I opine that the Virgin Islands Internet Gaming and Gambling Act is legal on its face,” Frazer wrote. “However, caution should be the rule because the pitfalls are in the implementation of the law.”

Frazer also showed concern over just how far his opinion should be taken, and exactly how much would be allowed under federal law.

“There is concern whether the use of the V.I.’s Internet gaming and gambling platform may be used by persons outside of the Virgin Islands and not run afoul of the federal law.”

Still, the Casino Control Commission of the Virgin Islands has hailed the opinion as a significant step towards turning the territory into an online gaming hub. According to the Commission’s Acting Chairwoman, Violet Ann Golden, the Virgin Islands is already working on agreements with states such as New Jersey that have approved online gambling, both to form strategic partnerships and to help regulate off-island play on their sites.

The Virgin Islands Legislature may have something to say about how Internet gambling works in the territory as well. Senators such as Nereida Rivera-O’Reilly want to amend the 2001 act in order to allow more companies to have the chance to compete for licenses. According to Rivera-O’Reilly, many of the principals in the two companies designated as master service providers were government insiders at the time of the law’s passage, and she plans to introduce an amendment to open up the licensing process to competitive bidding.

“We must learn from our mistakes and make sure we do this properly, so that no one can come in here and try to stop us,” Rivera-O’Reilly said.



U.S. Virgin Islands Could Offer Online Gambling

In a move that belies the pragmatism of New York state's population, voters rebuffed a coalition of both conservative and left-wing strongholds, in a referendum that overwhelmingly approved the expansion of casino gambling.

There's no mistaking that the move, which will allow the construction of up to seven corporate or privately owned casinos throughout the upstate region, is a major victory for the gambling lobby. It's no secret that the industry has long eyed the Empire State, the country's third most populous, and a potentially huge market.

The law's popularity with New Yorkers, in and out of the city, indicates a growing acceptance of gambling. Especially as the prospect of jobs and tax revenue continues to throttle concerns about the social depreciation that sometimes sprouts up in cities that legalize the practice.

While the law was designed to help depressed regions upstate - many of which share borders with states that already have gambling - powerful lobbyists are almost sure to turn their attention to the southern, populous regions of the state that include New York City.

If the trend continues, voters and lawmakers may turn their attention to another fat revenue stream: online gambling. A London-based startup called Betable recently raised over $23 million in seed funding to explore different ways to monetize the efforts of online game developers.

Some analysts and funds expect that online gambling alone could become a $43 billion industry by 2015. Only four states currently allow the practice, with New Jersey joining the list this month.

Investing ideas

As states across the political spectrum warm to the idea – investors will want to follow the new laws and provisions up for debate. We have already assembled a list of stocks that could stand to benefit from extensions in online gambling, and decided to revisit that list.

Read more about our online gambling list: Online Gambling Stocks: Will the US Cash In?

It's interesting in particular to think about how these developments will change another high-growth industry: social networking. Facebook (F😎 and Zynga (ZNGA) have been eyeing online gambling as a way to monetize as early as the summer.

And as we've already covered, tech stocks like these have some pretty good lobbyists too. But is this all enough to capitalize on the growth in online gambling?



NY Votes for Casino Expansion: Will Gambling Stocks Cash In? | Kapitall Wire

On April 1, 2015 the goods and services tax, or GST, will come into effect. What are the odds that online gaming, a money-spinning industry in Sabah, escapes the 6% service tax?

The way the vast and lucrative online gambling industry in Sabah is being operated now right under the noses of the authorities, it appears it will continue its illegal ways unhindered.

Penampang is often referred to as the gaming capital of Sabah and it is here one can see the gaming juggernaut, both legal and illegal, reaping stupendous amounts of profits.

Hundreds of millions of ringgit are being splurged in this unregulated industry here, allegedly managed by the well-informed and well-connected.

The status quo, many believe, isn’t about to end anytime over the next 16 or so months.

A brief survey showed how a legal outlet can quickly change to a gambling den and back to a family entertainment centre and vice versa.

Many operating ‘online games’ in Penampang on the outskirts of this city fall into legal grey areas.

Issues of jurisdiction, licensing and privacy make law enforcement even murkier.

Some of those surveyed recently were offering cyber gambling games, including blackjack, various versions of roulette, at least a dozen slot games and video poker. Also connected were sites that offer online sports betting as well as for other events like political races.

Food and beverages are sometimes also part of the services.

Cybercafes turn gambling dens

Politicians, social activists and parents in Sabah have voiced alarm over the number of both legal and illegal gambling outlets that have sprung up in the state.

Newly elected parliamentarian Darell Leiking is among those who have questioned how online gaming outlets have been allowed to operate so openly in his constituency for well over a decade.

Penampang PKR deputy chief, Kenny Chua, said gambling has become a scourge in the district and wants the state’s Minister of Local Government and Housing to instruct the district council to conduct regular inspection of cybercafes in the district which are being turned into cyber gambling dens.

“Our PKR Kepayan Task Force has been inundated with numerous complaints from the people in Penampang relating to these cybercafes offering illegal cyber gambling.

“While we acknowledge that the police has been doing commendable job by raiding these illegal premises, we are shocked with the intractability shown by the masterminds behind this cyber-gambling by continuously operating their illegal business once the raid had slowed down,” Chua said.

Chua who is also Sabah’s representative of the NGO Malaysia Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) said that many of the complainants are worried to see that some of the patrons of these illegal cyber-gambling dens are even secondary school students.

“So, when your children whom you know always spend their time in cyber-cafes suddenly ask for more and more money from you, you have valid reason to be worried as to what they are doing,” Chua said.

He suggests that the district council of Penampang continuously conduct inspections on these cybercafes to see if they have valid trading licenses or not, something that the council do only periodically, to cripple the illegal industry.

“Who are the owners of the shophouses on which these illegal cyber-cafes are operating? Whether it is being owned by the masterminds or rented, the local authorities should have the records since the owners would have to pay the quarterly assessment to them,” Chua said.

Penampang has long been viewed as a gambling haven and a hotbed gang activity.

Festering problem

In August this year the drive-by shooting of 44-year-old Sarawakian businessman Tiong Choon Kwong sparked debate over whether his death was related to battle for control of the illegal gambling market.

There was talk that the order to kill Tiong, allegedly a former Restricted Residence detainee to Sabah, came from underworld figures in Sarawak.

Earlier the same month, state police announced the seizure of 351 modified computer sets from 15 cyber outlets in Penampang and neighbouring Putatan in an operation to curb illegal online gambling.

Fifty seven people were detained during the raids and RM5,717 in cash seized.

The case was investigated under Section 4B (a) of the Common Gaming House Act 1953, which carries a fine of between RM20,000 and RM200,000 or five years’ jail on conviction.

Chua said the raids revealed a festering problem that has not been tackled head-on by the state authorities despite having the necessary laws in place.

“Under Section 4B (a) of the Common Gaming House Act 1953, cyber gambling is an illegal business activity and there is no reason whatsoever for the district council of Penampang to shut their eyes and pretend that they don’t notice it,” he said.

The state government, he said, had made no effort “to curb this menace which is happening right under their nose” which only displayed a lack of will and courage to deal with the problem.

He added that if the state authorities believed that there was little more that they could do to put an end to the illegal activity then “they should resign and let others to take their place.”

The other option is legalisation and regulation. Some of the countries allow online casinos to operate under strict guidelines and regulations which also enable the government to derive a tax from the service.



The untouchable cyber gaming industry | Free Malaysia Today

Lorde has marked her birthday in rare style, performing to her idols and hanging out in bed with a fellow Kiwi luminary.

Here are five ways the Kiwi star celebrated the "slow graceful flow of age" carrying her into her 17th year.

1. Staying number one

Lorde's song Royals hit number one in the US on October 3.

Few would have predicted it would still be sitting there on her birthday six weeks later.

The song has been the biggest hit of the year from a female artist - no mean feat when established superstars Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus are both promoting their new albums.

2. Blogging about it

The 17-year-old singer contemplated her new age in a typically artful post on her Tumblr blog.

She reminisced about last year's celebrations, when her friends came over to "eat cake and ruffle my hair and talk about pokemon", before taking stock of her rise from obscurity to global stardom.

"this time last year i was making a soundcloud, and a twitter, and a tumblr, all in the name lorde. i had no clue what was going to happen with the music. i hoped it'd be alright.

"last night, i played to a room of people whose names i worship, breathe like fine gold smoke, reverent. there is a lot of stupid shit that comes with being lucky enough to do what i do - a lot of stuff i'd rather skip, if i could - but i wouldn't have traded last night for anything. i felt so warm in the arms of these legends who are good enough to have faith in me."

Lorde said she planned to spend her birthday walking around New York listening to Stevie Nicks and Broken Social Scene and muttering under her breath about her plans for the future.

3. Reading in bed with Eleanor Catton

Lorde capped off her celebrations by hanging out in bed with Man Booker Prize-winning author Eleanor Catton.

New York-based Kiwi Gemma Gracewood posted photos to Twitter of the two celebrated Kiwis catching up.

4. Getting political

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio got in on the festivities for Lorde's birthday.

The new elected mayor walked on stage for his victory speech as Royals blared in the background.

5. Meeting Bowie and Tilda Swinton

Lorde performed to a star studded audience Museum of Modern Art Film Benefit in New York as her birthday approached.

Afterward she posed for a photo with none other than David Bowie and one of her idols, Tilda Swinton.



Lorde described meeting Swinton as an "honour" in a tweet sent after the event.

The digital currency known as Bitcoin has recently found a home in online casinos as a way to circumvent the government's crackdown on digital gambling. Now, a few of those casinos have released some financial data for 2012 and at least one managed to turn a nice profit over the last year.



The question is are you trusting them😟

Hi folks. Can anyone please advise a couple of good apps for Android / Iphone for casino games where one can play with real money. Deposit, and after, get them withdrawn.

Thanks

Online gambling, now operating from U.S.-based websites, is the new face of gambling expansion. We should not be naive, however. Beyond the known social costs of gambling, there is now the threat from online criminal activity, money laundering and, potentially, even al-Qaida funding. What is happening?

Pandora's box was unwittingly opened by the Justice Department in a December 2011 opinion that — erroneously, we believe — declared that the Wire Act of 1961 applies solely to sports betting, and thus appearing to open the door to other online gambling.

Expansion followed. Nevada now has two online poker sites operating; Delaware launched its gambling website with blackjack, roulette, slots and poker on Oct. 31; and New Jersey will launch on Nov. 21. Remote gambling is fundamentally different from brick-and-mortar casino gambling because the website operator never has complete control. Using technology undetectable to website operators and their regulators, it is possible for gamblers to play games from physical locations that are not what they seem. We know, because we have done it.

Recently, House Energy and Commerce Committee staff and others in the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss., witnessed a demonstration in which a single remote computer took control of two computers and used them as alias machines to play poker online. The Harper demonstration showed the technology and techniques that terror and crime organizations could use to operate untraceable money laundering built on a highly liquid legalized online poker industry — just the environment that will result from the spread of poker online. One of us set up a website — undetectablelaundering-com — to help communicate the problem to a broader audience.

No one should doubt the ability of criminals to exploit the inherent weakness in online gambling. A drug cartel could arrange for buyers' machines to be remotely linked and lose to the aliased cartel machines. Drug buyers would not even need to play from their own machines. Illegal drug money would appear to be legal online winnings.

A single poker game takes just a few hours to transfer $5 million as was recently demonstrated — legally — by American player Brian Hastings with his Swedish competitor half a world away. An established al-Qaida poker network could extract from the United States enough untraceable money in six days to fund an operation like the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.

The threat is real. Last month a Texas lawyer was found guilty of trying to launder $600 million in drug money for a Mexican cartel. Caesar's Entertainment is currently under investigation by the Justice Department and IRS, accused of money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act violations.

In December 2012, the FBI's Tampa field office asked us to take down the website explaining the threat. We complied. This May, special agents at FBI headquarters in Washington responsible for enforcing the Wire Act and all other federal gambling laws were briefed on the vulnerability. In July, a Senate Commerce Committee hearing seemed to reinforce concerns. Rep. C.W. Bill Young wrote a letter of concern to FBI director Robert Mueller on Aug. 7.

But since then action seems to have stalled. And the threat moves on.

With the passing of Young, we have put the website back up and joined together in hopes of spurring action. Since it remains true that gambling regulations in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey are no match for determined terrorists and criminals, we feel duty-bound as responsible citizens to ensure knowledge of the threat reaches as many policymakers as possible.

We have proved it is possible to make money laundering undetectable. Gambling should be firmly restricted to stay offline.



Column: Online gambling is a strategic national threat | Tampa Bay Times

The specialists behind Supercasino-com have responded to a social gaming expert’s comments on the differences between the two activities.

Speaking at the GamesBeat conference earlier in the week, Paul Thelen suggested that the real difference between gamblers and social gamers is that whilst gamblers play to win, social gamers additionally want to enjoy the networking atmosphere, stating that “the psychographic needs that social gaming provides versus real money gambling are completely different.” He adds that “people in real money gaming, they just want to win.”

It comes following a recent study into the how industry labels help to define consumer attitudes. The study from the School of Hotel Administration in conjunction with the Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism found that the terns “online gaming” and “online gambling” affect how consumers, especially non users, think about betting online.

At Super Casino, the brand dedicated to providing an authentic casino experience online, members can play any of the games available either for real or for fun. Committed to pursuing industry updates and developments, Mr Thelen’s comments were of particular interest to the team. A representative from the firm speculates on the difference.

“Whilst there is always going to be a difference between social gaming and gambling, it could be argued that that although gamblers do want to win, they do still play to enjoy the atmosphere. At Super Casino we aim to cater to both markets. Members can play for fun even when they have real money in their account- the game odds and experience is the same, the only difference is the outcome.”

With live roulette games broadcast on Channel 5 and Sky channel 862, Super casino is the longest running and most popular online TV casino in the world. Famous for providing a realistic gaming experience online, Supercasino-com offers games to suit a variety of tastes, including roulette, blackjack, card games, table and video poker online as well as a selection of slots and arcade games.


Super Casino Explores the

I must admit it has been quite some time since I last visited a Blockbuster store and with movie rentals at retailers in decline it looks like Blockbuster is officially on its way out. On the few occasions I have been to a Blockbuster store, I have come out clutching a handful of ex-rentals going cheap which was ideal for those of us not wanting to invest too much in the few films you haven’t made the effort to see.

This seems like the state of play for me and for your information there was a reason I didn’t entertain those ex-rentals when they first came out, and looking back I can see why they were cheap. According to a report this experience will not be available in the future as Blockbuster LLC is officially closing down their remaining 300 stores in the US, and Cinema Blend discusses the end of an era for the company.

With the likes of Netflix and LoveFilm offering DVD’s through the mail or direct to your entertainment system we can see why this is easier than going to your local store to spend time picking a film, then having to take it back, as this has now become more of an inconvenience nowadays regardless of the deals they have for popcorn. When you take into account the amount of firms and businesses shutting down these days the change in the way people view films means the demise of video/DVD rentals was to be expected, and this has already been witnessed with other entertainment scenarios including music and books.

The aforementioned site feel the end of Blockbuster is a sad state of affairs, and moviegoers look towards convenient services like Netflix and other live streaming services that make it easier for the consumer. Are you sad to see the end of Blockbuster stores?

Hi everybody

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Thank you ixgames

I will start of my saying a little about my situation. I know it's a bit long, I'm sorry for that.

My husband is a poker player & I've always fully supported him even when we dated.. (been together almost 6 years) I actually encourage him - The problem is that I know when he plays sad or upset he loses so a lot of issues that arise in our marriage I let it side but I dont want him to lose & be depressed.

Also we haven't really gone anywhere in years, no dates, no where special bc he spends most of his time playing poker, he quits a his jobs to play poker, bc his dream is to be a pro poker player & I'm supporting him but I feel like I'm losing myself.

Right now I'm in the process of filing for my citizenship for the U.S. so we're kinda in a long distance marriage - Also he's a U.S. citizen & can not play in the U.S. obviously so he went behind my back & used my name to play online poker, I found out & I asked him to please not use my name & he got really upset.. I asked him a few times to stop & he told me he's stopped using my name but I know he hasn't & I dont know what else to do..

Also I had my mom's Visa card by the computer & he used it to play poker, when I tried to purchase something for my mom it said "insufficient funds". He sat there & said nothing, I called the bank & he still sat there & said nothing, then the bank teller told me my last 5 charges was for poker.

I ask him to telling me when he's playing, I dont wanna put pressure on him so he doesn't have to tell me if he won or lost but at least I know if I cant reach him that he's playing.. & he doesn't tell me the trust about poker still.. I feel like I'm a very supportive wife in every way, I dont know what else to do.. Any advice?

Give him a credit to play for and not more, and not more than that. I hope this help!!

Names of Internet gambling companies that have been approved to operate in New Jersey will be announced today.

Lisa Spengler, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, said a list of companies that have been awarded transactional waivers will be released. A waiver will allow a company to operate in time for the Nov. 26 launch, but the companies still must be awarded licenses.

If a company does not appear on the list today, it does not mean a waiver won’t be awarded before the launch. The list will continue to be updated, Spengler said.

One company not receiving a waiver today is PokerStars, the online gambling giant that faced difficulties in New Jersey’s licensing procedures while it was trying to obtain authorization to purchase the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel. That deal later collapsed, leaving PokerStars announced plans to team up with Resorts Casino Hotel to offer online gambling.

Spengler said no details will be released on the status applications of companies not receiving waivers today.

To date, five casinos – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, and Tropicana Casino and Resort – have been awarded online gambling permits. Under New Jersey’s system, both the brick-and-mortar casino and the online gambling company must receive approvals.



Approved Internet gambling companies in New Jersey will be announced today - pressofAtlanticCity-com: Breaking News

The government of the United Kingdom has decided it will impose a different set of rules on the online gambling industry there. These new regulations pertain to taxes and jurisdictional control with regards to taxes and registration in the U.K. Most online gambling operators are already speaking out against what they regard as an unfair situation being proposed.

The Gambling (Licensing & Advertising) Bill has successfully passed the second reading in the House of Commons. The new legislation will require online gambling operators that operate in the U.K. to possess a license issued by the UK Gambling Commission. Further study is still required by the Public Bill Committee before the bill is sent to the House of Lords.

November 19th is the deadline for submitting evidence in writing that could influence the bill proposed and the political backers who have introduced these changes. The new legislation if approved will take effect on May 1st 2014.

The Remote Gambling Association has been attempting to reduce the proposed fifteen percent consumption tax the U.K. government is proposing. The Association believes the fifteen percent should be reduced to ten percent in order for the industry to remain viable. The government has indicated it would reassess the impact of the rate one year after the Bill takes effect which many claim would be too late saying the damage would already be done to the online gambling industry.
It has been suggested by insiders that the plan to tax the online gambling industry may backfire on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that oversees the U.K. Gambling Commission. To police the public who will migrate to less expensive jurisdictions on the net the government has suggested they may use IP censorship of non licensed operators that access the U.K. customer base. What the people of the U.K. think of that tactic has not yet been heard.


U.K. Online Gambling Rule Changes Moves Forward

Lady Gaga has confessed that the racy content in her new album ‘Artpop’ was all based on her real sex life.

Answering questions from of a few competition winners at Sirius XM’s “Town Hall” series, the 27-year-old explained she explained the naughty inspiration for the track Sexxx Dreams.

She said that sometimes people date someone but think of someone else, which usually happens if the relationship isn’t going so well, the New York Post reported.

However, she asserted that she’s been having good sex.


(I don't know why i post shit like this?!) 😁