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The European Commission has launched formal infringement proceedings against the online gambling legislation of Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and Romania, with more countries expected to follow, after calls from the European Parliament for the European Commission to act as the Guardian of the Treaties emerged.
Reviewing Legislation
Now, each of these countries has been sent a formal letter of notice by the European Commission as part of an official request for information. The notifications intend to investigate the national legislation and the restriction of gambling services in each of the six Member States, in order to ensure that the national regulations comply with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
According to a Commission press release, Member States in the EU are essentially able to set their own policies and objectives in terms of online gambling, and may restrict or limit the cross-border supply of any or all gambling services based on the safe-guarding of public interest and consumer protection, as well as to help protect against fraud and other criminal activities. However, the policies in place in each nation must also abide by EU laws and regulations.
Therefore, countries in the EU must demonstrate that any measures in question are suitable and necessary, and that any public interest objectives are consistently and systematically pursued. Each Member State is forbidden from undertaking, facilitating or tolerating any measures which would go against these objectives.
The proceedings mark the first time in more than five years that the Commission has opened a series of infringement proceedings against nations restricting the supply of gambling services, and comes after the European Parliament called for the launch of infringements against “member states that appear to breach EU law” reported back in September.
Infringement Proceedings Possible
If a state fails to observe its obligations under the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union, then the European Commission has the power and authority to begin taking action against that state and propose infringement proceedings.
While each state typically is given two months to respond to each stage, the College of Commissioners must then vote in favor of a reasoned opinion, or continuing with court action, meaning any escalation of the proposed infringements would be a political decision.
Put simply, the Commission is looking to investigate whether or not the measures being taken by each state comply with the EU’s regulations of free movement of services. The process will investigate licensing procedures and conditions for the provision of gambling services, as well as transparency and coherence of national gambling policy and the equal treatment of service providers in each country for which doubt is applicable.
The move by the European Commission could well be beneficial for much of the gambling industry, as further clarity of the rules and regulations will be brought to light, and other Member States will be able to put in place commercially viable and effective legislation to avoid similar action with the guidelines laid out before them. Effectively, they can learn from the mistakes of others without having to go through the proceedings themselves.
Read more: Online Gambling Laws of European Union Member Nations Get Scrutinized
Reviewing Legislation
Now, each of these countries has been sent a formal letter of notice by the European Commission as part of an official request for information. The notifications intend to investigate the national legislation and the restriction of gambling services in each of the six Member States, in order to ensure that the national regulations comply with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
According to a Commission press release, Member States in the EU are essentially able to set their own policies and objectives in terms of online gambling, and may restrict or limit the cross-border supply of any or all gambling services based on the safe-guarding of public interest and consumer protection, as well as to help protect against fraud and other criminal activities. However, the policies in place in each nation must also abide by EU laws and regulations.
Therefore, countries in the EU must demonstrate that any measures in question are suitable and necessary, and that any public interest objectives are consistently and systematically pursued. Each Member State is forbidden from undertaking, facilitating or tolerating any measures which would go against these objectives.
The proceedings mark the first time in more than five years that the Commission has opened a series of infringement proceedings against nations restricting the supply of gambling services, and comes after the European Parliament called for the launch of infringements against “member states that appear to breach EU law” reported back in September.
Infringement Proceedings Possible
If a state fails to observe its obligations under the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union, then the European Commission has the power and authority to begin taking action against that state and propose infringement proceedings.
While each state typically is given two months to respond to each stage, the College of Commissioners must then vote in favor of a reasoned opinion, or continuing with court action, meaning any escalation of the proposed infringements would be a political decision.
Put simply, the Commission is looking to investigate whether or not the measures being taken by each state comply with the EU’s regulations of free movement of services. The process will investigate licensing procedures and conditions for the provision of gambling services, as well as transparency and coherence of national gambling policy and the equal treatment of service providers in each country for which doubt is applicable.
The move by the European Commission could well be beneficial for much of the gambling industry, as further clarity of the rules and regulations will be brought to light, and other Member States will be able to put in place commercially viable and effective legislation to avoid similar action with the guidelines laid out before them. Effectively, they can learn from the mistakes of others without having to go through the proceedings themselves.
Read more: Online Gambling Laws of European Union Member Nations Get Scrutinized
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2006/12/07
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Actor Paul Walker, best known for his roles in the Fast and the Furious action movies, has died in a car crash in Southern California, his publicist said.
Walker, 40, who was in five of the six films about illegal street racing and heists, was a passenger in a friend's car and was attending a charity event, according to a message linked to his Twitter account.
"Sadly, I must confirm that Paul did pass away this afternoon in a car accident," Ame Van Iden, Walker's publicist, said in an email.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that two people were killed in a car accident in Valencia, a community in the city of Santa Clarita, at about 3:30pm.
Deputies arriving at the scene found the vehicle engulfed in flames. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene, the statement said.
The office did not provide the identities of the dead, and said the cause was under investigation.
In the Fast and Furious pictures, the blond-haired, blue-eyed actor played Brian O'Conner, a law enforcement official.
The first movie in the series, which stars Vin Diesel, was released in 2001, and a seventh was in development at the time of his death, Universal, the studio behind the franchise, said in a statement. The most recent film, released in May, was one of this year's biggest box office hits.
"Brother I will miss you very much," Diesel said in a post on Instagram, adding "I am absolutely speechless. Heaven has gained a new Angel. Rest in Peace."
According to the IMDb.com movie website, Paul William Walker IV was born in Glendale, California, in 1973 and began acting at a very young age, appearing in many commercials.
He played Professor Bennet in the 1987 movie Monster in the Closet and starred in the television series Throb, IMDb said.
Walker also made guest appearances on television shows, including Charles in Charge and Who's the Boss? and had a role in the soap opera, The Young and the Restless.
Other film appearances include Timeline, Into the Blue, The Lazarus Project and Hours, which is slated for release in December.
He also starred in the 2006 film Eight Below, an action-adventure story based on a true-life story of sled dogs stranded in Antarctica. The movie features several scenes set in Christchurch.
According to IMDb, Walker has a daughter named Meadow.
Universal conveyed its condolences to Walker's family, saying, "All of us at Universal are heartbroken.
"Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the Fast and Furious films, and to countless fans."
More tributes flowed on social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
"So sad. He gave a lot of joy," wrote James Franco, while model/actor Tyson Beckford posted "Tyson Beckford: RIP Paul Walker, loved working with you on "Into the Blue."
Television host Carson Daly said that he was "Sick about the tragic loss of #PaulWalker. I enjoyed our time together very much. Such a really nice guy," while actress Alyssa Milano, current host of "Project Runway All Stars," protested "No. No. No" before adding "Rest with the angels."
Walker, 40, who was in five of the six films about illegal street racing and heists, was a passenger in a friend's car and was attending a charity event, according to a message linked to his Twitter account.
"Sadly, I must confirm that Paul did pass away this afternoon in a car accident," Ame Van Iden, Walker's publicist, said in an email.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that two people were killed in a car accident in Valencia, a community in the city of Santa Clarita, at about 3:30pm.
Deputies arriving at the scene found the vehicle engulfed in flames. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene, the statement said.
The office did not provide the identities of the dead, and said the cause was under investigation.
In the Fast and Furious pictures, the blond-haired, blue-eyed actor played Brian O'Conner, a law enforcement official.
The first movie in the series, which stars Vin Diesel, was released in 2001, and a seventh was in development at the time of his death, Universal, the studio behind the franchise, said in a statement. The most recent film, released in May, was one of this year's biggest box office hits.
"Brother I will miss you very much," Diesel said in a post on Instagram, adding "I am absolutely speechless. Heaven has gained a new Angel. Rest in Peace."
According to the IMDb.com movie website, Paul William Walker IV was born in Glendale, California, in 1973 and began acting at a very young age, appearing in many commercials.
He played Professor Bennet in the 1987 movie Monster in the Closet and starred in the television series Throb, IMDb said.
Walker also made guest appearances on television shows, including Charles in Charge and Who's the Boss? and had a role in the soap opera, The Young and the Restless.
Other film appearances include Timeline, Into the Blue, The Lazarus Project and Hours, which is slated for release in December.
He also starred in the 2006 film Eight Below, an action-adventure story based on a true-life story of sled dogs stranded in Antarctica. The movie features several scenes set in Christchurch.
According to IMDb, Walker has a daughter named Meadow.
Universal conveyed its condolences to Walker's family, saying, "All of us at Universal are heartbroken.
"Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the Fast and Furious films, and to countless fans."
More tributes flowed on social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
"So sad. He gave a lot of joy," wrote James Franco, while model/actor Tyson Beckford posted "Tyson Beckford: RIP Paul Walker, loved working with you on "Into the Blue."
Television host Carson Daly said that he was "Sick about the tragic loss of #PaulWalker. I enjoyed our time together very much. Such a really nice guy," while actress Alyssa Milano, current host of "Project Runway All Stars," protested "No. No. No" before adding "Rest with the angels."
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2006/12/07
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The first week of Internet gambling in New Jersey went well, according to the state's top casino regulator, who says he finally stopped worrying about it.
"I'm pleasantly pleased," said David Rebuck, director of the state Division of Gaming Enforcement. "I'm also very tired because for the last seven days, all I've been doing is worrying this was going to crash."
It didn't.
Between Nov. 21, when a test of Internet gambling began, and last Thursday, 37,277 accounts had been set up, enabling people to win or lose money on card games, table games and slots — all from computers or smartphones.
That, of course, was the whole point of New Jersey's law making it the third state to legalize Internet gambling, after Nevada and Delaware. It is designed to bring new money to Atlantic City, whose 12 casinos have been struggling with increasing competition from casinos in neighboring states.
Since 2006, Atlantic City's casino revenue has fallen from $5.2 billion to just over $3 billion last year.
The first reports of how much money gamblers lost online in New Jersey will be issued in January.
Rebuck said it was far from a sure thing that Internet gambling would be ready for widespread use when the test began.
"There was definitely tension," he said. "At each of the casinos, there were 30, 40, 50 people working on this. On the first night, there were a lot of frowns, people looking to get through that first night. By Sunday night, I saw a lot more smiles. That's when I knew it was probably going to be OK."
Six casinos — the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, the Tropicana Casino and Resort, Bally's Atlantic City and Caesars Atlantic City — offer online gambling. The Golden Nugget Atlantic City is expected to join them within a week.
One of the biggest problems many users experienced at the start of the test period was being rejected by complex technology designed to verify that they are within New Jersey's borders, a key requirement of the law. The geolocation technology, which uses data including the identification of a computer's Wi-Fi network and the location of reception towers near a cellphone, is working as it should, according to regulators and technology providers.
Anna Sainsbury, CEO of GeoComply, said adjustments to the technology used by most of the New Jersey casinos offering Internet gambling have reduced the "false negative" rate to about 10 percent. That means only one in 10 users will wrongly get an error message saying they are not in New Jersey, even though they are. That is 25 percent below the level of false negatives Nevada experienced when it launched online gambling earlier this year, she said.
Sainsbury said the technology is now accurate "to within a few meters," and most users along the state's borders should be able to log on and gamble. Before the launch, several technology providers said they deliberately set their electronic fences back an unspecified distance from the border to guard against someone in New York or Pennsylvania being able to gamble in New Jersey.
In a real-time demonstration last week at the gambling enforcement division's offices, her company displayed a map of New Jersey splotched with many blue balloons and a few red ones. Blue ones represented online customers who were able to log on and gamble; red ones were would-be gamblers who were rejected, either because they were using illegal software to mask their true location or had some other issue with establishing where they were.
The densely populated Hudson River waterfront was filled with blue balloons, representing gamblers who passed the location tests and were betting. They included scores of users in Hoboken, including a few right on the water's edge. Similarly, the Delaware River coast in New Jersey across from Philadelphia was dotted with successful users, as well.
In West New York, a red balloon marked an unsuccessful would-be gambler who needed to turn on his computer's Wi-Fi. Someone trying to log on from outside a restroom on Island Beach State Park also was rejected.
The biggest problem now facing would-be online gamblers is funding their accounts. Credit card companies are uneven in their approval rates of transactions into gambling accounts, with MasterCard approving nearly eight times the amount Visa was during the first week, regulators said. Direct bank transfers were the most successful means to fund accounts in the early going, they said.
Internet gambling off to good start in New Jersey - Yahoo Finance
"I'm pleasantly pleased," said David Rebuck, director of the state Division of Gaming Enforcement. "I'm also very tired because for the last seven days, all I've been doing is worrying this was going to crash."
It didn't.
Between Nov. 21, when a test of Internet gambling began, and last Thursday, 37,277 accounts had been set up, enabling people to win or lose money on card games, table games and slots — all from computers or smartphones.
That, of course, was the whole point of New Jersey's law making it the third state to legalize Internet gambling, after Nevada and Delaware. It is designed to bring new money to Atlantic City, whose 12 casinos have been struggling with increasing competition from casinos in neighboring states.
Since 2006, Atlantic City's casino revenue has fallen from $5.2 billion to just over $3 billion last year.
The first reports of how much money gamblers lost online in New Jersey will be issued in January.
Rebuck said it was far from a sure thing that Internet gambling would be ready for widespread use when the test began.
"There was definitely tension," he said. "At each of the casinos, there were 30, 40, 50 people working on this. On the first night, there were a lot of frowns, people looking to get through that first night. By Sunday night, I saw a lot more smiles. That's when I knew it was probably going to be OK."
Six casinos — the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, the Tropicana Casino and Resort, Bally's Atlantic City and Caesars Atlantic City — offer online gambling. The Golden Nugget Atlantic City is expected to join them within a week.
One of the biggest problems many users experienced at the start of the test period was being rejected by complex technology designed to verify that they are within New Jersey's borders, a key requirement of the law. The geolocation technology, which uses data including the identification of a computer's Wi-Fi network and the location of reception towers near a cellphone, is working as it should, according to regulators and technology providers.
Anna Sainsbury, CEO of GeoComply, said adjustments to the technology used by most of the New Jersey casinos offering Internet gambling have reduced the "false negative" rate to about 10 percent. That means only one in 10 users will wrongly get an error message saying they are not in New Jersey, even though they are. That is 25 percent below the level of false negatives Nevada experienced when it launched online gambling earlier this year, she said.
Sainsbury said the technology is now accurate "to within a few meters," and most users along the state's borders should be able to log on and gamble. Before the launch, several technology providers said they deliberately set their electronic fences back an unspecified distance from the border to guard against someone in New York or Pennsylvania being able to gamble in New Jersey.
In a real-time demonstration last week at the gambling enforcement division's offices, her company displayed a map of New Jersey splotched with many blue balloons and a few red ones. Blue ones represented online customers who were able to log on and gamble; red ones were would-be gamblers who were rejected, either because they were using illegal software to mask their true location or had some other issue with establishing where they were.
The densely populated Hudson River waterfront was filled with blue balloons, representing gamblers who passed the location tests and were betting. They included scores of users in Hoboken, including a few right on the water's edge. Similarly, the Delaware River coast in New Jersey across from Philadelphia was dotted with successful users, as well.
In West New York, a red balloon marked an unsuccessful would-be gambler who needed to turn on his computer's Wi-Fi. Someone trying to log on from outside a restroom on Island Beach State Park also was rejected.
The biggest problem now facing would-be online gamblers is funding their accounts. Credit card companies are uneven in their approval rates of transactions into gambling accounts, with MasterCard approving nearly eight times the amount Visa was during the first week, regulators said. Direct bank transfers were the most successful means to fund accounts in the early going, they said.
Internet gambling off to good start in New Jersey - Yahoo Finance
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Paul Walker opened up about his love of fast cars and his dreams for the future in what would turn out to be his final “Entertainment Tonight” interview.
The actor, who called himself a “speed demon,” revealed that his passion for driving dates back to his childhood, saying, “I think it’s just part of my DNA.”
Walker also spoke fondly of his daughter Meadow, and was looking forward to an idyllic future.
“The dream is to have it all. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? Live this life, that life, this life, you know?” Walker said. “You only live one time — I want to get it all in.”
The interview came 14 years after Walker’s first chat with the entertainment news show, where the fresh-faced future star spoke about his role in Varsity Blues.
interview: Paul Walker Last Interview ET | Paul Walker Entertainment Tonight | Gossip Cop
The actor, who called himself a “speed demon,” revealed that his passion for driving dates back to his childhood, saying, “I think it’s just part of my DNA.”
Walker also spoke fondly of his daughter Meadow, and was looking forward to an idyllic future.
“The dream is to have it all. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? Live this life, that life, this life, you know?” Walker said. “You only live one time — I want to get it all in.”
The interview came 14 years after Walker’s first chat with the entertainment news show, where the fresh-faced future star spoke about his role in Varsity Blues.
interview: Paul Walker Last Interview ET | Paul Walker Entertainment Tonight | Gossip Cop
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Gov. Chris Christie said today that he still expects online gambling in New Jersey to produce about $1 billion in casino revenue by July 1.
Industry analysts have said Christie’s projection — part of the current state budget, which anticipates $160 million in tax revenue from the venture — is far too optimistic. As the state gave six casinos permission to begin operating internet gambling websites last week, analysts said they expect about $300 million in revenue by this time next year.
But Christie said he was undeterred. At a press conference at the statehouse in Trenton, the governor said his projections remain the same.
“Same as they were before,” Christie said.
There’s no clear indications of how well the first week of internet gambling went. The state Division of Gaming Enforcement said 37,277 accounts had been created by last Thursday, but regulators there had not audited those numbers. And with more than a dozen websites up and running, some people could have created accounts at multiple sites.
Still, Christie said he was impressed.
“That’s pretty good in a week,” he said today. “I’m not worried.”
Christie still thinks online gambling will produce $1 billion by July | NJ-com
Industry analysts have said Christie’s projection — part of the current state budget, which anticipates $160 million in tax revenue from the venture — is far too optimistic. As the state gave six casinos permission to begin operating internet gambling websites last week, analysts said they expect about $300 million in revenue by this time next year.
But Christie said he was undeterred. At a press conference at the statehouse in Trenton, the governor said his projections remain the same.
“Same as they were before,” Christie said.
There’s no clear indications of how well the first week of internet gambling went. The state Division of Gaming Enforcement said 37,277 accounts had been created by last Thursday, but regulators there had not audited those numbers. And with more than a dozen websites up and running, some people could have created accounts at multiple sites.
Still, Christie said he was impressed.
“That’s pretty good in a week,” he said today. “I’m not worried.”
Christie still thinks online gambling will produce $1 billion by July | NJ-com
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The rush to get online and gamble in New Jersey is increasing.
More than 14,000 new online gambling accounts were created with Atlantic City casinos since Friday, bringing the total to 51,352 since a trial period started on Nov. 21.
Internet gambling was expanded statewide on Nov. 25 for six casinos: the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa; the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort; Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino; the Tropicana Casino and Resort; Bally's Atlantic City and Caesars Atlantic City. The Golden Nugget Atlantic City decided to wait a week to launch its online betting while it works out last-minute problems with some systems, and could join the others sometime this week.
The second full week of online betting in the state began Monday.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement could not say how many different gamblers actually made bets online; some users have created accounts with more than one gambling site.
On Thanksgiving Day alone, 5,000 new accounts were created.
The division will release its first revenue report from online gambling in January.
Online betting marks the biggest expansion of gambling in New Jersey since the first Atlantic City casino opened in 1978. The state lets gamblers play any of the games offered in its 12 casinos including card games and slots, but online poker has proven especially popular in the early going.
New Jersey is the third state in the nation to offer Internet gambling, after Nevada and Delaware.
It is designed to help the struggling casinos develop new sources of revenue as they battle increasing competition in neighboring states. Atlantic City's casino revenue has fallen from a high of $5.2 billion in 2006 to just over $3 billion last year, and is likely to fall below $3 billion this year.
The Charlotte Observer welcomes your comments on news of the day. The more voices engaged in conversation, the better for us all, but do keep it civil. Please refrain from profanity, obscenity, spam, name-calling or attacking others for their views.
Have a news tip? You can send it to a local news editor; email [email]local@charlotteobserver-com[/email] to send us your tip - or - consider joining the Public Insight Network and become a source for The Charlotte Observer.
Read more here: More than 51,000 online bet accounts made in N J | CharlotteObserver-com
More than 14,000 new online gambling accounts were created with Atlantic City casinos since Friday, bringing the total to 51,352 since a trial period started on Nov. 21.
Internet gambling was expanded statewide on Nov. 25 for six casinos: the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa; the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort; Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino; the Tropicana Casino and Resort; Bally's Atlantic City and Caesars Atlantic City. The Golden Nugget Atlantic City decided to wait a week to launch its online betting while it works out last-minute problems with some systems, and could join the others sometime this week.
The second full week of online betting in the state began Monday.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement could not say how many different gamblers actually made bets online; some users have created accounts with more than one gambling site.
On Thanksgiving Day alone, 5,000 new accounts were created.
The division will release its first revenue report from online gambling in January.
Online betting marks the biggest expansion of gambling in New Jersey since the first Atlantic City casino opened in 1978. The state lets gamblers play any of the games offered in its 12 casinos including card games and slots, but online poker has proven especially popular in the early going.
New Jersey is the third state in the nation to offer Internet gambling, after Nevada and Delaware.
It is designed to help the struggling casinos develop new sources of revenue as they battle increasing competition in neighboring states. Atlantic City's casino revenue has fallen from a high of $5.2 billion in 2006 to just over $3 billion last year, and is likely to fall below $3 billion this year.
The Charlotte Observer welcomes your comments on news of the day. The more voices engaged in conversation, the better for us all, but do keep it civil. Please refrain from profanity, obscenity, spam, name-calling or attacking others for their views.
Have a news tip? You can send it to a local news editor; email [email]local@charlotteobserver-com[/email] to send us your tip - or - consider joining the Public Insight Network and become a source for The Charlotte Observer.
Read more here: More than 51,000 online bet accounts made in N J | CharlotteObserver-com
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Admitting she had “one too many drinks,” actress Anne Curtis has come clean and apologized for her rowdy behavior last November 23 at an upscale club in Taguig City.
Curtis took to Twitter to air her apology after a local entertainment website released an exclusive story on the incident, which detailed how the actress made a scene by shouting at and slapping a couple of people including John Lloyd Cruz.
“For those who have read about the issue, yes, most of it is true,” Curtis posted online.
“I admit to that and I have apologized to all parties included immediately,” she added.
Curtis said she had been on a diet and had a lot of drinks.
“Now…I had been on the super popular juice cleanse for 3 days & attended my best friend’s bachelorette that night, had one too many drinks…which led to some of these unfortunate events. That’s why they say ‘Drink in moderation’. I will charge it to experience & a lesson learned.”
The actress also addressed her fans, “I’m sorry if I let any of my fans down…. As you all see, I’m just like any other person that makes mistakes in life.”
The Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) on Sunday narrated the incident based on an interview with JR Isaac, editor and publisher of Circuit Magazine.
Isaac said he was with a group of friends, including Cruz, at the VIP section of the Prive Luxury Club last November 23 at around 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. when Curtis came out of the restroom, shouting.
He said Curtis, who was hosting a bachelorette party for a friend, walked towards them and slapped him, a female friend and Cruz.
She allegedly called Cruz “an addict” and told model-host Phoemela Barranda, “I can buy you, your friends, and this club.”
Isaac said a commotion ensued and bouncers had to step in. He said they were shocked. Later in the afternoon, however, he received a text message from Curtis saying, “Just want to apologize for my behavior! I’m so so so sorry. I’m so ashamed would never act like that in the right state of mind! I’m so sorry. Please forgive me!”
Curtis on Twitter mentioned a “person who started all of this” who apologized to her as well. However, she said, “I choose not to go into detail because I’m not the type to ruin someone else’s name.”
Isaac said in the PEP article that he was in good terms with Curtis and did not know why the actress was mad at them that night.
Read more: Anne Curtis: Sorry for rowdy behavior | Inquirer Entertainment
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
Curtis took to Twitter to air her apology after a local entertainment website released an exclusive story on the incident, which detailed how the actress made a scene by shouting at and slapping a couple of people including John Lloyd Cruz.
“For those who have read about the issue, yes, most of it is true,” Curtis posted online.
“I admit to that and I have apologized to all parties included immediately,” she added.
Curtis said she had been on a diet and had a lot of drinks.
“Now…I had been on the super popular juice cleanse for 3 days & attended my best friend’s bachelorette that night, had one too many drinks…which led to some of these unfortunate events. That’s why they say ‘Drink in moderation’. I will charge it to experience & a lesson learned.”
The actress also addressed her fans, “I’m sorry if I let any of my fans down…. As you all see, I’m just like any other person that makes mistakes in life.”
The Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) on Sunday narrated the incident based on an interview with JR Isaac, editor and publisher of Circuit Magazine.
Isaac said he was with a group of friends, including Cruz, at the VIP section of the Prive Luxury Club last November 23 at around 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. when Curtis came out of the restroom, shouting.
He said Curtis, who was hosting a bachelorette party for a friend, walked towards them and slapped him, a female friend and Cruz.
She allegedly called Cruz “an addict” and told model-host Phoemela Barranda, “I can buy you, your friends, and this club.”
Isaac said a commotion ensued and bouncers had to step in. He said they were shocked. Later in the afternoon, however, he received a text message from Curtis saying, “Just want to apologize for my behavior! I’m so so so sorry. I’m so ashamed would never act like that in the right state of mind! I’m so sorry. Please forgive me!”
Curtis on Twitter mentioned a “person who started all of this” who apologized to her as well. However, she said, “I choose not to go into detail because I’m not the type to ruin someone else’s name.”
Isaac said in the PEP article that he was in good terms with Curtis and did not know why the actress was mad at them that night.
Read more: Anne Curtis: Sorry for rowdy behavior | Inquirer Entertainment
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
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— A month after New York voters approved casino gambling and two weeks after New Jersey officials publicly opened online gambling, Pennsylvania lawmakers are looking to up the ante.
A Senate committee on Tuesday passed a resolution to have the Legislature study whether the state should legalize online gambling. The full Senate will vote on the resolution Wednesday.
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The panel's unanimous vote comes nine years after the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act ushered casino gambling into Pennsylvania. Just last month, the law was expanded to allow wagering in local bars and social clubs.
The resolution doesn't dictate what sort of Internet-based games, such as poker or slots, the committee should consider adding when it completes its study by May 1. That date gives lawmakers, if they choose, time to work the plan into next year's budget proposal due for approval by July 1.
With the Legislature's Independent Fiscal Office projecting a two-year cumulative deficit of $839 million by June 2015, some lawmakers view online gambling as the ace the state needs to financially break even or come out ahead.
Other lawmakers see the nod to consider online gambling as Harrisburg's latest attempt to balance its books through wagering, this time from people's living rooms instead of at a casino, racetrack, local bar or social club.
Even with enough support, some form of online gambling would still be months — if not years — from becoming legal in Pennsylvania.
But one thing is certain: The Legislature's decision to consider online gambling will bring heated debate to the state Capitol — and stiff opposition from one of the world's richest men: Sheldon Adelson.
His company, Las Vegas Sands, owns Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem — arguably Pennsylvania's most successful gambling complex — and he hasn't been shy about voicing his disgust for online gambling.
Last month, Adelson hired an army of lawyers and lobbyists to press Congress for a federal ban on Internet gambling.
While critics say Adelson is just trying to protect his wealth, he contends there's no reliable way to prevent youths, substance abusers and addicted gamblers from gambling on the Internet — things that can at least be curbed in a casino where dealers and security officials are trained to stop underage gamblers and cut off drunken players.
Though Nevada has legalized online gambling, Adelson said his casinos will not take part for "moral" reasons.
He added that while online gambling might be a short-term boon to the casinos, in the long run it would cut into casino profits because some people would stop visiting casinos, costing thousands of casino jobs nationwide.
"No, online gambling is not a threat to my business," Adelson wrote in an opinion piece last month. "It's a threat to our society — a toxin which all good people ought to resist."
Whatever Adelson's motivation, Pennsylvania lawmakers can expect a visit from company officials or his newly formed Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, Sands spokesman Ron Reese said Tuesday.
But plenty of other casino groups will be lobbying lawmakers to adopt online gambling. Online gambling opened Nov. 21 in New Jersey, and two of seven licenses issued so far are held by Caesars Entertainment, the same company that owns four casinos in New Jersey and Harrah's Casino in Chester.
Senate President Pro-Tem Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson, the prime sponsor of the resolution, said the state needs to find additional revenue because expenses are outpacing revenues, leaving no additional money for public education or universities.
But Scarnati said the main reason he wants the state to explore online gambling is that recent revenue reports show casino revenues flattening, maybe even falling, and those projections could get worse as competition grows in New York and New Jersey.
"If your revenues are not growing, they are staying stagnant. You are losing," Scarnati said.
Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks, one of the Legislature's most vocal gambling opponents, said Adelson is correct to call online gambling a scourge. Congress' National Gambling Impact Study Commission Act of 1996 called Internet gambling the most addictive type of betting and led Congress to try banning it in 1999, Clymer said.
"We are all for making families stronger and we realize all the problems confronting the American family today, yet we are going [to consider] an addiction that causes irrevocable harm," Clymer said.
State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, whose district includes the Sands, said she sees both sides of the issue. She understands Adelson's concerns, both financially and morally, but sees the need to raise revenue as well. The ramifications are too great for the Senate to rush a decision, Boscola said.
"This is coming rather quickly," she said Tuesday. "I wish we'd slow down a little."
Sen. Robert "Tommy" Tomlinson, R-Bucks, whose district includes Parx Casino in Bensalem Township, said he previously opposed online gambling. But as more and more adults ages 21 to 31 gravitate to online sites to play poker, the state could be missing out on revenue.
Still, Tomlinson said, the Senate is not ready to pick which sort of online games to add without first talking to the casino industry and Pennsylvania Lottery. Those talks could be tricky, he said, because Sands is opposed to online gambling, Parx is on the fence and Harrah's may want full-fledged access now available in New Jersey.
"We have time to get it right," Tomlinson said. "We have until June."
Read more: Pa. Senate approves study to consider online gambling - mcall-com
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A Senate committee on Tuesday passed a resolution to have the Legislature study whether the state should legalize online gambling. The full Senate will vote on the resolution Wednesday.
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Laws and Legislation
Casino and Gambling Industry
Gambling
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The panel's unanimous vote comes nine years after the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act ushered casino gambling into Pennsylvania. Just last month, the law was expanded to allow wagering in local bars and social clubs.
The resolution doesn't dictate what sort of Internet-based games, such as poker or slots, the committee should consider adding when it completes its study by May 1. That date gives lawmakers, if they choose, time to work the plan into next year's budget proposal due for approval by July 1.
With the Legislature's Independent Fiscal Office projecting a two-year cumulative deficit of $839 million by June 2015, some lawmakers view online gambling as the ace the state needs to financially break even or come out ahead.
Other lawmakers see the nod to consider online gambling as Harrisburg's latest attempt to balance its books through wagering, this time from people's living rooms instead of at a casino, racetrack, local bar or social club.
Even with enough support, some form of online gambling would still be months — if not years — from becoming legal in Pennsylvania.
But one thing is certain: The Legislature's decision to consider online gambling will bring heated debate to the state Capitol — and stiff opposition from one of the world's richest men: Sheldon Adelson.
His company, Las Vegas Sands, owns Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem — arguably Pennsylvania's most successful gambling complex — and he hasn't been shy about voicing his disgust for online gambling.
Last month, Adelson hired an army of lawyers and lobbyists to press Congress for a federal ban on Internet gambling.
While critics say Adelson is just trying to protect his wealth, he contends there's no reliable way to prevent youths, substance abusers and addicted gamblers from gambling on the Internet — things that can at least be curbed in a casino where dealers and security officials are trained to stop underage gamblers and cut off drunken players.
Though Nevada has legalized online gambling, Adelson said his casinos will not take part for "moral" reasons.
He added that while online gambling might be a short-term boon to the casinos, in the long run it would cut into casino profits because some people would stop visiting casinos, costing thousands of casino jobs nationwide.
"No, online gambling is not a threat to my business," Adelson wrote in an opinion piece last month. "It's a threat to our society — a toxin which all good people ought to resist."
Whatever Adelson's motivation, Pennsylvania lawmakers can expect a visit from company officials or his newly formed Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, Sands spokesman Ron Reese said Tuesday.
But plenty of other casino groups will be lobbying lawmakers to adopt online gambling. Online gambling opened Nov. 21 in New Jersey, and two of seven licenses issued so far are held by Caesars Entertainment, the same company that owns four casinos in New Jersey and Harrah's Casino in Chester.
Senate President Pro-Tem Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson, the prime sponsor of the resolution, said the state needs to find additional revenue because expenses are outpacing revenues, leaving no additional money for public education or universities.
But Scarnati said the main reason he wants the state to explore online gambling is that recent revenue reports show casino revenues flattening, maybe even falling, and those projections could get worse as competition grows in New York and New Jersey.
"If your revenues are not growing, they are staying stagnant. You are losing," Scarnati said.
Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks, one of the Legislature's most vocal gambling opponents, said Adelson is correct to call online gambling a scourge. Congress' National Gambling Impact Study Commission Act of 1996 called Internet gambling the most addictive type of betting and led Congress to try banning it in 1999, Clymer said.
"We are all for making families stronger and we realize all the problems confronting the American family today, yet we are going [to consider] an addiction that causes irrevocable harm," Clymer said.
State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, whose district includes the Sands, said she sees both sides of the issue. She understands Adelson's concerns, both financially and morally, but sees the need to raise revenue as well. The ramifications are too great for the Senate to rush a decision, Boscola said.
"This is coming rather quickly," she said Tuesday. "I wish we'd slow down a little."
Sen. Robert "Tommy" Tomlinson, R-Bucks, whose district includes Parx Casino in Bensalem Township, said he previously opposed online gambling. But as more and more adults ages 21 to 31 gravitate to online sites to play poker, the state could be missing out on revenue.
Still, Tomlinson said, the Senate is not ready to pick which sort of online games to add without first talking to the casino industry and Pennsylvania Lottery. Those talks could be tricky, he said, because Sands is opposed to online gambling, Parx is on the fence and Harrah's may want full-fledged access now available in New Jersey.
"We have time to get it right," Tomlinson said. "We have until June."
Read more: Pa. Senate approves study to consider online gambling - mcall-com
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Online gambling firm Betfair said it intends to expand its business in Italy and the US. The firm runs a platform which enables gamblers to bet against each other. Betfair pulled out from other markets, including Greece and Germany, due to tax rates and adverse policies. Reuters reported that Betfair has been looking to narrow its operations and reduce costs. It intends to concentrate its operations in fewer markets, which provides more secure returns.
Led by Chief Executive Breon Corcoran, Betfair reported that in the six months that ended in October, its revenues declined 6% to GBP 188 million or USD 308 million. However, the company beat the average forecast of analysts as its underlying earnings before interest, tax depreciation and amortization or EBITDA increased 16% to GBP 48.9 million. Betfair 's interim dividend also rose by 50% to 6 pence per share. The online gambling company has an estimated cash pile of GBP 200 million.
The company has also started to expand its conventional sports book betting, which makes it more appealing to mainstream gamblers. However, it also put the company in direct competition with Paddy Power and William Hill.
Corcoran said, "Betfair has continued to make progress against thestrategic objectives we set out in December 2012 and has delivered a good first half performance." He added that their focus, which is on regulated jurisdictions and Sportsbook-led acquisition, have continued to succeed.
After it rejected a takeover from private equity firm CVC Capital Partners in May, Betfair has been compelled to defend its strategy, Reuters reported. The takeover offer was valued at GBP 1 billion or USD 1.5 billion at a price of 950 pence per share. Although Betfair's share price rose 1.3% to 1,043 in early trading today, it still falls short of the GBP 13 per share level when the firm went public three years ago.
Italy, US are growth prospects for online gambling firm Betfair : Regions : Venture Capital Post
Led by Chief Executive Breon Corcoran, Betfair reported that in the six months that ended in October, its revenues declined 6% to GBP 188 million or USD 308 million. However, the company beat the average forecast of analysts as its underlying earnings before interest, tax depreciation and amortization or EBITDA increased 16% to GBP 48.9 million. Betfair 's interim dividend also rose by 50% to 6 pence per share. The online gambling company has an estimated cash pile of GBP 200 million.
The company has also started to expand its conventional sports book betting, which makes it more appealing to mainstream gamblers. However, it also put the company in direct competition with Paddy Power and William Hill.
Corcoran said, "Betfair has continued to make progress against thestrategic objectives we set out in December 2012 and has delivered a good first half performance." He added that their focus, which is on regulated jurisdictions and Sportsbook-led acquisition, have continued to succeed.
After it rejected a takeover from private equity firm CVC Capital Partners in May, Betfair has been compelled to defend its strategy, Reuters reported. The takeover offer was valued at GBP 1 billion or USD 1.5 billion at a price of 950 pence per share. Although Betfair's share price rose 1.3% to 1,043 in early trading today, it still falls short of the GBP 13 per share level when the firm went public three years ago.
Italy, US are growth prospects for online gambling firm Betfair : Regions : Venture Capital Post
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The movie studio that makes the Fast & Furious action franchise said today it was suspending production of the latest installment, while authorities pressed ahead with their investigation into how Paul Walker died.
The Los Angeles County coroner's office said autopsies were underway on the two bodies recovered from the fiery crash of a Porsche that Walker, a star of the mega-hit movies, and his friend were last seen riding in.
Walker's publicist has said the actor was the passenger when Roger Rodas' Porsche Carrera GT crashed into a light pole and tree, then exploded in flames Saturday.
The families of both men have provided dental records, which will permit not only formal identification of the bodies, but also official word on whether Walker or Mr Rodas was behind the wheel.
Walker starred in all but one of the six Fast & Furious blockbusters.
He had been on break from shooting the latest installment; Universal Pictures said today production of Fast & Furious 7 is on hold.
A spokesman declined to say when shooting would resume.
A large portion of the film has been shot, but it is not yet complete.
It's scheduled for release in July.
Universal Pictures has not announced how it will adjust the movie or handle Walker's unfinished performance.
While the neighborhood where the crash happened is known to attract street racers, law enforcement officials do not believe the Porsche had been racing another car. Accident investigators "have received eyewitness statements that the car involved was traveling alone at a high rate of speed," the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.
"No eyewitness has contacted the (department) to say there was a second vehicle."
Hindering the accident investigation has been the crowds of fans that flocked to the crash site to leave flowers, candles and memorabilia from the action films.
On Saturday afternoon, Walker and Mr Rodas took what they said would be a brief drive away from a charity fundraiser and toy drive at Mr Rodas' custom car shop.
The crash happened on a street that forms an approximately 1-mile loop amid industrial office parks.
It is rimmed by hills and relatively isolated from traffic, especially on weekends when the businesses are closed.
While Mr Rodas was Walker's financial adviser, the two had bonded over their shared love of fast cars.
They co-owned an auto racing team named after Mr Rodas' shop, Always Evolving, and Mr Rodas drove professionally on the team in the Pirelli World Challenge circuit in 2013.
On last night, a private memorial for survivors and the cast and crew of the Fast & Furious movies was held inside a white tent erected around the site.
When it was over, Walker's co-star Vin Diesel thanked fans for "coming and showing that angel up in heaven how much you appreciated him."
Fast and Furious film suspended following Paul Walker's death - Entertainment News | TVNZ
The Los Angeles County coroner's office said autopsies were underway on the two bodies recovered from the fiery crash of a Porsche that Walker, a star of the mega-hit movies, and his friend were last seen riding in.
Walker's publicist has said the actor was the passenger when Roger Rodas' Porsche Carrera GT crashed into a light pole and tree, then exploded in flames Saturday.
The families of both men have provided dental records, which will permit not only formal identification of the bodies, but also official word on whether Walker or Mr Rodas was behind the wheel.
Walker starred in all but one of the six Fast & Furious blockbusters.
He had been on break from shooting the latest installment; Universal Pictures said today production of Fast & Furious 7 is on hold.
A spokesman declined to say when shooting would resume.
A large portion of the film has been shot, but it is not yet complete.
It's scheduled for release in July.
Universal Pictures has not announced how it will adjust the movie or handle Walker's unfinished performance.
While the neighborhood where the crash happened is known to attract street racers, law enforcement officials do not believe the Porsche had been racing another car. Accident investigators "have received eyewitness statements that the car involved was traveling alone at a high rate of speed," the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.
"No eyewitness has contacted the (department) to say there was a second vehicle."
Hindering the accident investigation has been the crowds of fans that flocked to the crash site to leave flowers, candles and memorabilia from the action films.
On Saturday afternoon, Walker and Mr Rodas took what they said would be a brief drive away from a charity fundraiser and toy drive at Mr Rodas' custom car shop.
The crash happened on a street that forms an approximately 1-mile loop amid industrial office parks.
It is rimmed by hills and relatively isolated from traffic, especially on weekends when the businesses are closed.
While Mr Rodas was Walker's financial adviser, the two had bonded over their shared love of fast cars.
They co-owned an auto racing team named after Mr Rodas' shop, Always Evolving, and Mr Rodas drove professionally on the team in the Pirelli World Challenge circuit in 2013.
On last night, a private memorial for survivors and the cast and crew of the Fast & Furious movies was held inside a white tent erected around the site.
When it was over, Walker's co-star Vin Diesel thanked fans for "coming and showing that angel up in heaven how much you appreciated him."
Fast and Furious film suspended following Paul Walker's death - Entertainment News | TVNZ
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Through the first month of onling gambling in Delaware, about 2,800 residents registered and deposited money to play and, as of Dec. 1, those gamblers wagered about $3.8 million dollars in internet games.
"It's been going very well," said State Lottery Director Vernon Kirk, who says he had no idea what kind of action the casinos would see in their first month online. "It seems encouraging, especially the ability to continually and steadily add new registrants, new depositors every day."
While encouraging, Kirk says the state's numbers pale in comparison with New Jersey. Garden State casinos started offering online gambling last month as well.
"They're not New Jersey-esque, but we're operating with a different player base [compared to New Jersey]."
What's next
Kirk is optimistic that, after a somewhat soft launch month, the numbers of players and the amount wagered will continue to grow. But he's not ready to predict what a "normal" month will be. "Establishing a baseline is usually pretty important in these types of analyses, but we didn't have much to go on."
He says plans are in the works to draw more gamblers. "There are more advertisements and approaches to come, but quite honestly, the initial approach was on making sure everything worked really well."
Kirk says the State Lottery will release more detailed information on the numbers in the near future.
Millions bet in Delaware's online casinos' first month
"It's been going very well," said State Lottery Director Vernon Kirk, who says he had no idea what kind of action the casinos would see in their first month online. "It seems encouraging, especially the ability to continually and steadily add new registrants, new depositors every day."
While encouraging, Kirk says the state's numbers pale in comparison with New Jersey. Garden State casinos started offering online gambling last month as well.
"They're not New Jersey-esque, but we're operating with a different player base [compared to New Jersey]."
What's next
Kirk is optimistic that, after a somewhat soft launch month, the numbers of players and the amount wagered will continue to grow. But he's not ready to predict what a "normal" month will be. "Establishing a baseline is usually pretty important in these types of analyses, but we didn't have much to go on."
He says plans are in the works to draw more gamblers. "There are more advertisements and approaches to come, but quite honestly, the initial approach was on making sure everything worked really well."
Kirk says the State Lottery will release more detailed information on the numbers in the near future.
Millions bet in Delaware's online casinos' first month
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The number of consumers using mobile devices including phones and tablets for online gambling is expected to reach 164 million by 2018, according to a report from the Juniper Research.
The report expects a 100 million increase in subscribers in next five years, who are expected to use their devices to place bets, visit mobile casino of buy lottery tickets.
According to the report, majority of users are expected to shift to mobile gambling from desktop services as mobiles will support many features of gambling compared to the PCs.
Juniper Research Report author Siân Rowlands said mobile can frequently provide a more immersive and convenient gambling experience than a desktop PC or laptop.
"As a result of this, gambling operators have been required to shift the nature of their organisation away from 'legacy' services such as telephone betting towards becoming a more mobile-oriented company, with the aim of achieving over half of their online revenues from mobile in the next 1-3 years," Rowlands added.
Though the US has experienced a decline in the mobile gambling due to the Department of Justice's ruling in 2011, the number of users in the region is expected to grow from 2014 as states which have not yet fully legislated will go ahead on remote gambling after launch of similar serices in Nevada and New Jersey.
Additionally, the inter-state poker regulated markets are expected to see a rise during the period that will increase mobile/tablet gambling.
Online gambling through mobile devices to rise by 2018 - Computer Business Review
The report expects a 100 million increase in subscribers in next five years, who are expected to use their devices to place bets, visit mobile casino of buy lottery tickets.
According to the report, majority of users are expected to shift to mobile gambling from desktop services as mobiles will support many features of gambling compared to the PCs.
Juniper Research Report author Siân Rowlands said mobile can frequently provide a more immersive and convenient gambling experience than a desktop PC or laptop.
"As a result of this, gambling operators have been required to shift the nature of their organisation away from 'legacy' services such as telephone betting towards becoming a more mobile-oriented company, with the aim of achieving over half of their online revenues from mobile in the next 1-3 years," Rowlands added.
Though the US has experienced a decline in the mobile gambling due to the Department of Justice's ruling in 2011, the number of users in the region is expected to grow from 2014 as states which have not yet fully legislated will go ahead on remote gambling after launch of similar serices in Nevada and New Jersey.
Additionally, the inter-state poker regulated markets are expected to see a rise during the period that will increase mobile/tablet gambling.
Online gambling through mobile devices to rise by 2018 - Computer Business Review
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It seems that a show that follows four mates trying to make a living in Auckland's entertainment biz, and mocks their trials at every turn, may be just what audiences are looking for. The enthusiasm for making fun of themselves, cutting one-liners, opportunities for audience participation, and a multitude of hilarious celebrity cameos has given Auckland Daze a cult following. And now that audience could get much bigger.
The mockumentary style show, which started out as a low-budget web series, has been given a larger slice of funding for its second season, and will be premiering on TV One before it becomes available online.
"When we started on the web, we got about $350,000 from the NZ On Air digital media fund," co-creator and star Millen Baird explains.
"It was pretty loose, but TVNZ were very tolerant of the way we worked. Usually it's quite a lot more regimented, you know, you do it by the script, and there are certain formats and ways of doing things, but we're a bit loosey goosey on Daze."
They improvised a lot, and had a very tight turn around, with each episode shot over a weekend, and edited in the following three days, before it went online. They solicited feedback online from fans, and asked them for pick-up line ideas or creative insults, and added these things in as they went.
"We had scripts, but we kind of worked out a methodology where we would say, 'okay, here's our start point, and here's our end point, and this is what needs to happen with your character, let's see how you go from A to B. These lines are a guide, but if you've got any better ones, throw them in'."
For season two, there's been more preparation and the bigger budget has given them a little more scope.
"The script was written well in advance so we could percolate the ideas longer, and the bigger budget meant we could fit more stunts in, and we had loads more celebrities that we could lure in. So it's kind of like going from intermediate to high school, and now we're playing for real - but there's still lots of freedom and TVNZ have still been great in terms of censorship."
So, where has that led the boys for season two?
Well, Millen meets a Christian girl (played by Sophie Henderson); Jimmy gets a job as a body double in a film being directed by Alan Dale, and finds himself being ordered to get hammered for the part, even though he's trying to stay sober; Glen finds his stuntman skills are underappreciated, and his relationship with Millen's mum, Wanda (Jennifer Ward-Lealand), hits a rocky patch; and Fasi gets cast in a home intruder advertisement, but finds himself being tormented as a sexual deviant by the public.
Once again, the events are all drawn from personal experiences of the cast, or friends.
"I've got a limited imagination, so it kind of has to be like that," Baird laughs. "We write about what we know, and that's the Auckland entertainment industry. There are so many classic egos in the game, it's too good to pass up. Every job, or audition, can be a sketch, or something we can throw in to the show."
And the industry they've been sending up - well, it has embraced the show with open arms.
"People really want to come and have a play with it. Everyone we've approached, in terms of actors or celebs, to come and work on it, have been really keen. I think people feel the industry is ripe for a bit of mocking. That's why Ricky Gervais can lambast everyone at the Golden Globes.
"You've got to cut people off at the knees in this game. Not vitriolically, but there's a certain reason why most people get into this, I'm certainly one of them, and that's for the attention. And there's a lot of humour to be found around that."
The guest actors don't even mind when they're written in as screaming ex-girlfriends, or alcoholics. "I usually write with someone in mind," Baird nods. "In season two we've got Martin Henderson in Alcoholics Anonymous with Jimmy, and I knew we needed someone with a bit of gravitas, and a bit of LA pull, and it turned out he was totally up for it."
Other appearances include Shane Cortese, Kimberley Crossman, Tammy Davis, Brendhan Lovegrove, Rose Matefeo, Anna Hutchison, and Urzila Carlson. That list says something about the distance Auckland Daze has come in the past 18 months, particularly given recent news about several local drama series not being renewed next year, and Baird is adamant there are still plenty of possibilities for the local industry - people just have to be creative. They even shot a Halloween special called End of Daze, available for purchase online. "We shot that to test the waters around monetizing things available on the web, you know, people pay $4, and they can watch it on Vimeo. We're really keen to explore the web possibilities further, and we're hoping to get into creating some more web series next year.
"It's not all doom and gloom out there as some people say. It's just about making things happen yourself. Getting out there and doing it."
Those crazy Auckland Daze of summer - Entertainment - NZ Herald News
The mockumentary style show, which started out as a low-budget web series, has been given a larger slice of funding for its second season, and will be premiering on TV One before it becomes available online.
"When we started on the web, we got about $350,000 from the NZ On Air digital media fund," co-creator and star Millen Baird explains.
"It was pretty loose, but TVNZ were very tolerant of the way we worked. Usually it's quite a lot more regimented, you know, you do it by the script, and there are certain formats and ways of doing things, but we're a bit loosey goosey on Daze."
They improvised a lot, and had a very tight turn around, with each episode shot over a weekend, and edited in the following three days, before it went online. They solicited feedback online from fans, and asked them for pick-up line ideas or creative insults, and added these things in as they went.
"We had scripts, but we kind of worked out a methodology where we would say, 'okay, here's our start point, and here's our end point, and this is what needs to happen with your character, let's see how you go from A to B. These lines are a guide, but if you've got any better ones, throw them in'."
For season two, there's been more preparation and the bigger budget has given them a little more scope.
"The script was written well in advance so we could percolate the ideas longer, and the bigger budget meant we could fit more stunts in, and we had loads more celebrities that we could lure in. So it's kind of like going from intermediate to high school, and now we're playing for real - but there's still lots of freedom and TVNZ have still been great in terms of censorship."
So, where has that led the boys for season two?
Well, Millen meets a Christian girl (played by Sophie Henderson); Jimmy gets a job as a body double in a film being directed by Alan Dale, and finds himself being ordered to get hammered for the part, even though he's trying to stay sober; Glen finds his stuntman skills are underappreciated, and his relationship with Millen's mum, Wanda (Jennifer Ward-Lealand), hits a rocky patch; and Fasi gets cast in a home intruder advertisement, but finds himself being tormented as a sexual deviant by the public.
Once again, the events are all drawn from personal experiences of the cast, or friends.
"I've got a limited imagination, so it kind of has to be like that," Baird laughs. "We write about what we know, and that's the Auckland entertainment industry. There are so many classic egos in the game, it's too good to pass up. Every job, or audition, can be a sketch, or something we can throw in to the show."
And the industry they've been sending up - well, it has embraced the show with open arms.
"People really want to come and have a play with it. Everyone we've approached, in terms of actors or celebs, to come and work on it, have been really keen. I think people feel the industry is ripe for a bit of mocking. That's why Ricky Gervais can lambast everyone at the Golden Globes.
"You've got to cut people off at the knees in this game. Not vitriolically, but there's a certain reason why most people get into this, I'm certainly one of them, and that's for the attention. And there's a lot of humour to be found around that."
The guest actors don't even mind when they're written in as screaming ex-girlfriends, or alcoholics. "I usually write with someone in mind," Baird nods. "In season two we've got Martin Henderson in Alcoholics Anonymous with Jimmy, and I knew we needed someone with a bit of gravitas, and a bit of LA pull, and it turned out he was totally up for it."
Other appearances include Shane Cortese, Kimberley Crossman, Tammy Davis, Brendhan Lovegrove, Rose Matefeo, Anna Hutchison, and Urzila Carlson. That list says something about the distance Auckland Daze has come in the past 18 months, particularly given recent news about several local drama series not being renewed next year, and Baird is adamant there are still plenty of possibilities for the local industry - people just have to be creative. They even shot a Halloween special called End of Daze, available for purchase online. "We shot that to test the waters around monetizing things available on the web, you know, people pay $4, and they can watch it on Vimeo. We're really keen to explore the web possibilities further, and we're hoping to get into creating some more web series next year.
"It's not all doom and gloom out there as some people say. It's just about making things happen yourself. Getting out there and doing it."
Those crazy Auckland Daze of summer - Entertainment - NZ Herald News
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Gov. Chris Christie is sticking to predictions that Internet gambling will result in $160 million in tax revenue by July, but local lawmakers said the state is off-base and headed for a budget shortfall.
Online gambling’s revenue potential has been a point of contention since budget discussions began earlier this year. The Christie administration has relied on predictions that online gambling revenues would be upwards of $1 billion in the fiscal year. At a tax rate of 15 percent, the state first estimated online gambling would generate $180 million in taxes, later reducing its estimate slightly in the approved budget.
“From the get-go, we thought the number was, frankly, absurd,” state Sen. Jim Whelan said. “I never thought the state was going to hit the mark, even the revised mark. Both of those numbers are unrealistically optimistic.”
An advocate for Internet gambling, Whelan, D-Atlantic, said there’s no doubt the industry will be beneficial, but hitting the governor’s projection after seven months is an impossibility, he said. Whelan estimated the tax revenue from online gambling at “well under $100 million given the time constraints.”
Ratings agencies have backed up Whelan’s remarks. A report from Moody’s Investors Service last week suggested online casino gambling revenues would be between $250 million and $500 million. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings was even less optimistic, forecasting between $200 million and $300 million in year one.
“Although some market participants will benefit, New Jersey online gambling is not going to be the savior of the (Atlantic City) casino market,” a Fitch report reads. “In some ways, it will be detrimental because it has kept brick-and-mortar supply in the market when the level of demand dictates that some supply should be removed.”
With just six of Atlantic City’s 12 casinos currently engaged in online gambling, lawmakers and analysts have noted there’s significant opportunity for growth. Applications from Resorts Casino Hotel and its partner, online gaming giant PokerStars, are also pending before the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. PokerStars had previously experienced a licensing holdup when its attempt to purchase Atlantic Club Casino Hotel fell apart.
William J. Pascrell III, a state lobbyist who represents PokerStars and was part of the lobbying efforts for Internet gambling in New Jersey, said recently that he believes PokerStars will get the state’s approval to operate and will raise the level of competition in New Jersey’s market.
“It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when,” Pascrell said. “When New Jersey finally licenses and allows (PokerStars) to enter the market, it will continue to (be) to the benefit of the residents of New Jersey and the brick-and-mortar casino industry, because PokerStars will raise the bar to make everybody else do better.”
As of Tuesday, the state Division of Gaming Enforcement reported that 54,852 online gambling accounts had been created, well outpacing Nevada, which launched online poker earlier this year. Still, regulators have acknowledged ongoing difficulties with geolocation systems and payment-processing options that will also take time for improvement.
“We knew those projections were extra optimistic and rosy,” said state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic. “I don’t think this means that (online gaming) is failing. It just means it’s going to take more time.”
Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment Corp. has acknowledged that online gaming in New Jersey may harm its land-based properties in Atlantic City.
In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday night, Caesars stated that the company is facing new competition from Internet gambling, including online gambling operations run by Caesars. The company said the statements were included as a standard precaution and were not indicative of serious concern.
“Online gaming may reduce customer visitation and spend in our traditional casinos in Nevada and New Jersey, which could have an adverse impact on our business and result of operations,” the documents state. “Our Atlantic City properties may be further impacted because all casino games will be permitted online.”
Caesars is running online gambling in New Jersey through its subsidiary, Caesars Interactive Entertainment. Of Caesars’ four Atlantic City properties, Caesars Atlantic City and Bally’s Atlantic City have been issued online gambling permits.
Gary Thompson, a spokesman for Caesars, said the statement was included in the filing as a standard precaution in the company’s discretionary language.
“We don’t know exactly whether or not (online gambling) will help. We think it will, but we can’t say for sure,” Thompson said. “We have to cover ourselves if someone decides to sue us because we said it was going to increase business.”
Lawmakers: Online gambling won
Online gambling’s revenue potential has been a point of contention since budget discussions began earlier this year. The Christie administration has relied on predictions that online gambling revenues would be upwards of $1 billion in the fiscal year. At a tax rate of 15 percent, the state first estimated online gambling would generate $180 million in taxes, later reducing its estimate slightly in the approved budget.
“From the get-go, we thought the number was, frankly, absurd,” state Sen. Jim Whelan said. “I never thought the state was going to hit the mark, even the revised mark. Both of those numbers are unrealistically optimistic.”
An advocate for Internet gambling, Whelan, D-Atlantic, said there’s no doubt the industry will be beneficial, but hitting the governor’s projection after seven months is an impossibility, he said. Whelan estimated the tax revenue from online gambling at “well under $100 million given the time constraints.”
Ratings agencies have backed up Whelan’s remarks. A report from Moody’s Investors Service last week suggested online casino gambling revenues would be between $250 million and $500 million. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings was even less optimistic, forecasting between $200 million and $300 million in year one.
“Although some market participants will benefit, New Jersey online gambling is not going to be the savior of the (Atlantic City) casino market,” a Fitch report reads. “In some ways, it will be detrimental because it has kept brick-and-mortar supply in the market when the level of demand dictates that some supply should be removed.”
With just six of Atlantic City’s 12 casinos currently engaged in online gambling, lawmakers and analysts have noted there’s significant opportunity for growth. Applications from Resorts Casino Hotel and its partner, online gaming giant PokerStars, are also pending before the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. PokerStars had previously experienced a licensing holdup when its attempt to purchase Atlantic Club Casino Hotel fell apart.
William J. Pascrell III, a state lobbyist who represents PokerStars and was part of the lobbying efforts for Internet gambling in New Jersey, said recently that he believes PokerStars will get the state’s approval to operate and will raise the level of competition in New Jersey’s market.
“It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when,” Pascrell said. “When New Jersey finally licenses and allows (PokerStars) to enter the market, it will continue to (be) to the benefit of the residents of New Jersey and the brick-and-mortar casino industry, because PokerStars will raise the bar to make everybody else do better.”
As of Tuesday, the state Division of Gaming Enforcement reported that 54,852 online gambling accounts had been created, well outpacing Nevada, which launched online poker earlier this year. Still, regulators have acknowledged ongoing difficulties with geolocation systems and payment-processing options that will also take time for improvement.
“We knew those projections were extra optimistic and rosy,” said state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic. “I don’t think this means that (online gaming) is failing. It just means it’s going to take more time.”
Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment Corp. has acknowledged that online gaming in New Jersey may harm its land-based properties in Atlantic City.
In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday night, Caesars stated that the company is facing new competition from Internet gambling, including online gambling operations run by Caesars. The company said the statements were included as a standard precaution and were not indicative of serious concern.
“Online gaming may reduce customer visitation and spend in our traditional casinos in Nevada and New Jersey, which could have an adverse impact on our business and result of operations,” the documents state. “Our Atlantic City properties may be further impacted because all casino games will be permitted online.”
Caesars is running online gambling in New Jersey through its subsidiary, Caesars Interactive Entertainment. Of Caesars’ four Atlantic City properties, Caesars Atlantic City and Bally’s Atlantic City have been issued online gambling permits.
Gary Thompson, a spokesman for Caesars, said the statement was included in the filing as a standard precaution in the company’s discretionary language.
“We don’t know exactly whether or not (online gambling) will help. We think it will, but we can’t say for sure,” Thompson said. “We have to cover ourselves if someone decides to sue us because we said it was going to increase business.”
Lawmakers: Online gambling won
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Macau is already the top gambling hub in the world — taking in more than $40 billion in gaming revenue this year — but at least one firm wants Internet gambling there.
According to MacauBusinessDaily-com, Japanese pachinko hall operator Dynam Japan Holdings will look into developing games for the web in Macau, assuming that it would be legal under the law.
The last point reportedly is unclear right now.
A Macau bylaw has taken a look at mobile betting within casino properties, though such wagering is not full-fledged Internet gambling. In other words, you’d need to be able to play from home in order for it to truly count. Right now, people in Macau can log on to offshore poker sites like PokerStars. There’s just no firm in Macau offering online games.
The former Portugeuse colony reportedly flirted with Internet gambling in the past, but the talks were abandon. Apparently Dynam Japan Holdings is looking to reunite the debate.
Firm Wants Online Gambling In Macau
According to MacauBusinessDaily-com, Japanese pachinko hall operator Dynam Japan Holdings will look into developing games for the web in Macau, assuming that it would be legal under the law.
The last point reportedly is unclear right now.
A Macau bylaw has taken a look at mobile betting within casino properties, though such wagering is not full-fledged Internet gambling. In other words, you’d need to be able to play from home in order for it to truly count. Right now, people in Macau can log on to offshore poker sites like PokerStars. There’s just no firm in Macau offering online games.
The former Portugeuse colony reportedly flirted with Internet gambling in the past, but the talks were abandon. Apparently Dynam Japan Holdings is looking to reunite the debate.
Firm Wants Online Gambling In Macau
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2006/12/07
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29893
With a successful test run under its belt, the state of New Jersey is now offering online gaming to customers within its borders. One of the challenges being faced by customers and operators alike is the limited methods of deposit available for players to fund their internet gaming accounts.
Some of the larger financial service providers including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, American Express, and PayPal are refusing to process internet gaming related transactions in the US.
Other payment processors including Visa and MasterCard are accepting igaming transactions, but customers using these methods are still experiencing a high rate of decline at online gaming sites as several of the card-issuing banks are rejecting gaming transactions.
One option players have to avoid these pitfalls is ACH transfers. Automated Clearing House payments can be used to electronically transfer funds to or from an online merchant direct from a consumer’s bank account. High success rates have been reported by customers utilizing ACH transfers to fund internet gaming accounts.
Also looking to fill the gap are ewallets like Skrill and NETELLER. Popular in Europe, they allow customers to utilize ACH transfers, credit cards and transfers from other users to fund their digital wallet and have those funds readily available for use on multiple sites.
Joe Hall, vice-president of Skrill USA, believes the company will see an influx of customers “that get fed up trying to use their cards,” he told pokerfuse. “They realize that with one ACH transfer they can send us their bankroll for a particular month and just manage their money much easier.”
Education is the key according, to Neil Steinhardt CEO for Skrill USA. “We have a fantastic product and a strong brand. It’s a new market and we have to educate the consumers and let them understand the value of a Skrill wallet which is security, speed and ease of use.”
Even though credit cards can be used to load funds onto an eWallet, players should be cautioned that these electronic financial processors are not tools to circumvent credit card restrictions on gaming transactions.
“When you upload funds into a Skrill wallet we ask if you intend to use those funds for gambling,” Steinhardt said. “If you say yes then the transaction is coded appropriately and if you say no then the funds are restricted.”
eWallets also have robust Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) practices that are regularly audited by gaming regulators.
The use of ewallets is an integral part of the overseas poker industry providing players with quick access to their funds for deposit and withdrawal which allows them to move money quickly between sites giving them the freedom to play when and where they choose.
“We are a real part of the poker ecosystem in terms of how players manage their money and how they will be able to send money freely between all of the different sites,” Hall proclaimed. “We plan to be integrated with everyone within the market.”
ACH and eWallets Provide Deposit Solutions for Online Gaming Sites in New Jersey | Pokerfuse Online Poker News
Some of the larger financial service providers including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, American Express, and PayPal are refusing to process internet gaming related transactions in the US.
Other payment processors including Visa and MasterCard are accepting igaming transactions, but customers using these methods are still experiencing a high rate of decline at online gaming sites as several of the card-issuing banks are rejecting gaming transactions.
One option players have to avoid these pitfalls is ACH transfers. Automated Clearing House payments can be used to electronically transfer funds to or from an online merchant direct from a consumer’s bank account. High success rates have been reported by customers utilizing ACH transfers to fund internet gaming accounts.
Also looking to fill the gap are ewallets like Skrill and NETELLER. Popular in Europe, they allow customers to utilize ACH transfers, credit cards and transfers from other users to fund their digital wallet and have those funds readily available for use on multiple sites.
Joe Hall, vice-president of Skrill USA, believes the company will see an influx of customers “that get fed up trying to use their cards,” he told pokerfuse. “They realize that with one ACH transfer they can send us their bankroll for a particular month and just manage their money much easier.”
Education is the key according, to Neil Steinhardt CEO for Skrill USA. “We have a fantastic product and a strong brand. It’s a new market and we have to educate the consumers and let them understand the value of a Skrill wallet which is security, speed and ease of use.”
Even though credit cards can be used to load funds onto an eWallet, players should be cautioned that these electronic financial processors are not tools to circumvent credit card restrictions on gaming transactions.
“When you upload funds into a Skrill wallet we ask if you intend to use those funds for gambling,” Steinhardt said. “If you say yes then the transaction is coded appropriately and if you say no then the funds are restricted.”
eWallets also have robust Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) practices that are regularly audited by gaming regulators.
The use of ewallets is an integral part of the overseas poker industry providing players with quick access to their funds for deposit and withdrawal which allows them to move money quickly between sites giving them the freedom to play when and where they choose.
“We are a real part of the poker ecosystem in terms of how players manage their money and how they will be able to send money freely between all of the different sites,” Hall proclaimed. “We plan to be integrated with everyone within the market.”
ACH and eWallets Provide Deposit Solutions for Online Gaming Sites in New Jersey | Pokerfuse Online Poker News
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2006/12/07
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With individual states legalizing gambling, the big debate is now over federal regulations. On one side stands Las Vegas Sands Chief Executive Officer Sheldon Adelson, who created the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling. He proposes a government ban on online gambling.
On the other side, Bloomberg projects that "annual online gambling revenue could reach $23 billion nationwide" by the year 2023. An editorial article of theirs states, "People clearly like gambling. Letting them do so where they want would make them happy. Regulating it properly would keep them safe. And taxing it all will make lawmakers smile."
Steve Sebelius, the political columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal sides with Sheldon Adelson, against federal regulation of online gambling. He writes in the LVRS, "Of all the things that have been said recently about…Adelson's crusade against online gambling, there's one missing: He's right." However, he doesn't agree with Adelson's approach, writing, "It didn't work with alcohol, it hasn't worked with drugs and it didn't work with online gambling in the years when federal officials considered it illegal."
Wynn Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn has taken a middle-of-the-road stance, saying that he is "neither a proponent nor opponent" of federal online gambling regulation. Like Sebelius, Wynn compared Adelson's agenda to the way alcohol was treated by the US government. Clearly, it didn't work!
But what the future holds for USA online gambling regulations, neither pro, against nor undecided can predict as of now.
Debate over Federal Gambling Regulations Continues - The Headlines - Onlinecasinoreports-com
On the other side, Bloomberg projects that "annual online gambling revenue could reach $23 billion nationwide" by the year 2023. An editorial article of theirs states, "People clearly like gambling. Letting them do so where they want would make them happy. Regulating it properly would keep them safe. And taxing it all will make lawmakers smile."
Steve Sebelius, the political columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal sides with Sheldon Adelson, against federal regulation of online gambling. He writes in the LVRS, "Of all the things that have been said recently about…Adelson's crusade against online gambling, there's one missing: He's right." However, he doesn't agree with Adelson's approach, writing, "It didn't work with alcohol, it hasn't worked with drugs and it didn't work with online gambling in the years when federal officials considered it illegal."
Wynn Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn has taken a middle-of-the-road stance, saying that he is "neither a proponent nor opponent" of federal online gambling regulation. Like Sebelius, Wynn compared Adelson's agenda to the way alcohol was treated by the US government. Clearly, it didn't work!
But what the future holds for USA online gambling regulations, neither pro, against nor undecided can predict as of now.
Debate over Federal Gambling Regulations Continues - The Headlines - Onlinecasinoreports-com
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2006/12/07
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The issue is definitely on their radar but the state doesn't seem to be in a rush to follow suit, according to State Rep. Richard Bennett, R-Long Beach, who's chairman of the House Gaming Committee. He said he doubts the Legislature will approve it in its 2014 session. He prefers to let Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware work out the kinks in their online gaming systems so Mississippi can learn from them.
We also agree that we can't sit back and watch others steal our cheese, and we agree that any Internet gambling should be tied to the existing casinos. Casino operators built the industry, and on the Coast they are a vital piece of our tourism pie. We expect the folks in Jackson will be eager to protect their interests because the state gets a chunk of casino taxes, too.
Another lawmaker, Democratic state Rep. Bobby Moak of Bogue Chitto, says next year he'll once again introduce online gambling legislation, saying it will give casinos and the treasury a boost. That could be true if it's done right. If not, it could just cannibalize the Coast's casino clientele.
Online gaming in this state seems inevitable. Morgan Stanley told Agence France-Presse it predicts online gambling revenue will hit $9.3 billion a year by 2020. It's not too early to start devising ways the state can share in that explosion of revenue. We urge the state to act not hastily, but not too conservatively either. We don't want some other state or nation encroaching on our gambling industry via the Internet.
What's bet in Mississippi should stay in Mississippi.
This editorial represents the views of the Sun Herald editorial board, which consists of President-Publisher Glen Nardi, Vice President and Executive Editor Stan Tiner, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Flora S. Point, Audience and Human Resources Director Wanda Howell, Marketing and Interactive Director John McFarland and Associate Editor Tony Biffle. Opinions expressed by columnists, cartoonists and letter writers are their own.
Read more here: SUN HERALD | Editorial: Mississippi must keep an eye on online gambling | Editorials | The Sun Herald