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Michael Schumacher's exasperated wife pleaded Tuesday with journalists to leave her family and doctors alone, as her world famous husband remains in a coma after a ski accident in the French Alps.
Scores of reporters, television crews and photographers have descended on the hospital in the French city of Grenoble where the Formula One legend is in stable but critical condition following his December 29 accident.
Last week, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm deplored tactics used by some journalists to try and catch a glimpse of the seven-time world champion in his room, reporting that one had even dressed up as a priest to try and get in.
"Please support our shared fight with Michael. It is important to me that you take the pressure off the doctors and the hospital so they can do their work," Corinna Schumacher said in a statement addressed "to the media".
"Please have faith in their statements and leave the hospital. Please also leave our family in peace," she said.
News that Schumacher was in a coma after falling and slamming his head on a rock while skiing sent shockwaves round the sporting world, with journalists waiting anxiously to relay any update on his condition.
Following a flurry of speculation about his health, doctors looking after the 45-year-old said they would give no details of the treatment he is receiving in order to protect his right to privacy.
The German Federation of Journalists on Tuesday urged reporters to use restraint while covering the German former racer's plight.
Federation chairman Michael Konken noted that the German journalists' code of conduct requires "respect for the suffering of victims and the feelings of loved ones".
"That also applies when the victim is famous," he said.
The focus has now diverted to the circumstances of Schumacher's fall on an off-piste section in between two slopes at the Meribel resort, which French investigators are probing to try and determine responsibility for the accident.
They are looking at the speed at which he was going at the time of the accident and early Wednesday are to brief the media on their findings so far.
Schumacher was wearing a camera strapped to his ski helmet when he fell, and a source close to the probe said Tuesday that footage from the device could be intact and valuable to the inquiry.
It had been unclear until now whether the camera was working at the time of the accident, or whether the footage would be clear enough to use. It could be vital in helping investigators determine the speed.
"It's an important document," said the source, who wished to remain anonymous.
Prosecutors are also looking at whether the limits of the ski runs next to the accident site were correctly marked and whether the rock in question was lying close enough to the piste to require some kind of protection or signage.
They are also examining whether the safety releases on Schumacher's skis operated properly.
A German flight steward had also told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine that he had inadvertently filmed Schumacher at the time of the accident and that the racing champion had been going at a maximum speed of about 20 kilometres (12 miles) per hour.
He had told the magazine he would hand over the footage to French police, which he has not done so far, the source said.
Schumacher dominated Formula One before retiring in 2012, winning more titles than any other driver and enjoying 91 Grand Prix victories between 1994 and 2004.
Leave my family alone, Schumacher's wife entreats media | Entertainment , Celebrities | THE DAILY STAR
Scores of reporters, television crews and photographers have descended on the hospital in the French city of Grenoble where the Formula One legend is in stable but critical condition following his December 29 accident.
Last week, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm deplored tactics used by some journalists to try and catch a glimpse of the seven-time world champion in his room, reporting that one had even dressed up as a priest to try and get in.
"Please support our shared fight with Michael. It is important to me that you take the pressure off the doctors and the hospital so they can do their work," Corinna Schumacher said in a statement addressed "to the media".
"Please have faith in their statements and leave the hospital. Please also leave our family in peace," she said.
News that Schumacher was in a coma after falling and slamming his head on a rock while skiing sent shockwaves round the sporting world, with journalists waiting anxiously to relay any update on his condition.
Following a flurry of speculation about his health, doctors looking after the 45-year-old said they would give no details of the treatment he is receiving in order to protect his right to privacy.
The German Federation of Journalists on Tuesday urged reporters to use restraint while covering the German former racer's plight.
Federation chairman Michael Konken noted that the German journalists' code of conduct requires "respect for the suffering of victims and the feelings of loved ones".
"That also applies when the victim is famous," he said.
The focus has now diverted to the circumstances of Schumacher's fall on an off-piste section in between two slopes at the Meribel resort, which French investigators are probing to try and determine responsibility for the accident.
They are looking at the speed at which he was going at the time of the accident and early Wednesday are to brief the media on their findings so far.
Schumacher was wearing a camera strapped to his ski helmet when he fell, and a source close to the probe said Tuesday that footage from the device could be intact and valuable to the inquiry.
It had been unclear until now whether the camera was working at the time of the accident, or whether the footage would be clear enough to use. It could be vital in helping investigators determine the speed.
"It's an important document," said the source, who wished to remain anonymous.
Prosecutors are also looking at whether the limits of the ski runs next to the accident site were correctly marked and whether the rock in question was lying close enough to the piste to require some kind of protection or signage.
They are also examining whether the safety releases on Schumacher's skis operated properly.
A German flight steward had also told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine that he had inadvertently filmed Schumacher at the time of the accident and that the racing champion had been going at a maximum speed of about 20 kilometres (12 miles) per hour.
He had told the magazine he would hand over the footage to French police, which he has not done so far, the source said.
Schumacher dominated Formula One before retiring in 2012, winning more titles than any other driver and enjoying 91 Grand Prix victories between 1994 and 2004.
Leave my family alone, Schumacher's wife entreats media | Entertainment , Celebrities | THE DAILY STAR
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2006/12/07
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The Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA and the New Jersey Devils of the NHL have become the first major U.S.-based professional teams to sign a sponsorship deal with an online gambling company.
Scott O'Neil, the chief executive of the Josh Harris-owned teams, and Norbert Teufelberger, the chief executive of bwin.party digital entertainment that operates partypoker, confirmed the multiyear agreement in a statement Wednesday night.
A news conference was scheduled for Thursday at the Prudential Center to formally announce the deal.
Bloomberg was first to report the deal.
New Jersey authorized Internet gambling last year to give a boost to Atlantic City's struggling casino industry, which has been beset by increasing competition for the past seven years. It began with a five-day trial period on Nov. 21 and launched publicly on Nov. 25.
As of Monday, 148,487 accounts had been created, though the state's Gaming Enforcement Division notes that individuals often create separate accounts on more than one site.
"We are proud to welcome partypoker to our family as we embark on an exciting journey with an innovative, global leader in the digital marketplace," O'Neil said. "As an organization, we will continue to align with brands that aspire to grow with us, in true partnership."
Teufelberger said his company was excited to offer Devils and Sixers' fans great digital content and unique game-day experiences.
"They are two of the most iconic names in American hockey and basketball with huge and loyal fan bases throughout New Jersey and the surrounding metropolitan areas," Teufelberger said. "There is an affinity between playing in online poker tournaments and sports -- winning is about having intense focus, stamina and a great competitive spirit."
Neither the NHL nor the NBA had a problem with the teams having a sponsorship agreement with an online gambling company.
"As long as the gambling site doesn't include sports gambling or sports betting, it's now allowed within our rules," NBA vice president Mark Tatum said in a statement sent by the league to The Associated Press.
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 remains to be seen if the $200 million to $300 million that Wall Street analysts predict Internet gambling may bring in over its first year will be new business, or whether it will simply cannibalize walk-in business at the brick-and-mortar casinos.
Harris and business partner David Blitzer bought the Devils and the lease to the Prudential Center from Jeff Vanderbeek for $320 million this summer.
A New York-based leveraged buyout specialist, Harris bought the Sixers from Comcast-Spectacor in 2011. Blitzer, a senior managing director of The Blackstone Group, was also in that group along with Art Wrubel and Jason Levien.
Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils sign online gaming sponsorship deal - ESPN
Scott O'Neil, the chief executive of the Josh Harris-owned teams, and Norbert Teufelberger, the chief executive of bwin.party digital entertainment that operates partypoker, confirmed the multiyear agreement in a statement Wednesday night.
A news conference was scheduled for Thursday at the Prudential Center to formally announce the deal.
Bloomberg was first to report the deal.
New Jersey authorized Internet gambling last year to give a boost to Atlantic City's struggling casino industry, which has been beset by increasing competition for the past seven years. It began with a five-day trial period on Nov. 21 and launched publicly on Nov. 25.
As of Monday, 148,487 accounts had been created, though the state's Gaming Enforcement Division notes that individuals often create separate accounts on more than one site.
"We are proud to welcome partypoker to our family as we embark on an exciting journey with an innovative, global leader in the digital marketplace," O'Neil said. "As an organization, we will continue to align with brands that aspire to grow with us, in true partnership."
Teufelberger said his company was excited to offer Devils and Sixers' fans great digital content and unique game-day experiences.
"They are two of the most iconic names in American hockey and basketball with huge and loyal fan bases throughout New Jersey and the surrounding metropolitan areas," Teufelberger said. "There is an affinity between playing in online poker tournaments and sports -- winning is about having intense focus, stamina and a great competitive spirit."
Neither the NHL nor the NBA had a problem with the teams having a sponsorship agreement with an online gambling company.
"As long as the gambling site doesn't include sports gambling or sports betting, it's now allowed within our rules," NBA vice president Mark Tatum said in a statement sent by the league to The Associated Press.
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 remains to be seen if the $200 million to $300 million that Wall Street analysts predict Internet gambling may bring in over its first year will be new business, or whether it will simply cannibalize walk-in business at the brick-and-mortar casinos.
Harris and business partner David Blitzer bought the Devils and the lease to the Prudential Center from Jeff Vanderbeek for $320 million this summer.
A New York-based leveraged buyout specialist, Harris bought the Sixers from Comcast-Spectacor in 2011. Blitzer, a senior managing director of The Blackstone Group, was also in that group along with Art Wrubel and Jason Levien.
Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils sign online gaming sponsorship deal - ESPN
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2006/12/07
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29893
Two Chinese hackers, previously imprisoned for creating the notorious computer virus "joss-stick burning panda", were sentenced to jail terms on Wednesday for running online gambling games.
Zhang Shun and Li Jun were sentenced to five and three years as well as fined 200,000 and 80,000 yuan (about 33,060 and 13,224 U.S. dollars) respectively, according to Liandu District People's Court of Lishui City in east China's Zhejiang Province.
They were guilty of running a gambling operation.
The two criminals were creators of "joss-stick burning panda" that damaged millions of computers in 2006 and 2007. They were imprisoned for two and three years for their crimes in 2007.
After their release, they ran an online gaming company, which operated several card games that allowed players to gamble using virtual chips.
Twenty-four others were also punished in court for their part in the gambling company.
A large number of people people played the games and a total of 76 million yuan was staked. The company raked in lots of money by selling the chips.
Li came to public attention in 2010 when he made a cash donation to a research base for giant pandas as an act of remorse for making the virus, which he named after the endangered animals.
The virus, which changed icons on desktops into cartoon pandas holding three burning joss-sticks wreaked havoc by deleting files, damaging programs and stealing information from gaming and messenger accounts.
Panda hackers return to jail for online gambling - Xinhua | English.news.cn
Zhang Shun and Li Jun were sentenced to five and three years as well as fined 200,000 and 80,000 yuan (about 33,060 and 13,224 U.S. dollars) respectively, according to Liandu District People's Court of Lishui City in east China's Zhejiang Province.
They were guilty of running a gambling operation.
The two criminals were creators of "joss-stick burning panda" that damaged millions of computers in 2006 and 2007. They were imprisoned for two and three years for their crimes in 2007.
After their release, they ran an online gaming company, which operated several card games that allowed players to gamble using virtual chips.
Twenty-four others were also punished in court for their part in the gambling company.
A large number of people people played the games and a total of 76 million yuan was staked. The company raked in lots of money by selling the chips.
Li came to public attention in 2010 when he made a cash donation to a research base for giant pandas as an act of remorse for making the virus, which he named after the endangered animals.
The virus, which changed icons on desktops into cartoon pandas holding three burning joss-sticks wreaked havoc by deleting files, damaging programs and stealing information from gaming and messenger accounts.
Panda hackers return to jail for online gambling - Xinhua | English.news.cn
Join:
2006/12/07
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29893
Some people may derisively refer to New Jersey as the “Armpit of America,” but right now it’s the heart of American online gambling. The numbers for New Jersey’s online gambling sites still continue to climb at a rapid pace, with both overall participation and poker play heading upwards as we move into the new year.
Accounting Soars
Let’s start with a look at the overall numbers. According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, 22,256 new accounts were created in the week ending on January 5. That’s enough to bring the state up to 148,487 total online gambling accounts. And that means that 15 percent of all accounts on the state’s many gambling sites were created in just the last week – the second best week for the sites since they opened in late November.
The big spike in account creation has helped ease fears that interest in the New Jersey online gambling market might fade after an early surge of interest. Of course, the number of accounts created will eventually slow down – there are only so many potential gamblers out there – but New Jersey officials must be happy to see that this isn’t happening quite yet.
Holiday and Bad Weather to Thank
There are a few explanations for the sudden rise in interest that occurred this week. The New Year’s holiday in the middle of the week certainly helped: while Christmas is a time where many people are with their families and wouldn’t be able to play online casino games (at least not without getting in a lot of trouble with their folks), New Year’s Day may have been a more relaxed day off for many potential gamblers. There was also a large winter snow storm that kept many people at home between New Year’s Day and the ensuing weekend, a reality that may have left some people snowed in and bored – spurring them to turn to online gambling for some entertainment.
Along with a surge in account numbers came increased interest in online poker. For the first time since regulated online gambling started in the state, New Jersey’s online poker sites passed a new milestone, with an average more than 500 cash game players simultaneously logged into the sites at once. That number continued to rise throughout the week, with the seven-day rolling average moving to more than 550 players for the New Jersey market by Sunday, January 5.
While the numbers are up across the board, the distribution of players has remained roughly the same. The PartyPoker/Borgata poker sites account for about half of the traffic, averaging about 280 players at any given time (with a peak of over 640 cash game players). That’s enough to make them one of the 30 biggest online poker entities in the world – impressive for a site located in just one state.
Behind them is the Caesars World Series of Poker site, which is averaging 170 players at their cash game tables, good for about 30 percent of the market. Also notable is the All American Poker Network (operated by 888 Poker, along with Caesars), which is averaging 110 players (about 20 percent of the market).
Ultimate Poker – the Stations Casino-owned site which has been successful in Nevada – is struggling in New Jersey; with an average of just 20 cash game players on the site at any time, they’ll need to bump up their game to stay alive in the Garden State market that offers way more online options than the Silver State yet does.
Read more: New Jersey Online Gambling Keeps Moving On Up
Accounting Soars
Let’s start with a look at the overall numbers. According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, 22,256 new accounts were created in the week ending on January 5. That’s enough to bring the state up to 148,487 total online gambling accounts. And that means that 15 percent of all accounts on the state’s many gambling sites were created in just the last week – the second best week for the sites since they opened in late November.
The big spike in account creation has helped ease fears that interest in the New Jersey online gambling market might fade after an early surge of interest. Of course, the number of accounts created will eventually slow down – there are only so many potential gamblers out there – but New Jersey officials must be happy to see that this isn’t happening quite yet.
Holiday and Bad Weather to Thank
There are a few explanations for the sudden rise in interest that occurred this week. The New Year’s holiday in the middle of the week certainly helped: while Christmas is a time where many people are with their families and wouldn’t be able to play online casino games (at least not without getting in a lot of trouble with their folks), New Year’s Day may have been a more relaxed day off for many potential gamblers. There was also a large winter snow storm that kept many people at home between New Year’s Day and the ensuing weekend, a reality that may have left some people snowed in and bored – spurring them to turn to online gambling for some entertainment.
Along with a surge in account numbers came increased interest in online poker. For the first time since regulated online gambling started in the state, New Jersey’s online poker sites passed a new milestone, with an average more than 500 cash game players simultaneously logged into the sites at once. That number continued to rise throughout the week, with the seven-day rolling average moving to more than 550 players for the New Jersey market by Sunday, January 5.
While the numbers are up across the board, the distribution of players has remained roughly the same. The PartyPoker/Borgata poker sites account for about half of the traffic, averaging about 280 players at any given time (with a peak of over 640 cash game players). That’s enough to make them one of the 30 biggest online poker entities in the world – impressive for a site located in just one state.
Behind them is the Caesars World Series of Poker site, which is averaging 170 players at their cash game tables, good for about 30 percent of the market. Also notable is the All American Poker Network (operated by 888 Poker, along with Caesars), which is averaging 110 players (about 20 percent of the market).
Ultimate Poker – the Stations Casino-owned site which has been successful in Nevada – is struggling in New Jersey; with an average of just 20 cash game players on the site at any time, they’ll need to bump up their game to stay alive in the Garden State market that offers way more online options than the Silver State yet does.
Read more: New Jersey Online Gambling Keeps Moving On Up
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2006/12/07
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29893
Singer Peter Andre has welcomed his third child -- he confirmed that his girlfriend Emily MacDonagh has given birth to a "beautiful baby girl".
The "Mysterious girl" singer took to his Peter Andre Channel to announce the news officially Wednesday morning, reports dailymail.co.uk.
"Now that I have had the opportunity to tell Junior and Pringles, we are very happy to announce the safe arrival of our beautiful baby girl. We are extremely thrilled and mum and bubba are doing fine," he posted on his official website.
The 40-year-old already has two children -- Junior, eight, and Princess Tiaamii, six -- with his ex-wife Katie Price.
The "Mysterious girl" singer took to his Peter Andre Channel to announce the news officially Wednesday morning, reports dailymail.co.uk.
"Now that I have had the opportunity to tell Junior and Pringles, we are very happy to announce the safe arrival of our beautiful baby girl. We are extremely thrilled and mum and bubba are doing fine," he posted on his official website.
The 40-year-old already has two children -- Junior, eight, and Princess Tiaamii, six -- with his ex-wife Katie Price.
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2006/12/07
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29893
With a new Internet gambling push in the Colorado legislature expected this month — on the heels of a growing national debate over whether to restore the long-standing federal ban — there are serious social, economic and policy ramifications that ought to be considered.
Colorado has a robust land-based casino jobs market. According to Colorado Gaming, "The casino gaming industry provides over 27,000 direct and indirect jobs to Colorado citizens, and annual employment surveys continue to reflect that the casino industry consistently pays higher wages than similar jobs in the metro-Denver or Colorado Springs areas."
Now, consider the devastating jobs impact on Colorado's land-based casinos, especially its struggling casinos in Central City and Cripple Creek. These well-paying jobs will be threatened if Internet gambling is allowed to expand in Colorado and around the country.
Although Colorado's Attorney General John Suthers has said that legalizing Internet gambling will require a constitutional amendment, published reports suggest there will be a strong push to pass a bill this session. And the momentum for Internet gambling around the country is growing, with Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey authorizing it, and other states giving it a serious look. Colorado must not follow suit.
Internet gambling affects more than jobs. The poor and other vulnerable populations are at greater risk with easy access to online gambling sites. There is a big difference between having to go to a casino and having a casino come to you.
Americans know that betting on an iPhone or a computer is fundamentally different, and much more dangerous, than going to a casino, where trained staff can prevent kids from playing and identify people with a gaming problem. It is impossible to implement a responsible gaming protocol in an Internet gambling environment.
American law enforcement — including the FBI — believes it poses a threat, too. According to the FBI's Cyber Crimes Division, Internet gambling could be used for fraud and money laundering, and that geo-location technologies can be defeated.
Moreover, the FBI has warned that the technology to prevent minors from accessing Internet gambling is easily defeated.
While it's dressed up as fun and easy — full of color and action — Internet gambling ends up destroying lives, and our most vulnerable citizens become ensnared. It presents a nightmare scenario for parents already fending off graphic materials, predators roaming the Internet, and other illegal or inappropriate content.
In addition to some of its fatal flaws, we know from polling that the vast majority of Americans don't want Internet gaming. They know instinctively that Internet gambling is different.
So, why then are we facing the spread of Internet gambling? At the center of the debate over Internet gambling is a radical new interpretation of the long-standing Wire Act. Since 2006, there has been a federal ban on Internet gambling that drew bipartisan support, including 49 of the 50 state attorneys general.
However, on Dec. 23, 2011, the Justice Department — with no public input or congressional involvement — reversed its long-held position that the Wire Act bars Internet gambling, opening the door for states to authorize non-sports wagering over the Internet.
Congress needs to act now to restore the long-standing interpretation of the Wire Act, and put up a firewall to guard against the offshore illegal Internet casinos that are up and running already. Law enforcement lacks the tools to crack down on these rogue operators, often controlled by criminal enterprises. Given this momentum, we must act now. Otherwise, Internet gambling will be unleashed nationwide.
Read more: Webb: Internet gambling will kill jobs in Colorado - The Denver Post Webb: Internet gambling will kill jobs in Colorado - The Denver Post
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: Terms of Use - The Denver Post
Follow us: @Denverpost on Twitter | Denverpost on Facebook
Colorado has a robust land-based casino jobs market. According to Colorado Gaming, "The casino gaming industry provides over 27,000 direct and indirect jobs to Colorado citizens, and annual employment surveys continue to reflect that the casino industry consistently pays higher wages than similar jobs in the metro-Denver or Colorado Springs areas."
Now, consider the devastating jobs impact on Colorado's land-based casinos, especially its struggling casinos in Central City and Cripple Creek. These well-paying jobs will be threatened if Internet gambling is allowed to expand in Colorado and around the country.
Although Colorado's Attorney General John Suthers has said that legalizing Internet gambling will require a constitutional amendment, published reports suggest there will be a strong push to pass a bill this session. And the momentum for Internet gambling around the country is growing, with Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey authorizing it, and other states giving it a serious look. Colorado must not follow suit.
Internet gambling affects more than jobs. The poor and other vulnerable populations are at greater risk with easy access to online gambling sites. There is a big difference between having to go to a casino and having a casino come to you.
Americans know that betting on an iPhone or a computer is fundamentally different, and much more dangerous, than going to a casino, where trained staff can prevent kids from playing and identify people with a gaming problem. It is impossible to implement a responsible gaming protocol in an Internet gambling environment.
American law enforcement — including the FBI — believes it poses a threat, too. According to the FBI's Cyber Crimes Division, Internet gambling could be used for fraud and money laundering, and that geo-location technologies can be defeated.
Moreover, the FBI has warned that the technology to prevent minors from accessing Internet gambling is easily defeated.
While it's dressed up as fun and easy — full of color and action — Internet gambling ends up destroying lives, and our most vulnerable citizens become ensnared. It presents a nightmare scenario for parents already fending off graphic materials, predators roaming the Internet, and other illegal or inappropriate content.
In addition to some of its fatal flaws, we know from polling that the vast majority of Americans don't want Internet gaming. They know instinctively that Internet gambling is different.
So, why then are we facing the spread of Internet gambling? At the center of the debate over Internet gambling is a radical new interpretation of the long-standing Wire Act. Since 2006, there has been a federal ban on Internet gambling that drew bipartisan support, including 49 of the 50 state attorneys general.
However, on Dec. 23, 2011, the Justice Department — with no public input or congressional involvement — reversed its long-held position that the Wire Act bars Internet gambling, opening the door for states to authorize non-sports wagering over the Internet.
Congress needs to act now to restore the long-standing interpretation of the Wire Act, and put up a firewall to guard against the offshore illegal Internet casinos that are up and running already. Law enforcement lacks the tools to crack down on these rogue operators, often controlled by criminal enterprises. Given this momentum, we must act now. Otherwise, Internet gambling will be unleashed nationwide.
Read more: Webb: Internet gambling will kill jobs in Colorado - The Denver Post Webb: Internet gambling will kill jobs in Colorado - The Denver Post
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: Terms of Use - The Denver Post
Follow us: @Denverpost on Twitter | Denverpost on Facebook
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2006/12/07
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New Jersey has been the third state to have online gambling since November, and the Devils want a piece of the action.
Not involving professional sports betting, of course. The Devils are going to co-sponsor a deal with a website that has been approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
An Associated Press story on ESPN reports that the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA have signed a sponsorship agreement with online company partypoker-com. The franchises were the first two U.S. professional sports teams to sign such an agreement.
Bloomberg-com reports that the $10 million deal includes creation of social media and digital and mobile assets, along with in-arena advertising and television spots. Norbert Teufelberger, head of Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment said, “These are two of the most iconic names in American hockey and basketball with huge and loyal fan bases throughout New Jersey and the surrounding metropolitan areas.”
According to philly-com, there would be an "arena takeover" on Saturday at the Prudential Center, when the Devils play the Florida Panthers. The evening will feature advertising and promotions, and fans will be able to sign up, receive special offers, and sample partypoker-com at stations throughout the arena.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the Devils kept the league informed about negotiations with partypoker-com. The Devils have worked with us to ensure that all elements of the sponsorship are consistent with league policies in this area,” Daly said, according to NJ-com.” We have no concerns with the relationship in question."
Players are said to have the right to gamble legally, just not on their own games.
One of the owners of the New Jersey Devils is billionaire Joshua Harris, a co-founder of private equity firm Apollo Global Management L.L.C. According to philly-com, Apollo owns Caesars Entertainment Corp., the owner of a number of casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other states.
N.J. Devils Get Into Online Gambling | newjerseynewsroom-com
Not involving professional sports betting, of course. The Devils are going to co-sponsor a deal with a website that has been approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
An Associated Press story on ESPN reports that the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA have signed a sponsorship agreement with online company partypoker-com. The franchises were the first two U.S. professional sports teams to sign such an agreement.
Bloomberg-com reports that the $10 million deal includes creation of social media and digital and mobile assets, along with in-arena advertising and television spots. Norbert Teufelberger, head of Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment said, “These are two of the most iconic names in American hockey and basketball with huge and loyal fan bases throughout New Jersey and the surrounding metropolitan areas.”
According to philly-com, there would be an "arena takeover" on Saturday at the Prudential Center, when the Devils play the Florida Panthers. The evening will feature advertising and promotions, and fans will be able to sign up, receive special offers, and sample partypoker-com at stations throughout the arena.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the Devils kept the league informed about negotiations with partypoker-com. The Devils have worked with us to ensure that all elements of the sponsorship are consistent with league policies in this area,” Daly said, according to NJ-com.” We have no concerns with the relationship in question."
Players are said to have the right to gamble legally, just not on their own games.
One of the owners of the New Jersey Devils is billionaire Joshua Harris, a co-founder of private equity firm Apollo Global Management L.L.C. According to philly-com, Apollo owns Caesars Entertainment Corp., the owner of a number of casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and other states.
N.J. Devils Get Into Online Gambling | newjerseynewsroom-com
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2006/12/07
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Matthew Macfadyen is perfectly presentable in jeans and a crewneck sweater that co-ordinates nicely with the blue of his eyes.
But the look is far from the elegant attire he wore as Mr Darcy opposite Keira Knightley's Elizabeth in the 2005 film Pride & Prejudice. And his posture is just as casual, which he acknowledges might offend the aristocratic character's diehard fans.
"You're slouching! What are you doing? Stand up straight, man!" Macfadyen says, teasing himself.
He looks back fondly on what he calls the "iconic" role drawn from Jane Austen's novel. But the British actor, who's also known to audiences for his part as an intelligence officer in the series Spooks - and in New Zealand for his role in the movie In My Father's Den - welcomes the chance to switch gears.
"I, as most actors, want to mix it up and do different things. Otherwise it gets boring and tiresome, not only for yourself but for everyone else seeing you do the same kind of thing," he says.
"The joy of being an actor is to play different parts, do something different."
Macfadyen's latest chance for diversity comes in Ripper Street, an 1880s police drama set on the gritty and untamed streets of London's East End around the period that serial killer Jack the Ripper terrorised the area.
The mysterious and brutal Jack the Ripper has been recycled throughout pop culture in films including 1979's Time After Time and 2001's From Hell with Johnny Depp. But series creator Richard Warlow says the killer is a backdrop and invisible character for Ripper Street.
"What we wanted to do really was to tell stories about the streets down which he walked and committed his crimes in the wake of those terrible murders," Warlow says, "and how it affected the community and, most importantly, the police that tried and failed to catch him."
Each episode will include what he calls a "stand-alone crime" as well as pull at the thread of Detective Inspector Edmund Reid's (Macfadyen) life, including those surrounding him at work and at home.
Macfadyen says he was reluctant to take on another series after two-plus seasons on MI-5 because of TV's demanding production schedules. Then the Ripper Street pilot script came his way last year.
"I thought the Jack the Ripper thing had been done before ... but I loved it. The thing that was most attractive was the language and the way he [Warlow] constructs the sentences ... they feel very muscular without feeling sort of wanky and silly. ..."
There is an antiquated eloquence to the dialogue that contrasts with the drama's mean streets and violent sexuality of the first case tackled by Reid and his cohorts, Sergeant Bennet Drake (Jerome Flynn, Game of Thrones) and American forensics whiz Captain Homer Jackson (Adam Rothenberg, The Ex List).
Macfadyen says he was drawn to his character's modern sensibility.
Reid isn't "a sort of stock detective character. He's a very free thinking, forward-looking kind of man, not a sort of jaded 'seen it all' copper. So I was intrigued by that," he said.
The detective's viewpoint is so expansive that he can't resist admiring the potential of an early version of a motion picture camera even when he's just thwarted its use in making a 19th-century snuff film.
The scene had slipped Macfadyen's mind when he watched the episode at home in London and his wife, actress Keeley Hawes (Upstairs Downstairs), suddenly took alarmed note of what was unfolding on the screen.
"My 12-year-old stepson was watching and we said, 'Okay, bedtime!" says Macfadyen, who has two children with Hawes.
But he considers the show "punchy and brave" for a mature audience and would like to see it go at least another season, in part for selfish reasons. "Jerome, Adam and I get on so well, very happily. I know actors always say they love each other," he says, then smiles. "That's not always the case."
In the shadows of a serial killer - Entertainment - NZ Herald News
But the look is far from the elegant attire he wore as Mr Darcy opposite Keira Knightley's Elizabeth in the 2005 film Pride & Prejudice. And his posture is just as casual, which he acknowledges might offend the aristocratic character's diehard fans.
"You're slouching! What are you doing? Stand up straight, man!" Macfadyen says, teasing himself.
He looks back fondly on what he calls the "iconic" role drawn from Jane Austen's novel. But the British actor, who's also known to audiences for his part as an intelligence officer in the series Spooks - and in New Zealand for his role in the movie In My Father's Den - welcomes the chance to switch gears.
"I, as most actors, want to mix it up and do different things. Otherwise it gets boring and tiresome, not only for yourself but for everyone else seeing you do the same kind of thing," he says.
"The joy of being an actor is to play different parts, do something different."
Macfadyen's latest chance for diversity comes in Ripper Street, an 1880s police drama set on the gritty and untamed streets of London's East End around the period that serial killer Jack the Ripper terrorised the area.
The mysterious and brutal Jack the Ripper has been recycled throughout pop culture in films including 1979's Time After Time and 2001's From Hell with Johnny Depp. But series creator Richard Warlow says the killer is a backdrop and invisible character for Ripper Street.
"What we wanted to do really was to tell stories about the streets down which he walked and committed his crimes in the wake of those terrible murders," Warlow says, "and how it affected the community and, most importantly, the police that tried and failed to catch him."
Each episode will include what he calls a "stand-alone crime" as well as pull at the thread of Detective Inspector Edmund Reid's (Macfadyen) life, including those surrounding him at work and at home.
Macfadyen says he was reluctant to take on another series after two-plus seasons on MI-5 because of TV's demanding production schedules. Then the Ripper Street pilot script came his way last year.
"I thought the Jack the Ripper thing had been done before ... but I loved it. The thing that was most attractive was the language and the way he [Warlow] constructs the sentences ... they feel very muscular without feeling sort of wanky and silly. ..."
There is an antiquated eloquence to the dialogue that contrasts with the drama's mean streets and violent sexuality of the first case tackled by Reid and his cohorts, Sergeant Bennet Drake (Jerome Flynn, Game of Thrones) and American forensics whiz Captain Homer Jackson (Adam Rothenberg, The Ex List).
Macfadyen says he was drawn to his character's modern sensibility.
Reid isn't "a sort of stock detective character. He's a very free thinking, forward-looking kind of man, not a sort of jaded 'seen it all' copper. So I was intrigued by that," he said.
The detective's viewpoint is so expansive that he can't resist admiring the potential of an early version of a motion picture camera even when he's just thwarted its use in making a 19th-century snuff film.
The scene had slipped Macfadyen's mind when he watched the episode at home in London and his wife, actress Keeley Hawes (Upstairs Downstairs), suddenly took alarmed note of what was unfolding on the screen.
"My 12-year-old stepson was watching and we said, 'Okay, bedtime!" says Macfadyen, who has two children with Hawes.
But he considers the show "punchy and brave" for a mature audience and would like to see it go at least another season, in part for selfish reasons. "Jerome, Adam and I get on so well, very happily. I know actors always say they love each other," he says, then smiles. "That's not always the case."
In the shadows of a serial killer - Entertainment - NZ Herald News
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A coalition of gambling opponents Thursday called on state lawmakers to pass a bill blocking the Minnesota Lottery from launching an online scratch game, or electronic instant ticket.
"We're going to be able to go online and instantly be able to play a game of chance with instant scratch-offs, so they're progressing very rapidly at the Lottery," Jake Grassel of Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, or CAGE, told reporters at the State Capitol.
The paper version the scratch-off games have been part of the lotto landscape in Minnesota since April of 1990, when the first tickets were sold in the state. But the idea of letting people scratch away with a computer mouse in the virtual world, spending real money, is catching heat from organizations who've always been against state sponsored wagering.
"Where do 18 to 24 year olds live? They live online," Brian Rusche of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition said.
"So they're moving aggressively to promote and expand online lottery sales."
Rusche's group typically supports Democratic legislation designed to enhance the lives of lower income Minnesotans, such as public assistance and health care programs.
But Rusche said he was happy to share the stage Thursday with people from groups that typically back Republican legislation, such as the Minnesota Taxpayers League, the Freedom Foundation, and the Minnesota Family Council.
"Just because a website says something's a ticket doesn't make it a ticket.You're buying a chance electronically."
The lottery's existing online subscription site simply allows subscribers to buy tickets to lottery games such as PowerBall, MegaMillions and Gopher 5. Winnings are added automatically to an electronic wallet, and losses are taken from them.
Opponents content that, with the new electronic instant tickets, the state lottery is crossing into a new style of more addictive gaming.
"The lottery shouldn't be allowed to target our young people in this way," Autumn Leva of the Minn. Family Council remarked.
"And they shouldn't be allowed to do so without seeking legislative approval first."
Lottery Director Ed Van Petten pointed out that losses on the subscription website are limited to $50 per week, and that rule will remain intact when the new scratch games launch. He said safeguards are in place to ensure that underage players can't bluff their way into opening an account, and that users are playing inside the state.
Van Petten predicts most players will still prefer the traditional paper version of scratch-off games, noting that the existing subscription site has only generated $3 million since it began in 2010. The lottery as a whole typically tops $500 million in sales per year.
Van Petten said that's attributable to the fact that Internet gaming "doesn't come with the things that make gaming fun, like social interaction."
Even if a majority of lawmakers are inclined to rein in online scratch-off games, that action will mostly likely come after the fact. The 2014 session begins Feb. 25, and the lottery expects to institute the electronic instant tickets at some point before then.
"We're perfectly confident that this is authorized under the lottery act. It's very clear that it is," Van Petten asserted, saying that the lottery's attorneys as well as vendors who sell the games have submitted legal opinions backing the move.
But critics say when Minnesotans authorized the lottery in 1988, by voting to amend the state constitution, they never envisioned a world where one's own computer could become a lottery terminal.
"We don't believe that when the Internet was just a glimmer in Al Gore's eyes they had any idea that this is what would come about in the state of Minnesota," Annette Meeks of the Freedom Foundation told reporters.
Gambling opponents target online scratch game plan
"We're going to be able to go online and instantly be able to play a game of chance with instant scratch-offs, so they're progressing very rapidly at the Lottery," Jake Grassel of Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, or CAGE, told reporters at the State Capitol.
The paper version the scratch-off games have been part of the lotto landscape in Minnesota since April of 1990, when the first tickets were sold in the state. But the idea of letting people scratch away with a computer mouse in the virtual world, spending real money, is catching heat from organizations who've always been against state sponsored wagering.
"Where do 18 to 24 year olds live? They live online," Brian Rusche of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition said.
"So they're moving aggressively to promote and expand online lottery sales."
Rusche's group typically supports Democratic legislation designed to enhance the lives of lower income Minnesotans, such as public assistance and health care programs.
But Rusche said he was happy to share the stage Thursday with people from groups that typically back Republican legislation, such as the Minnesota Taxpayers League, the Freedom Foundation, and the Minnesota Family Council.
"Just because a website says something's a ticket doesn't make it a ticket.You're buying a chance electronically."
The lottery's existing online subscription site simply allows subscribers to buy tickets to lottery games such as PowerBall, MegaMillions and Gopher 5. Winnings are added automatically to an electronic wallet, and losses are taken from them.
Opponents content that, with the new electronic instant tickets, the state lottery is crossing into a new style of more addictive gaming.
"The lottery shouldn't be allowed to target our young people in this way," Autumn Leva of the Minn. Family Council remarked.
"And they shouldn't be allowed to do so without seeking legislative approval first."
Lottery Director Ed Van Petten pointed out that losses on the subscription website are limited to $50 per week, and that rule will remain intact when the new scratch games launch. He said safeguards are in place to ensure that underage players can't bluff their way into opening an account, and that users are playing inside the state.
Van Petten predicts most players will still prefer the traditional paper version of scratch-off games, noting that the existing subscription site has only generated $3 million since it began in 2010. The lottery as a whole typically tops $500 million in sales per year.
Van Petten said that's attributable to the fact that Internet gaming "doesn't come with the things that make gaming fun, like social interaction."
Even if a majority of lawmakers are inclined to rein in online scratch-off games, that action will mostly likely come after the fact. The 2014 session begins Feb. 25, and the lottery expects to institute the electronic instant tickets at some point before then.
"We're perfectly confident that this is authorized under the lottery act. It's very clear that it is," Van Petten asserted, saying that the lottery's attorneys as well as vendors who sell the games have submitted legal opinions backing the move.
But critics say when Minnesotans authorized the lottery in 1988, by voting to amend the state constitution, they never envisioned a world where one's own computer could become a lottery terminal.
"We don't believe that when the Internet was just a glimmer in Al Gore's eyes they had any idea that this is what would come about in the state of Minnesota," Annette Meeks of the Freedom Foundation told reporters.
Gambling opponents target online scratch game plan
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The firms of hedge fund legends George Soros, John Paulson and Leon Cooperman have quietly turned into big shareholders of Caesars Acquisition Co., a spinoff from casino company Caesars Entertainment that has a stake in Caesars' Internet gambling operations.
The hedge funders are joined as shareholders of Caesars Acquisition by the firms of private equity titans Leon Black and David Bonderman, Forbes reports.
What's particularly noteworthy about the quintet's position is that it puts them in opposition to casino titan Sheldon Adelson, CEO of Las Vegas Sands, according to the magazine.
While the famous five are investing in online gambling, Adelson opposes it. He likely views it as a threat to his casinos. Adelson tells Forbes he will "spend whatever it takes" to halt online gambling in the United States.
And he has brought on political heavyweights such as former New York Gov. George Pataki to lead his lobbying push.
"There is no reason to put a casino on everybody's kitchen table, in the bed of every young person, whether they are underage or of age, or on mobile phones," Adelson explains. "I don't want people to get addicted."
The markets, however, seem to be betting against Adelson, as shares of Caesars Acquisition are up more than 30 percent from the offering price.
"What I have heard Adelson say is, 'I am very rich, and I don't like Internet gaming,' and those things are true," Mitch Garber, CEO of Caesars Acquisition, tells Forbes. But "Sheldon's eyes are closed to the fact that all goods and services are ultimately going to be purchased on the Internet."
Gambling stocks have performed well recently. The Market Vectors Gaming ETF, which contains major casinos such as Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts, soared 46 percent over the last year.
But that leaves the industry "too hot to handle," writes Money magazine's Susie Poppick.
"Stay away."
Soros, Paulson, Cooperman Bet on Online Gambling
The hedge funders are joined as shareholders of Caesars Acquisition by the firms of private equity titans Leon Black and David Bonderman, Forbes reports.
What's particularly noteworthy about the quintet's position is that it puts them in opposition to casino titan Sheldon Adelson, CEO of Las Vegas Sands, according to the magazine.
While the famous five are investing in online gambling, Adelson opposes it. He likely views it as a threat to his casinos. Adelson tells Forbes he will "spend whatever it takes" to halt online gambling in the United States.
And he has brought on political heavyweights such as former New York Gov. George Pataki to lead his lobbying push.
"There is no reason to put a casino on everybody's kitchen table, in the bed of every young person, whether they are underage or of age, or on mobile phones," Adelson explains. "I don't want people to get addicted."
The markets, however, seem to be betting against Adelson, as shares of Caesars Acquisition are up more than 30 percent from the offering price.
"What I have heard Adelson say is, 'I am very rich, and I don't like Internet gaming,' and those things are true," Mitch Garber, CEO of Caesars Acquisition, tells Forbes. But "Sheldon's eyes are closed to the fact that all goods and services are ultimately going to be purchased on the Internet."
Gambling stocks have performed well recently. The Market Vectors Gaming ETF, which contains major casinos such as Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts, soared 46 percent over the last year.
But that leaves the industry "too hot to handle," writes Money magazine's Susie Poppick.
"Stay away."
Soros, Paulson, Cooperman Bet on Online Gambling
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The United Kingdom was one of the first jurisdictions to regulate online gambling and it has been a roaring success for the most part. Now though there has been a great deal of debate in the parliament about the changes gambling has undergone over the past few years.
Much of the controversy has been focused on the introduction and proliferation of fixed odds betting terminals and their potentially damaging impact on economically struggling communities. Online and on land betting service providers have been ramping up their efforts to get more people punting. The push for online betting has seen the introduction of online bingo, sports, casino and poker offerings being advertized everywhere leading to more gambling in general.
Gambling policy is being reviewed in the U.K. led by Labour putting the pressure on the coalition to rethink the current state of affairs. The Gambling Commission used current gambling outlet data to estimate that there were over 33,000 fixed odds betting terminals in the UK in 2012, with an average weekly profit for the company of £825 which totals £1.42 billion. Statistics also reveal that online casinos are attracting as many punters as in those who attend casinos in person and virtual gaming machines in bookmaker’s outlets are also becoming increasingly popular.
The Gambling Commission’s latest figures show that 55% of the UK regularly gambles, this is down from 57% in 2012.
It has been suggested that the machines are taking advantage of the less fortunate demographic in society as well as the youth of the nation ages 18 to 24 that are now 5 percent more likely to gamble than last year. The use of the internet is more pronounced among the younger set possibly accounting for the increased participation in games of chance.
The government earns a great deal of money from these machines and gambling with earnings in 2012-13 amounting to £1.7 billion.
U.K. Government Online Gambling Review in the Cards
Much of the controversy has been focused on the introduction and proliferation of fixed odds betting terminals and their potentially damaging impact on economically struggling communities. Online and on land betting service providers have been ramping up their efforts to get more people punting. The push for online betting has seen the introduction of online bingo, sports, casino and poker offerings being advertized everywhere leading to more gambling in general.
Gambling policy is being reviewed in the U.K. led by Labour putting the pressure on the coalition to rethink the current state of affairs. The Gambling Commission used current gambling outlet data to estimate that there were over 33,000 fixed odds betting terminals in the UK in 2012, with an average weekly profit for the company of £825 which totals £1.42 billion. Statistics also reveal that online casinos are attracting as many punters as in those who attend casinos in person and virtual gaming machines in bookmaker’s outlets are also becoming increasingly popular.
The Gambling Commission’s latest figures show that 55% of the UK regularly gambles, this is down from 57% in 2012.
It has been suggested that the machines are taking advantage of the less fortunate demographic in society as well as the youth of the nation ages 18 to 24 that are now 5 percent more likely to gamble than last year. The use of the internet is more pronounced among the younger set possibly accounting for the increased participation in games of chance.
The government earns a great deal of money from these machines and gambling with earnings in 2012-13 amounting to £1.7 billion.
U.K. Government Online Gambling Review in the Cards
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Kanye West is installing a panic room in his Los Angeles mansion.
The Bound 2 hitmaker is renovating the $USD11 million ($NZD13million) Bel Air property which he will share with reality star Kim Kardashian and is keen to secure the safety of his finance and seven-month-old baby North.
According to The Sun newspaper, the room which provides safe shelter and a hiding place for the inhabitants comes equipped with monitors connected to cameras and a high-tech alarm system to notify police offers incase of an emergency.
The pair want to make their new home as comfortable as possible and have spared no expense.
Kim, 33, and Kanye, 36, reportedly spent $USD 1.154 million on six luxury beds after the famous couple enlisted the services of The Savoir Royal State Beds - the same company which supplies beds for the five-star, luxury hotel The Savoy in London.
The famous couple are also said to have splashed out $USD750,000 on four gold-plated toilets, want a Swarovski-encrusted fridge freezer and will have a cinema and full-size basketball court attached to their home.
Kanye West, Kim Kardashian install panic room - Entertainment News | TVNZ
The Bound 2 hitmaker is renovating the $USD11 million ($NZD13million) Bel Air property which he will share with reality star Kim Kardashian and is keen to secure the safety of his finance and seven-month-old baby North.
According to The Sun newspaper, the room which provides safe shelter and a hiding place for the inhabitants comes equipped with monitors connected to cameras and a high-tech alarm system to notify police offers incase of an emergency.
The pair want to make their new home as comfortable as possible and have spared no expense.
Kim, 33, and Kanye, 36, reportedly spent $USD 1.154 million on six luxury beds after the famous couple enlisted the services of The Savoir Royal State Beds - the same company which supplies beds for the five-star, luxury hotel The Savoy in London.
The famous couple are also said to have splashed out $USD750,000 on four gold-plated toilets, want a Swarovski-encrusted fridge freezer and will have a cinema and full-size basketball court attached to their home.
Kanye West, Kim Kardashian install panic room - Entertainment News | TVNZ
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A 62-year-old Boulder County man accused of running an online gambling website for at least three years has been arrested.
The Daily Camera reports Larry Kyle Richardson was arrested Friday after a grand jury indicted him on one charge of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act. He is suspected of running an online gambling website from Jan. 1, 2010, through Jan. 8, 2013, "in, or triable in, Boulder County."
District Attorney Stan Garnett says that while he can't talk about the case, for it to be "triable" in Boulder County it must have some connection to the district.
The indictment says the Colorado Bureau of Investigation found checks from suspected gamblers to Richardson in amounts ranging from $50 to $11,000. The checks collected by the CBI total almost $300,000.
Man accused of running online gambling website
The Daily Camera reports Larry Kyle Richardson was arrested Friday after a grand jury indicted him on one charge of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act. He is suspected of running an online gambling website from Jan. 1, 2010, through Jan. 8, 2013, "in, or triable in, Boulder County."
District Attorney Stan Garnett says that while he can't talk about the case, for it to be "triable" in Boulder County it must have some connection to the district.
The indictment says the Colorado Bureau of Investigation found checks from suspected gamblers to Richardson in amounts ranging from $50 to $11,000. The checks collected by the CBI total almost $300,000.
Man accused of running online gambling website
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2013 was an interesting year for the global online gambling industry what with the reintroduction of internet wagering in Delaware, internet poker in Nevada and the challenge the State of New Jersey has made federally to offer sports betting over the net.
While internet wagering has been around and regulated in the U.K. for some time the rest of Europe is slowly coming to grips with the number of monopolies some members of the Union still employ.
A lot of attention has been focused on mobile gambling and the payment processing involved. One big news item that seemed to get a lot of press was the decision by Moneybookers now renamed Skrill to remove its services from the Canadian gambling market.
While American betters were not allowed to transfer funds to offshore operators the Canadian punter has had the option of using credit cards for gambling transactions without issue. But by far the most popular method for Canadians was the use of Moneybookers as backed up by stats that revealed 1 in 5 deposits from Canadians was with Skrill. An email from Skrill shocked Canadian punters when they were told that as of January 2nd 2014 they would no longer be allowed to use the company to process gambling transactions. Canadians are still able to use Skrill for non-gambling related transactions.
It has been suggested that Skrill did this in order to comply with the contract they obtained in the State of New Jersey to process gambling transactions.
The clean slate aspect is the most plausible cause of the withdrawal as well as the potential that Skrill is in the running to offer its services in the new Ontario online gambling initiative soon to be launched. Whatever the reason there are still many payment options open to Canada’s gambling public such as Instadebit, WebMoney, UKash and Play Safe Card.
Still Many Online Gambling Payment Options In Canada
While internet wagering has been around and regulated in the U.K. for some time the rest of Europe is slowly coming to grips with the number of monopolies some members of the Union still employ.
A lot of attention has been focused on mobile gambling and the payment processing involved. One big news item that seemed to get a lot of press was the decision by Moneybookers now renamed Skrill to remove its services from the Canadian gambling market.
While American betters were not allowed to transfer funds to offshore operators the Canadian punter has had the option of using credit cards for gambling transactions without issue. But by far the most popular method for Canadians was the use of Moneybookers as backed up by stats that revealed 1 in 5 deposits from Canadians was with Skrill. An email from Skrill shocked Canadian punters when they were told that as of January 2nd 2014 they would no longer be allowed to use the company to process gambling transactions. Canadians are still able to use Skrill for non-gambling related transactions.
It has been suggested that Skrill did this in order to comply with the contract they obtained in the State of New Jersey to process gambling transactions.
The clean slate aspect is the most plausible cause of the withdrawal as well as the potential that Skrill is in the running to offer its services in the new Ontario online gambling initiative soon to be launched. Whatever the reason there are still many payment options open to Canada’s gambling public such as Instadebit, WebMoney, UKash and Play Safe Card.
Still Many Online Gambling Payment Options In Canada
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Cheryl Cole says she had the "ultimate fan girl moment" when Beyonce contacted her on Instagram.
The former Girls Aloud singer had shared a holiday video in which she danced to the star's hit Flawless and she was left starstruck when her hero commented saying "Yes Cheryl".
Cheryl's PA took to Twitter to write about her response, joking she "had to lie down" because of the excitement.
She wrote: "Holy s***😡 I've just experienced the ultimate fan girl reaction - SERIOUS STAN - she's dying right about now and has had to lie down."
The feel-good moments follows recent reports the brunette beauty had been rejected by a student she kissed on New Year's Eve, which he described as the "biggest mistake" of his life.
The former Girls Aloud singer had shared a holiday video in which she danced to the star's hit Flawless and she was left starstruck when her hero commented saying "Yes Cheryl".
Cheryl's PA took to Twitter to write about her response, joking she "had to lie down" because of the excitement.
She wrote: "Holy s***😡 I've just experienced the ultimate fan girl reaction - SERIOUS STAN - she's dying right about now and has had to lie down."
The feel-good moments follows recent reports the brunette beauty had been rejected by a student she kissed on New Year's Eve, which he described as the "biggest mistake" of his life.
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There are many things when gambling online that you don’t have to worry about when you’re in a brick and mortar casino. Things like the old rule ‘don’t wink at the dealer especially if the dealer is the same sex.’ There is humour in gambling if you can find it among all the doom and gloom associated with losses. It is always better to see the brighter side of life and as many people know one should never attempt to gamble and drink at the same time. Put the drink down first.
Of course everyone knows the rule, ‘know when it's time to go home - when you've won too much.’ Yes there are tons of funny ‘don’ts’ that you won’t have to be concerned with while playing online. There is no need to ask the Black Jack dealer if he knows any good card tricks and you don’t have use a Jamaican accent while playing Caribbean stud poker.
The biggest drawback having to go to a brick and mortar casino or bingo hall or bookie is the fact that you have to wear clothes and be able to walk and talk.
Online casinos are good to go on clothing optional bad hair or whatever other mood you may be experiencing at the time. It is good to keep these aspects of online gambling in perspective. By all means be yourself but remember just because you can carry on in private doesn’t mean you should be irresponsible and let yourself go.
So anyone is allowed while playing online to bring their silver dollar yo-yo near the virtual slot machines no harm done. You can even call for a ball measurement after losing at a roulette spin. Or you can stack your virtual slots coin tubs on top of the computer just to show off. You could with a little imagination, flip chips capriciously onto the virtual poker table from 5 feet away and say "let it ride."
Online Gambling Humour Still in the Mix
Of course everyone knows the rule, ‘know when it's time to go home - when you've won too much.’ Yes there are tons of funny ‘don’ts’ that you won’t have to be concerned with while playing online. There is no need to ask the Black Jack dealer if he knows any good card tricks and you don’t have use a Jamaican accent while playing Caribbean stud poker.
The biggest drawback having to go to a brick and mortar casino or bingo hall or bookie is the fact that you have to wear clothes and be able to walk and talk.
Online casinos are good to go on clothing optional bad hair or whatever other mood you may be experiencing at the time. It is good to keep these aspects of online gambling in perspective. By all means be yourself but remember just because you can carry on in private doesn’t mean you should be irresponsible and let yourself go.
So anyone is allowed while playing online to bring their silver dollar yo-yo near the virtual slot machines no harm done. You can even call for a ball measurement after losing at a roulette spin. Or you can stack your virtual slots coin tubs on top of the computer just to show off. You could with a little imagination, flip chips capriciously onto the virtual poker table from 5 feet away and say "let it ride."
Online Gambling Humour Still in the Mix
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Prolific TV producer Mark Burnett has a new venture. He's helping to launch an American version of the popular lucha libre wrestling league from Mexico.
Burnett said Sunday that he is becoming a partner with Lucha Libre AAA to create the American league, and it will be shown on the brand-new El Rey television network started by film director Robert Rodriguez, which is aimed at English-speaking Latino households.
Burnett is known as the behind-the-scenes visionary behind "Survivor," "The Voice" and "The Bible." He said he loves the story lines of good versus evil in lucha libre, a combination of scripted entertainment and sports action.
The new American league is expected to begin later this year.
Burnett said Sunday that he is becoming a partner with Lucha Libre AAA to create the American league, and it will be shown on the brand-new El Rey television network started by film director Robert Rodriguez, which is aimed at English-speaking Latino households.
Burnett is known as the behind-the-scenes visionary behind "Survivor," "The Voice" and "The Bible." He said he loves the story lines of good versus evil in lucha libre, a combination of scripted entertainment and sports action.
The new American league is expected to begin later this year.
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PartyPoker is continuing its expansion into the American online gaming market with a new partnership.
The company has joined forces with the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils to become their official online gaming partner.
It is the first time an online gambling site has worked officially with a leading American professional sports team and signals a change in direction of PartyPoker’s US strategy.
Full details of the partnership have yet to be revealed but it is expected PartyPoker signage will be at all of the teams’ home games and on select broadcasting.
PartyPoker already works with Manchester United, Real Madrid, FC Bayern Munich and Juventus.ADNFCR-16001162-ID-801681516-ADNFCR
Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:34 - PartyPoker makes New Jersey deal | 777-com
The company has joined forces with the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils to become their official online gaming partner.
It is the first time an online gambling site has worked officially with a leading American professional sports team and signals a change in direction of PartyPoker’s US strategy.
Full details of the partnership have yet to be revealed but it is expected PartyPoker signage will be at all of the teams’ home games and on select broadcasting.
PartyPoker already works with Manchester United, Real Madrid, FC Bayern Munich and Juventus.ADNFCR-16001162-ID-801681516-ADNFCR
Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:34 - PartyPoker makes New Jersey deal | 777-com
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As more states debate legalizing online gaming, the three states that permit Internet wagering have experienced few complications beyond some banks and financial institutions refusing to approve credit and debit card transactions.
Credit card issuers J.P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, American Express won’t allow gamblers to use their credit or debit cards to deposit money into online gaming accounts. That goes for both online poker and sports betting in Nevada.
“We don’t allow credit card transactions for this activity,” said Steve O’Halloran, director of public relations and public affairs for Chase Card and Merchant Services.
Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey all offer online gaming, whether its poker, slot machines or sports wagering.
Sanette Chao, a spokeswoman for American Express, said the financial services company “prohibits the use of the card for gambling services.”
“Gambling services, historically, account for a high number of card member credit losses and customer service disputes,” Chao said in an email.
It’s a similar story at Wells Fargo, according to Natalie Brown.
“In compliance with regulation GG (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006), we prohibit the use of consumer credit cards for Internet gambling,” said Brown, vice president of consumer lending communications with Wells Fargo. “The networks (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) monitor the merchant category codes and block charges that don’t comply with federal regulations.”
Brown said Wells Fargo also has controls in place to monitor for regulatory compliance.
In Nevada, Caesars Entertainment Corporation and Station Casinos, Inc. operate online poker sites, while Station Casinos, William Hill plc, CG Technology (formerly Cantor Gaming) and Nevada Sports Books offer online and mobile sports wagering.
“What the industry has done is take a conservative approach or response to the legalization of online gambling,” said Tobin Prior, CEO of Ultimate Gaming, a subsidiary of Station Casinos Inc. “That can be frustrating, but we work with customers to find alternatives.”
Prior said Ultimate Gaming customers in Nevada and in New Jersey have options to fund their accounts, including cash deposits at any Station Casino in Southern Nevada or at the Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City.
Other options include electronic check or wire transfer, Prior said.
“You wish everything went smoothly,” said Seth Palansky, a spokesman for the World Series of Poker and Caesars Interactive Entertainment. “It’s not the reality. It’s a new business.”
Palansky said there is an ongoing education regarding online gaming transactions in Nevada and the two other states where it’s legal.
WSOP-com and Ultimate Poker, two websites licensed by Nevada regulators, averaged 110 and 90 transactions per day, respectively, for the week ending Friday, according to Pokerscout-com.
Outside the U.S., Pokerstars-com was the largest website with an average of 25,500, followed by 888poker averaging 2,900, the industry website reported.
Wells Fargo and other financial institutions are concerned about processing illegal bets, including those placed by underage gamblers or by customers who might not be physically present in Nevada when a bet is made.
“The potential for fraud is way lower than it was previously,” Prior said. “We have proven we can verify a customer’s age and where they are playing. Denying plastic … is holding back industry growth potential.”
CG Technology is unusual because it accepts credit and debit cards to open accounts. The bookmaker, which operates eight sports book in Southern Nevada and online race and sports betting apps statewide, does not take the cards directly, but uses a vendor payment processor.
“We cannot accept credit for gaming transactions,” CG Technology said in a statement. “Our vendor payment processor processes a cash advance on credit cards. This is the method used since inception of the program (in March).”
The bookmaker added that it’s “worth noting that transaction volumes for (credit and debit cards) are very low.” CG Technology is “largely a cash business.”
The rejection of credit cards to deposit money into accounts comes at a crucial time for the online and mobile gaming business. A H2 Gambling Capital report expected mobile gaming to reach $25.8 billion in global gross win by 2018. That would equate to about 5 percent of all gambling, according H2 Gambling Capital.
Joe Pappano, senior vice president and general manager of Vantiv Gaming Solutions, is confident acceptance of credit cards will come, but it will take a few years as gambling and banking regulators, online operators and politicians need to cooperate.
“We’ve been processing payments for banks for over 40 years electronically,” Pappano said. “We handle payments for many e-commerce sites, so we’ve taken that same infrastructure and adapted it for Internet gaming.”
Pappano said banks can be cautious when it comes to processing online gaming payments. Launched in October, Vantiv Gaming Solutions, based in Cincinnati, and is a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank, has been processing Visa and MasterCard in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey.
“That’s why we have educate them … to sustain positive movement in I-Gaming,” he said. “You have to remember it has only been legal for about seven months, starting in Nevada then Delaware and New Jersey.”
Pappano attributed banks’ reluctance to approve gaming transactions to Congress passing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006. The federal law banned businesses from accepting payments for illegal online bets.
Prior reminded banks that betting online is legal in these three states, just as is using a credit or debit card to shop online.
Banks reject use of plastic for online gambling sites
Credit card issuers J.P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, American Express won’t allow gamblers to use their credit or debit cards to deposit money into online gaming accounts. That goes for both online poker and sports betting in Nevada.
“We don’t allow credit card transactions for this activity,” said Steve O’Halloran, director of public relations and public affairs for Chase Card and Merchant Services.
Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey all offer online gaming, whether its poker, slot machines or sports wagering.
Sanette Chao, a spokeswoman for American Express, said the financial services company “prohibits the use of the card for gambling services.”
“Gambling services, historically, account for a high number of card member credit losses and customer service disputes,” Chao said in an email.
It’s a similar story at Wells Fargo, according to Natalie Brown.
“In compliance with regulation GG (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006), we prohibit the use of consumer credit cards for Internet gambling,” said Brown, vice president of consumer lending communications with Wells Fargo. “The networks (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) monitor the merchant category codes and block charges that don’t comply with federal regulations.”
Brown said Wells Fargo also has controls in place to monitor for regulatory compliance.
In Nevada, Caesars Entertainment Corporation and Station Casinos, Inc. operate online poker sites, while Station Casinos, William Hill plc, CG Technology (formerly Cantor Gaming) and Nevada Sports Books offer online and mobile sports wagering.
“What the industry has done is take a conservative approach or response to the legalization of online gambling,” said Tobin Prior, CEO of Ultimate Gaming, a subsidiary of Station Casinos Inc. “That can be frustrating, but we work with customers to find alternatives.”
Prior said Ultimate Gaming customers in Nevada and in New Jersey have options to fund their accounts, including cash deposits at any Station Casino in Southern Nevada or at the Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City.
Other options include electronic check or wire transfer, Prior said.
“You wish everything went smoothly,” said Seth Palansky, a spokesman for the World Series of Poker and Caesars Interactive Entertainment. “It’s not the reality. It’s a new business.”
Palansky said there is an ongoing education regarding online gaming transactions in Nevada and the two other states where it’s legal.
WSOP-com and Ultimate Poker, two websites licensed by Nevada regulators, averaged 110 and 90 transactions per day, respectively, for the week ending Friday, according to Pokerscout-com.
Outside the U.S., Pokerstars-com was the largest website with an average of 25,500, followed by 888poker averaging 2,900, the industry website reported.
Wells Fargo and other financial institutions are concerned about processing illegal bets, including those placed by underage gamblers or by customers who might not be physically present in Nevada when a bet is made.
“The potential for fraud is way lower than it was previously,” Prior said. “We have proven we can verify a customer’s age and where they are playing. Denying plastic … is holding back industry growth potential.”
CG Technology is unusual because it accepts credit and debit cards to open accounts. The bookmaker, which operates eight sports book in Southern Nevada and online race and sports betting apps statewide, does not take the cards directly, but uses a vendor payment processor.
“We cannot accept credit for gaming transactions,” CG Technology said in a statement. “Our vendor payment processor processes a cash advance on credit cards. This is the method used since inception of the program (in March).”
The bookmaker added that it’s “worth noting that transaction volumes for (credit and debit cards) are very low.” CG Technology is “largely a cash business.”
The rejection of credit cards to deposit money into accounts comes at a crucial time for the online and mobile gaming business. A H2 Gambling Capital report expected mobile gaming to reach $25.8 billion in global gross win by 2018. That would equate to about 5 percent of all gambling, according H2 Gambling Capital.
Joe Pappano, senior vice president and general manager of Vantiv Gaming Solutions, is confident acceptance of credit cards will come, but it will take a few years as gambling and banking regulators, online operators and politicians need to cooperate.
“We’ve been processing payments for banks for over 40 years electronically,” Pappano said. “We handle payments for many e-commerce sites, so we’ve taken that same infrastructure and adapted it for Internet gaming.”
Pappano said banks can be cautious when it comes to processing online gaming payments. Launched in October, Vantiv Gaming Solutions, based in Cincinnati, and is a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank, has been processing Visa and MasterCard in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey.
“That’s why we have educate them … to sustain positive movement in I-Gaming,” he said. “You have to remember it has only been legal for about seven months, starting in Nevada then Delaware and New Jersey.”
Pappano attributed banks’ reluctance to approve gaming transactions to Congress passing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006. The federal law banned businesses from accepting payments for illegal online bets.
Prior reminded banks that betting online is legal in these three states, just as is using a credit or debit card to shop online.
Banks reject use of plastic for online gambling sites
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2006/12/07
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An economy that has invested in high tech online gambling has reaped the benefit of those employed in the industry.
Governments all over the world are solidly committed to continuing the use of the taxes derived from gambling for social purposes and a better standard of living.
One good example of the location location idea are the Channel Islands off the coast of Normandy. One of these islands is the most northerly of the Channel Islands is Alderney.
The island is home to the The Alderney Gambling Control Commission which was created in May of 2000. The Commission, consisting of the Chairman and three members, is independent and non political, and regulates online gambling on behalf of the States of Alderney. The Commission ensures that its regulatory and supervisory approach meets the very highest of international standards.
The British Channel Islands are self governing dependencies of the Crown, they are not part of the United Kingdom, and are not part of the European Union.
The Channel Islands are recognised as one of the world's leading offshore finance centres and have in recent years established themselves as e-commerce centres of excellence.
There is a great deal of investment in the infrastructure to operate a network that offers reliable and high capacity links to the UK, Europe, the USA and Asia. It a perfect place to be to utilize the location as well as the links to operate an online gambling or as they put it in Alderney e commerce business.
Alderney licensees are by law permitted to take advantage of the modern hosting facilities and reliable telecommunication networks on both Alderney and Guernsey. Alderney is approximately 8 miles from France and 60 miles from mainland Britain. It has its own government, legislature and company laws and operates with the same modern banking, insurance and investment laws as Guernsey.
Online Gambling Keeping Alderney Working