New Jersey casino regulators released a statement Wednesday alluding they had evidence that gambling tycoon, Stanley Ho has extensive ties to organized crime in China. Consequently, these speculations have led the MGM Mirage to cut off ties with MGM Grand Macau, the later co-owned by Ho’s daughter Patsy Ho.
The New Jersey Casino Control Commission released a 74-page report as part of MGM's settlement with the Division of Gaming Enforcement that will result in the company leaving Atlantic City rather than cutting its ties to Macau, which is not what it had originally hoped to for. The commission approved the planned sale of MGM Mirage's stake in Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.
Additionally, that report accuses Stanley Ho of having criminal connections.
The division also concluded that his daughter is dependent on him and his money and remains under his influence. However, it found no evidence of any illegal behavior on the part of Patsy Ho.
“Numerous governmental and regulatory agencies have referenced Stanley Ho's associations with criminal enterprises, including permitting organized crime to operate and thrive within his casinos,” said the report.
Janet Wong, a spokeswoman for Ho, said in an e-mail: “His (Stanley Ho's) position on the record is clear that there is absolutely no foundation in any suggestion that he is associated with organized crime or triads.”
Miss B says: Wow, this news really comes as a shock. I don’t know if we should believe these speculations quite yet, however. Not until there is a formal response from Mr. Ho himself. What do you all think?
According to Barney Frank there will be no more delays from the Treasury Department on the enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
Starting June 1st the anti-poker legislation will take effect essentially banning Americans from internet gambling.
Despite the horrific news Frank told reporters for PokerNews that he isn’t concerned about the developments. He believes that in the long run this could actually be good for the poker industry because he has little doubt that people will push hard to eradicate the flawed legislation.
"It's fine with me," Frank said. "I think it's frankly so dumb and oppressive that it will create support to repeal the bill. I think, once it goes into effect, banks are going to raise hell and all the bankers will go to the Senate to complain."
The UIGEA was piggy backed on to the SAFE Port Act at the last minute back in 2006. It prohibits the transfer of funds from a financial institution to all illegal Internet gambling sites excluding fantasy sports, online lotteries, and horse/harness racing. What exactly constitutes an illegal internet gambling site is in many ways up to debate but since its passage the majority of online gambling sites have stopped taking United States players. The weight of the laws enforcement will rest on the banks and financial institutions themselves who would suffer severe reprimand for allowing transactions to go through unnoticed. A point that Frank says will be the bills ultimate undoing.
The enforcement of the law has been delayed a number of times over the years but if what Frank is saying is true then things will be getting cracked down on soon enough. The UIGEA was scheduled to go into effect in December of last year but the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) petitioned for a delay and found support from Congress. Frank is currently working to pass a piece of legislation that would override the UIGEA called the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act but there has been numerous delays. He says that the committee will take a look at the bill "sometime this spring, probably in May."
PPA leaders were hoping that the progress of the new bill would convince Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to allow another delay but it appears that Senator Jon Kyl a long-time opponent of internet poker has strong armed Geithner into allowing the bills passage. "Geithner promised he won't delay the bill again because Kyl was holding up all the nominees," Frank said referring to President Obama's Treasury nominees.
"The Treasury, Federal Reserve, Congress and the banking community agree that the proposed UIGEA regulations are overly broad and lack the key definition of 'unlawful Internet gambling,'" said PPA executive director John Pappas. "This was the case when the regulations were delayed in November and it remains the case today. Enacting the final rule on June 1st without this clarification would be a huge mistake and will add another layer of confusion upon an already complex matter."
"Ultimately, there needs to be legislation like HR 2267 or S 1597 that will remove the confusion and establish a clear and sensible regulatory policy that the government, banks and, most importantly, consumers can rely on. The PPA remains optimistic that this will happen sooner rather than later, and that the misguided enactment of the UIGEA will be a catalyst for this change."
The announcement came yesterday that 32Red Online Casino has developed the famous Mega Moolah Jackpot Slot Game for use on their mobile platform. The operator based in Gibraltar and selected as the best online casino of 2009 has brought this spectacular and extremely rewarding slot machine straight to every mobile phone.
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The online casino for mobile phones platform was launched by 32Red back in 2008, but until now, the most won jackpot on the site has not been available to play. Mega Moolah joins the two other progressive jackpot games offered through the 32Red mobile platform which gives the mobile casino a broader range of jackpot and wagering sizes.
32Red’s mobile marketing manager, Stephen McDonald is thrilled to introduce this fabulous new massive jackpot game to a broader range of slot players. “The addition of Mega Moolah means it joins Fruit Fiesta and Major Millions in our suite of progressive slots. With jackpots ranging from guaranteed payouts of GBP 30,000, GBP 250,000 and now GBP 1 million, there are few experiences more thrilling than spinning these game’s reels on your mobile.”
Mega Moolah is now playable on the iPhone casino, so take a few spins on the thrilling slot and it just might be you who wins the next monster jackpot. “All our iPhone casino games are produced to the highest standard, so players of mobile Mega Moolah can expect nothing but the best. In fact we’re confident that online players will immediately recognize their favourite jackpot game and enjoy the same great buzz on the go as they would in the online casino.”
There are currently 18 great casino games offered for use with the iPhone with the new addition of Mega Moolah and 32Red offers awesome welcome bonuses for new customers so this is a great time to get started with this great brand. Loyal customers are treated to a great loyalty bonus program as well. Adding to the greatness of 32Red is their unbeatable customer service team who are always available to help with friendly and knowledgeable answers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
March Madness is here and Bodog has you covered with college basketball picks, NCAA basketball betting lines, odds, scores, and up to date basketball news for all your gambling needs. Bodog's provides their users with plenty of spiffy features for the big event including their Infographic which provides bettors with an easy to follow and understand graphical representation of some of the lesser known NCAA basketball tournament betting trends and stats which can prove to be at times highly entertaining.
The site not only offer odds on every game of the NCAA college basketball season but they also offer a vast array of March Madness props and futures to choose from.
Prop bets include such intriguing subject as: “Which graduating class will the March Madness 2010 Tournament MVP come from?” “What will be the lowest ranked seed to advance to the Final Four of the March Madness 2010 Tournament?” “How many buzzer beating shots will occur during the Round of 64 in the March Madness 2010 Tournament?” “What Will the Mascot of the Winning Team Represent?” “Which Player Will Score More Points During the 2010 March Madness Tournament?”
Futures include the odds to win the 2010 March Madness Tournament East/Midwest/South/West Region and the odds of each team’s chances to win the entire thing.
The 2010 basketball schedule has definitely made for some interesting betting at Bodog, but they’re ready to handle anything. Let the bracket madness begin. Visit Bodog today!
Online sportsbooks holding odds on the Masters Golf Tournament reacted quickly to the news that Tiger Woods will be making a comeback at this year's event.
Woods recently released a statement confirming that he will be play at next month's Masters Golf Tournament.
In his statement, Woods said, "The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect," Woods said Tuesday in a statement. "After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta. The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played."
He continued: "I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment. Although I'm returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life."
The highly accredited golfer has barely been seen in public, let alone on the golf course, since Thanksgiving, when a police report of a car accident began the unraveling of a huge fiasco that involved a domestic disagreement and an a huge sex scandal on Woods’ part.
Woods' golf rival Jesper Parnevik, who introduced Woods to his wife Elin Nordegren and openly criticized Woods for his infidelity, told TMZ, "Nobody ever thought Tiger would miss the Masters. It was pretty expected."
Sportsbooks are predicting a record betting high for any golf event ever played at this Masters. Television analysts are also expecting ratings to hit an all-time Masters high.
Miss B says: I’m actually surprised Woods is back so soon. I thought it would be awhile before re would re-emerge on the golf course. Do you think he will play the same with all of this added pressure?
AllSlotsCasino.com has announced the launch of their very own version of the Playoffs where the game is on and in full swing. This popular promotion gives players a chance to compete in a tournament which doesn’t consist of spinning the reels of slots like most other online casino tournaments. Instead, online casino patrons are able to enjoy a multitude of table games and video poker during the weeklong event which began on Tuesday, March 16 and will continue to run until the 22nd.
One of the most exciting details of the promo labeled the “Head of the Table Playoff” is the fact that players will be able to wager on a brand new game which has just been added to the collection of video poker selections. Triple Action Hold’em Bonus Poker Gold is a mouthful to say, but so much fun to play. If classics are your thing, all the other entertaining table games are also part of the promo including blackjack, war, red dog, power poker and more. Not included in this promo are live blackjack tournaments, baccarat, craps, and roulette and sic bo.
The Head of the Table Playoff winners will be chosen from the leader board when the game ends. Playing is simple- just play to earn points and try to move up on the leader board to get to the top. 1 point will be awarded for every 50 credits wagered throughout the duration of the Playoff. Additionally, a player will receive 1 point for every 50 credits won or lost per day. In order to qualify for this competition, players must deposit a minimum of 50 credits and wager them all on any of the games included in the promo.
The top 100 players on the leader board will share in the prize pool with the first place finisher receiving 1,000 credits, second 500 and third will get 250. For the remaining 97 players, the credit amount continues to drop with the 100th place spot getting paid 25 credits.So far Sue J. has established the lead with a whopping 3544 points. It would be relatively easy to break into the top 100 though as many players have less than 50 points with some down to just 24. Don’t miss out on this fantastic event.
From the looks of it New Jersey just might be hosting the 2014 Super Bowl at the new Meadowlands football stadium. The Garden State is reportedly one of three finalists to host Super Bowl 48 along with Tampa and South Florida.
The odd thing about this news is that the Meadowlands will not have a retractable roof so, naturally, winter weather may be a problem with the Super Bowl being held in February.
However, the NFL has temporarily waived a requirement that Super Bowl sites must either have temperatures above 50 degrees in February or have a domed stadium.
League Commissioner Roger Goodell also has spoken highly about the idea of a New Jersey Super Bowl despite the risk that a major snowstorm could cause mayhem with fans flying across the country to see the game.
“The only reason for the ‘temporary' suspension of their weather requirements: to entice NJ's government away from its move toward legalized and state-regulated sports betting,” claims a source within the industry who wished to remain anonymous.
Many lawmakers want to legalize sports betting in New Jersey, allowing bettors to place wagers via phone or Internet. With Nevada raking in nearly $100 million in legal bets on the Super Bowl, New Jersey is looking to get in on the action.
State Senator Ray Lesniak, D-Union, has filed a federal lawsuit, seeking to override a 1992 ban that prevents the implementation of sports betting by the state.
Miss B says: The official host of the 2014 Super Bowl will be announced during the owners meetings in Dallas at the end of May. Do you think New Jersey will be the winning bid? Do you think the New Jersey Senate will draw back on its efforts to legalize sports betting in the state?
William Hill is offering a special promotion that is sure to get some sports fan’s hearts racing. They will be giving away a VIP trip to the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium to one lucky online player.
Entrance is easy. Players who are registered members of WilliamHillPoker.com and who rank level five on the domain’s Loyalty Rewards ladder will automatically be entered into the qualifier for the FA Cup final VIP package.
“This month, I expect there to be more competition for the first prize,” said James McKay, Poker Manager for William Hill. “I’d love to go myself and I know whoever wins will have an amazing day.”
This isn’t the only sports package the big named site has given away. Just last month the site awarded one fortunate player a seat at the main event of the upcoming Irish Open courtesy of an exclusive super satellite tournament.
William Hill offers more options than some would initially think. They are first and foremost a sports betting site of course but they also have plenty of games for players. Not only do they have a very respectable poker playing section but they cover most of the other tried and true genres with bingo, roulette, virtual racing, slots and a slew of other Vegas style games.
The long awaited progress to legalize and regulate online gambling in the United States may be just around the corner. The HR2267 Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act proposed by Congressman Barney Frank, has 66 congressional co-sponsors in favor of the bill. This may mean that Frank could soon be ready to make his next move to legalize online gambling according to reports at Cardplayer.com.
The online poker news source conducted a two part interview with Poker Players Alliance chairman and executive, John Pappas who shared his optimism regarding the possibility of the passing of the bill. He believes that the legislation could be moving to mark-up sometime before the spring which is quite soon.
The Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act was introduced to Congress and filed with the House Financial Services Committee by Frank in May of 2009. A non-voting hearing was conducted in December of 2009 to discuss the bill in detail. Pappas believes that the next steps will most likely be a congressional mark-up. This is where the bill is read out loud to the members of congress and the Committee giving them the perfect opportunity to make known any concerns or questions pertaining to the bill.
Persons with inside knowledge about the bill’s progress are quite certain that the mark-up will come as early as this month of March if not some time in spring. The mark-up hearing is especially important because legislation from the Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act is scheduled to become mandatory by the first of June 2010.
The Poker Players Alliance has been spreading awareness regarding these issues in recent months to hopefully bring recognition to online gambling legalization in the US. This is most likely in preparation for the imminent vote that will occur eventually when Congress feels the time is right.
To read the full interview with John Pappas click here.
A lucky player racked up some serious winnings at the Online Vegas Casino this weekend. On Saturday morning the online player hit the top prize of $104,834 for Island Stud Poker.
In order to win the top prize the patron needed to hit a royal flush which as any regular poker player will tell you is no easy feat especially in the Island Stud variation of the game. Imagine the excitement the player must have felt watching the cards come out of the flop like they did.
This is the first time in over a year that any player has been able to successfully hit the top jackpot. There are a number of other smaller jackpots you can win in the game. For example players can get a portion of the jackpot for playing a straight flush. Money is also paid out for other big hands like a four of a kind, full house or flush. It is the top prize that most people have their hopeful eyes set on though and unfortunately for them that prize is usually only given out once a year not say that it couldn't strike more just that it usually doesn't. On average people who hit the top prize walk away with $94,000 so this weekend's winner was especially lucky on the draw.
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New Jersey casino regulators released a statement Wednesday alluding they had evidence that gambling tycoon, Stanley Ho has extensive ties to organized crime in China. Consequently, these speculations have led the MGM Mirage to cut off ties with MGM Grand Macau, the later co-owned by Ho’s daughter Patsy Ho.
From the looks of it New Jersey just might be hosting the 2014 Super Bowl at the new Meadowlands football stadium. The Garden State is reportedly one of three finalists to host Super Bowl 48 along with Tampa and South Florida. 
