Floyd Mayweather Jr. is coming in swinging! After weeks of silence, Mayweather said in a radio interview over the weekend that he doesn’t believe a person like Manny Pacquiao could achieve the success he has without the aid of performance-enhancing drugs.
“In a fighter’s career, a fighter starts off good and he’s good until the end of his career or a fighter starts off good and then goes downhill towards the end of his career,” Mayweather told radio-planet.tv in reference to Pacquiao.
“A fighter doesn’t start like Manny Pacquiao, just ordinary, and then once he gets over 25 (years old) he becomes an extraordinary fighter. It doesn’t work like that in this sport of boxing,” continued Mayweather.
The two were supposed to have squared off in March. However, the bout was cancelled after Pacquio refused to comply with the demands of Mayweather’s camp to submit to Olympic style drug testing.
Instead, Pacquiao will face off against Joshua Clottey on March 13, while Mayweather is set to take on Shane Mosley come May 1.
Miss B says: This isn’t the first time Mayweather has talked smack about Pacquiao. He has been edging him on for a while now. It wasn’t until last month, after Pacquiao filed a defamation suit against Mayweather, when the “Pretty Boy” quieted down a little. I just think these two need to fight already!
A recent Deloitte report found that the British gaming industry is valued at £6bn ($9.6bn, €6.9bn) and employs some 100,000 people.
The figures amount to about 0.5% of UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) and about 0.3% of total UK employment. The information, available in a study entitled The Full Picture, was endorsed by Ladbrokes to demonstrate the gaming industry’s value to the UK economy.
The study also discovered that the retail gaming industry alone produces £700m in taxes each year, £700m in wages paid to employees and £800m in profit before interest and tax. Ladbrokes plans to use these statistics to lobby the government for more lenient tax laws on bookmakers stationed in the UK.
Ladbrokes chief executive Christopher Bell said: “This report comes at a crucial time for the industry and will help inform the Government and stakeholders about the important contribution the industry makes to employment and taxation in these difficult economic times. We hope it will contribute towards more informed policy making and help remove much of the uncertainty that has surrounded the taxation and regulation of our industry in recent years.”
Simon Oaten, a Deloitte consultant said: “The betting industry makes a significant contribution to the British economy – but is subject to intense international competition. With internet and mobile betting growing the challenge for Government is to balance effective regulation with creating the conditions for the domestic industry to compete.”
Deloitte assembled the report using government and company accredited sources.
Miss B says: The new findings have caused many to wonder if the United States should take notice and legalize Internet gambling in the states. Several studies have concluded that the US government could rack in billions if they were to legalize Internet gambling. As the US government tackles issues like massive job loss and a continuing recession, politician must consider legalizing Internet gambling. It could really turn things around. Comments anyone?
Partygaming co-founder Anurag Dikshit has sold his remaining stake in what was once the world’s largest gambling enterprise, PartyGaming.
According to a Business Wire statement, Dikshit sold 38.8 million shares at a price of 270 pence per share through his Crystal Ventures Ltd vehicle. The shares saw a 7 percent drop in London trading.
The founder had previously sold about two-thirds of his shares back in October. The sale of his remaining ownership, consisting of about 9 percent of the company, brought him about $170 million.
A spokesperson for Dikshit said the divestment was simply the last step in an ongoing process to rid Dikshit from the online gaming industry.
In December 2008, Dikshit pleaded guilty to running illegal Internet gambling sites in the U.S. and agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department in its investigate on the company. He paid $300 million in fines and is scheduled to be sentenced this year.
"We have the court hearing and sentencing still hanging over us," said spokesman Shimon Cohen. "Anurag voluntarily went to America and pleaded guilty so that he could move on."
Miss B says: PartyGaming has made Dikshit loads of money, but I guess the legal controversy surrounding the site has forced Dikshit to feel the need to isolate himself from the online gaming industry. Comments anyone?
Playtech, a world leading online gaming software developer, has announced a new partnership agreement with Virgin Games.
Under the agreement, Playtech’s soft gaming solutions developer, Gaming Technology Solutions Limited (GTS), will license their flexible software platform EdGE to Virgin Games, delivering a brand new assortment of exciting games.
The proprietary Enhanced Gaming Engine (EdGE) open gaming platform will allow Virgin to manage and operate their games easily and efficiently. The EdGE platform has demonstrated its advanced functionality and flexible connectivity. Its ICE Back Office (ICE) toolset will provide many functional and performance enrichments to Virgin Games including customer service and much more in user interface.
Commenting, Warren Eloff of Virgin Games said: “We are looking forward to working with GTS and through the delivery of their platform; we have access to a variety of leading games content from world class developers. ICE is a comprehensive management suite and we are confident that the added level of control we will have over our games content will have a very positive effect on our growth.”
Mor Weizer, CEO of Playtech said: “We are delighted that Virgin Games a well-established and leading operator have chosen Playtech's GTS as their games integration partner and EdGE as their software solution. Virgin is setting new benchmarks in terms of their player promotion and marketing activities and we look forward to a successful partnership in 2010 and beyond.”
Miss B says: The EdGE software platform is cost-efficient and very flexible. I can only assume that it will be very beneficial to Virgin Games and its customers.
Virgin Games are part of the huge and respected Virgin Group. It was established in 2004 and includes Virgin Casino, Virgin Poker, and Virgin Bingo. Virgin Games is known for its generous welcome bonuses. Check it out and sign up today!
Rep. Barney Frank’s bill H.R. 2267, will most likely be up for a committee vote in the month of February.
Frank is one of the most powerful members of Congress and the chair of House Financial Services Committee. The bill, which he introduced in May of last year, allows the federal government to license and regulate online poker rooms and casinos within the United States.
Gambling advocates are especially excited about the news, seeing that this would be the first time any bill regarding the licensure and regulation of online poker or online gambling, for that matter, would be brought to a vote.
"We expect within a few short weeks, most likely in the month of February, there will be a committee vote on this legislation," said John Pappas, President of the Poker Players Alliance. "This is a very critical and important for vote for the Poker Players Alliance, as well as the poker community, and we need everyone to step up and make sure that their voices are heard."
Frank held a hearing on the bill last month but the committee vote was not taken.
Miss B says: The passage of this legislation would definitely prompt to a major boom within the industry. Things look good. There’s no reason for Congress to vote against Frank’s bill. Current prohibitions on online gambling are ambiguous and if the government does regulate online gambling, studies project the government will generate an estimated $42 billion within the next 10 years. So it would be wise of congress to pass H.R. 2267.
57-year-old Lena Mae Tibbs, of Indianapolis claims to have suffered from emotional distress and racial discrimination after the Indiana Live! Casino threatened to prosecute her for claiming a $100 bill found on the floor of their casino.
The casino incident took place on July 29, 2008, when Tibbs was gambling at the Indiana Live! Casino and a passerby saw a $100 bill on the floor and asked her if it belonged to her.
Tibbs had other bills on her, so naturally, she assumed she had dropped the money and accepted it. Little did she know, this is where all of her problems would begin.
The casino then conducted a further investigation and found video footage that suggested the money had came from a nearby slot machine that was awarding funds to another player.
Shortly after, the Indiana Live! Casino accused Mrs. Tibbs of stealing the money and she was ordered to appear at Shelby Superior Court. Thankfully, the case was dropped in September, when the player who had been winning at the slot machine when the incident occurred did not wish to pursue the charge.
Mrs. Tibbs, an African-American, was outraged by the accusation and charge placed against her and has decided to sue the casino for the emotional distress and racial discrimination. Attorney Blair Wheat, acting on behalf of Mrs Tibbs said:
“Lena was at a table and had money. The machine kicked a $100 bill within a couple feet of her. A third person asked if it was hers. She thought it was, and the next thing she knows, she was being prosecuted for a year.”
Shelby County Deputy Prosecutor David Riggins maintained:
“Unless you wagered it, you can’t cash it in…She (Tibbs) had been charged because we felt she exerted unauthorized control over the $100 bill.”
Miss B says: What happen to the old saying, “finders keepers, losers weepers?” It seems to me that Mrs. Tibbs honestly believed the money had belonged to her and that’s why she took it. Give the woman a brake. Input anyone?
Microgaming, one of the largest online gambling software providers and poker networks, announced yesterday that they will be putting a halt to data mining.
According to sources within the company, this new policy will take immediate effect. Microgamimng has already set up measures to back up its intention. Some of which include moves to stop the storage of hand histories on observed tables on players' computers and the practice of downloading and storing hand histories in bulk.
For those unfamiliar with data mining, in poker, it occurs when players use third party tools to gain an upper hand over their opponents by studying common leaks in their game through the collection of hand history data.
Unfortunately, over time third party software, which analyzes hand histories collected by data mining, has changed from a helpful tool for finding weaknesses within a player's game to more of an exploitative tool.
Using third party software makes it easier for a player to identify another player's weaknesses; thus giving the player with the most data on his competitors an upper hand.
Studying of a player's hand histories came to surface last month when it was discovered that individuals had studied the hand histories of online poker phenomenon Isildur1 to cheat him out of more than $4 million while playing on Full Tilt Poker.
Andrew Clucas, Head of Poker at Microgaming Software Systems, said: “Concern has been rising over the long-term effect of third party software upon the poker industry as a whole, and in particular the negative effect it has on the recreational player demographic. The decision to put a stop to the practice of data mining on the Poker Network is part of Microgaming's overarching network strategy to support operators in attracting and retaining recreational players. It further demonstrates commitment in providing a secure and fair playing environment.”
He continued: “I would like to emphasize that with this change, as with the change to Weighted Contribution, Microgaming is not seeking to alienate its winning players. There has been a move in the industry towards penalizing winners; we believe that is the wrong approach. There will always be winners and losers in poker. What we are trying to achieve is a more level playing field for all the players.”
Miss B says: I used to be a big fan of data mining. It helps newbies and all players alike correct their flaws in the game. It’s a real great tool when it’s not used in the wrong way. It sucks when people abuse the system and mess it up for the rest of us. What you take on all of this?
In the aftermath of Gilbert Arenas’ little locker room showdown, the Miami Heat have become the second NBA team to officially ban gambling on team flights. The Miami Herald reported that gambling was off limits on the Heat's flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City.
The team had initially declared the move to ban gambling as unnecessary. However, the Heat switched gears and instituted the team policy in the wake of developments that led to the league's indefinite suspension of Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas.
The New Jersey Nets took a similar stance last week, becoming the first team to ban gambling aboard team flights. The NBA is contemplating a league-wide policy.
“We understand what went on in Washington was a serious and unfortunate issue,” Heat co-captain Udonis Haslem said before Monday's game against Utah. “We don't have those type of guys here and don't have to worry about what happened. But you have to respect the decision.”
Haslem went on to say that poker is the most popular game on team flights. But it never gets out of hand.
Miss B says: With a .500 record, the Heat players could probably find better ways to use their time on flights. Maybe head coach Pat Riley should go over plays or something.
The Miami Heat take on the Golden State Warriors tonight. Sign up at Bodog Sportsbook for full betting coverage of the 2010 NBA season.
A former Evangelist pastor and three men were arrested over an alleged $10 million gambling scam.
The arrests came Monday after a year-long police investigation and a large number of complaints from across Australia.
It seems as if Alan Davenport, a onetime pastor for the now dissolved Reach Out for Christ Pentecostal church, ran the online gambling business from his Australian home under the name World Trade Systems (WTS).
According to the Courier-Mail, punters were "guaranteed" wins by distributing their bets on all possible outcomes among various bookmakers.
WTS customers were allegedly provided a low-risk and tax-free income and invested an average of $20,000 to $80,000 in the scam.
WTS also offered punters a "100% money-back guarantee" and its website advertised that it was "impossible to lose your money with WTS".
The men have been conjointly charged with one count of fraud between November 2007 and February 2009 and are expected to face further charges including forgery and making false records.
Detective Inspector Marc Hogan, of Surfers Paradise CIB, said more than $10 million was unaccounted for and investigations are ongoing.
Miss B says: How could people do stuff like this? It’s sick!! One of the alleged victims, a pensioner for god’s sake, invested over $50,000 in the scam.
A recent study by independent gaming consultant Josh Apiafi using Google suggests that Bodog is the best brand when compared to 10 other top of the line online gambling sites.
The study was carried out in order to test overall brand loyalty and strength among 888, bet365, Betfair, Bodog, bwin, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, Party Poker, Pokerstars, and William Hill.
Throughout the month of December 2009 the number of Google Alerts generated daily by each of the firms was recorded as part of the research for the group.
The data provided showed the highly competitive nature of industry and how each online gambling company spent large sums of money on various forms of media to get their market share.
Google Alerts is a service offered by Google which informs its users by email, or as a feed, about pages published on the internet that contain words you are tracking and results proved that Bodog appeared the most.
Calvin Ayre, the founder of the Bodog brand, explained: “When I saw this news pop up on the web my New Year hangover cleared even before I finished my breakfast Ceaser; Vodka, Clamato juice and spices. We had a hunch since I first rolled the Bodog brand and business model that we are considered interesting. But that's only part of the story - we also stand for having fun and that's what all people want, especially ones that gamble.”
He continued saying, “Whether you're into poker, blackjack, roulette or sports, people are looking for a thrill and all those companies trying to be all corporate are simply boring their own customers. It's also why I don't think online gaming companies should go public, the market expects you to be all corporate, which is boring so you end up losing your entertainment soul."
Ayre concluded by saying, “The measurement method of this study is a very clever one too - who can argue with Google? I am raising my glass now to another 15 years at the top."
Other companies that were included in the study rank as follows:
Bodog - 510
PokerStars - 493
Betfair - 467
Paddy Power - 437
Ladbrokes - 421
Bet365 - 414
William Hill - 395
Bwin - 178
Party Poker - 175
888 - 99
Miss B says: The Bodog brand has been thriving for 15 years now. Every year they seem to bring players more excitement. Congratulations Bodog!
Whether it’s poker, casino games, sports betting, or horseracing that interests you. Visit Bodog.com to experience excellence!
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is coming in swinging! After weeks of silence, Mayweather said in a radio interview over the weekend that he doesn’t believe a person like Manny Pacquiao could achieve the success he has without the aid of performance-enhancing drugs.
Playtech, a world leading online gaming software developer, has announced a new partnership agreement with Virgin Games.
Microgaming, one of the largest online gambling software providers and poker networks, announced yesterday that they will be putting a halt to data mining. 
In the aftermath of Gilbert Arenas’ little locker room showdown, the Miami Heat have become the second NBA team to officially ban gambling on team flights. The Miami Herald reported that gambling was off limits on the Heat's flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City.