Casinos have long gone after high-rollers, but some Atlantic City gambling halls are turning their attention to the opposite end of the market.
New Jersey casino regulators have approved gambling chips worth just 25 and 50 cents apiece, instead of the $1 or higher chips commonly used at the casinos.
ACH, the casino formerly known as the Atlantic City Hilton, recently got approval from the state Division of Gaming Enforcement to offer the cheap chips at its table games. ACH has adopted a value-conscious business model to go after low-rollers next year.
The casino requested permission for the new low-value chips on Dec. 5, and permission was granted two days later, although the decision was not made public until Friday.
ACH is considered one of Atlantic City's most endangered casinos due to its low market share and the cutthroat competition that's been hurting the nation's second-largest gambling market for the past five years. Last month, Pennsylvania surpassed Atlantic City for the first time in terms of monthly revenue. Las Vegas remains the nation's largest gambling market.
ACH received approval in November from the state Casino Control Commission for a rescue plan under which its owner, Los Angeles hedge fund Colony Capital LLC, invests $15 million in new cash in the casino and its lenders write off the casino's substantial debt in return for taking ownership of two Mississippi casinos Colony owns. ACH also will get $9.3 million in insurance proceeds from an August 2009 flooding claim.
Michael Frawley, the casino's chief operating officer, said ACH planned to emphasize a new strategy of low-cost entertainment for customers.
"This is part of a strategy we've been thinking about for quite a while now, and there will be more to come," he said Friday.
The casino still has to submit design drawings of what the chips will look like.
ACH had been known as the Atlantic City Hilton until the hotel giant ended a licensing deal over the summer. Frawley said the casino would announce its new name within the next few weeks.
The gaming enforcement division also approved a new zero-value chip to be used at the Golden Nugget Atlantic City. The casino plans to use the zero-value chips in roulette, but it wasn't immediately clear how.
Nandit M. of PA is about to enjoy a lucrative holiday cause he struck gold with the Goldbeard slot machine! Nandit. M of PA pulled in $29,485!
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With expanded casino gambling now part of Massachusetts’ future, many businesses throughout the commonwealth continue to question the residual effects of three casinos on the business community. While I have no delusions that casinos will be a panacea for the fiscal and employment challenges we face, I view this legislation as an exciting opportunity to grow and diversify our economy. Due to an ongoing effort by the Legislature, municipalities and local businesses to adapt to today’s economic climate, the Massachusetts economy has consistently performed better than those of other states. We have experienced employment growth in health care, clean energy, and life sciences while focusing our resources on infrastructure improvements. As a result, Massachusetts has an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent, well below the national rate of 8.6 percent.
The benefits of both the short- and long-term revenue that will come from casino gambling are wide and varied for the business community. Millions of dollars will be directed to key areas that will directly contribute to the continued growth of our economy and workforce. For example, we will direct 14 percent of the gaming revenue to fund our public schools, as well as higher education programs. At a time when community colleges are experiencing growing demand, we have also established a community college fund to help graduate a highly skilled workforce.
While the much-discussed revenue-enhancement aspect of the casino legislation is important, it’s the addition of 10,000 to 15,000 new jobs for Massachusetts residents that speaks directly to the needs of local businesses. By putting people back to work, we are re-energizing the consumer base to bolster such businesses as hospitality, retail, restaurants and entertainment. And few will debate the power of casinos to provide these much-needed jobs. The domino effect of the recession has been felt by most businesses in Worcester; where unemployment has been high, discretionary spending has been predictably low. But through the infusion of new employment, consumers will once again have the opportunity to provide for their families, earn decent wages and spend their hard-earned dollars in local businesses.
Worcester is slowly returning to its place of prominence as a tourist destination. However, thousands of Central Massachusetts residents leave our state every weekend to pursue gaming in other states, bringing with them money that would be better invested here.
Having watched the resurgence of many of Worcester’s great venues, including the Hanover Theatre, the Worcester Art Museum and Union Station, I remain very proud of the Worcester business community’s vision and success. In an effort to mitigate any negative effects on this success, I co-sponsored an amendment — which made it into the legislation – that requires casinos to negotiate with local businesses before booking live entertainment and shows.
I am confident casino gambling will prove to be the impetus we need to reinvigorate the business community, improve consumer spending and reduce unemployment.
Michael Moore is the state senator for the Second Worcester District, which covers Auburn, Grafton, Leicester, Millbury, Shrewsbury, Upton and Wards 5-8 in Worcester.
January 1, 2012 will be the first day of a new era for online poker in Denmark, as the European Union member opens up to regulated online gambling.
Thirty-eight operators have received a total of 55 licenses from the Danish Gambling Authority to offer their online gambling services in Denmark beginning January 1, in the first round of licenses. Among the recipients of gambling licenses are 9 Danish companies, and a majority from Malta (20).
These are some of the companies:
888
PokerStars
Betfair
Betsson
Cryptologic
Danske Spil
Red Club Poker
Unibet.
This is a momentous day for liberalization of online gambling not only in Denmark but in the whole of Europe, and perhaps beyond the continent.
In what seems to be addressing the critics of online gambling, Thor Möger Pedersen, Denmark's tax minister said: "From January the gambling market will be orderly and we will ensure that holders of a betting and online casino license to operate on the Danish market also contribute to the society."
We add: a legal and regulated betting and online casino market helps protect the gamblers themselves.
The Danish Gambling Authority will act to block operators who continue to offer their services in Denmark without a license after January 1, 2012.
BOSTON -- Stephen Crosby, chairman of the new Massachusetts Gaming Commission, feels no compulsion to issue any casino licenses if he is not satisfied with the bids that come his way.
“If there are no proposals that meet the standards that we set out in combination with the standards set out by the Legislature, we would certainly not approve anything,” Crosby said during a radio interview Saturday on WRKO-AM.
During Saturday’s interview, Crosby repeatedly emphasized that he is just beginning to delve into the complexities of the expanded gambling law. But he described the idea of opening a single casino as a test run, rather than approving licenses for all three regions at once, as “reasonable. “I’m open to anything on this point. The idea of staging sounds kind of reasonable,” he said. “I’m sure there are reasonable considerations on the other side as well.”
Crosby, tapped by Gov. Deval Patrick last week to chair the new commission, will hold great sway over the vetting process by which up to three casinos will be sanctioned in Massachusetts – one in the eastern region that includes competing proposals in Boston and Foxborough, one in the western region that features potential casino sites in Palmer, Springfield and Holyoke, and one in the southeastern region where a Native American tribe will have the first crack at obtaining a license.
Four other commissioners have yet to be appointed. Attorney General Martha Coakley and Treasurer Steven Grossman will each name an appointee. The remaining two appointees are to be jointly selected by Patrick, Coakley and Grossman. The commission was imbued by new expanded gambling legislation with broad powers to build, oversee and police the new casino industry. Members are charged with vetting all proposals, selecting winning bids, ensuring that all developers comply with standards laid out in the law, and making sure casinos pay required taxes to the state.
The commission will determine what criteria to use to evaluate bids for resort-style casinos. Criteria must include evaluation of architectural design, integration of the establishment into its surroundings, access to multi-modal transportation, tourism appeal, capital investment, and the applicants’ financial strength.
Crosby said the commission is “a long way” from determining what other criteria might be given weight in the vetting process, although he said the prospect of tax revenue for state government would not be an “offset” for potential harm to “the public good.” He said the governor does not have “stars in his eyes” about the tax revenue casinos may generate.
Crosby said he has thoughts about who might be qualified candidates to join him on the commission, but he said he’d only offer those thoughts if they’re solicited by Patrick, Grossman or Coakley.
“I’m happy to help if anybody wants,” describing his ideal pick as someone with “character, integrity, maturity, experience and discipline” as well as the ability to “resist temptations.”
Asked whether he intends to meet with gambling industry lobbyists or officials, Crosby said he wasn’t sure how the commission would deal with those requests.
“It seems to be perfectly obvious that people who are proponents of the proposal at some point ... are going to have an opportunity to make their case,” he said, adding, “The question will be trying to figure out how to do it in a way that is transparent” and that “the public has access to the same kind of information that the commission has access to.”
32Red online casino, one of the UK's most popular gaming websites, is proud to unveil their top ten winners list for the month of November. Each month, the casino group publishes the top ten winners list on the official big winner's webpage; allowing online gamers to view which players are having a run of luck, and which game was lucky for them. Not only can visitors compare the highest winners from previous months but they can also see the highest ever jackpot earnings in the all time progressive big win leader board.
Topping the list last month was player 'Alexander M' who managed to win a massive £31,925.50 whilst playing the online roulette game, Premier Roulette Diamond Edition. Alexander was one of six players featured in the top ten who managed payouts of over £10,000 on a particular game.
Commenting on November's BIG winners list, a spokesperson for 32Red said today:
"Our big winners page is a great way for us to showcase the players who have Lady Luck on their side. The page is updated automatically each month using genuine data from our database. When our players get lucky, they will see their name on the winners list the following month. We don't fabricate winners like some unscrupulous casinos often do."
"32Red is dedicated to providing some of the biggest jackpots online, and we're proud to have turned two of our players into millionaires. As I write, there is a total of £££££ in progressive jackpots available, with a whole range of games offering life changing sums of cash prizes. Most importantly though, if you win big at 32Red, you get paid - quickly. We don't pay in monthly instalments like some competitors - check their small print before you play!"
Players visiting the 32Red big winners webpage can also view the all time leader board, which showcases the highest ever jackpot prizes won by previous gamers. The list features the top five progressive wins at 32Red, with a huge £2.4million being paid out to this small sample of players. New players can download the casino now and play 32Red's progressive jackpot games in the lobby.
With 2011 coming to a close, can you join December's big winners list and truly toast the end of the year with a bang?
In response to concerns raised by a high-profile applicant for a downtown Baltimore slots casino, Maryland officials have relaxed a rule designed to keep people with past gambling transgressions from winning licenses to operate such facilities.
The action, taken the day before bids were due this fall, appears to have removed a significant hurdle for Dan Gilbert, the majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team and chairman of Rock Gaming, to participate in the project.
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The leading online casino software provider Rival Gaming has launched a winter theme video slot titled Ice Picks that has nothing to do with Christmas. In the introductory clip a man jumps out of a helicopter on snowy peaks and makes his way to an ice cave. Pulsating background music can be heard throughout.
The Ice Pick online slot starts differently from the other Rival Gaming video slots. On activating the spin button the symbols completely disappear for a while revealing the ice cave in the background, and then drop one by one from the top. The usual simulation of the reel spinning is done away with. The high paying symbols are items frozen in ice blocks. The highest fixed jackpot of 9,000 coins is the treasure chest. The other items encased in ice are idol, bracelet, skull and hammer. These symbols participate in the Ice Drop feature. Whenever three or more like frozen symbols appear, they will shatter and the symbols above will drop down to take their place. The low paying symbols are the gear used by the man such as goggles, helmet, boots and ice pick. Whenever these symbols appear in winning combinations the animations show the man making his way through the ice terrain.
The crate is the wild symbol. It appears only on reels 1, 3 and 5. The meter is the scatter symbol. It does not offer scatter payouts as in some other Rival Gaming online slots games. However, it does award free spins. When three scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels then the player is awarded 5 free spins. When four scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels then the player is awarded 10 free spins. When five scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels then the player is awarded 25 free spins. All payouts during the free spins are tripled.
The defining feature of this Rival Gaming video slot is the Ice Picks bonus game on the second screen. It is triggered when three map symbols appear anywhere on the reels. The players are taken to the ice cave where precious stones of different types are frozen in ice blocks. The players are given five ice picks and can break one block with each pick. Bonus points are awarded according to the treasures found in the blocks.
Ice Picks has 20 paylines and players can wager up to 10 coins on each payline. The coin size varies from 0.01 to 0.25. The largest line bet works out to 2.50 credits and the largest line payout is 22,500.00 credits. Ice Picks can be played at all Rival Gaming online casinos. CasinoAdvisor recommends Ruby Royal Casino.
A new opinion from the Justice Department opens the door for states to allow various forms of online gambling operated by lotteries and other gambling interests, legal experts say.
Proponents of legalized online gambling say the business could provide new sources of revenue for state coffers. But others, including large casino interests that prefer a national system limited to online poker, say that the free-flowing nature of the Internet is ill-suited for state gambling plans, which would attempt to limit online gambling to within a given state's borders.
The opinion from the Justice Department—dated in September and released Friday—reverses a policy it followed over the past decade, which held that most forms of online gambling were illegal under the Federal Wire Act; the 1961 act prohibits bets from passing through communications lines that cross state borders. Under previous presidential administrations, the Justice Department had declared that based on its interpretation of the Wire Act, states shouldn't allow online gambling even for bets placed within their borders.
In a sweeping reversal, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel said that such gambling within a state would no longer be considered illegal because the Wire Act—a law with contradictory language that has long been the subject of debate—doesn't apply to any forms of gambling other than sports betting.
The change essentially gives states the green light to allow gambling within their borders, online gambling experts said. That is a victory for advocates of state-regulated online gambling, which include companies hoping to provide technology for online gambling and in some cases lotteries and others that operate gambling in states, such as Indian tribes or casinos.
The decision was made public just a day after Nevada regulators voted to adopt the first-ever state regulations around online poker, which for now would allow companies to operate poker sites limited to players within Nevada.
Washington, D.C., voted this year to allow its lottery to operate online poker, but the law hasn't yet been implemented. Several state lotteries, meanwhile, already have been offering subscription services for lotteries online for the past few years. Statehouses and lotteries around the country have recently considered proposals to allow online gambling; some of those would be limited to online poker games.
The new decision from the Justice Department specifically concerns "intrastate" gambling, which means bets are both taken and placed within a given state's borders. The decision doesn't address gambling between states, but experts said it is likely to be considered legal as long as both states involved specifically allow it.
"This really helps out state governments a lot," said Melissa Riahei, a former general counsel for the Illinois state lottery who now is general counsel for U.S. Digital Gaming, a company lobbying statehouses for online poker.
Laura Sweeney, a spokeswoman from the Justice Department said in an emailed statement that the department would still be able to investigate and prosecute gambling businesses under laws other than the Wire Act.
In the past, the Justice Department has used the Wire Act in its efforts to stop online gambling sites, which are typically run by offshore companies. More recently it has relied on other laws applying to bank fraud, money laundering or illegal gambling to combat online gambling sites.
In a letter Friday with the new opinion attached, a Justice Department official wrote that the new opinion "will not undermine the Department's efforts to prosecute organized criminal networks. The significant majority of our current and past prosecutions concerning Internet gambling involve cases where the gambling activity is part of a larger criminal scheme."
The decision from the Justice Department grew out of questions regarding the Illinois and New York state lottery.
In 2005, the Illinois Legislature was considering laws directing the lottery to process ticket sales online. State officials received a letter from the Justice Department, then under the administration of President George W. Bush, that they interpreted as forbidding the lottery from selling tickets on the Internet. The state didn't move forward, according to Ms. Riahei, the general counsel at the time.
But in 2009, in search of new funding for state government, the state legislature passed a law directing the lottery to test the federal government's opinion by putting into place plans to operate web sales.
"There was no reason for the lottery not to be doing this and maximizing its revenue in any way possible," said Michael Jones, the recently appointed superintendent of the Illinois lottery who had studied Internet lotteries while in the private sector.
Mr. Jones estimates the lottery could make hundreds of millions of dollars and add hundreds of thousands of new customers by selling tickets to lottery games such as Powerball and Mega Millions over the Internet. He also intends to research the benefits of offering more casual games in the style of the popular online game "Angry Birds" that appeal to a broader group than usual lottery-ticket buyers, but that would require a change in state law, he said.
Ms. Riahei said she and the New York state lottery officials worked together to present to the Justice Department legal reasoning in writing and met with department officials to explain their plans. New York is among the five states that already sell lottery subscriptions on the Internet.
After about a year of discussions, the Justice Department hadn't presented any concerns about Illinois moving into online gambling, which the state took to be tacit approval it could proceed, according to a November 2010 letter from Illinois governor Pat Quinn to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Now, the new Justice Department opinion, "vindicates our legal work," Mr. Jones said. "We
Online gambling software giant Playtech has an excellent reputation in the online gambling industry, which is why it powers many of the world's best online gaming sites, including the newly launched BoyleCasino.com.
Part of the prestigious sports betting firm Boyle Sports, which already offers online betting, poker, and bingo facilities, the Boyle Casino launch adds a much-needed online casino, making Boyle Sports a true "one stop online gambling shop."
BoylesCasino.com is powered by leading Playtech software and is licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission. As a Playtech online casino, Boyles Casino offers players hundreds of top-quality casino games.
John Boyle, the chief executive officer of Boyle Sports, said that Boyle Sports is currently experiencing a strong phase of growth and the launch of its brand new casino proves that it is constantly developing and evolving.
Boyle Casino Will Run On Playtech Software
Playtech-powered Boyle Casino offers a wide range of progressive slots, classic slots, table games, card games, and more, accessible to players in either a Flash or download version, which is ideal for players who do not want to download online gambling software. Players can play attractive Playtech games such as Beach Life slots, Pink Panther slots, Iron Man 2 slots, Santa's Surprise slots, and many others. What's more, these games are available for free play as well as real money play, making them ideal for players who like to get a feel for the games before wagering real money on them.
Some of the more interesting Playtech gaming titles available at Boyle Casino include Genie's Hi Lo, Dice Twister, Jackpot Darts, Shoot Out, and others.
Besides this, BoyleCasino.com is attracting new players through a wide range of generous bonuses. For instance, players can claim a generous first depositors' bonus of 100 percent up to €100 on their initial deposits.
The casino has also launched a lucrative Christmas promotion called Santa Super Slots, which loads of great prizes up for grabs throughout the festive season.
Commenting on the latest development Mor Weizer, the chief executive officer of Playtech, said that Boyle Sports has been Playtech's major customer from 2008 and uses a wide range of Playtech services and products. Boyle Sports' move of launching a brand new Playtech-powered casino has further given Playtech an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to provide a comprehensive gambling solution for its operators.
After the holidays, we will officially enter the next election year. It may seem like it's been going on for years, but there's still almost a year to go.
People will make their predictions on who they think will win. Now though, more formalized betting is being touted by the Chicago-based North American Derivatives Exchange, or Nadex. Nadex proposes allowing on-exchange trading for people who would like to predict with their pocketbook the outcome of the next presidential election and which political party will control the U.S. House and Senate. The application has been placed before federal financial regulators. No problem, right? Well, don't bet on it. In fact, the submission raises concerns. The new financial reform law was abundantly clear that gaming wasn't a legitimate function for regulated markets. This type of betting on elections is illegal in Nevada, and they know what betting means.
The 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform overhaul not only prohibited gaming contracts, but also banned event-based derivatives deemed to be contrary to the public interest. The law further prohibits any such contracts that are tied to terrorism, assassination or war.
Would we really want legalized betting on acts of terror? That's not the stuff for serious federal regulatory oversight.
Congress didn't wanted us to get into the gambling or entertainment business. The U.S. financial markets are serious risk management venues that help facilitate the economic engine of our democracy and determine the prices consumers pay for just about everything from a mortgage to milk. We shouldn't trivialize the importance of these markets.
Our financial markets weren't designed for gaming.
The huge popularity of betting on sporting events while they are taking place has helped boost the takings of Britain's biggest online bookmaker, bet365, making the Stoke-based company bigger than William Hill's and Ladbrokes' online businesses put together.
Although the company has no presence on the high street, bet365 is one Britain's biggest online success stories, with takings for the year to 31 March rising 22% to £501m – a turnover almost as large as online grocer Ocado – as bets rose 58%.
Latest accounts for bet365, best known for its TV adverts featuring actor Ray Winstone that promote the latest in-play odds during televised sporting events, show that the Coates family, who own the business, took out a £25m dividend for the third year running.
The group made a pre-tax profit of £91m despite absorbing rising losses from its majority stake in Premier League football club Stoke City. Bet365's share of losses from the club, which is chaired by 73-year-old bookmaker, serial entrepreneur and Labour donor Peter Coates, almost doubled to £7.4m.
Meanwhile, profits from online betting and gaming operations in Stoke and Gibraltar stayed broadly flat at £93.7m, on turnover of £439m, after bet365 invested heavily in internet and mobile technology as well as its expensive advertising campaign.
The business is run by Peter Coates's accountant daughter Denise and to a lesser extent by her lawyer brother John, both of whom worked for the family's regional betting shop chain before the business was sold to Coral.
Bet365 was started from a single portable building with funding from her father's shops business by Denise in 2000. It is now said to employ more than 1,400 staff, making it a significant contributor to the economy in Stoke.
The group is the last major online bookmaker still on the UK mainland, after rival Ladbrokes and William Hill last year shifted operations offshore with the loss of hundreds of jobs. Bet365 also has operations in Gibraltar, where it takes casino, bingo and poker wagers.
The soaring success of the group has left publicity-shy Denise Coates arguably the UK's most successful self-made businesswoman. She owns just over half the shares in bet365, which have generated dividend payouts in the last three years totalling £37.5m. If she is the group's highest paid director, accounts filed with Companies House suggest she also received pay and pension contributions of £4.5m last year, up from £1.3m in 2010.
Bet365 is often most closely associated with Peter Coates, but in an interview two years ago, he said: "What's nice is that Denise and John have done this themselves. I get the credit as the figurehead, but it should go to them… We've never sought media attention and we don't seek it now, but we've a lot of people working here, and it's good for them, and good for Stoke."
Bet365 does not disclose which countries its revenues come from but the business is acknowledged as the clear market leader in online sports bookmaking in the UK. In addition the site is available in 17 languages and reportedly serves 6 million customers worldwide. It has recently been exploring moves into newly licensed markets of Australia, the Netherlands and Spain.
In recent months the group has also been lobbying hard in Westminster for ministers to consider the impact of proposed online gambling tax changes on its business. In a rare interview with trade journal eGaming Review, Denise Coates said: "Our position is different to most as we currently have our entire sports operation licensed and taxed here. As such we are in the untenable position where we are paying 15% gross profits tax on, for example, our Spanish customers, while at the same time being liable to pay a further 25% to the Spanish authorities in respect of the same player. Clearly, such a position is unsustainable. Our position is that where there is sensible regulation and taxation we will take a licence."
The group's continued bankrolling of loss-making Stoke City is thanks to Peter Coates, a lifelong fan. Accounts show the club's wage bill rose from £44.7m to £48.2m last year. The bet365 chairman enjoys strong support among the club's fans, but that has not always been the case: a previous spell as controlling owner of Stoke City between 1989 and 1999 saw him forced out as chairman on a wave of supporter frustration at disappointing performance on the pitch.
Stoke City was sold to Icelandic investors, only for bet365 to reacquire a majority stake in 2006 for a reputed £5m. In the 2007-8 season the club finished second in the Championship and were promoted to the Premier League.
While Peter Coates gave £150,000 to the Labour party between 2004 and 2005 in a personal capacity, bet365 has a strong track in donations to charities. Last year it gave more than £400,000 to charitable causes, with majority going to a responsible-gambling charity and the rest going to disability, children's and local groups.
A suspect accused of being a central figure in an alleged illegal gambling ring has claimed to have partial ownership of a legal casino in the Chinese peninsula of Macau.
Shortly after FBI agents raided the MGM Spa in Tamuning last year, Wai Kam Ho allegedly justified his income by claiming that he owned about two percent of the VIP room in a Macau casino, according to District Court of Guam documents.
Macau is the gambling hub of Asia, and has grown to rival Las Vegas in recent decades.
The court documents don't state which casino Ho was referencing, but documents do say it was Macau's "original casino." Macau's original casino is the Casino Lisboa.
Wai Kam Ho and about six other people were indicted this month as part of a yearlong federal investigation into a suspected crime ring, which allegedly orchestrated illegal gambling under the guise of legal, nonprofit bingo. The ring also allegedly hosted illegal poker games at the shuttered spa, which Wai Kam Ho owns.
As part of the investigation, the Internal Revenue Service agents have repeatedly argued that Wai Kam Ho and his wife, Betsy Ho, appear to live larger than either can afford by legal means. Federal prosecutors have frozen their bank accounts and are attempting to seize cars and a California condo from the couple.
"Wai Kam Ho and Besy Ho appear to live an upper-middle-class lifestyle with access to large amounts of U.S. currency. However, they do not appear to have a corresponding source of legal ... income from within the U.S. which would justify their affluence," IRS agent Todd Peterson wrote in recent court documents. "... It does not appear that Wai Kam Ho and/or Betsy Ho are using funds from a foreign source income to support their lifestyle."
According to court documents, Wai Kam Ho said he made a profit on his Macau investment two years ago, but admitted he did not file taxes on the income. Wai Kam Ho also said he has investments in Four Seasons Corporation, which generate $400,000 a year, although no other details are provided.
Wai Kam Ho pleaded not guilty earlier this month. An arrest warrant has been issued for Betsy Ho, who did not show up for her first court appearance.
Las Vegas, Nevada, you should be ashamed of yourselves. After years of building that “Sin City” rep, years of slogans like “what happens here, stays here”, thousands of drunken weddings, you come in at only No. 14 on the Drunkest City List?
“They obviously didn’t check the desert for passed out partiers while here in Vegas,” Vegas commenter “Sincitywingfan” wrote. “Average drinks in a month = 14? Seriously? That is an average for a night with gamblers.”
Damn straight.
***
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***
The Daily Beast created the obviously painstaking list by having residents report the average number of alcoholic drinks they consume per month, and reporters considered the percent of the population who are binge or heavy drinkers according to the Centers for Disease Control. When the numbers were added up, Vegas came in at 14.
The company found that the average Las Vegan drank 14.6 adult beverages a month. Though some “Vegans” complained they only averaged that much because of the huge tourism industry in Nevada, while other cities just have a bunch of drunkards. Vegas had nothing on Reno, who ranked fourth, and Boston was the lucky city to rank No. 1 at 15.5 bevies per month. Cheers to Boston!
Does Bovada.lv count as a city? If so we’d like to put in our average during online casino play for analysis.
Mobile casino entertainment is the new frontier in virtual gaming. Players wanting to enjoy their favourite online casino games on the go have opted to play at the following mobile casino enterprises: JackpotCity Mobile, All Slots Mobile and Casino Las Vegas iPhone.
These topnotch gaming operators provide easy mobile casino access to players on all manner of smartphones including PDAs, iPods, iPhones, Nexus One Phones, Google Androids and Blackberry smartphones. Software for mobile casino gaming has improved dramatically of late and players are able to participate in realistic casino action direct from their smartphones. Among the leading mobile casino brands are the following top-tier operators:
JackpotCity Mobile
Online casino players at JackpotCity Mobile are able to enjoy fast and furious action at the click of a few buttons. The gaming technology at JPC Mobile was designed by Microgaming and is powered by world-class Spin3 Mobile Software Developers. Players can enjoy instant-access to mobile gaming on their compatible smartphones, in just 4 easy steps:
1. Submit mobile details online
2. Download the mobile casino software
3. Register a mobile casino account
4. Deposit and play
JackpotCity Mobile features topnotch bonuses and promos for new and returning players. These include a 150% match bonus up to £150 free. And the range of mobile casino games is vast and includes everything from mobile slots to mobile pub fruit machines. Other popular mobile games at JPC Mobile include mobile video poker, mobile scratch cards, mobile blackjack and mobile roulette, among others.
All Slots Mobile
All Slots Casino is the world's biggest online slots casino. It also features a wide range of thrilling mobile casino games and generous sign-up bonuses to boot. New players signing up to All Slots Mobile will receive a welcome bonus up to $200. The benefits of an All Slots Mobile casino download include instant access to state-of-the-art games, superior graphics and sound, top-tier progressive jackpot potential and more.
The Festive Season promos at All Slots Mobile include a 100% match bonus up to 200 credits on all 1st deposits and up to 10% cash back on all deposits - up to 450 credits a month. Games include Tomb Raider, Roulette, Thunderstruck, Mermaids Millions and Mega Moolah. The AllSlots Mobile casino is powered by Microgaming software and Spin3 technology.
Casino Las Vegas Mobile
This popular Vegas-style mobile casino is all the rage. New players are able to enjoy €555 in welcome bonus offers. This offer and others like it are available on all manner of smartphones including Blackberry phones, iPhones and Android phones. Signing up is a snap and players can enjoy the Playtech-powered mobile games in an instant. Mobile casino games include: mobile roulette, mobile blackjack, mobile slots and the full iPhone casino too.
The games can be enjoyed on most every mobile phone. This allows players to partake in real-money gaming on the go. Plus there are many online gaming guides to better assist players in understanding the rules and the games that much better. Casino Las Vegas iPhone is part and parcel of iGlobalMedia Entertainment Ltd. The mobile casino is licensed and regulated by the Government of Gibraltar.
Titan Casino has always offered a great range of games to players using the downloadable desktop version, but not it is making sure Flash casino players don't miss out either, by adding six great games to its flash portfolio.
Six New Games in Flash!
Headlining the list of new games are three 50-line games from Marvel slots. Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk and Fantastic Four are three of the most popular comic-themed online video slots out there, and all provide great gameplay combined with plenty of chances to win.
Two other slots will also now be offered for the first through Flash. Top Trumps Celebs Scratch rewards you with up to $1,000 in prizemoney just for matching any one of six A-list celebs to the prize symbol. Desert Treasure II is bigger and better than its predecessor, with free games, multipliers and a jackpot of up to 10,000X your line bet.
Finally, Halloween Fortune appears, and Titan Casino recently added a great new feature of their own to this game. You can find all the details of this festive slot game through the online casino's blog.
Downloadable Version
Of course, if you download the full version of Titan Casino, you'll benefit from more than 90 cutting-edge games, including all the best slots, the usual card and table games, and around 20 progressive jackpots with massive prizes to give away.
The Live Dealer section takes you through to blackjack, roulette, baccarat and sic bo, and gives you a real-life casino experience from the comfort of your own home. This truly is one of the most dynamic online casinos on the web.
Macau, the world's largest gambling destination, posted a 25 percent rise in December gaming revenue to 23.61 billion patacas ($2.95 billion), government figures showed on Tuesday.
Gaming revenue for the full year surged 42.2 percent to 267.87 billion patacas, it said.
The former Portuguese colony, an hour from Hong Kong by ferry, is the only place in China in which casino gambling is allowed, helping it rake in revenue five times larger than U.S. rival Las Vegas.
Grand Prix is the premier motor race and in January All Jackpots online casino is simulating it through slots game wagering. The Grand Prix promotion says, "Drivers, start your engines!
Play any slot game this month to compete for a share of 5,500 credits in prizes each week!" In addition, each winner in the weekly contest will also get a ticket to the Grand Prix Final with another 18,000 credits up for grabs.
The weekly contests run from Sunday to Saturday at All Jackpots online casino. The first contest began on January 1 and will run till January 7. The last weekly contest will run from January 22 to January 28. The remaining two contests will be held in the intervening weeks. Each week players will have to deposit and wager 100 credits or more on any slot game. This is a major advantage of the Grand Prix promotion. No slots games have been specified and players are free to wager on their favorite games. The top 25 slot wagerers of the week will share the prize pool of 5,500 credits. Players in the 1st to the 5th place will win 500 credits each. Players in the 6th to the 15th place will win 200 credits each. Players in the 16th to the 25th place will win 100 credits each.
The Grand Prix Final will take place on January 30 and January 31. The 100 weekly winners will compete for a share of 18,000 credits in prizes. As All Jackpots online casino says, "It takes a winner to be a winner." Everyone who qualifies is guaranteed a prize and this time around no deposit is required to participate. However, ticket holders must play 300 credits or more on slot games during the Grand Prix Final. The 18,000 credits prize pool will be distributed as follows. The top five players will win 1,000 credits each. The next ten players will win 500 credits each. The next 25 players will win 200 credits each. The remaining 60 players will share the balance 5,500 credits. The winners will be announced February 1.
Some of the important terms and conditions of the Grand Prix promotion at All Jackpots online casino are as follows. If a player makes a withdrawal during a weekly promotional period he will lose his position on the leader board, and must qualify again by making a fresh deposit. Even if a player wins a prize in more than one weekly contest, he will receive only one ticket to the Grand Prix Final. Bonus credits not played within 30 days of being awarded will be deemed to have expired and will be removed.
All Jackpots online casino is a brand of the Jackpot Factory group. It is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and declared safe and fair by eCOGRA. All the slots games offered are from the portfolio of Microgaming.
New Jersey casino regulators have approved gambling chips worth just 25 and 50 cents apiece, instead of the $1 or higher chips commonly used at the casinos.
ACH, the casino formerly known as the Atlantic City Hilton, recently got approval from the state Division of Gaming Enforcement to offer the cheap chips at its table games. ACH has adopted a value-conscious business model to go after low-rollers next year.
The casino requested permission for the new low-value chips on Dec. 5, and permission was granted two days later, although the decision was not made public until Friday.
ACH is considered one of Atlantic City's most endangered casinos due to its low market share and the cutthroat competition that's been hurting the nation's second-largest gambling market for the past five years. Last month, Pennsylvania surpassed Atlantic City for the first time in terms of monthly revenue. Las Vegas remains the nation's largest gambling market.
ACH received approval in November from the state Casino Control Commission for a rescue plan under which its owner, Los Angeles hedge fund Colony Capital LLC, invests $15 million in new cash in the casino and its lenders write off the casino's substantial debt in return for taking ownership of two Mississippi casinos Colony owns. ACH also will get $9.3 million in insurance proceeds from an August 2009 flooding claim.
Michael Frawley, the casino's chief operating officer, said ACH planned to emphasize a new strategy of low-cost entertainment for customers.
"This is part of a strategy we've been thinking about for quite a while now, and there will be more to come," he said Friday.
The casino still has to submit design drawings of what the chips will look like.
ACH had been known as the Atlantic City Hilton until the hotel giant ended a licensing deal over the summer. Frawley said the casino would announce its new name within the next few weeks.
The gaming enforcement division also approved a new zero-value chip to be used at the Golden Nugget Atlantic City. The casino plans to use the zero-value chips in roulette, but it wasn't immediately clear how.