Let your mouth speak archive

Mariah Yeater, pictured above, is the woman claiming to be the mother of Justin Beiber's 3-month-old love child.

Yeater claims she took Bieber's virginity when she was 20 and he was 17, putting her in danger of statutory rape charges. She claims that she deflowered Bieber in a bathroom after one of his concerts last year and that the encounter was a brief but romantic 30 seconds. She claims that Bieber didn't use a condom because it was his first time and he wanted to feel everything.

However, Beiber's team are vehemently denying Yeater's admissions. And to make matters worse, crazed Bieber fans are going all postal on Yeater, even sending her death threats. Following the news that Yeater had filed a paternity suit against Bieber, an army of fans who call themselves "Beliebers" stormed the Internet to threaten her life.

What do you think about live dealers?
I played with live dealers and it was fun, but it was slow and choppy.

Its a great choice for people how like it :dirol

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton says he expects a vote on gambling expansion when lawmakers return to Springfield next week for the fall session.

The Chicago Democrat says he expects a gambling expansion vote when lawmakers return to the Illinois Capitol Nov. 8 for a second week of work. He acknowledged disagreement remains over slots at race tracks.

Gov. Pat Quinn has threatened to veto legislation lawmakers passed in May that would add five casinos, including one in Chicago, and put slots at tracks. Quinn has said he's willing to support the new casinos but opposes slots at tracks. Some lawmakers say a gambling measure can't pass without including slots at tracks.

Cullerton says lawmakers have gotten input from Quinn but he can't say they have an agreement on legislation.

Helping to support socially responsible gambling research, education and treatment, the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission has made a valuable contribution to The GREaT Foundation.


Marc Etches, chief executive of The GREaT Foundation, commented: "Gambling is a form of entertainment that engenders for the vast majority of people fun, excitement and exhilaration without causing any harm. However, for a few - less than one per cent of adults in Britain - gambling excessively beyond their personal financial boundaries causes harm to themselves and their dependents. The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission recognises this fact and we are extremely grateful for the support it gives to our charity."

Chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, Clive Hawkswood, added: "Unfortunately, there is sometimes still the perception that the online gambling sector does not support the important work that The GREaT Foundation undertakes. The truth is that it contributes well in excess of 20 per cent of the GREaT Foundation's funding and this generous donation from the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission is further evidence of that ongoing commitment."

In June 2009, the then government announced that the system of voluntary funding of research, education and treatment of problem gambling would remain in place on the condition that a minimum of £5m is raised for each of the following three years. The GREaT Foundation has confirmed that it met the 2009/10 target of £5m and broke the £5m threshold for 2010/11.

Rumours that the US Senate could legalise online poker have done the rounds more times than a drink-addled Las Vegas gambler losing at Blackjack. But news that Bwin.party has signed a deal with casino operators MGM and Boyd Gaming to provide online services, if legislation legalising online poker is passed, has raised hopes again. There might not be an immediate prospect of the US passing legislation – the authorities, after all, are currently drag netting anyone with a connection to now-disgraced online poker company Full Tilt – but the deal was sufficiently strategic to pique investor interest and the share price rose 10 per cent.

What gives the latest round of reports slightly more credence is that influential US investors are also starting to position themselves for a liberalisation of the rules. But this also suggests Bwin and fellow online gaming company 888 could have a fight on their hands to gain traction in the US market. For example, Donald Trump has inked an agreement with hedge fund manager Marc Lasry not to compete with each other in a potential online venture, while a company called US Digital Gaming has already been founded by former casino executive Richard Bronson. In short, when the smart money starts to move it is time to take notice.

A break in the US for online gambling companies can't come quickly enough. The industry has been mired in a never-ending regulatory limbo as governments try to agree on the best way to police it and make its activities legal, but one step forward generally precedes two or three steps backwards. Bwin can testify to this after it recently lost a European Court of Justice case against the Portuguese betting monopoly in what could set a legal precedent. While regulatory problems are common to all companies, 888 seems to have found a sense of purpose after takeover talks with perennial acquirer Ladbrokes fell apart. This week's trading update recorded its strongest ever quarter with net revenues up 42 per cent on 2010, evidence that 888 has benefited from the demise of rival Full Tilt.

So how do American gamblers transfer and deposit money to online casinos which accept Americans and receive back the money they won?

Despite the vile attempts by politicians under both Bush and Obama to prevent millions of Americans from gambling or playing poker online, there are still a small number of options that a dedicated player can us to fund their online casino account.

First, let’s remember that online gambling is not illegal for online casino gamers in United States. Nor is it illegal for Americans to send or receive money from online casinos, poker or bingo. Betting on sports unfortunately is illegal according to a 50 year old law – you can thank JFK for that.

According to casino gambling news, what is illegal is for banks and financial institutions in the United States to send or receive money from gambling businesses.

So if you try to make a deposit using your credit card and the transaction goes through, that is not your problem. After all, ‘am I my brother’s keeper?’

There are a number of reputable online casinos accepting Americans which are licensed and regulated by their respected countries of origin.

Credit Cards for Online Casinos

The first thing that an American online casino gamer should do after signing up is to attempt to use their Visa credit card.

For whatever reason, Visa seems to work in a number of online casinos on the list above, and with some issuing banks it is even possible to receive your winnings by having them credited back to your Visa card directly from the online casino’s payment processor.

Master Card is not as useful but is still worth a try and American Express may even work once in a blue moon. But don’t count on it.

If the issuing bank for either card is one of the biggest banks in the country, the chances are slimmer than if it’s small, like the 1st Coal Miners Credit Union Visa of Bucks County.

Western Union / Moneygram

If the online casino rejects your deposit, fear not. Good old Western Union has a million locations and any online casino will happily accept a Western Union transfer.

Yes, it will cost about 3% of the total but if you are a regular player or a good negotiator I am very sure that fee could be waved or discounted by the online casino.

Both Western Union and AMEX Moneygram do not care where you are sending the money as long as you have some identification and don’t send thousands of dollars around the world each and every day.

Wire Transfer / Personal Check

If you are in no hurry, just take out your check book, and write out a check to the casino. At the post office put it inside an express mail envelope and within a week (or two) your account will be funded.

Practically all online casinos will pay your winnings via a check send by mail with an obscure acronym for a name from one of their subsidiary companies like ABCS Ltd. Deposit, and wallah! You are again gambling online without breaking even one ridiculous law.

The legal status of online gambling services in the United States is, at best, extremely uncertain. Nevertheless, online gambling services are broadly available to U.S. residents. Advocates for online gaming and consumer protection continue to use this fact as a platform for arguing that it is time for clear and equitable regulation. While lawmakers continue to weigh options for balancing the budget and reducing the federal deficit, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade recently convened a hearing to explore the possibility of regulated federal Internet gambling, and what such regulation would entail.

Quick History Lesson

In 2006, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (the “Act”) which restricts the flow of payments for gambling activities that are illegal where a wager is made or received. The Act requires banks to conduct due diligence and bar commercial customers from processing illegal transactions.

It excludes intrastate transactions from its definition of “unlawful internet gambling,” provided certain conditions are met. Financial institutions have complained that the law unrealistically charges them with a law enforcement-like role in blocking illegal gambling.

Since that time, federal lawmakers have held a series of hearings on proposals to undo or limit its restrictions on Internet gambling services in the United States. Although the Act specifically aimed to curtail Internet gambling by restricting the payments for gambling services, lawmakers have acknowledged that U.S. consumers still have the ability to gamble online, and that many U.S. do.

Regulatory Haze

It is difficult to argue with the notion that if online gambling is regulated in the United States, it will result in safer, regulated alternatives. That said, any experienced Internet law attorney will tell you that whether online gambling is illegal depends, in large part, upon who you ask. Gambling policy and regulation is traditionally handled by the states, but the federal government has been involved in shaping the limits of permissible conduct.

The Department of Justice has taken the position that online gambling is illegal under the Wire Act because it prohibits the use of wire communications for the interstate facilitation of wagers. With the exception of Hawaii and Utah, all states have legalized some form of gambling.

In fact, several states, including California and the District of Columbia, are considering the legalization of intrastate Internet gambling, as well. Not surprisingly, this development has promoted calls from lawmakers for the Department of Justice to reiterate that the Wire Act reaches intrastate internet gambling, too.

Further complicating the legal status of Internet gambling is the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act which gives tribes the authority to establish gaming on their lands.

Looming Legislation

Proposed legislation would regulate and tax online gambling. One bill was introduced in June and is designed to protect consumers who legally play a skill-based game online from fraud and other potential harms. The foregoing bill proposes to modify the Act’s restrictions to authorize financial services providers to process transactions for licensed gambling activities. The proposed bill would make it a crime to operate an Internet gambling facility that accepts bets or wagers from individuals within the United States without a license.

The Commerce Department would be charged with the responsibility and authority to qualify state agencies to issue licenses to qualified Internet poker facilities. States could opt-out of the program and restrict the placement of Internet bets or wagers within their borders.

The proposal is limited to Internet poker services and would not apply to sports bets or other games. Licensees would be required to implement a number of safeguards, including protections for minors, blocking of transactions from locations where a transaction is prohibited, collection of applicable taxes, and anti-fraud systems.

Another proposed bill would regulate and tax Internet gambling, but is broader than the proposed legislation described above. This bill would not be limited to online poker. Rather, it would establish federally regulated online gambling services and be administered by the Treasury Department. Similar to the foregoing proposed legislation, states would have the ability to opt-out.

Regulation Needed

While many are concerned with risks they perceive to be associated with Internet gambling, most predict that the regulation of these services would do more to protect consumers than the current unregulated environment. As it stands today, consumers are accessing online gambling websites with no protections against various risks, including identity fraud, money laundering, privacy invasions and data breaches.

Regulation of these services, along with the implementation of additional consumer protections such as money or time limits, prevention messages, limits on advertisements targeting children and problem gamblers, appear to be a sensible way to raise revenue while protecting U.S. residents.

Well, we certainly hope that British comedian Ricky Gervais is cleared to host the 2012 Golden Globes yet again but does he really want to go through with it? Last year, it was kind of like watching an episode of the Simpsons or South Park, where at one point or another someone got slammed. After all the criticism could Hollywood handle another dose of the Gervais factor….

No doubt, no one likes to be singled out but one has to wonder what exactly the show’s creators expected from Gervais who is responsible for creating shows like The Office and Extras. Who got hit last year? Who didn’t is more of the question with Charlie Sheen being on the hot seat with the following joke:

“Wow, so let’s get this straight, so what he did was, he picked up a porn star, paid her to have dinner with him, introduced her to his ex-wife-as you do- went to a hotel, got drunk, got naked, trashed the place while she was locked in a cupboard, and that was a Monday. What does he do New Year’s Eve?”

While that statement probably summed up Sheen’s year, it actually wasn’t the worst of the bunch. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association was shocked by the jokes but surprisingly enough, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that NBC and the HFPA have made an offer to the comedian to come back as a host in 2012.

Not to say that Gervais would accept but if he did, you can guarantee that there’s no way the guy is going to have his jokes edited.

After months of waiting, USA players who have anxiously awaited news about their funds on the Cereus Network may finally have a small amount of good news to look forward to. According to several published reports, the sites may be close to an arrangement that will help get American players the money sitting in their accounts.

Of the three major poker sites that were targeted on Black Friday, the Cereus Network (named in the indictments as Absolute Poker, but also including Ultimate Bet or U😎 has gotten by far the least attention in the aftermath of the April crackdown.

While PokerStars made waves with their quick repayment of American players, and Full Tilt Poker was scorned for their lack of a response – which ultimately led to the site being shut down worldwide – Cereus managed to fly somewhat under the radar. From the outset, players were skeptical about the likelihood of getting their money back from the Cereus Network sites.

While some players immediately doubted Cereus because of their previous poor response to scandals – such as the Superuser scandal that made headlines even outside of poker circles – even more reasonable commentators were quick to point out that the loss of US players would hurt Cereus more than either PokerStars or Full Tilt. Not only did the USA market make up more of Cereus’ player base, but it was also the smallest of the three sites.

However, there’s now some good news for American players hoping to recover their funds from Cereus Network accounts. According to the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which is the body that licenses the Cereus poker sites, they have held several meetings with Blanca Gaming, operators of the Cereus Poker Network. According to a press release from the KGC, Blanca’s assets may be liquidated, with the proceeds going towards the repayment of American players. While the plan still has to be approved by the US District Court in charge of the case, it is a rare bit of good news for Cereus’ players, who have heard very little about the possibility of being repaid.

As the U.S. economy stubbornly resists stimulus efforts, New Jersey and Maine are among several states betting on a simpler way to fill their coffers: gambling.

Both northeastern states are holding Election Day referendums to increase the once-outlawed practice, following states such as Massachusetts and New Hampshire that have already embraced gaming to boost revenue and jobs in tough times.

Maine will gauge support for a new casino and slot machines at two race tracks, known as "racinos", while New Jersey is seeking to overturn a federal law prohibiting sports betting.

"When states experience economic hardship, they turn to gaming," said Cory Morowitz, chairman of Morowitz Gaming Advisors. "Post-2008, almost all gaming increases are related to the economic downturn."

A recent push to build casinos and increase slot parlors at race courses, particularly in the Northeast, echoes similar moves elsewhere in the early 1990s when economic recession hit.

States whose residents pop over the border to spend -- and generally lose -- their hard-earned gambling cash, are looking to increase betting opportunities in their own backyard to keep the money in state.

This fall, the Massachusetts legislature approved three casinos and one slots parlor in a bill under which 25 percent of casino revenues and about 50 percent of slots revenue would return to the state. In New Hampshire, a House legislative panel last week voted to permit two casinos. The proposal still faces several legislative hurdles.

Outside the Northeast, Minnesota lawmakers struggling to find a way to provide public funding for two-thirds of a proposed $1.1 billion Minnesota Vikings football stadium have floated several options to expand gambling in the state.

They include permitting slot machines at horse racing tracks, allowing electronic pull-tabs at bars and restaurants and a private casino in downtown Minneapolis.

Illinois, which is among the most financially strapped states, in May voted to authorize new casinos that could generate up to $1 billion a year, including one in Chicago. Governor Pat Quinn, worried about the state's reputation for corruption, has threatened to veto the plan unless it is slimmed down and includes more oversight.

If the referendum passes in New Jersey as expected, it is just a first step on the long road to making it legal to gamble on professional, college or amateur sporting events by placing bets at casinos and racetracks in the Garden State.

That kind of betting is outlawed by federal law except in Nevada and Delaware. Passing the referendum would set the stage for New Jersey to file a lawsuit to overturn the federal ban within its borders too.

It looks like the us soon or later give gambling a chanse.

Even now, in the face of the ongoing attempts by politicians to prevent American fans of online gaming to play poker or gamble online, there are some options worth reviewing. To be clear, it is not online gambling that is illegal for Americans. Nor is it illegal for them to send or receive money from internet casinos, bingo or poker. Rather it is illegal for financial and banking institutions to receive or pay out any money from any businesses associated with online gambling.

So how can Americans gamble online? Since it is accepted to use a credit card to make a transaction then in an arms length manner, so-to-speak, an American gambler can make a deposit to an online account. Some reputable online gambling sites which are licensed and regulated by their respected countries of origin do accept a Visa credit card. One must first try it to see however.

After registering their account, then a gambler may find that not only can they deposit to that account but they may even have their winnings transferred back to their credit card. Small business accounts work better as opposed to large businesses like TD Visa. In 2009, some TD Canada Trust customers received a notice at the bottom of their statement that Visa no longer can be used for online poker. American Express and Master Card are not as forthcoming moreover at either way of the transactions yet.

Both Western Union transfers and AMEX Moneygram will transmit your money if you provide identification and keep the amount below a reasonable amount, for example under $1,000 per day. Of course you can always send a check via the post office. After a time, be patient, the money will be deposited to your new online account.

Minnesotans much prefer using new forms of gambling revenue to pay for a new Vikings stadium instead of higher taxes, a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll has found.

The poll showed widespread public support for everything from a state lottery scratch-off game to slots at horse-racing tracks and electronic pulltabs in bars and restaurants.

Meanwhile, the Vikings' choice for a stadium site -- the old Army ammunition plant in Arden Hills -- appears to be less popular. A location in Minneapolis was preferred by a 45 percent of poll respondents; 37 percent preferred Arden Hills, with the rest undecided or not answering. Nearly 40 percent of those polled said any of the proposed sites in Minneapolis are acceptable, although the Metrodome site is the first choice among the three.

One clear finding: Minnesotans don't want to see the Vikings leave. About 67 percent said that keeping the team in the state is important.

The poll of 807 adults statewide was conducted Nov. 2-3 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

The poll also showed growing support for the use of public funds for a new stadium, although a majority still opposes any public subsidy. Fifty-six percent of those polled opposed using public money while 37 percent favored it. Last May, a Minnesota Poll showed 74 percent opposed to public subsidies and 22 percent in favor.

"It's encouraging to see growing public support for keeping the Vikings in Minnesota, and the support for the funding options is encouraging,'' Gov. Mark Dayton said in response to the poll findings.

Donna Herdsman counts herself among the opponents. "Football is a rich man's sport, way too costly for the people in Parkers Prairie to attend a Vikings game,'' said Herdsman, who lives in the small community near Alexandria.

But Brad Carlson of south Minneapolis said the team is an important part of the state's fabric. "When you talk about the Minnesota Vikings, it's like, our state bird is the loon, or 10,000 lakes,'' he said.

And many residents say using gambling money is the best way to help build a stadium. In order of popularity (respondents were allowed to say "yes" or "no" to each option), 81 percent supported a Minnesota Lottery Vikings scratch-off game to help pay for the stadium, followed by 72 percent who liked the idea of "racino" video gambling at horse-racing tracks. Electronic pulltabs in bars and restaurants were favored by 70 percent, while 60 percent said they could support a casino in downtown Minneapolis.

A statewide 2-cent-per-drink tax on alcohol, proposed by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, was favored more narrowly at 53 to 46 percent.

Arden Hills vs. Minneapolis

Of the Minneapolis stadium sites, 38 percent said any one of the three is fine. The next largest group, 31 percent, want the stadium built on the site of the Metrodome, where the team has played since 1982. The Farmers Market site near Target Field came in second at 13 percent.

The newest proposed site, land near the Basilica of St. Mary, garnered only 2 percent support. (The Star Tribune owns land near the Metrodome site and its value could be affected by the stadium decision.)

Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett, who has teamed with the Vikings to promote the Arden Hills site, said "most people haven't seen the site,'' and yet it is favored by season ticket-holders. Dayton said he doesn't think citizens or legislators have enough information yet to make a site decision.

While Dayton and leading legislators only recently dropped their insistence that local governments provide any public share of stadium funding, the public leans toward statewide funding, with 47 percent saying the money should come from statewide revenues. Another 40 percent said the host city or county should pay any public share.

The idea floated recently of using Legacy funds, which are dedicated to projects benefitting the environment, arts and cultural heritage, was shot down by the poll respondents -- 77 percent opposed using Legacy funds for a stadium, compared to 21 percent in favor.

Men are far more accepting of public funding for a stadium than women, the poll showed -- 46 percent of men in favor, versus only 27 percent of women.

Support for public funding also grows with income: Among those making more than $75,000, more people support public funding (47 percent) than oppose it (43 percent). Among age groups, those over 65 were most likely to oppose public funding for a stadium, while those between 35 and 44 were most likely to be supportive.

"I've always been a fan, my family also," said Christine Thompson of Farmington, who favors a public subsidy. The Vikings, she said, are "part of growing up here. They're a source of revenue and a symbol of our state.''

The percentage of those who believe the host city or county should pay the public share of stadium funding is lower in Hennepin and Ramsey counties, where such taxes would be most likely to be assessed, than elsewhere. In those two counties, only 33 percent said the local host should pay, compared to 38 percent among residents of other metro counties and 46 percent among respondents from the rest of the state.

Views on the stadium location also varied depending on where the respondents live and by gender. Among those in the suburbs outside of Hennepin and Ramsey counties, 54 percent favor Arden Hills. Men between ages 45 and 64 slightly preferred Arden Hills to Minneapolis, while women and adults under 35 preferred Minneapolis.

The issue continues to excite strong feelings.

James Richert of Mora feels the team is a resource "for everybody to enjoy. ... They've been part of our state for a very long time." He said using some tax or gambling revenues would be appropriate and he prefers Arden Hills to downtown Minneapolis.

"It's easier to get to,'' he said. "Downtown is just so cluttered, you go to a game, there's no place to park.''

Jill Crosby of Shakopee once was

One of my early attractions to newsrooms was the intriguing collection of characters and rogues who practiced their craft in settings that were mostly dark and dingy, but somehow conveyed an energy that was both raw and fine-tuned.

They reminded me of my days at the racetrack as a kid. The track was a place that not only offered an oasis for a horse lover but also put you in the midst of hardscrabble men and women who eked out a living in a tough and unforgiving sport.

At both places, the newspaper and the track, you found hard-working people who had the glint of adventure in their eyes, who relied on wits and talent to survive and felt no need to conform to the structure of society beyond their own environment. Those who worked there, in fact, often created their own society of friends who depended mostly on one another, exclusive of the outside world.

Racetracks, horses and horsemen held an allure and fascination for me. In Maine, there is a strong tradition of harness racing that is a way of life for many, both as a job and as a spectator sport.

We have a chance this week to preserve that sport, to help it grow and continue to be part of a tradition that makes us special. Question 2 on Tuesday's election ballot, if approved, will provide a shot in the arm for Biddeford and Washington County by allowing development of "racinos" featuring harness tracks and slot machines.

Have you been to either Biddeford or Washington County lately? I have, and they need economic help. It's that simple. Building these facilities will immediately create construction and real-estate related jobs and put money in Maine workers' pockets. Once built, the facilities will need many full and part-time employees.

Hollywood Slots in Bangor says it has more than 400 employees and attracts up to 80,000 visitors a year. Drawing from the close proximity to New Hampshire and Massachusetts, can you imagine how many people will come to Biddeford?

Reilly's Bakery, a generation upon generation business in downtown Biddeford, will have to double its shifts to keep up with all the people buying cream rolls and lemon meringue pies.

Through the years, I have owned and run a newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. In that town, Mohegan Sun bought a racetrack, put in slots, and now is developing a world-class hotel. The racino has already drawn restaurants to the facility, including a Ruth's Chris Steak House. The owners have given generously of time and money to Wilkes-Barre and surrounding communities. They have changed life there, for the better. Ocean Properties will develop the Biddeford project and it has a long history of developing world-class hotels and other properties. If you want an example of how Ocean Properties has positively affected a single community, take a drive to Bar Harbor. The beauty of the drive will do your soul good, and even though the tourists are gone, you will see that the town's best hotels are those owned and operated by a Maine family's company, Ocean Properties.

Or go to the Samoset in Rockport to see how Ocean Properties restored what is among the state's most famous resorts and golf courses.

My Bangor roots give me solid knowledge of Ocean Properties' owners, Tom Walsh and his family.

I grew up hearing stories about the entrepreneurial efforts of Tommy Walsh. He built the Holiday Inn and he built this and he built that, the stories went, and then he expanded his business around the country and later around the world. There is no better example of a man from humble Bangor/Brewer beginnings who through hard work, incredible focus and grit became a success, improved communities and provided thousands and thousands of jobs.

Now in his 80s, he is still as hard-working and focused as ever. He's still growing his company and he's never lost his dedication to Maine.

The Biddeford racino developers have promised that revenues from the track and facility will put about $35 million back into the state: a total of $32 million will go into the state's general fund and there will be a guarantee of $3 million for college scholarships. And to those who are either opposed to slot machines or are saying that we have enough casinos in Maine with one in Bangor and another under construction in Oxford, I say: Are you nuts?

Ever heard of free enterprise?

This is not a case of the "Field of Dreams" line, "Build it and they will come."

No. This is a case of build one closer to Maine's largest population, in Southern Maine, and build one in a remote part of the state, Washington County. Then let them compete in the open, fair, free-enterprise market.

And slot machines?

We have the lottery. We have pari-mutuel racing. Betting, gambling, games of chance are all around us, all the time.

Personally, I love it all. Before I was old enough to look a racetrack teller in the eye, I'd stand around the betting window at the Bangor track, waiting for some family friend to come around and place a bet for me.

When I was older, but still a teenager, I did odd jobs at tracks. I drove the water truck, jogged a few horses, sold programs and tip sheets at county fairs.

I loved the life around the tracks and their Runyonesque characters.

As I traveled the country working for newspapers, I lived in cities with harness racing tracks, but none had the feel and tradition of Maine tracks.

The racino in Biddeford will be a far cry from the circuit I frequented in Maine many years ago. It will be first class and a destination for dinner, entertainment, and a caliber of harness racing this state has never seen.

We have a Maine family prepared to spend at least $120 million to give us a chance at jobs, a chance to improve Biddeford, and a chance to preserve and grow the great Maine tradition of harness racing.

And if you look at a map from east to west and north to south, we will be giving people in all areas of the state a chance to benefit, as Bangor has and as Oxford surely

With Pennsylvania on pace to next year overtake New Jersey as the busiest gambling mecca in the East, Atlantic City casinos are trying to lure gamblers back with attractions that can't be found in the Keystone State.

You want blackjack at poolside? Done.

You want to gamble while buying shoes? No problem. You want to see skilled acrobats who are unimpeded by, um, clothing? Coming soon.

"That's right, we're getting the naked circus for Christmas," Resorts casino owner and CEO Dennis Gomes said. "You won't find that in Pennsylvania."

What you will find in Pennsylvania is a lot of gamblers who used to play in New Jersey. While the state's burgeoning casino industry continues to climb, New Jersey's annual take has plummeted more than 30 percent. At the current pace, Pennsylvania revenues will overtake Atlantic City's next year.

So, as Pennsylvania's casinos suck billions of dollars in wagers out of Atlantic City each year, flailing shore casinos are fighting back with new ideas. Harrah's will have table games around its pool by November, Tropicana has received approval to put slot machines in its shopping mall, Resorts Casino has booked Cirque Risque for the winter months, and Atlantic City has started to schedule tourist-drawing events such as last summer's rodeo to help boost its struggling casino industry.

Perhaps most importantly, the Atlantic City Alliance has been created, which, after 30 years of shore casinos competing largely against each other, will now pool some of their money to create a unified marketing campaign designed to fend off new foes such as Pennsylvania.

But will it stop New Jersey's bleeding? And will it stunt Pennsylvania's growth?

"Well, I'm not sure we're at the bottom, but we can see it from here," Tropicana Chief Executive Officer Tony Rodio said. "I really think you are going to see people come back to Atlantic City, as people are reminded that it's a one-stop shop for a lot more than gambling."

That will mean rolling out a new marketing campaign designed to highlight that people can hit the beach, see a concert, go shopping, visit the circus and gamble — all without getting back into their car.

End of an era

Recent numbers show why Atlantic City casinos must band together if they are to fend off competition. While Nevada remains the undisputed national leader with people losing roughly $10 billion there each year, it appears that New Jersey's more than three-decade reign at No. 2 is about to end.

After posting gains every year since legalized gambling started in 1978, Atlantic City casino revenues peaked in 2006, when they collectively took in $5.2 billion. But late that year, Pennsylvania opened the first of what are now 10 casinos. In its first full year, 2007, Pennsylvania casinos kept about $1 billion of people's wagers, and that number will push beyond $3 billion for 2011, said Richard McGarvey, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Meanwhile, Atlantic City revenues are projected to drop below $3.3 billion this year — a more than 30 percent drop since 2006. If the competing trends continue, Pennsylvania would pass New Jersey as the second-largest casino gambling state in the nation next year.

There's little question about where most of those Jersey customers went. Roughly 300,000 tour buses visited Atlantic City in 2003, but the number was down to 165,000 in 2010, according to the New Jersey Gaming Control Commission, while the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem alone is hosting dozens of buses from northern New Jersey and New York every day.

Gambling expert Joe Weinert thinks Pennsylvania has already blown by the Garden State, at least when it comes to gambling revenues. Weinert, senior vice president of New Jersey-based Spectrum Gaming Group, which analyzes gambling revenues nationwide, noted that New Jersey regulators allow casinos to report as revenue the free money casinos give to people to entice them to visit.

Pennsylvania regulators do not allow "free play" money that is lost by people to be reported as revenue. If Pennsylvania added the half-billion dollars in promotional play casinos give away each year, its 10 casinos would likely pass New Jersey this year.

Leveling off

Whenever it happens, Weinert is among the gambling analysts who believe revenues in both states are about to level off. It's true that New Jersey's revenue decline has slowed — from 13 percent in 2009 to under 8 percent this year. And the $2.4 billion Revel Casino, with its 47-story hotel, 12 restaurants and six swimming pools, is expected to draw new customers when it opens next May. That alone could stop New Jersey's collective slide, Weinert said. But Gomes said Pennsylvania's climb is also poised to flatten.

"[Pennsylvania] has peaked in my opinion. It's taken about all it can from A.C.," Gomes said. "I'm not rooting against Pennsylvania. I just think that as the economy improves, people will come back to Atlantic City for a fuller experience of gaming that includes other options such as the beach, shopping and a variety of casinos."

But if Gomes and Rodio are right in their belief that New Jersey is bottoming while Pennsylvania is peaking, can the market handle even more competition? Pennsylvania plans to add one more casino, possibly in the Philadelphia area, and the massive Revel will open on the Atlantic City boardwalk in May.

Are the rival gambling states still growing the market, or is their growing number of gambling halls relegated to competing for smaller pieces of the same-size pie? "We know New Jersey is taking steps to win customers back. It's definitely something we're paying close attention to," McGarvey said. "Is there room for everybody? I'm not sure anyone has that answer. We'll have to wait and see."

It may be years before that question is answered because in addition to expansion in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Aqueduct Racetrack in New York is getting slot machines later this year,

Andy Rooney, who was with CBS for almost 60 years — died yesterday at the age of 92. Rooney, who would offer scathing and insightful monologues at the end of 60 Minutes entitled A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney, had been hospitalized last month for "serious complications" following minor surgery.

60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager released a statement saying, "It's a sad day for everybody here at CBS News … it's hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much."

Rooney last made a 60 Minutes appearance on October 2, lamenting that the weight of his laptop computer is fascinating.

Rooney said, "It weights less than 3 pounds … I lose that much getting mad waiting to get on the plane through security at the airport."

Rooney began his journalism career writing for Stars and Stripes in London during World War II.

In February 1943, Rooney was one of six correspondents who flew on the second American bombing raid over Germany. He was also one of the first American journalists to visit the Nazi concentration camps near the end of World War II, and one of the first to write about them.

Joe Frazier, the 67-year old legendary boxer who was the first to beat Muhammad Ali back in the 1971 Fight of the Century, has been diagnosed with liver cancer and is currently under hospice care.

He is the boxer who has held a longstanding rivalry with Muhammad Ali for the last few decades as he taunted him with insults both on and off the ring and it wasn’t until the 90’s that the two finally put their grievances to rest.

Frazier has been managing his own boxing gym in Philadelphia where he has trained other boxers with the skills that made him a legend including his own son Mavis Frazier who went on to fight Mike Tyson in a 1986 bout as well as his younger son Joe Frazier Jr. and his daughter Jackie Frazier-Lyde.

According to ESPN, Frazier’s manager Leslie Wolff released a statement about Frazier’s condition claiming, “The boxer had been in and out of the hospital since early October and has been receiving hospice treatment since last week.”

Among his legendary fights include his 1971 Fight of the Century and the epic Thrilla in Manila fight back in 1975 where Frazier and Ali’s growing tensions were taken into the ring to reveal who would be the Heavyweight Champion. Ali won the fight in the end but the grueling 14 rounds the two boxers endured made it one of the best sporting events in history.

It was announced this week that two of the major casino operations in the United States will join forces with the largest online gaming operation – if and/or when the United States can clarify its murky online gaming laws.

On Monday, MGM Resorts International and Boyd Gaming Corporation agreed to partner with the largest online gaming operation in the industry, Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment, for a future online poker operation that will be owned by the three entities. Surprisingly, the breakdown of ownership is very much in favor of Bwin.Party; MGM Resorts would own 25% of the operation, Boyd Gaming 10% and the rest would be owned by Bwin.Party. The deal is contingent on clarification of online gaming laws in the U. S., however.

According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, the Vegas casino operations are looking to hit the ground running when potential legislation is passed. “We know that millions of Americans are gambling online (and) we know that they’re gambling billions of dollars,” MGM Resorts Chief Executive Officer Jim Murren is quoted by Bloomberg. Jim Ryan, the Chief Executive Officer of Bwin.Party, echoed those sentiments in also stating to Bloomberg, “It’s all about preparing for the eventual opening of the market.”

The potential operation of the conglomerate offers something for everyone. By using the Bwin.Party technologies and software, MGM and Boyd Gaming will have a proven gaming platform that will allow them to quickly enter into a potential U. S. online poker industry. In addition to the platform, there would be a “brand recognition” that would make the potential online sites immediately viable. For Bwin.Party, it will allow them to once again enter into the U. S. market, which the company sacrificed after the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006.

Back in 2006, the then-PartyGaming decided to prohibit U. S. players from playing on the site. If they had allowed American action, they would have jeopardized their status on the London Stock Exchange. Bwin also prohibited action around the same time and for the same reasons.

The deal is a natural for MGM and Bwin.Party. Bwin.Party, as the owners of the World Poker Tour, and respective properties of MGM Resorts have long been partners in the live tournament poker world with the WPT. Although some may question the inclusion of Boyd Gaming, it is expected that they will bring liquid capital to the table for any particular startup costs.

Even with this deal in place, there are still hurdles to overcome. First off, there are no online poker regulations in place to allow for the companies to put their wares on the market. Since the shutdown of a significant majority of online poker operations with the U. S. Department of Justice’s “Black Friday” indictments, there has been movement – albeit glacial – towards potential legislation.

In October, a hearing in the House of Representatives examined the online gaming issue in its entirety, but there was an extreme focus on online poker. The hearing, entitled “Internet Gaming: Is There A Safe Bet?” was led by Chairman Mary Bono-Mack and featured the legislation of committee member Representative Joe Barton. The Texas Republican’s “Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection and Strengthening UIGEA Act of 2011” was a topic of conversation throughout the hearings and is currently the only online gaming legislation in front of either branch of Congress.

The hearings were deemed an overall success, but there has been no further action on the bill in Representative Bono-Mack’s committee or in any other House or Senate committee. Potential legislation may face an uphill battle in the House, with anti-gambling advocates Spencer Bachus and Eric Cantor promising to block such attempts at a legislative vote.

Secondly, although Bwin.Party has apparently been cleared of any potential wrongdoing with the federal government (as a part of a non-prosecution agreement, PartyGaming paid the U. S. Government $105 million in 2009), there could be licensing issues. At the moment, there is no jurisdiction that has any regulation in place, although the state of Nevada is looking to rectify that. With no rules in place, it is unknown how licensing of a potential MGM/Boyd/Bwin.Party would be achieved or what potential pitfalls may be faced.

Overall, the proposed deal is promising in that it will bring together some of the biggest players in the “brick and mortar” casino world with a major player in the online gaming world to provide a safe, viable online poker product to Americans. It just may be some time before the deal can actually come to fruition.

Very very sad 😔