Let your mouth speak archive

Facebook is making its online gambling debut, with the launch of a bingo app which allows users to gamble on the social network with real cash. The Bingo Friendzy app, created by games manufacturer Gamesys, will only be available in the UK, where online gambling is well regulated.

It will not appear to users who are under the age of 18 or from other countries.

The app, which launches this week, requires a £10 deposit and £30 to play, and players can chat to their friends while playing bingo.

Players enter their card details into the app, which is claimed to be "100% safe and secure".

Their activity will be shared with friends in their newsfeeds. However, it will not appear in users' newsfeeds who are under the age of 18, due to the network’s age-gating technology.

Gamesys, which operates the Sun Bingo and Heart Bingo, is one of the UK's leading gambling operators.

Facebook is talking to other games makers about introducing other gambling games, such as blackjack and roulette, according to the Financial Times.

Read More: Facebook raises stakes with real cash gambling app - Marketing news - Marketing magazine

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [email]ftsales-support@ft-com[/email] to buy additional rights. Facebook ventures into online gambling - FT-com

Facebook is venturing into the world of online gambling with the launch of its first application where punters can stake real money.

Starting on Tuesday, Facebook will offer users in the UK aged 18 and over the opportunity to play online bingo for cash prizes. Slot machine games will be added in the coming weeks.

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The governor’s office released details of a proposed bill to expand gambling Tuesday night — legislation that includes allowing table games and a Prince George’s County casino but not internet gambling.

The bill is largely similar to the recommendations made by members of the state Workgroup to consider Gaming Expansion in June, according to the office of Gov. Martin O’Malley (D).

Key provisions include:

- Table games, such as blackjack and roulette, at existing casinos, to be taxed at a rate of 20 percent.

- Allowing a sixth casino license, to be located in Prince George’s County, with 3,000 slot machines. Both Rosecroft Raceway and the waterfront National Harbor development will be possible locations. The casino would not be allowed to open until July 1, 2016, or 30 months after a Baltimore casino opens, whichever comes first.

Read More: Gazette.Net: O’Malley releases gambling bill

The General Assembly is scheduled to convene this week in special session to hash out several gambling-related issues that continue to plague lawmakers.

Although it has been mentioned as a potential agenda item, Internet gambling does not appear it will make the cut. All we can say is, thank goodness!

According to a recent Baltimore Sun story, several members of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee have expressed various doubts and fears about taking up the subject of Internet gambling during the special session.

In general, most seem to believe that it would be a complicated -- and potentially perilous -- subject for them to tackle so hastily.

The committee's chairman, Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer, D-Howard, said, "It just seems to have a lot of implications potentially that I'm not aware of. What does it mean? What is it all about?"

Sen. Roger Manno, D-Montgomery, puts it more simply, saying, "It just seems to open a can of worms," while Baltimore Sen. Verna Jones-Rodwell worries, "I don't know how you can control it for individuals under 21."

Read More: Internet gambling 'a can of worms' - The Frederick News-Post Online

Michael Phelps is leaving the world of competitive swimming as the highest decorated Olympian in history, with 22 medals. Phelps says he has no official future plans other than knowing he wants to keep working with his foundation, improve his golf game and do some traveling.

But all that will have to wait as his first couple of days of retirement are full of sponsor, Olympic and corporate obligations including 3 news conferences within 16 hours. Facing a global set of reporters, Phelps covered a slew of questions covering his swimming accomplishments and future plans.

Read More: Phelps shares his future plans, video, 2012 Olympics - National Global Entertainment | Examiner-com

UK bookmaker Ladbrokes is still having difficulties with its online betting operations. Last week they announced that the head of digital operations, Richard Ames, will be leaving after their profits from online betting fell by 50% in the first half of the year to just £15m.

Richard Glynn, the Chief Executive, has said that there is “disappointment” about their online operations and it is not surprising that Ames has left. However, it has been reported that he will receive more than £500,000 compensation.

Ladbrokes’ first half operating profits were £107m but just one seventh of this came from online gambling. Rival bookmakers Paddy Power makes more than four fifths of its profits from online and telephone betting. The future of Ladbrokes is dependent on better results from online gambling as it continues to grow in popularity. The ousting of Ames is a statement that Ladbrokes thinks its own online technology, which has cost £50m to develop, has failed.

Read More: Ladbrokes Fails to Conquer Online Gambling - Online Casino Archives

GAMBLING firm Tabcorp Holdings says 20 per cent of its online wagering turnover is being placed through mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Tabcorp on Thursday reported a fall in net profit to $340 million in the year to June 30, 2012, from $534.8 million in the 2010/11 financial year, largely as the result of the demerger of its casinos business in 2011.

But, based on continuing operations, profit was 12.7 per cent higher than the $301.6 million recorded in 2011/12, due to underlying earnings growth and lower interest expenses following the casinos demerger.

Tabcorp chief executive David Attenborough said Tabcorp's continuing businesses had started 2012/13 with good momentum, and they would benefit from a number of valuable growth opportunities, such as the new Victorian Keno business and Tabcorp Gaming Solutions, which will help clubs and pubs manage their poker machine operations.

Read more: Online betting rises strongly: Tabcorp | News-com.au

It's genius. In the United Kingdom, Facebook is experimenting with legal gambling online by launching a real-money gambling app. Like I've always said, if you cannot make money the old-fashioned way, open a casino or go into porn. I suspect that porn will be next for Facebook. But first, it has to take this gambling idea as far as possible.

In the United States, Facebook hasn't announced plans for any such gambling initiative, but I can assure you that someone is working on it now. Just think about the possibilities. You can go on Facebook and check in to see what your close friends (who you would not care about if it were not for Facebook) are doing or what they are gossiping about. You can post a few things on a few walls. You can complain about the government. Then, you can go into the Facebook Casino and blow your whole paycheck on video poker. Fantastic!

Read More: Facebook Plays With Online Gambling | News & Opinion | PCMag-com

Las Vegas-based IAD and transaction processor Global Cash Access Holdings Inc. is betting it can make a bundle on Internet gambling. On Tuesday, the company announced it has formed a strategic partnership with New York-based Live Gamer, a wallet, analytics and media provider to the social gaming world.

GCA announced the deal during the company's Q2 earnings call late Tuesday afternoon. The exact nature of the business alliance was not outlined, said an article in Vegas Inc. However, the publication said, it appears that GCA is positioning itself to extend its bricks-and-mortar cash supply services to Internet poker websites when that form of gaming becomes available.

Read More: Global Cash Access announces online gaming alliance | ATM Marketplace

Elected officials and gaming-industry executives in Delaware are keeping a close watch this week on plans in Maryland to legalize table games at the state’s five casino sites and allow the establishment of a sixth gambling venue just outside Washington. Lawmakers in Maryland will convene a special session today to debate legislation that many agree is another inevitable expansion of gambling in what’s become a highly competitive regional market.

The Maryland bill, put forward by Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley in cooperation with legislative leaders, is projected to bring the state some $200 million a year in new revenues earmarked for schools, if it passes and survives a statewide referendum this fall.

But there’s no telling what impact table games and a new casino near the nation’s capital will have on the more than $250 million in gambling tax revenues Delaware collects from the state’s three casinos each year.

Read More: www-delawareonline-com/article/20120809/NEWS02/308090047/Gambling-stakes-rising-around-region?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|s

VETERAN deejay Ranking Trevor died from injuries sustained in a motor accident yesterday.

The deejay, whose real name is Maxwell Grant, was hit from his motorcycle near Cling Cling Oval, a sports complex at the corner of Cling Cling Avenue and Olympic Way, in St Andrew. He was 60 years old.

Read more: Ranking Trevor dies in accident - Entertainment - JamaicaObserver-com

Due to strict gambling laws, badly located casinos and betting shops, contrasted with liberalised online play available to all adults anywhere, the last 10 years have not been easy for offline gaming. However, the future of offline gaming now looks more promising according to Belle Rock Entertainment. The UK gambling and gaming industry is enjoying a renaissance largely boosted, not hindered, by online gaming.

A new report in the US found online gambling actually complements offline gambling. Online poker for example generally fuels demand for offline poker games such as high-stakes games and long-play tournaments.

Read More: IT News Online > - - Offline Gaming is Enjoying a Renaissance in the UK, Says Belle Rock Entertainment

A new study highlighting the pace of change in online gambling regulations across Europe has found that attempts at ring-fencing markets are having mixed results.

More than a year after the launch of the European Commission’s Green Paper consultation and with a communication on online gambling expected in a matter of weeks, new research has revealed the increasingly complex regulatory environment with which online gambling operators, regulators and governments need to come to terms.

Gambling Compliance’s new report Market Barriers: A European Online Gambling Study 2012 finds that during 2012 alone, 15 European countries have made changes to their online gambling frameworks and at least eight more are reviewing how to regulate their online gambling markets. The report concludes that while there is a strong trend towards point-of-consumption regulations, valuable lessons are emerging into the success of countries’ attempts at ring-fencing their markets through combinations of payment processing, website blocking and advertising bans.

Read More: Pace of change in EU regulation highlighted | News | i-Gaming | InterGame

As Maryland lawmakers debate adding table games and a sixth casino...in neighboring Delaware officials have expanded sports betting from the state's three casinos to more than 30 other locations.

Betting on National Football League games is now available at 31 retail locations, including restaurants, pubs and nightclubs.

The expansion of sports betting was authorized under a new law that also allows online slot machine and table game wagers.

Delaware state officials have said revenues from the expanded gambling opportunities would allow them to eliminate millions of dollars in fees paid by the casinos, which have pledged in return to spend an equal amount on traditional business expenses such as marketing, capital improvements and debt reduction.

Delaware Approves Additions To Online Betting | Baltimore News | WBAL Radio 1090 AM

The United States Department of Justice sent a clear message late last month: They see online poker as viable in America.

Now, will Congress listen?

John Pappas on Thursday penned an essay for Forbes, in which the Poker Players Alliance executive director lays out a solid case for the legalization of online poker in the United States. His strongest point comes when describing what the DOJ's actions -- or inactions -- in light of PokerStars purchase of Full Tilt.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office very clearly left the door open for PokerStars, and it’s now-owned Full Tilt Poker, to become licensed online poker operators as soon as the United States decides to license and regulate this great American pastime. This sends an important message to Congress. The Justice Department could have very easily banned PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker from the United States forever. Yet it chose not to. It chose to clearly recognize that online poker can and should be a viable industry in this country. Now the question is, will Congress listen?

Read More: Listen up, Congress - Peoria, IL - pjstar-com

Norbert Leo Butz has signed up to play Katie Holmes' brother in Broadway show Dead Accounts.

The two-time Tony award-winner - who recently had a cameo on hit musical TV show Smash - will star in the comedy as Jack, who surprises his family when he returns to his hometown out of the blue.

Norbert will team up again with director Jack O'Brien, who also directed his Tony-award winning performances in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Catch Me If You Can.

The play, by Theresa Rebeck, will open on Broadway this autumn at the Music Box Theatre. Previews will begin on November 3.

Dead Accounts marks 33-year-old Katie's first return to Broadway since appearing in the 2008 production of All My Sons.


Katie Holmes costar for Broadway show is announced - Film & Cinema, Entertainment - Independent.ie

Gambling on American Indian reservations in California brings in $7.5 billion a year, supporting more than 52,000 jobs, according to a new study commissioned by a tribal association.

The study found that gambing provided a $7.5 billion economic boost to the state's economy in 2010. It also estimated that more than 80 percent of casino employees are non-tribal members. Many of these tribal gaming jobs are filled by lower-skilled workers, those hurt most by the economic downturn, the study said.

Indian gambling gives $7.5B boost to California economy, study says

California needs tax money so shouldn't go wrong. Problem is what the hell they do with the money.

Online and offline gaming in the Asia-Pacific region is rapidly outpacing that of Europe

According to Gaming Club, Asia is the driving force in the online and offline gaming market. As the outlook in Europe continues to deteriorate, having a knock-on effect on markets around the world, particularly those trading with the European region, most commentators predicted a sharp drop in gaming profits. Whilst this is certainly the case in Europe with a contraction of 7.2% in 2010, it is not true for Asia.

The Asia-Pacific market grew by 49.7% in 2010 according to PwC. A further rise of close to 40% was enjoyed in 2011. PwC also predicts the gaming market in Asia-Pacific will outsize the next largest by at least three percentage points, taking the world's biggest share of the gaming pie.

However, gambling in Asia is almost solely fuelled by land-based casino resorts. Online gambling is illegal is most Asian countries, except the Philippines where it was legalised in 2000. However, with the deepening economic climate, governments around the world are looking at ways to boost tax revenues and legalising online gambling - which is played profusely anyway. This would generate much-needed tax dollars. Additionally, the proliferation of social networks is boosting online gaming, making it easier to play and harder to monitor and enforce laws.

Read more here: Gaming Cub Predicts Rise in Online and Offline Gaming in Asia - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee

According to the quarterly report of the ARJEL, the French online gambling authority, since its legalization in April 2010, online games began to have its place inside gambling market in France. And with the rise of online gambling, public finances do not complain because according to the direction of tax legislation, this booming sector would yield 1.4 billion euro to the State. Online games that include lotteries, horse racing, sports betting and online poker is a real cash contributor for the State because the tax revenue collected at the state level amounted € 4.7 billion per year.

Read More: Poker News - French online gambling: Many contributions to tax revenue