A policeman is in hot water after he allegedly fired a shot in an entertainment outlet here in an early morning drama.
The suspect, 21, is also alleged to have fired two more shots in a parking lot nearby before pointing his gun at a fellow officer, who had tried to question him over his dangerous act.
It is believed that the suspect from Negri Sembilan had just completed his training and is currently deployed in Sri Aman, more than 180km from here.
He had just finished his duty in Serian and was at the entertainment outlet in popular Travillion around Tuesday midnight for drinks.
A cashier in her 20s who declined to be named claimed that the suspect was in casual wear but she knew he was a policeman.
He came in with a friend at around 1am yesterday for drinks, and they were sitting near the counter.
“It was around 2.30am when he asked me for a free drink. Prior to this, he was a paying customer.
“I asked him what type of liquor he would like but for no apparent reason, he got angry,” claimed the cashier.
“I called for my supervisor, and he approached the suspect. My supervisor asked him the same question but the suspect went to the side of the counter, attempting to go in but one of our bouncers prevented him.”
The cashier further related: “His friend came over to pacify him and resolve the situation with the bouncer. He later brought the suspect back to his seat. Then he and his friend got into an argument.”
The supervisor, 21, who also declined to be named claimed that the suspect suddenly whipped out a gun and fired. It was then that he felt a burning sensation in his neck.
The suspect then allegedly pointed it at the cashier and him. A few more bouncers rushed in and escorted the suspect from the premises after which he went to pick up his car at the parking lot nearby.
He was then alleged to have fired two more shots while at the parking lot.
While this was happening, someone informed a police officer, who was on duty with a few colleagues, and who happened to be nearby and he rushed to the scene.
When the suspect drove by the outlet, the police officer went over to question him over his action.
However, the suspect allegedly pointed his gun at his fellow officer to which the latter, with the help of some members of the public, managed to disarm the suspect and hold him down.
The police officer was shocked to find that the gun was loaded and there was a round in the chamber. Six other rounds were in the magazine clip.
Believed to be under the influence of alcohol, the suspect was arrested and brought to the Simpang Tiga police station for questioning together with his friend.
The suspect had his urine tested and results were negative for drugs. The suspect was sent to the Sarawak General Hospital to treat injuries to his right foot.
He was later sent to the lock-up pending further investigation while his friend was released. Other than the suspect with his foot injury, no one was hurt in the drama.
State police commissioner ACP Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani confirmed that a report had been lodged.
He said the suspect would be investigated under Section 37 of the Firearms Act 1960 for criminal intimidation.
ACP Acryl added that police would look into the matter thoroughly and would not let the suspect escape without severe punishment.
Policeman allegedly fires his gun in entertainment outlet - Story | The Star Online
With billions of dollars at stake, the head of the gambling industry’s main lobbying group sounded a pessimistic note Tuesday about the prospect of Congress passing Internet regulatory laws this year.
American Gaming Association chief Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. cast online wagering hosted by sites overseas as “the next frontier of our business,” and one of the biggest threats to the casino industry in the United States. But Fahrenkopf told reporters in Las Vegas that passing a measure such as one backed by Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona would need quick action during the post-election congressional session.
“We will need plenty of hard work and a little gambler’s luck to see a federal bill pass this year,” Fahrenkopf said during his annual state-of-the-industry media briefing at the Global Gaming Expo. “Obviously, nothing is going to happen before the election. That means a lame duck (session) is our last chance.”
Fahrenkopf, a former Republican party national chairman, said about 85 countries have legalized online gambling, and some estimates say almost $35 billion is being bet worldwide online each year, including millions by people in the U.S.
“These are numbers generated with only minor participation by players in the U.S.,” Fahrenkopf said, citing figures from a United Kingdom-based industry researcher, H2 Gaming Capital.
The number compares with gross commercial gambling revenues in the U.S. of some $35.6 billion for all of 2011. It does not include American tribal gambling, which the Senate Indian Affairs Committee reported topped $27 billion in 2011.
Meanwhile, casino revenues have increased so far this year in 17 of the 21 states that allow commercial gambling nationwide, and are up almost 6 percent overall, according to association data compiled from state regulators. The numbers include Ohio, where two casinos opened this year, and compare with the first nine months of 2011.
No matter which party wins the U.S. elections on Nov. 6, Fahrenkopf promised his association will keep lobbying Congress to create a legal framework for regulating online poker. Otherwise, he said, states will adopt a patchwork of rules and regulations that will make oversight difficult and put customers at risk.
“No matter what Congress does, based on the growth trends ... and the actions of the various states, it’s no longer a matter of if online gambling will be legalized in the U.S., but when, where and how.”
David Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, called passage of online betting regulations “inevitable at the state level” in the U.S.
“At the federal level, it’s a toss-up,” he said.
Several local Las Vegas casinos have been licensed by Nevada regulators and are within weeks of beginning to accept online bets from state residents.
Nevada and Delaware began taking steps to allow online betting after the U.S. Justice Department last December narrowed the application of the federal Interstate Wire Act of 1961 only to sports wagering. Several casinos have been licensed in Nevada to offer online poker to residents within the state. Meanwhile, Illinois has begun selling lottery tickets online.
“We know there will be more states to come,” Fahrenkopf said, including California and New Jersey.
Massachusetts is developing a regulatory structure for gambling, he said, and new properties are opening in other states, including Illinois. Voters in Oregon, Rhode Island and Maryland will decide gambling initiatives Nov. 6.
Gambling exec: Billions at stake, time short for Congress to pass US online poker regs in 2012 - The Washington Post
It doesn't look like Congress will pass Internet gambling regulatory laws this year, the head of the industry's main lobbying group said Tuesday, as he cast online wagering hosted by sites overseas as one of the biggest threats to the casino industry in the United States.
American Gaming Association chief Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. called online gambling "the next frontier of our business," but told reporters in Las Vegas that passing a measure such as one backed by Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona would need quick action during the post-election congressional session.
"We will need plenty of hard work and a little gambler's luck to see a federal bill pass this year," Fahrenkopf said during his annual state-of-the-industry media briefing at the Global Gaming Expo. "Obviously, nothing is going to happen before the election. That means a lame duck (session) is our last chance."
Fahrenkopf, a former Republican party national chairman, said about 85 countries have legalized online gambling, and some estimates say almost $35 billion is being bet worldwide online each year, including many millions by people in the U.S.
"These are numbers generated with only minor participation by players in the U.S.," Fahrenkopf said, citing figures from an industry researcher, H2 Gaming Capital.
That compares with gross commercial gambling revenues in the U.S. of some $35.6 billion for all of 2011.
Meanwhile, casino revenues have increased this year in 18 of the 21 states that allow commercial gambling, Fahrenkopf said, and new casinos are opening in several jurisdictions. The figures don't include American Indian tribal gambling.
No matter which party wins the U.S. elections on Nov. 6, Fahrenkopf promised his association will keep lobbying Congress to create a legal framework for regulating online poker. Otherwise, he said, states will adopt a patchwork of rules and regulations that will make oversight difficult and put customers at risk.
"No matter what Congress does, based on the growth trends ... and the actions of the various states, it's no longer a matter of if online gambling will be legalized in the U.S., but when, where and how."
Nevada and Delaware began taking steps to allow online betting after the U.S. Justice Department last December narrowed the application of the federal Interstate Wire Act of 1961 only to sports wagering. Several casinos have been licensed in Nevada to offer online poker to residents within the state. Meanwhile, Illinois has begun selling lottery tickets online.
"We know there will be more states to come," Fahrenkopf said, including California and New Jersey.
Fahrenkopf said gambling revenues are up about 5.4 percent so far this year at brick-and-mortar casinos in the U.S, and more when revenues from two new casinos that opened in 2012 in Ohio are included.
Massachusetts is developing a regulatory structure for gambling, he said, and new properties are opening in other states, including Illinois. Voters in Oregon, Rhode Island and Maryland will decide gambling initiatives Nov. 6.
Gambling exec: Online regulations unlikely in 2012 - Las Vegas Sun News
Major US casino operators are racing to embrace internet gaming, even in the absence of federal standards, as they gear up to attract younger consumers in a market expected to reach $10 billion a year by 2017.
Some bricks and mortar casinos are teaming with online game developers, and casino executives say they are rushing to put in place safeguards on their own services that would combat fraud, money laundering, underage and compulsive gambling, and players falsifying their location.
"Online gaming is here. Our biggest challenge is converting the 25 to 35 year old to becoming participants in our industry," said Brian Gamache, chief executive of slot machine maker WMS Industries at the annual Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.
WMS expects to soon announce partnerships to provide online game platforms to land-based casino operators to help capture the younger market.
The US Justice Department last year declared that only online betting on sporting contests is unlawful, which experts say will allow states to unilaterally legalize some forms of online gambling, from lotteries to poker.
MGM has teamed with developer Playstudios, a company founded by former Wynn Resorts executive Andrew Pascal, to create a platform for online slots, blackjack and other traditional games.
Anti-gambling forces called on U.S. Rep. Joe Barton Thursday to throw in the cards on his plan to legalize online poker.
Opponents of the proposal fear that Barton's controversial bill - which has lingered in the U.S. House for more than a year - may find movement now that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has sought to push the measure forward in the waning days of this congressional session.
And they worry that legalizing online poker could lead to further expansion of gambling in Texas.
"We see this bill as the camel's nose under the tent - a beginning point for gambling online," said Jack Ballou, a board member of the anti-gambling Stop Predatory Gambling-Texas group and an Arlington resident. "As a constituent, ... (I'm) calling on Congressman Barton to withdraw support of that bill and discontinue pushing it in Congress."
Barton, R-Ennis, said earlier this year that even though time is running out in this session, he's still talking to colleagues, hoping to legalizing the estimated $6 billion online poker industry by creating interstate licensing.
"Poker isn't predatory gambling - it's the All American game and Texas Hold'em is a natural for Texans to play," Barton said. "In fact, I learned to play in Boy Scouts. It is a game of skill, not one of chance."
Barton's proposal has drawn a variety of sponsors form both parties as well as support from the poker-playing industry.
Recently, Reid has talked about a bill that would ban all types of online gambling except for Internet poker. His proposal also would let state and tribal lotteries sell online tickets - something else gambling critics oppose.
Read more here: Local congressman keeps up push to legalize some online gambling | Dallas-Fort Worth Sports N...
Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA), a company with a fate inextricably linked with that of Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:F😎, has seen its stock price crumble since its highs last Spring. The company, which in 2011 accounted for 11% of Facebook’s total revenue, is in trouble. A new report from Stern Agee offers some hope for the company.
It appears that Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) has been faltering badly for several months. The company is slowly attempting a move to mobile, but since the stock hit its high point, several of its most prominent executives have abandoned the company.
Despite lackluster performance of its newest games, Farmville 2, The Ville, and Chefville, none of which managed over 8 million Daily Average Users in their first month online, according to the report. The three titles managed just 9.1 million Daily Average Users on average during the quarter. Zynga Inc is in trouble.
As the Las Vegas gaming industry saturates, the casino giants such as MGM (NYSE:MGM) and WYNN (NASDAQ:WYNN) are rushing to embrace online poker in the quest for new avenues of growth. The U.S. justice department declared last year that only online sports betting was illegal which might allow the states to unilaterally legalize certain forms of online gambling such as poker and lotteries. [1] However, in the absence of a federal law, the gaming revenues from the different states might be ragged due to the difference in their regulations and tax rates. Nevertheless, this can prove to be good news for MGM Resorts which is heavily dependent on the U.S. operations for its revenues. Although the competition might be stiff, the huge market potential and MGM’s brand image will allow it to experience a positive revenue growth. According to our estimates, if the company is able to establish its position successfully in the online gambling market, it will result in at least 10% upside to our price estimate.
Read More: Online Gambling Can Be A Catalyst For MGM
Money processing is risky business for those who provided the service in the USA but for companies which operate in the U.K. and Europe where there is regulation there is only the competition to worry about. As mobile betting become more popular the use of money processing firms which offer secure and fast results is also expanding.
Skrill formerly known as Moneybookers was bought in 2007 by Investcorp Technology Partners, the technology private equity arm of the international investment group Investcorp. Consumers can send payments to anyone without revealing their financial details. There is no need to repeatedly enter card numbers, expiry dates and endless details because Skrill stores them securely. Skrill offers access to the global stage and all options are supplied with full technical support, proven anti-fraud measures and reliable customer service.
A recent announcement by the firm reveals that Skrill Holdings Limited has finalised a deal with noted online gambling firm bet365 and will begin to offer its Skrill 1-Tap mobile-friendly payment solution. David Roe, Chief Product Officer for London-based Skrill commented, “At Skrill we are committed to making payments simple,” Bet365 has the payment processor Skrill 1-Tap live on iPhone and Android platforms for all of bet365’s channels.
Mr. Roe went on to explain, “With mobile gambling forecasted to reach $4.8 billion globally by 2013, bet365 is ahead of the game with Skrill 1-Tap, capturing this rapidly growing sector and making the most of this emerging trend by offering frictionless mobile-friendly payments. With Skrill 1-Tap now live on the world's largest online betting company and with several more operators scheduled to go live in the next few weeks, we are excited by the potential of a mobile payments solution that offers simplicity and convenience. We believe that this is the key to a truly mobile experience and are looking forward to launching Skrill 1-Tap with more providers over the coming weeks.”
Bet365 Online Gambling Offering Skrill Mobile Funds Processing
Chris Brown is determined to make a success of his relationship with Rihanna the second time around.
The 'Yeah 3x' hitmaker recently split from girlfriend Karrueche Tran because he couldn't give up his ''friendship'' with his ex Rihanna - who he was convicted of assaulting in 2009 - and friends of Chris say he wants to put things right with the 'We Found Love' singer.
A pal told HollywoodLife-com: ''He's doing s**t right this time and is going to really try to make this s**t work with Rihanna. They got caught up a few times, being drunk and doing some backwards...s**t in the club but, come on, they [are] young and in love.
''People be getting it twisted, thinking my boy a dog. He ain't. Not at all.''
Chris recently posted a candid video he has named 'The Real Chris Brown' onto the internet and in it the musician is seen discussing his romantic dilemma over the two women.
He says in the video: ''I'm stressed out ... when you share history with somebody, then you tend to fall in love with somebody else, it's kinda difficult.
''Is there such thing as loving two people? I don't know if that's possible, but for me, I feel like that.'
GossipBites | Chris Brown wants to make relationship with Rihanna work | entertainment.ie - entertainment.ie
Internet gaming, the next frontier for casinos, occupies center stage here this week at the Global Gaming Expo, known as G2E.
What form I-gaming will take and how it will be regulated are anyone's guess, but the industry already is creating interactive products that will allow anyone who frequents a casino to enjoy favorite slot machines or table games online, in virtual versions that look identical to those on the casino floor.
The idea, said Mike Trask, spokesman for game-manufacturer Bally Technologies Inc., is "for the ... customer to have the same experience whether online, in the casino, or waiting in line at the grocery store, while playing games on an iPhone, iPad, Android, and other tablets - anything with an Internet connection."
A proposal in Congress calls for legalizing online poker nationwide. Meanwhile, states look for ways to do it themselves, said Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association.
This year, Nevada became the first state to legalize and implement regulations for online poker. This summer, Delaware authorized a wider array of online casino-style games, and California and New Jersey are weighing legislation.
Read More: Internet gambling industry awaits lawmakers' decision - Peoria, IL - pjstar-com
It is well known that mobile communications are rapidly becoming the norm in today’s fast changing era. The development of broadband technology around the planet and the smart phones that utilize the capabilities is growing by leaps and bounds. The use of smart phones for everything from paying your power bill to playing games while traveling has made the smart phone available in a variety of platforms a must have for the up and coming professional, tradesperson, student or homemaker.
Online betting firms are making huge progress in offering the public equipped with a smart phone games and wagering that’s easy to access, secure and fun to experience. This is a trend that is here to stay as more technology creates a user friendly environment that is alluring and rewarding. Having a smart phone gives one the ability to be informed about the various odds online as well the latest statistics on teams and players and according to a new report from Juniper Research the proposed value of mobile gambling could reach $100 billion by 2017.
With social gaming coming to the internet, as well as the increased availability of lottery and casino games mobile gambling will take a more prominent position in the marketplace. Smart phone ownership represents almost half of all mobile devises in the United Kingdom and the casinos offering everything from blackjack to bingo are expanding daily. The new HTML5 format coupled with 4G delivery will revolutionize the experience for smart phone users by upgrading the graphics, security and speed.
The demographics of the U.K. is young and very much involved with technology, and as the gaming offering is developed further on social websites like Facebook the size of the mobile online gambling market will grow in spades. It is possible that the $100 billion dollar estimate for mobile gambling in 2017 may indeed be correct but then again something new could come along in five years and change everything. Betting on the future of technology is a risky one in today’s ever changing cyber environment.
Mobile Gambling Trend Taking More Market Share in U.K.
IN response to my commentary headlined Reggae at 50 and published in this newspaper on Sunday, August 26, 2012, Sam Clayton Jr stated: "Based on my personal involvement in the music business in Europe and North America, I have no doubt that Jamaica is still the headquarters of reggae music, because in spite of the fact that we don't have the biggest festivals, I don't know of any reggae festival that does not have Jamaican bands performing. I also don't know of any major reggae release in Europe that does not have a significant Jamaican connection; Jamaican studio, producer, musician(s) or feature artistes. Every major new innovation and advancement in reggae and its sub-genres comes out of Jamaica. Add to this the undisputed fact, the best reggae musicians and producers are Jamaicans."
Sam has lived and worked in the entertainment industry in Europe for over 10 years, so he should know.
This is the kind of response I was hoping to evoke from members of the music fraternity, because we need to focus on what remains our competitive advantage and how to maximise the potential income from this asset, through the protection of our intellectual property. The government needs to act swiftly, to legally protect reggae as an authentic Jamaican music/art form.
Jamaica's popular musical idioms such as ska, reggae and dancehall, must be formally protected as our intangible cultural heritage, similar to tango, whose origins have been officially assigned to Argentina and Uruguay and which has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The formal recognition of reggae as Jamaica's National Heritage will enable us to maintain control over the definition, recognition, and identification of the musical form. This will guarantee that economic, moral, and trademark rights as well as geographical indication rights which flow from the use of the indication or designation 'reggae/ska/dancehall' would be retained in and with Jamaica. In pursuing this goal, we need to also develop a certification process which will determine and give a seal of approval to the authentic Jamaican reggae product.
Just like our Blue Mountain Coffee, Jamaican reggae is seen as the premium reggae product in the international market place. Therefore, the government of Jamaica needs to establish symbolic seal, for Jamaican ska, reggae and dancehall, which producers of music and promoters of festivals — if they so desire — would stamp on their products, for the obvious marketing advantage which this would automatically offer. The income earned from this, could be put in a fund, which would assist with the education and/or development of upcoming acts. Additionally, this would further boost our cultural tourism efforts through the promotion of our recording studios, musicianship and even historic locations such as Trench Town, Orange Street, and Warika Hill, which now have reputations of mythical proportions because collectively, they had a profound impact at the formative stage of our music's development.
Read more: Branding Jamaican Reggae - Entertainment - JamaicaObserver-com
Social gambling is set to boom in the next few years, according to the latest research, demonstrating that Zynga and other social game makers have made the right decision by moving into real-money betting.
Annual revenue from real-money social game gambling should reach $1.6 billion by the end of this year, rising gradually to a peak of about $2.4 billion by the year 2015, according to the latest report on Social Casino Metrics compiled by SuperData, a leading research firm on the topic.
According to SuperData, the average social gambler already spends almost double the amount of cash-free social game players. Real-money social gamers spent $78 on average in July, compared to their non-money counterparts with $43. Almost half these gamers are situated in the US, where there are more than 35 million social gamers.
Zynga, the world's largest social gaming provider, has been talking of online gambling for a while. Recent moves suggest the implementation of real-money gaming is high up on the agenda, and it could be a matter of time before its services are integrated with real-money platforms on Facebook.
In a sign of things to come, Facebook and independent gaming partner Gamesys have already begun offering a real-money version of online bingo for British users of the social network who are aged 18 and over. If successful, the trial could change the face of the entire online gambling industry.
Social Gambling to Boom in Coming Years - Special Reports - Onlinecasinoreports-com
Internet gaming, the next frontier for casinos, occupied center stage last week at the Global Gaming Expo, known as G2E.
What form I-gaming will take and how it will be regulated are anyone's guess, but the industry already is creating interactive products that will allow people to enjoy favorite slot machines or table games online, in virtual versions that look identical to those on the casino floor.
The idea, said Mike Trask, spokesman for game-manufacturer Bally Technologies Inc., is "for the customer to have the same experience whether online, in the casino, or waiting in line at the grocery store, while playing games on an iPhone, iPad, Android and other tablets -- anything with an Internet connection."
A proposal in Congress calls for legalizing online poker nationwide. Meanwhile, states look for ways to do it themselves, said Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association.
This year, Nevada became the first state to legalize and implement regulations for online poker. This summer, Delaware authorized a wider array of online casino-style games, and California and New Jersey are weighing legislation.
"The entire gaming industry is anxious to see more clarity on the legality of online gambling," Mr. Fahrenkopf said at a news conference on the $36 billion-a-year U.S. casino industry overall. "The AGA supports states having the right to license and regulate online poker, but not without federal minimum standards that address consumer protection, prevent underage gambling, promote responsible gaming and provide help for those with gambling problems."
Read more: Companies await Internet gambling - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
San Francisco-based mobile game publisher Glu Mobile announced today that it has partnered with UK gambling firm Probability PLC to create games that allow players to bet with real-world money.
As a result of this deal, Probability will create a new line of mobile slot games based on a number of Glu Mobile's existing franchises. Probability -- as the company licensed for online gambling -- will remain responsible for regulating these titles, and will launch the games in both the UK and Italy.
Glu Mobile is just the latest in a growing pool of publishers expressing interest in online gambling. Zynga's been talking about entering that market for quite some time, and earlier this year Big Fish Games partnered with independent online gambling company Betable to bring real money gambling to its UK players.
Glu Mobile CEO Niccolo de Masi, however, told Inside Mobile Apps that these gambling titles will remain an ancillary revenue stream for the company -- Glu Mobile's core business will still hinge on traditional free-to-play mobile games.
Gamasutra - News - Glu Mobile joins the real-money online gambling market
An Austrian High court upheld a previous decision to refund a gambler over one million euro after evidence revealed that online casino in question did not have a proper licence to operate. There were few names mentioned in the report published by the Austrian Independent sighting only that the internet casino that will be required to pay back the player is based in Malta.
It is a story of good luck and bad luck for the bettor who actually defrauded his employer to acquire funds for his growing problem with gambling. The gambler did realize his behaviour was out of control and did the responsible thing by having himself, voluntarily excluded from Austrian based gaming operators but went on play excessively at the Malta based establishment the court was told. The company the man worked for in Linz, Austria found out about his fraudulent book keeping and pressed for a refund by the Maltese firm in a lower court in Graz.
The company’s lawyer’s technical defence was held valid by the court which was appealed by the online gambling operator out of Malta to the High Court. The Austrian High Court has concluded with the lower court decision and ordered the over one million euro returned.
This is good luck for the company that employed the man and good luck for the gambler who didn’t lose his job. He will at least have a measure of steady employment enabling him to pay off the loss. Hopefully he will have kicked the habit and learned his lesson to never let an obsession get the best of him again. Unfortunately this kind of precedent created by a High Court decision may promote a rash of similar cases where the losses of gamblers may be challenged in court. The need for more stringent adherence to the regulatory rules for licensed operators may be required and quickly.
Online Gambling Firm Ordered to Return Over One Million Euro
"Regulatory capture" happens when the regulating agency, under the guise of protecting consumers, is in reality acting in the interests of the industry it regulates. The discrepancy between the agency's initial goal and reality happens slowly and unnoticeably over time. Ultimately though, the agency loses its independence thereby allowing the industry to shape regulations as it sees fit.
That central insight by economist George Stigler explains a lot of the cozy history of the Greek gambling monopoly OPAP (GOFPY.PK) which for the better part of last decade fought tooth and nail against any type of liberalization pressed upon by the European Commission. It also sheds light on the upcoming privatization, which will cut with a vengeance the umbilical cord between OPAP and the Greek state.
Regulatory capture will be more difficult in the future and OPAP shareholders, used to the perks of a "wide moat" such as strong cash-flow generation and a high dividend payout, are conceivably nervous. The news two weeks ago that starting in 2013 OPAP and its customers would be submitted to the same taxation levels levied on online competitors sent the stock stumbling 30%. However one could also see the privatization and the required accompanying tax harmonization as a defining moment for OPAP; once unleashed, it will finally be able to deploy its wings.
OPAP SA: Why Investors Shouldn't Write Off The Greek Gambling Monopoly - Seeking Alpha
X Factor judge Louis Walsh has defended his decision to force Sunday night's show to an audience vote as "the fairest option".
Country singer Carolynne Poole was booted off after a controversial elimination show saw Walsh appear to back her against Rylan Clark, before changing his mind to back Clark and then forcing the show to the public vote, which Poole lost.
Walsh said: "I was torn. I think Rylan's a great entertainer and Carolynne's a great singer."
He continued: "I couldn't make up my mind. So, finally, I decided that the fairest thing to do was to go to the public vote and Rylan had more votes than Carolynne. It was sad but it was the fairest option."
Take That star Gary Barlow, who was Poole's mentor, was seen walking off the stage after the decision and criticised the judges for keeping Clark in the competition.
Viewers took to Twitter in disgust after the decision using the hashtag #fixfactor and highlighting the presence of show producer Richard Holloway who was seen talking to Walsh before he voted.
Mr Holloway said: "We regularly chat to the judges during the show - they don't wear earpieces like Dermot so we have to speak to them throughout the programme, on anything from timings to running order changes. On Sunday night I was telling Louis the order the judges would vote in and that he would be last.
"We don't tell the judges how to vote and as you saw on the show Louis hadn't - and couldn't - make up his mind so he decided that sending it to the public vote was the fairest thing to do."
An X Factor spokeswoman said: "Carolynne had the least amount of public votes so the public's choice to stay in the show was Rylan.
"Producers always chat to judges during the show."
The cabinet has approved the online lottery regulations guideline proposed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC.)
Parkdehans Himathongkom, a deputy government spokesman, said it was approved at the weekly meeting on Tuesday.
The NACC's proposal requires strict regulation of the online lottery, he said.
It must be implemented under tight state control with public benefits as the priority, not just profits.
Under the guideline, the National Lottery Office must ensure that the online lottery is executed with transparency and accountability.
Part of the proceeds from online lottery sales must be allocated for social programmes including public education against gambling.
The sale of lottery tickets to children is prohibited, and 12% of the net revenue would be used to benefit the public, Mr Pakdihans said.
Cash prizes from the online lottery would vary, depending on the number of tickets sold.
The NACC believed online sales would be able to address the problems of ticket overpricing and shortages. Since gamblers would buy tickets directly from the machines, this would eradicate money laundering and corruption issues.
However, there are still many organisations that oppose the government's move to legalise the online lottery.
Activists from several networks in May this year lpetitioned Senator Rossana Tohsittrakul, opposing the Government Lottery Office's proposed online lottery.
They argue the online lottery would allow young people easier access to gambling, lead to more debt and consequent problems, like crime and other social issues.
The online lottery proposal has been around for a long time. It was last shelved by the previous government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva. The government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has promised to launch it this year.
Cabinet approves online lottery guidelines | Bangkok Post: business
Zynga is currently stuck in a downward spiral; shares have lost more than 70% of their value, from a high of $15.91 in March, to an all time low of $2.21 on October 5th when the company drastically reduced its 2012 outlook. Searching for a way out, however, the company may be turning to online gambling as a new revenue stream.
In a challenging year for Zynga, particularly in the area of mobile development, Mark Pincus responded to employee and investor concerns:
Read More: Can Online Gambling Save Zynga? | Article 3
The suspect, 21, is also alleged to have fired two more shots in a parking lot nearby before pointing his gun at a fellow officer, who had tried to question him over his dangerous act.
It is believed that the suspect from Negri Sembilan had just completed his training and is currently deployed in Sri Aman, more than 180km from here.
He had just finished his duty in Serian and was at the entertainment outlet in popular Travillion around Tuesday midnight for drinks.
A cashier in her 20s who declined to be named claimed that the suspect was in casual wear but she knew he was a policeman.
He came in with a friend at around 1am yesterday for drinks, and they were sitting near the counter.
“It was around 2.30am when he asked me for a free drink. Prior to this, he was a paying customer.
“I asked him what type of liquor he would like but for no apparent reason, he got angry,” claimed the cashier.
“I called for my supervisor, and he approached the suspect. My supervisor asked him the same question but the suspect went to the side of the counter, attempting to go in but one of our bouncers prevented him.”
The cashier further related: “His friend came over to pacify him and resolve the situation with the bouncer. He later brought the suspect back to his seat. Then he and his friend got into an argument.”
The supervisor, 21, who also declined to be named claimed that the suspect suddenly whipped out a gun and fired. It was then that he felt a burning sensation in his neck.
The suspect then allegedly pointed it at the cashier and him. A few more bouncers rushed in and escorted the suspect from the premises after which he went to pick up his car at the parking lot nearby.
He was then alleged to have fired two more shots while at the parking lot.
While this was happening, someone informed a police officer, who was on duty with a few colleagues, and who happened to be nearby and he rushed to the scene.
When the suspect drove by the outlet, the police officer went over to question him over his action.
However, the suspect allegedly pointed his gun at his fellow officer to which the latter, with the help of some members of the public, managed to disarm the suspect and hold him down.
The police officer was shocked to find that the gun was loaded and there was a round in the chamber. Six other rounds were in the magazine clip.
Believed to be under the influence of alcohol, the suspect was arrested and brought to the Simpang Tiga police station for questioning together with his friend.
The suspect had his urine tested and results were negative for drugs. The suspect was sent to the Sarawak General Hospital to treat injuries to his right foot.
He was later sent to the lock-up pending further investigation while his friend was released. Other than the suspect with his foot injury, no one was hurt in the drama.
State police commissioner ACP Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani confirmed that a report had been lodged.
He said the suspect would be investigated under Section 37 of the Firearms Act 1960 for criminal intimidation.
ACP Acryl added that police would look into the matter thoroughly and would not let the suspect escape without severe punishment.
Policeman allegedly fires his gun in entertainment outlet - Story | The Star Online