Months after D.C. lawmakers repealed a measure that would have allowed first-in-the-nation online gambling on home computers and at select sites in the shadow of Capitol Hill, several states are forging ahead with online games of chance while a harried Congress remains unlikely to pass a federal bill that would regulate the practice.
The push to introduce online-gambling legislation as a source of revenue —or protect those who play wagered games on offshore websites — has gathered steam in the year since the U.S. Justice Department declared that the Wire Act of 1961 prohibits Internet gambling only on sports. The legal opinion, a reversal of the government’s position, opened the door to online gambling via state lottery systems even though it was intended to address whether Illinois and New York could use out-of-state transaction processors to sell lottery tickets to adults within their borders.
Since the Justice Department issued its opinion, “at least seven states — California, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Mississippi and New Jersey — have introduced legislation authorizing forms of Internet gaming in their states,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Many bills are pending or have died in committee, but Delaware authorized forms of online gambling in June.
“The whole dynamic changed Dec. 23 of last year,” Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., president of the American Gaming Association, said of the release of the Justice Department opinion. “It has set the stage that, if Congress doesn’t act quickly, it will be the largest expansion of gambling in the nation’s history.”
His association supports a draft bill from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican, that would make online gambling illegal — except for Internet poker. The card game has a long tradition in the United States, and participants play against one another and not the house, Mr. Fahrenkopf said.
Yet the bill faces an uphill battle in a deadlocked Congress that is grappling with the best way to avoid the “fiscal cliff” of automatic tax increases and spending cuts at the start of next year. Both senators told National Journal in November that they would like to act on the gambling proposal, but acknowledged the stark challenges of enacting legislation amid more pressing issues.
As lawmakers hash it out on Capitol Hill, approaches to gambling in the D.C. region — either through online gambling or bricks-and-mortar casinos —reflect the spectrum of debate across the country. States are using wagered games to quench their thirst for revenue or, conversely, thwarting attempts to use gambling as a way to balance the budget.
Maryland voters approved hotly contested Question 7 on the Nov. 6 ballot, authorizing the state to open table games at five existing and planned casinos and to build a sixth casino in Prince George’s County. National Harbor, located along the Potomac River just south of the Capital Beltway, is considered to be the most likely site for the new casino.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said on WTOP-103.5 FM radio on Tuesday that he is not concerned about Maryland’s table games “having a bad impact” on the Old Dominion and signaled that his state would not go all in on games of chance.
“That’s a choice that Maryland has made,” Mr. McDonnell told the station. “That’s not how we’ve expanded revenue in Virginia.”
In the District, council members Marion Barry, Ward 8 Democrat, and Jack Evans, Ward 2 Democrat, introduced a bill in September to establish a 23-member citizens commission “to investigate the economic and social feasibility of implementing various forms of legalized gambling” in the city. Mr. Evans said the bill likely will die in committee when the council term expires at the end of the year.
Besides Maryland’s new offerings, West Virginia touts the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races,roughly an hour-and-a-half drive from the nation’s capital. Mr. Evans said it is unclear whether the neighboring casinos draw away revenue or bring in tax dollars through increased tourism to the region.
“That’s the purpose of the study,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s a positive or a negative.”
D.C. Council members in February repealed an “i-gaming” statute that passed as part of a broader budget bill in December 2010. Its path to law caused critics to question why it was not fully vetted as stand-alone legislation with public hearings.
The city lawmaker who pushed online gambling in the District, Michael A. Brown, at-large independent, repeatedly warned that the federal government may step in and regulate the practice before local governments could set up their own systems. The prospect of that is on the table, but no one is betting the house on the bill’s passage.
Read more: Inaction on Hill seen as jackpot for online-gambling states - Washington Times Inaction on Hill seen as jackpot for online-gambling states - Washington Times
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While the debate continues in Europe about how far online gambling reforms must go, some French politicians have taken to showing their support for gambling by actually playing online poker in the legislature.
Poker-playing MPs
Photographers from the Assembly's press balcony recently snapped photos of ministers using their mobile devices and tables for various activities, including playing online poker, reading cartoons, browsing clothing catalogues and ordering wine, according to British newspaper The Telegraph.
Although these French MPs were unaware they were being watched, the fact that they would use their free access to parliamentary wireless Internet to connect to online poker and related sites instead of using it to watch boring debates shows that even politicians are human - and therefore interested in online gambling.
State of Play
French politicians are at least somewhat willing to preach what they so obviously practice, having begun the year with a series of reforms that would enable local online poker players to access gambling and poker sites that are licensed by the national gambling authority.
However, the measures taken by the French government against online gambling providers that operate without licenses are seen by some as in violation of European law. As is the case with a number of European countries, the debate over national control of gambling is yet to be settled.
French Legislators Embrace Online Gambling - Commentary - Onlinecasinoreports-com
The online gambling industry is based on trust and when that trust is questioned everybody loses. Such is the case when it comes to match fixing in sports and the integrity of the games or events. The wagering on these unfair outcomes becomes a sham and everyone involved is hurt by these disgraceful acts of greed and dishonesty.
The best way to remove match fixing from organized sport is to educate the players and all involved about the dangers and harm that match fixing brings to the industry. In 2010 the European Gaming and Betting Association and the European Sports Security Association plus EU Athletes began the educational process with the Remote Gambling Association getting involved in 2011. Now in 2012 the European Commission has found the money to co-finance the education program, and has announced that it will contribute 46% of the total €500K spent on the project.
Dividing the costs of such an endeavour will see the EGBA put 41 % into the mix while the RGA will provide 10% and the EU Athletes the other required portion of 3%. The plan is to ask professional athletes to speak to as many as fifteen thousand young athletes on the dangers of match fixing and the consequences of such actions. There will be ten different sports covered in thirteen countries over an eighteen month spell.
The CEO of the Remote Gambling Association, Clive Hawkswood commented on the grant from the E.U., "When the RGA and our members first funded the UK Professional Players Federation betting education programme, in February 2010, it was a new concept but one we felt could play a significant role against potential match fixing." Hawkswood continued, "With that experience we were glad to support the EU Athletes bid for funding so that comparable training will be made available across Europe," This new funding formula will help expand the program and continue what has been a successful campaign.
Online Gambling Welcomes E.U.Funding for Match Fixing Education
Greece has reneged on its plan to regulate and licence online gambling in the country in a move which has outraged industry groups and seen Betfair withdraw from the market.
The company said it will, “…withdraw from the Greek market until such time that there is greater clarity on the regulatory situation.
It added that it had been, “…working with the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) to achieve legislation that allows fair competition in the market. It is disappointing, however, that the European Commission has, despite previously stated intentions to the contrary, not taken effective action to prevent protectionist behaviour.”
Earlier this month the Greek Gaming Commission issued a decision which included the provision for financial penalties and criminal sanctions against gaming operators operating without a permit. Betfair said it believes there are significant issues with the legality of the decision.
The RGA and the European Gaming and Betting Association said the state-run gambling operator OPAP had its license extended by 10 years from 2020 to 2030 and that its remit had also been extended to cover online gambling.
In a joint statement the organizations Sigrid Ligné of the EGBA said, “Commissioner Barnier recently confirmed that the he would take his responsibilities seriously in ensuring the compliance of Member States’ gambling legislation with EU law. We trust the Commissioner will urgently investigate our complaint and take action accordingly against Greece as well as on several other pending complaints.”
Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the RGA added, “When the Greek Government said it was going to license and regulate the domestic online gambling market we welcomed this as a positive step. However, instead of encouraging the development of a competitive and well-regulated market, the Greek Government and Gaming Commission are blocking major European private operators from it.
“We therefore look to the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, to ensure that Greece follows the correct procedures and that the laws that it is seeking to introduce are fully compliant with EU law.”
Greece Rows Back From Opening Up Online Gambling Market - Poker News
MORE than 20,000 children, parents and grandparents are expected to head to Hindmarsh tomorrow to farewell the original incarnation of The Wiggles.
Greg Page, Murray Cook, Anthony Field and Jeff Fatt will play their last Adelaide shows together tomorrow, cramming in three concerts across the day at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre to allow fans to farewell the much-loved children's entertainers.
To cater for the influx tomorrow, the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Adelaide City Council have made extra parking available at Bonython Park as the current facilities at the Hindmarsh entertainment hub are under construction. Plus, additional tram services will operate between the city and Entertainment Centre to meet demand.
AEC chief executive officer Anthony Kirchner said traffic congestion in the area is expected tomorrow and those attending The Wiggles concerts - which will take place at 10am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm - should make allowances for this. "This is one of the busiest days for the Entertainment Centre each year. There are lots of babies, toddlers and prams which make the logistics of getting so many people in and out of the area very challenging," Mr Kirchner said.
"We encourage families to plan ahead and leave early to avoid unnecessary disappointment and frustration."
Today, Adelaide got a taste of Wiggles action with the foursome's Big Red Car rolling into town to drum up interest ahead of its online auction next month. The iconic automobile is being sold on eBay from December 7 to raise money for charity organisation SIDS and Kids.
The Wiggles will continue to exist and perform after the current tour, however the only original member staying on is Field who will be joined by Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce and Emma Watkins - the first female member of The Wiggles.
The Wiggles ready for last Adelaide concert at Entertainment Centre | adelaidenow
Spain’s law in regards to its online players have been on somewhat of an improvement for its citizens as of late.
Prior to recent changes, Spain required players to declare and pay according to the IRPF (Impuesto sobre la Renta de las Personas Fisicas) provided that it is not subject to Inheritance and Gift Tax pursuant to the provisions of the legislation regulating these taxes and their supplementary regulations.
Up until October 2012, Spain’s online casino players were required to pay taxes on their winnings without counting their losses which garnered little to no praise from the citizens.
Since the revisions online casino players can now retroactively deduct their losses from their winnings, which in turn compensate players for their big winning amounts and enable them to pay less on the taxes.
In more recent news, Spain has further revised tax laws in order to secure a deal with Billionaire Sheldon Adelson. The new regional gaming tax on bricks and mortar casinos will see a decrease from 45% to 10% announced by Mayor of Madrid Ignacio Gonzalez.
The tax cut comes per the request of Sheldon Adelson, as a condition for locating his €15 billion EuroVegas hotel and casino complex in the region.
Back in September it was announced that Las Vegas Sands CEO and billionaire business magnate Sheldon Adelson has picked Madrid as the location for his extravagant vision to bring Las Vegas to Europe.
Adelson’s gambling empire, born out of Las Vegas stretching to Macau, Singapore, and now possibly Spain hopes to include a half a dozen casinos and 12 huge hotels, the deal promises the hope of bringing with it tens of thousands of construction jobs.
Adelson, the Las Vegas Sands chairman and chief executive, said in a statement released in Las Vegas late on Friday:
“The regional government of Madrid has been a strong advocate for this potential development, and we are appreciative of the energy they have brought to this process.
“Barcelona is an outstanding tourism destination, and choosing Madrid over Barcelona was not an easy selection.”
Adelson also announced that Las Vegas Sands was only willing to finance 35% of the multibillion-euro resort, and that it would demand certain changes in local planning laws.
This new deal however is not met favorably by everyone as there is still concern in the other 16 autonomous regions that this will effectively be subsidizing Madrid’s revenues as both gamblers and taxes shift to the capital.
Work is due to start in early 2013 of EuroVegas.
Spain's Online Casino Players Get Tax Break for Billionaire's Vision | CS Report
The Netherlands plans to sell its state-owned casino monopoly and legalise online gambling to open up competition.
The new government, sworn in earlier this month, promised in its coalition agreement to sell Holland Casino and said that online betting and gambling will be legalised.
"It is unclear at this stage if it will be a sale or an initial public offering. The government hasn't decided how the sale will take place," Justin Franssen, a lawyer at VMW Taxand who specialises in the gaming sector, told Reuters.
Dutch state to sell casinos, legalise online gambling | Reuters
The launch of a new online casino, Trophy Vegas, will see the Cash Ball Network bridge the gap between social and online gaming, the company has said. Trophy Vegas is launching on the Cash Ball Network, offering real money wagering via an Isle of Man gaming licence to players on its partnered social gaming application, Trophy Slots, which launched on Facebook earlier this year.
The new casino offers social casino players in legal territories the opportunity to play the same games available in the social media space for real money. These games are provided by software companies such as Next Gen Gaming, Nyx and Microgaming.
“The addition of Trophy Vegas to our stable of online casinos brings an exciting prospect for Cash Ball to be involved with the emerging cross-over between social and online gaming,” said Louise Cary, marketing manager for Cash Ball. “By utilising our proprietary monetisation and marketing platform, we have a unique opportunity to work with Trophy Slots to bring these two revenue streams together, while maximising player value and satisfaction across both channels.”
Lulu Jones, marketing manager at Trophy Slots, explained that the new casino is designed to give the company’s customers the opportunity to try real money wagering with the same levels of customers service provided within its social gaming application.
“We take player security extremely seriously and, as the line between social gaming and gambling brands blurs, we believe that proper regulation is more important than ever,” she said. “Reputable gaming licences from jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man afford players the highest levels of protection.”
Social gaming site makes real money move | News | i-Gaming | InterGame
There have been calls for scrambled wireless signals in France's National Assembly - after photos emerged of MPs playing online poker and chess, among other activities, on tablet computers.
Press photographers captured several politicians playing poker, reading adult cartoons and shopping online.
One MP, Mathieu Hanotin, admitted to playing online chess while in the chamber during a debate which stretched into the early hours of the morning.
The brazen display is a far cry from the past, when MPs would discreetly hide a newspaper amongst their papers during a debate.
Claude Bartolone, the Socialist speaker, has refused to use a signal scrambling device which has been implemented in the past.
Media and entertainment companies doing business in China can expect double-digit growth in the world’s most populous nation but must be prepared to overcome a number of regulatory and piracy issues, according to a report released Wednesday.
The “Spotlight on China” study, prepared by Ernst & Young, was released to coincide with the accounting firm’s media and entertainment conference in Shanghai.
The report estimates that China's media and entertainment industry will grow at a 17% annual rate between 2010 and 2015, significantly faster than the country's economy overall.
Part of that surge is driven by theatrical box office revenues. China recently surpassed Japan as the world’s No. 2 movie market and Ernst & Young says China will move past the United States to claim the top spot by 2020.
With all of the growth, though, come any number of obstacles. Chinese consumers have "constantly shifting" tastes and "have traditionally paid little or nothing for traditional content and have easy access to pirated digital content," the report says.
Even with Chinese authorities trying to rein in piracy, media and entertainment companies will “struggle to get fair value for their products and services,” the report says. And, as has been the case with Chinese quotas on imports of American movies, government restrictions “limit or close certain sectors from either domestic or foreign private participation.”
“The challenges for media and entertainment companies to penetrate China are still considerable, however the vast potential of the market makes it impossible to ignore,” Ernst & Young’s John Nendick said in a statement accompanying the report. “Companies will need to understand that investing in China is a long-term proposition, and those who can make that commitment will be in a much better position to succeed.”
The report was particularly bullish on China’s middle class and overall spending on media and entertainment. In 2010, the report said, Chinese spending on entertainment and recreation was $350 billion, which jumped to $547 billion last year.
That spending was largely driven by the middle class, which numbered 247 million people in 2011, or 18% of the population. The study said experts predict the Chinese middle class will grow to more than 600 million by 2020.
Media and entertainment companies, the report concluded, “need to understand and anticipate both the complexity and the enormous possibilities. Companies with the agility, adaptability and patience to make a long-term commitment to the market will be best-positioned to succeed.”
China to be world's largest movie market by 2020, study predicts - latimes-com
Speaking at his first casino conference in Copenhagen two years ago, Christopher Griffin wondered why every demonstration of online gambling looked like casino games that have been played for decades in Las Vegas. Casino executives, he realized, were unprepared for the threat posed by Zynga (ZNGA) and other social game developers intent on bringing elements of online games to gambling and putting their products on smartphones and tablets. “No one was talking about the social aspects of gambling, or the devices in everyone’s pockets,” says Griffin. “It struck me that this is an industry ripe to get its lunch eaten.”
Griffin decided to provide social game developers with tools to create betting games that can be played on mobile devices or a PC. His company, Betable, now lets game companies offer online gambling wherever it’s legal. He’s teamed up with game makers to produce online versions of poker, blackjack, and roulette, and is in the process of adding wagering to social media games.
Depending on the game, players compete with each other or against the game maker. Betable provides a platform for developers to create games in which players bet with real money, and handles the infrastructure, payment, licenses, antifraud procedures, and verification needed to prove a customer is located where online gambling is legal. When first-time players click to indicate they want to wager money, the game prompts them to create a Betable account, and the company’s U.K.-based servers handle all monetary transactions. Because the transactions take place on those servers, Betable’s license isn’t restricted to a physical location, allowing the company to provide a legal gambling platform in countries where gaming isn’t outlawed. Companies split proceeds 50/50 with Betable, say executives at the companies who declined to be identified because the contracts are private.
A Department of Justice opinion last year opened the door for states to legalize most forms of online gambling except sports betting. Many are scrambling to do so. Nevada has begun granting licenses for online poker, and Delaware and New Jersey are on track to follow next year, according to the American Gaming Association. Cowen analyst Doug Creutz says it could take five years before online wagering becomes legal nationwide.
The mobile-gambling business will grow to $100 billion worldwide by 2017, according to Juniper Research. With interest in social games showing signs of waning—the number of video game players in the U.S. declined by 5 percent in the last year, according to researcher NPD Group—Zynga and other developers don’t want to wait. Betable, funded by Greylock Partners, Founders Fund, and other venture capitalists, has signed with nearly a dozen companies to offer gambling on mobile devices in the U.K. and other markets. “The European market is fairly well-established, and it’s a market where there’s not been a lot of money invested,” Creutz says.
Typically it takes a minimum of 18 months to get licensed in each country a company wants to operate in and costs millions of dollars to navigate Byzantine rules. Paul Thelen, chief executive officer of Seattle-based game developer Big Fish Games, figures signing with Betable helped shave months off the company’s plan to deliver Big Fish’s slots app in the U.K. The game debuted on mobile devices in October.
Casino operators say they will roll out their own mobile games when they’re legal in the U.S., and some already accept real-money wagers on their websites elsewhere. The social game makers say they have a built-in customer base for real-money wagering. Sixty percent of people who play social games such as Bingo Blingo and Big Fish Casino live outside the U.S., says Josh Yguado, president of Social Gaming Network, a gaming company owned by the founders of Myspace, which announced a partnership with Betable on Nov. 29. “There’s a real art to making a great game that has all the social features around it,” Yguado says. “That’s what we’re good at.”
Big Fish’s Thelen also likes his chances against the incumbents. With Betable’s technology, he can devote resources to delivering features that many land-based casinos offer when they have a captive audience surrounded by bright lights and throngs of customers. A poker game could come with such options as letting players buy a round of virtual drinks for the table, he says. “We can build an experience around the games, with great casual twists that casino makers don’t understand,” he says.
Griffin says casino games are only the beginning for social game developers. At a recent hackathon, designers showed titles that included raising a horse in a fashion similar to FarmVille-type games, and then paying to enter a race against other players’ horses. “Real money resets everything and creates a level playing field,” Griffin says. “This is not an incremental change. This is really a tectonic shift.”
The bottom line: Developers of social games are trying to counter declining interest by bringing casino-style gambling to mobile devices
A Gambling Parlor on Your Smartphone - Businessweek
Social gaming has become a force in today’s online gambling industry and it didn’t take long before those involve took a stand and created an organization that would speak with one voice.
The Social Gaming Association has been established to protect and further the legal, regulatory and commercial interests of the social gaming industry. It provides a unified set of socially responsible standards for its members to adhere to and a unified voice to address the concerns of industry detractors and pro-actively educate policy makers concerned about social gaming. This policy statement says it all and captures the move towards a coordinated effort the industry is making to clearly define the direction that the industry would like to go.
The SGA’s primary objectives will be to develop a self-imposed, socially responsible set of standards to promote responsible gaming, the protection of minors and the vulnerable and to ensure our members conduct their business operations with probity and good governance. The Association recently announced that AbZorba Games, Bally Technologies and Slingo have joined the Association as Executive Members and will be sitting on the Executive Committee.
Director of the Social Gaming Association, Stuart Tilly, said, “I’m delighted to welcome all three members on to the Executive Committee. Their combined breadth and depth of knowledge of the social games space is going to be invaluable in the pursuit of our objectives and I am very excited about working with them going forward.” Bally Technologies, Vice President of Business Development, John Connelly, was also pleased to say, “Social Gaming is an area receiving intense scrutiny from within the online and traditional gaming sectors. Bally is committed to supporting the evolution of the industry in a manner consistent with the demands of our customers. This Association will provide a platform from which various segments of the industry can voice their opinions in an organized and productive fashion – Bally is proud to be part of this initiative.” The CEO of Slingo, Rich Roberts, was also delighted to be part of the ongoing efforts of the Association.
Social Gaming Organization Welcomes New Executive Members
The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) and the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) have asked the European Commission to investigate whether Greek legislation governing Greece's online gambling sector contravenes European Union law.
The Associations claim that new gambling legislation, passed in August 2011, to regulate and tax online gambling, is too restrictive for private sector companies, and is serving instead to support OPAP, the state gambling services provider, to extend its monopolistic position in the Greek marketplace, in the soon-to-be-regulated online gambling sector.
The EGBA and the RGA, which between them represent the majority of the largest European remote gambling operators, have voiced concern that the Greek government has failed to begin licensing online gambling operators. Several private sector operators already offer online gambling services, on a non-regulated basis, and stringent enforcement measures are planned to be imposed on operators without licenses, including financial penalties. These include Internet Service Provider- and payment-blocking, and fines on banks and Internet providers who facilitate the provision of gambling services by non-regulated operators.
The Associations argue that Greece is acting in contravention of its EU commitments, allowing OPAP an unfair advantage in the online gambling services market, particularly as the regulator has already granted OPAP a ten-year extension to its license, until 2030, under what they claim was an "untransparent" process.
In recent days, uncertainty surrounding the forthcoming regime, and its legality, has led gambling operator Betfair to abandon its efforts to obtain a license to operate in Greece.
Clive Hawkswood, Chief Executive Officer of the RGA explained the industry's complaint: “When the Greek government said it was going to license and regulate the domestic online gambling market we welcomed this as a positive step. However, instead of encouraging the development of a competitive and well-regulated market, the Greek government and Gaming Commission are blocking major European private operators from it. We therefore look to the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, to ensure that Greece follows the correct procedures and that the laws that it is seeking to introduce are fully compliant with EU law.”
The RGA and EGBA have had earlier success in challenging elements of the Greek legislation in Brussels. Following an earlier complaint lodged with the European Commission in October 2011, the Greek Ministry of Finance revised the terms of the new tax regime to face gambling operators and their clients from January 1, 2013. Greek authorities agreed to levy a 30% tax on offline gambling profits, impacting OPAP, and align the tax terms placed on OPAP with the forthcoming tax regime to be imposed on online gambling services providers from January 1, 2013. An additional flat tax of 10% will also be levied on gamblers' winnings from this date.
Somewhere between the heartwarming 1997 drama "Good Will Hunting" and this year's critical darling "Argo," Ben Affleck went from Oscar winning "It" boy to Hollywood's prime punching bag to Entertainment Weekly's "Entertainer of the Year." It's a fitting title for Affleck, who directed and starred in one of the most well received films of the year. In an interview with the outlet, the actor said that he did not anticipate the film's success, but knew on a personal level that the gripping drama was a project that he could be proud of.
“I had very low expectations for 'Argo's' performance,” Affleck said. “I just hoped that over time people would find the movie. Also, being at a place in my life and my career where I know what I’m trying to do, it’s different than being 26. When you’re younger and have the early success that I had — it sounds like the worst Hallmark cliche — but I didn’t have anyone to share it with. I don’t mean I wanted someone to sit by the fire with. But when you have a family and children, you kind of see yourself reflected in them. I want to make the kinds of movies that my kids are proud of. I have higher standards, in a way, for them.”
Affleck's public esteem took a hit in 2003, when "Gigli," widely regarded as one of the worst films of all time, was released. The film, coupled with his highly publicized relationship with co-star Jennifer Lopez, was a wrecking ball that demolished both the star's career and public persona.
Following the film's release, Affleck's attempts at professional redemption were marred by a slew of lackluster projects like "Paycheck" and "Surviving Christmas." In 2006 he attempted to make a comeback with "Hollywoodland," in which he starred as doomed "Superman" star George Reeves. Though the film was relatively well-received, it was not a big enough hit to restore his A-list status.
It wasn't until Affleck turned to directing that his luck began to change. The 2007 drama "Gone Baby Gone," about the search for a missing girl in South Boston, earned the star considerable praise and set him on the path to career restoration.
"…one of the graces of 'Gone Baby Gone' is its sensitivity to real struggle, to the lived-in spaces and worn-out consciences that can come when despair turns into nihilism," said Manohla Dargis of the New York Times. "Mr. Affleck doesn’t live in these derelict realms, but, for the most part, he earns the right to visit."
Amy Ryan, who played the mother of the kidnapped child in "Gone Baby Gone," earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her role.
Affleck's follow-up, "The Town," released in 2010, earned an impressive $92 million domestically and establish Affleck as an emerging visionary.
"'The Town' shows, as his first film 'Gone Baby Gone' did, that Affleck has the stuff of a real director," Roger Ebert said of the film. "Everything is here. It's an effective thriller, he works closely with actors, he has a feel for pacing."
Jeremy Renner received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in the film.
"Argo" gives formidable hope for Affleck that his career follies are behind him -- it would take more than another "Gigli" to push him out of the winner's circle. The film, which tells the extraordinary true story of the 1979 CIA rescue of six American hostages in Iran, has put the star back on top. Riveting, comical and uplifting, "Argo" is expected to earn Oscar nominations for such top awards as Best Director and Best Picture.
Ben Affleck Named 'Entertainer Of The Year' By Entertainment Weekly
The fourth White House Tribal Nations Conference of the Obama administration will be held on December 5 as President Obama welcomes representatives from the federally recognised tribes of the US to the Department of the Interior.
The non-tribal gaming industry will be taking a keen interest in the conference as the very real prospect of tribal nation online gaming is likely to feature high on the agenda. With federal i-gaming legislation being forced to the top of the Congressional to-do list, all eyes will be on the Department of the Interior next week as a barometer for the general mood in government with regards to i-gaming.
Of the many questions facing the conference, perhaps the most pertinent regards who should regulate tribal online gaming – will it affect historical Native American gambling compacts or fall entirely under federal control? Will any legislation be limited to online poker, as mooted by the increasingly weary Reid-Kyl bill, or have a wider remit? How can tribal nations or groups of tribes act as ‘operators’ in the federal, legal sense?
The White House Tribal Nations Conference takes place from 9.30am ET on Wednesday, December 5, at the Department of the Interior in Washington DC. Representatives from each of 566 recognised tribal nations are expected to be in attendance.
Online gaming on agenda at White House Tribal Nations Conference | News | i-Gaming | InterGame
Social gambling has become a trend that is gaining momentum in Europe and around the world via the usual social media networks. Facebook has announced that its agreement with social game developer Zynga has been amended to allow Facebook to develop its own games thus distancing the firm from Zynga. Facebook would be permitted as of March 2013 to make a play with its own brand of gaming entertainment but has said it has no intentions of proceeding in that direction. A recent e mail confirmed, "We're not in the business of building games and we have no plans to do so. We're focused on being the platform where games and apps are built,"
Zynga during the regulatory filing concerning the amendments said will remove Zyngas commitment to exhibit advertizing from Facebook and that Facebook Credits would still be accepted as payment until May 13, 2015. "We have streamlined our terms with Zynga so that Zynga-com's use of Facebook Platform is governed by the same policies as the rest of the ecosystem," Facebook continued to explain, "We will continue to work with Zynga, just as we do with developers of all sizes, to build great experiences for people playing social games through Facebook." In the sector of real money social gambling the amendments to the five year deal signed in 2010 also states that, “if Facebook allows real money gambling games on the Facebook web site in countries where Zynga has real-money gambling games, Zynga will subsequently launch such games on the Facebook web site, if certain conditions are met by Facebook.”
The benefits that these amendments bring to both sides of the arrangement are complicated but they may see Zynga on a better footing to build its stand alone platform. The deal just completed with European online gambling operator Bwin.party digital entertainment may be just the beginning for Zynga.
Zynga and Facebook Change Online Social Gaming Deal
The online gambling industry is starting to see some very big changes in the way they present themselves to their customers. Most online casinos and poker rooms tend to require a software download, and in some case, they also have an Instant Play version of their casino. The instant play version is run on a different platform, such as Flash; which makes playing these games on mobile devices a lot trickier.
Most of the online casinos have caught on to the fact that a lot of their customer base are always on the go, and tend to use the latest technology to do all of the tasks they would have done on a PC or Mac. With the technology that mobile devices have nowadays, it makes sense that online casino players will use their smartphones, tablets or others, in order to play the casino games, instead of having to rely on a computer. This has sparked something great to happen in one of the world’s largest phone and tablet innovator, Apple, as well as in many different software companies across the world and the US; with Seattle becoming the main focus.
Apple Allows Real-Money Games
With the market for online gambling changing in the U.S., Apple has started to view this as a big opportunity to expand into other areas. However, Apple has stated the fact that they will not be collecting any shared profit from any of the gambling winnings. They do believe it is a smart move to allow real-money gambling to be allowed on their iPhone, but they wish to stay out of actually operating or taking any part in the actual gambling portion.
This means that Apple will only allow these mobile gambling services to happen on their devices, but they will not take part in the business aspect. They do not wish to be middlemen between the gambling companies and their users. This decision on behalf of Apple has sparked a new revolution of mobile gambling. Revenue that comes in due to customers playing on their mobile devices has been steadily rising, and it does not look like it will slow down; instead, it will speed up.
Seattle, Gambling Software Haven
Seattle has always been a great city for anything gambling and casino related for many years, as they have been the hub for many to create and produce many of the devices that are being used today. With the rise in mobile gambling, a Seattle based company Big Fish Games Inc. has decided to make their debut by creating the Big Fish Casino, which will be available to be played on the iPhone.
Other software companies are not standing idly by. Popular iPhone game developer Zynga has also decided to throw their talent into the pool. The company recently stated that they would be developing a mobile casino to be released sometime early in 2013.
This is great news for all of the casino players that prefer to use their mobile devices to play, especially those that have an iPhone. There will be a huge resurgence of innovation and creation of mobile casino apps, where players will be able to benefit from the competition. Not only with mobile gambling, but with many states in the U.S. starting to allow online gambling, there will be a lot more business for everyone. Keep an eye out for any real-money mobile casinos that are soon to be popping up.
Online betting exchange Betfair have offered to refund AFC Wimbledon supporters who have purchased tickets for the club’s FA Cup tie with MK Dons but may be having a change or heart as to whether they want to attend the match.
Sunday’s second round fixture represents the first meeting between the sides since the highly controversial decision to move the original Wimbledon club to Milton Keynes in 2003, a move which led to the formation of a new AFC Wimbledon club.
AFC Wimbledon fans have not welcomed the Cup draw and many have elected not to travel to Buckinghamshire for the match, although some may have bought tickets but are now unsure as to whether or not they want to make the trip.
Betfair have therefore offered to refund the first 250 fans who hand in their match ticket at an Amnesty Box located in the box office of Kingsmeadow, AFC Wimbledon’s ground, before 3pm on Saturday 1 December, while also making a donation to the Dons Trust for every ticket returned.
AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley said: “Everyone connected to this great club knows what an emotive issue it is for us and our supporters.
“We’re grateful to Betfair for taking some of the pressure off what will be a very tough decision. I’m sure our fans will do what’s best for both themselves and the club.”
Gambling Online Magazine | News | Betfair to refund AFC Wimbledon fans
Seth MacFarlane may already have three hit animated television shows, one hit raunchy comedy movie and the coveted Oscars hosting job for next year, but the comedian is adding another notch on his resume: guest voicing on “The Simpsons.”
“Family Guy” creator MacFarlane will appear in the season premiere of the 25th season of “The Simpsons” in 2013, Fox Television, home to both shows, said on Friday.
MacFarlane will play a married man who pursues matriarch Marge Simpson after the two meet on a website and form a bond over their love of a “Downton Abbey-esque” show called “Upton Rectory,” show producer Al Jean told Entertainment Weekly.
The episode, entitled “Dangers on a Train,” will air in fall 2013.
MacFarlane’s guest spot is a crossover for the actor, writer and director, who was inspired by “The Simpsons” when creating “Family Guy,” an animated comedy following the dysfunctional Griffin family headed by dim-witted patriarch Peter, who bears similarities to Homer Simpson.
Both shows air on Fox, and the news comes after MacFarlane featured Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer Simpson, in a recent “Family Guy” episode.
MacFarlane, 39, also created and voices characters for animated comedies “American Dad” and “The Cleveland Show,” and he had a box-office hit with R-rated comedy “Ted” this past summer.
He will be hosting the Oscars in February.
“The Simpsons” first aired in 1989 and is now the longest-running U.S. sitcom in history and is broadcast in more than 100 countries.
The show has seen a diverse range of guest stars across all spectrums of pop culture including Bill Clinton, Buzz Aldrin, Tony Blair, Julian Assange and Lady Gaga.
Illinois residents dreaming of being the next big Powerball winner have a new way to buy their lottery tickets — without leaving home.
The Illinois Lottery announced Friday it has re-launched its Internet sales and added Powerball to its website.
The newly designed site also allows people to use their cellphone or other mobile devices to play Powerball, Lotto and Mega Millions.
Users can view their games and numbers played online, and the site will automatically notify players via email if they've won.
The Illinois legislature approved a pilot project for online lotto sales more than three years ago. That first-in-the-nation pilot project started in March.
Players are limited to $150 in purchases per day, and registration and online age verification is required.
The push to introduce online-gambling legislation as a source of revenue —or protect those who play wagered games on offshore websites — has gathered steam in the year since the U.S. Justice Department declared that the Wire Act of 1961 prohibits Internet gambling only on sports. The legal opinion, a reversal of the government’s position, opened the door to online gambling via state lottery systems even though it was intended to address whether Illinois and New York could use out-of-state transaction processors to sell lottery tickets to adults within their borders.
Since the Justice Department issued its opinion, “at least seven states — California, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Mississippi and New Jersey — have introduced legislation authorizing forms of Internet gaming in their states,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Many bills are pending or have died in committee, but Delaware authorized forms of online gambling in June.
“The whole dynamic changed Dec. 23 of last year,” Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., president of the American Gaming Association, said of the release of the Justice Department opinion. “It has set the stage that, if Congress doesn’t act quickly, it will be the largest expansion of gambling in the nation’s history.”
His association supports a draft bill from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican, that would make online gambling illegal — except for Internet poker. The card game has a long tradition in the United States, and participants play against one another and not the house, Mr. Fahrenkopf said.
Yet the bill faces an uphill battle in a deadlocked Congress that is grappling with the best way to avoid the “fiscal cliff” of automatic tax increases and spending cuts at the start of next year. Both senators told National Journal in November that they would like to act on the gambling proposal, but acknowledged the stark challenges of enacting legislation amid more pressing issues.
As lawmakers hash it out on Capitol Hill, approaches to gambling in the D.C. region — either through online gambling or bricks-and-mortar casinos —reflect the spectrum of debate across the country. States are using wagered games to quench their thirst for revenue or, conversely, thwarting attempts to use gambling as a way to balance the budget.
Maryland voters approved hotly contested Question 7 on the Nov. 6 ballot, authorizing the state to open table games at five existing and planned casinos and to build a sixth casino in Prince George’s County. National Harbor, located along the Potomac River just south of the Capital Beltway, is considered to be the most likely site for the new casino.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said on WTOP-103.5 FM radio on Tuesday that he is not concerned about Maryland’s table games “having a bad impact” on the Old Dominion and signaled that his state would not go all in on games of chance.
“That’s a choice that Maryland has made,” Mr. McDonnell told the station. “That’s not how we’ve expanded revenue in Virginia.”
In the District, council members Marion Barry, Ward 8 Democrat, and Jack Evans, Ward 2 Democrat, introduced a bill in September to establish a 23-member citizens commission “to investigate the economic and social feasibility of implementing various forms of legalized gambling” in the city. Mr. Evans said the bill likely will die in committee when the council term expires at the end of the year.
Besides Maryland’s new offerings, West Virginia touts the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races,roughly an hour-and-a-half drive from the nation’s capital. Mr. Evans said it is unclear whether the neighboring casinos draw away revenue or bring in tax dollars through increased tourism to the region.
“That’s the purpose of the study,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s a positive or a negative.”
D.C. Council members in February repealed an “i-gaming” statute that passed as part of a broader budget bill in December 2010. Its path to law caused critics to question why it was not fully vetted as stand-alone legislation with public hearings.
The city lawmaker who pushed online gambling in the District, Michael A. Brown, at-large independent, repeatedly warned that the federal government may step in and regulate the practice before local governments could set up their own systems. The prospect of that is on the table, but no one is betting the house on the bill’s passage.
Read more: Inaction on Hill seen as jackpot for online-gambling states - Washington Times Inaction on Hill seen as jackpot for online-gambling states - Washington Times
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