Let your mouth speak archive

He had recently been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and died at home with his wife and family around him, his manager said.

Born Bernard Jewry in the East End of London in 1942, his hits included My Coo Ca Choo, Jealous Mind and I Feel Like Buddy Holly.

The former glam rock star had been due to release his first studio album in 30 years on 3 November.

He recently announced the record, titled Alvin, was finished and would represent "a new and exciting departure" of which he was "immensely proud".

The singer had performed on stage at the Regal cinema in Evesham, Worcestershire on Saturday.

Stardust grew up in Mansfield and started playing guitar as a schoolboy. He met one of his biggest influences, Buddy Holly, at a gig in Doncaster and played backstage with the singer and his band the Crickets.

He signed his first record deal in 1961 as the frontman of Shane Fenton and the Fentones, though the band struggled to get in the charts.

In 1973 he signed with Magnet Records and took on the name that would make him famous.

Alvin Stardust talks to BBC Breakfast in 2010

"It started off as Elvin Starr, because they wanted a kind of rocky, country name," he recalled in 2010.

"But [a woman] who was doing promotion for us said it wasn't 'glam-rocky' enough, so it became Stardust and then Alvin."

My Coo Ca Choo, the debut song under his new guise, peaked at number two in the UK singles chart.

Known for his rockabilly quiff, sideburns and black gloves, he projected a glowering persona he said he adopted because he was nervous and "didn't want to be found out".

His success led to him being part of a Green Cross Code road safety campaign in 1976, which saw him instructing children to look both ways before they crossed the road.

That success continued into the 1980s with Pretend, I Feel Like Buddy Holly and I Won't Run Away all making the top 10.

Once described as "the Godfather of British Rock 'n' Roll" by Rolling Stone Keith Richards, he made sporadic acting appearances in Hollyoaks, The Grimleys and Doctors.

He also appeared on stage in such musicals as Godspell, The Phantom of the Opera and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, in which he played the fearsome Child Catcher.

Stardust was married three times. His first wife was Iris Caldwell, with whom he had two sons, Shaun and Adam.

His second wife was the actress Liza Goddard, with whom he had a daughter named Sophie.

"RIP Alvin Stardust," Goddard tweeted on Thursday. "Thank you for our beautiful daughter and granddaughter."

Stardust went on to marry Julie Paton, an actress and choreographer, with whom he had a daughter, Millie.

Shaun is now a headmaster of a school in Reigate, while his brother is a producer and DJ who records under the name Adam F.

DJ Tony Blackburn remembered the singer as "a great showman" who would be "sorely missed". "Performing was his life," added the veteran broadcaster.

"He had this bad boy image, but he was not like that at all," Blackburn continued. "On stage he was brilliant, but off stage he was just an ordinary guy."

Stardust, a committed Christian, was also remembered as "a great bloke" by his former Hollyoaks co-star Jeremy Edwards.

"RIP Alvin Stardust, the original landlord of the Dog in the Pond," the actor wrote on Twitter, referring to the Channel 4 series' fictional public house.

"I may not have known him long, but even in that short time he proved to be one of the most genuine and likeable men I've ever met," said the singer's manager Andy Davies.

"His passing is a huge and sad loss."




BBC News - Alvin Stardust, glam rock singer, dies aged 72

Recently, former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb published a column discussing what he claims to be the “hidden dangers of online gambling.” As a Congressman representing the fourth district of Nevada, I cannot disagree with Mayor Webb more strongly. The gaming industry is the lifeblood of my state and my district, supporting our economy through thousands of jobs and creating a robust tourism industry. I know what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to gaming.

Like Webb, I too know the dangers of illegal gambling. I have read the studies and seen the reports. But the notion that somehow Congress can simply legislate this problem away by instituting an ill-advised ban on all online gaming nationwide is ridiculous.

I have heard the argument that a federal ban is needed in order to protect children and under-aged players from gambling online using their parents’ credit card.

While I am sure both Mayor Webb and I agree that children should not have access to online gaming sites, there has not been one single case of this happening in any of the three states — Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey — in which online gaming is legal. In fact, states like these that have successfully implemented regulated systems have created a much safer environment for consumers, including minors, who may currently be gaming illegally on overseas and black market sites.

Regulated online platforms, like those seen in my home state, Delaware and New Jersey, protect children far better than any federal ban. These states have taken the lead in creating safe, well-monitored sites and ensure that no one, let alone a child, is drawn into putting their money or identities at risk on off-shore, unlicensed black market sites. Nevada also knows how to keep gaming a safe industry that provides jobs with smart regulation.

Finally, let’s not forget it was President Barack Obama’s Justice Department that issued the reinterpretation of the Wire Act in 2011, which clarified the original intent of the law. When Bobby Kennedy drafted the Wire Act back in the 1960s, the purpose of the legislation was to fight the evils of illegal gambling and organized crime, not to stifle innovation or inadvertently promote an illegal black market for online gaming. We have certainly come a long way since then, and it would be a travesty for Congress to single-handedly reverse course by implementing a comprehensive ban. What would legal players in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey do if their systems were completely shut down? They would flood into overseas black market websites that are unsafe, opening themselves up to serious risks of identify theft, fraud and money laundering.

States cannot ignore the fact that they are missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue from online gaming, which could be used to improve schools, libraries and healthcare systems across the country. We simply cannot turn off the Internet or pretend that this technology does not exist. It is time to embrace innovation and technology, and stop putting up roadblocks that will ultimately lead us back to the days when the mob ruled the black market.





Banning online gambling would be counterproductive - The Philadelphia Tribune: Commentary

Marcia Strassman, who played Gabe Kaplan's wife, Julie, on the 1970s sitcom "Welcome Back, Kotter," has died. She was 66.

Strassman died at her Sherman Oaks, California, home on Friday after battling breast cancer for seven years, her sister, Julie Strassman, said Sunday.

"They gave her 2 1/2 years to live but she lasted much longer," she said. "She was very courageous."

Strassman had numerous roles on television and in film during her five-decade career.

She played nurse Margie Cutler on the first season of "MASH" before her breakout role in "Welcome Back, Kotter." The show was about a teacher returning to the tough high-school of his youth to teach a classroom full of misfits, including future movie star John Travolta.

She also played Rick Moranis's wife in the Disney hit movie "Honey I Shrunk The Kids" and its sequel, "Honey I Blew Up The Kid."

Born on April 28, 1948 in New York City, Strassman began acting as a teen, replacing Liza Minelli in the off-Broadway musical "Best Foot Forward. She moved to Los Angeles at 18 and landed a steady stream of roles.

She was a member of the Screen Actors Guild national board, and was an active fundraiser for breast cancer research and other social causes, her sister Julie said.

Strassman is also survived by a daughter and a brother.

Plans for funeral services are pending.




'Welcome Back, Kotter' actress Marcia Strassman dies at 66 | Fox News

THE Department of Trade and Industry is proposing that all forms of online gambling and other new forms of gambling, such as dog racing, be prohibited.

The proposal is currently under discussion at the National Gambling Policy Council which brings together national and provincial government representatives to discuss policy.

The department is also proposing that the number of electronic bingo terminals allowed nationally be restricted. Once the policy council has finalised the draft policy it will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval and it will then be released for public comment.

The department’s deputy director-general Zodwa Ntuli and chief director MacDonald Netshitenzhe told MPs on Tuesday that the proposal to ban online gambling was based on the view that the government had the capability to enforce regulations of the industry. It also wanted to limit gambling to the traditional forms currently in existence.

The benefit of online gambling in terms of job creation was not quantifiable, Mr Netshitenzhe told members of Parliament’s trade and industry portfolio committee. He pointed out that several jurisdictions around the world had outlawed it.

The Democratic Alliance voiced strong opposition to an outright ban on online gambling, arguing in favour of regulation instead.

"That is a very, very bad decision," DA spokesman on trade and industry Geordin Hill-Lewis said. "I fiercely disagree with that view. It is completely shortsighted to say that it is better for South Africans not to be allowed to gamble online when there is patently significant demand in the country to do that. It is for government to facilitate that in the safest way possible."

He said banning was not a wise move, arguing that it would involve the expenditure of huge resources on enforcement.

Ms Ntuli said the department’s policy decision recognised the fact that SA had a higher level of problem gambling and indebtedness than many other countries.

It also wanted to see more stringent controls introduced over ease of access to gambling activities which should not be allowed to take place in shopping malls. A framework to regulate horse racing was also proposed. This would include the requirement to implement transformation in the industry which would be tied to the issuing of licences.

Ms Ntuli conceded that there were conflicting objectives between national and provincial government with regard to gambling, which is a concurrent competence.

Provinces have the competence to issue licences and rely on gambling as a source of revenue, whereas national government is responsible for formulating the national policy framework.

Provinces have allowed electronic bingo terminals to operate even though there was no national policy for them, which prompted Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies to impose a moratorium on the issuing of further licences.

Mr Netshitenzhe also briefed the committee on the draft regulations, under the National Credit Act, which are due for implementation in the next few months. There had been requests for their introduction to be delayed, he said, so that credit providers could get their systems in place, but doing so would put consumers at risk.

Reckless lending had been accelerating ahead of the coming into force of the regulations which require that affordability assessments be undertaken before loans are granted. The application for a delay would be considered "very cautiously" he said.

Ms Ntuli also pointed out that the amendments to the National Credit Act were passed in December last year so the industry had had plenty of time to get ready for the changes.

Also, until the act and the regulations take effect, the National Consumer Tribunal will not be able to hear cases of reckless lending which will have to continue to queue up in the courts, delaying redress for consumers. She said a report by the National Credit Regulator on a proposed maximum interest rate for loans was due to be submitted to the minister by November 19. There would be extensive consultations with industry on the proposals.




Government proposes ban on online gambling | National | BDlive

The TLC show “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” has been axed amid allegations the show matriarch, “Mama” June Shannon, is dating a convicted child molester, and the former beauty queen’s sister will discuss the ordeal on “Entertainment Tonight.”

“It’s Mama’s fault,” Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell says in an advance clip of the interview, scheduled to air tonight. “She has brought the past back. I feel betrayed. He’s not supposed to be around kids and she let him around Alana and Pumpkin.”

Anna previously told People magazine that registered sex offender Mark McDaniel “would try and touch me and all that stuff” when she was 8. He was June’s boyfriend at the time. Anna told People “I would feel hurt” if the rumors are true.

The clip promoting the “Entertainment Tonight” interview describes it as “starting Thursday,” indicating the network may stretch out the interview over several days.

June posted a video on her public Facebook page denying the reports and saying her connection with McDaniel is a thing of the past.

“I have not seen that person in 10 years and don’t want to see that person.”

Then TMZ posted recent photos showing them together, and Shannon removed her video.

Meanwhile Lee “Uncle Poodle” Thompson, brother of June’s former partner Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson, called her out in a series of posts on his public Facebook page.

“Why not just be honest for a change?” he posted. “You may try to bash me or dig up old dirt but honestly none of it compares to how you have treated my brother and allowed a convicted child molester who molested your oldest daughter to be around your 14 and 9-year-olds.”

He later removed the series of back-and-forth, saying he was moving on and staying positive. He’s also hinted at potential future opportunities, just as an online fan petition has been launched demanding a new spin-off show for the two Thompson brothers.

“Give Sugar Bear and Poodle their own show,” is the title of the online petition. Meanwhile a new Facebook page titled “Make TLC Keep Honey Boo Boo” has been launched.

TLC hasn’t commented publicly beyond a statement confirming the show was done. But the network hasn’t taken down the show’s official Facebook page or Twitter account.


Honey Boo Boo’s sister to speak out on “Entertainment Tonight” | The Buzz blog

Hundreds of investors in an international gambling syndicate run by notorious conman Peter Foster could lose millions of dollars following his dramatic arrest at a luxury property near Byron Bay on Tuesday morning.

Foster is believed to have operated the Sports Trading Club while hiding from the Australian Crime Commission and other law enforcement agencies on the NSW north coast since September last year.

When NSW Police executed federal warrants at the Ewingsdale house on Tuesday afternoon, Foster attempted to flee before he crashed into a neighbour's fence and was tackled by an officer. He was charged with assaulting a police officer after allegedly grabbing his gun.

A source said Foster had six mobile phones and several computers in a home office that revealed he was a key player in a syndicate that claims to have offices in London, Sydney and Hong Kong.

"It doesn't matter what they claim on their website, Fosters' home in Byron Bay was the headquarters. This is another massive scam that is only coming to light now. It will collapse like a house of cards," the source said.

Foster's role with Sports Trading Club is expected to trigger an investigation into the structure of the highly secretive business, which uses a Panama-based "privacy protection service" to conceal the identity of the company behind the online gambling scheme.

Sports Trading Club, also known as STC Sports Trading Club and The Sports Trading Club Partnership, takes investments between $50,000 and $250,000, which is punted on international sporting events.

The company's UK communication manager, Patrick McMahon, claimed in June that Australian investors had received a 1900 per cent return since January 2013.

"We don't gamble, we trade. We make money out of other people's mistakes. When one side gambles and the other trades, it is like owning the casino," Mr McMahon said in a media statement.

In July, Sports Trading Club claimed to have reaped $150 million by backing Germany to win the World Cup in Brazil, while betting against favourites Serena Williams and Novac Djokovic at the 2014 Australian Open also earned a "multi-million-dollar win".

A source said the company had received more than $10 million from private investors over the past month alone.

Repeated requests for comment from Sports Trading Club, which operates from a serviced office in Sydney's Market Street, were not answered. The local partner fronting the business is Anne Patricia Larter, who refused to comment.

Head of investor relations in the UK, David Lee, also failed to respond to requests for comment.

The company's bona fides had already been challenged last year when it was revealed that at least two senior executives had used fake images on their Linked In profiles. The gambling syndicate has also been caught fabricating quotes from a deceased Princeton economist to spruik their business.

Foster was previously involved with an almost identical gambling business called Sportalists, which shut down its website after an expose on A Current Affair in 2012. Sports Trading Club was founded two months later.

On Wednesday, the renowned scam artist appeared before the Tweed Heads Local Court in NSW and pleaded guilty to assaulting police and resisting arrest during the raids in Ewingsdale.

Foster's lawyer said his client did not realise he had grabbed at the officer's gun during the dramatic arrest, which was captured by a Channel 9 camera crew.

He claimed to have suffered chest pains after his arrest and appeared in court in a hospital gown. Foster's lawyer said he been "living like a monk" in the $1340 a week luxury rental property, but Fairfax Media understands he was in regular contact with his mother and girlfriend, who both live on the Gold Coast.

Foster has been on the lam since last September after breaching his bail conditions over charges stemming from a dodgy weight-loss scheme linked to Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto and his business associate John Khoury.

In February 2014, Interpol issued an international alert on Foster after he sent images to Fairfax Media showing him drinking kava, reading a local newspaper and purporting to be in Fiji.

Foster, who has served prison sentences in the US, Britain, Vanuatu and Australia, was banned by the Federal Court in 2005 from any involvement in the weight-loss industry.

During the 1980s he persuaded topless model and pop singer Samantha Fox and the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson to promote his product Bai Lin tea, which falsely claimed to promote weight loss and well-being.

Cherie Blair, the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, was embroiled in scandal in 2004 when the London tabloids revealed Foster has served as a financial adviser in the purchase of two apartments in Bristol.

Foster is set to be extradited to Queensland to serve a minimum 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court.



Read more: Peter Foster implicated in international betting scam

Good luck georgia

The Center for Gambling Studies at the Rutgers University School of Social Work has been chosen to conduct a $1.3 million study on the impact of Internet gambling in New Jersey. The goal of the study is to examine the impact of legalized online gambling in New Jersey and to assess whether problem behaviors vary with demographics across the state.

The impetus for the study dates back to the passage of New Jersey’s online gaming bill. As part of his conditional veto New Jersey Governor Chris Christie demanded the state examine the impact of Internet gambling on problem gambling behaviors, which the legislature wrote into the bill and Christie signed.

Part of that examination is the Rutgers study, which will be funded by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
The study

The study will begin in January 2015 with an initial round of polling (First Wave). The plan is to contact 1,500 New Jersey residents via cell phones and land lines, and a further 2,000 over the Internet.

A second wave will occur 18 months later at which point the data will compared and contrasted, and “evaluating any changes in past-year prevalence of Internet gambling and problem gambling as well as changes in the characteristics of Internet gamblers.”

The final results of the study are expected in three years, however, Rutgers will also provide yearly reports to the Governor’s office based on statistical analysis of data provided by the online gambling sites in New Jersey.

This will be the first official look into a legalized and regulated online gaming market in the U.S.
Comments

”Since the inception of Internet gaming, the Division of Gaming Enforcement has been committed to maintaining the highest level of responsible gaming standards, and information from a study such as this will only help in that regard.” said Division of Gaming Enforcement director David Rebuck.

“New Jersey is one of only three states where Internet gambling is legal,” said Dr. Lia Nower, professor and director of the Center who also serves as the principal investigator on the grant. “But iGaming is a new frontier and no one knows quite what to expect. It’s a real testament to the Governor and the Division that they’re taking such a responsible approach to evaluating potential negative impacts, and we are really honored to be a part of it.”

“Unlike casino gambling, people don’t have to travel or make time to gamble on the Internet,” Nower said. “You can bet from your iPad at the breakfast table or on your work computer or on your phone at your kid’s soccer game. And you’re not handling cash so the money doesn’t seem real. Our studies will identify what type person chooses this very private form of gambling, who develops problems, and how those problems are different from other forms of legalized gambling.”
Rutgers Polling

Over the past few weeks Rutgers has released two data samples discussing gaming in the state.

The first set of polling data examined the entire gaming industry in the state, focusing on the perceived impact in Atlantic City and statewide. One of the most shocking results was the favorability of online gaming, with only 5% of respondents feeling it has been good for Atlantic City.

Rutgers released another set of polling data days later which focused on visitation to Atlantic City and the activities visitors partake in – surprisingly, 52% of respondents claimed they didn’t gamble while in Atlantic City.




Rutgers to Conduct Study: Legal US Online Gambling

Ontario will launch its long-awaited Internet gaming site within weeks.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) issued an invitation to 53,000 loyal customers Tuesday, offering them a sneak peak at PlayOLG before it opens to the general public.

OLG spokesman Tony Bitoni said players will be able to try their hand at a variety of video slot games, blackjack, baccarat and roulette.

The site will also allow Ontarians to buy lottery tickets online — for Lotto 6/49 and Lotto Max games.

Poker enthusiasts will have to settle for single player games to start.

“(You) can’t play with other people around the country,” Bitoni said. “The peer-to-peer poker will come online in the next phase.”

Sports games and bingo are also possible future additions to the site, he said.

Eligible members of the OLG’s Winner’s Circle Reward program will be invited to preview and play the site as part of a phased-in approach, Bitoni said.

“You can’t play on it right now but that’s coming in the coming weeks,” Bitoni said.

Players will have to register to verify their identity and age, and payments will be made through credit cards.

Online gamblers can set limits on their gaming, including how much they’re prepared to lose with a seven day “cooling off” period before that amount can be increased.

Problem gamblers will be given the option to exclude themselves from playing the online games.

“Responsible gambling is for us a priority, and it is definitely a priority on PlayOLG,” Bitoni said. “You can tell us how long you want to play.”

The OLG estimates that 500,000 Ontario residents spend $400 million-$500 million a year on unregulated out-of-province Internet gambling, Bitoni said.

“And what we’re offering is a controlled, trust-worthy alternative to these grey market sites,” he said. “When we did our market research, trust was one of the big things that people told us about, that they really wanted in these sites.”

There are no assurances that a player will be paid with the off-shore sites, he said.

“There are some high profile sites that did crash and burn,” he said.

OLG is in the midst of an on-going modernization and online gaming has been a goal for several years as traditional casinos face falling profits.

British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and all the Atlantic provinces already provide regulated Internet gaming.

OLG had initially planned to launch online gaming in early 2012.




OLG launching online gambling site | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun

Forbes puts The X Factor judge, 55, at the top of the list of big-earners for estimated earnings for the 12 months to June 2014.

The publisher said that the TV and music mogul's millions came from his X Factor and Got Talent earnings around the globe, as well as chart-toppers One Direction.

Shock jock Howard Stern, who is also a judge on America's Got Talent, took joint first place with Cowell at the top of the list.

The top 10 also featured foul-mouthed British chef Gordon Ramsay, who continues to enjoy huge success in the US, in ninth place with £29 million (47 million dollars).

Forbes talked to agents, managers and lawyers to come up with estimates for entertainment-related earnings for each celebrity.

Oprah Winfrey was fourth with £51 million (82 million dollars), while chat show host Ellen DeGeneres was sixth with £44 million (70 million dollars).

The top 10 also featured US right-wing TV host Glenn Beck, Dr Phil host Phil McGraw, US entertainer Rush Limbaugh, US TV host Ryan Seacrest and Judge Judy star Judge Judy Sheindlin.

US Entertainment's Top-Earning Personalities

1. Simon Cowell - £59 million (95 million dollars)

2. Howard Stern - £59 million (95 million dollars)

3. Glenn Beck - £56 million (90 million dollars)

4. Oprah Winfrey - £51 million (82 million dollars)

5. Phil McGraw - £48 (77 million dollars)

6. Ellen DeGeneres - £44 million (70 million dollars)

7. Rush Limbaugh - £41 million (66 million dollars)

8. Ryan Seacrest - £40.6 million (65 million dollars)

9. Gordon Ramsay - £29 million (47 million dollars)

10. Judge Judy Sheindlin - £29 million (47 million dollars)




Cowell tops entertainment pay table - Independent.ie

After months of negotiations, Mexico's National Action Party (Partido Acción Nacional, PAN) the Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolución Democrática, PRD) reportedly found an agreement on the last details of the country's upcoming new gambling legislation.

Initially expected to be sent to the parliament by Sept. 20, the new law on gambling is set to create a brand new legal framework both for online and live gambling with the introduction of new measures against money laundering.

According to Mexico's local media, the new gambling law will bring the minimum age for gambling to 21 and will fight against money laundering by imposing some limitations to the so-called "mini casinos" — the unauthorized small gambling rooms that have flourished throughout the country during recent years.

The progress towards the introduction of the text to the country’s parliament was revealed by Deputy and former chairman of Mexico’s special commission on casinos Ricardo Mejia Berdeja, who said in an interview that legislators and representatives of the Federal Government have hammered out any remaining differences in a meeting held on Nov. 4.

Together with the two measures mentioned before, the new law is also supposed to offer operators a system of 10-year-long licenses, regulate online gambling, and establish a new Advisory Council composed of the secretaries of health, tourism, economics and government, as well as non-governmental organizations.

Talking about the text that should finally be sent to the parliament for approval before the end of Nov., the President of the Commission of Gaming in the Chamber of Deputies Fernando Zarate Salgado stated, "The new law is going to put some order in the gambling world by regulating it and by fixing some issues we have now."

Earlier this year, two prominent Mexican poker pros Angel Guillen and Christian "Grillo" de León discussed the opportunities that a regulated online gambling market would offer to the country and to all poker players in Mexico.

"[Poker] has grown a lot in Brazil since they have started to organize tournaments all over the country," Guillen said in an interview with PokerNews. "Now, I am expecting something similar in Mexico as well."

"The law is kind of tricky at the moment," Guillen added. "But they are working on it, and hopefully we will have a big tournament in Mexico very soon."

"The new reform could soon introduce some important changes in the country," de León echoed in another interview, originally published on PokerNews Latin America. According to de León, all Mexican players can do right now is to wait. "We have to wait for the new bills to be adopted, so that we will be able to see how things will go from there."



Mexico

The world of online gambling is growing at a steady pace. In the United Kingdom, betting companies like William Hill and others have been providing great fun and entertainment to countless individuals for years in shops, and now many also offer online options, including cash prizes for the players. People can bet as little or as much as they want and there are some serious winning opportunities in the virtual world for gamblers. With thousands of games available at their fingertips, it’s no wonder many people enjoy playing their favourite online casino games.
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In the United States, while Las Vegas and Atlantic City real-life gamblers don’t seem to be slowing down, the push for legalizing online casinos is gaining momentum. As of November of last year, there were three states that allowed online gambling: New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada. The state governments in other locations such as New York are now considering the financial incentives of legalizing the online casino experience.

Pros and Cons of the Online Gambling Experience

As with all issues, there are pros and cons to consider in the online gambling experience. One of the potential cons is ensure that only adults are using the gambling websites. Of course, the Gambling Commission in the UK is also concerned about this issue. Teenagers these days often know more than their parents about computers and technology and can easily guess their parents’ internet passwords in three attempts or less, if such passwords even exist. Many kids have their own iPads, tablets or other devices with internet access as well as their own credit cards with which to play. On the other hand, legalizing online gambling can be quite profitable for the players as well as the authorities. For example, the monthly revenue in New Jersey from online gambling has averaged about $10 million over the last year. While this figure is less than expected, it is a relatively cost-free way to rake in some spare cash for the state.

What’s so Great About Internet Casinos?

There are many reasons why people love internet casinos. The ease of the internet has become something people all over the world now enjoy on a daily basis. With the click of the mouse or the tap of the screen, you can bounce around from slots to bingo to poker to blackjack at your leisure. It is fun to be challenged and the games are colourful, pleasing, and potentially lucrative. If you haven’t tried an online slot machine, they are more thrilling than many people think. And with some sites offering hundreds of slot games with different themes, wager amounts and prize levels, players can find their way to dessert scenes, traditional fruit machines, and super modern underwater adventures. The technology of the online slots industry alone has reached a new high. For people want to hear the coins clinking around, see the flashing lights and feel the buzz of any Vegas hotspot and now they can do that from anywhere in the world at any time.

Read more: The Latest News in Online Gambling | Cambridge News
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"I believe that sports betting should be brought out of the underground and into the sunlight where it can be appropriately monitored and regulated."

That's what NBA Commissioner Adam Silver writes in a New York Times op-ed that argues for the legalization of gambling on professional sports, which he says is "currently illegal in most of the United States outside of Nevada."

Times are changing, Silver says, and gambling has become popular and accepted. He notes that most states have lotteries and casinos, and that three have approved at least some form of Internet gambling. And where it's not legal, people are doing it anyway, he says.

Silver adds:

"But despite legal restrictions, sports betting is widespread. It is a thriving underground business that operates free from regulation or oversight. Because there are few legal options available, those who wish to bet resort to illicit bookmaking operations and shady offshore websites. There is no solid data on the volume of illegal sports betting activity in the United States, but some estimate that nearly $400 billion is illegally wagered on sports each year."

It's not a departure for Silver — he has publicly supported legalized gambling since at least 2009 when he told USA Today Sports that "we can't live with our heads in the sand" as international gaming companies routinely offer betting on NBA games.

He says sports betting should be strictly regulated and monitored.

But the major professional sports leagues — the National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball — have long resisted such a move. All supported the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 1992.

Still, sports betting could happen sooner rather than later. Next week, a federal judge is expected to rule on New Jersey's efforts to allow sports betting in its struggling casinos — something the NBA, along with the NFL, MLB, NHL and NCAA, have opposed.

If that doesn't pan out, fans still have the fantasy version of sports gaming. This week, the NBA signed an exclusive deal with FanDuel, one of the most popular online fantasy sports leagues.




NBA Commissioner Thinks Gambling On Games Should Be Legal : The Two-Way : NPR

It was a busy week in the world of entertainment. We saw a revealing side of Kim Kardashian, false Macaulay Culkin death rumors and a racier-than-usual freestyle from Eminem.

Facebook has tallied the top 10 most discussed stories in entertainment this week. What had you talking? And what popped up most on news feeds across the U.S.?

Here's our exclusive list:


1. Actress Carol Ann Susi dies at 62

Carol Ann Susi, the memorable voice of Mrs. Wolowitz on "The Big Bang Theory," lost her battle with cancer this week. She was 62.


2. Sister Cristina Scuccia releases a cover of Madonna's "Like a Virgin"

Now here's a cover song your iPod needs. Sister Cristina Scuccia, winner of "The Voice of Italy" 2014 and an Ursuline nun, belts out Madonna's classic in a new music video.

3. Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead" will return as a TV series on Starz in 2015

Looks like "Evil Dead" will rise again. Sam Raimi's cult film series will return in 2015 as a TV show on Starz. And yes, it will star Bruce Campbell. Groovy


4. Garth Brooks releases new album "Man Against Machine"

One of country's biggest names is back in a major way. Garth Brooks released a new studio album this week. "Man Against Machine" is available now.


5. Kim Kardashian poses nude for Paper magazine

Kim Kardashian may not have broken the Internet like she intended when she posed bare-bottom for Paper magazine, but she certainly created some waves.


6. Robert Plant knocks down rumors about Led Zeppelin reunion tour

Sorry, Led-heads. Guitarist Robert Plant dismissed rumors that Richard Branson offered the band $800 million to reunite and tour.



7. Macaulay Culkin posts photos on Instagram to poke fun at Internet rumors about his death

False alarm! Macaulay Culkin is not dead. In fact, after death rumors started circulating, the actor posted pictures on his Instagram parodying the false news. At least he's in on the joke!


8. Freestyle rapping by Eminem and YelaWolf in Shady CXVPHER video gets buzz

Simmer down there, Eminem. The "8-Mile" rapper said he'd "punch Lana Del Rey in the face like Ray Rice" during a freestyle. OK, but how does he really feel?



9. The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon to donate his $100 million fortune to charity

Sam Simon opened up for the first time publicly about why he's giving away his $100 million fortune to charity. All of his money will be going towards the Sam Simon Foundation, aimed at protecting the well-being of canines.


10. Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar" takes second spot at the box office

Critics and audiences are buzzing about Christopher Nolan's space film "Interstellar," which rose to the no. 2 box office spot this week. Damn you, "Big Hero 6"!







Entertainment buzz: Facebook's top 10 moments of the week - CBS News

The recent midterm elections sent a powerful message to politicians nationwide that Americans are frustrated with government intrusion into their lives. Obamacare played a central role in the elections as one in four voters said that healthcare was a top issue. Republicans have argued that Obamacare is an issue that should be left up to those at the state level and the federal government shouldn’t be mandating healthcare decisions. Similarly, there should be an emphasis on letting people in the states decide their own future when it comes to online gambling, especially as the issue may be creeping up on Congress once again. Unfortunately, some of the same Republicans that see the threat to individual liberty on healthcare want the federal government to legislate what the states can do about online gambling.

In early 2014 a Nevada coalition of gambling companies began pushing for legislation aiming to fix the 1961 Wire Act with a new draft bill. H.R.4301 - Restoration of America's Wire Act, introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) would ban online gambling at the federal level:

Restoration of America's Wire Act - Amends provisions of the federal criminal code, commonly known as the Wire Act, to provide that the prohibition against transmission of wagering information shall apply to any bet or wager, or information assisting in the placing of any bet or wager (thus making such prohibition applicable to all types of gambling activities, including internet gambling). States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) preempt any state law prohibiting gambling; or (2) alter, limit, or extend the relationship between the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 and other federal laws currently in effect, the ability of a state licensed lottery retailer to make in-person, computer-generated retail lottery sales, or the relationship between federal laws and state charitable gaming laws.

But in reality, the legislation is nothing more than corporate welfare and crony capitalism that stifles competition, contains several special interest carve-outs, and infringes on voters at the state and local level.

The American economy is struggling to make a comeback as job growth and wages are stagnant. As states decide the best ways to revitalize their economies, the last thing the federal government should be doing is limiting options for states. A federal ban on online gambling would prevent states from being able to unleash the potential for economic growth that online gambling could provide. Voters in each individual state would also have the right to reject online gambling.

Many politicians claim that they want a smaller federal government and would prefer that voters in each state be able to retain the power to decide their own course when it comes to a number of issues. But, those that advocated for liberty for Obamacare, are nowhere to be seen. For example, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who just as recently as last week said now was the time to “repeal Obamacare” has said nothing on the issue of a federal ban on online gambling.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has already stated he opposes restrictions to online gambling and believes the government should stay out of that industry, but the relative silence from those including Cruz is troubling. Certainly those individuals who have fought for reducing the power of the federal government would want to ensure that economic innovation and competition at the state level are not hindered by an outright federal ban.

The midterm election has also brought in a new crop of elected officials who also cling to the mantle of limiting the power of the federal government. Senator-elect Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who will soon be headed to Washington, campaigned as a fighter for individual liberty. Iowa is working toward legislation for online gaming in 2015. Does their newly minted senator support giving voters in her state the power to even take the issue up for consideration?

It will be interesting to watch which newly elected Senate and House members who campaigned on a platform of taking back power from the federal government and vesting it with voters in the states actually fight for that principle. The federal ban on online gambling is a perfect barometer with which to conduct such a test.

On Nov. 4 voters rebuked President Obama and federal government overreach; it is time for those politicians (elected or preparing to be sworn in) to make good on their commitment to liberty and limited government. They should start by speaking up for voters in all states and

Iljazi is the Communications & Policy manager for the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, a conservation advocacy organization.




Online gambling fight in need of consistency from politicians | TheHill

Bill Cosby's upcoming appearance on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" has been canceled amid a growing uproar over allegations that he sexually assaulted several women in past decades.

Cosby spokesman David Brokaw confirmed Friday night that Cosby would not appear next Wednesday as previously scheduled. He did not say why.

"Late Show" representative Kimberly Izzo-Emmet said, "We can't comment on the guest booking process." She said Regis Philbin would be the replacement guest.

Another canceled engagement, on "The Queen Latifah Show" on Oct. 30, was characterized by that show as a postponement granted at Cosby's request.

Barbara Bowman, one of Cosby's accusers, has recently leveled allegations of sexual assault by the comic in interviews and in a Washington Post online column, writing that "Cosby won my trust as a 17-year-old aspiring actress in 1985, brainwashed me into viewing him as a father figure, and then assaulted me multiple times."

The standup comedian Hannibal Buress last month brought heat on Cosby at a performance in Philadelphia. His routine, during which he assailed Cosby as "a rapist," was captured on video and posted online, gaining wide exposure.

The 77-year-old Cosby, who was never criminally charged in any of the cases, settled a civil suit in 2006 with another woman over an alleged incident two years before.

Cosby has declined to comment on the recent resurgence of allegations.

Ontario is considering steps it can take to control offshore online gaming, Finance Minister Charles Sousa says.

Providing a safe online alternative run by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) is the most obvious way to counter the spread of grey market gambling, he insisted.

But the minister has also spoken to his counterpart from Quebec who is attempting to expand the province's reach beyond its borders to regulate offshore igaming.

"We're looking closely at what they're doing, but I'm nowhere near determining how we would actually enforce that," Sousa said Tuesday. "I'm interested. I'm having a joint cabinet meeting with the ministers of Quebec in the coming days, and I look forward to seeing how they're going to proceed."

The Quebec government is mulling over whether to license private gaming sites, allowing them to operate legally in the province under tight regulations while cracking down on those sites that do not participate.

The Ontario government estimates that its citizens spend about $400 million-$500 million on online gaming annually with proceeds flowing to offshore websites.

OLG is currently testing its own online gaming site with the agency's most dedicated customers and plans to make the gambling option available soon to the general public.

The government expects to raise about $350 million over five years through the Ontario igaming site.

The Ontario government is "not so much" motivated by the proceeds, as by the desire to provide an online gambling opportunity with far stricter controls than existing offshore sites, Sousa said.

The OLG requires gamblers to register to help keep underage gamers off the site and to set caps on how much they're prepared to spend.




Sun News : Ontario looking for ways to control offshore online gambling

It’s unlikely that online gambling in South Africa will take off for the foreseeable future as the department of trade and industry, which is responsible for the sector, is stalling over the licensing of Internet-based operators, according to an industry expert.

Nikki Forster, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ hospitality and gambling industry leader for South Africa, said government has been working to introduce online gambling regulations for the past decade. However, government warned recently that it doesn’t believe online gambling creates jobs and has voiced concerns about the impact that licensing online operators could have on gambling addiction in the country.

Forster was speaking at the launch of PwC’s “Gambling Outlook: 2014 — 2018” report in Johannesburg on Thursday.

“There is hesitation from government,” she said. “In the last month, [trade and industry] has said it doesn’t support online gambling and it doesn’t believe it creates jobs and it could add to gambling addiction problems. Based on these messages, I don’t see anything happening for quite a period of time.”

Government’s unwillingness to license online gambling operators runs counter to trends in most parts of the world, Forster said.

“Many countries are relaxing their restrictions, allowing online gambling to take place. Online gambling in the UK is the big market — it’s significantly bigger than casinos.”

Even the US, which has vehemently opposed Internet gambling, has begun relaxing its rules, she said. “Certain states are now allowing poker to be played online. There is an increase in online gambling [in the US] and a relaxation of some of the prohibitions.”

South Africa is in a position to regulate online gambling, Forster said. The department of trade and industry said recently that it has the regulations in place to stop people from gambling online. “That means you can regulate it properly because you already have the ability to control it.”

According to PwC’s report, the South African gambling market was worth R21,8bn/year overall in 2013. This is expected to grow to R29,5bn by 2018 — a compound annual growth rate of 3,9%.

Casino gambling made up the bulk of the industry’s revenues in 2013 — R16,5bn, or 76%, of the total. South Africa has 37 licensed casinos. Sports betting is a distant second at R2,8bn (13%), followed by limited payout machines (R1,7bn, or 8%) and bingo (R732m, or 3%).

Bingo is the fastest-growing gambling category, with revenue expected to reach R1,8bn in 2018. Between 2012 and 2013, bingo revenues leapt higher by 67,5%, driven up in part by the introduction of bingo in the North West province and the Eastern Cape.

In July 2014, 12 shopping malls in KwaZulu-Natal applied for licences to install electronic bingo terminals, according to Forster. However, these applications have been challenged by The People’s Forum Against Electronic Bingo, Forster said.

Gauteng makes up 42,3% of the total gambling market. Together, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape make up 76,4% of South African gambling revenues.




Poor odds for online gambling in SA | TechCentral

Oscar-winning filmmaker, writer and producer Mike Nichols died on Wednesday evening. He was 83.

ABC News reports that Nichols, who was married to longtime ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer, died of cardiac arrest.

Conservatives who support Internet gambling on libertarian and states' rights grounds have come out against a proposed bill promoted by Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson that would ban online gambling in states where it is currently legal, The Washington Post reported.

The issue is being fought out largely among conservative-leaning Republicans.

Adelson opposes Internet gambling on the grounds that it "takes gambling too far" targeting young and poor people who can ill afford to lay bets. That would undermine Adelson's view of the industry's business model, which aims to bring individuals and families to resort hotels.

Opponents say Adelson's stance is rooted in his worldwide business interests, the Post reported.
Adelson is promoting the Restoration of America's Wire Act, a measure that would reinstate the 1961 Wire Act in order to ban licensed online gambling in states. In 2011, the Justice Department determined that the act allowed certain forms of online betting.

Legalized Internet gambling is now permitted in three states, with six others weighing the idea. Adelson's position is that the Justice Department's determination is mistaken, the Post reported.

Opposition to Adelson is spearheaded by the Interactive Gaming Council, an industry group, which funds the Poker Players Alliance. He is also opposed by rival casino owners, who counter that it is better to allow legal online gambling that could be regulated and generate revenue for states than leaving it to offshore companies.

Writing in the tea party-oriented site Red State, Eliot Bakker argues that "Gambling (on sports or otherwise) is a personal, individual choice that simply isn't in the government's purview."

Also lining up against Adelson is Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, who says states "don't need federal government babysitting them." Former Texas Republican congressman Ron Paul, the father of Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, portrays Adelson's approach as "crony capitalism" and opposes it on libertarian grounds, the Post reported.

House Speaker John Boehner has met with lobbyists on both sides of the measure.

Adelson's bill is backed by 11 out of 22 Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee.

Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, who faces re-election in Nevada next year, has not taken a public position, but like other politicians in the state is likely to back whatever is best for the Nevada gambling industry and would not want to pick a fight with Adelson, the Post reported.

Among the senators lining up with Adelson are Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, is championing the Adelson line in the House.






Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax-com Conservatives at Odds With Powerful Push to Ban Online Gambling
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