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A retired officer from the New York City Police Department has won Fox TV's Poker Stars Million Dollar Challenge after beating some of the world's best players at the final table. Although the season finale will not go to air until this coming Sunday, Mike Kosowski's victory over poker pro Daniel Negreanu was leaked to the New York Post, whose editors were more than happy to publish the news of the local's surprise victory. Kosowski, 53, began playing poker online after retiring from service due to wounds sustained in the 9/11 terror attacks on New York City. Kosowski had received burns and injuries to his neck and back after the South Tower collapsed while he was helping evacuate survivors from the building. But things have clearly taken a turn for the better for Kosowski, who said he was on an emotional high every day after beating four-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Negreanu. "I said this guy's a pro, if he gets a chance to read me he's going to pick me off," Kosowski told the New York Post following the upset win. "So being a detective sergeant, I knew I couldn't let that happen." The Million Dollar Challenge premiered on October 11, and featured such contestants as American football champion Jerome Bettis, former Playboy Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole (picture below), and South Carolina priest Andrew Trapp - who was playing for the noble cause of raising money to build a church for his congregation.
Michael Schumacher is to Formula One what the legendary Tiger Woods is to golf - sheer class. But the former is a man who has his name in tact, with a sterling reputation to boot. Anyone refuting Schumacher's brilliance has only to examine his pedigree - a seven-time world champion of this most competitive of sports. Making a splash The German is making waves as news of his coming out of retirement has gained momentum. Now Michael is signed up with luxury German carmaker Mercedes Benz and expectations are high that he is going to be a force to be reckoned with. William Hill Sports chasing him down World class sportsbook, William Hill Sports are already up and running offering online punters all manner of odds on Schumacher's ‘debut' in the 2010 Bahrain racing event. The racing legend will join his fellow German driver Nico Rosberg at the erstwhile Brawn GP team - now under Mercedes' control. News of Schumacher's return has sparked a frenzy of sports betting reaction from punters far and wide. Upon hearing his announcement William Hill immediately posted odds of 1/10 (1.1) that the German legend drives in Bahrain and 11/2 (6.5) that he does not. Their pick is Lewis Hamilton for the Drivers Championship at odds of 9/4 (3.25) with Jenson at 11/2 (6.5) and Schumacher holding at 8/1. Racing for Team Germany is a big plus Schumacher has made no bones about it: being a part of an-all German team is plenty exciting. With his F1 racing hunger back and his neck injuries clearly a thing of the past, he is itching to get in the seat and prove that he can do it all over again.
Basketball represents a clean cut image of sports and has a tradition of fairness, skill and discipline. Tim Donaghy's NBA betting fiasco has tarnished not only his own reputation but that of the sport as a whole. When asked on ‘60 Minutes' whether he had betrayed the values that so many held dear, Donaghy simply replied, "Yes. I did." He gave further details of the whole sorry tale to Bob Simon on the popular CBS prime time news magazine this week. From Winning Highs to Ethical Lows Donaghy had a 13 year dream job refereeing NBA games and taking home $300,000 a year. Yet the person who seemingly had everything, fell foul in the gambling arena, getting hooked on the euphoria of winning and ultimately crossing the ethical line of betting not only on NBA games but on those he himself refereed. On ‘60 Minutes' Donaghy tried to defend his honor, clearly re-iterating the claims in his book that this betting did not influence his in-game decision making. When Bob Simon asked why the general public should believe such an implausible claim, Donaghy replied, "Because the FBI did a thorough investigation, and even the NBA concluded that I did not fix games in the NBA." Indeed the NBA's investigation states, "It seems plausible to us that Donaghy may not have manipulated games... We are unable to contradict the government's conclusion." Donaghy Lifts the Lid on NBA Donaghy outlined how there were, "certain relationships that existed between referees and players, referees and coaches, and referees and owners that influence the point spreads in games,". He described how several refs would let their feelings for individual players influence their calls and that his inside knowledge of these relationships helped him predict results. Said Donaghy, "I knew those relationships, whether they were positive or negative, had an effect on the game." Donaghy also spilled the beans on how the NBA headquarters inadvertently assisted his pickings. They sent out refs instructions before each game and these sometimes included rectifying previous missed fouls or bad calls that teams had complained about. Donaghy would be aware that the referee of their next game would go easy in order to remedy the situation and placate the complainants. Final Descent Donaghy then highlighted his final descent which started with the mob finding out about his involvement in gambling and ended with him being caught passing on information which lead them to raking in several million dollars. Donaghy may now have served his time and won his freedom but he cannot retrieve his past life. His exploits lead to the loss of both his marriage and the profession he loved. Donaghy was on '60 Minutes' to promote his new book, "Personal Foul".
Phil Ruffin, the Kansas billionaire owner of Treasure Island and co-owner of Trump International Tower, is feeling upbeat about the future of Las Vegas. In a local newspaper article he describes his bold $3 billion dollar bet that by 2020 the Las Vegas Strip will be booming. Ruffin continues to expand upon his vision of Las Vegas as a global magnet for those seeking the excitement of casinos, show girls and glitzy entertainment. He predicts that by 2020 between 45 and 50 million people will be filling the local hotels. He published a column in the Las Vegas Sun over the weekend. Legalization on the Way Ruffin feels that the enticement of tax revenue will ultimately be the deciding factor in regulating the online casino industry and predicts that regulation will be introduced over the next decade. However, he is upbeat about the effect this will have on land based casinos, feeling that Las Vegas packs a punch all of its own. Ruffin's confidence is on account of the unique range of entertainment on offer in Las Vegas, from big name concerts to high class strip shows. "I don't think Internet gambling will hurt the casino industry," says Ruffin. "You can't go to our shows on the Internet." Online Gambling - an Education Reflecting on the future legalization of online gambling, Raffin states: "I don't think Internet gambling will hurt the casino industry. It will probably educate more people about gaming." This, in turn, he asserts, will encourage more and more people to sample the Las Vegas experience and the famous Strip will be positively booming by 2020. Ruffin's vision of the future also sees technology changing the face of the casino floor as we know it - ensuring that the thrills on offer make use of all the technical advances, bringing the game well and truly into the twenty-first century. In the picture: Phil Ruffin and wife - supermodel and Miss Ukraine 2001 title holder Aleksandra Nikolayenko.
This article is part of a series of 2009 summaries in online gambling worldwide. For more on France, visit the localized Online Casino Reports France. 2009 has been a stellar year for online gaming in France. Among the year's best performers were the several poker, casino and bingo operators. Big brands lead the way The prize for best online casino goes to the majestic Casino King. This fully-loaded online casino offers card, table and slots games galore and promises players nothing less than the ‘Royal Treatment.' When it comes to poker, it is Titan Poker that claims the most coveted prize. Titan Poker offers the industry's leading fully-supported poker card rooms and is powered by world-class Playtech software. On the bingo front, Ruby Bingo paves the way for this dazzling, interactive game of luck and fun. Bingo popularity has grown in leaps and bounds of late and this Bingo room comes up trumps. Record Jackpots September 2009 was the month of surprises for a rural French village near Aix-en-Provence, named Venelles. The biggest-ever EuroMillions lottery was hit by 15 hard-working locals. For these Frenchmen, €100 million ensured that Christmas came early. Big-Time Local Winners Alain M played Beach Life on March 21 and won €1,812,934 Alain M played Beach Life on June 21 and won €1,129,008 Mikhael J played Gold Rally on 31 Jan and won €907,904 Erden P played Silent Samurai on April 13 and won €291,695 Business News Thanks to some innovative technology from Casino King, the release of a brand new iPhone and android casino has been made possible. Great New Products Another French favorite online casino - JackpotCity Casino - is going to release the Hellboy video slot on 14th January 2010. This Microgaming comics adaptation is licensed to Dark Horse Comics and features a 5-reel, 20-payline multiple coin game with Wild and Scatter symbols. Sports Betting Cycling enthusiasts will be thrilled that 97th Le Tour de France 2010 gets off to a racing start on Saturday July 3rd thru Sunday July 25th 2010. But the big event of the year is the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Regulation/Legality In 2009 the French National Assembly voted 302 to 206 in favor of approving online gaming which gives government permission to license private companies - the next challenge is the French Senate which holds the key to unlocking France's online gaming potential. Looking ahead to 2010 France looks set to continue in its push for privatization of online casinos in 2010. Solid operators in Ruby Bingo, Titan Poker and Casino King look set to enjoy another bumper year with French gaming enthusiasts. We leave you with a picture of Miss France 2009 Chole Mortaud.
PartyGaming's $12.3 million purchase of the World Poker Tour was completed in November and has been welcomed by many. The European poker operator, who has recently been rumored to eye a merger with bwin, emerged victorious after a tense bidding war for the prestigious event. WPT - Changes Afoot PartyGaming have big plans for the WPT. Adam Pliska, the new President of WPT said, "I think you can look for more tour stops in international locations (in the years ahead), areas like France and Italy.There will be more international land-based events, both televised and non-televised." Getting Ready for US Regulation The company, who finally closed the door on their litigation with the US attorney's office and signed a non-prosecution agreement, ceased trading in the US following the introduction of the 2006 UIGEA. However, the recent purchase of the WPT lays the groundwork for a re-entry onto the American poker scene. New websites on the way Jim Ryan, PartyGaming Chief Executive Officer said, "We are excited about the opportunities that WPT, a proven marketing channel for the Group, will create for PartyGaming, particularly if the US regulates and licenses online gaming." He hinted at a few changes to come over the next year or two, "Our plans also include using the ClubWPT subscription platform to leverage our 12 million-strong US player database via a Party-branded website and the launch of a European WPT-branded poker and casino site. PartyGaming are obviously thinking big and looking to the future. Their vision and investment during a bleak economic downturn is in line with the general confidence of many big casinos and poker rooms. The operators who are going to best ride out this recession seem to be those who are planning ahead for more prosperous times.
2009 was a great year for those with a passion for poker and three stories in particular caught our eye. 1. The Rise and Fall of a Newbie 2009 saw Full Tilt Poker chomping at the bit. The second largest online poker site in the industry had a year of big prizes hotly contested over by a swarm of skilled players. The popular online poker room ensured a stomping end to 2009 with November and December having the twelve biggest pots ever offered. Swedish player, Isildur1, caught the attention of many by being part of the action at every game. His brave performances and impressive play paid off, with him beating seasoned professionals such as Tom Dwan and Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies. Ultimately however, it was experience that won the day, with Phily Ivey, Brian Hastings and a few others to boot, putting the new contender firmly back into line. The spirited newcomer captured the imagination of many. His ‘think big' attitude and perseverance was great fun to watch and his participation in big games saw his fortunes rise to $5M, only to plummet to a deficit of $3M by the end of the year. All sports need their characters and Isildur1 certainly brought some color to the Full Tilt Poker tables, prompting many of us to cheer on the underdog. 2. Fab Five Receive Multiple Bracelets The 2009 World Series of Poker aimed to provide optimum entertainment and this year offered more starting chips and levels than ever before - aiming to both encourage and reward the most skillful players. The plans paid off with an extraordinary five pros winning multiple bracelets; Jeffrey Lisandro led the pack with an incredible three bracelets. Phil Ivey created a stir with his two bracelet wins and got tantalizing close to a third. Brock Parker, Greg Mueller, and J.P. Kelly took two bracelets each. Not since poker boom of 2003 had so many players won multiple events in a single World Series. Exciting stuff! 3. Joe Cada Becomes Youngest Champ Ever This year saw incredible success for Joe Cada, who made a swift transition from high school drop-out to 2009 champ in the blink of an eye. Cada wowed the poker crowd with his meteoric rise to success. At 21 years of age his victory at the 2009 World Series of Poker makes him the youngest champ in history. Not only did he coup the stunning $8.5 million prize but he did so in his own inimitable style. Cada's main-event win saw him losing most of his chips against Jeff Shulman but the gutsy gambler kept his cool and took a few hair-raising risks to bolster his position. Maybe it was youthful folly, or even an amateur's arrogance, but whatever lay behind Cada's tactics, it paid off and the nervy newcomer from Michigan left with the big money in his pocket. Cada's success caught the eye of PokerStars who invited him on to their prestigious PokerStars Pro Team where he now regularly plays 2,000 hands a day. 2009 certainly contained some pulsating poker and with such a talented and entertaining bunch of regulars showcasing their skills, 2010 is awaited with baited breath.
This article is part of a series of 2009 summaries in online gambling worldwide. For more on Portugal and the Portuguese speaking online gambling world, visit the localized Online Casino Reports Portuguese. As the leading online casino in Portugal, Casino King offers tremendous gaming variety and generous sign-up bonuses. It is owned by iGlobalMedia Entertainment Limited and managed by Global Gaming Net (GGN). On the poker front, it's Titan Poker that comes up trumps as the player favorite. Titan Poker sports software developed and maintained by leading software giant PlayTech. Bingo is making a stellar comeback and Portugal is seeing increasing player numbers in this dynamic online game. Bingo Day is the most trusted online bingo destination, offering the biggest bingo games, a multi-player slot machine and much more. Record Jackpots The highlight of the year was for Portuguese lottery winners Mario and Clelia Lopes. They won a massive $126 million prize in the July 22 Mega Millions draw. Clelia was carting the winning ticket around in her purse for several days without even realizing it, but it soon became all too clear. Big-Time Local Winners in 2009 Portugal boasted several big winners in 2009. Among the biggest of the Portuguese winners are the following lucky stars: Antonio Matias won the EPT Vilamoura Poker Tournament with a 1st Prize of €404,793 Domingos R played Diamond Valley at Europa Casino on 28 March and won €65,239 Business News Big industry news is that PartyGaming and Bwin are involved in serious merger discussions to create a €2 billion online gaming empire in Europe in what is a far-reaching industry consolidation move. Great New Products JackpotCity Casino is scheduled to release the stunning game Hellboy video slot on 14th January 2010. This widely popular Microgaming video slot is licensed to Dark Horse Comics and features a 5-reel, 20-payline multiple coin game with Wild and Scatter symbols which triggers a four-level bonus feature. Sports Betting The Portuguese Super Liga kicked off in August 2009 and continues its charge through May 2010. Plus there is the most anticipated Football event of the year - the 2010 FIFA World Cup taking place in South Africa. Regulation/Legality In a loss for private sports betting operators, Bwin lost to Portuguese monopoly Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Lisboa. The EU Court ruled against Bwin, but it's good to know that Portugal's fight against crime and corruption in sports betting is alive and kicking. Looking ahead to 2010 Portugal presently has a ban on online gambling because the government is worried about these games becoming problematic for some citizens. But private online gaming enterprises are pushing for EU regulation and 2010 is as good a year as any to make inroads. And we leave you with warm wishes for a Happy New Year and a picture of Miss Portugal 2009.
This article is part of a series of 2009 summaries in online gambling worldwide. For more on Sweden, visit the localized Online Casino Reports Sweden. An illegal Eritrean immigrant in Sweden won the 1.2 million kronor - $167,000 - lottery prize in 2009 and he now stands a fighting chance of beating a deportation order. Top online gaming operators for 2009 All Slots Casino has consistently ranked high in Sweden's online gaming kingdom. All Slots is the most prized named in online casinos with a blinding variety of 400 quality online games powered by Microgaming software. Poker is red-hot in Sweden and Cool Hand Poker takes the cake as the online poker operator of the year. This poker den provides hot gaming action with easy-to-understand rules and strategies. Everybody's favorite game is racking up popularity points in Sweden and JackpotCity Bingo is leading the way with a dynamic gaming platform and classic bingo gaming. Record Jackpots A family in Skåne in southern Sweden couldn't believe their luck this week when they returned home from a winter holiday to find they had won the lottery jackpot of more than $13.5 million. Big-Time Local Winners An unnamed Swedish online casino player played Mega Fortune slot in Nov 2009 and won €4 million An unnamed Swedish player played Mega Moolah in July 2009 and won a jackpot of €1.17 million Anders B played Roulette Live in March 2009 and won €80,262 Fikret O played Global Traveller in April 2009 and won €50,935 Business News Swedish gambling software developer Net Entertainment AB (STO:NETB) announced that their net profit rose to SEK 20.8 million in the 3rd quarter of 2009 from SEK 19.9 million in 2008. And Bwin are in consultation with PartyGaming for a massive €2 billion super consolidation merger. Great New Products Hellboy video slot is being released by JackpotCity Casino on 14th January 2010. This Microgaming gaming sensation is licensed to Dark Horse Comics. It features a 5-reel, 20-payline multi-coin game with massive-jackpots. Sports Betting The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is fast approaching and Swedish punters are plenty excited about it. 2009 started strong in this arena with Swedish Internet gaming group Betsson AB to launching mobile sport betting. Regulation/Legality In a victory for online gaming, Swedish legislators staved off a proposal to ban online gaming outright on the principle grounds that a ban represents ‘undue censorship of freedom of consumer choice.' Looking ahead to 2010 Swedish sports betting companies and online gaming operators have posted huge gains in their sectors and all signs are pointing to a stellar 2010 in the Swedish gaming market. And we leave you with 2009 miss Sweden and wishes for a Happy New Year.
This article is part of a series of 2009 summaries in online gambling worldwide. For more on Spain and the Spanish speaking online gambling world, visit the localized Online Casino Reports Spanish. Spain continues to lead the way in Europe's push for the liberalization of online gaming operations. The Spanish passion for sports betting and online casinos has ensured that this market is ripe for the picking come 2010. Big brands lead the way The Spanish gambling market is peppered with the biggest names in the industry. The 2009 top spots for Casino, Poker and Bingo action have been awarded to these popular operators: On the casino front, it's City Club Casino leading the charge. This new online casino is powered by a world-class Playtech gaming platform, and offers multiple categories of dazzling online casino games. Nobody bluffs quite like the Spanish and Winner Poker is their site of choice. This super-hot Poker room provides all the action in an exciting online poker gaming platform. JackpotCity Online Bingo brings the fun of Bingo to Spain. The popularity of this game simply keeps on growing. Record Jackpots A mega €126 million lottery was won by a 25-year-old Spanish lady from Mallorca. This bonita preciosa could hardly contain herself as she soon found out she was richer than her wildest dreams. Big-Time Local Winners Javier P played Azteca on July 7th and won €254,046 Eduardo O played Keno on Aug 5th and won €49,722 Javier B played Lotto Madness on Sep 3rd and won €37,430 New Casinos A quality new operator in Spain is Crown Europe Casino. This PlayTech powered gaming den is plenty exciting with generous sign-up bonuses and exclusive promotional offers. Business News PartyGaming and Bwin are locked in merger discussions to create €2 billion online gaming operation. And William Hill and other big industry players are looking poised to expand into the Spanish market in 2010. Great New Products JackpotCity Casino is releasing the Hellboy video slot on 14th Jan 2010. This Microgaming favorite is licensed to Dark Horse Comics and features a 5-reel, 20-payline multi-coin game with mega-jackpots. Sports Betting The crown-jewel of sports betting is the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa. This is toted to be the biggest-ever online sports betting bonanza and Spanish pundits are already gearing up for it. Regulation/Legality The increasing liberalization in online gaming regulation in many autonomous regions in Spain means that private enterprise is playing a more significant part in this sector. Looking ahead to 2010 The Spanish market is showing robust signs of online gaming expansion. This can be seen by the number of Spanish soccer teams already being supported by online gambling companies. Many online gaming operators have already singled out Spain as an attractive gaming destination. And we leave you with wishes for a Happy New Year and a picture of Miss Spain.
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