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When 11 senior online gaming officials were indicted by US prosecutors on April 15 over illegal gambling and other charges, among them was the Canadian founder of PokerStars, Isai Scheinberg. Now, thanks to reports in Forbes and The Globe and Mail, we have a better picture of this very private individual. Scheinberg in Profile Scheinberg, 64, has kept out of the media spotlight since joining forces with Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn to push for more favorable US gambling laws, but according to Wynn, he never wanted trouble with the law, instead pushing for legalization so that his online poker room - the world's biggest - could take advantage of the opportunities presented by the American market. After working at IBM Canada in the 1990s, Scheinberg founded several companies, including Rational Entertainment Enterprises in 2001, the PokerStars parent now located in the Isle of Man. His baby quickly grew into the world's largest poker room, and remained in the US market after the passing of the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the United States, which his company viewed as a bluff. Life in Prison? As the events of what has come to be known as Black Friday have confirmed, it was no bluff, and Scheinberg and 10 others, including the chief of rival website Full Tilt Poker, face possible long-term prison sentences over charges of illegal gambling, money laundering, and bank fraud. Prosecutors seized the PokerStars and Full Tilt domains as part of their crackdown, as well as the domain of a smaller Canadian-based poker room, Absolute Poker. However, PokerStars on Wednesday began allowing American players to withdraw money from their accounts after striking an agreement with the federal government to return its dot-com domain.
Britain's Gambling Commission, the independent body that regulates commercial gambling in the country, has appointed its new chairman - Philip Graf. 'Wealth of Knowledge' Graf, who was appointed to a five-year term, has a strong background as a regulator, having until now served as deputy chairman of Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. He will hold both the Ofcom and gambling posts simultaneously until his term at Ofcom ends on December 31. In his new role, Graf also becomes chairman designate of the future body created by merging the Gambling Commission and the National Lottery Commission, which will participate in funding elite British athletes following the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Gambling Commission Helps Players The Gambling Commission, which was set up in 2005 and which acts as an independent non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, facilitates the regulation of commercial gambling in accordance with the law, to ensure that consumers get the most out of their gaming experience. The commission has licensed more than 3,500 operators in Great Britain and has the power to regulate everything from gambling software providers and developers, to casinos and affiliates, to bingo parlors and online bingo rooms. Visit us at our localized UK site for more on UK online gambling.
Italian Gaming Authority AAMS has approved the addition of virtual games to the list of products available to land-based gambling licensees, it announced last week. Virtual Horse Racing Approved Under the newly approved category, licensees will be permitted to include virtual horse racing and football games (but no other variations for the foreseeable future) in their fixed odds betting terminals at authorized locations such as betting shops. The move comes just a couple of months after research conducted by AAMS showed that slot machines are the number one choice for the country's consumers, and that the regulation of local gaming and the introduction of such terminals has reshaped the Italian gambling landscape. Sports Betting Down Meanwhile, Italian sports betting revenue fell an annualized 20.8 percent in March to 350.4 million euros ($507 million) as a result of the decrease in Serie A soccer games, AAMS said last week. Soccer, which makes up about 90% of sports bets in the gambling and football-mad European nation, has affected land-based and online sports books heavily this year after the Serie A reduced the number of playing days from five to three, leading to a cut of 100 million euros in yearly bets. Lottomatica and SNAI are two of the most active Italian companies in the sports betting sector. For more on Italian online gambling, visit Online Casino Reports Italy.
The keynote speaker for the iGaming Super Show, scheduled to be held shortly in Dublin later this month, has just been revealed. The honor will go to Frank Fahrenkopf who is the President and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA). Fahrenkopf is a well-recognized figure in the industry as his job involves being an advocate for the casino industry. Additionally, he is responsible for positioning the association to address regulatory, political and educational issues affecting the industry. Full Agenda The highly anticipated trade show and conference event will run over three days beginning on May 24 and OCR members are looking forward to the opportunity. It is intended to be a meeting place for all those involved in the industry whether that be vendors, media, affiliates, operators or regulators. Entry to the event is free of charge and more than 2,500 people, over and above that of last year, are expected to attend. Partnership News In other related news, iGaming Business has just proudly announced a partnership deal with Global Gaming Expo (G2E). The objective behind this strategic union is to reach new audiences involved in online and offline gaming. G2E is the largest gambling conference worldwide" says Alex Pratt, head of iGaming Business, "and we look forward to working together to educate and increase awareness of the gambling industry as a whole in a productive and positive way."
As the conference semi-finals swing into motion in the NBA, LeBron James and the Miami Heat have emerged as the title favorites according to online and mobile sportsbooks. Beating the Celtics last night for a 2-0 lead in the best of 7 series certainly helps their cause. NBA Playoffs Betting Preview Miami, who started with a lot of hype but some would say fell short of regular season expectations, were being quoted 1.32 odds by Bwin to win their series against Boston, which they lead 2-0 in the series. In the other Eastern Conference series, the Chicago Bulls are still a 1.36 favorite to defeat Atlanta in their best-of-seven series, despite dropping the first game at home. Over in the West, nothing much has changed over the years, and the LA Lakers remain the team to beat. Kobe Bryant's boys are 1.59 favorites to defeat the Dallas Mavericks, despite also dropping game one. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder, 1.80, and the Memphis Grizzlies, 2.05, were closely matched as that series headed into a second game Tuesday. NBA Title Betting Odds This season is looking as close as ever, as the William Hill online sports book betting odds reveal: Miami, 2/1 LA Lakers, 7/2 Chicago, 5/1 Dallas, 6/1 Boston, 13/2 Oklahoma City, 10/1 Memphis, 14/1 Atlanta, 25/1
Israel's parliamentary finance committee gave the green light on Tuesday for foreign operators to facilitate betting on horse races staged abroad, paving the way for the ultimate legalization for other types of sports betting. 'Important Step for Israel' The approval, which Sports Minister Limor Livnat called "an important step for advancing comprehensive reforms in Israeli sport," marks the first time in a decade that the committee has allowed changes to be made to the existing types of betting that are currently permitted. Livnat, who has been pushing this issue for quite some time, said, "The significant increase in financial resources that will flow through to sport, will allow unprecedented investment in sports facilities, mainly for children, and increased support for sporting bodies and for our highest-achieving athletes." Sports Betting in the Holy Land? The proposal must still go through the necessary parliamentary channels before becoming law, but it nonetheless represents a significant step in the fight to regulating betting in a country that has among the strictest gambling laws from amongst the developed economies. The question now is whether Israeli politicians will follow the lead of many European nations by opening up the local market to other forms of gambling, such as sports betting.
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Despite the uncertainty plaguing the online poker industry in certain countries around the world in recent times, there are a number of operators which have moved from strength to strength and are restoring faith in their players. Against this unpredictable backdrop, it is actually an ideal time for undecided players to jump into the online poker world for the all reasons discussed here. Online poker rooms such as bet365 have rightly earned the trust and loyalty of their current (and potential!) fans through these volatile times by implementing a number of bold moves to reassure players. Reliable Poker Operators Players have come to recognize the value and necessity of playing only with reliable and well-known operators. More than ever, the biggest operators are ensuring that they are accountable through publishing their monthly payout percentages and providing exceptional and knowledgeable customer service. Luring Players with Promotions Additionally, all of the most reputable online poker rooms are also working hard to lure in the weary player through sweet deals. There is no better time than now to take advantage of generous and thrilling promotions. The competition is fierce with ample opportunities for lucrative bonuses unlike ever before. It is also a great time to shop around if you are considering moving to another poker site. William Hill Poker is another giant in the field who offers a solid history which counts for so much in these times.
British bookmaker, William Hill has announced its interim financial results for the 1st quarter of 2011. With an 11% net revenue increase from the same period in 2010, industry pundits are satisfied with WilliamHill's performance. Several notable results have been recorded including the following: Net revenues for the first quarter of 2011 increased by 8% from the same period in 2010 William Hill Online's sportsbook increased by 54% from the same period in 2010 Operating profit increased by 21% from the same period in 2010 William Hill Online was up 26% year-on-year The William Hill Gaming Family William Hill Casino Club - Blackjack, Card & Table Games, Poker, Arcade, Roulette, Slots, Video Poker and New Games abound. New players can now receive a £150 welcome bonus. Players can enjoy a rewarding Comps Program. These points can be readily redeemed for cash, prizes and more. There are both instant-play and full-download casino games to play. There are also live-dealer casino games with state-of-the-art technology William Hill Sports - New players can enjoy a generous £25 sign-up bonus and enjoy the best odds in over 100 live in-play betting markets. There is a wide range of streaming radio and news reviews in addition to punting on the top sports. The likes of greyhounds, tennis, cricket, virtual world, horse racing and football abound. Live in-play betting, in-play schedules and live streaming action are readily available. Man United vs. Schalke is a big football match coming up. William Hill Poker - At William Hill Poker, players can enjoy a generous £650 new player bonus when signing up to this top-tier gaming site. And there is $4,000 in 1 st Deposit Freeroll tokens too. The likes of Texas Hold'em poker, Razz, Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi-Lo, Caribbean Stud and others abound. Multi-table cash promos, jackpot Sit & Go's and the premier promo - the WSOP 2011 prize packages. Players can quickly register & play a wide range of WSOP tourneys and win an all-inclusive package to Vegas for the biggest poker event of the year. William Hill Bingo - Ladies are in for a treat at William Hill Bingo. New players will receive £1,500 in sign up bonuses. The Big Top Tombola, the Clover Rollover and more promos abound. Perhaps a game of chat bingo & lingo, community chat and a series of pre-buy games are to your liking. At WH Bingo, players can enjoy 75-ball bingo, 80-ball bingo, 90-ball bingo and more at the click of button. Big jackpots are regularly hit!
The biggest horse race in the US - the Kentucky Derby - will be run this Saturday, and bet365 online sportsbook brings you all the odds for the big day. Dial In Your Bets Obviously the above phrase is inaccurate, as you'd be clicking on your bets if you wager online on the Derby, but it is fitting given that the favorite for the race is Dialed in, quoted at 4/1 odds at bet365 online. Following the favorite are a few other horses with catchy names and some that we can't quite explain, beginning with Uncle Mo, 5/1, Nehro, 8/1, Archarcharch and Midnight Interlude, both 12/1, Mucho Macho Man, 14/1, and three more on 16/1. At the back of the 20-horse field are Watch Me Go and Decisive Moment, both 20/1. Watching the Race Live Many people are asking where to watch the Kentucky Derby race live, and while bet365 itself won't be streaming the race, as horse races are not part of its regular live streaming schedule, the usual online suspects will no doubt be watching the race, as will 24-hour horse racing channels from around the globe.
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