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Nevada’s state legislature passed Assembly Bill (A😎 360, which revises the language of some existing provisions governing interactive gaming in the state’s jurisdiction.
One such provision reworded was Section 6 of Assembly 114 enacted in February 21, 2013, which contained language that gave the Nevada Gaming Commission the power to authorize the State Governor to enter into agreements with other states or its authorized agencies in behalf of Nevada.
AB 360 rewords the particular passage as one that gives the State Governor authority to enter into agreement with other governments upon the recommendation of the Nevada Gaming Commission, to allow patrons physically located within the jurisdiction of a signatory government to participate in online gambling facilities offered by one or more operators licensed by the signatory governments.
The amendment further explains the term “government” as one that includes governmental units of other nations, another U.S. state or local bodies that exercise governmental functions outside of the U.S.
In line with this, Assembly 360 further amends the authority given to the Nevada Gaming Commission, by stating the right of the regulatory body to include specific requirements or conditions that interactive agreements must meet before the State Governor enters in to any compact in behalf of Nevada with another government. Such requirements may include the form, duration and terms of the agreement in relation to revenue sharing and distribution, resolution of patron disputes, information furnished to Nevada’s regulatory bodies, and the procedures conducted for any special rules or notices that may be necessary.
AB 360 likewise contains limitations on the authority of the State Governor, which precludes entering into agreement with a government that allows licensing of operators, service providers, manufacturers and distributors considered as not suitable in accordance with Nevada’s requirements.
Nevada Laws Amended for Online Gambling Pact : ADI News
One such provision reworded was Section 6 of Assembly 114 enacted in February 21, 2013, which contained language that gave the Nevada Gaming Commission the power to authorize the State Governor to enter into agreements with other states or its authorized agencies in behalf of Nevada.
AB 360 rewords the particular passage as one that gives the State Governor authority to enter into agreement with other governments upon the recommendation of the Nevada Gaming Commission, to allow patrons physically located within the jurisdiction of a signatory government to participate in online gambling facilities offered by one or more operators licensed by the signatory governments.
The amendment further explains the term “government” as one that includes governmental units of other nations, another U.S. state or local bodies that exercise governmental functions outside of the U.S.
In line with this, Assembly 360 further amends the authority given to the Nevada Gaming Commission, by stating the right of the regulatory body to include specific requirements or conditions that interactive agreements must meet before the State Governor enters in to any compact in behalf of Nevada with another government. Such requirements may include the form, duration and terms of the agreement in relation to revenue sharing and distribution, resolution of patron disputes, information furnished to Nevada’s regulatory bodies, and the procedures conducted for any special rules or notices that may be necessary.
AB 360 likewise contains limitations on the authority of the State Governor, which precludes entering into agreement with a government that allows licensing of operators, service providers, manufacturers and distributors considered as not suitable in accordance with Nevada’s requirements.
Nevada Laws Amended for Online Gambling Pact : ADI News
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Juno star Michael Cera and actress Gabby Hoffmann got high for real on the set of new movie Crystal Fairy after sipping potent mescaline for a mindbending scene in the Chilean desert.
The two stars drank local brew San Pedro to prepare for the trippy scenes and Hoffmann admits the experience was amazing.
"I'm on a constant journey of confronting and partaking in many various ways ... and we just drank the San Pedro. We weren't on drugs any other day (on set). We didn't have to take it but I chose to; I wanted to," she said.
"We were gonna have a day before we were filming where we all did it and then we'd decide if we wanted to shoot on it. I, from the get-go, was like, 'I'm shooting on it!' We didn't have that preparatory day because we lost the time so I said, 'Why don't we shoot my day first 'cause I'm just one person and if it goes terribly awry it's only one performance that's gonna be affected?'
"I don't have to interact with anybody and I had a fairly easy job to do once I was high. So the boys (Cera and their co-stars) took it the next day. There were two different batches cooked and the batch I took, I actually took two doses because I didn't think it worked because I think it was cooked differently.
"The cactus you see us preparing and cooking (in the film); that's what we drink. The boys took a different batch the next day and they all insisted they didn't feel a thing! I drank it at eight in the morning and it lasted pretty much the whole day.
"I've never taken Peyote or San Pedro and everybody said it's kind of like mushrooms ... I did feel nauseous but only for a half an hour. I felt great throughout.
"As the sun was setting I was sort of coming down. It was fantastic. I was tripping in the gorgeous Chilean desert under the bright sun with wild flowers bursting all over the place and my naked body under the sky. I loved every second of it!"
But Cera had a different experience: "It was underwhelming. It didn't work for anybody but Gabby and there had been a big build-up. We were driving around for a week in Chile, talking about it and thinking about it.
"It felt to me like a nice glass of Riesling."
And the actor admits he's a little worried about the reaction the film will get from drug users: "I am a little nervous about people who just smoke meth and coming up, 'You made that movie for us!'."
The two stars drank local brew San Pedro to prepare for the trippy scenes and Hoffmann admits the experience was amazing.
"I'm on a constant journey of confronting and partaking in many various ways ... and we just drank the San Pedro. We weren't on drugs any other day (on set). We didn't have to take it but I chose to; I wanted to," she said.
"We were gonna have a day before we were filming where we all did it and then we'd decide if we wanted to shoot on it. I, from the get-go, was like, 'I'm shooting on it!' We didn't have that preparatory day because we lost the time so I said, 'Why don't we shoot my day first 'cause I'm just one person and if it goes terribly awry it's only one performance that's gonna be affected?'
"I don't have to interact with anybody and I had a fairly easy job to do once I was high. So the boys (Cera and their co-stars) took it the next day. There were two different batches cooked and the batch I took, I actually took two doses because I didn't think it worked because I think it was cooked differently.
"The cactus you see us preparing and cooking (in the film); that's what we drink. The boys took a different batch the next day and they all insisted they didn't feel a thing! I drank it at eight in the morning and it lasted pretty much the whole day.
"I've never taken Peyote or San Pedro and everybody said it's kind of like mushrooms ... I did feel nauseous but only for a half an hour. I felt great throughout.
"As the sun was setting I was sort of coming down. It was fantastic. I was tripping in the gorgeous Chilean desert under the bright sun with wild flowers bursting all over the place and my naked body under the sky. I loved every second of it!"
But Cera had a different experience: "It was underwhelming. It didn't work for anybody but Gabby and there had been a big build-up. We were driving around for a week in Chile, talking about it and thinking about it.
"It felt to me like a nice glass of Riesling."
And the actor admits he's a little worried about the reaction the film will get from drug users: "I am a little nervous about people who just smoke meth and coming up, 'You made that movie for us!'."
Join:
2006/12/07
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29893
Technology is not only expanding how fast you can watch YouTube. It is also increasing how easy it is to make a bet. E-gambling has many opportunities and dangers for an excited player. This industry is growing almost as fast as our technology.
E-gambling is “Just for Fun”
That’s the line that most ever site gives customers. However such a practice can be no less engrossing than the others. There are those who are becoming just as obsessed with online gambling as with other addictions. New Jersey residents in particular have become addicted in this new trend as one story shows.
Winning and Losing Money at the Speed of Information
Big money is lost and won every day. While there is not a clear amount, anecdotal evidence shows people losing thousands in one go. Everything is one-click now and there are even gambling apps for people to look at. Logically it makes sense although a larger study is needed for a better picture.
Just Selling Gambling is Lucrative
Some sites make significant amounts of money simply by referring people to other sites. Just talking about it is also poker and gambling brings in tremendous amounts of funds. The demand is clearly there, in spades.
What to do about Online Gambling?
The fact that it is so quickly and easily accessible is not inherently a bad thing. However it does create a way for those with a gambling compulsion to lose money from the comfort of their own home. The real question is should anything actually be done about it? A person is certainly within their rights to gamble, even to gamble unwisely. Gambling has long been a tricky issue and this makes it even more complicated.
E-gambling and the Future
We already have programs, sites and apps for gambling. Placing harsh laws around gambling has always ended up being rather ineffective in the past. So what do we suggest? Better programs to determine who has a compulsive gambling problem and better treatment. That topic is an issue worth an entire article in itself.
The Good News for Casual Gamblers
For casual gamblers you can enjoy a little fun in your own home without going to a parlor. Most of these sites have checks and balances to insure your money and information is safe. So the average American just wanting to have a fun time should be very safe.
The Evolution of Cyber-currency
The final section to explore is the fact that cyber-currency is becoming popular. These are things like Bitcoin. Those involved can gather money which only exists online and can be exchanged in bets and for products. It is fast becoming a very popular currency for betting. The future is an online world with even more ways to gamble and new currencies to pay with. We can probably all agree that’s a bit frightening and exciting all at once.
The Present and Future of Online Gambling - Technorati Technology
E-gambling is “Just for Fun”
That’s the line that most ever site gives customers. However such a practice can be no less engrossing than the others. There are those who are becoming just as obsessed with online gambling as with other addictions. New Jersey residents in particular have become addicted in this new trend as one story shows.
Winning and Losing Money at the Speed of Information
Big money is lost and won every day. While there is not a clear amount, anecdotal evidence shows people losing thousands in one go. Everything is one-click now and there are even gambling apps for people to look at. Logically it makes sense although a larger study is needed for a better picture.
Just Selling Gambling is Lucrative
Some sites make significant amounts of money simply by referring people to other sites. Just talking about it is also poker and gambling brings in tremendous amounts of funds. The demand is clearly there, in spades.
What to do about Online Gambling?
The fact that it is so quickly and easily accessible is not inherently a bad thing. However it does create a way for those with a gambling compulsion to lose money from the comfort of their own home. The real question is should anything actually be done about it? A person is certainly within their rights to gamble, even to gamble unwisely. Gambling has long been a tricky issue and this makes it even more complicated.
E-gambling and the Future
We already have programs, sites and apps for gambling. Placing harsh laws around gambling has always ended up being rather ineffective in the past. So what do we suggest? Better programs to determine who has a compulsive gambling problem and better treatment. That topic is an issue worth an entire article in itself.
The Good News for Casual Gamblers
For casual gamblers you can enjoy a little fun in your own home without going to a parlor. Most of these sites have checks and balances to insure your money and information is safe. So the average American just wanting to have a fun time should be very safe.
The Evolution of Cyber-currency
The final section to explore is the fact that cyber-currency is becoming popular. These are things like Bitcoin. Those involved can gather money which only exists online and can be exchanged in bets and for products. It is fast becoming a very popular currency for betting. The future is an online world with even more ways to gamble and new currencies to pay with. We can probably all agree that’s a bit frightening and exciting all at once.
The Present and Future of Online Gambling - Technorati Technology
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
How online gambling would be affected by recommendations from the EU Parliament Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering.
Online gambling is being assailed from yet another direction as the EU Parliament Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering (CRIM) finalizes its latest report.
All the major operators, including PokerStars, bwin.party, iPoker and 888, would be affected if the recommendations were adopted as policy by the EU Commission. June 26 is the cut off date for final amendments to the CRIM report, which lists recommendations on action and initiatives to be taken.
EU Committee Seeks Tax, Regulation & Asset Confiscation Measures for Online Gambling | Pokerfuse Online Poker News
Online gambling is being assailed from yet another direction as the EU Parliament Special Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering (CRIM) finalizes its latest report.
All the major operators, including PokerStars, bwin.party, iPoker and 888, would be affected if the recommendations were adopted as policy by the EU Commission. June 26 is the cut off date for final amendments to the CRIM report, which lists recommendations on action and initiatives to be taken.
EU Committee Seeks Tax, Regulation & Asset Confiscation Measures for Online Gambling | Pokerfuse Online Poker News
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2006/12/07
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The state of Illinois is currently in debt in the billions, around $100 billion to be exact, and has been considering a gambling expansion with the discussion of online poker legislation on the table. However in a special session for legislation in the state, the governor, Pat Quinn, is refusing to discuss the matter of online poker legislation until the matter of pension plan is discussed.
Quinn has reportedly been against any expansion of gambling in the state in the past however, he changed his tune earlier this year, stating he was open to an expansion if gaming companies were banned from handing out political donations. The Governor wanted to avoid corruption in the state which is not uncommon unfortunately in Illinois.
Proponents of online gambling options will argue their point in many ways, one of which is revenues. Estimates and studies have shown that online gambling revenues vary from state to state but most show very large numbers when considering this option.
This amount would certain help states in the US that are struggling yet many legislative officials continue to avoid the issue or delay discussing the option. Thus is the case in the state of Illinois though the revenue’s that online gambling could provide would certainly help their situation.
The state of Illinois is one that could strongly help the option of interstate poker for online gaming. The state has a very large population with close to thirteen million people residing in the state. With the addition of the state, online poker could certain grow considerably.
Despite the revenues the option could bring the state, the governor is refusing to discuss the matter until the budget deficit is solved. However, it seems a bit ironic if one considers that this option would bring in much needed revenues which could be used to cut down on the state budget deficit needs. For now, the option is on hold.
Online Gambling Expansion on Hold in Illinois
Quinn has reportedly been against any expansion of gambling in the state in the past however, he changed his tune earlier this year, stating he was open to an expansion if gaming companies were banned from handing out political donations. The Governor wanted to avoid corruption in the state which is not uncommon unfortunately in Illinois.
Proponents of online gambling options will argue their point in many ways, one of which is revenues. Estimates and studies have shown that online gambling revenues vary from state to state but most show very large numbers when considering this option.
This amount would certain help states in the US that are struggling yet many legislative officials continue to avoid the issue or delay discussing the option. Thus is the case in the state of Illinois though the revenue’s that online gambling could provide would certainly help their situation.
The state of Illinois is one that could strongly help the option of interstate poker for online gaming. The state has a very large population with close to thirteen million people residing in the state. With the addition of the state, online poker could certain grow considerably.
Despite the revenues the option could bring the state, the governor is refusing to discuss the matter until the budget deficit is solved. However, it seems a bit ironic if one considers that this option would bring in much needed revenues which could be used to cut down on the state budget deficit needs. For now, the option is on hold.
Online Gambling Expansion on Hold in Illinois
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2006/12/07
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29893
Parasino is a sportsbook and poker online gambling service provider licensed and authorized by the Government of Curacao which operates under the License of Gaming Services Provider, NV. as an Information Provider and legally authorized to conduct online gaming operations. Parasino casino service and content is provided by Maslin Properties Ltd, another company which holds a gaming license for that jurisdiction. Parasino casino games are powered by Net Entertainment a Swedish firm, with operations in Malta.
Parasino gaming has agreed to join in partnership with ‘live’ casino platform Evolution Gaming. Parasino will now be able to offer Evolution Gaming's complete line up of live casino games from more than 20 real-time casino rooms represented by all professional dealers. Parasino already offers a wide variety of casino games. Parasino offers a variety of easy deposit and withdrawal options guaranteeing fast payouts. All transactions are completely protected by reliable payment systems operated by internationally recognized clearing partners.
The Evolution Gaming live casino platform was launched in 2006, and has become the global leading provider of live casino games. The TV video quality casino games offered by Evolution Gaming include, live roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and live casino hold'em.
The high definition video creates a realistic experience where they feel like they are actually in a brick and mortar casino. The real-time interaction between the players and the dealers further enhances the virtually real game that is just like being in Las Vegas or Monte Carlo.
Top notch service will come along with a wide choice of more than 400 virtual casino games and more that thirty live casino rooms. Parasino’s online gambling site also accepts sporting bets with high payouts for a variety of the most popular sporting events.
Evolution Gaming has been given the go ahead for real-time interactive live casino games such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat in the Italian online gambling market which is considered the biggest and most lucrative in the European jurisdiction.
Live Online Casino Evolution and Parasino Team Up
Parasino gaming has agreed to join in partnership with ‘live’ casino platform Evolution Gaming. Parasino will now be able to offer Evolution Gaming's complete line up of live casino games from more than 20 real-time casino rooms represented by all professional dealers. Parasino already offers a wide variety of casino games. Parasino offers a variety of easy deposit and withdrawal options guaranteeing fast payouts. All transactions are completely protected by reliable payment systems operated by internationally recognized clearing partners.
The Evolution Gaming live casino platform was launched in 2006, and has become the global leading provider of live casino games. The TV video quality casino games offered by Evolution Gaming include, live roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and live casino hold'em.
The high definition video creates a realistic experience where they feel like they are actually in a brick and mortar casino. The real-time interaction between the players and the dealers further enhances the virtually real game that is just like being in Las Vegas or Monte Carlo.
Top notch service will come along with a wide choice of more than 400 virtual casino games and more that thirty live casino rooms. Parasino’s online gambling site also accepts sporting bets with high payouts for a variety of the most popular sporting events.
Evolution Gaming has been given the go ahead for real-time interactive live casino games such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat in the Italian online gambling market which is considered the biggest and most lucrative in the European jurisdiction.
Live Online Casino Evolution and Parasino Team Up
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In an attempt to block online gaming operators with no local license from doing business in their country, the Bulgarian government has ramped up its efforts to do so by passing new gambling legislation which will blacklist unlicensed operators. This follows the implementation of legislation enacted in March 2012 which attempted to regulate gambling for the first time in this southeastern European country of some 7.3 million people.
Bulgarian lawmakers operating under a parliamentary system have approved and begun implementing internet gambling regulatory measures and placing internet blocks on unlicensed operators. After the regulations are finalized by the State Gambling Commission and approved by the Sofia Regional Court, the ban will finally become effective.
The new law sets licensing requirements for all online casino operators, both Bulgarian and foreign, and makes provision for requests to Internet service providers to block access to unlicensed gambling websites.
There has even been publication of a "blacklist" of illegal operators, signaling a more serious approach by the Bulgarian government to put a stop to this problem once and for all.
In addition, the new law also involves clauses which will restrict gambling advertising even to licensed operators, causing concern among some that this is just the beginning of ever more draconian measures.
In an effort to realize the positives of online gaming, government advisers have stated that the regulation of online gambling could bring another 100 million Lev (BGN) (Euro 50 million) of annual revenues to their emerging market economy.
Bulgaria Seeks to Regulate Online Gaming - The Headlines - Onlinecasinoreports-com
Bulgarian lawmakers operating under a parliamentary system have approved and begun implementing internet gambling regulatory measures and placing internet blocks on unlicensed operators. After the regulations are finalized by the State Gambling Commission and approved by the Sofia Regional Court, the ban will finally become effective.
The new law sets licensing requirements for all online casino operators, both Bulgarian and foreign, and makes provision for requests to Internet service providers to block access to unlicensed gambling websites.
There has even been publication of a "blacklist" of illegal operators, signaling a more serious approach by the Bulgarian government to put a stop to this problem once and for all.
In addition, the new law also involves clauses which will restrict gambling advertising even to licensed operators, causing concern among some that this is just the beginning of ever more draconian measures.
In an effort to realize the positives of online gaming, government advisers have stated that the regulation of online gambling could bring another 100 million Lev (BGN) (Euro 50 million) of annual revenues to their emerging market economy.
Bulgaria Seeks to Regulate Online Gaming - The Headlines - Onlinecasinoreports-com
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James Gandolfini, best known for his role as an anxiety-ridden mob boss on HBO's "The Sopranos," died Wednesday while on vacation in Italy. He was 51.
The exact cause of death is not known, but his managers said it was possibly a heart attack.
"It is with immense sorrow that we report our client, James Gandolfini, passed away today while on holiday in Rome, Italy," managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders said in a joint statement. "Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply. He and his family were part of our family for many years and we are all grieving."
The actor had been scheduled to make an appearance at the Taormina Film Fest in Sicily this week.
Gandolfini won three Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Tony Soprano, the angst-wracked mob boss who visited a therapist and took Prozac while knocking off people. "The Sopranos" aired from 1999 to 2007. "Jimmy was the spiritual core of our Sopranos family, and I am stunned at this devastating loss," said Chris Albrecht, the former president of HBO who gave the green light to the show. "He was a great talent, but an even better man. My thoughts are with his family."
Actor Steve Van Zandt, who played Tony Soprano's confidant Silvio Dante, felt equally close to Gandolfini in real life. "I have lost a brother and a best friend," he posted on Twitter. "The world has lost one of the greatest actors of all time."
Gandolfini was born September 18, 1961, in Westwood, New Jersey, according to Biography.com.
He graduated from Rutgers University and, as the story goes, worked as a bartender and a bouncer in New York City until he went with a friend to an acting class.
He got his start on Broadway, with a role in the 1992 revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" with Jessica Lange and Alec Baldwin. Gandolfini's big screen debut came in the role of a heavy in the bloody "True Romance" in 1993. His breakthrough on the small screen came in 1999 with the role of Tony Soprano.
"He was a genius. Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that," David Chase, who developed "The Sopranos," said in a statement. "...A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes."
Gandolfini, who was notoriously press shy, had a reputation in the tabloids for being sometimes difficult.
"He wasn't easy sometimes. But he was my partner, he was my brother in ways I can't explain and never will be able to explain," Chase said. While Gandolfini was known for sometimes ruthless, often imposing characters, those who worked with him described an actor who put his heart into a role.
"He was just so good at the emotion. A very passionate man and a very, very tender man," Matthew Warchus, who directed Gandolfini in the 2009 Broadway play "God of Carnage," told CNN. "I really loved him and admired him a great deal."
Larry King, who saw Gandolfini in Las Vegas just weeks ago, told CNN the actor was "jovial and seemed happy."
"He stamped himself in 'The Sopranos' so much, people have overlooked his many diversified roles he's performed," King said. "He was a very diverse character actor, who became a star." Gandolfini's acting credits included roles in "The Last Castle" with Robert Redford, "The Mexican" with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts and "Surviving Christmas" with Ben Affleck.
In recent years, he had starred in several movies, including the Oscar-nominated "Zero Dark Thirty," "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" and "Killing Them Softly."
Gandolfini was also known to children, voicing Carol, a wild thing, in the 2009 movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic "Where the Wild Things Are."
He took to the stage to do a reading of Sendak's "In The Night Kitchen" to mark the author's 80th birthday.
News of the actor's death spread quickly, drawing shock and sadness from those who had worked with him.
"James Gandolfini was a kind, funny, wonderful guy. I'm so lucky to have worked with him. Sending love to his family. Such a sad, sad day," Olivia Wilde, who starred with the actor in "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone," said in a post on Twitter.
Actor Steve Carell, who also appeared in the movie, simply said on Twitter: "James Gandolfini. What a great loss."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie described himself as a "huge fan" of Gandolfini.
"It's an awful shock. James Gandolfini was a fine actor, a Rutgers alum and a true Jersey guy," he said.
If his managers are right, and he died of a heart attack, it struck much too early, said CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
"(The) average age of someone having a first heart attack -- if this is in fact what we're talking about -- is usually in the mid-60s," he said.
Risk factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, obesity and high cholesterol can lower the age range significantly, according to Gupta.
Doctors have not yet determined the cause of death.
Gandolfini is survived by his wife, Deborah, and their 9-month-old daughter, Liliana. He is also survived by a son, Michael, from another marriage.
The exact cause of death is not known, but his managers said it was possibly a heart attack.
"It is with immense sorrow that we report our client, James Gandolfini, passed away today while on holiday in Rome, Italy," managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders said in a joint statement. "Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply. He and his family were part of our family for many years and we are all grieving."
The actor had been scheduled to make an appearance at the Taormina Film Fest in Sicily this week.
Gandolfini won three Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Tony Soprano, the angst-wracked mob boss who visited a therapist and took Prozac while knocking off people. "The Sopranos" aired from 1999 to 2007. "Jimmy was the spiritual core of our Sopranos family, and I am stunned at this devastating loss," said Chris Albrecht, the former president of HBO who gave the green light to the show. "He was a great talent, but an even better man. My thoughts are with his family."
Actor Steve Van Zandt, who played Tony Soprano's confidant Silvio Dante, felt equally close to Gandolfini in real life. "I have lost a brother and a best friend," he posted on Twitter. "The world has lost one of the greatest actors of all time."
Gandolfini was born September 18, 1961, in Westwood, New Jersey, according to Biography.com.
He graduated from Rutgers University and, as the story goes, worked as a bartender and a bouncer in New York City until he went with a friend to an acting class.
He got his start on Broadway, with a role in the 1992 revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" with Jessica Lange and Alec Baldwin. Gandolfini's big screen debut came in the role of a heavy in the bloody "True Romance" in 1993. His breakthrough on the small screen came in 1999 with the role of Tony Soprano.
"He was a genius. Anyone who saw him even in the smallest of his performances knows that," David Chase, who developed "The Sopranos," said in a statement. "...A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes."
Gandolfini, who was notoriously press shy, had a reputation in the tabloids for being sometimes difficult.
"He wasn't easy sometimes. But he was my partner, he was my brother in ways I can't explain and never will be able to explain," Chase said. While Gandolfini was known for sometimes ruthless, often imposing characters, those who worked with him described an actor who put his heart into a role.
"He was just so good at the emotion. A very passionate man and a very, very tender man," Matthew Warchus, who directed Gandolfini in the 2009 Broadway play "God of Carnage," told CNN. "I really loved him and admired him a great deal."
Larry King, who saw Gandolfini in Las Vegas just weeks ago, told CNN the actor was "jovial and seemed happy."
"He stamped himself in 'The Sopranos' so much, people have overlooked his many diversified roles he's performed," King said. "He was a very diverse character actor, who became a star." Gandolfini's acting credits included roles in "The Last Castle" with Robert Redford, "The Mexican" with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts and "Surviving Christmas" with Ben Affleck.
In recent years, he had starred in several movies, including the Oscar-nominated "Zero Dark Thirty," "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" and "Killing Them Softly."
Gandolfini was also known to children, voicing Carol, a wild thing, in the 2009 movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic "Where the Wild Things Are."
He took to the stage to do a reading of Sendak's "In The Night Kitchen" to mark the author's 80th birthday.
News of the actor's death spread quickly, drawing shock and sadness from those who had worked with him.
"James Gandolfini was a kind, funny, wonderful guy. I'm so lucky to have worked with him. Sending love to his family. Such a sad, sad day," Olivia Wilde, who starred with the actor in "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone," said in a post on Twitter.
Actor Steve Carell, who also appeared in the movie, simply said on Twitter: "James Gandolfini. What a great loss."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie described himself as a "huge fan" of Gandolfini.
"It's an awful shock. James Gandolfini was a fine actor, a Rutgers alum and a true Jersey guy," he said.
If his managers are right, and he died of a heart attack, it struck much too early, said CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
"(The) average age of someone having a first heart attack -- if this is in fact what we're talking about -- is usually in the mid-60s," he said.
Risk factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, obesity and high cholesterol can lower the age range significantly, according to Gupta.
Doctors have not yet determined the cause of death.
Gandolfini is survived by his wife, Deborah, and their 9-month-old daughter, Liliana. He is also survived by a son, Michael, from another marriage.
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2006/12/07
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29893
Two years after the Gambling Review Commission recommended online gambling be legalised as a matter of urgency, committee members still have to accept the report and it will be at least two years before legislation is enacted.
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) committee on Trade and International Relations met recently to debate the review commission’s report, which was published at the end of June 2011. Interactive gambling is illegal as there is currently no provision in regulations for licences to be issued.
The review found this is a “grey” area that must be addressed urgently before the state faces legal action from punters who have been duped into playing, and then lost their winnings.
The NCOP committee was ready to accept the report in its final version, paving the way for the regulatory process to begin, when some members indicated they were not happy with the final version. As a result, it is set to be adopted when the committee next meets, in the next few months, unless changes are proposed.
Physical gambling was legalised in SA in 1996 and has since skyrocketed into a multibillion-rand industry, with turnover doubling between 2001 and 2009. In the year to March 2012 – the latest available – punters wagered R257.6 billion, the bulk of which was at casinos. Stripping out winnings, the gambling sector made R18 billion in the 2012 year, and the state collected R1.8 billion in tax. Online gambling has the potential to add R120 million to the fiscus every year, as international figures show Internet-based gaming accounts for about 7% of the bricks-and-mortar industry.
Still illegal
The review commissioned recommended that more than 10 licences be issued to online operations. Online gambling was set to be allowed after legislation was passed by Parliament in 2007.
However, no licences were ever issued and the regulations, published for comment in 2009, were not supported by Parliament's Trade and Industry Portfolio Committee. As a result, interactive gambling is illegal.
This position was affirmed in court cases, initially in the North Gauteng High Court, and then the Supreme Court of Appeal, both of which found online gambling takes place where the punter is, and not where the server is located.
The case was based on an application by Swaziland-based Casino Enterprises, operator of the popular Pigg's Peak Internet Casino, which wanted to overturn the Gauteng Gambling Board’s decision that it could not advertise within SA’s borders.
During the committee meeting, members expressed concern as to how social responsibility would be enforced, and that the report contained issues that needed to be corrected. Chairman Dumisani Gamede said the report was adopted, subject to the receipt of proposals on changes that needed to be effected on the report from members. If no proposals were received, the report would be adopted as it stood.
Lengthy process
After the report is adopted, the Department of Trade and Industry will consolidate input from the National Assembly committee and the NCOP, and then a policy needs to be drawn up, which would then lead to legislative changes.
Nicholas Hall, an attorney with Michalsons Attorneys, explains there has been little movement and it will be a few months before the report is adopted. He says it could take two years before the legislative process is sorted out, but that is an optimistic timeframe.
“The wheels of Parliament turn very slowly… You just know it’s going to take time.”
Govt still mulling online gambling | ITWeb
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) committee on Trade and International Relations met recently to debate the review commission’s report, which was published at the end of June 2011. Interactive gambling is illegal as there is currently no provision in regulations for licences to be issued.
The review found this is a “grey” area that must be addressed urgently before the state faces legal action from punters who have been duped into playing, and then lost their winnings.
The NCOP committee was ready to accept the report in its final version, paving the way for the regulatory process to begin, when some members indicated they were not happy with the final version. As a result, it is set to be adopted when the committee next meets, in the next few months, unless changes are proposed.
Physical gambling was legalised in SA in 1996 and has since skyrocketed into a multibillion-rand industry, with turnover doubling between 2001 and 2009. In the year to March 2012 – the latest available – punters wagered R257.6 billion, the bulk of which was at casinos. Stripping out winnings, the gambling sector made R18 billion in the 2012 year, and the state collected R1.8 billion in tax. Online gambling has the potential to add R120 million to the fiscus every year, as international figures show Internet-based gaming accounts for about 7% of the bricks-and-mortar industry.
Still illegal
The review commissioned recommended that more than 10 licences be issued to online operations. Online gambling was set to be allowed after legislation was passed by Parliament in 2007.
However, no licences were ever issued and the regulations, published for comment in 2009, were not supported by Parliament's Trade and Industry Portfolio Committee. As a result, interactive gambling is illegal.
This position was affirmed in court cases, initially in the North Gauteng High Court, and then the Supreme Court of Appeal, both of which found online gambling takes place where the punter is, and not where the server is located.
The case was based on an application by Swaziland-based Casino Enterprises, operator of the popular Pigg's Peak Internet Casino, which wanted to overturn the Gauteng Gambling Board’s decision that it could not advertise within SA’s borders.
During the committee meeting, members expressed concern as to how social responsibility would be enforced, and that the report contained issues that needed to be corrected. Chairman Dumisani Gamede said the report was adopted, subject to the receipt of proposals on changes that needed to be effected on the report from members. If no proposals were received, the report would be adopted as it stood.
Lengthy process
After the report is adopted, the Department of Trade and Industry will consolidate input from the National Assembly committee and the NCOP, and then a policy needs to be drawn up, which would then lead to legislative changes.
Nicholas Hall, an attorney with Michalsons Attorneys, explains there has been little movement and it will be a few months before the report is adopted. He says it could take two years before the legislative process is sorted out, but that is an optimistic timeframe.
“The wheels of Parliament turn very slowly… You just know it’s going to take time.”
Govt still mulling online gambling | ITWeb
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2006/12/07
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29893
The Internet has changed the way we see the world. Being connected is a portal to what is going on around the world and in your own back yard. The most recent events are available today instantly and that makes the world a much smaller place as small as the screen on a smart phones or as large as the massive screens at stadiums around the globe.
The world of technology has created something different. It’s the ability to do just about anything online. The internet can be a dangerous place as the many people who have seen their money disappear after the American clampdown on internet poker will attest.
Internet gaming has been around ever since the web was established but now the mobility, the variety, and the amount of entertainment available online is amazing. Banking online can be safely practiced on the internet and now anyone of age can actually wager real money on again just about anything.
Governments all over the planet participate in offerings of lottery and sports betting and reap the benefits of the funds garnered from the sales of the tickets. Much of the revenue from lottery gained by governments is used for the greater good of the general public such as hockey arenas and community centres. Holding a casino or bingo night at the local town hall is not unheard of to help a charity. The internet is providing the means by which people connect and keep in touch.
Online social gambling will put a new twist to an old past time, but at the same time it should be regulated especially by parents of those too young to gamble and governments which should look at their own dependence on this kind of revenue source.
Anyone who thinks the internet is boring, hasn’t played a game of poker on the net with thousands of others either watching or participating. It’s anybody’s game.
Online Gambling The Hits Keep On Coming
The world of technology has created something different. It’s the ability to do just about anything online. The internet can be a dangerous place as the many people who have seen their money disappear after the American clampdown on internet poker will attest.
Internet gaming has been around ever since the web was established but now the mobility, the variety, and the amount of entertainment available online is amazing. Banking online can be safely practiced on the internet and now anyone of age can actually wager real money on again just about anything.
Governments all over the planet participate in offerings of lottery and sports betting and reap the benefits of the funds garnered from the sales of the tickets. Much of the revenue from lottery gained by governments is used for the greater good of the general public such as hockey arenas and community centres. Holding a casino or bingo night at the local town hall is not unheard of to help a charity. The internet is providing the means by which people connect and keep in touch.
Online social gambling will put a new twist to an old past time, but at the same time it should be regulated especially by parents of those too young to gamble and governments which should look at their own dependence on this kind of revenue source.
Anyone who thinks the internet is boring, hasn’t played a game of poker on the net with thousands of others either watching or participating. It’s anybody’s game.
Online Gambling The Hits Keep On Coming
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2006/12/07
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29893
Online punting has been regulated in the United Kingdom for a long time now and the latest news is suggesting the online gambling tax changes will save the U.K. from cultural decay. A recent article in the Telegraph has Lord Puttnam being quoted as saying a tax on the online gambling some British people enjoy should go to the arts.
The Lord commented that the UK is in “desperate need” of cultural skills and talent. Lord Puttnam wrote in the Yorkshire Post. “We will need to find new ways to help support the arts,” He went on to say, “As many of you will be aware, there is enormous growth in the gambling industry, particularly online gambling, perhaps even, to some extent, displacing money spent on our National Lottery. I would like to think that the proceeds of a point of consumption tax on online gambling could, for example, be used to supplement the nation’s investment in arts, sport and culture.”
As a member of the creative economy in the U.K. Lord Puttnam understands the return for investment in the arts and how a subsidy from an online gambling tax would benefit the country’s economy greatly. Lord Puttnam, is the producer of the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, and maintains the stats speak for themselves. An Arts Council report released just last month revealed the arts sector makes a £7 contribution to the U.K. economy for every £1 of government subsidy. Yet the Department for Culture, Media and Sport last year proposed a 30 percent cut in grant aid for the council.
Gamblers from the United Kingdom currently spend about £1.7bn a year approximately 18 percent of total U.K. gambling revenues with online gambling operators.
Lord Puttnam said, “By finding an effective way to use the proceeds of an enhanced tax on gambling to support arts and sport, we would be harnessing what may well prove to be a worrying rise in gambling activity, and allow it to become something which is of economic, social and cultural value to the nation a whole.”
Online Gambling Tax a Must For U.K. Arts Support
The Lord commented that the UK is in “desperate need” of cultural skills and talent. Lord Puttnam wrote in the Yorkshire Post. “We will need to find new ways to help support the arts,” He went on to say, “As many of you will be aware, there is enormous growth in the gambling industry, particularly online gambling, perhaps even, to some extent, displacing money spent on our National Lottery. I would like to think that the proceeds of a point of consumption tax on online gambling could, for example, be used to supplement the nation’s investment in arts, sport and culture.”
As a member of the creative economy in the U.K. Lord Puttnam understands the return for investment in the arts and how a subsidy from an online gambling tax would benefit the country’s economy greatly. Lord Puttnam, is the producer of the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, and maintains the stats speak for themselves. An Arts Council report released just last month revealed the arts sector makes a £7 contribution to the U.K. economy for every £1 of government subsidy. Yet the Department for Culture, Media and Sport last year proposed a 30 percent cut in grant aid for the council.
Gamblers from the United Kingdom currently spend about £1.7bn a year approximately 18 percent of total U.K. gambling revenues with online gambling operators.
Lord Puttnam said, “By finding an effective way to use the proceeds of an enhanced tax on gambling to support arts and sport, we would be harnessing what may well prove to be a worrying rise in gambling activity, and allow it to become something which is of economic, social and cultural value to the nation a whole.”
Online Gambling Tax a Must For U.K. Arts Support
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2006/12/07
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29893
The zombies are out of control—and, in director Marc Forster’s “World War Z,” even Brad Pitt is at his wit’s end as he hopscotches around the globe to find a cure for the deadly pandemic that comes between him and his brave but vulnerable wife (Mireille Enos) and young kids.
With the inexhaustible ills that plague the world these days, it’s easy to brush off the film’s not-so-subtle metaphors for personal anxieties and socio-political maladies that are cloaked in the guise of its zombie apocalypse.
But, the flesh-eating creatures that have haunted viewers’ worst nightmares—from George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” and Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later” to Francis Lawrence’s “I Am Legend” and Zack Snyder’s “Dawn of the Dead”—are as “relevant” as the senseless wars we wage against one another, or the bird flu and HIV viruses, whose treatment continues to elude the world’s best minds.
Apocalyptic fears
Max Brooks, on whose novel the movie is loosely based, succinctly explains the analogy: “Zombies are the perfect tool for exploring apocalyptic fears. You have to believe that this could happen—because there are things out there that are scarier than zombies, and we hardly talk about them!” Forced to cope with the inevitability of violence, a world overrun by the undead strips man of his pretenses.
At the heart of the story is the film’s reluctant hero, former UN operative Gerry Lane (Pitt), who is spurred back into action when the Allied Forces threaten to throw his loved ones back into their zombie-infested neighborhood if he refuses the task at hand!
Gerry’s mission is to locate the source of contagion and find a cure—but, that’s obviously easier said than done. And, be forewarned: Brooks’ undead are unlike the silly “hoppers” of Chinese cinema, or the waddling-and-shambling weirdos in “The Walking Dead”—they can sprint, leap and chase their victims aggressively!
“World War Z” won’t please everybody, however—it lacks punch because it “consciously” avoids the gory blood-and-guts excesses of George Romero’s “Day of the Dead”—and, to press for a more serious tone, it also sidesteps the humor of Ruben Fleischer’s “Zombieland” or Edgar Wright’s “Shaun of the Dead.” Moreover, the whiny cluelessness of some supporting characters is a source of annoyance—although that’s par for the course in the horror genre.
The earnest and solid Brad Pitt takes impending danger seriously—which makes sense, because it’s hard to draw humor from a swarm of ravenous zombies as they descend upon their hapless prey!
Forster effectively generates a creeping sense of dread (check out Pitt’s scene with David Morse, who plays a loony ex-CIA agent), as well as urgency and claustrophobia, even without directly showing the danger that lurks and encroaches: He builds anticipation to induce suspense.
Among the film’s thrilling and chilling sequences: Its heart-stopping opener, Gerry’s mad rush to the rooftop of a high-rise building that’s crowded with the undead, the shocking “accident” that compromises the quarantined walls of a now unified Israel, and the horrifying havoc that ensues on a UK-bound plane!
Another hair-raising moment takes place at a research facility in Wales, where Gerry sees a flickering light at the end of the tunnel—but, to get there, he has to evade some 80 screeching and teeth-clacking zombies, who eagerly lie in wait for the next susceptible human, to make him bite the dust!
Read more: Brad Pitt wages war against the undead | Inquirer Entertainment
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
With the inexhaustible ills that plague the world these days, it’s easy to brush off the film’s not-so-subtle metaphors for personal anxieties and socio-political maladies that are cloaked in the guise of its zombie apocalypse.
But, the flesh-eating creatures that have haunted viewers’ worst nightmares—from George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” and Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later” to Francis Lawrence’s “I Am Legend” and Zack Snyder’s “Dawn of the Dead”—are as “relevant” as the senseless wars we wage against one another, or the bird flu and HIV viruses, whose treatment continues to elude the world’s best minds.
Apocalyptic fears
Max Brooks, on whose novel the movie is loosely based, succinctly explains the analogy: “Zombies are the perfect tool for exploring apocalyptic fears. You have to believe that this could happen—because there are things out there that are scarier than zombies, and we hardly talk about them!” Forced to cope with the inevitability of violence, a world overrun by the undead strips man of his pretenses.
At the heart of the story is the film’s reluctant hero, former UN operative Gerry Lane (Pitt), who is spurred back into action when the Allied Forces threaten to throw his loved ones back into their zombie-infested neighborhood if he refuses the task at hand!
Gerry’s mission is to locate the source of contagion and find a cure—but, that’s obviously easier said than done. And, be forewarned: Brooks’ undead are unlike the silly “hoppers” of Chinese cinema, or the waddling-and-shambling weirdos in “The Walking Dead”—they can sprint, leap and chase their victims aggressively!
“World War Z” won’t please everybody, however—it lacks punch because it “consciously” avoids the gory blood-and-guts excesses of George Romero’s “Day of the Dead”—and, to press for a more serious tone, it also sidesteps the humor of Ruben Fleischer’s “Zombieland” or Edgar Wright’s “Shaun of the Dead.” Moreover, the whiny cluelessness of some supporting characters is a source of annoyance—although that’s par for the course in the horror genre.
The earnest and solid Brad Pitt takes impending danger seriously—which makes sense, because it’s hard to draw humor from a swarm of ravenous zombies as they descend upon their hapless prey!
Forster effectively generates a creeping sense of dread (check out Pitt’s scene with David Morse, who plays a loony ex-CIA agent), as well as urgency and claustrophobia, even without directly showing the danger that lurks and encroaches: He builds anticipation to induce suspense.
Among the film’s thrilling and chilling sequences: Its heart-stopping opener, Gerry’s mad rush to the rooftop of a high-rise building that’s crowded with the undead, the shocking “accident” that compromises the quarantined walls of a now unified Israel, and the horrifying havoc that ensues on a UK-bound plane!
Another hair-raising moment takes place at a research facility in Wales, where Gerry sees a flickering light at the end of the tunnel—but, to get there, he has to evade some 80 screeching and teeth-clacking zombies, who eagerly lie in wait for the next susceptible human, to make him bite the dust!
Read more: Brad Pitt wages war against the undead | Inquirer Entertainment
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
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2006/12/07
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The online gambling industry is full of start up operations which are in some instances breaking new ground in the field of internet wagering. The North American tribal gaming operators are secure in their traditional methods of offering punters the best there is. Canada has many Tribal Casinos which have recently been attempting quite successfully to offer an internet version of the usual casinos games and poker rooms.
Bernard Shepherd who is the former Chief of the Wapi Muskwa Nation, is a well known personality in the establishment of Canadian Tribal gambling offerings. This man has stood up for tribes across North America educating them on the opportunities that abound within the industry asserting that online gambling is the new way that punters play.
The Wapi Muskwa Nation, in English the “White Bear First Nation”, is located in South East Saskatchewan in Canada. Shepherd opened Bear Claw Casino twenty years ago on White Bear property, the first brick and mortar casino on tribal land. The police immediately closed the casino down for ‘criminal code violations. Shepard did not give up and fought the system in court. Eventually the tribal casino was reopened along with five more on tribal lands in Saskatchewan.
The GeoBet network, a turnkey solution designed specifically for the First Nations and Tribes in the USA became the vehicle for Shepherd’s attempt to establish Tribal internet gambling. In 2012 Shepherd launched NorthernBearCasino-com on the GeoBet network. The introduction of internet gambling in North American by Tribal operators is essential for tribes to have jobs and an economy of their own.
Shepherd said this about the Tribal involvement in online gambling operations, “iGaming is only a small portion of what we want to do economically. We’re involved in huge projects in the natural resources sector, we’re getting involved in retail industries, manufacturing industries. It’s important for us to be included in all those industries so that we can eventually be equal partners with other citizens in Canada, the US and the world”.
Online Gambling Bringing Economic Benefit to Tribes
Bernard Shepherd who is the former Chief of the Wapi Muskwa Nation, is a well known personality in the establishment of Canadian Tribal gambling offerings. This man has stood up for tribes across North America educating them on the opportunities that abound within the industry asserting that online gambling is the new way that punters play.
The Wapi Muskwa Nation, in English the “White Bear First Nation”, is located in South East Saskatchewan in Canada. Shepherd opened Bear Claw Casino twenty years ago on White Bear property, the first brick and mortar casino on tribal land. The police immediately closed the casino down for ‘criminal code violations. Shepard did not give up and fought the system in court. Eventually the tribal casino was reopened along with five more on tribal lands in Saskatchewan.
The GeoBet network, a turnkey solution designed specifically for the First Nations and Tribes in the USA became the vehicle for Shepherd’s attempt to establish Tribal internet gambling. In 2012 Shepherd launched NorthernBearCasino-com on the GeoBet network. The introduction of internet gambling in North American by Tribal operators is essential for tribes to have jobs and an economy of their own.
Shepherd said this about the Tribal involvement in online gambling operations, “iGaming is only a small portion of what we want to do economically. We’re involved in huge projects in the natural resources sector, we’re getting involved in retail industries, manufacturing industries. It’s important for us to be included in all those industries so that we can eventually be equal partners with other citizens in Canada, the US and the world”.
Online Gambling Bringing Economic Benefit to Tribes
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2006/12/07
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The recent announcement from Bally Technologies that it will be moving into the European jurisdiction with a deal signed with casino supplier iSoftBet will give the punter even more quality choices.
Bally which is headquartered in Las Vegas Nevada has recently begun to expand its corporate footprint. Bally recently opened a new European sales and service hub in Amsterdam. It also operates two research and development centers in Chennai and Bangalore, India, employing approximately 900 people.
The Bally iSoftBet deal, will enable it to utilize iSoftBet’s position in the market to provide online gamblers in Europe with the best in internet slot content and mobile games on the HTML5 platform.
Tony Plaskow, Bally Technologies' Interactive Senior Director of Sales, commented on the new arrangement, "We have been very successful at creating exciting and compelling products for our land-based customers," Plaskow continued, "Thanks to this agreement with iSoftBet, online players in Europe will be able to experience the excitement of award-winning Bally games."
iSoftbet is a world-renowned online casino software provider, providing an extensive portfolio of over 400 casino games to regulated markets. Alongside classic casino games, iSoftBet’s impressive games catalogue includes table games, slot machines, and multiplayer games, as well as innovative mobile and social gaming software. All iSoftBet’s products are created to meet industry standards and combine innovation with experience to provide world class gaming software to their partners.
The union of these two significant brands will enhance the overall offerings in the regulated European online gambling market. With a history dating back to 1932, USA based Bally Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, operates and distributes advanced gaming devices, systems and technology solutions worldwide.
Bally’s product line includes reel-spinning slot machines, video slots, wide-area progressives, mobile and interactive applications, and Class II, lottery and central determination games and platforms. Bally’s iGaming Platform is essentially an online gaming portal, allowing casino operators the ability to provide mobile, social, and online play-for-free and wager-based gaming. Through the platform’s open architecture, operators can choose from a multitude of providers’ best-in-class content.
iSoftBet and Bally Partner for Online Gambling in Europe
Bally which is headquartered in Las Vegas Nevada has recently begun to expand its corporate footprint. Bally recently opened a new European sales and service hub in Amsterdam. It also operates two research and development centers in Chennai and Bangalore, India, employing approximately 900 people.
The Bally iSoftBet deal, will enable it to utilize iSoftBet’s position in the market to provide online gamblers in Europe with the best in internet slot content and mobile games on the HTML5 platform.
Tony Plaskow, Bally Technologies' Interactive Senior Director of Sales, commented on the new arrangement, "We have been very successful at creating exciting and compelling products for our land-based customers," Plaskow continued, "Thanks to this agreement with iSoftBet, online players in Europe will be able to experience the excitement of award-winning Bally games."
iSoftbet is a world-renowned online casino software provider, providing an extensive portfolio of over 400 casino games to regulated markets. Alongside classic casino games, iSoftBet’s impressive games catalogue includes table games, slot machines, and multiplayer games, as well as innovative mobile and social gaming software. All iSoftBet’s products are created to meet industry standards and combine innovation with experience to provide world class gaming software to their partners.
The union of these two significant brands will enhance the overall offerings in the regulated European online gambling market. With a history dating back to 1932, USA based Bally Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, operates and distributes advanced gaming devices, systems and technology solutions worldwide.
Bally’s product line includes reel-spinning slot machines, video slots, wide-area progressives, mobile and interactive applications, and Class II, lottery and central determination games and platforms. Bally’s iGaming Platform is essentially an online gaming portal, allowing casino operators the ability to provide mobile, social, and online play-for-free and wager-based gaming. Through the platform’s open architecture, operators can choose from a multitude of providers’ best-in-class content.
iSoftBet and Bally Partner for Online Gambling in Europe
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THR Esq. along with THR's Merle Ginsberg, Gregg Kilday and Jennifer Laski and her photo team also were among the night's big winners at the Southern California Journalism Awards.
The Hollywood Reporter executive editor, features, Stephen Galloway was named entertainment journalist of the year and THR.com was named best website for a news organization Sunday at the Los Angeles Press Club's 55th Southern California Journalism Awards Gala. Those were just two of several awards THR won at the ceremony, which took place at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Galloway also won in the category of personality profile, magazines, for "The Dichotomy of Denzel." Music editor Shirley Halperin also had scored a nom in the category for "Snoop from Dogg to Lion."
Also in the online category, THR, Esq., edited by executive editor Matthew Belloni and senior editor Eriq Gardner, was named best blog.
The staff of THR.com also won in the best online news category for their coverage of the fatal shooting at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater.
Senior writer Merle Ginsberg won best feature commentary under 1,000 words for "Red Carpet War Stories."
Film editor Gregg Kilday won the award for entertainment reviews/criticism/column for The Race. Chief film critic Todd McCarthy was also has been nominated in the same category for his essay on the Dark Knight Rises shootings in Aurora, Colo.
Photo director Jennifer Laski and her team won best documentary short in the TV category for their work on "Conan O'Brien." THR had also been nominated in the category for its "Breaking Bad" short.
“Emmy Drama Actor Roundtable” won for best feature documentary.
THR's photo team also won best portrait photo for "Norman Lear, the Man Who Changed TV." THR also had been nominated in the category for “Whatever Happened to Ted Turner?”
THR won a total of 16 awards, including six second-place wins, on the night.
The Hollywood Reporter executive editor, features, Stephen Galloway was named entertainment journalist of the year and THR.com was named best website for a news organization Sunday at the Los Angeles Press Club's 55th Southern California Journalism Awards Gala. Those were just two of several awards THR won at the ceremony, which took place at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Galloway also won in the category of personality profile, magazines, for "The Dichotomy of Denzel." Music editor Shirley Halperin also had scored a nom in the category for "Snoop from Dogg to Lion."
Also in the online category, THR, Esq., edited by executive editor Matthew Belloni and senior editor Eriq Gardner, was named best blog.
The staff of THR.com also won in the best online news category for their coverage of the fatal shooting at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater.
Senior writer Merle Ginsberg won best feature commentary under 1,000 words for "Red Carpet War Stories."
Film editor Gregg Kilday won the award for entertainment reviews/criticism/column for The Race. Chief film critic Todd McCarthy was also has been nominated in the same category for his essay on the Dark Knight Rises shootings in Aurora, Colo.
Photo director Jennifer Laski and her team won best documentary short in the TV category for their work on "Conan O'Brien." THR had also been nominated in the category for its "Breaking Bad" short.
“Emmy Drama Actor Roundtable” won for best feature documentary.
THR's photo team also won best portrait photo for "Norman Lear, the Man Who Changed TV." THR also had been nominated in the category for “Whatever Happened to Ted Turner?”
THR won a total of 16 awards, including six second-place wins, on the night.
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2006/12/07
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29893
Giles Hargreave has been boosting his stakes in online gaming companies, to capitalise on a relaxation of legal restrictions on internet gambling in the United States.
Last month a landmark ruling legalised online poker and casino games in New Jersey, opening the floodgates for other states to follow suit and relax their own rules.
Hargreave (pictured), manager of the top-performing £588m Marlborough Special Situations fund, has been adding exposure to positions in 888 Holdings, Bwin.party Digital Entertainment and Sportech, to take advantage of a potentially lucrative market opening up for online gaming companies.
He said firms such as Sportech are well positioned to benefit from the rule changes, given the firm has procured an exclusive licence to offer online horse racing betting in Connecticut.
"America is relaxing the rules on online gaming, which is hardly surprising considering the tremendous amount of potential tax revenue on offer, and that makes companies such as 888, Bwin.party and Sportech very interesting," he said.
In 2006, the US banned online gambling in the vast majority of US states, resulting in significant share price losses for a number of internet gaming companies.
Elswhere, Hargreave has been putting cash to work, unfazed by the prospect of a market correction. He is now holding less than 1% cash, compared to 10% over a year ago.
"Weaker sterling is making companies more competitive overseas, interest rates are extremely low, and you have the switch from bonds into equities. We are also beginning to see a noticeable shift among small caps from earnings downgrades to earnings upgrades," he said.
"Against that kind of backdrop, we think it is only sensible to be fully invested."
Read more: Hargreave raises stakes in online gaming firms
Investment Week - News and analysis for investment advisors and wealth managers. Claim your free subscription today.
Last month a landmark ruling legalised online poker and casino games in New Jersey, opening the floodgates for other states to follow suit and relax their own rules.
Hargreave (pictured), manager of the top-performing £588m Marlborough Special Situations fund, has been adding exposure to positions in 888 Holdings, Bwin.party Digital Entertainment and Sportech, to take advantage of a potentially lucrative market opening up for online gaming companies.
He said firms such as Sportech are well positioned to benefit from the rule changes, given the firm has procured an exclusive licence to offer online horse racing betting in Connecticut.
"America is relaxing the rules on online gaming, which is hardly surprising considering the tremendous amount of potential tax revenue on offer, and that makes companies such as 888, Bwin.party and Sportech very interesting," he said.
In 2006, the US banned online gambling in the vast majority of US states, resulting in significant share price losses for a number of internet gaming companies.
Elswhere, Hargreave has been putting cash to work, unfazed by the prospect of a market correction. He is now holding less than 1% cash, compared to 10% over a year ago.
"Weaker sterling is making companies more competitive overseas, interest rates are extremely low, and you have the switch from bonds into equities. We are also beginning to see a noticeable shift among small caps from earnings downgrades to earnings upgrades," he said.
"Against that kind of backdrop, we think it is only sensible to be fully invested."
Read more: Hargreave raises stakes in online gaming firms
Investment Week - News and analysis for investment advisors and wealth managers. Claim your free subscription today.
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2006/12/07
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29893
The courts in various countries are busy with legal issues pertaining to online gambling and betting on sports seems to be the biggest challenge by far.
The Canadian proposal to allow betting on a single sporting event has stalled in the Canadian Senate where a sober second look at laws approved by the House of Commons is supposed to take place. The bill introduced almost two years ago would change the criminal code in Canada and allow wagers on just one game rather than the current law in which bettors can parlay three or more games in a sports lottery of sorts.
Paul Burns, Vice President of Public Affairs with the Canadian Gaming Association based in Toronto said recently, “We are like Delaware, which offers parlay cards for sports betting,” Burns added, “Every sports bettor knows it’s not a great bet.”
Burns opined that legalizing sports betting would keep Canadian bettors from wagering on major sporting events organized by the National Hockey League or the National Football League on illegal offshore gambling sites. Burns commented that illegal sports wagering was a $14 billion industry in Canada.
The major sports organizations have taken a stand against any move to legalize single event betting in the New Jersey, Delaware or Canadian jurisdictions. The leagues are saying the introduction of single game bets would usher in corruption and the possibility of match fixing. If sports leagues are so concerned about integrity, Burns wonders why they wouldn’t want even more oversight over gambling.
While it is easier in Canada to fund online wagering by using e wallets and credit cards without any issues the fact still remains that gambling online is considered illegal in Canada.
The legal situation in New Jersey is similar in so much that the State is attempting to legalize sports betting which the major leagues are opposing in the courts. New Jersey’s main argument is that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 is unconstitutional as it exempts four states from its enforcement and fails to provide a framework for regulations.
Online Gambling on Sports Legal Battle Continues
The Canadian proposal to allow betting on a single sporting event has stalled in the Canadian Senate where a sober second look at laws approved by the House of Commons is supposed to take place. The bill introduced almost two years ago would change the criminal code in Canada and allow wagers on just one game rather than the current law in which bettors can parlay three or more games in a sports lottery of sorts.
Paul Burns, Vice President of Public Affairs with the Canadian Gaming Association based in Toronto said recently, “We are like Delaware, which offers parlay cards for sports betting,” Burns added, “Every sports bettor knows it’s not a great bet.”
Burns opined that legalizing sports betting would keep Canadian bettors from wagering on major sporting events organized by the National Hockey League or the National Football League on illegal offshore gambling sites. Burns commented that illegal sports wagering was a $14 billion industry in Canada.
The major sports organizations have taken a stand against any move to legalize single event betting in the New Jersey, Delaware or Canadian jurisdictions. The leagues are saying the introduction of single game bets would usher in corruption and the possibility of match fixing. If sports leagues are so concerned about integrity, Burns wonders why they wouldn’t want even more oversight over gambling.
While it is easier in Canada to fund online wagering by using e wallets and credit cards without any issues the fact still remains that gambling online is considered illegal in Canada.
The legal situation in New Jersey is similar in so much that the State is attempting to legalize sports betting which the major leagues are opposing in the courts. New Jersey’s main argument is that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 is unconstitutional as it exempts four states from its enforcement and fails to provide a framework for regulations.
Online Gambling on Sports Legal Battle Continues
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2006/12/07
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29893
There are lots of ways to watch movies and TV at home, including DVD rentals, network TV or streaming shows to name just a few. DVDs and network TV are widely known, but Internet-enabled smart TVs, otherwise known as connected TVs, are gaining popularity.
In 2011, about 18 percent of households were connected and by next year, 34 percent may be, according to Jason Helfstein, managing director and Internet analyst at Oppenheimer.
This bodes well for streaming video company Netflix. Networks have been given a run for their money by Netflix’s original content, such as “House of Cards” and “Hemlock Grove.”
Netflix has been trying to expand its household footprint. Helfstein says Netflix had 21.7 million streaming subscribers in 2011 and that should almost double by 2014 to more than 40 million subscribers.
RELATED: Apple Suppliers Drop Clues for Analyst
At the same time, Netflix is also battling with Coinstar for its core automated retail business which includes the Redbox self-service DVD and video game rental kiosks. Redbox has the hold on the DVD business for now. Revenues are rising, $1.5 million in 2011, and $2.1 million is expected for 2013, according to Oppenheimer.
So what happens to Netflix’s shrinking DVD business? Helfstein expects it to continuously add less to profits. In 2012, according to Oppenheimer, DVDs contributed $538 million in profits but in 2014 that will probably shrink to $326 million.
Helfstein says future growth will be driven by digital distribution via mobile and connected TVs. He also says the future will be between Hollywood and the digital providers, leaving the DVD business as a very small part of the way families entertain themselves.
New Technologies Make Waves in Home Entertainment | Big Data Download - Yahoo! Finance
In 2011, about 18 percent of households were connected and by next year, 34 percent may be, according to Jason Helfstein, managing director and Internet analyst at Oppenheimer.
This bodes well for streaming video company Netflix. Networks have been given a run for their money by Netflix’s original content, such as “House of Cards” and “Hemlock Grove.”
Netflix has been trying to expand its household footprint. Helfstein says Netflix had 21.7 million streaming subscribers in 2011 and that should almost double by 2014 to more than 40 million subscribers.
RELATED: Apple Suppliers Drop Clues for Analyst
At the same time, Netflix is also battling with Coinstar for its core automated retail business which includes the Redbox self-service DVD and video game rental kiosks. Redbox has the hold on the DVD business for now. Revenues are rising, $1.5 million in 2011, and $2.1 million is expected for 2013, according to Oppenheimer.
So what happens to Netflix’s shrinking DVD business? Helfstein expects it to continuously add less to profits. In 2012, according to Oppenheimer, DVDs contributed $538 million in profits but in 2014 that will probably shrink to $326 million.
Helfstein says future growth will be driven by digital distribution via mobile and connected TVs. He also says the future will be between Hollywood and the digital providers, leaving the DVD business as a very small part of the way families entertain themselves.
New Technologies Make Waves in Home Entertainment | Big Data Download - Yahoo! Finance
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2006/12/07
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Currently there are a number of countries in the European Union that have not set up a framework for legal and regulated online gambling. Among those are a few that are attempting to change the situation so they can comply with the European Commission mandate which requires members of the union to allow for free e-commerce.
Switzerland is one such country that has a ban on internet gambling but as taken measures to review and change existing laws in Switzerland. Since 1998 online casinos have been prohibited by law although the enforcement of the ban has been lacking. At the moment there are 20 terrestrial casinos operating within the Swiss jurisdiction and many online operators from offshore locations offer their services to Swiss internet punters without any barriers.
Back in March of 2012 the Federal Council of Switzerland indicated they would amend laws regarding online gambling to make them the same as those for land based casinos. In particular, the same requirements for safety, protection of minors and gambling addiction apply. With this, the Federal Council is hoping the public will use the services of legalized online gambling operators and be availed of the problem gambling prevention programs.
The money gained from the taxation and licensing of these web sites will be used for social and cultural programs.
Switzerland has been slow in revamping the current laws because land based casinos contended that the introduction of legal online casinos would serious cut their profits. That argument has been dismissed and the government look like it will now take steps to ensure that a regulated framework is established.
A regulatory body called the Online Gambling Association Switzerland (OGAS), is expected to be created in order to control and advise on internet gambling and the issuing of licenses. The body is to be composed of experts to combat gambling addiction and support the regulatory authorities in their work.
Online Gambling Regulation Coming to Switzerland
Switzerland is one such country that has a ban on internet gambling but as taken measures to review and change existing laws in Switzerland. Since 1998 online casinos have been prohibited by law although the enforcement of the ban has been lacking. At the moment there are 20 terrestrial casinos operating within the Swiss jurisdiction and many online operators from offshore locations offer their services to Swiss internet punters without any barriers.
Back in March of 2012 the Federal Council of Switzerland indicated they would amend laws regarding online gambling to make them the same as those for land based casinos. In particular, the same requirements for safety, protection of minors and gambling addiction apply. With this, the Federal Council is hoping the public will use the services of legalized online gambling operators and be availed of the problem gambling prevention programs.
The money gained from the taxation and licensing of these web sites will be used for social and cultural programs.
Switzerland has been slow in revamping the current laws because land based casinos contended that the introduction of legal online casinos would serious cut their profits. That argument has been dismissed and the government look like it will now take steps to ensure that a regulated framework is established.
A regulatory body called the Online Gambling Association Switzerland (OGAS), is expected to be created in order to control and advise on internet gambling and the issuing of licenses. The body is to be composed of experts to combat gambling addiction and support the regulatory authorities in their work.
Online Gambling Regulation Coming to Switzerland
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2006/12/07
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But what goes on where the lights lead to was a mystery to most Kuching folk, until quite recently when they became more brazen.
When they first opened several months ago, there were no signboards to say what business they were into, but today, they have put up notices of their round-the-clock operating hours. Some even hang up photos and computer screenshots of roulette wheels, horse races and many more.
So now we know these are the illegal computer-operated gambling joints, or mini casinos as some call it, and they are everywhere.
A block of shoplot can even have two or three of such outlets as one township near the city shows.
After much coaxing a casual gambler, who admitted to frequenting such outlets, agreed to share his experience with The Star on the condition that he remained anonymous. Let’s call him Wang.
This was how Wang began: “As you enter the premises, you will see rows of computers — just like a cybercafe. Back in the old days they used something like arcade machines but now computers are easier to set up because they can be networked with the main server which is controlled by the tauke, which makes it easy for him to regulate the credit. Apart from that, several games can be installed into one computer.
“Before playing, you have to see the tauke at the counter first and tell him which computer you want to play on. Each terminal is numbered. Then you pay a certain amount to the tauke which he will credit into your ‘account’. Some centres impose a certain minimum amount, so do take note.”
According to Wang, computer and Internet technology nowadays makes it easy to set up the credit mechanism which is easily controlled by the tauke behind the counter.
The gambler said the payout from a winning bet would be credited into the terminal the player was playing on.
He said a gambler had a choice of online games to play or pick from and among the favourites is the arcade style horse racing.
“For the horse race, there are six horses to chose from. Each horse has odds attached to it, so you select your horse to bet on or you can bet on a few horses.
“After placing bets with a few clicks of the mouse, the race starts just like a live horse race on the tracks, but of course it’s computer animated. There are also other gambling games like black jack, poker and other card games which require more time to play,” he said.
Wang insisted he was not hooked on gambling and that he patronised the outlets more to accompany his peers than to gamble.
“I don’t take it seriously. Usually after spending something like RM10, I stop. Some even spend RM100 per session. Some, I heard, especially those playing poker or any of the card games, spend up to four figures,” said Wang.
There are claims that these mini casinos are quite popular with youngsters because some of them see it as a way to make easy money. Besides, the tauke does not care who or how old they are so long as they have money to spend.
Recent operations by the police had managed to weed out some of these premises, prompting others to close shop in so hurried a manner that they did not even have the time to take down their 24-hour posters left on the walls outside the stairwells.
However, those daring to take the risk have stayed on, this time with extra precautions, like having CCTV cameras installed outside, presumably to keep an eye out for the cops.
New online gambling joints continue to sprout despite tight enforcement - Story | The Star Online