Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Select your timezone:
Only a few years ago the internet gambling industry attracted mostly men who played poker and bet on sports.
Now Ireland’s Rutland Centre clinical director Fiona Weldon said women now make up 20% of those who turn to the Dublin-based charity for help.
Weldon commented that, “Traditionally you could only gamble at the bookies and just on sport, but all that changed. There’s online bingo, poker and casinos and it’s all so accessible and it’s these activities that the women with gambling addictions tend to participate in. It’s there at the click of a button on your phone or the internet.” Just four years ago the percentage of women gambling on the internet was a mere 4%. Weldon continued, "We're seeing many clients now with multiple types of gambling problems.”
Gambling addiction remains extremely difficult to overcome, mainly because it is so available with ease and according to Weldon. "Like any addiction, it's a chronic and relapsing condition with no known cure. It's very challenging for anyone coming out of recovery, because they need to take measures like disabling the internet on their phone,"
Many addicted to internet gambling may have other issues that could include out of control use of alcohol and drugs. Those who are hooked on internet wagering whether they are men or women are hard to detect because it is easy to hide from friends and family.
The Dublin based Rutland Centre director also commented that, "It is also an addiction that people can hide for longer periods, even years."
The increase in online gambling addiction among women in Ireland is a wakeup call that more support for problem gamblers should be regulated by controlling bodies and that the issue should not be totally left up to the internet gambling operators. It is an issue that can destroy families and personal lives especially when the problem has gone on for some time and severe financial damage is done. Gamble within your limits and play it safe.
Issues With Online Gambling Among Women On the Increase
Now Ireland’s Rutland Centre clinical director Fiona Weldon said women now make up 20% of those who turn to the Dublin-based charity for help.
Weldon commented that, “Traditionally you could only gamble at the bookies and just on sport, but all that changed. There’s online bingo, poker and casinos and it’s all so accessible and it’s these activities that the women with gambling addictions tend to participate in. It’s there at the click of a button on your phone or the internet.” Just four years ago the percentage of women gambling on the internet was a mere 4%. Weldon continued, "We're seeing many clients now with multiple types of gambling problems.”
Gambling addiction remains extremely difficult to overcome, mainly because it is so available with ease and according to Weldon. "Like any addiction, it's a chronic and relapsing condition with no known cure. It's very challenging for anyone coming out of recovery, because they need to take measures like disabling the internet on their phone,"
Many addicted to internet gambling may have other issues that could include out of control use of alcohol and drugs. Those who are hooked on internet wagering whether they are men or women are hard to detect because it is easy to hide from friends and family.
The Dublin based Rutland Centre director also commented that, "It is also an addiction that people can hide for longer periods, even years."
The increase in online gambling addiction among women in Ireland is a wakeup call that more support for problem gamblers should be regulated by controlling bodies and that the issue should not be totally left up to the internet gambling operators. It is an issue that can destroy families and personal lives especially when the problem has gone on for some time and severe financial damage is done. Gamble within your limits and play it safe.
Issues With Online Gambling Among Women On the Increase
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
According to the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that U.S. Representative Dina Titus (NV-D) is pushing for a House of Representatives committee to hold a hearing on the current state-by-state expansion of online gambling.
Titus wrote in a letter to the chairman and to a ranking member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that Congress needs to act quickly because online gaming is moving forward in several states.
“Previous efforts in Congress to create a national legal framework for Internet gaming have failed and states have moved ahead of Congress to develop these laws and accompanying regulations,” Titus states.
Online poker is legal in Nevada. The first pay-to-play website, operated by Ultimate Gaming, has been accepting online wagers since the end of April. It is expected that other sites will launch soon.
By November, New Jersey casinos hope to launch both online poker and casino games. Online gambling in New Jersey, Nevada, and when it launches September in Delaware, is restricted to those players physically located within state lines. Other states are exploring the possibility of legalizing online gambling.
According to Titus, the current state-by-state approach allows certain “bad actors” to enter the market. Nevada does not allow companies that have accepted bets from Americans after 2006 to obtain an interactive gaming license, while the language in the New Jersey legislation does not offer this kind of specification.
Titus writes: “It is critical that Congress create a common sense regulatory framework to address this growing issue. Federal regulation would ensure that consumers are protected.”
Congress May Hold Hearing on Internet Gambling | Mobile Marketing Watch
Titus wrote in a letter to the chairman and to a ranking member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that Congress needs to act quickly because online gaming is moving forward in several states.
“Previous efforts in Congress to create a national legal framework for Internet gaming have failed and states have moved ahead of Congress to develop these laws and accompanying regulations,” Titus states.
Online poker is legal in Nevada. The first pay-to-play website, operated by Ultimate Gaming, has been accepting online wagers since the end of April. It is expected that other sites will launch soon.
By November, New Jersey casinos hope to launch both online poker and casino games. Online gambling in New Jersey, Nevada, and when it launches September in Delaware, is restricted to those players physically located within state lines. Other states are exploring the possibility of legalizing online gambling.
According to Titus, the current state-by-state approach allows certain “bad actors” to enter the market. Nevada does not allow companies that have accepted bets from Americans after 2006 to obtain an interactive gaming license, while the language in the New Jersey legislation does not offer this kind of specification.
Titus writes: “It is critical that Congress create a common sense regulatory framework to address this growing issue. Federal regulation would ensure that consumers are protected.”
Congress May Hold Hearing on Internet Gambling | Mobile Marketing Watch
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Taxpayers, Hydro-Québec users, Loto-Québec players — one way or another, we are all cash cows.
You’ve seen the commercial: It’s a cold, dark, stormy night. Winds howl as rain and leaves brutally smack windows and anything in their path. From a modest home, we hear a woman remind her husband that their lottery ticket has to be replayed, but when he attempts walk out the door with his dog in tow, they retreat.
Lo and behold, Loto-Québec has an easy solution: Play online and save time and energy.
And so I did on that windy stormy night two Wednesdays ago.
The odds of winning are less than slim, but playing online is very advantageous — to Loto-Québec, that is. Not only does it guarantee the lottery’s income from the sale of tickets, it also increases their profit. They save whatever pittance commission they pay retail outlets and are assured that no percentage is paid to retailers should they be the seller of a winning lottery ticket.
To add insult to injury, when I chose to play online I was obliged to join Espacejeux, using details of my life including credit card and personal information. I replayed the same numbers I’ve played for 24 years, but lo and behold when I received my credit card bill, I was charged an additional “cash advance fee of $2.75.” They kept my credit information on file, by the way.
According to MasterCard, Espacejeux is a gambling site and transactions made by credit card are treated as cash advances. Funny, when I use my credit card at my retailers’ they assume the debt. It seems to me the only one who has found a way to win (even more than usual) is Loto-Québec and its administrators. I’d like to know how much the big bosses and their minions earn — more than you and me, that I can bet on, and my win is guaranteed.
Maybe I should save my $4 a week and give it to charity. At least I can claim it on my income taxes. But that’s another story.
You’ve seen the commercial: It’s a cold, dark, stormy night. Winds howl as rain and leaves brutally smack windows and anything in their path. From a modest home, we hear a woman remind her husband that their lottery ticket has to be replayed, but when he attempts walk out the door with his dog in tow, they retreat.
Lo and behold, Loto-Québec has an easy solution: Play online and save time and energy.
And so I did on that windy stormy night two Wednesdays ago.
The odds of winning are less than slim, but playing online is very advantageous — to Loto-Québec, that is. Not only does it guarantee the lottery’s income from the sale of tickets, it also increases their profit. They save whatever pittance commission they pay retail outlets and are assured that no percentage is paid to retailers should they be the seller of a winning lottery ticket.
To add insult to injury, when I chose to play online I was obliged to join Espacejeux, using details of my life including credit card and personal information. I replayed the same numbers I’ve played for 24 years, but lo and behold when I received my credit card bill, I was charged an additional “cash advance fee of $2.75.” They kept my credit information on file, by the way.
According to MasterCard, Espacejeux is a gambling site and transactions made by credit card are treated as cash advances. Funny, when I use my credit card at my retailers’ they assume the debt. It seems to me the only one who has found a way to win (even more than usual) is Loto-Québec and its administrators. I’d like to know how much the big bosses and their minions earn — more than you and me, that I can bet on, and my win is guaranteed.
Maybe I should save my $4 a week and give it to charity. At least I can claim it on my income taxes. But that’s another story.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Greece’s Commission for the Supervision and Control of Games (CSCG), a division of the Hellenic Gaming Commission, has published a 401-member blacklist of online gambling sites that will supposedly be prohibited from operating in the Mediterranean nation.
The list will be sent to Greek internet service providers, who will be instructed to deny subscribers’ access to the sites. It will also be sent to the Bank of Greece so it can stop the flow of funds to and from the sites, as well as law enforcement agencies to assist in unlawful gambling investigations.
The blacklist contains a mix of poker, casino, and sports betting sites, though it does appear to be made of mostly casino sites (likely because those types of sites are more prolific than poker sites). Notable poker sites named include:
Bwin-com
PartyPoker-com
PacificPoker-com
PokerStarsBlog-com
HollywoodPoker-com
NordicBet-com
PokerHeaven-com
PKR-com
SunPoker-com
888Poker-com
FullTiltPoker-com, for whatever reason, is not on the blacklist. PokerStars-com is not, either, even though, oddly, its blog is. Many other poker rooms that fall under the umbrella of a casino or sports betting site (for example, intertops-eu) can likely be assumed to have been blacklisted, as well.
Greece has perhaps the most controversial online gaming regulations in Europe. The government strongly favors the Greek Organisation of Football Prognostics S.A., better known as OPAP, which already holds a land-based monopoly on casino gaming. Until October 12th, 2020, OPAP is the only provider which can offer online sports betting, poker cash games, and many casino games. All others, provided they receive a license, will only be allowed to offer “casino-type games of chance, the results of which are not provided by a random number generator as in poker tournaments.” Go ahead, make sense of that.
The European Commission had prohibited this restriction, but it lifted the block earlier this month, paving the way for Greece’s ridiculous regulations to take effect. In January, the OPAP monopoly was ruled illegal by the Court of Justice of the European Union and both the Remote Gambing Association (RGA) and the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) have come out forcefully against Greek regulations.
Did we mention that the Greek government owns 34.4 percent of OPAP? Because there’s that.
On top of everything, the government further displayed its corruption a year ago when Cyprus banned most forms of gambling. Because of an agreement between Greece and Cyprus, though, OPAP was permitted to operate land-based gambling venues tax free in Cyprus. And as it turned out, two forms of gambling – sports betting and online lotteries – were not prohibited, the same two types of gambling OPAP offered.
Greece Blacklists 401 Online Gambling Sites
The list will be sent to Greek internet service providers, who will be instructed to deny subscribers’ access to the sites. It will also be sent to the Bank of Greece so it can stop the flow of funds to and from the sites, as well as law enforcement agencies to assist in unlawful gambling investigations.
The blacklist contains a mix of poker, casino, and sports betting sites, though it does appear to be made of mostly casino sites (likely because those types of sites are more prolific than poker sites). Notable poker sites named include:
Bwin-com
PartyPoker-com
PacificPoker-com
PokerStarsBlog-com
HollywoodPoker-com
NordicBet-com
PokerHeaven-com
PKR-com
SunPoker-com
888Poker-com
FullTiltPoker-com, for whatever reason, is not on the blacklist. PokerStars-com is not, either, even though, oddly, its blog is. Many other poker rooms that fall under the umbrella of a casino or sports betting site (for example, intertops-eu) can likely be assumed to have been blacklisted, as well.
Greece has perhaps the most controversial online gaming regulations in Europe. The government strongly favors the Greek Organisation of Football Prognostics S.A., better known as OPAP, which already holds a land-based monopoly on casino gaming. Until October 12th, 2020, OPAP is the only provider which can offer online sports betting, poker cash games, and many casino games. All others, provided they receive a license, will only be allowed to offer “casino-type games of chance, the results of which are not provided by a random number generator as in poker tournaments.” Go ahead, make sense of that.
The European Commission had prohibited this restriction, but it lifted the block earlier this month, paving the way for Greece’s ridiculous regulations to take effect. In January, the OPAP monopoly was ruled illegal by the Court of Justice of the European Union and both the Remote Gambing Association (RGA) and the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) have come out forcefully against Greek regulations.
Did we mention that the Greek government owns 34.4 percent of OPAP? Because there’s that.
On top of everything, the government further displayed its corruption a year ago when Cyprus banned most forms of gambling. Because of an agreement between Greece and Cyprus, though, OPAP was permitted to operate land-based gambling venues tax free in Cyprus. And as it turned out, two forms of gambling – sports betting and online lotteries – were not prohibited, the same two types of gambling OPAP offered.
Greece Blacklists 401 Online Gambling Sites
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
While most of us know the dangers that lurk in every segment of the internet there are those who are discovering that their new smartphones are become possible targets of the wise guys. Mobile online wagering is all the rage and has become more popular than ever with crooks and bad actors working at taking advantage of the unwary.
From a security standpoint, mobile devices are riskier than desktops or laptops. And most people frequently and unknowingly do things on their mobile devices that make them susceptible to fraud, identity theft, data loss, and other possible threats. Control over your phone isn’t that hard to maintain and keeping safe in the mobile environment can be easier than one would think.
Knowing where to look for problems is the first step in the security firewall. Some of the zones where danger lurks are computer and technology-related sites. An example that everyone may not believe includes one of the first offers of an Android version of Skype was actually malware. Advertizing on the web is also a path for trouble.
Cyber criminals have been refining “malvertising” for mobile. Recently, as another example, an ad for an Angry Birds download was a malicious app that actually made premium SMS calls and then billed people without their knowledge. Games and gambling sites are most popular for mobile users and equally popular for those who distribute of malware, “phishing” exploits, and bogus downloads such as PDFs or browser updates.
As search engines become more widely used in the mobile online space, search engine poisoning (SEP) tactics are becoming more prevalent and suspicious activity is hard to detect. Tempting offers even duplicate the look and feel of legitimate sites but are designed to deliver malicious payloads that steal personal information. Shoulder surfing is common and is an increasingly popular low-tech tactic used by identity thieves.
So when you’re on your smart phone gambling or just looking for a restaurant be careful and play it safe.
Mobile Online Gambling Safe Play Rules
From a security standpoint, mobile devices are riskier than desktops or laptops. And most people frequently and unknowingly do things on their mobile devices that make them susceptible to fraud, identity theft, data loss, and other possible threats. Control over your phone isn’t that hard to maintain and keeping safe in the mobile environment can be easier than one would think.
Knowing where to look for problems is the first step in the security firewall. Some of the zones where danger lurks are computer and technology-related sites. An example that everyone may not believe includes one of the first offers of an Android version of Skype was actually malware. Advertizing on the web is also a path for trouble.
Cyber criminals have been refining “malvertising” for mobile. Recently, as another example, an ad for an Angry Birds download was a malicious app that actually made premium SMS calls and then billed people without their knowledge. Games and gambling sites are most popular for mobile users and equally popular for those who distribute of malware, “phishing” exploits, and bogus downloads such as PDFs or browser updates.
As search engines become more widely used in the mobile online space, search engine poisoning (SEP) tactics are becoming more prevalent and suspicious activity is hard to detect. Tempting offers even duplicate the look and feel of legitimate sites but are designed to deliver malicious payloads that steal personal information. Shoulder surfing is common and is an increasingly popular low-tech tactic used by identity thieves.
So when you’re on your smart phone gambling or just looking for a restaurant be careful and play it safe.
Mobile Online Gambling Safe Play Rules
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
For all the negative publicity that’s surrounded Justin Bieber in recent months — the alleged drinking, smoking, spitting, fighting with a paparazzo and more — he entered the stage at the Prudential Center in angelic form: In all white, he descended to the center of the stage with wings on his sides as nearly 20,000 fans screamed at the top of their lungs.
These girls had Bieber Fever, and they didn’t want to be cured.
They cheered on the 19-year-old, who kicked off his Wednesday night concert with the high energy, electro-flavored songs “All Around the World” and “Take You.” There were pyrotechnics bursting to match the tracks’ sparkle, fan-made signs in every row and lights beaming from the cell phones capturing pictures and video. Bieber didn’t have to move, and the arena would still have been in a frenzy.
The pop star took advantage of that during his 90-minute concert. During the opening up-tempo numbers, he seemed to be lip syncing and his sluggish, lazy dancing didn’t match the oomph of the beats. Bieber was far better when he slowed things down, singing on grooves or mid-tempo tunes. But the multiplatinum singer is part of a group of contemporary acts who have a plethora of hits, but have not yet learned how to fully command onstage and truly connect with an audience.
Bieber phoned in a good amount during his show; at some moments, he even appeared bored. He was clocking in — another day, another sold-out concert (Wednesday was Bieber’s second night at Prudential).
When performing the hit “Beauty and a Beat,” he couldn’t keep up with his background dancers. He was lip syncing again — much like a number of today’s pop stars when trying to keep up with decent choreography. Though talented, Bieber isn’t as good as Chris Brown, who also appears to lip sync but dances with clarity, precision and edge. During “She Don’t Like the Lights,” Bieber barely moved to the track’s futuristic beat (maybe it was the leather tights?)
The Canadian singer was in better form when he sang R&B numbers and groovier jams instead of high-powered, dance-flavored tunes — much like his performance on his latest album, “Believe.” He impressed when he warmed up his vocals before singing the soft “Catching Feelings” and he offered a singer-songwriter vibe during “Fall,” where he also played guitar. While on the drums, Bieber was most natural, and during what feels like his life anthem — “Never Say Never” — he was confident as he sang the positive, inspirational lyrics to the crowd.
The singer’s best effort was on “Die In Your Arms,” which samples Michael Jackson’s “We Got a Good Thing Going.” His vocals were crisp and his dance moves slick, as he and six background dancers paid tribute with the throwback performance.
Throughout the night, videos of Bieber as a child played on the big screens. The images that stood out: A young Bieber playing the drums and singing in place.
Things haven’t really changed.
Read more: Justin Bieber not in pop star form at concert | Inquirer Entertainment
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
These girls had Bieber Fever, and they didn’t want to be cured.
They cheered on the 19-year-old, who kicked off his Wednesday night concert with the high energy, electro-flavored songs “All Around the World” and “Take You.” There were pyrotechnics bursting to match the tracks’ sparkle, fan-made signs in every row and lights beaming from the cell phones capturing pictures and video. Bieber didn’t have to move, and the arena would still have been in a frenzy.
The pop star took advantage of that during his 90-minute concert. During the opening up-tempo numbers, he seemed to be lip syncing and his sluggish, lazy dancing didn’t match the oomph of the beats. Bieber was far better when he slowed things down, singing on grooves or mid-tempo tunes. But the multiplatinum singer is part of a group of contemporary acts who have a plethora of hits, but have not yet learned how to fully command onstage and truly connect with an audience.
Bieber phoned in a good amount during his show; at some moments, he even appeared bored. He was clocking in — another day, another sold-out concert (Wednesday was Bieber’s second night at Prudential).
When performing the hit “Beauty and a Beat,” he couldn’t keep up with his background dancers. He was lip syncing again — much like a number of today’s pop stars when trying to keep up with decent choreography. Though talented, Bieber isn’t as good as Chris Brown, who also appears to lip sync but dances with clarity, precision and edge. During “She Don’t Like the Lights,” Bieber barely moved to the track’s futuristic beat (maybe it was the leather tights?)
The Canadian singer was in better form when he sang R&B numbers and groovier jams instead of high-powered, dance-flavored tunes — much like his performance on his latest album, “Believe.” He impressed when he warmed up his vocals before singing the soft “Catching Feelings” and he offered a singer-songwriter vibe during “Fall,” where he also played guitar. While on the drums, Bieber was most natural, and during what feels like his life anthem — “Never Say Never” — he was confident as he sang the positive, inspirational lyrics to the crowd.
The singer’s best effort was on “Die In Your Arms,” which samples Michael Jackson’s “We Got a Good Thing Going.” His vocals were crisp and his dance moves slick, as he and six background dancers paid tribute with the throwback performance.
Throughout the night, videos of Bieber as a child played on the big screens. The images that stood out: A young Bieber playing the drums and singing in place.
Things haven’t really changed.
Read more: Justin Bieber not in pop star form at concert | Inquirer Entertainment
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Ixgames believes gaming is a form of entertainment that shouldn't negatively impact a player's life. If you feel that gambling may becoming a problem for you, ask yourself the following questions developed by Gamblers Anonymous:
Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
Did gambling affect your reputation?
Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
Have you ever gambled to escape worry, trouble, boredom or loneliness?
Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.!
Regards: ixgames.com
Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
Did gambling affect your reputation?
Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
Have you ever gambled to escape worry, trouble, boredom or loneliness?
Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.!
Regards: ixgames.com
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
In 1961, the United States passed the Federal Wire Act, which prohibited certain types of betting, such as sport betting, in the United States. Fifty years later, on September 20, 2011, the United States Department of Justice issued an opinion stating the use of the Internet to sell lottery tickets to in-state adults was not part of the Wire Act.
“We conclude that interstate transmissions of wire communications that do not relate to a ‘sporting event or contest’ fall outside of the reach of the Wire Act,” the opinion read. Although the opinion was in response to proposals by Illinois and New York to use the Internet to sell lottery tickets to in-state adults, it was the open door needed to legalize online gambling in certain states, according to Les Bernal, the National Director of Stop Predatory Gambling.
The Department of Justice made online gambling legal so long as it is permitted at the state level. The ruling is a stark contrast to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which was passed in 2006. The act prohibits Internet gambling, with the exceptions of fantasy sports and legal intrastate and inter-tribal gaming.
Since the Department of Justice’s 2011 opinion, three states have passed legislation legalizing online gambling: Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware, Bernal said.
“The whole reason why they are pushing Internet gambling is they want a whole generation of younger people to get hooked,” Bernal said. “Young people are less likely to go to brick and mortar casinos. Young people spend much of their lives now [online], and they grew up in a world where the Internet is part of their daily life. They live much of their lives on the Internet.”
Anyone from teens to people in their mid-30s are a prime target for online gambling advocates, Bernal said.
By the numbers
According to a July 11, 2013 article by Hannah Dreier of the Associated Press, global financial services firm Morgan Stanley has estimated online gambling will produce $9.3 billion by 2020.
According to Bernal, 40-60 percent of the profits made in slot machines come from the 6-7 percent of people who are problem gamblers.
For those people, gambling can cause serious problems. Bernal recalled one woman, Melinda, who was a resident nurse as well as a slot machine addict.
“This woman was incredible, still incredible. [She is] smart, attractive, very experienced intensive care unit nurse, very successful, very well educated – she got addicted to [slot] machines because they put a casino near her house, 10 minutes from where she lives,” Bernal shared. “She stole money from her hospital, where she worked, to help feed her addiction. She lost her job, she got fired and she also got addicted to online gambling.”
Although Melinda eventually received help for her addicted, Bernal says she still receives emails every day trying to entice her back to online gambling.
Legislation efforts
Wisconsin is not currently considering legislation regarding Internet gambling. Wisconsin Family Action is one of the groups that has asked Congress to toughen the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, according to a June 6, 2012 article on WTAQ News Talk 97.5FM and 1360AM.
While the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act prohibits online gambling, the act could become null and void soon. The reason? There are currently two bills before Congress that would legalize online gambling.
According to Dreier’s July 11 article, Texas Rep. Joe Barton introduced a bill in Congress that would pave the way for states to legalize online poker without fear of federal intervention.
“Just like millions of other players, I enjoy the strategy and skill involved,” Barton is quoted as saying in a statement. “I continue to be supportive of the Americans who play poker online. They deserve to have a legal, on-shore system that makes sure everyone is playing in an honest, fair structure.”
Barton is not the first legislator to introduce a bill that would legalize online gambling. In June of this year, New York Congressman Peter King introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2013.
The legislation would create a federal online gaming regulatory structure that would be overseen by an office of gambling oversight in the Treasury Department, according to a June 6, 2013 article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware, since they already have established Internet gaming regulations, would have their laws grandfathered into the new federal regulatory structure, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal article.
One of the dangers with online gambling – especially for problem gamblers – is the potential for no cut-off point, according to Bernal.
“When you are in a brick and mortar casino, at some point you need to go home. After 24 hours or something, you are going to need to go home, and that breaks up the zone. But if you are home, you can show up in the morning in your pajamas and be inside gambling all day,” Bernal said. “Now anytime you need to get that high, you go for it. It is like having crack cocaine right in your medicine cabinet or in your pocketbook. Anytime you need that hit, you just go for it.”
To be or not to be? The Internet gambling paradox - The Star: Features
“We conclude that interstate transmissions of wire communications that do not relate to a ‘sporting event or contest’ fall outside of the reach of the Wire Act,” the opinion read. Although the opinion was in response to proposals by Illinois and New York to use the Internet to sell lottery tickets to in-state adults, it was the open door needed to legalize online gambling in certain states, according to Les Bernal, the National Director of Stop Predatory Gambling.
The Department of Justice made online gambling legal so long as it is permitted at the state level. The ruling is a stark contrast to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which was passed in 2006. The act prohibits Internet gambling, with the exceptions of fantasy sports and legal intrastate and inter-tribal gaming.
Since the Department of Justice’s 2011 opinion, three states have passed legislation legalizing online gambling: Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware, Bernal said.
“The whole reason why they are pushing Internet gambling is they want a whole generation of younger people to get hooked,” Bernal said. “Young people are less likely to go to brick and mortar casinos. Young people spend much of their lives now [online], and they grew up in a world where the Internet is part of their daily life. They live much of their lives on the Internet.”
Anyone from teens to people in their mid-30s are a prime target for online gambling advocates, Bernal said.
By the numbers
According to a July 11, 2013 article by Hannah Dreier of the Associated Press, global financial services firm Morgan Stanley has estimated online gambling will produce $9.3 billion by 2020.
According to Bernal, 40-60 percent of the profits made in slot machines come from the 6-7 percent of people who are problem gamblers.
For those people, gambling can cause serious problems. Bernal recalled one woman, Melinda, who was a resident nurse as well as a slot machine addict.
“This woman was incredible, still incredible. [She is] smart, attractive, very experienced intensive care unit nurse, very successful, very well educated – she got addicted to [slot] machines because they put a casino near her house, 10 minutes from where she lives,” Bernal shared. “She stole money from her hospital, where she worked, to help feed her addiction. She lost her job, she got fired and she also got addicted to online gambling.”
Although Melinda eventually received help for her addicted, Bernal says she still receives emails every day trying to entice her back to online gambling.
Legislation efforts
Wisconsin is not currently considering legislation regarding Internet gambling. Wisconsin Family Action is one of the groups that has asked Congress to toughen the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, according to a June 6, 2012 article on WTAQ News Talk 97.5FM and 1360AM.
While the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act prohibits online gambling, the act could become null and void soon. The reason? There are currently two bills before Congress that would legalize online gambling.
According to Dreier’s July 11 article, Texas Rep. Joe Barton introduced a bill in Congress that would pave the way for states to legalize online poker without fear of federal intervention.
“Just like millions of other players, I enjoy the strategy and skill involved,” Barton is quoted as saying in a statement. “I continue to be supportive of the Americans who play poker online. They deserve to have a legal, on-shore system that makes sure everyone is playing in an honest, fair structure.”
Barton is not the first legislator to introduce a bill that would legalize online gambling. In June of this year, New York Congressman Peter King introduced the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2013.
The legislation would create a federal online gaming regulatory structure that would be overseen by an office of gambling oversight in the Treasury Department, according to a June 6, 2013 article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware, since they already have established Internet gaming regulations, would have their laws grandfathered into the new federal regulatory structure, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal article.
One of the dangers with online gambling – especially for problem gamblers – is the potential for no cut-off point, according to Bernal.
“When you are in a brick and mortar casino, at some point you need to go home. After 24 hours or something, you are going to need to go home, and that breaks up the zone. But if you are home, you can show up in the morning in your pajamas and be inside gambling all day,” Bernal said. “Now anytime you need to get that high, you go for it. It is like having crack cocaine right in your medicine cabinet or in your pocketbook. Anytime you need that hit, you just go for it.”
To be or not to be? The Internet gambling paradox - The Star: Features
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Online betting is fun and exciting for many reasons one of them being the great variety available in easy access formats. Each individual can choose where they want to go on the internet and play even customizing their own preferences on some sites. Virtual gaming even involves an avatar creation of your choosing with attributes that are unique to the player which brings another dimension to gambling online.
Live dealer casino gambling can be another rewarding experience that many enjoy. Live dealer casinos at European gambling sites have been a favourite spot for many who want a flutter. Recently live dealer sites have been emerging in the USA.
Most live online casinos offer three games and live dealer casinos are operated two different ways. Live dealer studio. This is virtual casino operated by trained dealers and croupiers. It is broadcast action from a studio that is open seven days a week twenty four hours. The other is a real casino which broadcasts from a real casino and you place bets on actual games being played by real customers. Games like Blackjack are different because you are not the person deciding to hit or stand. Roulette is exactly the same though live though. One of the advantages to playing at a live casino are the real time odds because there isn’t a computer calling the cards dealt or the ball position in roulette live casino action takes away any doubt in the player’s mind whether things are up and up.
Some disadvantages to playing at a live dealer casino compared to a regular online casino are table space is limited many because of the cost to operators a minimum bet for live games like Blackjack or Baccarat is usually $5. Most online casino gamblers are used to betting as little as $1 per hand. Another disadvantage is the pace of the play as the games are also much slower.
Live Dealer Online Gambling Emerging in the USA
Live dealer casino gambling can be another rewarding experience that many enjoy. Live dealer casinos at European gambling sites have been a favourite spot for many who want a flutter. Recently live dealer sites have been emerging in the USA.
Most live online casinos offer three games and live dealer casinos are operated two different ways. Live dealer studio. This is virtual casino operated by trained dealers and croupiers. It is broadcast action from a studio that is open seven days a week twenty four hours. The other is a real casino which broadcasts from a real casino and you place bets on actual games being played by real customers. Games like Blackjack are different because you are not the person deciding to hit or stand. Roulette is exactly the same though live though. One of the advantages to playing at a live casino are the real time odds because there isn’t a computer calling the cards dealt or the ball position in roulette live casino action takes away any doubt in the player’s mind whether things are up and up.
Some disadvantages to playing at a live dealer casino compared to a regular online casino are table space is limited many because of the cost to operators a minimum bet for live games like Blackjack or Baccarat is usually $5. Most online casino gamblers are used to betting as little as $1 per hand. Another disadvantage is the pace of the play as the games are also much slower.
Live Dealer Online Gambling Emerging in the USA
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Hungary has finalized its changes to the gambling laws there with the amendments including internet wagering. The Hungarian Parliament has finally adopted the new remote gambling regulations following a long delay in the process.
Hungarian authorities will issue 10 new casino concessions soon. Concessions are valid for a maximum of five years, with the minimum concession fee applicable for 2013 approximately $450,000 per game type. Licensed operators will be subject to a 20 percent tax on gross gaming revenues payable every two weeks, as well as quarterly supervisory fees calculated at 2.5 percent of the GGR, totaling at least $450nand no more than somewhere around $225,000.
The new regulations have expanded the rage of games available on the internet to Hungarians. Online gambling now includes online casino gaming as well as sports betting. Previous to the new laws amendment only horse racing and some online card games were allowed. The liberalization of online gambling is still not permitted under Hungarian law, it can only be operated by the state gambling organization or by a concession operator that is contracted with the Hungarian State.
Hungary intends to use the same method other countries are using to enforce their laws, internet blocking of unlicensed web locations who offer online gambling services. A number of new provisions provides for the prospect that that authorities can order any data relating to illegal gambling operations to be temporarily inaccessible for a period of 90 days. All telecommunications and internet service providers are bound by the decision of the authorities and the decision is final.
Punters in Hungary are turning to the internet in increasing numbers after the government banned slot machine outside the three brick and mortar casinos. The ban brought the number of slot machines down from approximately 24,000 to only a few hundred.
Hungarian Online Gambling Regulations Amended
Hungarian authorities will issue 10 new casino concessions soon. Concessions are valid for a maximum of five years, with the minimum concession fee applicable for 2013 approximately $450,000 per game type. Licensed operators will be subject to a 20 percent tax on gross gaming revenues payable every two weeks, as well as quarterly supervisory fees calculated at 2.5 percent of the GGR, totaling at least $450nand no more than somewhere around $225,000.
The new regulations have expanded the rage of games available on the internet to Hungarians. Online gambling now includes online casino gaming as well as sports betting. Previous to the new laws amendment only horse racing and some online card games were allowed. The liberalization of online gambling is still not permitted under Hungarian law, it can only be operated by the state gambling organization or by a concession operator that is contracted with the Hungarian State.
Hungary intends to use the same method other countries are using to enforce their laws, internet blocking of unlicensed web locations who offer online gambling services. A number of new provisions provides for the prospect that that authorities can order any data relating to illegal gambling operations to be temporarily inaccessible for a period of 90 days. All telecommunications and internet service providers are bound by the decision of the authorities and the decision is final.
Punters in Hungary are turning to the internet in increasing numbers after the government banned slot machine outside the three brick and mortar casinos. The ban brought the number of slot machines down from approximately 24,000 to only a few hundred.
Hungarian Online Gambling Regulations Amended
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Enhanced e-mail, a spruced up Flickr photo-sharing site and a new weather app are all part of Yahoo's turnaround efforts. Next up: an entertainment push that includes a new Web chat show from John Stamos (ER), a comedy series with Curb Your Enthusiasm's Cheryl Hines and Saturday Night Live clip reruns.
A year into the tenure of CEO Marissa Mayer, Yahoo is betting that online entertainment can start to boost traffic dramatically.
The online giant is planning to debut five new series and SNL clips in September, "binge" style, so viewers can watch an entire season in one sitting. Yahoo hasn't disclosed the official date.
Yahoo's efforts are different from Netflix's strategy of paying tens of millions of dollars to producers to come up with a few high-profile cable-like series. Yahoo is more about bulk. It already has 50 series it churns out weekly, including reality parody series Burning Love and recipe show Chow Ciao. The new slate — which will also include 40 years of SNL clips, extra online stories and clips from ABC's Nightline, World News and Good Morning America and wrestling "pre-shows" from the WWE — will bring it to 55 originals.
The new fare includes Ghost Ghirls, a female take on Ghostbusters which is produced by actor Jack Black; Losing Your Virginity, a celeb chat show where Stamos (Full House) asks stars about their first time; and We Need Help, about a newly hired male assistant to actors Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Rachael Harris (The Hangover).
Yahoo had first tried an entertainment push about a decade ago, when former Warner Bros. CEO Terry Semel ran the company. It was shelved when Yahoo decided that consumers weren't coming to Yahoo to be entertained, just to get their e-mail, sports scores and news updates. But now, with consumers increasingly turning to smartphones and tablets for short bites of entertainment, Yahoo has decided that the time is right for Web originals.
"We're finally at that tipping point where hardware's there, software's there, streaming's there, so consumers are there," says Yahoo vice president and head of video programming Erin McPherson.
Reader alert — don't look for Yahoo's entertainment shows on its home page. Instead, Yahoo houses most of it on a separate entertainment site, screen.yahoo.com.
The most successful original show to date is Burning Love, which attracted 11 million viewers during its initial season in 2012.
Most of the current shows — topical viral video countdowns, recaps of TV shows and the like — are produced in Yahoo's studios here. The syndicated OMG! The Insider (re-branded Yahoo OMG! in January 2013 to factor in Yahoo's involvement) airs on television, while Yahoo runs a Web-only five-minute version three times a day, with celebrity news updates.
Alex Ben Block, a senior editor at the Hollywood Reporter, says targeting entertainment is a smart move for the company. "They're trying to create a destination where people go several times a day, to check news, or see a specific program. They need to have stuff that brings in repeat viewers, so the entertainment push makes sense."
Gene Munster, an analyst with Piper Jaffray, says expanding its video offerings is a natural for Yahoo because it has a large sales force calling on advertisers eager to branch out beyond banner ads to TV like online video ads.
"Despite all their issues, Yahoo is still the premiere space on the Internet for branding," he says.
Yahoo, Hulu, YouTube, AOL and others are all trying to chip away at TV broadcast and cable networks' traditional hold on video advertising dollars but so far "have yet to crack it," says Munster. "It's a very tough space, so this is a logical thing for Yahoo to try for."
Overall, Yahoo's numbers are still down — display advertising is down 12% year to year from June 2012-2013, according to Piper Jaffray, but Munster says the steps for the future — improved e-mail and photo sharing and $1 billion investment in the blogging platform Tumblr — are smart.
"They're doing all the right things," he says, "and thinking dramatically different than Yahoo has ever done in the past."
A year into the tenure of CEO Marissa Mayer, Yahoo is betting that online entertainment can start to boost traffic dramatically.
The online giant is planning to debut five new series and SNL clips in September, "binge" style, so viewers can watch an entire season in one sitting. Yahoo hasn't disclosed the official date.
Yahoo's efforts are different from Netflix's strategy of paying tens of millions of dollars to producers to come up with a few high-profile cable-like series. Yahoo is more about bulk. It already has 50 series it churns out weekly, including reality parody series Burning Love and recipe show Chow Ciao. The new slate — which will also include 40 years of SNL clips, extra online stories and clips from ABC's Nightline, World News and Good Morning America and wrestling "pre-shows" from the WWE — will bring it to 55 originals.
The new fare includes Ghost Ghirls, a female take on Ghostbusters which is produced by actor Jack Black; Losing Your Virginity, a celeb chat show where Stamos (Full House) asks stars about their first time; and We Need Help, about a newly hired male assistant to actors Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Rachael Harris (The Hangover).
Yahoo had first tried an entertainment push about a decade ago, when former Warner Bros. CEO Terry Semel ran the company. It was shelved when Yahoo decided that consumers weren't coming to Yahoo to be entertained, just to get their e-mail, sports scores and news updates. But now, with consumers increasingly turning to smartphones and tablets for short bites of entertainment, Yahoo has decided that the time is right for Web originals.
"We're finally at that tipping point where hardware's there, software's there, streaming's there, so consumers are there," says Yahoo vice president and head of video programming Erin McPherson.
Reader alert — don't look for Yahoo's entertainment shows on its home page. Instead, Yahoo houses most of it on a separate entertainment site, screen.yahoo.com.
The most successful original show to date is Burning Love, which attracted 11 million viewers during its initial season in 2012.
Most of the current shows — topical viral video countdowns, recaps of TV shows and the like — are produced in Yahoo's studios here. The syndicated OMG! The Insider (re-branded Yahoo OMG! in January 2013 to factor in Yahoo's involvement) airs on television, while Yahoo runs a Web-only five-minute version three times a day, with celebrity news updates.
Alex Ben Block, a senior editor at the Hollywood Reporter, says targeting entertainment is a smart move for the company. "They're trying to create a destination where people go several times a day, to check news, or see a specific program. They need to have stuff that brings in repeat viewers, so the entertainment push makes sense."
Gene Munster, an analyst with Piper Jaffray, says expanding its video offerings is a natural for Yahoo because it has a large sales force calling on advertisers eager to branch out beyond banner ads to TV like online video ads.
"Despite all their issues, Yahoo is still the premiere space on the Internet for branding," he says.
Yahoo, Hulu, YouTube, AOL and others are all trying to chip away at TV broadcast and cable networks' traditional hold on video advertising dollars but so far "have yet to crack it," says Munster. "It's a very tough space, so this is a logical thing for Yahoo to try for."
Overall, Yahoo's numbers are still down — display advertising is down 12% year to year from June 2012-2013, according to Piper Jaffray, but Munster says the steps for the future — improved e-mail and photo sharing and $1 billion investment in the blogging platform Tumblr — are smart.
"They're doing all the right things," he says, "and thinking dramatically different than Yahoo has ever done in the past."
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
A SURGE in punters betting online and via mobile phone gambling apps helped William Hill to a better-than-expected half-year profits rise.
The bookmaker, which employs more than 3,000 people in Yorkshire, including over 1,300 people in its Leeds office, saw amounts wagered using its mobile sports app rise by 112 per cent after it was downloaded more than a million times since its launch in February last year. Meanwhile, mobile gaming net revenue was up 198 per cent.
Pre-tax earnings for the company before exceptional items were up four per cent to £156.2m while net revenues rose by a fifth to £751.6m.
Overall online sports revenues were up 44 per cent, driving web operating profits 16 per cent higher to £80.2m.
Earnings from Hill’s more traditional retail business were still the greater portion but the figure of £107.6m was a two per cent fall from the same period last year.
Amounts wagered over the counter were down five per cent compared with a period which included the start of the Euro 2012 football tournament.
However, net revenues from this area were up by five per cent helped by Hill’s best ever Grand National result when 66-1 outside Auroras Encore won at Aintree. Gaming revenue in shops was up 18 per cent.
Chief executive Ralph Topping said: “We have continued the momentum in online, particularly in mobile Sportsbook. The shift to mobile sports gaming is an important development and we have invested significant resources in getting the business fully prepared to accelerate this important opportunity. With almost 200 per cent growth in mobile gaming net revenue in the first half, this decision is clearly justified.”
The 79-year-old firm closed 10 shops but opened another 16 over the period, bringing the total to 2,398. It also launched in Australia, buying Sportingbet’s business in the country for £459m, while it also gained full control of its online business with the buyout of the outstanding 29 per cent stake for £424m.
Hill
The bookmaker, which employs more than 3,000 people in Yorkshire, including over 1,300 people in its Leeds office, saw amounts wagered using its mobile sports app rise by 112 per cent after it was downloaded more than a million times since its launch in February last year. Meanwhile, mobile gaming net revenue was up 198 per cent.
Pre-tax earnings for the company before exceptional items were up four per cent to £156.2m while net revenues rose by a fifth to £751.6m.
Overall online sports revenues were up 44 per cent, driving web operating profits 16 per cent higher to £80.2m.
Earnings from Hill’s more traditional retail business were still the greater portion but the figure of £107.6m was a two per cent fall from the same period last year.
Amounts wagered over the counter were down five per cent compared with a period which included the start of the Euro 2012 football tournament.
However, net revenues from this area were up by five per cent helped by Hill’s best ever Grand National result when 66-1 outside Auroras Encore won at Aintree. Gaming revenue in shops was up 18 per cent.
Chief executive Ralph Topping said: “We have continued the momentum in online, particularly in mobile Sportsbook. The shift to mobile sports gaming is an important development and we have invested significant resources in getting the business fully prepared to accelerate this important opportunity. With almost 200 per cent growth in mobile gaming net revenue in the first half, this decision is clearly justified.”
The 79-year-old firm closed 10 shops but opened another 16 over the period, bringing the total to 2,398. It also launched in Australia, buying Sportingbet’s business in the country for £459m, while it also gained full control of its online business with the buyout of the outstanding 29 per cent stake for £424m.
Hill
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
This emerged following concerns expressed by a shopkeeper in Guernsey about people with an addiction to Channel Islands Lottery scratch cards.
Jersey Gambling Commission chief executive Jason Lane said he had no responsibility or regulation over the Channel Islands Lottery. But he added that there were services in the island for those struggling with a gambling addiction, including seeking referral to the mental health services through a doctor.
‘There is also an online therapy site called gamblingtherapy.je where there is a dedicated counsellor available. Some people like to meet face-to-face so that can be arranged through the site or some like the anonymity of the net and that can be accessed through the site also.’
Both Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon also meet regularly in the island. ‘The most important thing is people have to realise they have a problem and seek help themselves. If they don’t accept it, they can’t get help for it,’ said Mr Lane.
Jersey offers gambling addicts online support « This Is Guernsey
Jersey Gambling Commission chief executive Jason Lane said he had no responsibility or regulation over the Channel Islands Lottery. But he added that there were services in the island for those struggling with a gambling addiction, including seeking referral to the mental health services through a doctor.
‘There is also an online therapy site called gamblingtherapy.je where there is a dedicated counsellor available. Some people like to meet face-to-face so that can be arranged through the site or some like the anonymity of the net and that can be accessed through the site also.’
Both Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon also meet regularly in the island. ‘The most important thing is people have to realise they have a problem and seek help themselves. If they don’t accept it, they can’t get help for it,’ said Mr Lane.
Jersey offers gambling addicts online support « This Is Guernsey
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
mike1 wrote:
It's a nice site
You can play a lot there give it a chance!
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
World War Z, Brad Pitt’s hit zombie apocalypse epic, will debut on Blu-ray and other home-viewing formats on Sept. 17. The action-thriller was envisioned as a trilogy, and after grossing $474 million around the world, Pitt can expect another date with the dead. The Blu-ray Combo will include an unrated cut of the film and several featurettes. “I’m really excited for fans to see the new unrated version of World War Z on Blu-ray,” said Pitt, in a statement. “We were thrilled with the audience response to the film in theaters and wanted to give viewers even more of the action and intensity that they loved when they watch the film at home.” Z was subjected to some on-the-fly rewriting and the original ending was completely abandoned. It will be interesting to see if portions of those scenes are restored in the unrated cut, or if Pitt & Co. discuss those decisions in the extras.
For fans who can’t wait until Sept. 17, World War Z will become available as a digital-download a week earlier, Sept. 10. Click below for a description of the Blu-ray extras.
Blu-ray
Feature film in high definition (Unrated version)
“Origins” — The filmmakers discuss collaborating with renowned actor/producer Brad Pitt to create a zombie film the likes of which have never been seen.
“Looking to Science” — Explore the scientific realities of zombie behavior in nature and learn more about zombies in literature and film.
For fans who can’t wait until Sept. 17, World War Z will become available as a digital-download a week earlier, Sept. 10. Click below for a description of the Blu-ray extras.
Blu-ray
Feature film in high definition (Unrated version)
“Origins” — The filmmakers discuss collaborating with renowned actor/producer Brad Pitt to create a zombie film the likes of which have never been seen.
“Looking to Science” — Explore the scientific realities of zombie behavior in nature and learn more about zombies in literature and film.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Gibraltar has had a long standing online gambling industry associated with the United Kingdom which is now having a difficult time accepting the proposed new tax rules in Britain. Gibraltar is home to over a dozen online gambling operators and officials and executives are calling the new tax of 15 % on U.K. residents and those in Gibraltar an unfair change.
Gibraltar considers itself autonomous when it comes to its financial trade and industrial issues including the setting of their own tax regime. The gambling commissioner of Gibraltar Phil Brear, stated, “the tax would be clearly against the common sense logic of electronic commerce.”Brear continued to say, “ We hear a lot of talk in the U.K. about a level playing field. But you can in fact never level the playing field between high street shops and online services.”
About sixty percent of bets from Brits are placed through Gibraltar sites. Currently only one percent is charged in Gibraltar and the new tax by the Cameron government to come into effect in December of 2014 will require all Gibraltar located operators to hold an online gambling license issued by the U.K.
Steve Buckanan the head of Ladbrokes in Gibraltar says the imposition of the fifteen percent levies will cause their profit margin to drop considerably. “it would place a huge unwanted cost on our business” he said.
It is not just the tax on the actual gambling that will affect the costs for operations in Gibraltar but lack of taxes on advertizing and other essential services required by online gambling operators.
Internet wagering operator Betfair just moved its business to Gibraltar and said it will save as much as $30 million annually by making the switch. The online gambling industry represents 15 percent of Gibraltar’s almost 2 billion dollar economy.
The British government essentially wants more control over the industry and also wants to reap bigger profits form a growing industry that is heading offshore for a better deal.
Gibraltar Angered By Proposed U.K.Online Gambling Rules
Gibraltar considers itself autonomous when it comes to its financial trade and industrial issues including the setting of their own tax regime. The gambling commissioner of Gibraltar Phil Brear, stated, “the tax would be clearly against the common sense logic of electronic commerce.”Brear continued to say, “ We hear a lot of talk in the U.K. about a level playing field. But you can in fact never level the playing field between high street shops and online services.”
About sixty percent of bets from Brits are placed through Gibraltar sites. Currently only one percent is charged in Gibraltar and the new tax by the Cameron government to come into effect in December of 2014 will require all Gibraltar located operators to hold an online gambling license issued by the U.K.
Steve Buckanan the head of Ladbrokes in Gibraltar says the imposition of the fifteen percent levies will cause their profit margin to drop considerably. “it would place a huge unwanted cost on our business” he said.
It is not just the tax on the actual gambling that will affect the costs for operations in Gibraltar but lack of taxes on advertizing and other essential services required by online gambling operators.
Internet wagering operator Betfair just moved its business to Gibraltar and said it will save as much as $30 million annually by making the switch. The online gambling industry represents 15 percent of Gibraltar’s almost 2 billion dollar economy.
The British government essentially wants more control over the industry and also wants to reap bigger profits form a growing industry that is heading offshore for a better deal.
Gibraltar Angered By Proposed U.K.Online Gambling Rules
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Cowell, who swore never to have children, is in for an upheaval in his life, says William Langley in a Sunday Telegraph profile.
Much of the forgiveness that the world extends to Simon Cowell is based on the reassuring notion that he is a one-off. Oh, Simon has multiplied and proliferated in various ingenious ways over the years, but now we face the ultimate brand extension — the arrival of a Cowell Jr.
The prospect of fatherhood for the acrylic-complexioned television-talent-show mogul comes with major complications. For a start, the mother-to-be, Lauren Silverman, 36, a New York "socialite", is married to Andrew Silverman, a real-estate dealer, who is — or was — one of Cowell's best friends. According to Andrew's brother, Alexander, Cowell's entanglement with Lauren amounts to "an unbelievable story of betrayal", but that's not all that makes it unbelievable. For years, Cowell, 53, has been telling interviewers that he didn't want to have children, and while his insistence carried a smack of poignancy, it wasn't hard to see his reasoning.
He lives a strange life, moving between homes, all furnished and decorated in exactly the same way, with white leather sofas and chrome mirrors, trailed by an entourage of close friends and acolytes.
This lifestyle has generally suited Simon well, facilitating both his oddities and his sweaty hyper-devotion to work. At the same time it has fed the idea that he is not merely, as he has put it, "a little bit mad", but sad, too, and emotionally cauterised against the perils of love and human sympathy.
Virtually all his known relationships have been brief and inconsequential, and are collectively summarised by him as "boring". It is no surprise that the idea of fatherhood has drained the blood from his caramelly chops.
"God, no, I couldn't have children," he once said. "If I had them they'd be drawing on the walls, and I'd go nuts. With kids you've got a routine you can't escape from." Not that Cowell is entirely opposed to routines. Having attuned his life to a kind of mid-Atlantic time, he wakes up every day at noon, spends an hour watching cartoons, usually in the bath, then works, with only token breaks, until 5 am.
All his suits are by Tom Ford, all his knitwear from Prada. His beauty regime is exhaustive, featuring colonic irrigation, which, he says, "makes my eyes shine brighter", intravenous vitamin transfusions, monthly botox jabs, and a procedure involving oils and cling film to "detoxify and oxygenate" his skin. To keep the air fresh around him, he spends pounds 3,000 a week on flowers.
"Maintenance," he sighs, "is a bitch." But so is growing older, especially when you have no one to share the passing years with. So there may come a moment in a man's life when he starts to think about his legacy, and how he will be remembered, and he realises that children can offer a handy solution.
Cowell has known the Silvermans, who have a seven-year-old son, for several years. Two years ago, the couple were among the guests on a yacht the impresario had chartered in the British Virgin Islands.
Lauren posted a photograph of herself entwined with Cowell beneath the caption: "My little Simey monster," which she later deleted. US newspapers last week suggested that the Silvermans' marriage had been rocky for some time, although some accounts claimed that Andrew had filed for divorce only after learning of his wife's pregnancy.
First-time fatherhood in your sixth decade is a tough beat. Not only physically, but in the surrendering of the life, freedoms and conveniences you knew before. Prof William Pollack of Harvard University, an expert on late-life fatherhood, says: "It's no easy thing for such men. They may give the impression of coping, feeling proud of what they have done, denying all the physical evidence around them, but inside they are probably going doolally."
Cowell's reluctance to embrace commitment has no obvious explanation in his own childhood. He was born in Brighton into a close and relatively well-to-do family, and raised in Elstree, Hertfordshire.
His father ran the property portfolio of EMI records, and his mother was a former dancer. His older half-brother, Tony, remembers him as a "highly competitive teenager", who "always wanted a faster car and a prettier girlfriend".
Privately schooled at Dover College, Cowell achieved little of academic note and left at 15 to take a job in the post room of his father's company. Soon he was a pop industry talent scout, working with the famed record producer Pete Waterman.
By the age of 20, he had made — and lost — a million. "I've had many failures," he says. "The biggest were at times when I believed my own hype. I was a typical Eighties cliche. I had the cars, the house, the image … I spent too much time at parties, and then everything imploded. Losing everything is probably the greatest lesson you learn. I went back to my parents' house and started again."
His move into television and the following successes — Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent — have earned Cowell a fortune estimated at pounds 200?million and secured his place as the most powerful man in British entertainment.
Yet the narcissism, the affectations, the detachment, the lack of gallantry (his relationship with Dannii Minogue was dismissed as "a few bonks"), have weighed heavily against this. But he remains a master of the tricky situation, and if he handles the latest properly, he might yet emerge as a better man.
Much of the forgiveness that the world extends to Simon Cowell is based on the reassuring notion that he is a one-off. Oh, Simon has multiplied and proliferated in various ingenious ways over the years, but now we face the ultimate brand extension — the arrival of a Cowell Jr.
The prospect of fatherhood for the acrylic-complexioned television-talent-show mogul comes with major complications. For a start, the mother-to-be, Lauren Silverman, 36, a New York "socialite", is married to Andrew Silverman, a real-estate dealer, who is — or was — one of Cowell's best friends. According to Andrew's brother, Alexander, Cowell's entanglement with Lauren amounts to "an unbelievable story of betrayal", but that's not all that makes it unbelievable. For years, Cowell, 53, has been telling interviewers that he didn't want to have children, and while his insistence carried a smack of poignancy, it wasn't hard to see his reasoning.
He lives a strange life, moving between homes, all furnished and decorated in exactly the same way, with white leather sofas and chrome mirrors, trailed by an entourage of close friends and acolytes.
This lifestyle has generally suited Simon well, facilitating both his oddities and his sweaty hyper-devotion to work. At the same time it has fed the idea that he is not merely, as he has put it, "a little bit mad", but sad, too, and emotionally cauterised against the perils of love and human sympathy.
Virtually all his known relationships have been brief and inconsequential, and are collectively summarised by him as "boring". It is no surprise that the idea of fatherhood has drained the blood from his caramelly chops.
"God, no, I couldn't have children," he once said. "If I had them they'd be drawing on the walls, and I'd go nuts. With kids you've got a routine you can't escape from." Not that Cowell is entirely opposed to routines. Having attuned his life to a kind of mid-Atlantic time, he wakes up every day at noon, spends an hour watching cartoons, usually in the bath, then works, with only token breaks, until 5 am.
All his suits are by Tom Ford, all his knitwear from Prada. His beauty regime is exhaustive, featuring colonic irrigation, which, he says, "makes my eyes shine brighter", intravenous vitamin transfusions, monthly botox jabs, and a procedure involving oils and cling film to "detoxify and oxygenate" his skin. To keep the air fresh around him, he spends pounds 3,000 a week on flowers.
"Maintenance," he sighs, "is a bitch." But so is growing older, especially when you have no one to share the passing years with. So there may come a moment in a man's life when he starts to think about his legacy, and how he will be remembered, and he realises that children can offer a handy solution.
Cowell has known the Silvermans, who have a seven-year-old son, for several years. Two years ago, the couple were among the guests on a yacht the impresario had chartered in the British Virgin Islands.
Lauren posted a photograph of herself entwined with Cowell beneath the caption: "My little Simey monster," which she later deleted. US newspapers last week suggested that the Silvermans' marriage had been rocky for some time, although some accounts claimed that Andrew had filed for divorce only after learning of his wife's pregnancy.
First-time fatherhood in your sixth decade is a tough beat. Not only physically, but in the surrendering of the life, freedoms and conveniences you knew before. Prof William Pollack of Harvard University, an expert on late-life fatherhood, says: "It's no easy thing for such men. They may give the impression of coping, feeling proud of what they have done, denying all the physical evidence around them, but inside they are probably going doolally."
Cowell's reluctance to embrace commitment has no obvious explanation in his own childhood. He was born in Brighton into a close and relatively well-to-do family, and raised in Elstree, Hertfordshire.
His father ran the property portfolio of EMI records, and his mother was a former dancer. His older half-brother, Tony, remembers him as a "highly competitive teenager", who "always wanted a faster car and a prettier girlfriend".
Privately schooled at Dover College, Cowell achieved little of academic note and left at 15 to take a job in the post room of his father's company. Soon he was a pop industry talent scout, working with the famed record producer Pete Waterman.
By the age of 20, he had made — and lost — a million. "I've had many failures," he says. "The biggest were at times when I believed my own hype. I was a typical Eighties cliche. I had the cars, the house, the image … I spent too much time at parties, and then everything imploded. Losing everything is probably the greatest lesson you learn. I went back to my parents' house and started again."
His move into television and the following successes — Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent — have earned Cowell a fortune estimated at pounds 200?million and secured his place as the most powerful man in British entertainment.
Yet the narcissism, the affectations, the detachment, the lack of gallantry (his relationship with Dannii Minogue was dismissed as "a few bonks"), have weighed heavily against this. But he remains a master of the tricky situation, and if he handles the latest properly, he might yet emerge as a better man.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The internet is poised to greet the newest addition to the vast array of things to do on the web social gambling. Facebook the biggest online social network is beginning to offer casino games for free in certain jurisdictions.
Now one of the industry’s online gaming technology suppliers, Aristocrat, has released its first Facebook application, Heart of Vegas.
The new application introduced a few weeks ago has seen Heart of Vegas, downloaded 500,000 times already. Social online casino developer Product Madness was recently acquired by Aristocrat and this is the first application to be introduced by the company.
Aristocrat, is a pioneer of slot machine gaming, is now bringing its popular classic titles and new innovations to online gambling. Aristocrat employs over 2200 people in jurisdictions all over the planet and has over fifty years experience in the gaming world.
Craig Billings, the Managing Director of Aristocrat, commented, “We are absolutely thrilled with the tremendous response Facebook users have had to Heart of Vegas. Social gaming is an important pillar in Aristocrat’s online strategy, so it’s very exciting to see our first game with the Product Madness team achieve such success.”
A large selection of the company’s recognized, premium titles have remastered for an exciting and lasting online play experience. Aristocrat Online now has classic game titles, including Where’s the Gold™ 50 Lions™, Zorro™, and Queen of the Nile™ available at legal online casino sites in the European jurisdiction.
The introduction of a social online gambling on Facebook opens a door and adds a new dimension for online operators and existing slot offerings. The games feature the distinctive Aristocrat mathematics, proven over the years in land-based venues, as well as the instantly recognizable imagery and sounds of the Aristocrat gaming suite.
Games are now available to be directly deployed onto an online casino platform or via Aristocrat’s new remote gaming server, offered in conjunction with their partners at the GameAccount Network.
Aristocrat Introduces Online Gaming App for Facebook
Now one of the industry’s online gaming technology suppliers, Aristocrat, has released its first Facebook application, Heart of Vegas.
The new application introduced a few weeks ago has seen Heart of Vegas, downloaded 500,000 times already. Social online casino developer Product Madness was recently acquired by Aristocrat and this is the first application to be introduced by the company.
Aristocrat, is a pioneer of slot machine gaming, is now bringing its popular classic titles and new innovations to online gambling. Aristocrat employs over 2200 people in jurisdictions all over the planet and has over fifty years experience in the gaming world.
Craig Billings, the Managing Director of Aristocrat, commented, “We are absolutely thrilled with the tremendous response Facebook users have had to Heart of Vegas. Social gaming is an important pillar in Aristocrat’s online strategy, so it’s very exciting to see our first game with the Product Madness team achieve such success.”
A large selection of the company’s recognized, premium titles have remastered for an exciting and lasting online play experience. Aristocrat Online now has classic game titles, including Where’s the Gold™ 50 Lions™, Zorro™, and Queen of the Nile™ available at legal online casino sites in the European jurisdiction.
The introduction of a social online gambling on Facebook opens a door and adds a new dimension for online operators and existing slot offerings. The games feature the distinctive Aristocrat mathematics, proven over the years in land-based venues, as well as the instantly recognizable imagery and sounds of the Aristocrat gaming suite.
Games are now available to be directly deployed onto an online casino platform or via Aristocrat’s new remote gaming server, offered in conjunction with their partners at the GameAccount Network.
Aristocrat Introduces Online Gaming App for Facebook
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Music mogul Simon Cowell will reportedly give 63 million pounds annually as child support to socialite Lauren Silverman, who is said to be carrying his child.
Silverman will receive the monetary help from Cowell till their child turns 21.
Cowell, 53 and still a bachelor, is not sure if he will marry Silverman in future but wants to secure the future of his child, reports dailystar.co.uk.
"The truth is, he doesn't yet know whether he will end up marrying Lauren somewhere down the line in the years to come," a source said.
"But, in the meantime, he wants to ensure he does the right thing for her and their baby as well as resolving this mess," the source added.
Cowell recently said that he wants to keep the news about the baby a private affair.
Silverman will receive the monetary help from Cowell till their child turns 21.
Cowell, 53 and still a bachelor, is not sure if he will marry Silverman in future but wants to secure the future of his child, reports dailystar.co.uk.
"The truth is, he doesn't yet know whether he will end up marrying Lauren somewhere down the line in the years to come," a source said.
"But, in the meantime, he wants to ensure he does the right thing for her and their baby as well as resolving this mess," the source added.
Cowell recently said that he wants to keep the news about the baby a private affair.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
.jpg?v=1.014689161)
.png?v=1.014689161)
The state Gaming Enforcement Division says it received the applications by Monday’s deadline for initial consideration, a major milestone in Atlantic City’s development of online betting. The state will make the names public as they are approved.
Under a law signed this year, casinos with a physical presence in Atlantic City will be allowed to offer online betting. The system is scheduled to go live Nov 23. All 12 of the city’s casinos have said they want to offer online casinos by working with partners.
All the vendors in the enterprise must be licensed. Monday’s deadline was for those groups, including payment processing firms, networking companies, software providers and others connected to online gambling.
Companies can continue to apply to be in the business in New Jersey, but only those who have their materials in now are expected to be operating in November.
New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada are the only states that have laws to allow online gambling — and only Nevada has a legal enterprise running. But so far, Nevada’s Internet gambling is available only to people in the state.
At least two international online gambling companies have been trying to buy existing casinos.
The London-based firm 2UP Gaming and its financial partner MidOil USA announced last week that they’re trying to buy a casino soon, and if a deal can’t be struck, they’ll build a new one. The group said it would make its decision on buying or building by early September. The group said it had filed applications to be in the online gambling business, so if a sale goes through, it could offer legal online gambling in the U.S. as soon as it launches in New Jersey.
The Rational Group, based in the Isle of Mann and the parent company of Pokerstars, is in litigation over whether it can buy The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel. Pokerstars has also hedged by applying with the state government for permission to run an online casino for Resorts Casino Hotel.
37 Firms Apply To Go Into Internet Gambling In NJ « CBS Philly