Monthly Archives: June 2015

IGT's DoubleDown Casino Celebrates Wheel of Fortune Red, White and Blue Slots

In this fifth Wheel of Fortune theme to launch on the DoubleDown Casino app, players experience a 3-reel, 5-pay line configuration reminiscent of the classic “stepper” style slot machines. With every spin, the Wheel of Fortune Red, White and Blue game can hit the Wheel Bonus, which lets players spin the Wheel to win up to 2000x the value of their virtual wagers.

Jessica Simpson's Extremely Cute Children Are At It Again

The star took to Instagram to share the latest snaps of her son Ace cuddling with his dad — Simpson’s husband Eric Johnson — like a pro: Jessica Simpson, a presenter at the 1999 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. 12/8/1999 382814 35: Performer Jessica Simpson arrives at the 2000 Billboard Music Awards December 5, 2000 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.

Demi Lovato Added to Daytime Village Lineup at iHeartRadio Music Festival

The Daytime Village will return to the MGM Resorts Village across from the Luxor Hotel and Casino on Saturday, September 19 -between the two nights of the fifth annual IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 18 and 19. In addition to Demi Lovato, the Daytime Village will feature live performances by Hozier, Tove Lo, Trey Songz, Walk The Moon, Nick Jonas, Lee Brice, George Ezra, Tori Kelly, Echosmith, James Bay, The Struts, Zella Day and Shawn Mendes. The Daytime Village will also feature fan zones and interactive experiences by iHeartRadio’s brand partners.

Phil Mickelson linked to $2.75m connected with illegal sports betting bust

Pro golfer Phil Mickelson had been tied to an illegal sports betting case brought by US federal authorities.

On Monday, ESPN reported on a plea deal that federal prosecutors in California had reached with Gregory Silveira. A former low-level sports betting tout, the 56-year-old Silveira agreed to plead guilty to three charges of money laundering in connection with an illegal sports betting operation. Silveira faces a maximum of 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $1.5m when he’s sentenced on Oct. 5.

Silveira was accused of transferring money that he knew represented the “proceeds” of an illegal online gambling business based outside of the country. Silveira copped to the fact that the primary purpose behind the transfers between bank accounts under his control was intended to conceal the flow of resources to and from the illegal operation.

At the crux of the prosecution is a $2.75m wire transfer that Silveira accepted in March 2010 from an unidentified “gambling client” that two sources told ESPN was Mickelson.

Baha Mar Ltd. files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

The parent company of the troubled Baha Mar Casino & Hotel in the Bahamas has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Baha Mar Ltd. filed for protection in Delaware on Monday, citing debts of more than $1b. Among the largest unsecured creditors is China Construction America Bahamas Ltd. (CCA), a Chinese state-owned contractor which is listed as being owed $72.5m. CCA and Baha Mar Ltd. have engaged in a nasty public squabble over who bears more blame for the project’s delays.

Sarkis Izmirlian, Baha Mar Ltd’s chairman and CEO, said the voluntary bankruptcy was necessary due to “financial consequences of the repeated delays by the general contractor and the resulting loss of revenue.” The $3.5b resort was supposed to open last December and has missed a couple revised opening dates since then, with September cited as the most recent opening target.

Baha Mar Ltd. claims the bankruptcy will give them the time to “put in place a viable capital structure and working relationships to complete construction and successfully open” the resort “as soon as practicable.”

Why Regional Gaming Companies Are Dominating Their International Rivals

In a new report out this week, Barclays analyst Felicia Hendrix discussed the Q2 performance of regional U.S. gaming companies Penn National Gaming Inc , Pinnacle Entertainment Inc and Boyd Gaming Corp . While Hendrix says that it’s too early for investors to get overly excited at this point, all three companies are currently on track to beat consensus Q2 revenue forecasts.

Smoke Around Mickelson Gambling Issues Rises…Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson has always been a big tipper and around golf circles has always been known for a friendly wager or two. Some of those wagers have gotten him in minor trouble over the years with the golf establishment, while other dealings have whispered that association with gambling schemes could have gotten him in hot water. However to date, nothing has surfaced to put the popular PGA Tour Champion in anything more than some mildly hot water full of innuendo. Nothing has ever been proven, and Mickelson’s career and reputation with brands has always been stellar.

However that smoke on the gambling side could lead to some fire, according to an ESPN report on Monday.

Per USA Today’s For The Win…
“A report from ESPN’s Outside the Lines on Monday has linked golfer Phil Mickelson with a nearly $3 million sports-betting scheme with an “illegal gambling operation” based outside the United States. The report, which is based on court documents and various sources, notes that Mickelson has not been charged for his alleged involvement, but adds the man who reportedly handled his money pled guilty last week. A 56-year-old former sports gambling handicapper, acting as a conduit for an offshore gambling operation, pleaded guilty last week to laundering approximately $2.75 million of money that two sources told Outside the Lines belonged to Mickelson.

Gregory Silveira of La Quinta reached an agreement with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering of funds from an unnamed “gambling client” of his between February 2010 and February 2013. Sources familiar with the case said Mickelson, who was not named in court documents, is the unnamed “gambling client.” Silveira is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 5 before U.S. District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips and faces up to 60 years in prison, though the sentence will likely be far shorter.”

The reports come at an interesting time for golf, as a changing of the guard to a younger corps has helped revitalize the sport on the men’s side, and one reason, ironically, is because of the growth of pay fantasy golf which has gotten younger males more interested in a game they would not have cared for just a few years ago. While casual wagers have always been the norm around golf, large scale wagering tied to scandal has always been off in the distance. While there is no proof or statements on either side yet off of this morning’s report, it is worth watching especially as the sport head to The British Open, an event in a country where gaming is legal and accepted.

PokerStars’ “All-in Kitchen” Pop-up Restaurant Heads To Bristol

PokerStars’ second foray into the world of pop-up restauranteering will open in Bristol, UK, from July 27 and 29. And yes, while you might have imagined that a PokerStars pop-up had something to do with online advertising, it is, in fact, a poker-themed dining experience, a gambling-culinary mash-up, to promote the Bristol leg of the […]

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Mansion, BetVictor and Ladbrokes boost football sponsorship presence

Online gambling operator Mansion Group has inked a shirt sponsorship with football club AFC Bournemouth.

Bournemouth, which recently won promotion to the English Premier League, has agreed to feature the Mansion logo on its home, away and third jerseys, as well as on its training gear. Terms and duration of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the two brands plan to work together on a variety of commercial ventures and marketing activities.

Mansion CEO Sagi Lahav said the Cherries’ recent promotion mirrored his company’s “fundamental belief in hard work and perseverance.” Team commercial director Rob Mitchell celebrated the club’s “major commercial deal” with “one of the globe’s biggest names in the online betting and gaming industry.”

Gibraltar-based online gambling operator BetVictor recently announced it had signed on as EPL fixture Chelsea’s official global betting and gaming partner. The deal will allow BetVictor to offer special offers and markets for Chelsea matches and will see BetVictor’s logo slapped over much of Stamford Bridge stadium. The partners are also planning joint social media and digital campaigns through the coming EPL season.

Stafford's Victoria Park receives cash to develop plans for major revamp

Stafford Borough Council has been awarded A 190,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop plans for a major restoration of the historical features at the 100-year-old site. The park, which has been awarded the Green Flag for the last eight years, had its play area transformed in 2011 an enormous success with families and young people.