Tag Archives: igaming

‘Cheat’ Ivan Deyra stripped of Winamax title and ambassadorship

Winamax Pro Ivan Deyra has been dismissed as an ambassador and forced to pay back winnings after being exposed as a multi-accounting cheat.  

As reported by PokerNews today, French player Deyra, who won a World Series of Poker bracelet back in 2019, the year Hossein Ensan took the Main Event trophy, won over €83,000 in the recent Winamax Series by dishonest means.  

Deyra’s duplicity was exactly that. As discovered by French poker forum Club Poker in the aftermath of the event, Deyra busted from the tournament only to then use an account registered to his own father’s name to seal victory.  

So what was the clue that gave his game away? Well, given he’s a talented poker player, it’s not exactly a trick that Moriarty would be proud of and didn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure out. Having not played his Day 2 until using the account name ‘MATIVANAO’ to do so, forum members discovered that this pseudonym was put together using the Christian names of Deyra’s brothers and sisters. 

Hipther Agency partners with All-in Global for Live Interpreting at their Gaming Americas Quarterly Meetups in 2021

The team at Hipther Agency, organizers of the European Gaming & Gaming Americas Quarterly Meetups, are delighted to announce a new partnership with All-in Global, an awarded language solution provider dedicated to the iGaming, sports betting, Fintech, sports and eSports industry.

The world-recognized organizer will benefit from All-in Global’s professional services during the Gaming Americas Quarterly Meetups, specifically during the Latin American panel discussion that will offer the option for delegates to listen to the original content in Spanish or opt for the English Live Interpreted version.

All-in Global is an awarded language solution provider dedicated to the iGaming, sports betting, fintech, sports and esports industry. Their line-up of services includes localization, content creation, SEO and audiovisual solutions in over 80 languages so their clients can maximize on their offerings globally. They are currently working with approximately 300 companies, including game developers, operators, platform providers and affiliates. Everything they do is rooted in a passion for gaming and multilingual communication and driven by a genuine desire to make the industry more accessible and highly entertaining.

Tiago Aprigio,CEO at All-in Global, commented on the partnership: “The All-in Global partnership with the Hipther team will make sure that absolutely nothing gets lost in translation during the virtual Gaming Americas Quarterly meetups.

Bernstein analysts show support for digital yuan in Macau

A little less than two months ago, Bloomberg reported that it had insider information asserting that Macau might eventually move away from using the Hong Kong dollar as its base currency, opting, instead, to rely on China and the introduction of the digital yuan. = This announcement created waves in the gaming community, with mounting concern over the control China wanted to exert on the city – the possibility of Macau going the same direction as Hong Kong was more than a little unnerving. = Although Macau’s gambling regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ, for its Portuguese acronym), denied the Bloomberg report, there may be more to the story than what appears. Analysts with the Sanford C. Bernstein brokerage have spoken up and are asserting that a move to a digital yuan would be beneficial for Macau’s casinos in the long run.

The analysts issued a research report last Friday, explaining that a Chinese digital yuan as the central currency in Macau would help both the mass and premium-mass segments. The conclusion is based, in part, on China’s crackdown on cross-border payments and transactions, and the analysts believe that the use of the digital yuan would facilitate those payments, as well as appease Chinese authorities. China has been working harder than ever to crack down on gambling and illicit payment activity recently, and this isn’t going to stop anytime soon.

Bernstein analysts Vitaly Umansky and Tianjiao Yu said in the report, “[A digital yuan] would allow greater [Chinese] government scrutiny and control over money flows [and] it would also allow easier money transfer [and] eliminate the need to use intermediaries (like junkets, underground banks or pawnshops). Mass and premium-mass play could surely benefit due to ease of money flow.”

The fact that analysts are still allocating time and resources to the subject of the use of the digital yuan in Macau would indicate that the DICJ’s denial of the rumors might be misguided. There seems to definitely be some validity to the Bloomberg report and it’s very possible, given China’s recent stance on political control, that Macau might be expected to make changes when it comes time to issue new casino concessions next year. However, at this point, there has not been any solid evidence to support that idea.

NBA champ Shaquille O’Neal becomes PointsBet Ambassador

Shaquille O’Neal made a name for himself in the NBA, collecting four championship titles and three Finals MVP titles, along with a laundry list of other accomplishments. In a professional career that spanned 20 years, Shaq set himself apart as a scoring leader and, even after leaving the league, he wasn’t done staying in the spotlight. He has released four rap albums and has starred in two reality TV shows, and is also the manager of an eSports group in the NBA 2K League. Now, the 7’1” tower has added another accomplishment to the list by becoming a brand ambassador for Australia-based sports gambling operator PointsBet. 

Going forward, Aussies will see Shaq appear regularly in PointsBet’s marketing campaigns on TV and digital platforms, including social media. Often soft-spoken in interviews, unless he’s feeling especially energetic, O’Neal has stayed in the limelight over the years by becoming a keen business investor and aligning himself with a number of worthy causes. He has been a regular fixture in different basketball-themed video games over the years and even has his own, Shaq Fu, that was made available for Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. 

Because of his continued high-profile status, PointsBet decided to strike an agreement with him to be its brand ambassador in a deal for which the terms were not disclosed. Andrew Fahey, the company’s co-founder and chief marketing officer, said of Shaq, “Shaq is an iconic figure in the worlds of sports and entertainment and was our clear number one pick to represent the PointsBet brand in Australia. U.S. sports, particularly professional basketball, continue to be the fastest-growing betting sport in Australia, and we are very excited to align with such a transcendent athlete. Further, we are delighted that Mr. O’Neal has agreed to take part of his consideration in the form of equity in PointsBet, which underscores the alignment and trust across our teams and our shared belief in the opportunities ahead for PointsBet.”

PointsBet hasn’t made a name for itself only in Australia; it has a strong presence in the US and other countries, as well. In August of last year, its US footprint grew after it expanded its operations in New Jersey and added Indiana to the states it serves. It can also be found in Michigan, where it is partnered with the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL and the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. That wasn’t one of the six teams Shaq played for when he was on the court, but his involvement with the league and with PointsBet will certainly spill over. Shaq, always a man of few words, said of becoming an ambassador for the company, “The rise of responsible sports betting is really exciting, and I am so excited to join forces with PointsBet, the best-in-class partner in Australia when it comes to online sportsbooks.”

Massachusetts to allow casinos to reopen amid new COVID-19 issues

Recent reports have shown that Massachusetts might be facing a new COVID-19 dilemma. The new strain of the coronavirus that is said to be more contagious than its predecessor has landed in the state, but public tension is reaching a boiling point. As of today, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is removing the 9:30 PM curfew that was put in place last November, which is good news for casinos. They will now be able to operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, unless things get out of hand and COVID-19 makes a massive return.

Since November 6, Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park have been shoving gamblers out the doors dutifully every day at 9:30 PM. The casino revenue in Massachusetts dropped significantly last year before dropping even more when the gambling properties were forced to reduce their capacities to just 25% on December 26. That led to two, Encore and MGM, shutting down their hotels and the results of those actions continues to be felt today. 

Baker is now hopeful that people will be responsible enough to follow necessary social distancing guidelines to allow commercial activity to resume. In addition to casinos, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and more are now allowed to resume normal operations, with Baker explaining, We all know that we are not out of the woods yet by any means. But things do appear to be getting a bit better here in Massachusetts. These have been long and hard days for everybody. But our hospital system was able to continue to provide medical care for residents.”

For the brief time that gamblers had been able to return to casinos across the U.S. last year, in between mandatory prolonged restrictions, many gambling venues enjoyed a sudden uptick in revenue that was greater than what they had seen while operating at full capacity. That led to the conclusion that there had been serious pent-up demand for gambling during the various lockdowns and Massachusetts is most likely hopeful that the same trend will be seen now. By reopening its commercial scene and allowing businesses to return to normal, the state is likely to see a surge of consumer activity, which will help it begin the post-COVID-19 recovery process and return to normal.

New York City Mayor Odds: Andrew Yang beating conventional opponents

Andrew Yang might seem like an unlikely mayor for New York City, but the odds, and consistent polling, suggest that he could very well pull it off. Odds from Bodog continue to suggest he’s the favorite to win election come November, 2021.

The former U.S. Presidential Candidate, known for mostly for his offer of a Universal Basic Income (UBI), but also taking stances on loot boxes and digital currency, has thus far held onto an early led in polling and odds. December polls suggested Yang joined the race in the lead, thanks to name recognition, and door-to-door campaigning has helped extend that lead, while his competitors stay at home and ask for votes over Zoom.

The question is if any of the other candidates can label Yang as an inauthentic New Yorker and knock him out of the race. Former New York State Senator Eric Adams is second in the odds and polls. Adams has spent his whole life in NYC, and whereas Yang’s campaign speaks more to economic equality, Adams’ emphasizes racial equality and ending police brutality.

The Manhattan option is Scott Stringer, former NYC Comptroller, running in a close 3rd place. Stringer’s website promotes all of the establishment endorsements he’s gathered, and has a few left leaning, but fairly boring, promises (at least when it comes to NYC politics).

IPI makes good on employee backpay, but still owes more

The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) determined that Imperial Pacific International (IPI) needed to take an unscheduled break from work on the Imperial Palace casino in Saipan since it wasn’t able to comply with its obligations. The revelation that it had continued to avoid paying its employees for months on end didn’t sit well with regulators or government officials, and IPI was ordered to come up with all the backpay it owed to its employees or face more serious problems. The casino operator has been able to find some money, but it may not be enough to keep it out of trouble.

IPI has faced numerous accusations on a variety of topics, including questionable construction habits, inability to pay government fees and gross negligence for not paying employees while forcing them to live in substandard conditions. That last issue caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), which petitioned the CNMI courts to hold IPI accountable for creating a humanitarian crisis. The court agreed, but IPI has, somehow, managed to suddenly pull money out of somewhere to pay its employees. 

The Guam Daily Post reports that employees have received back pay for “periods 21 to 26,” according to IPI attorney Michael Dotts. This covers part of the outstanding obligation, but there is reportedly more due, with IPI having to come up with a total of just over $3.36 million in wages. It isn’t clear where IPI found the money or why, if it was able to come up with cash that quickly, it didn’t manage its employees’ obligations sooner. It’s also not clear why the company felt it necessary to deprive its workers of certain basic needs, such as electricity and water. 

CNMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona had ordered IPI to halt its operations due to the ongoing employee issues and the DOL request. She asserted that the company and its chairperson, Cui Li Jie, were in contempt of court and IPI will be back in court later this week to give the judge an update. Depending on how that goes, Saipan’s Imperial Palace casino may continue to suffer from its work stoppage, making it unlikely that IPI would be able to complete phase one construction by the end of next month as previously expected.

Silver Heritage gets new board members as it tries to recover

Australia’s Silver Heritage has been working diligently for the past year to try to avoid bankruptcy. Last May, it brought in KPMG to put all of its operations under a microscope and it didn’t take long before the powerhouse determined some of the initial changes that needed to be made. Fast-forward to 2021 and KPMG is assisting with a transition that puts new board directors in place at Silver Heritage, with the hope that they will be able to steer the company to prosperity.

Amanda Coneyworth and Ryan Eagle were assigned by KPMG to lead the charge at Silver Heritage and they delivered an announcement to the Australian Security Exchange (ASX) last Friday, describing the results of some of their efforts. Following the approval of a takeover bid last November submitted by HatchAsia, Silver Heritage’s former board of directors, including former CEO Mike Bolsover, Chairman Matthew Hunter and fellow director Darryl Kaplan, is out and a new board of directors is in. Now taking charge are six new directors, including Kirk A. Arambulo, Rafael Jose D. Consing, Jr., Ramon C. Garcia, Jr., Rodney Hall, Ross Keeling Jackes and James Campbell Edwards.

Arambulo is currently the president and CEO of HatchAsia, while Garcia is an executive director of DFNN, HatchAsia’s parent company. Consing is the senior VP and chief financial officer of a company founded by Bloomberry Resorts Corp. chairman and CEO Enrique Razon, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. The transition was made possible following a formal change of deed in Silver Heritage’s charter and all control has been given to the new directors, according to KPMG’s announcement. 

What lies ahead for Silver Heritage isn’t clear and there will undoubtedly be a lot of movement happening internally. The new board had already begun to dig in and figure out the best course of action late last year, but now have the legal backing to make any changes. One possibility that has been on the table for years is the possible sale of the company, or, at a minimum, parts of its operations; however, the new board might want to see if it can make the company competitive again before it throws in the towel.

Super Bowl LV duel set after Conference champs advance

It’s now down to just two teams in the NFL, both ready to fight in Super Bowl LV to determine who will be crowned champions of an odd, but successful, season. The Green Bay Packers hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yesterday while the Buffalo Bills traveled to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs for the Conference Championship Games and, although the inclement weather that had been forecast never appeared, all four teams created some storms of their own. In two weeks, football fans will gather around the TV to watch two of the greatest quarterbacks in the league battle it out.

The Buccaneers were underdogs heading into the NFC Championship Game yesterday, with the Packers getting only a slight advantage. However, quarterback Tom Brady continues to show why he could be the greatest NFL passer of all time, leading a methodic offense that chipped away at Green Bay’s defense from the start of the game. Brady, at 43 years old, is headed to a Super Bowl for his tenth time after giving the Packers a 31-26 loss yesterday and will add yet another record to his long list of accomplishments. Tampa Bay is going to be the first NFL team ever to play in a Super Bowl in its own stadium. 

For all his talent and skills, Brady can’t take all of the credit for yesterday’s win. He may have thrown for 280 yards and three touchdowns, but if it weren’t for the abilities of players like running back Leonard Fournette, with his Harry Houdini-style escapes, Brady wouldn’t have gotten very far. As it was, the Packers started to mount a comeback in the second half, forcing Brady to throw three interceptions as Green Bay and quarterback Aaron Rodgers added three touchdowns to their score. It wasn’t enough, though, and the Bucs’ defense did its job and held off the rally. 

There was a time that NFL fans doubted whether or not the Chiefs would have another Super Bowl appearance. But then, the 2020 season started and all doubts were removed. Kansas City dominated almost every game since Week 1 and, with some impressive offensive moves guided by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, secured a return to the big game yesterday after defeating the Bills.

Indian lobbyists push for skill gaming regulator

India’s skill gaming industry is lobbying for standardized regulations, giving fantasy sports, rummy and poker operators a more consistent ruleset to work with throughout the country. They are pushing for the NITI Aayog, a government-think tank, to go a step further and set the industry up for a more stable future.

In December, NITI Aayog put forward draft guidelines for a Fantasy Sports regulator, citing the need to supervise and support a booming industry. Now, several other segments of the skill-gaming industry want in on the deal.

Sameer Barde, CEO of The Online Rummy Federation, doesn’t see why his game should be left out. “It is a brilliant move to have fair regulations for the online skill gaming industry in India… But at the same time, it is paramount to understand that fantasy games are only a part of the entire skill gaming industry. There is an equal, if not a larger need, to regulate the broader skill gaming industry.”

Games24x7, which develops rummy, fantasy sports and other ‘casual games,’ takes a similar view. “NITI Aayog should take a more forward-looking view and recommend a framework for all games of skill,” said Bhavin Pandya, co-founder and CEO. “Fantasy is one game of skill, and while distinctions have been made in the media between fantasy and other games of skill, the judgements which rule that fantasy is a game of skill are based on the 1996 Supreme Court judgement which rules horseracing and rummy to be games of skill… In law, there is no distinction between fantasy sports and any other game of skill.”

F.A. Cup 4th Round Review

After an entertaining weekend of football, the F.A. Cup provided some shocks, some goal-packed games and more than one count of controversy as Liverpool, Arsenal and Fulham all crashed out in the 4th Round.

With a five-goal thriller at Old Trafford, a comeback win for The Foxes and The Saints defeating The Gunners, there was no end of drama in a great round of F.A. Cup action.

Southampton 1-0 Arsenal

While Wolverhampton Wanderers kicked off the action on Friday night, their tame 1-0 dismissal of non-league Chorley was not the cup cracker most fans craved. Any neutrals hoping for a spellbinding tie at St. Mary’s may not have been as disappointed, with the home side in good form and playing a strong side.

Seven poker quotes about self-improvement to inspire you

Poker can often take more perspiration that inspiration to become a success at, but some words of wisdom can set you up for a winning run. From champions to Hollywood actors, we’ve plucked out seven great poker quotes to help you kick off your week at the felt in style.

1. “Life, like poker, has an element of risk. It shouldn’t be avoided. It should be faced.”

Great words here from the star of Rounders, Ed Norton, who played Worm in the movie and constantly wriggled off the hook. Both Edward Norton and Matt Damon may have been stacked when they played the 1998 WSOP Main Event, but while Damon went down with kings against aces (Doyle Brunson doing the damage), Ed Norton lost with a full house against quads! This interview with the pair in Las Vegas the year that Rounders came out is quite revealing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdob9ckPdroVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Matt Damon and Edward Norton Playing Poker | World Series of Poker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdob9ckPdro)

Chance Kornuth concedes Galfond Challenge after 25,400 hands

The latest development in the Galfond Challenge is, unfortunately, the final one when it comes to the Chance Kornuth match against the host, Phil Galfond. That’s because, after 25,400 of the 35,000-hand challenge, Kornuth decided to concede the challenge, with his losses standing at $726,500 at this stage of the contest.

For many poker fans, this will come as something of a disappointment, with Kornuth arguably causing Galfond more problems than anyone in the Galfond Challenge legacy. While he didn’t get as close as ‘VeniVidi’ to taking money off the ever-impressive Galfond, Kornuth certainly provide his PLO (Pot Limit Omaha) chops and deserves a lot of credit.

As you might expect – or certainly hope – Kornuth has received some high praise from the poker fraternity after he revealed that the challenge was over, saying on Twitter:

“I’ve decided to concede the challenge . Congrats to Phil Galfond on another #GalfondChallenge Victory. It was an incredibly fun battle even though I lost. Going to take a few days with friends and family and share more about my experience in the weeks to come on Chip Leader Coaching.”

Macau lawmaker believes the DICJ is too cozy with casino operators

A Legislative Assembly member in Macau believes the city’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ, for its Portuguese acronym) is too cozy with Macau’s casino operators. It would be hard not to have a close relationship, since the DICJ works with the six entities work on almost a daily basis, but José Pereira Coutinho thinks it goes beyond maintaining a necessary working connection. He accuses the DICJ of “permanent collusion” with the casino operators. 

Coutinho wants Ho Iat Seng, Macau’s chief executive, to step in and play a bigger role in the DICJ’s operations, at least as far as some activity is concerned. He feels that casinos have too much leeway when it comes to how they treat their employees and that the DICJ is, directly or indirectly, facilitating their ability to pressure staff into resigning to avoid being fired. A portion of that group of employees includes former nonresident casino workers who now just “drift about the streets of the city, some asking for money to buy food, and others asking for support from local associations,” according to a statement made by the legislator. 

There are also “systematic abuses” going on that the government knows about, but of which it has no interest in curtailing, explains Coutinho. He adds, “Incredibly, the government is aware of these situations, but it does not act in time to alleviate the suffering of the workers made redundant… One cannot understand why the competent authorities in the area of the Secretariat for Economy and Finance close their eyes to these systematic abuses as if they had nothing to do with their professional skills, obligations, and responsibilities. The abuses practiced by some gambling concessionaires have been widely denounced … [but] the competent authorities, out of stubbornness, do not intervene and are not even interested in knowing.”

It isn’t clear what the legislator bases his accusations on, but there is mounting concern that some businesses in Macau aren’t taking their employee responsibility issues seriously enough. A report surfaced earlier this week that one satellite casino, which is tied to an unidentified casino operator, has been strongarming some employees into taking early retirement so it can avoid looking like a bad guy. It has also resorted to threatening them if they don’t comply. However, there has been no indication that the DICJ had previous knowledge of the activity before it was revealed to Macau’s Labour Affairs Bureau. Macau is getting a new Legislative Assembly this year, just ahead of the introduction of new casino concessions, currently expected to happen next year, and new gaming regulations. The COVID-19 situation has forced the city to take a closer look at its long-term economic and financial goals, and it would appear that the stage is being set for major changes in the local gaming market.

Russia’s central bank targets online gambling in latest crackdown

Online gaming operators serving gamblers in Russia might consider treading very lightly. The country’s central bank is reportedly targeting the online gaming segment with new controls that make it difficult for gamblers to cash out or place wagers and, while the bank’s end game isn’t totally clear, there are plenty of plausible theories. Given the fact that gamblers have lost access to virtually all online gambling-related payment channels, except for Bitcoin (BTC), there seems to be a definite and concrete plan unfolding. 

Inside Asian Gaming reported on some news coming out of the Russian business media source The Bell, which indicates that the country’s central bank is looking to thwart illegal online casinos and sportsbooks that are accessible in Russia. The past couple of months have seen a number of payment solutions, such as Qiwi and Yoo.Money, that have had their ability to send or receive cross-border transactions completely blocked, and ten financial and payment solution companies have reportedly been fined. Others, including Fintekh and Onego, have seen Russian authorities cancel their business licenses.

The Bell reportedly did a little undercover investigative work and was able to confirm that it is now possible to place bets with some of the largest online casinos only with BTC, not with any other payment method. The news source tested its theory on Admiral777, Gaminator and JoyCasino and, at all three, no Russian bank-issued cards (the test included cards from Sberbank and Tinkoff) or online payment solutions were accepted, only BTC. 

This is an interesting development for several reasons, including the fact that there have been rumors of Russia considering a switch to crypto in order to thwart international sanctions. In addition, given the fact that crypto is nowhere near as anonymous as some would like everyone to believe, it is plausible that authorities will be able to track the source of transactions to determine where crypto can be found in the country. Since crypto addresses can be traced, it also becomes a great way for Russia to uncover any other platforms casino operators may have attempted to launch under the radar. The country might be attempting to destroy an underground online gambling market that is said to be worth well over $20 billion annually.

Trump Plaza implosion countdown begins, new auction on the table

Everything is moving forward for Trump Plaza to finally be erased from the Atlantic City’s skyline. The casino has sat vacant for almost seven years and there’s virtually nothing that can prevent it from being imploded next month. The crumbling building is part of a larger legacy that is coming to an end and, even as D-day for the implosion approached, the property was not without controversy. An auction to award the rights to push the big red button to trigger the explosives was pulled at the last minute, but a new auction is now taking its place.

It might seem apropos to some that Wednesday, February 17 marks the day Trump Plaza turns into dust. That day also marks Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent that symbolizes the Christian belief that all humans came from dust. It also marks the end of former U.S. President Trump’s foray into the gambling business, which has effectively been dead for years. 

Atlantic City has tried for the past couple of years to have the casino razed, but found resistance from its current owner at almost every turn. Carl Icahn, the billionaire casino investor, purchased the property in 2016, but was never able to formulate a solvent plan to see the property come back to life. Icahn has been a strong supporter of Trump over the years, but will now say goodbye to the last bastion of the former president’s once-thriving empire. 

In preparation for the implosion, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small created a campaign last month to benefit the city’s local Boys & Girls Club chapter. An auction would be held that would allow the highest bidder to trigger the explosion, but someone in Icahn’s group decided, just as the auction was coming to an end, that there were “safety concerns” that forced the event to be canceled. With it, the $175,000 highest bid that would have gone to the non-profit organization was lost. 

Betting business in CIS countries and laws adopted in 2020

This is a guest contribution by Dmitry Marketing Manager of Inbet Games. If you would like to submit a contribution please contact Bill Beatty for submission details. Thank you.

The popularity of betting business increased substantially within the territory of CIS countries. The betting companies will always bring income to their founders due to demand on the gambling market and possibility of acquisition of customers of various categories. This is proved by the official studies of experts in the economic area and gradual legalization of gambling business in many countries. In all cases success is based upon the choice of reliable software, customer-oriented approach and consideration of lines distinguishing the bookmakers’ facilities from the other competitors.

High revenues and continuous flow of betters attract the tax services and competent authorities of the countries, resulting in the implementation of new draft legislations. According to the European practice, the deductions from the bookmakers’ facilities increase the federal budget substantially and enable to raise new investment opportunities into the sports sector of certain country.

The legislative innovations

NFL Conference Championship Games offer awesome gambling options

Just two days from now, the NFL will settle the argument of who are the best teams in the AFC and NFC this year. The Conference Championship Games are coming this Sunday and the last four teams standing in the league this season now have everything they worked for all season on the line. There were some definite upsets along the way, which had sports gamblers more than a little upset, but it’s time to focus on what is going to happen this weekend. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers get the show rolling on Sunday when they take to the gridiron to determine the NFC winner. This is going to be a rematch of Week 6, when the two teams last met. However, no one should expect the Bucs to have things too easy. In that game, the Packers came out strong, scoring ten unanswered points in the first quarter before being shut down by the Bucs the rest of the game. Tampa Bay went on to win 38-10, but this is going to be a different ballgame. 

The Bucs are looking at possibly taking the field without wide receivers Antonio Brown and Mike Evans, as well as running back Ronald Jones. These three, and a few others, are being closely watched to see if they’ll be ready for the big game. On the other side, the Packers have a healthy squad with no one sitting out, although several key players are taking it easy this week. Bodog and other sportsbooks give the Packers the advantage, with Bodog listing them as -180 against the Bucs’ +160. The spread is only 3.5 (-105) in favor of the Pack, while the Over/Under of 51.5 would seem to indicate that this is going to be a battle. With potentially bad weather in Green Bay coming this weekend, this could end up being a real snowball game. 

The Kansas City Chiefs have already proven themselves under head coach Andy Reid. The team has now gone to three consecutive AFC championship games, using last year’s contest as a springboard to a Super Bowl win. This time, they’re facing the Buffalo Bills and the big question on most people’s minds is whether or not Patrick Mahomes will be able to lead the Chiefs to another Super Bowl appearance. The answer is, maybe. 

Imperial Palace construction to stop after IPI found in contempt

Ray N. Yumul has to know what he’s getting into as he prepares to become the next CEO of Imperial Pacific International (IPI). The former senator in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is reportedly set to take the helm as soon as all the T’s are crossed and the I’s dotted, but will have his work cut out for him moving forward. IPI never seems to get out from under the blanket of controversy surrounding its Imperial Palace casino in Saipan, and a new court order has been handed down for IPI to bring almost all of its operations to a grinding and sudden halt. According to the Saipan Tribune, the company has been held in contempt of court following the latest salvo against it, this one coming from the US Department of Labor (DOL).

IPI hasn’t been able to properly pay its employees for months, a serious flaw that led the DOJ to view the employees’ current situation as a humanitarian crisis solely caused by IPI’s inability to put its affairs in order. Employees have gone months without receiving pay and, according to the complaint against IPI, have been forced to live in squalor after the company cut off their access to basic necessities such as food, electricity and water. The DOL asked CNMI Chief Judge Ramona Manglona to intervene, and she now has. The judge has ordered IPI to stop all construction on Imperial Palace, as well as to halt all of its operations, with the exception of those tied to payroll and security. 

Judge Manglona agreed with the DOL that the company, as well as chairman Cui Li Jie, should be held in contempt of court. However, Cui avoided being arrested, as per the judge’s earlier threat, after he showed up in court to participate in the DOL hearing. Donald Browne, IPI’s former CEO who had also been under threat of arrest, seems to have avoided the judge’s wrath, as well. Browne just relinquished his position last month, paving the way for Yumul to be considered for the unstable position.

IPI will have to take a break for a week, according to Judge Manglona’s order, after which she will expect a new update from the company. That update is expected to show that IPI has finally been able to comply with the sanctions that led to the contempt of court claims, or if the company can show that it has compensated all of its workforce for the five missing payrolls that are due. IPI will also have to show that it has been able to give its employees acceptable living conditions.