Monthly Archives: March 2015

Quebec shuts doors on international online gambling, opens window for Amaya

The Canadian province of Quebec plans to implement IP-blocking of internationally licensed online gambling sites, unless those sites obtain waivers from the provincial gambling regulator.

Quebec’s Finance Minister Carlos Leitäo dropped his province’s 2015-16 budget plan on Thursday, which includes changes to the Consumer Protection Act and laws governing gambling. The government plans to introduce a legislative amendment that would require the province’s internet service providers to block “illegal” online gambling sites.

This “illegal website filtering measure” is intended to boost revenue at Espace-jeux, the online gambling site of provincial monopoly Loto-Quebec. The site has struggled to gain headway against internationally licensed sites, capturing only 10% of the province’s estimated $250m online market. The government expects to reap an additional $13.5m in the first year that IP-blocking is implemented and an additional $27m in each year that follows.

The first mention of these blocking plans came in November when Leitäo said he’d discussed the matter with his counterpart in Ontario, with the idea of eventually instituting a Canada-wide blocking program. However, a nationwide system would require federal politicians to revise Canada’s Criminal Code.

Stratosphere parent grows revenue, reverses net loss

The operator of the Stratosphere and the two Arizona Charlie’s properties reversed a net loss and grew revenue in the fourth quarter. American Casino & Entertainment Properties said Thursday its net income of $200,000 for the quarter that ended Dec. 31 reversed a net loss of $2.8 million for the same period a year ago.

One more reason state lotteries are a ticket to nowhere

A customer at a convenience store in Clemmons, N.C., purchases a lottery ticket March 6. Legislation being considered by the North Carolina General Assembly would give winners of significant lottery cash prizes the option of remaining anonymous. All but six states now rely on profits from lotteries for as much as 8 percent of their official revenue.

IGT launches First Video Poker Interstate Jackpot Pool Game

International Gaming Technology (IGT) has partnered with the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino to launch its first video poker interstate jackpot pool game for Nevada and New Jersey players.

Players in Nevada and New Jersey, the first two states to offer the WAP link, can now try their luck at Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and Atlantic City and contribute to the same jackpot pool for greater payout potential. The two properties will celebrate SuperTimes Pay Poker Mega Progressive with a casino player event, featuring merchandise giveaways and free play on March 28-29.

“The debut of SuperTimes Pay Poker Mega Progressive is a huge milestone for IGT and we are thrilled to collaborate with our long-time partner, Golden Nugget. said Joe Sigrist, IGT VP of Global Product Development & Operations. “The game further builds on our pioneering spirit to develop best-in-class WAP products as well as the Company’s leading position in the video poker segment. Las Vegas and Atlantic City are poker powerhouses, making them ideal markets to offer our most innovative poker product to date.”

Golden Nugget Atlantic City Executive Vice President and General Manager  also commented: “IGT is our trusted provider of proven poker games, and we are thrilled to offer video poker’s first interstate Wide Area Progressive. The installation of SuperTimes Pay Poker Mega Progressive to our floors allows us to further benefit from IGT’s advanced technology and transform our video poker player experience with a new avenue for larger jackpot potential.  IGT is changing the landscape of video poker gaming, and we’re excited to be on the forefront of such a significant moment.”

Adelson-Backed Online Gambling Bill Splits GOP At Hearing

After months of delays, a controversial bill to ban online gambling received a hearing from a House Judiciary subcommittee on Wednesday, pushing it closer to a vote that may divide the GOP and test Republicans’ loyalties to one of the party’s biggest donors. The Restore America’s Wire Act , or RAWA, would impose a federal ban on all Internet gambling, including online state lotteries and poker.

Plan to ban instant horse racing in Idaho heads to governor

The state House voted Thursday to repeal a law allowing roughly 200 slot-like betting machines in Idaho and sent the measure to the governor even though the state’s faltering horse racing industry says the bill would put it out of business. House lawmakers voted 49-21 to repeal the 2013 law approving the horse racing machines.

Former University of Toledo players get probation for point-shaving scandal

Two former University of Toledo basketball players have been sentenced to probation in light of a point-shaving scandal that rocked the school 10 years ago. Sammy Villegas and Anton Currie received their sentences earlier this week after admitting to their involvement in the case in federal court. Villegas and Currie are two of seven former members of the Toledo Rockets, including three former football players, who will be sentenced this spring.

The two former players admitted that they received thousands of dollars from a local gambling kingpin, identified as Ghazi “Gary” Manni, in exchange for throwing away games when they were members of the team. Villegas reportedly received anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000 from 2004 to 2006 while Currie accepted $1,000 and $2,000 in cash and groceries.

An investigation was eventually opened about the case and when it appeared that he could face as much as 30 months in prison under sentencing guidelines if found guilty, Villegas pre-emptively acted, pleading guilty to conspiracy in 2008 and helping the FBI in their investigation.

The former player also admitted in court that he received $300 to $400 from Manni after a fixed Toledo game. In a separate incident, Villegas came clean that he intentionally missed two free throws late in one game against Central Michigan to manipulate score, which ended up being a 78-62 win over the Chippewas.

Florida debates gambling as big players lay down their bets

A bill to create two casino gambling “destination resorts” in south Florida divided the Republican-controlled statehouse on Thursday, with the expansion of craps, slot machines and high-stakes gaming opposed by family-oriented tourist attractions. Casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp is lobbying for the resorts, supported by many leaders in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas, where they would be built.

The Annual iGaming North America Conference is back this April

iGaming North America (iGNA), an event designed to introduce U.S. land-based gambling companies to the global online gambling industry, kicks off in just a few weeks in good old Las Vegas.

The 2015 iGaming North America, which will be held at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, Las Vegas on April 14-16,  marks the fifth year of this networking and educational event.

The conference will host a number of important seminars, with many of them touching on one of the hottest issues in the online gambling industry including new products—social casino games and fantasy sports. There will be panelists from companies such as Amaya, 888, IGT, and more.

iGNA will also examine payment issues in the igaming world, the state of individual states such as New Jersey and Nevada, and more. There will also sportsbetting panelists such as Don Best and Senator Lesniak .

Bernard Marantelli of Colossus Bets on Innovation

Rebecca Liggero talks to Bernard Marantelli, Founder and CEO of Colossus Bets. He talks about the difference between how to innovate in one of these large big established gambling companies versus more of a start-up style gambling company.

Marantelli has over two decades of gambling experience and has built and run successful betting strategies across multiple platforms, betting predominantly on exchanges and totes. He is a world leader in multi-leg pool bets and has used his experience of all the strengths and weaknesses of the current products to build Colossus Bets, home of the world’s largest pool, the £10,000,000 Colossus.

Colossus Bets CEO described the difference of innovation between big gambling company versus start-ups. “The complexity in the big firm is to get buy-in across the components of the firm that really need to buy-in and given enough momentum and ownership to get forward and i think in the start-up environment, mostly the idea starts with one person and the best you need to convince one or two founding fund to go forward to so I say it’s a lot easier to get a consensus in a small group than in a big organization across many business areas,” said Marantelli

Watch the video to hear more from Bernard Marantelli

March Madness 2015: Kentucky moves one step closer to perfect season

The University of Kentucky’s dream to become the first undefeated NCAA men’s basketball team since the 1975-1976 Indiana Hoosiers is drawing closer and closer to reality. The Wildcats are sharpening their claws at the perfect time, too, after trashing 5 seed West Virginia, 78-39, in their Sweet 16 encounter. Do the math on that final score and you’ll realize that Kentucky literally doubled-up on the outmatched Mountaineers, booking it place in the Elite Eight where it now meets 3 seed Notre Dame in the regional championships.

It’s still a little too early to crown Kentucky as the champion, but every time they play, they’ve certainly made me look foolish for not hopping on that bandwagon yet. Even being -13 favorites against West Virginia, the Wildcats just dominated the game from the get-go, racing to a 44-18 first half lead on the back of a dominant defense and a composed three-guard attack led by the Harrison twins and Trey Lyles. Kentucky even pulled off this spanking despite poor performances from their star-studded front line. If that isn’t a sign that beating Kentucky means more than just shutting down Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns, then I fear for the rest of the teams that the Wildcats will face moving forward.

In the other Sweet 16 games, 3 seed Notre Dame continued its basketball resurgence by disposing 7 seed Wichita State, 81-70, despite the Shockers closing as -2 favorites. It’s another example of a high seed not getting the proper respect they deserve. The game was actually tight early in the second half, but Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey made the necessary adjustments –  that or he simply talked to his kids – because Notre Dame took over from there, finishing off the usually stingy Shockers with 48 second-half points on the back of 75% shooting from the field.

Meanwhile, 1 seed Wisconsin made good on its status by taking out 4 seed North Carolina with yet another comeback win to secure a date with 2 seed Arizona in the Elite Eight. Like its past games in the tourney, the Badger found themselves needing to mount a comeback to advance and once again, Wisconsin stormed back, pushing ahead of a North Carolina team that looked as if it simply ran out of gas in the end. It got a little hairy at the end, too, as Wisconsin somehow managed to cover the -6 spread on free throws, robbing Tar Heel fans and bettors a chance for the double-victory.