Monthly Archives: January 2016

Casino workers call for pay hike amid Macau’s bleak gaming performance

A labor group in Macau is pressing for salary hike for casino employees, despite the casino industry’s ongoing lackluster performance.

Choi Kam Fu, director general of the Macau Gaming Enterprises Staff’s Association, told local media the group has teamed up with two other unions representing casino workers. Together, they will deliver letters “calling for salary increases and bonuses in 2016” to the six casino operators in the city state.

Public broadcaster TDM quoted Choi saying: “The expenditures on the welfare of the staff do not occupy a large portion of the overall operational costs. Some only make up around 10 percent. Based on the adjustment, the expenditures would not draw too much pressure.”

GGRAsia reported that Wynn Macau Ltd. has already announced that employees of Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace will get a one-month bonus ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday period, which starts on February 7. According to the report, which quoted local media outlets, 98 percent of Wynn’s 8,000 employees, excluding senior management, will get the bonus.

Bing predicts which NCAA basketball team will make it to March Madness

Do you want to know if your NCAA basketball team will make it to March Madness? Microsoft’s Bing Predicts can help you.

March Madness is still a couple of months away but it’s never too early to prepare for Microsoft as it launched its Bing Predicts’ new “Are We In” college basketball tool.

AreWeIn.net gives college basketball fans some daily updated predictions such as team’s probability of making the tournament, what the team will be seeded, how it will finish, and its conference standings.

According to ESPN College Basketball Analyst Jay Williams, Bing Predicts will take a look at the historical statistics to see which factors contribute to strong teams who make the tournament either automatically or as an at-large bid. Predictions are based data such as team’s strength of schedule, opponents’ win/lose record, and detailed statistical analysis regarding their on-court tendencies such as ball control, rebounding and field-goal percentage.  And since predictions are also subject to changes, it would also add web activity and social sentiment to tune the strengths, capturing real-time information like injuries and line-up changes.

Bing predicts which NCAA basketball team will make it to March Madness

Do you want to know if your NCAA basketball team will make it to March Madness? Microsoft’s Bing Predicts can help you.

March Madness is still a couple of months away but it’s never too early to prepare for Microsoft as it launched its Bing Predicts’ new “Are We In” college basketball tool.

AreWeIn.net gives college basketball fans some daily updated predictions such as team’s probability of making the tournament, what the team will be seeded, how it will finish, and its conference standings.

According to ESPN College Basketball Analyst Jay Williams, Bing Predicts will take a look at the historical statistics to see which factors contribute to strong teams who make the tournament either automatically or as an at-large bid. Predictions are based data such as team’s strength of schedule, opponents’ win/lose record, and detailed statistical analysis regarding their on-court tendencies such as ball control, rebounding and field-goal percentage.  And since predictions are also subject to changes, it would also add web activity and social sentiment to tune the strengths, capturing real-time information like injuries and line-up changes.

South African cricket to be hit by match-fixing scandal

History repeat itself as South African cricket is about to be rocked by another huge match fixing scandal.

A former South African cricketer, who has yet to be named, has been charged with corruption involving match-fixing and could face jail time under the South African law, reported The Telegraph.

On November 6‚ Cricket South Africa (CSA) said they were conducting an investigation involving an international syndicate, which attempted to corrupt cricket in South Africa.

In December 2015, CSA confirmed that its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit had charged an “intermediary” under its Anti-Corruption Code for contriving to “fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects of last year’s Ram Slam T20 Challenge.

South African cricket to be hit by match-fixing scandal

History repeat itself as South African cricket is about to be rocked by another huge match fixing scandal.

A former South African cricketer, who has yet to be named, has been charged with corruption involving match-fixing and could face jail time under the South African law, reported The Telegraph.

On November 6‚ Cricket South Africa (CSA) said they were conducting an investigation involving an international syndicate, which attempted to corrupt cricket in South Africa.

In December 2015, CSA confirmed that its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit had charged an “intermediary” under its Anti-Corruption Code for contriving to “fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects of last year’s Ram Slam T20 Challenge.

Police to scrutinize phone video in Brooklyn gang rape case

Four teenagers were in custody on Monday in connection with the incident, and a fifth w… The family of a 12-year-old girl accidentally shot by a constable serving eviction papers does not blame the law officer for her death or have “any hard feelings toward him,” a member of the girl’s extended… The family of a 12-year-old girl accidentally shot by a constable serving eviction papers does not blame the law officer for her death or have “any hard feelings toward him,” a member of the girl’s extended family said… New York City police say they’re looking for video evidence on three cellphones seized from teen boys suspected in the gang rape of an 18-year-old Brooklyn woman.

Police to scrutinize phone video in Brooklyn gang rape case

Four teenagers were in custody on Monday in connection with the incident, and a fifth w… The family of a 12-year-old girl accidentally shot by a constable serving eviction papers does not blame the law officer for her death or have “any hard feelings toward him,” a member of the girl’s extended… The family of a 12-year-old girl accidentally shot by a constable serving eviction papers does not blame the law officer for her death or have “any hard feelings toward him,” a member of the girl’s extended family said… New York City police say they’re looking for video evidence on three cellphones seized from teen boys suspected in the gang rape of an 18-year-old Brooklyn woman.

Becky’s Affiliated: How “sportifying” poker will increase acceptance and popularity with Patrick Nally

The gambling industry has seen a number of initiatives to “sportify” poker but the question still remains if any of the attempts will succeed.  We’ve heard from Alex Dreyfus of the Global Poker League on his plans to grow poker’s popularity worldwide and now Patrick Nally of Match Poker is entering a similar arena.

Match Poker is a “team sport” based on Texas Hold’em, but in this case, team members are split onto different tables, with one player from each team placed in the different seat positions.  Tables are dealt the same cards via mobile devices, meaning every player in seat one has the same cards and the same goes for seats two, three and so on.  After every hand, the chip count for each team is tallied and points are allocated, the stack is re-set and the next hand begins.  The team with the most points at the end is the winner, making Match Poker a true game of skill as the elements of chance are eliminated.

Poker as a spectator sport is a concept yet to be proven, but Nally who has years of experience in sports marketing believes the opportunity for Match Poker is huge.  To find out why he feels so strongly, I spoke with Nally about Match Poker and brought up some issues likely crossing the minds of skeptical poker enthusiasts.

Becky Liggero: Thank you for joining me today, Patrick.  People say the poker industry as we know it is dying…why do you think the future is so bright for Match Poker?

Becky’s Affiliated: How “sportifying” poker will increase acceptance and popularity with Patrick Nally

The gambling industry has seen a number of initiatives to “sportify” poker but the question still remains if any of the attempts will succeed.  We’ve heard from Alex Dreyfus of the Global Poker League on his plans to grow poker’s popularity worldwide and now Patrick Nally of Match Poker is entering a similar arena.

Match Poker is a “team sport” based on Texas Hold’em, but in this case, team members are split onto different tables, with one player from each team placed in the different seat positions.  Tables are dealt the same cards via mobile devices, meaning every player in seat one has the same cards and the same goes for seats two, three and so on.  After every hand, the chip count for each team is tallied and points are allocated, the stack is re-set and the next hand begins.  The team with the most points at the end is the winner, making Match Poker a true game of skill as the elements of chance are eliminated.

Poker as a spectator sport is a concept yet to be proven, but Nally who has years of experience in sports marketing believes the opportunity for Match Poker is huge.  To find out why he feels so strongly, I spoke with Nally about Match Poker and brought up some issues likely crossing the minds of skeptical poker enthusiasts.

Becky Liggero: Thank you for joining me today, Patrick.  People say the poker industry as we know it is dying…why do you think the future is so bright for Match Poker?

CONCACAF probe reveals no evidence of match fixing at Gold Cup

Match fixing allegations during 2015 Gold Cup tournament turned out to be a false alarm.

CONCACAF, football’s governing body in North America, has announced that there was no evidence of match fixing during the quarterfinal and semifinal matches of the 2015 Gold Cup.

“CONCACAF found no clear or convincing evidence of match fixing or an intentional effort to affect the results of the Gold Cup 2015 matches,” said the organization in a statement, adding that the decisions could be attributed to “simple mistakes, errors in positioning, and/or lack of concentration”

Mexico‘s 2-1 semifinal victory over Panama during last year’s Gold Cup has been clouded with controversy.

CONCACAF probe reveals no evidence of match fixing at Gold Cup

Match fixing allegations during 2015 Gold Cup tournament turned out to be a false alarm.

CONCACAF, football’s governing body in North America, has announced that there was no evidence of match fixing during the quarterfinal and semifinal matches of the 2015 Gold Cup.

“CONCACAF found no clear or convincing evidence of match fixing or an intentional effort to affect the results of the Gold Cup 2015 matches,” said the organization in a statement, adding that the decisions could be attributed to “simple mistakes, errors in positioning, and/or lack of concentration”

Mexico‘s 2-1 semifinal victory over Panama during last year’s Gold Cup has been clouded with controversy.

Powerball record US$1.5 billion jackpot powers late ticket-buying frenzy

Dreams of quitting an uninspiring job, helping the needy and travelling the world opened American wallets on Wednesday for a chance to win the biggest-ever US$1.5 billion Powerball lottery jackpot. NEW YORK: Dreams of quitting an uninspiring job, helping the needy and travelling the world opened American wallets on Wednesday for a chance to win the biggest-ever US$1.5 billion Powerball lottery jackpot.

Powerball record US$1.5 billion jackpot powers late ticket-buying frenzy

Dreams of quitting an uninspiring job, helping the needy and travelling the world opened American wallets on Wednesday for a chance to win the biggest-ever US$1.5 billion Powerball lottery jackpot. NEW YORK: Dreams of quitting an uninspiring job, helping the needy and travelling the world opened American wallets on Wednesday for a chance to win the biggest-ever US$1.5 billion Powerball lottery jackpot.