Monthly Archives: May 2016

Tinian Dynasty Casino license revoked, creditor may take over operations

Casino regulators have revoked the gaming license of Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino operator Hong Kong Entertainment (HKE).

On Wednesday, the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission (TCGCC) held a special meeting at which commissioners voted 5-0 to cancel HKE’s casino license. The TCGCC justified its decision based on HKE’s failure to meet the requirements of its license.

The TCGCC said HKE had (a) failed to comply with audit requirements for the years 2008 through 2014; (b) failed to keep separate bank accounts in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas to handle casino banking transactions; and (c) turned over management of the casino to individuals whose suitability had not been vetted by the TCGCC.

The property’s casino has been closed since last September, which HKE blamed on a lack of customer traffic following Typhoon Souledor. HKE filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December and the property announced in March that it was ‘temporarily’ closing its hotel, also due to a lack of customers.

Tinian Dynasty Casino license revoked, creditor may take over operations

Casino regulators have revoked the gaming license of Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino operator Hong Kong Entertainment (HKE).

On Wednesday, the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission (TCGCC) held a special meeting at which commissioners voted 5-0 to cancel HKE’s casino license. The TCGCC justified its decision based on HKE’s failure to meet the requirements of its license.

The TCGCC said HKE had (a) failed to comply with audit requirements for the years 2008 through 2014; (b) failed to keep separate bank accounts in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas to handle casino banking transactions; and (c) turned over management of the casino to individuals whose suitability had not been vetted by the TCGCC.

The property’s casino has been closed since last September, which HKE blamed on a lack of customer traffic following Typhoon Souledor. HKE filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December and the property announced in March that it was ‘temporarily’ closing its hotel, also due to a lack of customers.

PayPal Ditches Payment Protection for American Online Gamblers

Payment processor PayPal says it will stop offering customer protection on online gambling transactions. The global currency company announced the move quietly this week through a change in the terms and conditions of its payment protection policy. From now on, PayPal will be removing the financial safety net for “gambling, gaming and/or any other activity […]

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DOJ Puts Kibosh on 1,500 Full Tilt Poker Player Payments

Not all Full Tilt poker players have received funds back from their pre-Black Friday accounts. A majority have; in fact, 94 percent of the payouts have been made since the Garden City Group (GCG), a legal administration company, took over the reimbursement process. But there are still 1,500 players who haven’t received money. The reason? […]

The post DOJ Puts Kibosh on 1,500 Full Tilt Poker Player Payments appeared first on .

DOJ Puts Kibosh on 1,500 Full Tilt Poker Player Payments

Not all Full Tilt poker players have received funds back from their pre-Black Friday accounts. A majority have; in fact, 94 percent of the payouts have been made since the Garden City Group (GCG), a legal administration company, took over the reimbursement process. But there are still 1,500 players who haven’t received money. The reason? […]

The post DOJ Puts Kibosh on 1,500 Full Tilt Poker Player Payments appeared first on .

William Hill starts 2016 off on sour note as online business continues to underwhelm

UK bookmaker William Hill started 2016 on a sour note, dragged down by a lackluster online performance.

In a trading update released on Wednesday, Hills said overall revenue had fallen 3% in the 17 weeks through April 28. While its retail, Australian and US operations all showed positive momentum, overall online turnover fell 2% and online revenue was off 11% from the same period last year.

Online gaming revenue was down 4% while sports betting was off 17%, which the company blamed on punter-friendly European football results and the widely publicized bookie disaster that was this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Online sports turnover in the UK was down 2%, and Hills said the business continues to suffer from the new rules regarding customer time-outs and self-exclusions. Hills’ operations in Italy and Spain posted double-digit turnover growth but ‘other markets’ reported online stakes falling 13%.

Congressional hearing fails to move daily fantasy sports needle in either direction

The US House of Representatives held its first hearing on daily fantasy sports, but the outcome failed to shed much light on the issue or provide any indication that Congress plans to take any concrete action – pro or con – on the issue.

On Wednesday, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade conducted the first federal hearing on DFS, and while efforts were made to link the issue to the broader subjects of sports betting and online gambling, there was no suggestion that Congress intends to do much of anything on any of these fronts anytime soon.

The meeting came following requests from New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., whose state has led the push to scrap the federal PASPA sports betting prohibition. Pallone’s opening statement drove home this theme, rubbishing the “hypocrisy of those arguing that daily fantasy sports is readily distinguishable from traditional sports betting.”

The two leading DFS operators – DraftKings and FanDuel – declined to send reps to the hearing, as did the major sports leagues whom Pallone accused of reaping “huge profits from their partnerships” with DFS operators while remaining “stubbornly opposed to sports betting.”

Congressional hearing fails to move daily fantasy sports needle in either direction

The US House of Representatives held its first hearing on daily fantasy sports, but the outcome failed to shed much light on the issue or provide any indication that Congress plans to take any concrete action – pro or con – on the issue.

On Wednesday, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade conducted the first federal hearing on DFS, and while efforts were made to link the issue to the broader subjects of sports betting and online gambling, there was no suggestion that Congress intends to do much of anything on any of these fronts anytime soon.

The meeting came following requests from New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., whose state has led the push to scrap the federal PASPA sports betting prohibition. Pallone’s opening statement drove home this theme, rubbishing the “hypocrisy of those arguing that daily fantasy sports is readily distinguishable from traditional sports betting.”

The two leading DFS operators – DraftKings and FanDuel – declined to send reps to the hearing, as did the major sports leagues whom Pallone accused of reaping “huge profits from their partnerships” with DFS operators while remaining “stubbornly opposed to sports betting.”