Russia has its second officially licensed online sports betting operator following the launch of 888.ru.

As promised, Russia’s leading lottery operator Stoloto has debuted its 888.ru online betting site, which, despite the name, has nothing to do with UK-listed online gambling operator 888 Holdings, a similarity that we’re assured is entirely coincidental. (What’s Russian for ‘ahem’?)

The 888.ru site operates on a Betconstruct platform and under a license originally granted to Russian bookmaker 23Bet. The site is offering a RUB 2k (US $30) free bet offer to encourage punters to sign up.

888.ru is part of the First SRO bookmakers association, whose members are required to use the TSUPIS centralized hub to process online gambling transactions. 888.ru requires new users to undergo a three-state registration process; opening an account online, then registering with TSUPIS, then confirming their identity via Skype.

Russia has its second officially licensed online sports betting operator following the launch of 888.ru.

As promised, Russia’s leading lottery operator Stoloto has debuted its 888.ru online betting site, which, despite the name, has nothing to do with UK-listed online gambling operator 888 Holdings, a similarity that we’re assured is entirely coincidental. (What’s Russian for ‘ahem’?)

The 888.ru site operates on a Betconstruct platform and under a license originally granted to Russian bookmaker 23Bet. The site is offering a RUB 2k (US $30) free bet offer to encourage punters to sign up.

888.ru is part of the First SRO bookmakers association, whose members are required to use the TSUPIS centralized hub to process online gambling transactions. 888.ru requires new users to undergo a three-state registration process; opening an account online, then registering with TSUPIS, then confirming their identity via Skype.

China’s mobile message service WeChat is cracking down on unauthorized ‘red envelope’ gambling rings on its network.

WeChat announced this week that it was forced to take action after many of its 700m active users refused to stop using the service’s ‘Hongbao’ function to organize informal gambling rings.

Hongbao, which made its debut in 2014, allows WeChat users to exchange virtual credits that can be used for online purchases or withdrawn as cash. The name comes from the Chinese practice of exchanging red envelopes containing money on special occasions. During this February’s Lunar New Year’s Eve, WeChat processed over 8b Hongbao envelopes, eight times higher than the previous year.

WeChat also offers a function that allows users to send Hongbao to a group of recipients with options to distribute the money evenly or on a purely random basis, with some members of the group winning big and others receiving a pittance.

China’s mobile message service WeChat is cracking down on unauthorized ‘red envelope’ gambling rings on its network.

WeChat announced this week that it was forced to take action after many of its 700m active users refused to stop using the service’s ‘Hongbao’ function to organize informal gambling rings.

Hongbao, which made its debut in 2014, allows WeChat users to exchange virtual credits that can be used for online purchases or withdrawn as cash. The name comes from the Chinese practice of exchanging red envelopes containing money on special occasions. During this February’s Lunar New Year’s Eve, WeChat processed over 8b Hongbao envelopes, eight times higher than the previous year.

WeChat also offers a function that allows users to send Hongbao to a group of recipients with options to distribute the money evenly or on a purely random basis, with some members of the group winning big and others receiving a pittance.

Hong Kong-listed MelcoLot Ltd and Melco International Development Ltd are cancelling a share deal amid delays regarding its tender process to operate a casino near Barcelona, Spain.

In a joint statement, the two companies announced they are terminating the deal that would have seen Melco International and related parties increase their stake in MelcoLot by as much as 65.05 percent.

The now-cancelled deal was dependent on several conditions, the first of which involve “obtaining and maintaining a valid casino authorization” from the Catalan government in Spain. Lawrence Ho-controlled Melco International and MelcoLot announced back in January that the tender process is facing delays due to the Catalan government’s inability to announce the results of an urban planning masterplan.

“As the timetable of the tender process for the casino authorization and the development of the project remain relatively uncertain in the current political situation in Catalonia… Melco International and MelcoLot entered into a termination agreement, pursuant to which the parties agreed to immediately terminate the share purchase agreement,” the joint announcement stated.

Credit and debit cards do not fall under the Fourth Amendment, a U.S. federal appeals court has found.

In fact, law enforcement officers don’t need a warrant to scan or swipe a seized credit or debit card—prepaid or otherwise—because its magnetic stripe contains the same information that’s already visible on the front of the card, according to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The appeals court’s ruling is the latest addition to the ongoing civil asset forfeiture case involving a man named Eric-Arnaud Benjamin Briere De L’Isle, who was pulled over in Nebraska in 2014 for a driving infraction and then searched for drugs. No drugs were located in De L’Isle’s car, but the sheriff’s deputy seized a duffel bag full of credit, debit and gift cards—some of which still “in wrapping utilized by the issuing company to display the cards in retail stores.”

During his trial, De L’Isle’s lawyer argued that seizing the cards was a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which the judge rejected but preserved on appeal. De L’Isle was eventually convicted of one count of possession of counterfeit devices and sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Lee Davy sits down with the World Series of Poker bracelet winner, Jackie Glazier, to talk about her recent split with 888Poker, her decision to stay away from the World Series of Poker for the first time in seven years, and much more.

Jackie Glazier is inspirational, thoughtful, and a grafter of the highest order. She is a dedicated Amazonian with high expectations and a heart of solid gold.

When I learned she was going through a difficult time recently, it sent me into a state of introspection. Questions regarding the meaning of life fluttered around me on the wings of butterflies. I needed to learn more. And so I asked. And she answered.

The World Series of Poker is in full swing. You are not there for the first time in seven years. Talk about how that makes you feel?

Lee Davy sits down with the World Series of Poker bracelet winner, Jackie Glazier, to talk about her recent split with 888Poker, her decision to stay away from the World Series of Poker for the first time in seven years, and much more.

Jackie Glazier is inspirational, thoughtful, and a grafter of the highest order. She is a dedicated Amazonian with high expectations and a heart of solid gold.

When I learned she was going through a difficult time recently, it sent me into a state of introspection. Questions regarding the meaning of life fluttered around me on the wings of butterflies. I needed to learn more. And so I asked. And she answered.

The World Series of Poker is in full swing. You are not there for the first time in seven years. Talk about how that makes you feel?

3-Barrels of pure value including an appearance on The Moth by Annie Duke, Roberto Romanello makes an immediate impact as an ambassador of partypoker, and Pierre Neuville eyes a spot in the higher echelons of The Global Poker Index.

We don’t often see Annie Duke at the poker tables. Unlike her brother Howard Lederer, and his former Full Tilt Director, Chris Ferguson, one doubts that will change anytime soon.

Duke has taken everything she has learned at the poker tables and turned it into a sweet gig as a public speaker and business consultant. Earlier this week she appeared on The Moth Podcast, a unique live storytelling experience, where she talked live and unaided on the theme of The Big Things You Don’t Do.

The crux of her talk centred around the 2004 Tournament of Champions; an event Duke won for $2m and in particular, a hand she played early in that game when she laid down pocket tens against an all-in from Greg Raymer.