Le Monde du Poker.

January 26 2012, Brett Collson

Could Chris Ferguson prevent the pending deal between Full Tilt Poker and Groupe Bernard Tapie from happening? That's what one report indicated on Wednesday. We'll cover that story and more in this edition of the Nightly Turbo.

In Case You Missed It

What has Tom Dwan been up to lately? We caught up with the man known as "durrrr" at the Aussie Millions to discuss Full Tilt Poker, the Department of Justice, and more.

John Kim joined the Strategy with Kristy podcast this week. Kim talked about what it takes to be a poker player and a family man, and the mindset needed to be a long-term winner.

Erik Seidel was still on top of the Global Poker Index rankings this week. But how long will he stay at No. 1? PokerNews' Mickey Doft explains how the 2012 Aussie Millions will affect next week's rankings.

Phil Ivey was still among the chip leaders after Day 3 of the Aussie Millions Main Event. Get all the details from the day in our Aussie Millions recap.

The Poker Players Alliance is asking poker players to send questions to President Barack Obama about legalizing online poker. Matthew Kredell explains how this can help the cause.

Chris Ferguson's Secret Bank Accounts

On Wednesday, Subject:Poker released information regarding secret bank accounts belonging Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, a key figure and shareholder of Full Tilt Poker. The report claims that Ferguson funneled approximately $60 million of his FTP payments into his own bank accounts beginning in at least 2007, and he withdrew or spent around $45 million of the funneled money.

According to the article, Ferguson allowed for about $14.3 million of the funds to be used for the company's post-Black Friday expenses. Subject:Poker reports that Ferguson and his lawyer, Ian Imrich, have threatened to take steps that might obstruct the pending deal with Groupe Bernard Tapie and the Department of Justice if that money is not recovered.

Ferguson was brought into the spotlight last September when the Department of Justice amended its original civil complaint, alleging that Full Tilt Poker and board members Ferguson, Ray Bitar, Howard Lederer and Rafe Furst defrauded players. PokerNews learned this week that the four men, along with Black Friday payment processor Chad Elie, have been given another extension to respond to the amended civil complaint. It is the third extension granted by Preet Bahara since Sept. 20, 2011; the four will have until March 19, 2012, to respond.

Read more at Subject:Poker.

Hawaii Introduces Gambling Bill

As of now, Hawaii is one of only two U.S. states without any form of gambling. However, a new bill co-sponsored by three state lawmakers could allow a newly introduced Hawaii internet lottery to run an online gambling operation that would include poker.

The bill, HB2422, reads: "To protect Hawaii residents who gamble on the internet, and to capture revenues generated from internet gambling in Hawaii, it is in the best interest of the State and its citizens to regulate this existing activity by authorizing and implementing a secure, responsible, and legal system for internet gambling. The State’s interests are best met by doing so through an internet-only lottery and gaming corporation, which shall be a public instrumentality, operating for the sole benefit of the State, and accountable to the legislature and to the public through a system of audits and reports."

The Department of Justice's flip-flop on the Wire Act of 1961 has prompted several states to look into the possibility of online poker. With the Wire Act now only applying to sports betting, the line of states showing interest in an online gambling platform seems to be growing by the week.

For more on the new bill in Hawaii, visit capitol.hawaii.gov.

Trickett Earns Top Honor At European Poker Awards

The 11th Annual European Poker Awards returned to famous Aviation Club de Paris Wednesday evening. The event honored the best players in Europe for their performances during 2011. Among the players up for awards were Sam Trickett, Pius Heinz, Liv Boeree, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Eugene Katchalov and Jake Cody.

Trickett was given the most coveted honor of the evening. Although he wasn't on hand for the event, Trickett was named the 2011 "Player of the Year" for earning nearly $4.5 million on the tournament circuit in 2011. Other winners announced Wednesday were Grospellier (Poker Personality of 2011), Heinz (Best Tournament Performance), Andrey Pateychuk (Rookie of the Year), Ilari Sahamies (Online Player of the Year), Natalia Nikitina (Europe’s Leading Lady), Warren Lush (Staff Person of the Year), and WSOP Cannes (Event of the Year).

Get all the details, along with interviews and footage from the event at PokerNews.com.

The Scoop on the TCOOP

Four champions were crowned at the PokerStars Turbo Championship of Online Poker Wednesday. Nearly $800,000 was awarded across the four tournaments, increasing the total TCOOP prize pool to $10,497,098 through 31 events.

Here's a look at the results from Wednesday:

Event #28: No Limit Hold'em 2x Chance ($150K Guaranteed)

A large turnout for Event #28 resulted in a prize pool of $321,450, more than double the guarantee. A deal at the final table allowed three players to walk away with more than $34,000 each. Canada's "andthe" collected $45,675 for winning the event.

Event #29: No Limit Hold'em 10-Max Shootout ($75K Guaranteed)

A familiar face landed in the winner's circle of the $109 10-Max Shootout. Hungary's Peter "twirlpro" Turmezey added another big win to his impressive online poker resume, earning $18,250 after outlasting a field of 1,000 players.

Event #30: Pot Limit Omaha Six-Max 3x Turbo ($100K Guaranteed)

Nearly 4,500 players combined for 24,589 rebuys in what turned out to be a massive event. After a five-way chop at the final table, online tournament specialist "Rounder63" took down the tournament for $30,459.

Event #31: Stud Hi/Lo ($25K Guaranteed)

Team PokerStars Pro Andre Akkari made an impressive run in Event #31 but fell short of the final table in 17th place. Germany's "barrako" went on to win the tournament and the $9,395 top prize.

For more details on each event, check out the PokerStars Blog.

Happy Australia Day!

In celebration of Australia Day, PokerNews' Nicki Pickering tested some players on their knowledge of Aussie slang words at the 2012 Aussie Millions Main Event.

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December 04 2011, Brett Collson

We're trying to get you caught up on the week's top poker news stories. In this edition of the Weekly Turbo, we bring you Facebook's plans to offer real-money gambling, Barney Frank's retirement announcement, and more.

Facebook Considers Real-Money Gambling

According to a report by eGamingReview, social media giant Facebook is developing plans to offer real-money gambling in the United Kingdom as early as 2012.

Facebook, which hosts the free-to-play Zynga Poker, has already begun exploratory talks with U.K. operators to launch real-money online gambling and is already in discussions with 888poker and Gamesys. EGR says the plan is for Facebook to offer eight licenses to U.K. operators who want to offer their gambling platform on Facebook.

PokerNews contacted Facebook for a comment and received a response from a company spokesperson: "We're always in discussions with companies about lots of different ideas, but we don't comment on future plans or speculation."

Read more at PokerNews.com.

Barney Frank To Step Down

On Monday, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) announced he will not return to Congress for a 17th term in 2012. Frank, one of the major political advocates for the legalization of online poker, cited changes to the new congressional map as a major factor in his decision to step down.

"I was planning to run again, and then the congressional redistricting came," Frank, 71, said at a press conference in his hometown of Newton, Mass.

During his time with the House Financial Services Committee, Frank has introduced several bills pushing for online poker legislation in the U.S. In his most recent venture, Frank served as a sponsor for Congressman John Campbell's Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (H.R.1174). The proposed bill was referred to the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security in June, but no action has been taken since.

Frank also recently testified on behalf of Internet poker at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing. He has arguably been the biggest driving force behind the legalization of online poker since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed in 2006.

Read more about Frank's retirement announcement at the Wall Street Journal.

Tobey Maguire Settles Hollywood Poker Lawsuit

Earlier this year, Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire was one of 22 people sued for their winnings in a high-stakes Hollywood poker game organized by a criminal Beverly Hills hedge fund manager. On Nov. 22, Maguire reportedly agreed to an $80,000 settlement with a bankruptcy trustee who is trying to recoup more than $30 million in lost funds, the Associated Press reported on Monday.

Maguire was being sued for more than $300,000 for winnings he earned from the invitation-only games organized by businessman Bradley Ruderman, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for running a Ponzi scheme to pay off debts. Ruderman operated a wire-fraud and investment-adviser fraud scheme that lost investors $25 million, and then allegedly lost another $5.2 million in the high-stakes cash games trying to win the money back.

According to the Associated Press, 14 of the 22 people sued have agreed to settlements in their cases. Former High Stakes Poker host Gabe Kaplan also agreed to pay $26,900 after he was sued to try to recoup nearly $63,000 in winnings, according to the AP report. All of the money recouped will be used to repay the victims of Ruderman's Ponzi scheme.

Read the full Associated Press story at the Washington Post.

Elie, Campos Face Trial

Chad Elie and John Campos, two of the 11 men indicted on Black Friday for their involvement in alleged fraud and money laundering associated with online poker sites, were told Thursday by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan that their case is likely to go to trial in March. The two men had filed motions to dismiss the April 15 indictment filed against them by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, but Judge Kaplan listened to arguments from both sides Thursday before telling attorneys to expect a trial on March 12.

“I think it's extraordinarily unlikely the entire indictment will be dismissed,” Kaplan said at the end of the hearing, according to Forbes.

Lawyers for Elie and Campos argued that the U.S. law making it illegal for businesses to make transactions with unlawful online gambling companies doesn't apply to poker because it is a game of skill. Elie, a former payment processor for PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker, and Campos, the vice chairman of a Utah Bank that processed payments for the three sites, filed motions to dismiss the case in October.

According to Forbes, Kaplan seemed unsympathetic to many of the arguments put forward by lawyers representing Campos and Elie, openly disagreeing with some of their points. With a trial on the horizon, Kaplan will now have to decide whether or not a jury will be asked to determine if poker constitutes illegal gambling.

Read more on this story at Forbes.

Martin Staszko Signs with PokerStars

2011 World Series of Poker runner-up Martin Staszko is the newest member of Team PokerStars. Staszko, 35, joins Martin Hruby as the only players from the Czech Republic on the PokerStars roster.

"I'm really happy to sign for PokerStars and join such a talented team of poker players, said Staszko, whose contract will officially begin on Dec. 1. "I’m playing in my home country at EPT Prague as a Team PokerStars Pro and looking forward to playing many big live and online tournaments in 2012 like the PCA and WCOOP. My main focus is to win a mixed-game event at the next WSOP, becoming the first Czech player to win a bracelet."

PokerStars will officially introduce Staszko as part of the team on Dec. 4, 2011, at the Prague Hilton Hotel as part of the 10th Anniversary Guinness World Record celebration. His first tournament as a PokerStars Pro will come the following day, Dec. 5, at the European Poker Tour Prague Main Event.

More on this story can be found right here at PokerNews.com.

Iowa Study Could Open Door for Intrastate Online Poker

On Thursday, a study issued by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) outlined several ways the state could set up and regulate the online poker in the state. The report was requested by the Iowa legislature last session to determine the practicality and potential income Internet poker could generate for the state.

The objective of the report was to give the legislature information to work with if it ultimately decided to set up an online poker infrastructure in the next session. For example, based on the projections of the IRGC, approximately $13 million to $60 million in rake was paid annually by Iowa online poker players before Black Friday. Assuming a tax rate of 22 percent, the projections indicate approximately $3 million to $13 million in potential tax revenue for the state annually, according to the IRGC.

The commission also examined the different systems that could be put in place to offer an intrastate platform. The IRGC consulted with several experts to discuss measures and controls for online poker, including age verification, geo-location and money laundering. It also spoke with Iowa Lottery officials to get a perspective from lottery interests of internet poker regulation.

In March, a state Senate committee approved a bill designed to make online poker legal in Iowa. However, lawmakers weren't in complete agreement over the bill and requested the IRGC produce a report for the bill to be amended.

The full IRGC study can be found at Iowa.gov.

Bodog Unveils Anonymous Tables

Earlier this year, Bodog announced plans to "bring the fun back to poker" for the casual player by implementing a Recreational Poker Model. The growing poker room took a major step in that direction this week by introducing new poker software that will, among other things, prevent players from accessing any data on how opponents play.

Bodog's all-site anonymous tables will protect the casual player from opponents picking up information via the use of HUDs and other data mining sites. The software change comes two months after Bodog began removing full tables from the lobby and thus stopping data sites from accessing statistical information on players.

Among the other features included in the new software are a rabbit cam, several new tournament formats, and the ability to play up to 20 tables at the same time.

“We believe that introducing these features makes the Bodog Recreational Poker Model a pioneer in the online poker world and offers all players of all abilities the fairest place to play," said Bodog VP Jonas Ödman. "To my mind the software and Bodog’s Recreational Poker Model is a genuine game changer.”

Read more about Bodog's new software at CalvinAyre.com

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October 11 2011, Chad Holloway

On Tuesday, Antanas “Tony G” Guoga, primary shareholder of PokerNews, announced his intention to pursue legal action against the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC). Guoga claims the commission was negligent in the handling of the Full Tilt Poker (FTP) situation, failed to exhibit due diligence for their licensees and should be held responsible.

The legal action being considered hinges on the fact that the AGCC knew there was a problem involving player funds prior to the Black Friday indictments, were negligent in their handling of the situation; and therefore, ought to be held responsible.

The AGCC was established in 2000 and is "independent and non-political, and regulates gambling on behalf of the States of Alderney. Consisting of the Chairman and three members, it includes people with international experience in the fields of gaming, regulation and licensing. The single most important policy of the Commission is to provide a regulatory environment that meets the highest international standards and thereby both protects the reputation of Alderney and attracts 'world-class' operations."

According to the AGCC, its mission is "to ensure and maintain the integrity of the electronic gambling industry in Alderney." And its objectives include ensuring that "all electronic gambling on Alderney is conducted honestly and fairly, the funding, management and operation of electronic gambling on Alderney remains free from criminal influence, and electronic gambling is regulated and monitored so as to protect the interests of licensees' customers as well as the young and vulnerable."

“We believe they knew about it a long time ago,” Guoga said in regard to the AGCC, “That security for the players’ money was not there, they hid this fact together with their auditors for years, benefiting in return. We raised it with them and they knew then and there.”

Jon Sykes, CEO of Vont Limited confirmed that "The security statement for the players’ money was not there, this was raised with them, and they knew that FTP was in breach of regulations back in December 2010."

Not having a designated clause in FTP’s Terms & Conditions was against AGCC regulations, a fact Tony G and company claim the AGCC ignored for many months, constituting negligence.

FTP did add a statement, regarding player funds, to its site around the end of February or beginning of March 2011, stating they were not segregated: "Customer funds are not segregated from company funds, but it is the intention of Filco Ltd to meet its liabilities as they fall due."

Guoga said: "Surely such a breach of the regulations for such a long period prior to the omission being highlighted to the AGCC by Sykes in late 2010 must have initiated a full review of the operator and its financial position by that stage, which then begs the question, how long did they know about the precarious financial position before they finally pulled the plug following the DOJ indictments? We want to prove that they have responsibility, we are coming after them.”

As Sykes contends:

“It appears likely that this statement was added to the site as a result of my contact and the Commission’s subsequent investigations. Obviously, before the issues with the indictments this was perceived to be more of a minor clerical issue for the Alderney Regulators and FTP but now I wonder if there was more to it.”

Sykes and Vont Limited will manage the claim and are currently in discussions with legal advisers. In addition, it is expected that a channel will be opened for players to join the complaint and submit information regarding their balances, though such specifics have not yet been determined.

Stay up to date on all the latest news by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

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11 Octobre 2011, Chad Holloway

Le mardi, Antanas "Tony G" Guoga a annoncé son intention d'intenter une action contre l' Alderney Gambling Control Commission ((AGCC)). Guoga soutient la commission n'a pas été négligente dans la manipulation de la situation de Full Tilt Poker (FTP) , n'a pas à exposer la diligence pour leurs titulaires de licence et devraient être tenus responsables.

L'action juridique envisagée repose sur le fait que le AGCC connaissait il y a un problème concernant les fonds de joueur avant des actes d'accusation vendredi noir, ont fait preuve de négligence dans le traitement de la situation ; et donc, ne doit être tenu pour responsable.

Le AGCC a été créé en 2000 et est "indépendante et apolitique et réglemente les jeux de hasard au nom des États d'Alderney. Composé du président et de trois membres, il comprend des personnes ayant de l'expérience internationale dans les domaines du jeu, de réglementation et de licences. La politique plus importante et unique de la Commission est de fournir un environnement réglementaire qui répond aux normes internationales les plus élevées et ainsi protège la réputation d'Alderney et attire des opérations « de calibre mondial ». »

Selon le AGCC, sa mission est ""d'assurer et de maintenir l'intégrité de l'industrie du jeu électronique Aurigny. Et ses objectifs comprennent assurant que « tous les électroniques au jeu sur Alderney est effectué honnêtement et équitablement, le financement, gestion et l'exploitation des jeux de hasard électroniques sur Alderney demeure libre de toute influence criminelle et électronique de jeu est réglementé et surveillé afin de protéger les intérêts des clients titulaires de permis ainsi que les jeunes et vulnérables ».

« Nous croyons qu'ils savaient à ce sujet il y a longtemps, » Guoga a déclaré à l'égard de la AGCC, "que la sécurité de l'argent des joueurs n'était pas là, ils cachèrent ce fait avec leurs vérificateurs pendant des années,. bénéficiant en retour Nous avons soulevé la question avec eux et ils savaient alors et là ».

Jon Sykes, CEO de Vont Limited a confirmé que la déclaration de sécurité pour de l'argent des joueurs n'était pas là, cela a été soulevée avec eux, et ils savaient que FTP était en violation des règlements en décembre 2010. »

N'ayant ne pas une clause désignée FTP termes & Conditions était contre règlement AGCC, une compagnie et fait Tony G réclamer la AGCC ignoré pendant de nombreux mois, constituant la négligence.

FTP a fait ajouter une déclaration, en ce qui concerne les fonds de joueur, de son site vers la fin de février ou début mars 2011, déclarant qu'ils n'étaient pas séparées: « fonds de clients ne sont pas séparées des fonds de la société, mais c'est l'intention de Filco Ltd pour répondre à ses engagements comme ils tombent dues. »

Guoga a dit : "certainement une telle violation des règlements pour une période aussi longue avant de l'omission de mise en surbrillance à l'AGCC par Sykes fin 2010 doit ont entrepris un examen complet de l'opérateur et sa situation financière par cette étape, qui a ensuite élude la question, combien de temps ils Saviez-vous sur la situation financière précaire avant ils finalement retiré le bouchon suite à la mise en accusation du MJ ? Nous voulons prouver qu'ils ont la responsabilité, nous sortons après eux. »

Comme le prétend Sykes :

« Il semble vraisemblable que cette déclaration a été ajoutée au site de mon contact et enquêtes subséquentes de la Commission. De toute évidence, avant les problèmes avec les mises en accusation, ce fut perçu davantage comme un problème mineur de bureau pour les régulateurs Aurigny et FTP mais maintenant je me demande si il y avait plus d'elle. »

Sykes et Vont Limited vont gérer la demande et sont actuellement en pourparlers avec des conseillers juridiques. En outre, il est prévu qu'un canal sera ouvert pour les joueurs de rejoindre la plainte et de soumettre des informations concernant leurs soldes, bien que ces détails n'ont pas encore été déterminées.

Restez à jour sur les dernières nouvelles par la suite nous sur Twitter et nous aimer sur Facebook.

Suivez le Tchad Holloway sur Twitter — @ ChadAHolloway

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AppId is over the quota
October 03 2011, Elaine Chaivarlis

On Monday, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission released a statement addressing players who were looking to the AGCC to help in player issues and disputes with Full Tilt Poker. The AGCC announced that because of the revocation of Full Tilt Poker's license, the Commission no longer has the authority to "intermediate or arbitrate on player issues or disputes with Full Tilt."

Here is the reprinted statement in full:

Following the revocation of the licenses, AGCC no longer has authority to intermediate or arbitrate on player issues or disputes with Full Tilt (excepting for players registered under a Swiss address). Players may have the following alternative options:

Full Tilt has been requested to provide a specific player contact: this is awaited and will be incorporated here upon receipt.Any player who believes they are a victim of crime, as a result of their dealings with Full Tilt, should in the first instance contact their own local police in their country of residence and report the matter to them. These reports will then be coordinated centrally.It is understood that a number of civil actions have been initiated by players against Full Tilt, some as class actions representing multiple players by UK, U.S. and Canadian lawyers. Details of the firms concerned can be found through Internet search.

If you'll recall, during an interview with PokerNews in May, Michael Ellen of the AGCC stated that the Commission does not guarantee players' funds for their licensees.

Update Oct. 4 9:15 a.m. PDT: PokerNews contacted the Alderney Gambling Control Commission to find out why players registered with a Swiss address were exempt from its latest statement. According to the AGCC, "The license of Orinic was suspended, not revoked, and therefore we still have jurisdiction over Swiss players. This is due to the fact that Orinic’s license was issued for the sole purpose of operating out of that region."

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AppId is over the quota
September 14 2011, Elissa Harwood

This week, Inside Gaming scanned the globe to bring you the most interesting gambling-related business stories from around the world. And these stories have everything — government intrigue, eccentric financiers, dollar amounts with nine zeros after them, and even Black Friday, Latin American style.

Casinos in Ecuador Given Six Months to Shut Down

Brick-and-mortar casinos in Ecuador got a little more warning about their closure than American online poker players got on Black Friday, but last Friday's announcement giving Ecuadorian casinos six months to close their doors was still a shock. A referendum passed in May banning gambling in Ecuador, but casinos were told they'd be given one to two years to close, and many had been lobbying for a sunset provision to buy them up to five more years.

President Rafael Correa signed a decree last week setting a six-month deadline for the closing of all licensed casinos and bingo halls in Ecuador. The decree stated that no requests for delay will be granted and no compensation will be given to owners or operators. It will also be illegal to import new slot machines or gaming products into the country. One local chain of gambling parlors solved the problem by signing a deal last month to convert their properties into upscale fitness centers, but most are struggling to figure out their next step. Some are looking to move their businesses to Costa Rica, Puerto Rico or Colombia.

The shutdown will cost the country 3,200 jobs. President Correa has said that job losses are not an argument to continue to allow gambling. Last year he told reporters, "If we followed that argument we would also keep allowing arms production because people would lose their jobs. We would allow loan-sharking for the same reason." Ecuador's Ministry of Labor Relations is required to offer training courses to all casino workers who are losing their jobs.

In early May, voters voted, by a small margin, that they agreed the country should prohibit gambling "in order to avoid…causing social problems, especially among more vulnerable people." Many of the casinos in Ecuador are located in hotels in tourist areas and owned and operated by foreign companies. Ecuador follows Cuba and Brazil in banning most forms of gaming. Venezuela may not be far behind in enacting similar restrictions.

The Straits Times and Gambling Compliance have more.

Former Hungarian PM Loses Immunity in Casino Land-Swap Scandal

Hungarian Parliament voted on Monday to revoke former Prime Minister Ferenec Gyurcsány's immunity from prosecution for his alleged abuse of office related to a $1 billion casino development project in Budapest. Gyurcsány, who served as prime minister from 2004 to 2009, says there is no evidence to link him to the shady deal and the charges are all the work of long-time political nemesis, current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Bloomberg reported that the Parliament voted 306-52 to lift Gyurcsány's immunity, easily reaching the necessary two-thirds majority. Only his fellow Socialist Party members voted against the measure. Gyurcsány was implicated in a 2008 scandal involving a land transfer for the King's City casino project. Investors acquired a valuable piece of state-owned lakeside real estate in exchange for a plot of far less valuable farmland. The land swap and the whole casino project were canceled after the transaction was investigated by Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai, who succeeded Gyurcsány in 2009.

Read more about the dispute in The Budapest Times.

Packer and Ho Consider $1 Billion Manila Casino Investment

Lawrence Ho, son of elderly Macau gaming mogul Stanley Ho, and Australian financier James Packer are looking into investing in a casino project in Manila. A Philippine gambling regulator said the pair's company, Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd., could invest $1 billion or more. "I think they're serious," said chairman of the state-owned Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corp., Cristino Naguiat.

The Philippines awarded four gaming licenses in 2008 and 2009, though only one license holder has begun construction on a project. The government is looking to accelerate the industry's growth to compete for a share of the revenues soaring in Singapore and Macau.

Bloomberg has more on the billionaires' visit and on all of the casino projects under development in the Philippines.

Wynn to Pay Macau Govt. $193 Million Premium to Secure New Land and Resort Concession

Wynn Macau Ltd. made a deal with the Macau government to pay a premium of 1.55 billion patacas, equivalent to $193 million, over market value for 51 acres on the island's Cotai Strip. The agreement includes a concession allowing the land to be used for a gambling resort and retail stores. The earliest Wynn Macau could open a new property would be 2015.

Macau has been the golden goose for Wynn, MGM International, and Sands China, but its astronomical growth could be on the decline, according to some industry insiders. Wynn Macau stock fell 4.1 percent Monday as Hong Kong's Hang Sen Index dropped by nearly the same amount.

See what analysts have to say about Wynn Macau's future at Bloomberg.com.

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*Photo courtesy of TheWondrous.com

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25 Août 2011, Matthew Kredell

New Jersey State sénateur Raymond Lesniak réintroduit la législation jeudi à faire de New Jersey le premier État à légaliser les jeux de hasard en ligne.

Son projet de loi au jeu Internet original transmis par les deux chambres du gouvernement de l'état plus tôt cette année seulement à être opposé son veto Gouverneur Chris Christie en mars.

La journée du droit de veto, Lesniak dit PokerNews qu'il ne serait pas réintroduire le projet de loi à moins qu'il a conclu une entente avec Christie qui garantisse que le projet de loi n'aurait pas encore être veto. Aucun de ce compromis n'a été atteint.

Lesniak a déclaré mercredi qu'il est présentant le projet de loi de toute façon parce que l'industrie des courses de chevaux dans le New Jersey peut-être mourir dans les prochaines années sans le revenu qu'il pouvait obtenir subventionné du jeu en ligne. Le moment de la réintroduction coïncide avec l'annonce la semaine dernière de fermes de Perretti, le plus grand éleveur de chevaux standardbred dans le Garden State, va être fermeture. Élevages de chevaux sont une grande partie de l'économie au Centre du New Jersey.

« Rien n'a changé en termes d'avis (Christie) encore, » Lesniak dit PokerNews lors d'une entrevue téléphonique. « J'espère que le gouverneur comprendront ce qui se passe à l'industrie (courses de chevaux) par lui ne pas soutenir toute subvention peut fournir des jeux en ligne. J'espère que le gouverneur réévaluera sa position, et que républicains représentants de cette région contribuera à lui changent d'avis. Je pense que l'occasion est là pour se rassembler et de modifier son avis. »

Lesniak dit que le projet de loi S-3019, sera en grande partie ce qu'il déjà mis sur le Bureau de Christie. Le plus grand changement, dans un effort pour aborder un des préoccupations que Christie mentionnée dans son droit de veto, sera la langue pour empêcher Internet gambling cafés de popping up à travers l'État. Lesniak dit il ne pensais pas que c'était une attente réaliste, étant donné que les gens pourraient jouer en ligne de leurs maisons si le projet de loi a traversé, mais que c'est une solution facile à faire. Projet de loi du Lesniak comprend des jeux de casino en plus de poker.

Il semble peu probable que les modifications ne suffira à changer avis de Christie sur le projet de loi, mais peut-être la pression des représentants républicains au Centre du New Jersey avec les préoccupations au sujet de l'avenir de l'industrie des courses de chevaux de l'État peut avoir un impact.

« Il ne va pas être une longue route, mais nous ne sommes pas convaincus qu'où elle mène, » Lesniak dit. « Nous mettrons le projet de loi retour sur son bureau avant la fin de l'année, et j'espère que par cette époque nous allons avoir changé d'idée. »

Lesniak est également contrarié par des indications que potentielle législation fédérale, si elle provient de la Maison de chef de la majorité Harry Reid, serait favorables Accueil État du Nevada de Reid. Le mois dernier, Lesniak écrit une lettre au Général pièce jointe Eric Holder contestant une lettre écrite au titulaire par Reid et Sénateur Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) demandant qu'il rappelle la position du ministère de la Justice que les jeux en ligne intra-étatiques est illégale en vertu de la Loi fédérale.

De toutes les factures intra-étatiques introduites par les États du pays, projet de loi du New Jersey a été le seul qui semblait elle créerait un système avantageux pour les joueurs de poker. Après vendredi noir, il y a sans doute plus de gens dans le New Jersey qui évaluerait une plateforme sécuritaire où jouer au poker en ligne.

« Il y a une grande préoccupation que New Jersey serait laissé dans la législation fédérale, » a déclaré Lesniak. « Si New Jersey commence tout d'abord les opérations, il serait très difficile pour eux de nous exclure ou à diminuer notre rôle. »

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