Monthly Archives: February 2017

JEFFERSON CITY Missouri could reap a $90 million per year jackpot if it allows slot machines in bars, truck stops and fraternal organizations, according to a new analysis of a gambling expansion proposal.

In addition to funneling more money to the state, members of a Senate panel Tuesday heard advocates say video gambling could generate an extra $20 million a year for local governments when as many as 15,000 machines are fully up and running by 2020.

The measure is being pushed by coin-operated vending machine companies, whove long wanted a chance to put terminals into local establishments over the objection of the states casino industry.

All this does is give small business a leg up. It gives them a chance to get in the game, said Tom Cobb, Acme Music & Vending Co. of St. Joseph.

The legislation sponsored by Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, would allow as many as five video gambling machines in taverns, restaurants and truck stops and as many as 10 machines for benevolent organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the Elks Club.

The plan would allow a maximum bet of $2 for each play and a maximum winning amount of $500.

A similar measure is pending in the House, where its sponsor said the states tight budget situation could make it an attractive time to generate cash without raising taxes.

Missouris 13 casinos are poised to fight the proposals, pointing to Illinois as an example of how video gambling in bars and truck stops has eroded the market share of casinos in the Land of Lincoln.

Mike Winter, executive director of the Missouri Casino Gaming Association, said Illinois casinos have seen a 13 percent reduction in revenue since terminals first began appearing in Illinois taverns in 2012.

We see this as significant, Winter told the Senate panel. Obviously people are taking advantage of playing at local facilities.

The plan would nearly double the number of slot machines in the state, from the current level of 17,650 to 32,650.

Supporters acknowledged slots in bars could hurt casinos.

They very well may lose a small amount of adjusted gross revenues, said Charles Andy Arnold, a lobbyist for J & J Ventures of Missouri, which also has operations in Illinois.

But, Arnold said, the plan also will create thousands of new jobs.

Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, expressed skepticism over the plan, suggesting video gambling could cannibalize the states gambling revenue.

Do you really think thats new money wed be getting? Wasson asked, adding hes never been a big fan of trying to generate money for schools via gambling.

Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican who has not previously served in elected office, has not publicly expressed a position on the measure.

The legislation is Senate Bill 452.

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Video gambling plan could raise $90 million for Missouri coffers - STLtoday.com

We're live at the Game Developers Conference all week, with news, interviews and livestreams direct from San Francisco.

Andy Miller, chairman and co-founder of NRG Esports, said he thought the growth of gambling on esports was inevitable. In fact, he thinks its a big reason why professional sports teams are interested in the space at all.

Miller was sitting on a panel at the Game Developers Conference with other team owners, including Splyce CEO Marty Strenczewilk, Team Dignitas CEO Jonathan Kemp and Cloud9 board member Dan Fiden. During the question and answer portion of the panel, one audience member broached the topic of gambling. Miller seemed excited about the prospect of its growth, while the other panel members nodded along.

I think of gambling as in daily fantasy, Miller said. I think its going to be a big part of esports. I think, frankly, its one of the reasons why were seeing a lot of traditional sports teams interested in [the space]. Its a big opportunity.

A sort of land grab began in 2015 when NBA star Rick Fox paid more than $1 million for Gravity Gaming. In 2016, the Philadelphia 76ers became the first North American sports team to acquire an esports franchise, merging Team Dignitas and Team Apex under their banner. Then 2017 started with news that the NHLs Boston Bruins had invested in Splyce.

The trend, say the panelists, is likely to continue because of simple demographics. Its a fact that esports fans are younger and more engaged that traditional sports fans, and there are more of them every day.

One of the pillars of making money off them, Miller said, will be gambling.

[Pro sports teams] missed the opportunity with daily fantasy. The NFL should own fantasy football, and they dont. ... But, I think its an inescapable part of esports and could probably... be a real positive if harnessed for viewership.

Miller said that he saw skin trading and gambling in Valves Counter-Strike: Global Offensive as just the beginning.

I think we started a little bit with CSGO, we saw it start in the wrong way and I think it will come back in a way thats productive and safe.

Miller also said player unionization was just as inevitable as the growth of gambling.

Its just going so fast, Miller said. A few years ago, the teams were all run by the players on the team. Now, were talking about billionaires who own NFL teams. Its expansion. Its incredible.

Most of our players each have their own lawyer. ... So were starting to see with CSGO, the players getting together. And we welcome it, as owners. Its a really important thing. Because if theres a players union, then theres rules about contracts and theyll hold their contracts. Its really hard to hold a 16-year-old to his contract.

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Why are pro sports teams interested in esports? It's the gambling, for one - Polygon

A new bill has been introduced that maintains allowances for gaming or gambling facilities during village fiestas but limits these activities to the legal boundaries of the village hosting the fiesta.

Sen. Michael San Nicolas, the chairman of the legislative committee on rules and the bill's author, said the measure Bill 29-34 was meant to close a legal loophole that essentially allowed for the year-round operation of the casino facility in Tiyan, which is also used during the annual Liberation Carnival.

Village mayors can obtain a permit to conduct gaming activities during fiestas, but the law does not specify that such activities be confined to that village, San Nicolas said.

In early February, Jose Cruz, president of the anti-gambling group Linala Sin Casino, drew attention to the use of the Tiyan casino facility by several other villages during the latter part of 2016. Cruz, a former Guam Education Board member, stated that he believed there was a lack of accountability on how often gambling occurred at the casino and recommended that gambling events be held at the villages so that mayors can monitor the activities while giving residents the opportunity to"self-police their community."

Agana Heights Mayor and Mayors' Council of Guam (MCOG) President Paul McDonald said theTiyan facility was a convenient and cost-saving location for gambling activities. Hosting these events within the respective villages would call for the designation of certain areas, which may not be available, leaving mayors to possibly construct their own village venues for the occasional gambling event.

At over $2,000 per event, proceeds were minimal, according to McDonald, and were relegated back to the village hosting the gambling activity.

Not a 'crutch' for gambling

However, after an initial meeting with San Nicolas to talk about issues pertaining to the MCOG, the group's executive leadership appears to have placed its backing behind Bill 29.

"We discussed how we wanted to make sure that the village fiestas weren't being viewed as a crutch to run a year-round casino operation in Tiyan, and they agreed that that's not the perception they want to put out there," San Nicolas said.

"In consultation with them, we introduced this bill to make sure that any fiesta-related activities are taking place within the respective villages."

San Nicolas said he had not yet spoken to mayors outside the executive team about the bill.

McDonald said he felt the concerns were overblown and that by utilizing the Tiyan facility, the mayors believed they were limiting the exposure to gambling activities. However, he said he agreed with limiting such activities to the specific villages. The gaming activities had only occurred last year, McDonald added. Even without the use of the facility, mayors would try to find ways to raise funds for their villages, he said.

The bill is expected to be discussed today during a regular MCOG meeting.

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New bill limits gambling activities to villages - The Guam Daily Post (press release) (registration)

Fifteen Chinese nationals were arrested Monday night for alleged involvement in illegal online gambling in Pasig City.

The Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police also arrested a Filipino male during a raid on the office of YD International Inc. at Belvedere Tower, San Miguel Avenue.

We secured certification from Pagcor that they are not authorized for online gambling, said Supt. Jay Guillermo, leader of the raiding team.

The arrested Chinese nationals included 10 men and five women. The Filipino suspect was identified as Russellbert Yuzon Villar. The PNP-ACG conducted the raid after obtaining a search warrant issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court.

According to Guillermo, the suspects put up a website for online gamblers in mainland China. When you go up the building, you wont recognize what company it is because the names are in Chinese.

The suspects allegedly recruited Chinese nationals as employees and brought them to Philippines as tourists. Every three or six months, they will be going back to China to apply for a tourist visa and then come back here, Guillermo added.

The online players in mainland China were required to open an account with the website. Losses are automatically deducted while winnings are automatically added to the account. But if you win big, there is a big possibility they will shut down the website so you cannot claim your winnings anymore. It is considered a scam, he said.

We received complaints from (players from) other countries like China that they won but they were not able to claim their prize, he added. PHILIP C. TUBEZA

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Pasig raid nets 15 Chinese in online gambling 'scam' - Inquirer.net

A government MP who told federal parliament gambling is a "social curse" invested in one of the world's largest poker machine manufacturers.

Sarah Henderson's most recent register of interests - dated September 2016 - reveals the member for Corangamite's share portfolio included "Aristocrat Liesure (sic)".

Aristocrat Leisure, a $10 billion company listed on the ASX 100, operates in 90 countries making poker machines and digital games.

Ms Henderson last month told parliament gambling was a considerable issue for her electorate.

"Gambling is a social curse for many families where it runs rampant and causes enormous issues with family breakdown and with financial hardship," she said.

"We have all heard so many stories about families losing their homes, losing their livelihoods, getting caught up in illegal activity trying to repay their gambling debts and, of course, causing enormous damage to the family unit."

She made the comments during a debate on proposed amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act.

It is not known how much money the MP invested in Aristocrat, or whether she still holds shares in the company.

AAP has contacted Ms Henderson's Geelong office for comment.

The Victorian MP said her shareholdings "are detailed in my Register of Members' Interests as is required" in a brief statement to the Geelong Advertiser.

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Anti-gambling MP invests in pokie company - NEWS.com.au

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has agreed to hear Phil Iveys infamous high-stakes baccarat case.

Ivey won 7.8 million British pounds while playing at Crockfords Casino London in August 2012. Ivey and a playing partner were able to spot manufacturing defects, in the form of asymmetries, on the backs of playing cards to gain an edge on the unsuspecting house.

Ivey never touched the cards and though his edge sorting isnt cheating, the casino refused to pay that man his money. Crockfords has so far been successful in keeping it.

Ivey lost a court decision in October 2014. The 10-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner lost an appeal in November of last year.

The New Jersey native issued a statement Tuesday following the Supreme Courts decision to hear his case.

Last Novembers Court of Appeal ruling made no sense to me, Ivey said. The original trial judge ruled that I was not dishonest and none of the three Appeal Court judges disagreed, and yet the decision went against me by a majority of 2 to 1. I am so pleased that the Supreme Court has granted me permission to fight for what I genuinely believe is the right thing to do in my circumstances, and for the entire gaming industry. I look forward to the Supreme Court reversing the decision against me.

Iveys attorney Matt Dowd also issued a statement praising the Supreme Court.

Phil and his legal team are delighted that the Supreme Court judges have decided that the Court of Appeals decision should be reviewed, Dowd said. The Court of Appeals ruling left the interpretation of Section 42 of the Gambling Act totally unclear and the decision to grant permission to appeal demonstrates that the Supreme Court agrees with that view.

Crockfords is owned by Genting Casinos, one of the largest casino operators in the world.

Ivey is fighting in a similar case over in Atlantic City. He edge sorted against Borgata, the citys largest casino, and was recently ordered to repay about $10 million. Unlike Crockfords, Borgata paid Ivey out before realizing that he had outsmarted the game.

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UK Supreme Court Decides To Hear Phil Ivey's Gambling Case - CardPlayer.com

Legal online gambling in Pennsylvania, which has been in the works and is baked into the state budget as another way to boost tax revenue, could generate more than $400 million for state coffers by 2022, according to a new report.

Produced by Play Pennsylvania and onlinepokerreport.com, two online gambling industry organizations that would reap the benefits of casino expansion, the report projects that the commonwealth could collect $126 million in upfront licensing fees from casinos operating the online sites.

A 20 percent tax rate could then add $46 million in 2018 a number that would grow to $72.8 million by 2022. Over the six-year period, the state would bring in $426.3 million in tax revenue.

The report, which uses New Jersey as an example of legalized gambling growth, projects that online casino and poker revenue in Pennsylvania would total $230 million in the first year, growing to $364 million by 2022.

In New Jersey, online gambling revenue grew from about $123 million in 2014 to nearly $200 million last year.

"Of any state that has already legalized some form of online gambling or is actively exploring the idea, Pennsylvania represents the biggest economic upside," said Robert DellaFave,author of the report. "Other contenders, namely New York and California, may own a larger population, but are only considering online poker legislation. Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey either offer, or plan to offer, both online poker and casino games, but their populations are a tier lower than Pennsylvania's."

The commonwealth has about 12.8 million people.

Online gambling will be a major topic for state lawmakers this spring. The current state budget assumed an extra $100 million in revenue from a gambling expansion, but legislation did not pass last year.

Gov. Tom Wolf's latest budget proposal for 2017-18 assumes that $100 million in revenue this year, plus another $150 million for the upcoming budget year that begins July 1. But the governor did not mention specific proposals for expansion in his budget.

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Report: Online gambling could raise $426M in Pa. tax revenue by 2022 - Central Penn Business Journal