What does a problem gambler look like?

Contrary to popular belief, the problem gambler doss not typically look like a reckless young hustler or the long-time loser viewers would often see in films. According to the Problem Gambler Help Network of West Virginia, the most common profile for a compulsive gambler is a middle-aged woman in a high-stress service industry such as social work or health care. Many of them work in casinos themselves. Since 2000, the non-profit group has compiled data on callers to its gambling help line and has created a profile from those statistics. Their reports show that an “average” problem gambler plays the slot machines, rather than games that require decisions such as blackjack and poker. They play these simple games to escape the stress of their jobs, families and life changes such as a loss of a loved one. These women frequently carry debts as high as US$25,000 to finance their slot ...

Right2Bet Seeks to Overturn EU Policy With Nakedness

If there is one thing that has proven to sell time and again, it's sex. And not even just "sex" in terms of the "act" is the only strong seller. Sex as gender sells like hotcakes too. And by that, I mean the female sex. No, I'm not just talking about porn. Face it guys - heterosexual guys that is - you know it's hard to resist clicking on an image of a pretty woman showing up in the search results - even if you weren't searching for an image of a pretty woman to begin with! Perhaps this is why Right2Bet has launched a campaign to drum up support for European online gambling regulation by, well, showcasing pretty women and their pretty body parts. The Get Naked campaign consists of both land-based and viral marketing tactics so as to capture 1,000,000 signatures in support of overturning current EU rulings that ...

Irish Poker Championship Online Satellites at Poker Stars

Everybody knows the Irish can handle their liquor. However, you might not know just how well they can handle their poker too. Well, I suppose liquor and poker are two activities that go well together, so no stretch there. Yet, considering just how big poker is in Ireland, it has to make you wonder why the World Series of Poker hasn't been held there yet. Well, that's probably because Ireland already has a big-name poker event. One of the largest poker events in Ireland, and the world for that matter is, fittingly enough, the Irish Poker Championship. So, if you find yourself in or around Ireland, get ready for it. The 2010 event is right around the corner. Several top name poker professionals have thus far confirmed their attendance at the Irish Poker Championship, including Andy Black, Surindar Sunar, Jon Kalmer, Marty Smyth, and let's not forget Poker Stars regular, Marcel Luske. ...

THE FRENCH ONLINE GAMBLING MARKET KEEPS IMPOROVING

Well ahead of the opening up of the French online and land casino gambling market, anticipated to happen in 2010, the French daily Le Monde carried reports indicating that numerous prominent players in the industry including Betlick, Unibet, and Bwin are already teeming with French interests in great anticipation. In major publicity and advertising activities specifically intended to raise awareness, the teams have reportedly joined hands with time honoured firms like the state controlled Francaise des Jeux and Tour de France Amaury in funding numerous sporting and a variety of activities. Unlike what has been in the past, there are indications that French authorities, knowing that change is looming are beginning to take a tolerant position. Unibet is reportedly backing up its pledge of Euro 1 million in a renewable treaty for the coming year. The company is already teaming up with the Paris Saint-Germain football club, with the ...

Friedman wins WPT Legends of Poker

Poker pro Prahlad “Spirit Rock” Friedman earned his first World Poker Tour title when he defeated Kevin Schaffel heads-up at the Legends of Poker main event at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles. Friedman took home US$1,000,900 and an entry into the WPT Championship event at Las Vegas’ Bellagio Casino in May worth US$25,000. This victory also earned him his first million-dollar tournament win. In an ironic twist, Mr. Friedman knocked out the first player at the TV table, longtime poker pro Mike Krescanko, when Freidman held pocket kings and Mr. Krescanko held ace-queen offsuit. He also eliminated his last opponent heads-up when he held ace-queen offsuit against Mr. Schaffel’s king-jack offsuit. The board was ten-high and Mr. Friedman’s ace-high hand held up to win the title. Friedman’s win was also his first tournament title since he won his only WSOP bracelet in the US$1500 buy-in pot-limit hold’em event in ...

Online gaming payment processors faces bank fraud charges

A Canadian man who opened several US-based bank accounts to process online gaming profits for US customers is facing federal bank fraud and money laundering charges. Douglas Rennick opened accounts under corporate entities with names such as Check Payment Financial Company, Account Services Corporation and KJB Financial Corporation to disburse payments from overseas accounts to American customers of online gaming sites. In the terms of the federal indictment announced this week, Mr. Rennick was charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. If convicted on all counts, Mr. Rennick could face up to fifty-five years in prison and fines nearing US$2 million. Authorities also want to seize over US$566 million in the accounts that they claim were the revenues generated by the illegal gambling business. American authorities state that Mr. Rennick and his associates claimed that the ...

Six-figure agreement will initially be for a year

Online bookmaker and gaming company Victor Chandler has announced it is to become the official sponsor of Coca-Cola Championship football club Nottingham Forest for the season 09/10 for an initial one-year term for a significant six-figure sum. Victor Chandler has secured a wide range of Nottingham Forest rights. The historic Victor Chandler brand will appear on Forest’s new home and away kits, as well as adult replica kits. The famous Victor Chandler script logo will have a major presence in The City Ground, and will become the In-Stadia betting partner. In addition Victor Chandler has plans for promotions and benefits for adult season ticket holders and fans purchasing the new home and away shirts. Victor Chandler make Nottingham Forest a best price 40/1 to win the Championship this season, and 10/1 to be promoted to the Premier League by any means. They are 11/10 to finish above local rivals Derby County and ...

Say that just won’t go away

There has been continued speculation this week on whether one of Britain's biggest online and land gambling groups, William Hill plc, is getting set to move its online operations out of the UK. It's a frequently raised possibility triggered by rising taxes and competition (see previous InfoPowa reports). Adding weight to the rumours this week was an interview given to the Financial Times by Will Hill's CEO Ralph Topping. “We face worldwide competition from 400 or so English-language betting websites," the executive said. "In these circumstances, clearly we do not have the luxury of being parochial about our future or taking a simplistic stance on complicated issues.” Topping went on to cite competitive pressure from low-tax jurisdiction rivals such as Paddy Power and Bwin, triggering renewed rumours that the UK company was seriously considering moving its key telephone and Internet betting operations offshore. Topping has in the past commented that he sees ...

InternetSafety Selected to Power BetStopper, Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation’s Program to Combat Youth Casinos and Gaming

InternetSafety today announced that it developed and is powering the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation's (NSGC) new BetStopper software, a free tool being offered toNova Scotia families to help combat online youth gambling. The program - the world's first online gambling blocking software - utilizes InternetSafety.com's award-winning web filtering technology to prevent users from accessing online gambling sites. BetStopper was introduced at the 5th Annual We Love Our Children Expo that took place last weekend inNova Scotia. The software was developed in response to research showing thatNova Scotia youth are gambling online three times more frequently than adults. Many of the more than 2,500 casino-style Internet gambling sites fail to enforce access and age restrictions. Some studies have shown that that the average adult problem gambler started gambling at age 10, so youth gambling is a real concern. NSGC selected InternetSafety.com as its technology provider because of the market success of the ...

Waves of fun aboard the Carnival Pride

When I heard Carnival Cruise Lines would begin sailing year-round from Baltimore, I was not excited. I was glad that it meant more jobs and a boost to Maryland's economy, but a Carnival cruise wasn't going to be part of my vacation plans. You see, Carnival and I parted company years ago after I took a disappointing cruise from Miami. The food was unappetizing, the passengers unruly and the ship unremarkable. It seemed most of the guests brought booze while I brought my mother. Mom and I haven't cruised together since. But cruising has become such a growth industry for Maryland, mostly because home ports -- places where travelers can hop on a cruise ship without ever getting on a plane -- have been so successful. With a couple of ships newly arriving to the port of Baltimore this year, and with Carnival being the largest, I decided I needed to give ...