Archive for May, 2010

An idea first proposed last year in California will take the next step toward realization on Tuesday, when State Senator Rod Wright issues his bill proposing the creation of an intranet poker network. Naturally this proposal has provoked much discussion in local media. The proposal seeks to limit the number of online casinos offering legal gambling in California and to collect a minimum of 20% of revenue from these websites to fill the state budget deficit. Some estimates say that Californians spent $300 million on poker websites alone in 2009.

The (Sacramento) Press-Enterprise: Online poker bill to emerge

A bill from state senator Rod Wright is expected within a few days that would provide players in California the opportunity to legally choose between multiple online poker websites, in hopes of generating billions of dollars in tax revenue for the treasury.

Competing with Wright’s proposal is a plan put forth by the Morongo Ban of Mission Indians, a group that would create a “tribal intrastate Internet poker consortium” to act as a monopoly over a California-wide poker network, but Wright seeks to introduce a system of natural competition with his bill.

Expected to be put out on Tuesday, Wright’s bill seems to be based on the standard European model. Wright proposes that the California Department of Justice award five-year contracts to between one and three online poker websites based within the state. A minimum of 20% of revenue generated would be paid to the state in taxes.

Wright estimates that after passage of the bill, it might take another three years to have such an online poker system running. Californians spent an estimated $300 million on Internet poker last year. The state of California will have a $19.1 billion deficit as of June 2011.

NBC Bay Area: Can Online Gambling Save California?

The taxation of online gambling may be a way to solve part of the state’s budget problems – even more so than marijuana legalization. Supporters of decriminalisation of Internet gambling have claimed that regulating and taxing Internet gaming could earn up to $42 billion in federal taxes.

In California, some politicians who are pro-online gambling push such taxation as potentially bringing money and jobs to the state. This includes firms in Silicon Valley such as CyberArts, which produces Internet casino architectural software known as Foundation.

Though online gambling remains controversial even in California, the time to make it legal may have come. One consult was quoted as saying “it’s generally easier to pass something like (online gambling regulations) in a recession.”

Tech Jackal: California close to being the first state to legalize online poker

California may be on the way to becoming the first U.S. state to legalize online poker, because of state senator Rod Wright’s proposed new bill. Wright heads up the California Senate committee which overseeing gambling among other areas.

The addition of further taxes and revenues created from state-based gambling websites would go to directly addressing the state budget deficit, though Wright emphasized he sought to avoid a single-company monopoly.

Wright said that online gambling taxation “is an asset that is underperforming and it belongs to the state. It should be nondiscriminatory in terms of the people who participate. It’ll go to the people who want it and show up and bid.”

In order to take advantage of any opportunity to establish online poker or casino gaming for California citizens, website operators will have to meet certain specified legal, technical and financial conditions.

An idea first proposed last year in California will take the next step toward realization on Tuesday, when State Senator Rod Wright issues his bill proposing the creation of an intranet poker network. Naturally this proposal has provoked much discussion in local media. The proposal seeks to limit the number of online casinos offering legal gambling in California and to collect a minimum of 20% of revenue from these websites to fill the state budget deficit. Some estimates say that Californians spent $300 million on poker websites alone in 2009.

The (Sacramento) Press-Enterprise: Online poker bill to emerge

A bill from state senator Rod Wright is expected within a few days that would provide players in California the opportunity to legally choose between multiple online poker websites, in hopes of generating billions of dollars in tax revenue for the treasury.

Competing with Wright’s proposal is a plan put forth by the Morongo Ban of Mission Indians, a group that would create a “tribal intrastate Internet poker consortium” to act as a monopoly over a California-wide poker network, but Wright seeks to introduce a system of natural competition with his bill.

Expected to be put out on Tuesday, Wright’s bill seems to be based on the standard European model. Wright proposes that the California Department of Justice award five-year contracts to between one and three online poker websites based within the state. A minimum of 20% of revenue generated would be paid to the state in taxes.

Wright estimates that after passage of the bill, it might take another three years to have such an online poker system running. Californians spent an estimated $300 million on Internet poker last year. The state of California will have a $19.1 billion deficit as of June 2011.

NBC Bay Area: Can Online Gambling Save California?

The taxation of online gambling may be a way to solve part of the state’s budget problems – even more so than marijuana legalization. Supporters of decriminalisation of Internet gambling have claimed that regulating and taxing Internet gaming could earn up to $42 billion in federal taxes.

In California, some politicians who are pro-online gambling push such taxation as potentially bringing money and jobs to the state. This includes firms in Silicon Valley such as CyberArts, which produces Internet casino architectural software known as Foundation.

Though online gambling remains controversial even in California, the time to make it legal may have come. One consult was quoted as saying “it’s generally easier to pass something like (online gambling regulations) in a recession.”

Tech Jackal: California close to being the first state to legalize online poker

California may be on the way to becoming the first U.S. state to legalize online poker, because of state senator Rod Wright’s proposed new bill. Wright heads up the California Senate committee which overseeing gambling among other areas.

The addition of further taxes and revenues created from state-based gambling websites would go to directly addressing the state budget deficit, though Wright emphasized he sought to avoid a single-company monopoly.

Wright said that online gambling taxation “is an asset that is underperforming and it belongs to the state. It should be nondiscriminatory in terms of the people who participate. It’ll go to the people who want it and show up and bid.”

In order to take advantage of any opportunity to establish online poker or casino gaming for California citizens, website operators will have to meet certain specified legal, technical and financial conditions.

Afrikaans: Wêreldbeker
Arabic: كأس العالم
Bulgarian: Световно първенство
Catalan: Copa del Món
Chinese: 世界杯
Czech: Světový pohár
Danish: Verdensmesterskab
Dutch: Wereldkampioenschap voetbal
Finnish: Maailmancup
Flemish: Weireldkampioenschap sjotten
French: Coupe du Monde
German: Weltmeisterschaft
Greek: Παγκόσμιο Κύπελλο
Hebrew: גביע העולם
Hindi: विश्व कप
Hungarian: Világ Kupa
Icelandic: Heimsmeistarakeppnin
Indonesian: Piala Dunia
Italian: Coppa del Mondo Il Mondiale
Japanese: W杯
Korean: 세계 축구
Lithuanian: Pasaulio čempionatas
Macedonian: Светско првенство
Malay: Piala Dunia
Maltese: Tazza tad-Dinja
Persian: جام جهانی
Portuguese: Copa do Mundo
Romanian: Cupa Mondială
Russian: Кубок мира
Serbian: Светско првенство
Slovakian: Svetový pohár
Slovenian: Svetovni pokal
Spanish: Copa do Mundo La Copa Mundial
Swedish: Världscupen
Thai: ฟุตบอลโลก
Turkish: Dünya Kupası
Ukrainian: Кубок світу
Vietnamese: Cúp bóng đá thế giới

Drop us a comment for any corrections or additions

Check out World Cup Odds

Afrikaans: Wêreldbeker
Arabic: كأس العالم
Bulgarian: Световно първенство
Catalan: Copa del Món
Chinese: 世界杯
Czech: Světový pohár
Danish: Verdensmesterskab
Dutch: Wereldkampioenschap voetbal
Finnish: Maailmancup
Flemish: Weireldkampioenschap sjotten
French: Coupe du Monde
German: Weltmeisterschaft
Greek: Παγκόσμιο Κύπελλο
Hebrew: גביע העולם
Hindi: विश्व कप
Hungarian: Világ Kupa
Icelandic: Heimsmeistarakeppnin
Indonesian: Piala Dunia
Italian: Coppa del Mondo Il Mondiale
Japanese: W杯
Korean: 세계 축구
Lithuanian: Pasaulio čempionatas
Macedonian: Светско првенство
Malay: Piala Dunia
Maltese: Tazza tad-Dinja
Persian: جام جهانی
Portuguese: Copa do Mundo
Romanian: Cupa Mondială
Russian: Кубок мира
Serbian: Светско првенство
Slovakian: Svetový pohár
Slovenian: Svetovni pokal
Spanish: Copa do Mundo La Copa Mundial
Swedish: Världscupen
Thai: ฟุตบอลโลก
Turkish: Dünya Kupası
Ukrainian: Кубок світу
Vietnamese: Cúp bóng đá thế giới

Drop us a comment for any corrections or additions

Check out World Cup Odds

The state lottery groups of several Canadian provinces are joining forces to build what will eventually be a nation-wide mobile gambling platform offering casino-style games as well as internet poker. The system will use geo-location technology to make sure players are within the proper jurisdiction before they will be allowed to play.

Winnipeg Free Press: Provinces get in the game

Canadians spend an estimated $1 billion a year gambling on the internet and most of this money goes to offshore gambling sites. Recently, the provinces have been moving in to grab their share of this money.

Later this year, six Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Quebec and the four Atlantic provinces) intend to share a common online gambling platform that will offer online poker and internet casino games.

The Atlantic Lottery Corp. and the British Columbia Lottery Corp. have both been offering online gambling for several years, but so far, their internet gambling offerings only make up about 1% of their revenues. They expect this number to climb once they begin to offer the types of online casino games that players can currently only access through offshore gambling sites.

“We estimate that by the end of 2012/13, e-gaming revenue will be about 3.5 per cent of BCLC’s overall revenue,” a corporation spokeswoman said.

The Montreal Gazette: Gambling on the go

Loto-Québec, B.C. Lottery Corp. and Atlantic Lottery Corp. have announced a plan to launch a common online gambling platform this fall.

Bob Rybak, a consultant working with Atlantic Lottery, says the system will likely expand through the rest of Canada 18 months, as Western Lottery Corp. and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. join in.

Canadian gamblers spent around $800 million gambling online in 2009, and according to Rybak,”the vast majority of that money going offshore.”

Provinces want to funnel some of that money back into Canada, so lottery corporations have figured out a way to provide “a legal and credible” option to Canadian gamblers. The new platform will include casino-style gambling as well as an online poker network.

Rybak envisions players using mobile phones, laptops and lottery kiosk terminals to plug into a library of online casino games. It is a vision of “gambling-on-the-go”. Wireless devices like the Apple iPad will even be added to the mix, says Rybak.

The system will use geo-location technology to make sure that only within approved jurisdictions can access the site. Other software will help determine the gambler’s identity for age verification purposes.

Times Colonist: Nationwide platform to link gamblers on the go

B.C. Lottery Corp. is working to build a nationwide Canadian internet gambling platform that will give players access to online casino games and poker games through mobile devices such as cellphones and netbooks.

The platform will go live this fall, and will be launched in cooperation with Loto-Québec and Atlantic Lottery. Bob Rybak, a gambling consultant with Atlantic Lottery, expects the rest of Canada’s provinces to join eventually.

Rybak stresses that public acceptance of a nationwide online gambling system will depend on the system’s ability to ensure underage players cannot access the games.

Like their offshore competitors, Canada’s online gambling groups will use geo-location software to make sure gamblers are within the proper jurisdictions before they will be allowed to sign up and play.

The state lottery groups of several Canadian provinces are joining forces to build what will eventually be a nation-wide mobile gambling platform offering casino-style games as well as internet poker. The system will use geo-location technology to make sure players are within the proper jurisdiction before they will be allowed to play.

Winnipeg Free Press: Provinces get in the game

Canadians spend an estimated $1 billion a year gambling on the internet and most of this money goes to offshore gambling sites. Recently, the provinces have been moving in to grab their share of this money.

Later this year, six Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Quebec and the four Atlantic provinces) intend to share a common online gambling platform that will offer online poker and internet casino games.

The Atlantic Lottery Corp. and the British Columbia Lottery Corp. have both been offering online gambling for several years, but so far, their internet gambling offerings only make up about 1% of their revenues. They expect this number to climb once they begin to offer the types of online casino games that players can currently only access through offshore gambling sites.

“We estimate that by the end of 2012/13, e-gaming revenue will be about 3.5 per cent of BCLC’s overall revenue,” a corporation spokeswoman said.

The Montreal Gazette: Gambling on the go

Loto-Québec, B.C. Lottery Corp. and Atlantic Lottery Corp. have announced a plan to launch a common online gambling platform this fall.

Bob Rybak, a consultant working with Atlantic Lottery, says the system will likely expand through the rest of Canada 18 months, as Western Lottery Corp. and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. join in.

Canadian gamblers spent around $800 million gambling online in 2009, and according to Rybak,”the vast majority of that money going offshore.”

Provinces want to funnel some of that money back into Canada, so lottery corporations have figured out a way to provide “a legal and credible” option to Canadian gamblers. The new platform will include casino-style gambling as well as an online poker network.

Rybak envisions players using mobile phones, laptops and lottery kiosk terminals to plug into a library of online casino games. It is a vision of “gambling-on-the-go”. Wireless devices like the Apple iPad will even be added to the mix, says Rybak.

The system will use geo-location technology to make sure that only within approved jurisdictions can access the site. Other software will help determine the gambler’s identity for age verification purposes.

Times Colonist: Nationwide platform to link gamblers on the go

B.C. Lottery Corp. is working to build a nationwide Canadian internet gambling platform that will give players access to online casino games and poker games through mobile devices such as cellphones and netbooks.

The platform will go live this fall, and will be launched in cooperation with Loto-Québec and Atlantic Lottery. Bob Rybak, a gambling consultant with Atlantic Lottery, expects the rest of Canada’s provinces to join eventually.

Rybak stresses that public acceptance of a nationwide online gambling system will depend on the system’s ability to ensure underage players cannot access the games.

Like their offshore competitors, Canada’s online gambling groups will use geo-location software to make sure gamblers are within the proper jurisdictions before they will be allowed to sign up and play.

Europe’s most popular entertainment competition is also one of the world’s most wagered-upon TV events: We’re talking about the Eurovision Song Contest here, a talent show watched by as many as 600 million television viewers plus another 75 million or so by online stream.

While the 2010 edition of the contest has a prospective winner pretty much wire to wire – last year, Alexander Rybak of Norway had shorter than 1/1 odds before the final – a heavy favorite has emerged only after the second-favorites,

A brief look at the leading contenders, with odds provided by Paddy Power, follows.

•  Sufara, “Drip Drop,” Azerbaijan. Country that only first entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 has a near-certain winner this year with this easy, sappy ballad.

Representative (translated) lyrics: “I don’t know how to stop / How to stop / These tear drops / That drip drop, drip drop / Drip drop, drip drop.”

Odds: 6/4.

•  Eva Rivas, “Apricot Stone,” Armenia. Sentimental song of homeland and childhood stands a chance against Sufara, if only because it’s in English, a definite boost to any contender in this competition.

Representative lyrics: “Now I see the Northern stars / Shining brightly in the storm / And I’ve got an avatar / Of my love to keep me warm.”

Odds: 8/1.

•  Harel Skaat, “Milim,” Israel. The strongest entry from the pretty-boy category, Skaat has charisma to spare.

Representative (translated) lyrics: “The sadness is here again, the fear is here again / And the end is at my window. / Broken glass and silence again / Exhausted and forsaken in my mind.”

Odds: 12/1.

•  Manga, “We Could be the Same,” Turkey. Sensitive boy band implies a sort of cross-cultural “Romeo & Juliet” love story.

Representative lyrics: “But I know the world could be great / I can love you more than they hate / Doesn’t matter who they’ll blame / We can beat them at their own game.”

Odds: 12/1.

•  Niamh Kavanagh, “It’s for You,” Ireland. The once-dominant country returns to the Eurovision Song Contest final with perhaps its strongest entry in years.

Representative lyrics: “Look into these eyes / Hold onto these hands / Believe in this heartbeat.”

Odds: 14/1.

Other countries represented in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest final include Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine. The final round starts at 7pm CET on Saturday night.

Europe’s most popular entertainment competition is also one of the world’s most wagered-upon TV events: We’re talking about the Eurovision Song Contest here, a talent show watched by as many as 600 million television viewers plus another 75 million or so by online stream.

While the 2010 edition of the contest has a prospective winner pretty much wire to wire – last year, Alexander Rybak of Norway had shorter than 1/1 odds before the final – a heavy favorite has emerged only after the second-favorites,

A brief look at the leading contenders, with odds provided by Paddy Power, follows.

•  Sufara, “Drip Drop,” Azerbaijan. Country that only first entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 has a near-certain winner this year with this easy, sappy ballad.

Representative (translated) lyrics: “I don’t know how to stop / How to stop / These tear drops / That drip drop, drip drop / Drip drop, drip drop.”

Odds: 6/4.

•  Eva Rivas, “Apricot Stone,” Armenia. Sentimental song of homeland and childhood stands a chance against Sufara, if only because it’s in English, a definite boost to any contender in this competition.

Representative lyrics: “Now I see the Northern stars / Shining brightly in the storm / And I’ve got an avatar / Of my love to keep me warm.”

Odds: 8/1.

•  Harel Skaat, “Milim,” Israel. The strongest entry from the pretty-boy category, Skaat has charisma to spare.

Representative (translated) lyrics: “The sadness is here again, the fear is here again / And the end is at my window. / Broken glass and silence again / Exhausted and forsaken in my mind.”

Odds: 12/1.

•  Manga, “We Could be the Same,” Turkey. Sensitive boy band implies a sort of cross-cultural “Romeo & Juliet” love story.

Representative lyrics: “But I know the world could be great / I can love you more than they hate / Doesn’t matter who they’ll blame / We can beat them at their own game.”

Odds: 12/1.

•  Niamh Kavanagh, “It’s for You,” Ireland. The once-dominant country returns to the Eurovision Song Contest final with perhaps its strongest entry in years.

Representative lyrics: “Look into these eyes / Hold onto these hands / Believe in this heartbeat.”

Odds: 14/1.

Other countries represented in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest final include Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine. The final round starts at 7pm CET on Saturday night.

1. Sebastien Vettel

A German on the Red Bull team, Vettel is the best in the business. In 2009 his big wins in China and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix helped bring him to the top.

2. Mark Webber

This Australian on the Red Bull team is often overshadowed by teammate Sebastien Vettel, yet with his consistently excellent performances is still one of the best.

3. Fernando Alonso

A Spaniard on the Ferrari team, Alonso has placed in top 3 of a race a whopping 55 times

4. Jenson Button

With 2010 being his first year on the McLaren team, Button silenced his critics by carrying the weight of his team (yes, over Lewis Hamilton) and miraculously winning races in poor weather conditions

5. Felipe Massa

A Brazilian on the Ferrari team, Massa has bounced back in big-time fashion after a crazy accident in Hungary in which a loose spring from another car hit his head and fractured his skull

6. Robert Kubica

On the Renault team, this Polish man’s second place at round two in Australia shocked everyone and sent reverberations through the Formula 1 racing community.

7. Lewis Hamilton

A confident and feared racer, Hamilton has found his match on the McLaren team with new teammate Jenson Button. His two impressive podiums from the four opening rounds keep him in the top 10

8. Nico Rosberg

A German on the Mercedes GP team, Rosberg looks to continue dominating his teammate Schumacher as he heads to Europe for more races. With his skilled maneuevers on the racetrack Rosberg has a knack for finding the podium almost every race

9. Michael Schumacher

A fan favorite, Schumacher has not done as well on the Mercedes GP team as he initially hoped. However, he heads to Europe with confident expectations and renewed vigor to overtake Rosberg in the standings

10. Adrian Sutil

Sutil has shattered expectations and ignored limitations as he held down the fort for the Force India team in the beginning of the 2010 season. He has already placed 3rd on 4 occasions as well as an incredible comeback 5th place in Malaysia.

Bet on F1

1. Sebastien Vettel

A German on the Red Bull team, Vettel is the best in the business. In 2009 his big wins in China and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix helped bring him to the top.

2. Mark Webber

This Australian on the Red Bull team is often overshadowed by teammate Sebastien Vettel, yet with his consistently excellent performances is still one of the best.

3. Fernando Alonso

A Spaniard on the Ferrari team, Alonso has placed in top 3 of a race a whopping 55 times

4. Jenson Button

With 2010 being his first year on the McLaren team, Button silenced his critics by carrying the weight of his team (yes, over Lewis Hamilton) and miraculously winning races in poor weather conditions

5. Felipe Massa

A Brazilian on the Ferrari team, Massa has bounced back in big-time fashion after a crazy accident in Hungary in which a loose spring from another car hit his head and fractured his skull

6. Robert Kubica

On the Renault team, this Polish man’s second place at round two in Australia shocked everyone and sent reverberations through the Formula 1 racing community.

7. Lewis Hamilton

A confident and feared racer, Hamilton has found his match on the McLaren team with new teammate Jenson Button. His two impressive podiums from the four opening rounds keep him in the top 10

8. Nico Rosberg

A German on the Mercedes GP team, Rosberg looks to continue dominating his teammate Schumacher as he heads to Europe for more races. With his skilled maneuevers on the racetrack Rosberg has a knack for finding the podium almost every race

9. Michael Schumacher

A fan favorite, Schumacher has not done as well on the Mercedes GP team as he initially hoped. However, he heads to Europe with confident expectations and renewed vigor to overtake Rosberg in the standings

10. Adrian Sutil

Sutil has shattered expectations and ignored limitations as he held down the fort for the Force India team in the beginning of the 2010 season. He has already placed 3rd on 4 occasions as well as an incredible comeback 5th place in Malaysia.

Bet on F1

Though still affected by the slumping worldwide economy, Sportingbet representatives were recently quite happy to announce the sportsbook’s profitable third-quarter results for the fiscal year. Key markets of Spain and Greece were unimpressive for Sportingbet, but a large influx from Australia proved to be the financial difference. The next year may be a bit difficult for the bookmaker, though, as new gambling laws in France are forcing the company’s withdrawal from that market.

Interactive Investor: Australia drives Sportingbet Q3

For the third quarter of its fiscal year, Sportingbet reported net gaming revenue to be up 29.8 percent to £55.7 million. Total bets in the period ending in April increased 22 percent to £521 million (approximately $750 million) wagered.

“Given the widely reported economic difficulties in Spain and Greece, which are two of our biggest markets,” said Sportingbet CEO Andrew McIver, “it is pleasing to report an 18 percent increase in profits.” Sportingbet business in Greece increased 8 percent, while Spain was stagnant for the bookmaker.

Sportingbet shares, which earlier in the week had hit a nine-month low at 57.5p, had rebounded by 3.7 percent to 62.5p on the morning of the announcement of results, valuing the company at £307 million.

McIver cited the advantages of geographical diversification business, and added that the company’s fourth quarter would be focused on the World Cup, repeating his comments of May that “much of how the remainder of this quarter performs will depend on the outcome of (the World Cup).”

In addressing next year’s results, Sportingbet stated that it would no longer be accepting bets from French players in light of the new licensing regulations for offshore online casino owners there. Sportingbet will apply for licensing in France, but due to the time involved plus some permanent loss of revenue, fiscal year 2011 is expected to be down for Sportingbet.

Financial Times: Australian profits drive Sportingbet

Since the Australian market showed in 19 percent raise in gross amount wagered in the third quarter of the fiscal year, Sportingbet was able to report a 13 percent jump in pre-tax profits.

Australian wagering at Sportingbet increased from £153.2 million to £182.1 million. Reasons given for the profitable quarter in Australia included “horse racing results that favored the bookmaker” and liberalization of advertising regulations in the country.

Sportingbet also reported weak intake from Spain and Greece, two markets that make up about 33 percent of Sportingbet revenue. For comparison, the bookmaker draws about 5 percent of its business from the U.K.

Sportingbet representatives also reported that they anticipate a further increase in revenues in the fourth quarter because of World Cup betting. Betting on soccer makes up 61 percent of sportsbook activity at Sportingbet.

Stock Markets Review: Sportingbet report Strong Q3 for sports and casino

Sportingbet’s fiscal results for quarter three were reported as strong, with net gaming revenue increasing 30 percent year-on-year (or 27 percent with exchange rate fluctuation taken into account). In addition to the excellent results in Australia, sports and casino growth in Europe was also called “strong.”

For Sportingbet, European sportsbook activity increased 21 percent YoY to £29.1 million. Casino gaming was up 17 percent to £11.6 million, with particular good results for the Sportingbet flash casino. Poker gaming at Sportingbet was down 10 percent YoY to £4.5 million.

With regard to the French market, Sportingbet indicated that it expected to receive sports, horseracing and poker licenses in early 2011 and that the company had already entered into marketing partnerships to advertise in “Le Monde” and “L’Express” newspapers.

Though still affected by the slumping worldwide economy, Sportingbet representatives were recently quite happy to announce the sportsbook’s profitable third-quarter results for the fiscal year. Key markets of Spain and Greece were unimpressive for Sportingbet, but a large influx from Australia proved to be the financial difference. The next year may be a bit difficult for the bookmaker, though, as new gambling laws in France are forcing the company’s withdrawal from that market.

Interactive Investor: Australia drives Sportingbet Q3

For the third quarter of its fiscal year, Sportingbet reported net gaming revenue to be up 29.8 percent to £55.7 million. Total bets in the period ending in April increased 22 percent to £521 million (approximately $750 million) wagered.

“Given the widely reported economic difficulties in Spain and Greece, which are two of our biggest markets,” said Sportingbet CEO Andrew McIver, “it is pleasing to report an 18 percent increase in profits.” Sportingbet business in Greece increased 8 percent, while Spain was stagnant for the bookmaker.

Sportingbet shares, which earlier in the week had hit a nine-month low at 57.5p, had rebounded by 3.7 percent to 62.5p on the morning of the announcement of results, valuing the company at £307 million.

McIver cited the advantages of geographical diversification business, and added that the company’s fourth quarter would be focused on the World Cup, repeating his comments of May that “much of how the remainder of this quarter performs will depend on the outcome of (the World Cup).”

In addressing next year’s results, Sportingbet stated that it would no longer be accepting bets from French players in light of the new licensing regulations for offshore online casino owners there. Sportingbet will apply for licensing in France, but due to the time involved plus some permanent loss of revenue, fiscal year 2011 is expected to be down for Sportingbet.

Financial Times: Australian profits drive Sportingbet

Since the Australian market showed in 19 percent raise in gross amount wagered in the third quarter of the fiscal year, Sportingbet was able to report a 13 percent jump in pre-tax profits.

Australian wagering at Sportingbet increased from £153.2 million to £182.1 million. Reasons given for the profitable quarter in Australia included “horse racing results that favored the bookmaker” and liberalization of advertising regulations in the country.

Sportingbet also reported weak intake from Spain and Greece, two markets that make up about 33 percent of Sportingbet revenue. For comparison, the bookmaker draws about 5 percent of its business from the U.K.

Sportingbet representatives also reported that they anticipate a further increase in revenues in the fourth quarter because of World Cup betting. Betting on soccer makes up 61 percent of sportsbook activity at Sportingbet.

Stock Markets Review: Sportingbet report Strong Q3 for sports and casino

Sportingbet’s fiscal results for quarter three were reported as strong, with net gaming revenue increasing 30 percent year-on-year (or 27 percent with exchange rate fluctuation taken into account). In addition to the excellent results in Australia, sports and casino growth in Europe was also called “strong.”

For Sportingbet, European sportsbook activity increased 21 percent YoY to £29.1 million. Casino gaming was up 17 percent to £11.6 million, with particular good results for the Sportingbet flash casino. Poker gaming at Sportingbet was down 10 percent YoY to £4.5 million.

With regard to the French market, Sportingbet indicated that it expected to receive sports, horseracing and poker licenses in early 2011 and that the company had already entered into marketing partnerships to advertise in “Le Monde” and “L’Express” newspapers.

Irish internet bookie Paddy Power has jumped on the news of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and has decided to offer its members odds on animal extinctions caused by the greasy mess. Kemp’s Ridley Turtle, an endangered species that migrates to the Gulf this time of year, is the favorite for the first to go, paying at 4 to 5. On the other hand, the gulf sturgeon, smalltooth sawfish and elkhorn coral all long shots with payout rates of 20 to 1.

These extinction odds are listed in the Current Affairs section under “BP Specials”, and are offered alongside odds on who will be the company’s next CEO.

Irish internet bookie Paddy Power has jumped on the news of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and has decided to offer its members odds on animal extinctions caused by the greasy mess. Kemp’s Ridley Turtle, an endangered species that migrates to the Gulf this time of year, is the favorite for the first to go, paying at 4 to 5. On the other hand, the gulf sturgeon, smalltooth sawfish and elkhorn coral all long shots with payout rates of 20 to 1.

These extinction odds are listed in the Current Affairs section under “BP Specials”, and are offered alongside odds on who will be the company’s next CEO.

Ok, so it’s not literally volcano insurance, but it might as well be. The eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjoell volcano last month filled Europe’s skys with clouds of ash. This ash disrupted airline travel, and lead to the closure of some of the biggest airports in the world.

Scientists reported today that a second Icelandic volcano may erupt soon. Fortunately, bettors can cash in if they get their timing right! Over at Paddy Power Sportsbook, they are offering odds on what dates London’s Heathrow airport will be shut down due to ash clouds. Since experts are saying that another eruption could cause more closures, punters would do well to put some money down.

Visits Volcano Betting at Paddy Power

Ok, so it’s not literally volcano insurance, but it might as well be. The eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjoell volcano last month filled Europe’s skys with clouds of ash. This ash disrupted airline travel, and lead to the closure of some of the biggest airports in the world.

Scientists reported today that a second Icelandic volcano may erupt soon. Fortunately, bettors can cash in if they get their timing right! Over at Paddy Power Sportsbook, they are offering odds on what dates London’s Heathrow airport will be shut down due to ash clouds. Since experts are saying that another eruption could cause more closures, punters would do well to put some money down.

Visits Volcano Betting at Paddy Power

1. Brazil has appeared in more World Cups (18), won the more matches (64), and won more Cups (5) than any other country.

2. Since the first World Cup in 1930, a total of 31,051,828 fans have attended the Finals.

3. July 31 was declared a national holiday in Uruguay after they won the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

4. Shirt swapping was officially prohibited in 1986 because FIFA did not want players to bare their chests on the soccer field.

5. Europe and South America are the only contents to produce World Cup winners.

6. The youngest World Cup player was 17 year old Norman Whiteside (Ireland) and the oldest was 42 year old Roger Milla (Cameroon).

7. Mexico has lost the most matches in World Cups Finals history (22).

8. During WWII, to prevent the Nazis from stealing the Jules Rimet Trophy, Dr. Ottorino Barassi, an Italian sports official, smuggled the trophy from the bank in Rome and hid it under his bed.

9. The winners of the 2010 World Cup will receive $30,000,000 prize money

10. The official 2010 World Cup Mascot is a green and gold leopard man named Zakumi.

FIFA World Cup Betting Odds

1. Brazil has appeared in more World Cups (18), won the more matches (64), and won more Cups (5) than any other country.

2. Since the first World Cup in 1930, a total of 31,051,828 fans have attended the Finals.

3. July 31 was declared a national holiday in Uruguay after they won the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

4. Shirt swapping was officially prohibited in 1986 because FIFA did not want players to bare their chests on the soccer field.

5. Europe and South America are the only contents to produce World Cup winners.

6. The youngest World Cup player was 17 year old Norman Whiteside (Ireland) and the oldest was 42 year old Roger Milla (Cameroon).

7. Mexico has lost the most matches in World Cups Finals history (22).

8. During WWII, to prevent the Nazis from stealing the Jules Rimet Trophy, Dr. Ottorino Barassi, an Italian sports official, smuggled the trophy from the bank in Rome and hid it under his bed.

9. The winners of the 2010 World Cup will receive $30,000,000 prize money

10. The official 2010 World Cup Mascot is a green and gold leopard man named Zakumi.

FIFA World Cup Betting Odds

Nicodemo Scarfo, a man with alleged ties to the New York-based Lucchese crime family, was detained from his home Friday and taken into custody on charges of racketeering, money laundering, and gambling. Scarfo allegedly had ties with an illegal bookmaking ring that processed billions of dollars in bets through an online gambling site to a wire room in Costa Rica. His bail has been set, and his attorney expects he will be released soon.

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Scarfo’s bail set at $350,000 in betting operation

Nicodemo Scarfo says he is an unemployed research analyst who did legal consulting work for attorneys. New Jersey state prosecutors paint a different picture, saying he is an organized crime involved in a $2 billion illegal online sports betting operation.

Theses contrasting biographies were drafted during yesterday’s bail hearing in Morris County Superior Court before Judge Thomas Manahan, where bail was set at $350,000.

Scafro is a reputed member of the Lucchese crime family. He faces charges of racketeering, conspiracy, money-laundering and illegal gambling, all stemming from his alleged involvement in an online sports betting operation that funneled bets through a wire room in Costa Rica. Scarfo is just one of 34 reputed associates of the Lucchese family charged in the case.

Authorities watched the gambling ring for more than a year, in a probe they called “Operation Heat”.
During the probe, they collected hundreds of secretly recorded conversations on wiretaps and other electronic listening devices.

NBC: Reputed former crime boss from Ventnor indicted by grand jury

The New Jersey State Attorney General’s Office has announced that a grand jury indicted Nicodemo Scarfo Jr., 44, along with more than 30 other people with alleged ties to the New York-based Lucchese crime family.

Scarfo, said to be the head of the the New Jersey faction of the family, faces racketeering, conspiracy and gambling charges.

The indictment is the result of a long-term investigation called Operation Heat aimed at uncovering an international criminal gambling ring that dealt with several billion dollars in sports wagers over the internet.

According to records from the investigation, the gambling ring processed an estimated $2.2 billion in wagers in just over a year using a password-protected website that funneled bets to Costa Rica.

Attorney General Paula T. Dow said, “The Lucchese crime family allegedly employed sophisticated measures such as electronic record-keeping and offshore wire rooms designed to thwart detection of their illegal gambling activities by law enforcement.”

“I’m proud to say that their innovations did not stop our investigators from infiltrating their criminal enterprise and obtaining the evidence needed to indict their alleged top leaders in both New York and New Jersey.”

Press of Atlantic City: Bail on mob-related charges set for Nicodemo S. Scarfo

Nicodemo S. Scarfo, son of a former Atlantic City crime boss, may soon be released prison after his bail was set on Tuesday.

Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan set his bail at $350,000 shortly after Scarfo was arrested last week on racketeering charges.

Scarfo, 44, was detained from his home on Friday after authorities announced his indictment relating to an illegal internet bookmaking operation.

Sarfo’s attorney James Leonard called the scenario a “trumped-up book-making case” and expects his client to be released on bail soon.

Nicodemo Scarfo, a man with alleged ties to the New York-based Lucchese crime family, was detained from his home Friday and taken into custody on charges of racketeering, money laundering, and gambling. Scarfo allegedly had ties with an illegal bookmaking ring that processed billions of dollars in bets through an online gambling site to a wire room in Costa Rica. His bail has been set, and his attorney expects he will be released soon.

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Scarfo’s bail set at $350,000 in betting operation

Nicodemo Scarfo says he is an unemployed research analyst who did legal consulting work for attorneys. New Jersey state prosecutors paint a different picture, saying he is an organized crime involved in a $2 billion illegal online sports betting operation.

Theses contrasting biographies were drafted during yesterday’s bail hearing in Morris County Superior Court before Judge Thomas Manahan, where bail was set at $350,000.

Scafro is a reputed member of the Lucchese crime family. He faces charges of racketeering, conspiracy, money-laundering and illegal gambling, all stemming from his alleged involvement in an online sports betting operation that funneled bets through a wire room in Costa Rica. Scarfo is just one of 34 reputed associates of the Lucchese family charged in the case.

Authorities watched the gambling ring for more than a year, in a probe they called “Operation Heat”.
During the probe, they collected hundreds of secretly recorded conversations on wiretaps and other electronic listening devices.

NBC: Reputed former crime boss from Ventnor indicted by grand jury

The New Jersey State Attorney General’s Office has announced that a grand jury indicted Nicodemo Scarfo Jr., 44, along with more than 30 other people with alleged ties to the New York-based Lucchese crime family.

Scarfo, said to be the head of the the New Jersey faction of the family, faces racketeering, conspiracy and gambling charges.

The indictment is the result of a long-term investigation called Operation Heat aimed at uncovering an international criminal gambling ring that dealt with several billion dollars in sports wagers over the internet.

According to records from the investigation, the gambling ring processed an estimated $2.2 billion in wagers in just over a year using a password-protected website that funneled bets to Costa Rica.

Attorney General Paula T. Dow said, “The Lucchese crime family allegedly employed sophisticated measures such as electronic record-keeping and offshore wire rooms designed to thwart detection of their illegal gambling activities by law enforcement.”

“I’m proud to say that their innovations did not stop our investigators from infiltrating their criminal enterprise and obtaining the evidence needed to indict their alleged top leaders in both New York and New Jersey.”

Press of Atlantic City: Bail on mob-related charges set for Nicodemo S. Scarfo

Nicodemo S. Scarfo, son of a former Atlantic City crime boss, may soon be released prison after his bail was set on Tuesday.

Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan set his bail at $350,000 shortly after Scarfo was arrested last week on racketeering charges.

Scarfo, 44, was detained from his home on Friday after authorities announced his indictment relating to an illegal internet bookmaking operation.

Sarfo’s attorney James Leonard called the scenario a “trumped-up book-making case” and expects his client to be released on bail soon.

The bitter fruit of soccer governing body UEFA’s labor is blooming in a Europe-wide probe across 12 countries to determine to what extent matches are being fixed for gambling purposes. It appears impossible to say whether UEFA’s efforts will or even can succeed before the 2010 World Cup kicks off in South Africa on June 11.

Sydney Morning Herald: Nine Swiss footballers suspended

Switzerland’s national soccer association has suspended nine players, including five for an indefinite period, for match-fixing as part of the Europe-wide UEFA probe.

The national league board said in a statement that “The Swiss Football Association is, according to current information, the first and only federation which has treated in the consequent manner the suspects of match-fixing made public in autumn 2009.”

None of the nine players suspended were in the top division of Switzerland football. The four players given sentences were banned from Swiss soccer for between 12 and 36 months.

The suspensions were the result of 50 raids in November in Austria, Britain, Germany and Switzerland in the probe’s first big move. In these 50 actions, over €1 million was seized. UEFA official stated that “Without doubt this is the biggest scam there has ever been in European football.”

Sports Illustrated: UEFA quizzes players at Hungarian champion Debrecen over suspected match-fixing

UEFA officials recently questioned eight players of Hungarian league champion Debrecen, which lost all six of its Champions League matches to Fiorentina, Liverpool and Lyon in the 2009-10 season, for which the club earned €9.2 million.

Though UEFA offered no comment as to the extent or subject matter of the discussion, Debrecen official Csaba Bartha did not make much of it, writing on the official club website that “the degree of seriousness of the matter is reflected by the fact that they didn’t even [transcribe] the statements.”

Debrecen is the second Hungarian club to come into question in this particular investigation, after UEFA looked into a suspicious Honvéd loss in November. More than 200 games are being considered for the possibility of match fixing in the UEFA investigation.

USA Today: World Cup arrives amid global match-fixing probes

Referees in Bosnia and Ukraine have been banned for life as part of a UEFA probe in a season when fixing matches has “spread more widely through football than ever.” UEFA President Michel Platini described the situation as seriously enough to put the sport itself in “mortal danger.”

Another threat to the integrity of soccer has arisen aside from the existing match-fixing problems has appeared as well. English Football Association chairman David Triesman stated that Russian criminal elements would be attempting to bribe referees to favor Spain in exchange for Spain’s support of the Russian bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

To prevent scandal from tainting the 2010 World Cup, FIFA officials created the company Early Warning, which would monitor any suspicious activity online concerning match outcomes. The World Cup is expected to generate about $3.4 billion for FIFA.

China is also taking on corruption in soccer at home, arresting among others Chinese Football Federation head Nan York and former World Cup referee Lu Jun.

The UEFA probe first began last year, when a “nest of corruption” was revealed to have involved matches in four World Cup nations (Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Switzerland) and six others (Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary and Turkey).