There was no shortage of news last week around the world so lets look back at some of the biggest stories that snatched the headlines.

Authorities in Ferguson Missouri were forced to call in the National Guard as widespread rioting overwhelmed the beleagued police force following the jury verdict finding Officer Darren Wilson inculpable after the August 9th shooting that saw him gun down the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. With buildings set ablaze and numerous arrests the riots mark a low point in the relationship between the almost entirely white police force and vastly black population they serve. Officer Darren Wilson then resigned from his position, a move that has done little to quell tension in the town.

The teenage daughters of President Obama came under fire from Republican Elizabeth Lauten who posted on Facebook following their appearance at the turkey pardoning ceremony alongside their father at the White House. “Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar.” She said of the 13 and 16 year old girls outfits, adding that she felt they lacked class but lamented, “your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter. So I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department.”. She then deleted the statement and apologized insincerely, much to the annoyance of the internet.

The Black Friday chaos proved to be a little less fraught this year as many stores tried to ease the rush by beginning their sales on Thanksgiving itself. As millions of Americans sat down to eat with their families and then went out to grab some early Christmas shopping bargains with very few instances of trouble, across the Atlantic in the UK (which doesn’t even celebrate thanksgiving) there were scenes of unbridled consumerist madness with the police being called to deal with trouble at several stores that began their sales at midnight and saw pandemonium break out upon opening their doors to the great British public.

In sport the Cricketing world paid its respects after the sad death of 25 year old Australian Phillip Hughes who died last week having been hit by the ball. The tragic accident has placed the first test between India and Australia, due to start on Thursday in Brisbane, in doubt and an already busy schedule may mean it won’t go ahead at all. Negotiations between the teams on the matter continued into the weekend and to find out if or when it goes ahead you’ll have to check our daily news pages regularly but in the meantime here’s some of the stories that hit our headlines last week.

1. Despite his conflict with Borgata, poker pro Phil Ivey has endorsed the casino’s new partner, the Pala Casino online gambling site.

Greetings from an old friend… (Photo: Pala Casino)

2.The Florida Lottery has a bright future ahead. Lottery sales in the Sunshine State already reached an impressive $5.3 billion and now lawmakers are considering introducing online sales in the state.

Florida Lottery evolves and keeps up with technology (Photo: Florida Lottery)

3.Neteller co-founder’s biography was released. Readers could discover the story behind the successful and controversial John Lefebvre.

Read all about it… (Photo: ECW Press)

4.The recent casino cheating case involving US Navy Rear Admiral Timothy Giardani got everybody’s attention.

Timothy Giardina lost a career (Photo:CBS)

5.What seems to be holding back the growth in the Macau casino industry?

Is Macau old news? (Photo: Kieran Scott)

6.Favourit and EveryMatrix launched multi-lingual online and mobile platform to the delight of players.

Bets of ingredients: Multiple languages, multiple bookies and mobile (Photo: Favourit)

7.The Polish government is considering reviewing their policies on international gambling operations.

The Polish Ministry of Finance knows the potential of international operators (Photo: Jarosław Pocztarski/CC)

Meanwhile the queen of the crime novel, PD James, died peacefully at the age of 94 in her Oxford home having written 20 books including “Children of Men” and the massively successful series featuring the detective Adam Dalgliesh that were adapted for television, and in Hong Kong protestors attempted to move on the Chief Executive’s office only to be met by batons, pepper-spray and water hoses from authorities tired of the softly-softly approach. Will there be more chaos on the streets of this gambling capital? You’ll have to check in with our daily news pages to find out.

There was no shortage of news last week around the world so lets look back at some of the biggest stories that snatched the headlines.

Authorities in Ferguson Missouri were forced to call in the National Guard as widespread rioting overwhelmed the beleagued police force following the jury verdict finding Officer Darren Wilson inculpable after the August 9th shooting that saw him gun down the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. With buildings set ablaze and numerous arrests the riots mark a low point in the relationship between the almost entirely white police force and vastly black population they serve. Officer Darren Wilson then resigned from his position, a move that has done little to quell tension in the town.

The teenage daughters of President Obama came under fire from Republican Elizabeth Lauten who posted on Facebook following their appearance at the turkey pardoning ceremony alongside their father at the White House. “Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar.” She said of the 13 and 16 year old girls outfits, adding that she felt they lacked class but lamented, “your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter. So I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department.”. She then deleted the statement and apologized insincerely, much to the annoyance of the internet.

The Black Friday chaos proved to be a little less fraught this year as many stores tried to ease the rush by beginning their sales on Thanksgiving itself. As millions of Americans sat down to eat with their families and then went out to grab some early Christmas shopping bargains with very few instances of trouble, across the Atlantic in the UK (which doesn’t even celebrate thanksgiving) there were scenes of unbridled consumerist madness with the police being called to deal with trouble at several stores that began their sales at midnight and saw pandemonium break out upon opening their doors to the great British public.

In sport the Cricketing world paid its respects after the sad death of 25 year old Australian Phillip Hughes who died last week having been hit by the ball. The tragic accident has placed the first test between India and Australia, due to start on Thursday in Brisbane, in doubt and an already busy schedule may mean it won’t go ahead at all. Negotiations between the teams on the matter continued into the weekend and to find out if or when it goes ahead you’ll have to check our daily news pages regularly but in the meantime here’s some of the stories that hit our headlines last week.

1. Despite his conflict with Borgata, poker pro Phil Ivey has endorsed the casino’s new partner, the Pala Casino online gambling site.

Greetings from an old friend… (Photo: Pala Casino)

2.The Florida Lottery has a bright future ahead. Lottery sales in the Sunshine State already reached an impressive $5.3 billion and now lawmakers are considering introducing online sales in the state.

Florida Lottery evolves and keeps up with technology (Photo: Florida Lottery)

3.Neteller co-founder’s biography was released. Readers could discover the story behind the successful and controversial John Lefebvre.

Read all about it… (Photo: ECW Press)

4.The recent casino cheating case involving US Navy Rear Admiral Timothy Giardani got everybody’s attention.

Timothy Giardina lost a career (Photo:CBS)

5.What seems to be holding back the growth in the Macau casino industry?

Is Macau old news? (Photo: Kieran Scott)

6.Favourit and EveryMatrix launched multi-lingual online and mobile platform to the delight of players.

Bets of ingredients: Multiple languages, multiple bookies and mobile (Photo: Favourit)

7.The Polish government is considering reviewing their policies on international gambling operations.

The Polish Ministry of Finance knows the potential of international operators (Photo: Jarosław Pocztarski/CC)

Meanwhile the queen of the crime novel, PD James, died peacefully at the age of 94 in her Oxford home having written 20 books including “Children of Men” and the massively successful series featuring the detective Adam Dalgliesh that were adapted for television, and in Hong Kong protestors attempted to move on the Chief Executive’s office only to be met by batons, pepper-spray and water hoses from authorities tired of the softly-softly approach. Will there be more chaos on the streets of this gambling capital? You’ll have to check in with our daily news pages to find out.

After cutting off Internet access three Las Vegas luxury villas, FBI agents impersonated repair technicians to get inside and collect evidence.

Against the recommendation of an assistant U.S. attorney, Kimberly Frayn, the FBI went ahead with its plans and pretended to be repair technicians in order to get inside the villa. But lawyers representing four of the eight men charged in the case have filed a motion to dismiss all evidence collected that day. The prosecutor supposedly told FBI agents that “it was a consent issue.”

Under American laws, authorities need a warrant before searching a property, so defense lawyers challenged the actions described in detail by online gambling news, which were part of an investigation on an illegal sports betting operation.

If authorities don’t have the written permission, the person whose property is being inspected must first waive his constitutional protections against unreasonable searches. Otherwise, the evidence should not be used in trial, because it was improperly collected.

Fox News: Federal agents impersonated computer technicians to collect evidence in sports betting probe, lawyers say

FBI agents in Las Vegas had referred questions about their plan to the local US Attorney’s Office. Spokeswoman Natalie Collins said prosecutors were aware of the allegations, but declined to make any comments while the trial was pending.

According to American newspapers, the Drug Enforcement Administration set up a fake Facebook account, where it posted personal information and photos taken from the phone of a woman who had been arrested in a cocaine case. The idea was to trick her friends and associates into revealing incriminating information.

On another occasion, the FBI sent a fake news story to a suspect in a bomb-threat case, hoping he would click on the link thus allowing investigators to track down his location. The FBI had attributed the story to the Associated Press, causing the agency to react and describe the actions as “unacceptable”, claiming they undermined the publication’s credibility.

As for the gambling case, the criminal complaint revealed that the eight men came to the attention of authorities in June after requesting “an unusually large amount of electronics equipment and technical support” at their hotel. An electrical engineer working for the Las Vegas hotel said the equipment “appeared to be set up for an illegal gambling operation.”

FBI investigators tried to get into their apartment to gather evidence, but a former federal prosecutor, Mark Rasch, said the tactics they resorted will most likely not stand up in court. “Police are allowed to use a certain kind of subterfuge, but what they can’t do is create a certain kind of circumstance,” he said.

South China Morning Post: Dramatic FBI video shows how agents tricked their way into Paul Phua’s villa for gambling bust

Newspapers got their hands on 30 minutes of audio and video recordings of the FBI’s action plan to bust what appeared to be an illegal online betting operation in Las Vegas. The video was filmed through a lapel camera and shows how agents tricked their way into the villas where an alleged Asian gambling kingpin and his team were staying.

According to the defense, FBI agents shut off Internet access to Paul Phua Wei-seng’s villa at Caesars Palace, and then gained access to it by impersonating repair technicians. This is how authorities managed to collect the evidence used against the accused.

In the video obtained by the press, investigators are working on a set of code words to use while they were inside. One agent who adopted the name “Sam” – which he also used “for other stuff” in the past – is shown working on his cover story. The images briefly show another conversation about how investigators should dress.

“If you put on that shirt, you have to look the part. Go all the way,” said Mike Wood, a technician working for Caesars. He was advising Nevada Gaming Control Board Agent Ricardo Lopez before he entered one of the suites, on July 4. Lopez went back to the villa on July 5, when he pretended to fix an internet outage for several minutes.

Defense lawyer Thomas Goldstein described the operation as an “illegal search” and challenged the evidence in court.

CardsChat: Paul Phua Sports Betting Raid FBI Tactics Questioned by Legal Team

The FBI suspected that the eight men who rented villas at Caesars Palace were breaking the state’s gambling laws by running an unlicensed betting operation. Investigators spent two days working with the hotel’s computer contractor and the Nevada Gaming Control Board on shutting down their Internet access.

But they did not stop here. FBI agents impersonated repair staff to convince the customers to let them inside the apartments, and they even recorded what they found inside. The videos were the main evidence used to obtain the arrest warrant against the eight defendants.

Lawyers did not know how authorities had managed to get inside the suites until they overheard an official talk about cutting the Internet access. “They were trying everything they could to get inside without a warrant,” defense attorney Thomas Goldstein told reporters. Four out of the eight defendants have challenged the FBI’s actions in court.

Paul Phua and his son Darren were among those arrested. They were all charged with operating an illegal sports betting operation. Officials said Paul Phua is a high-ranking member of the 14K Triad, one of the world’s largest organized crime syndicates. Among gamblers, he is well-known for playing in high-stakes poker games in Macau, as well as in tournaments.

The poker community has supported the accused, and players Phil Ivey and Andrew Robl even offered $2.5 million towards Phua’s and his son’s bonds.

After cutting off Internet access three Las Vegas luxury villas, FBI agents impersonated repair technicians to get inside and collect evidence.

Against the recommendation of an assistant U.S. attorney, Kimberly Frayn, the FBI went ahead with its plans and pretended to be repair technicians in order to get inside the villa. But lawyers representing four of the eight men charged in the case have filed a motion to dismiss all evidence collected that day. The prosecutor supposedly told FBI agents that “it was a consent issue.”

Under American laws, authorities need a warrant before searching a property, so defense lawyers challenged the actions described in detail by online gambling news, which were part of an investigation on an illegal sports betting operation.

If authorities don’t have the written permission, the person whose property is being inspected must first waive his constitutional protections against unreasonable searches. Otherwise, the evidence should not be used in trial, because it was improperly collected.

Fox News: Federal agents impersonated computer technicians to collect evidence in sports betting probe, lawyers say

FBI agents in Las Vegas had referred questions about their plan to the local US Attorney’s Office. Spokeswoman Natalie Collins said prosecutors were aware of the allegations, but declined to make any comments while the trial was pending.

According to American newspapers, the Drug Enforcement Administration set up a fake Facebook account, where it posted personal information and photos taken from the phone of a woman who had been arrested in a cocaine case. The idea was to trick her friends and associates into revealing incriminating information.

On another occasion, the FBI sent a fake news story to a suspect in a bomb-threat case, hoping he would click on the link thus allowing investigators to track down his location. The FBI had attributed the story to the Associated Press, causing the agency to react and describe the actions as “unacceptable”, claiming they undermined the publication’s credibility.

As for the gambling case, the criminal complaint revealed that the eight men came to the attention of authorities in June after requesting “an unusually large amount of electronics equipment and technical support” at their hotel. An electrical engineer working for the Las Vegas hotel said the equipment “appeared to be set up for an illegal gambling operation.”

FBI investigators tried to get into their apartment to gather evidence, but a former federal prosecutor, Mark Rasch, said the tactics they resorted will most likely not stand up in court. “Police are allowed to use a certain kind of subterfuge, but what they can’t do is create a certain kind of circumstance,” he said.

South China Morning Post: Dramatic FBI video shows how agents tricked their way into Paul Phua’s villa for gambling bust

Newspapers got their hands on 30 minutes of audio and video recordings of the FBI’s action plan to bust what appeared to be an illegal online betting operation in Las Vegas. The video was filmed through a lapel camera and shows how agents tricked their way into the villas where an alleged Asian gambling kingpin and his team were staying.

According to the defense, FBI agents shut off Internet access to Paul Phua Wei-seng’s villa at Caesars Palace, and then gained access to it by impersonating repair technicians. This is how authorities managed to collect the evidence used against the accused.

In the video obtained by the press, investigators are working on a set of code words to use while they were inside. One agent who adopted the name “Sam” – which he also used “for other stuff” in the past – is shown working on his cover story. The images briefly show another conversation about how investigators should dress.

“If you put on that shirt, you have to look the part. Go all the way,” said Mike Wood, a technician working for Caesars. He was advising Nevada Gaming Control Board Agent Ricardo Lopez before he entered one of the suites, on July 4. Lopez went back to the villa on July 5, when he pretended to fix an internet outage for several minutes.

Defense lawyer Thomas Goldstein described the operation as an “illegal search” and challenged the evidence in court.

CardsChat: Paul Phua Sports Betting Raid FBI Tactics Questioned by Legal Team

The FBI suspected that the eight men who rented villas at Caesars Palace were breaking the state’s gambling laws by running an unlicensed betting operation. Investigators spent two days working with the hotel’s computer contractor and the Nevada Gaming Control Board on shutting down their Internet access.

But they did not stop here. FBI agents impersonated repair staff to convince the customers to let them inside the apartments, and they even recorded what they found inside. The videos were the main evidence used to obtain the arrest warrant against the eight defendants.

Lawyers did not know how authorities had managed to get inside the suites until they overheard an official talk about cutting the Internet access. “They were trying everything they could to get inside without a warrant,” defense attorney Thomas Goldstein told reporters. Four out of the eight defendants have challenged the FBI’s actions in court.

Paul Phua and his son Darren were among those arrested. They were all charged with operating an illegal sports betting operation. Officials said Paul Phua is a high-ranking member of the 14K Triad, one of the world’s largest organized crime syndicates. Among gamblers, he is well-known for playing in high-stakes poker games in Macau, as well as in tournaments.

The poker community has supported the accused, and players Phil Ivey and Andrew Robl even offered $2.5 million towards Phua’s and his son’s bonds.

The week between October 7th and 13th was another busy week around the globe, therefore plenty of news. Good news first:

Formula 1 made a comeback in Russia after 100 years. The Nobel Prize for peace was awarded to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai and the Honorary Dame Grand Cross was awarded to Angelina Jolie by the Queen Elisabeth II of Great Britain.

Moving onto the bad news, another country leader made the news by simply ‘showing up’; Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance in 40 days. Awful news came from the health sector: a patient diagnosed with Ebola died in the US and another one just got infected in Spain. In Africa, hundreds are still dying. People have died in India as well due to Cyclone Hudhud and in Hong Kong, protesters were still marching for democracy.

The gambling news were interesting as well. Let’s take a look at the pics, first!

1. Singapore failed at choosing words in the campaign against gambling but succeed in banning gambling activities.

Clearly, the campaigners were not bettors… or football fans (Photo: Reuters)

2. The Trump name shall only be associated with ‘high standards of luxury’. It was decided in court that the famous surname will be removed from Trump Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal, now tapped out casinos.

Donald Trump maintains successful reputation (Photo: Timothy A. Clary/Getty)

3. Phil Ivey’s case of edge-sorting and exploiting casino’s failures was declared cheating, in court. The poker player will not have access to his winnings.

Phil Ivey lost GBP 7.7 million (Photo: ESPN)

4. Floyd Mayweather showed everybody that he is not only a good sportsman, but also a good sports bettor. And a very, very rich man.

That’s how a ‘long count’ looks like outside the boxing ring (Photo: Daily Mail)

5. New and stricter gambling laws are expected in the Czech Republic. Foreign gambling operators are welcomed as well in a hope to boost tax revenues.

Czech Finance Minister, Andrej Babiš announced new gambling laws (Photo: Jan Zatorsky)

6. New gambling laws, new taxes in the UK as well. The Court granted ‘green light’ for implementing the anticipated legal amendments, despite Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association objections.

UK judges denied Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association’s appeal (Photo: UPPA Ltd)

7. Ka-Ching! 350 people bought vintage gambling machines worth $2,381,700 at the Victorian Casino Antiques auction. The unique gambling items once belonged to the iconic Las Vegas Harrah’s Hotel and Casino.

When in doubt, go vintage! (Photo: VCA Auction)

That was it for the past seven days. If you want to stay informed with the latest gambling news, read the Gambling Results’ top stories section!

The week between October 7th and 13th was another busy week around the globe, therefore plenty of news. Good news first:

Formula 1 made a comeback in Russia after 100 years. The Nobel Prize for peace was awarded to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai and the Honorary Dame Grand Cross was awarded to Angelina Jolie by the Queen Elisabeth II of Great Britain.

Moving onto the bad news, another country leader made the news by simply ‘showing up’; Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance in 40 days. Awful news came from the health sector: a patient diagnosed with Ebola died in the US and another one just got infected in Spain. In Africa, hundreds are still dying. People have died in India as well due to Cyclone Hudhud and in Hong Kong, protesters were still marching for democracy.

The gambling news were interesting as well. Let’s take a look at the pics, first!

1. Singapore failed at choosing words in the campaign against gambling but succeed in banning gambling activities.

Clearly, the campaigners were not bettors… or football fans (Photo: Reuters)

2. The Trump name shall only be associated with ‘high standards of luxury’. It was decided in court that the famous surname will be removed from Trump Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal, now tapped out casinos.

Donald Trump maintains successful reputation (Photo: Timothy A. Clary/Getty)

3. Phil Ivey’s case of edge-sorting and exploiting casino’s failures was declared cheating, in court. The poker player will not have access to his winnings.

Phil Ivey lost GBP 7.7 million (Photo: ESPN)

4. Floyd Mayweather showed everybody that he is not only a good sportsman, but also a good sports bettor. And a very, very rich man.

That’s how a ‘long count’ looks like outside the boxing ring (Photo: Daily Mail)

5. New and stricter gambling laws are expected in the Czech Republic. Foreign gambling operators are welcomed as well in a hope to boost tax revenues.

Czech Finance Minister, Andrej Babiš announced new gambling laws (Photo: Jan Zatorsky)

6. New gambling laws, new taxes in the UK as well. The Court granted ‘green light’ for implementing the anticipated legal amendments, despite Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association objections.

UK judges denied Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association’s appeal (Photo: UPPA Ltd)

7. Ka-Ching! 350 people bought vintage gambling machines worth $2,381,700 at the Victorian Casino Antiques auction. The unique gambling items once belonged to the iconic Las Vegas Harrah’s Hotel and Casino.

When in doubt, go vintage! (Photo: VCA Auction)

That was it for the past seven days. If you want to stay informed with the latest gambling news, read the Gambling Results’ top stories section!

Ivey’s lawyers weren’t convincing enough when they argued that losing GBP7.7 million in just a few days was the casino’s “mistake”.

The court denied Phil Ivey his GBP7.7 million winnings, remained unpaid after a casino accused him of cheating to get the money. The professional poker player admitted he used a technique called “edge sorting” to win at the baccarat table, but claimed casino employees were negligent which means losing all that money was the company’s “mistake”.

After London’s Crockfords Club realized that Ivey had taken advantage of a flaw in the playing cards, the casino refused to pay out. Ivey sued the company to get his prize, but the latest gambling news announced he lost the case.

Irish Examiner: Poker player loses €9.7m casino challenge

The 38-year-old American poker pro won the money in august 2012, by playing Punto Banco, a version of baccarat. After four sessions where he won GBP7.7 million, the Mayfair casino returned his GBP1 million stake and said it would wire him the rest of the money. Phil Ivey returned to the US only to find that his money never arrived.

The Crockfords Club is owned by Genting Casinos UK, a gambling operator which has more than 40 casinos across the country. Company representatives said the technique used by Ivey was not a legitimate strategy, which is why they had no liability to him. Edge-sorting is used to give the player a “first card advantage”.

The lawyers who defended the casino said Ivey’s conduct defeated the essential premise of baccarat. Therefore, they argued, there was no gaming contract or cheating.

“Crockfords is pleased with the judgement of the High Court today supporting its defense of a claim by Mr Ivey,” a spokesman for the casino told reporters. “It is our policy not to discuss our clients’ affairs in public and we very much regret that proceedings were brought against us.”

Ivey said through a spokesman: “I am obviously disappointed with this judge’s decision. As I said in court, it is not my nature to cheat and I would never do anything to risk my reputation. I am pleased that the judge acknowledged in court that I was a truthful witness.”

The poker player’s lawyers were refused permission to appeal the decision. However, they can renew their application to the Court of Appeal directly.

London Evening Standard: Poker champion loses case against London casino over £7.7m winnings

Phil Ivey, who is known for his excellent poker results, said he would never jeopardize his reputation by cheating at a casino.

“We observe the unwritten doctrine: how do I find a legal way to beat the house? Any method that could amount to cheating would breach the doctrine and cause you to be ostracized by your fellow players – we are all very careful to stay the right side of the line and we discuss advantage play strategies at length,” he said.

“I believe that what we did was a legitimate strategy and we did nothing more than exploit Crockfords’ failures to take proper steps to protect themselves against a player of my ability. Clearly today the judge did not agree,” Ivey added.

His counsel Richard Spearman explained to the court that edge-sorting meant using information found on the backs of the cards and making certain requests during the game, in order to gain an advantage. Besides, the cards were chosen by the casino and staff could have refused Ivey’s requests at any time. The poker pro said his integrity was “infinitely more important than a big win”, and added that he sued the casino to prove that he was “unjustly treated”.

On the other hand, Christopher Pymont, who represented the casino, argued that the casino did not regard Ivey as an advantage player at that time. Instead, they thought of him as an old VIP customer who they could trust.

The Guardian: Top poker player Phil Ivey loses court battle over £7.7m winnings

The judge mentioned in his ruling that the case turned on whether Ivey cheated or not, adding that the poker player was not entitled to his winnings if the obtained them in an unfair manner.

“What Mr Ivey and Ms Sun did was to persuade the croupier to turn some of the cards in the dealing shoe to permit them to know that they were or were very likely to be sevens, eights or nines, and in circumstances where she did not realize she had done so – and, if she had, would have immediately stopped play,” the court ruling said.

The judge said Ivey did not just take advantage of a simple error, but did it by using the dealer “as his innocent agent or tool”. Furthermore, the judge added, the poker player was aware that neither the croupier, not her superiors knew what the consequences of her actions would be when she turned the cards around, as per his request.

“This is, in my view, cheating for the purpose of civil law,” the judge concluded before dismissing the case.

Ivey’s lawyers weren’t convincing enough when they argued that losing GBP7.7 million in just a few days was the casino’s “mistake”.

The court denied Phil Ivey his GBP7.7 million winnings, remained unpaid after a casino accused him of cheating to get the money. The professional poker player admitted he used a technique called “edge sorting” to win at the baccarat table, but claimed casino employees were negligent which means losing all that money was the company’s “mistake”.

After London’s Crockfords Club realized that Ivey had taken advantage of a flaw in the playing cards, the casino refused to pay out. Ivey sued the company to get his prize, but the latest gambling news announced he lost the case.

Irish Examiner: Poker player loses €9.7m casino challenge

The 38-year-old American poker pro won the money in august 2012, by playing Punto Banco, a version of baccarat. After four sessions where he won GBP7.7 million, the Mayfair casino returned his GBP1 million stake and said it would wire him the rest of the money. Phil Ivey returned to the US only to find that his money never arrived.

The Crockfords Club is owned by Genting Casinos UK, a gambling operator which has more than 40 casinos across the country. Company representatives said the technique used by Ivey was not a legitimate strategy, which is why they had no liability to him. Edge-sorting is used to give the player a “first card advantage”.

The lawyers who defended the casino said Ivey’s conduct defeated the essential premise of baccarat. Therefore, they argued, there was no gaming contract or cheating.

“Crockfords is pleased with the judgement of the High Court today supporting its defense of a claim by Mr Ivey,” a spokesman for the casino told reporters. “It is our policy not to discuss our clients’ affairs in public and we very much regret that proceedings were brought against us.”

Ivey said through a spokesman: “I am obviously disappointed with this judge’s decision. As I said in court, it is not my nature to cheat and I would never do anything to risk my reputation. I am pleased that the judge acknowledged in court that I was a truthful witness.”

The poker player’s lawyers were refused permission to appeal the decision. However, they can renew their application to the Court of Appeal directly.

London Evening Standard: Poker champion loses case against London casino over £7.7m winnings

Phil Ivey, who is known for his excellent poker results, said he would never jeopardize his reputation by cheating at a casino.

“We observe the unwritten doctrine: how do I find a legal way to beat the house? Any method that could amount to cheating would breach the doctrine and cause you to be ostracized by your fellow players – we are all very careful to stay the right side of the line and we discuss advantage play strategies at length,” he said.

“I believe that what we did was a legitimate strategy and we did nothing more than exploit Crockfords’ failures to take proper steps to protect themselves against a player of my ability. Clearly today the judge did not agree,” Ivey added.

His counsel Richard Spearman explained to the court that edge-sorting meant using information found on the backs of the cards and making certain requests during the game, in order to gain an advantage. Besides, the cards were chosen by the casino and staff could have refused Ivey’s requests at any time. The poker pro said his integrity was “infinitely more important than a big win”, and added that he sued the casino to prove that he was “unjustly treated”.

On the other hand, Christopher Pymont, who represented the casino, argued that the casino did not regard Ivey as an advantage player at that time. Instead, they thought of him as an old VIP customer who they could trust.

The Guardian: Top poker player Phil Ivey loses court battle over £7.7m winnings

The judge mentioned in his ruling that the case turned on whether Ivey cheated or not, adding that the poker player was not entitled to his winnings if the obtained them in an unfair manner.

“What Mr Ivey and Ms Sun did was to persuade the croupier to turn some of the cards in the dealing shoe to permit them to know that they were or were very likely to be sevens, eights or nines, and in circumstances where she did not realize she had done so – and, if she had, would have immediately stopped play,” the court ruling said.

The judge said Ivey did not just take advantage of a simple error, but did it by using the dealer “as his innocent agent or tool”. Furthermore, the judge added, the poker player was aware that neither the croupier, not her superiors knew what the consequences of her actions would be when she turned the cards around, as per his request.

“This is, in my view, cheating for the purpose of civil law,” the judge concluded before dismissing the case.

A British gambling venue is refusing to pay poker player Phil Ivey his GBP7.7 million in winnings, claiming that he won by cheating.

Although a talented poker player, American gambler Phillip Ivey doesn’t shy away from other casino games either. Like high-stake baccarat, for example. The game brought him almost GBP8 million in winnings in August 2012, when he risked as much as GBP1 million of his own money at a casino in London.

The Crockfords club – the venue where Ivey won the money over his two-day visit – has refused to pay out claiming that the poker player had cheated and duped the croupier, with the help of his companion Cheung Yin Sun.

The American gambler responded by slapping the casino with a lawsuit. While admitting that he had used a technique known as edge sorting, which allows players to predict the order of the cards, Ivey and his lawyers firmly believe that this is nothing but a legitimate strategy that casinos can guard against.

Mirror Online: Casino won’t pay out £7.7MILLION winnings to ‘cheating’ poker star Phillip Ivey

Richard Spearman, who represents the professional poker player, said Ivey should not be held responsible for the casino’s “mistake”.

“The technique of edge sorting involves nothing more than using information that is available to any player by viewing the backs of the cards… and making requests of the casino, which it is open to the casino to accept or refuse, as to the manner in which play is conducted.”

Spearman claims that it was the gambling venue’s mistake that this turned into an advantage for Ivey, while Christopher Pymont, who represents the casino, continued to say the scheme was quite possibly “criminal”.

According to the latest gambling news, the barrister accused the poker player of using his companion to cheat. Cheung Yin Sun allegedly spoke to the dealer in Cantonese to help keep the scheme “covert” from the rest of the staff, who spoke English.

The casino staff examined the CCTV footage, interrogated the staff, and then decided not to send Ivey the money.

Belfast Telegraph: Champion poker player Phil Ivey ‘stitched up’ London casino in £7.7m winning streak, court hears

One of the best poker players in the world, Phil Ivey, was accused of having “stitched up” a reputable London casino by taking advantage of a flaw in playing cards. The poker pro sued the gambling venue, which refused to pay him the GBP7.7 million he had won in two days.

Ivey allegedly created an “air of superstition”. He insisted on wearing a lucky hat, picked a lucky Asian card dealer, and a special pack of cards. While the game of baccarat requires little skill, all this helped him tip the odds in his favor, said the casino management.

Ivey admitted that he turned a minor flaw in the cards to his advantage, but says the casino did not take the proper security measures and went along with all his requests without questioning them. This is why he exploited the casino’s failures.

“Putting it bluntly, he played, he won and they ought to pay up,” said Richard Spearman, his counsel.

Casino staff picked up on Ivey’s unusual behavior after he asked the dealer to turn around some of the cards, “like that made any difference”. But employees figured it was nothing but a superstition. “It did make a difference. They just didn’t realize,” Spearman explained.

The counsel added that Ivey’s winning streak could have been stopped at any moment simply by changing the cards, or increasing the security on the dealer, but the casino failed to take these precautions. The customer “regards this as entirely fair play,” Spearman said, adding: “If a casino fouls up from start to finish that’s the gamblers good fortune.”

On the other hand, Christopher Pymont, counsel for the casino, considers the gambler’s actions to be “highly immoral and dishonest”. “The whole point is to stitch up the casino, to fix it, when you know it’s in ignorance of what you’re doing,” he argued.

The case is expected to last a week.

Daily Mail: Nine-time world poker champion Phil Ivey accused of cheating Atlantic City casino out of $9.6MILLION ‘using defective card trick’

This is not the first time Phil Ivey has taken advantage of defective cards to turn the odds in his favor, at the same table game. A casino in Atlantic City has sued the professional poker player after he won $9.6 million, claiming that he got the money by cheating.

Ivey and an associate allegedly exploited a defect in cards to win the money, on four occasions between April and October 2012. The cards were manufactured by Gemaco Inc., a company from Kansas City, and were defective because they didn’t have a uniform pattern on the back.

According to the lawyers who represent the gambling venue, the technique of edge sorting is forbidden under New Jersey gambling laws. Ivey and his companion allegedly instructed a dealer to flip cards in particular ways, so they could tell whether it was a desirable card or not.

A British gambling venue is refusing to pay poker player Phil Ivey his GBP7.7 million in winnings, claiming that he won by cheating.

Although a talented poker player, American gambler Phillip Ivey doesn’t shy away from other casino games either. Like high-stake baccarat, for example. The game brought him almost GBP8 million in winnings in August 2012, when he risked as much as GBP1 million of his own money at a casino in London.

The Crockfords club – the venue where Ivey won the money over his two-day visit – has refused to pay out claiming that the poker player had cheated and duped the croupier, with the help of his companion Cheung Yin Sun.

The American gambler responded by slapping the casino with a lawsuit. While admitting that he had used a technique known as edge sorting, which allows players to predict the order of the cards, Ivey and his lawyers firmly believe that this is nothing but a legitimate strategy that casinos can guard against.

Mirror Online: Casino won’t pay out £7.7MILLION winnings to ‘cheating’ poker star Phillip Ivey

Richard Spearman, who represents the professional poker player, said Ivey should not be held responsible for the casino’s “mistake”.

“The technique of edge sorting involves nothing more than using information that is available to any player by viewing the backs of the cards… and making requests of the casino, which it is open to the casino to accept or refuse, as to the manner in which play is conducted.”

Spearman claims that it was the gambling venue’s mistake that this turned into an advantage for Ivey, while Christopher Pymont, who represents the casino, continued to say the scheme was quite possibly “criminal”.

According to the latest gambling news, the barrister accused the poker player of using his companion to cheat. Cheung Yin Sun allegedly spoke to the dealer in Cantonese to help keep the scheme “covert” from the rest of the staff, who spoke English.

The casino staff examined the CCTV footage, interrogated the staff, and then decided not to send Ivey the money.

Belfast Telegraph: Champion poker player Phil Ivey ‘stitched up’ London casino in £7.7m winning streak, court hears

One of the best poker players in the world, Phil Ivey, was accused of having “stitched up” a reputable London casino by taking advantage of a flaw in playing cards. The poker pro sued the gambling venue, which refused to pay him the GBP7.7 million he had won in two days.

Ivey allegedly created an “air of superstition”. He insisted on wearing a lucky hat, picked a lucky Asian card dealer, and a special pack of cards. While the game of baccarat requires little skill, all this helped him tip the odds in his favor, said the casino management.

Ivey admitted that he turned a minor flaw in the cards to his advantage, but says the casino did not take the proper security measures and went along with all his requests without questioning them. This is why he exploited the casino’s failures.

“Putting it bluntly, he played, he won and they ought to pay up,” said Richard Spearman, his counsel.

Casino staff picked up on Ivey’s unusual behavior after he asked the dealer to turn around some of the cards, “like that made any difference”. But employees figured it was nothing but a superstition. “It did make a difference. They just didn’t realize,” Spearman explained.

The counsel added that Ivey’s winning streak could have been stopped at any moment simply by changing the cards, or increasing the security on the dealer, but the casino failed to take these precautions. The customer “regards this as entirely fair play,” Spearman said, adding: “If a casino fouls up from start to finish that’s the gamblers good fortune.”

On the other hand, Christopher Pymont, counsel for the casino, considers the gambler’s actions to be “highly immoral and dishonest”. “The whole point is to stitch up the casino, to fix it, when you know it’s in ignorance of what you’re doing,” he argued.

The case is expected to last a week.

Daily Mail: Nine-time world poker champion Phil Ivey accused of cheating Atlantic City casino out of $9.6MILLION ‘using defective card trick’

This is not the first time Phil Ivey has taken advantage of defective cards to turn the odds in his favor, at the same table game. A casino in Atlantic City has sued the professional poker player after he won $9.6 million, claiming that he got the money by cheating.

Ivey and an associate allegedly exploited a defect in cards to win the money, on four occasions between April and October 2012. The cards were manufactured by Gemaco Inc., a company from Kansas City, and were defective because they didn’t have a uniform pattern on the back.

According to the lawyers who represent the gambling venue, the technique of edge sorting is forbidden under New Jersey gambling laws. Ivey and his companion allegedly instructed a dealer to flip cards in particular ways, so they could tell whether it was a desirable card or not.

Las Vegas is America’s gambling mecca and one of the few places where casinos and sportsbooks can legally accept wagers on sporting events. Where many people see a saturated market, however, Malaysian businessman Paul Phua Wei-seng saw an opportunity.

Several news sources have reported that the 50-year old man, his 22-year old son and several others set up an illegal betting ring in three hotel rooms at the Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. On July 15th Phua and the others were caught and arrested, with the Malaysian’s bail set at a whopping $2 million.

What were they taking bets on? The World Cup 2014 in Brazil. And the series of arrests came just weeks after the authorities in Hong Kong broke up a multi-million World Cup betting ring based there. That ring was run by, guess who? None other than Paul Phua Wei-seng.

Associated Press: Malaysian Businessman Wei Seng Phua Released on $2 million Bond After Illegal Betting Arrest

Malaysian businessman and high-roller poker player Wei Seng Phua was released from jail in the US on July 28th after some fellow poker players posted his $2 million bond as well as the $500,000 set for his son. This is the latest gambling news in a month-long saga concerning the underworld figure.

Poker professionals Andrew Robl and 10-time World Series of Poker Champion Phil Ivey reportedly put together the $2.5 million to bail out the Phuas, which had been arrested (along with eight others) for running an illegal sportsbetting operation out of their Las Vegas hotel room.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials agreed to release him after bail was posted and they reviewed the case, finding that requirements had been met for release.

Daily Telegraph: 8 People Arrested by Federal Officials for Running Illegal Gambling Operation in Vega Hotel

Eight people from Malaysia, China and Hong Kong have been accused of running an illegal betting operation out of three Las Vegas hotel rooms. The group reportedly took millions of dollars in bets on World Cup matches.

The FBI and Nevada Gaming Control Board agents made arrests on July 13th after raiding three suites at the Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

US attorney general Daniel Bogden told reporters that the Phua had opened up shop in Vegas after being arrested on June 18th for running an illegal gambling operation in Hong Kong. After posting bond there he flew to the US.

Casino employees alerted the authorities after growing suspicious about being asked to set up computer equipment in the three hotel rooms. If convicted, Phua and the others could each face up to two years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

South China Morning Post: Malaysian Businessman Arrested in the US is an Alleged Member of Hong Kong Triads

Online gambling entrepreneur and reported member of the 14k Triads Paul Phua Wei-seng was arrested in Las Vegas on July 13th for running a World Cup betting ring out of a Las Vegas hotel room in violation of American gambling laws. The 50-year old Malaysian was one of eight people arrested, including three from Hong Kong.

Legal documents released by the FBI claimed that Phua is a high ranking member of the 14k Triads, one of Hong Kong’s oldest and most powerful criminal organizations.

He is also one of the key executives of IBCBet, which is arguably the world’s largest sportsbetting operator. A study by the International Centre for Sport Security in Qatar estimated that roughly 80 percent of wagers made on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil were done so illegally.

CBS Las Vegas: Phua Still Not Released from Jail Despite $2 million of Phil Ivey’s Money

Lawyers representing Malaysian businessman Phua Wei-seng demanded that he be released after his $2 million bail was posted by a group of professional poker players, including 100-time World Series of Poker Champion Phil Ivey.

As of July 28th Phua still sat in jail despite his bail being met; authorities had not yet released him due their ongoing review of the case details. Phua lawyer David Chesnoff told the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Our clients have complied with every condition set by a federal judge for their release…We have repeatedly attempted to contact ICE authorities, who have not responded. We are going to take further legal steps.

Phua and his 22-year old son are among eight people arrested and held for allegedly running a million-dollar illegal betting ring out of Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, taking wagers on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

South China Morning Post: Arrested Illegal Betting Operator Phua Once Served as Ambassador to Montenegro

Macau gambling kingpin, big-money casino winner and alleged Hong Kong triad leader Paul Phua Wei-seng served as San Marino’s ambassador to Montenegro for three years before being arrested in Las Vegas on July 13th for allegedly running an illegal World Cup betting ring.

The businessman and high-stakes poker player was appointed the diplomatic representative of the tiny European microstate in 2011, obtaining a diplomatic passport which allowed him to move freely throughout most countries around the globe.

Upon his appointment San Marinese foreign minister Antonella Mularoni expressed the idea that Phua could use his connections in the entertainment industry to bring a luxury hotel development project to San Marino.

He is also reported to be a major shareholder in IBCBET, a world-leading online betting operator based in the Philippines. After his arrest authorities in San Marino revoked his status and asked him to return his diplomatic passport.

Las Vegas is America’s gambling mecca and one of the few places where casinos and sportsbooks can legally accept wagers on sporting events. Where many people see a saturated market, however, Malaysian businessman Paul Phua Wei-seng saw an opportunity.

Several news sources have reported that the 50-year old man, his 22-year old son and several others set up an illegal betting ring in three hotel rooms at the Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. On July 15th Phua and the others were caught and arrested, with the Malaysian’s bail set at a whopping $2 million.

What were they taking bets on? The World Cup 2014 in Brazil. And the series of arrests came just weeks after the authorities in Hong Kong broke up a multi-million World Cup betting ring based there. That ring was run by, guess who? None other than Paul Phua Wei-seng.

Associated Press: Malaysian Businessman Wei Seng Phua Released on $2 million Bond After Illegal Betting Arrest

Malaysian businessman and high-roller poker player Wei Seng Phua was released from jail in the US on July 28th after some fellow poker players posted his $2 million bond as well as the $500,000 set for his son. This is the latest gambling news in a month-long saga concerning the underworld figure.

Poker professionals Andrew Robl and 10-time World Series of Poker Champion Phil Ivey reportedly put together the $2.5 million to bail out the Phuas, which had been arrested (along with eight others) for running an illegal sportsbetting operation out of their Las Vegas hotel room.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials agreed to release him after bail was posted and they reviewed the case, finding that requirements had been met for release.

Daily Telegraph: 8 People Arrested by Federal Officials for Running Illegal Gambling Operation in Vega Hotel

Eight people from Malaysia, China and Hong Kong have been accused of running an illegal betting operation out of three Las Vegas hotel rooms. The group reportedly took millions of dollars in bets on World Cup matches.

The FBI and Nevada Gaming Control Board agents made arrests on July 13th after raiding three suites at the Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

US attorney general Daniel Bogden told reporters that the Phua had opened up shop in Vegas after being arrested on June 18th for running an illegal gambling operation in Hong Kong. After posting bond there he flew to the US.

Casino employees alerted the authorities after growing suspicious about being asked to set up computer equipment in the three hotel rooms. If convicted, Phua and the others could each face up to two years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

South China Morning Post: Malaysian Businessman Arrested in the US is an Alleged Member of Hong Kong Triads

Online gambling entrepreneur and reported member of the 14k Triads Paul Phua Wei-seng was arrested in Las Vegas on July 13th for running a World Cup betting ring out of a Las Vegas hotel room in violation of American gambling laws. The 50-year old Malaysian was one of eight people arrested, including three from Hong Kong.

Legal documents released by the FBI claimed that Phua is a high ranking member of the 14k Triads, one of Hong Kong’s oldest and most powerful criminal organizations.

He is also one of the key executives of IBCBet, which is arguably the world’s largest sportsbetting operator. A study by the International Centre for Sport Security in Qatar estimated that roughly 80 percent of wagers made on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil were done so illegally.

CBS Las Vegas: Phua Still Not Released from Jail Despite $2 million of Phil Ivey’s Money

Lawyers representing Malaysian businessman Phua Wei-seng demanded that he be released after his $2 million bail was posted by a group of professional poker players, including 100-time World Series of Poker Champion Phil Ivey.

As of July 28th Phua still sat in jail despite his bail being met; authorities had not yet released him due their ongoing review of the case details. Phua lawyer David Chesnoff told the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Our clients have complied with every condition set by a federal judge for their release…We have repeatedly attempted to contact ICE authorities, who have not responded. We are going to take further legal steps.

Phua and his 22-year old son are among eight people arrested and held for allegedly running a million-dollar illegal betting ring out of Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, taking wagers on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

South China Morning Post: Arrested Illegal Betting Operator Phua Once Served as Ambassador to Montenegro

Macau gambling kingpin, big-money casino winner and alleged Hong Kong triad leader Paul Phua Wei-seng served as San Marino’s ambassador to Montenegro for three years before being arrested in Las Vegas on July 13th for allegedly running an illegal World Cup betting ring.

The businessman and high-stakes poker player was appointed the diplomatic representative of the tiny European microstate in 2011, obtaining a diplomatic passport which allowed him to move freely throughout most countries around the globe.

Upon his appointment San Marinese foreign minister Antonella Mularoni expressed the idea that Phua could use his connections in the entertainment industry to bring a luxury hotel development project to San Marino.

He is also reported to be a major shareholder in IBCBET, a world-leading online betting operator based in the Philippines. After his arrest authorities in San Marino revoked his status and asked him to return his diplomatic passport.

Public voting for the 2010 nominees to the Poker Hall of Fame has now ended, leaving Harrah’s with a list of 10 finalists. Judges will now look over the list of names and make sure each nominee qualifies for induction before giving out the awards.

Induction to the Poker Hall of Fame requires the following:

A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition; played for high stakes; played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers; stood the test of time; or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

The ten finalists are:

• Chris Ferguson
• Scotty Nguyen
• Dan Harrington
• Tom McEvoy
• Jennifer Harman
• Linda Johnson
• Daniel Negreanu
• Phil Ivey
• Erik Seidel
• Barry Greenstein

This year’s Poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place this November at the Rio Las Vegas during WSOP Main Event Nine celebrations. As of 2009, 38 people have been inducted to the Poker Hall of Fame, but only 15 are still living.

Public voting for the 2010 nominees to the Poker Hall of Fame has now ended, leaving Harrah’s with a list of 10 finalists. Judges will now look over the list of names and make sure each nominee qualifies for induction before giving out the awards.

Induction to the Poker Hall of Fame requires the following:

A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition; played for high stakes; played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers; stood the test of time; or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

The ten finalists are:

• Chris Ferguson
• Scotty Nguyen
• Dan Harrington
• Tom McEvoy
• Jennifer Harman
• Linda Johnson
• Daniel Negreanu
• Phil Ivey
• Erik Seidel
• Barry Greenstein

This year’s Poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place this November at the Rio Las Vegas during WSOP Main Event Nine celebrations. As of 2009, 38 people have been inducted to the Poker Hall of Fame, but only 15 are still living.

The durrrr Challenge on Full Tilt Poker
Challenger: Tome “durrrr” Dwan
Players: Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, David Benyamine
Pot: $2 Million (durrrr’s $1.5 million to given players $500,000)

The durrrr Challenge on Full Tilt Poker
Challenger: Tome “durrrr” Dwan
Players: Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, David Benyamine
Pot: $2 Million (durrrr’s $1.5 million to given players $500,000)