The 2010 World Cup has been a massive success for bookmakers both online and local.  A whopping £10bn has been wagered on the tournament across the globe.

Bookmaker Hilton Hasson told the South Africa Times: “Although I had expected the World Cup to dwarf any other event in the country … it has been phenomenal.”

Hasson, who runs gambling operation MBet, said most of the huge number of bets placed this week on the final ranged between R5000 and R20000.

South African bookmakers said their associates in Britain alone handled more than £3-billion.

The UK’s three largest bookmakers, Ladbrokes, William Hill and Paddy Power, this week estimated that each had handled more than £1-billion – with most of the money going on European champions Spain.

The amount spent on betting on the Football World Cup may turn out to be the highest ever in the UK, with bets on the Spain-Holland final alone expected to total around 50 million pounds.

A bookmaker has said they expect bets totalling 50 million pounds to be placed on Sunday’s final between Spain and Holland.

“We are saying Spain is the red hot favourites at 4-7 with Holland 6-4. In terms of profits, it’s been fantastic, but in terms of a turnover, slightly less than expected because of the freak results. Having said that it’s still 1 billion pounds. The final will be massive,” said Rupert Adams of William Hill.

Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com

Gambling911.com can report exclusively that a story about Ken “The Shrink” Weitzner appearing Sunday in a Virginia newspaper will reveal his suicide was not his idea–it was his wife’s!

The shocking story, set to run in the July 4 edition of the Virginian-Pilot (www.pilotonline.com), a newspaper in Norfolk, Virginia, USA, will also confirm what many have suspected–”The Shrink” killed himself because of financial pressures.

Weitzner, 54, who founded gambling portal Eye on Gambling (www.eog.com), and his wife, Jackie, killed themselves last April in their Chesapeake, Virginia home.

Authorities ruled the incident a double suicide.

Since the tragedy, speculation has run rampant as to what really happened and why.

The Virginian-Pilot story, written by crime reporter Kristin Grace Davis, will reveal startling new details about the suicides and what led up to them.

The most explosive revelation is that “The Shrink” had recently suffered very heavy losses gambling on sporting events on credit and couldn’t afford to pay his bookies.

That, combined with some earlier major losses in the stock market, plus the fact that EOG.com wasn’t earning nearly as much as it used to, put severe financial stresses on him.

The Weitzners feared losing their house and having to move in with one of their kids.

Jackie couldn’t accept the fact that the couple’s lavish lifestyle–fueled in part by the earlier sale of Ken’s first portal, The Prescription (www.therx.com), for $2.4 million–was going to end.

Shockingly, the story reports, it was not Ken who suggested the couple kill themselves, but Jackie.

Ken was not in favor of the idea at first and Jackie had to talk him into it.

Two days before the double suicide, the Weitzners visited an attorney and rewrote their wills, leaving everything to Jackie’s two sons from a previous marriage, as the couple had no children together.

Reporter Davis pieced the story together from an 18-page suicide note the Weitzners left the sons as well as from interviews with local police sources familiar with the details of the deaths.

By Tom Somach

Gambling 911.com Staff Writer

tomsomach@yahoo.com

Gambling911.com special contributor Greg Tingle looks at the toll on Aussie pokies clubs should the government have its way with recent gambling-related recommendations.

Australian pokies clubs and hotels say that the new Australian Productivity Commission Reports recommendations would cost them $4 billion dollars to implement. Media Man and Gambling911 take the probe to the one armed bandits…with this free of charge report…

With new Australian Prime Minister Julie Gillard sworn into office yesterday, many campaigners, lobby groups and the like are attempting to strike while the iron is hot.

Media Man understands that new PM came into office on the same day that the Australian Productivity Report on gambling was released into the public domain. Coincidence or not? In the U.S its not that uncommon for various controversial and high stakes bills to be sworn in just before public holidays et al, and some folks call these happenings “Midnight Bills”, a term coined to match the cloak and dagger – art of war type practice.

The Aussie clubs lobby powers that be state upgrading pokies to meet Productivity Commission recommendations could cost up to $4 billion back! Yep, you read right. We reckon you could buy a few clubs, even casinos, for that sot of money.

The timing of last months pokies auction is curious also. The purchaser may have thought they got a bargain, but maybe not, if those pokies become useless or too expensive to bother upgrading.

Mr Jeremy Bath, Exec Director of Clubs Australia advised some smaller outlets with one armed bandits that could be say a decade old may not be able to afford to purchase new pokies that go for about $25,000 a pop.

“Manufacturers haven’t been building them so they could be upgraded,” he tells.

The Productivity Commission this past Wednesday made some 48 recommendations to tackle “problem gambling”, including a $1 a bet limit on pokies, restricting to $20 the amount of cash a player could insert into a machine and a “pre-commitment” system allowing pokie lovers to set their own voluntary spending limits.

Ball advised technology that was very expensive to install and implement would not in fact end “problem gambling”.

“The best strategy for problem gamblers will always be to ensure the counselling and education they need is readily available so they don’t gamble at all,” he said.

The GM of the Australian Hotels Association South Australian branch, Ian Horne, advised some of the commission’s recommendations were “pretty confronting” and disputed by the industry because of the lack of evidence backing the claims.

“They basically say a lot of their recommendations are a leap of faith,” he said.

“We don’t want a leap of faith, we think we deserve something a bit more concrete.”

The federal government has taken up just one of the commission’s recommendations, which would allow gamblers to voluntarily set limits on the amount they intend to spend in a single gambling session.

Media Man believes that some of the report recommendations have merit, such as the setting limits point.

A Media Man spokesperson said “People enjoy playing the pokies and its no secret that a small percentage run into problems, just like some drivers have car accidents, some sports persons get injured, some people shoplift, some look for fights at clubs, and you get the idea. The problem remains, we are dealing with people here, not robots. Studies have shown that gambling addiction can be found in the genes – the human makeup – DNA. Machines are not the problem, just as guns are not the problem – people are… some people are just not suited to playing the pokies. If you make them illegal they will only go underground. Education and counselling are key parts of whats needed. For those people who think they may have a problem, stay away from pokies, or just don’t even start. Of course, in the online environment some pokies can be played for free. In theory its simple, don’t put in money if you have a problem, or think you might. Again, we’re dealing with humans, not robots, so there’s likely to always be some kind of problem behavior, as there is in just about every aspect of society”.

The New South Wales Minister for Gaming and Racing, Kevin Greene, said he looked forward to working with the new COAG council, but appeared to signal problems.

“NSW will continue to play a leadership role in national discussions but we will not agree to any approach that diminishes the strict responsible gambling initiatives already in place in our state,” Mr Greene said.

The clubs industry, which derives about 60% of its revenue from gambling, and poker machine manufacturers welcomed the government’s response to the report.

While responsibility for gambling regulation lies with the states, the commission said that the federal government could use its corporations powers to regulate gambling machines if necessary.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon, who ran for Parliament on a no pokies platform, was far from impressed with the Government’s response.

“The Federal Government’s response on this report is nothing short of a disgrace,” he said.

“We don’t need more talk, we don’t need more reports and reviews, we actually need action on this and the fact is the Productivity Commission – by recommending $1 bets – is a way forward to actually deal with this issue.”

Some of Australia’s most popular pokies include Cleopatra, Queen Of The Nile, Black Rhino, 50 Lions, Where’s The Gold, Penguin Pays and Show Me The Money. Online pokies that enjoy strong popularity, many by PartyGaming in third party agreements with outfits like IGT – WagerWorks, Hasbro and Marvel, include Cleopatra, Sinatra, Monopoly, Thor, Rambo, The Incredible Hulk, Tomb Raider, Hitman and Mission: Impossible. That reminds us, Tomb Raider movie goddess, Angelina Jolie, is also strongly rumoured to be considering the lead in a Hollywood remake of Cleopatra. Her Brad Pitt has also been talked about for Mark Anthony. The movie remake would also be a platform to relaunch the famous ‘Cleo’ game titles. Richard Branson’s Virgin Games and new Virgin Gaming is also understood to be getting Tomb Raider before year end. Only in Hollywood… and the igaming sector. Know the odds, and keep it fun.

*The writer is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a bakers dozen of sectors they cover.

The Archbishop, a founder of the People’s Movement Against Jueteng and the People’s Movement Against Gambling, told local media that since gambling is synonymous with corruption, Pagcor is also identified with corruption, and should be abolished.

“On bended knee I ask the incoming administration to get rid of Pagcor, especially as a government corporation,” Cruz wrote in an article, adding that Pagcor executives should also follow the lead of the group’s chairman, Efraim Genuino, who retired early to give the new administration a free hand to choose a replacement.

In a pastoral letter issued early this week, Filipino bishops said that gambling is not in the country’s best interests, and urged the new administration to provide alternatives to boost the economy without negative social and moral consequences.

Carey and Nick Cannon have attempted to keep the pregnancy under wraps, but word has finally leaked. The rumor mill heated up when Carey bowed out of Tyler Perry’s “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enough.”

Cannon has been coy in dealing with rumors in recent months. He has made comments about the couple’s dog being pregnant, and some believed that was his way of letting the cat out of the bag about Mariah’s pregnancy. Through it all, however, no admissions were made by either star about the pregnancy.

“They’re both very excited and very happy,” said a source close to the couple to RadarOnline.com today, “Mariah and Nick want to keep the pregnancy quiet as long as they can.” The news from Wednesday sent online sports books scurrying for betting props on the pregnancy.

In the past, it has become a popular gambling option for bettors to pick names of celebrity children and dates on which their babies would be born. Once the rumors of Carey are confirmed, it will likely only be days before the sports books have some sort of odds on the pregnancy.

Office pools will also be started by celebrity-crazed fans in the US. The celebrity gambling in the workplace is nothing new, and it reached a fever pitch when Angelina Jolie was pregnant. Jolie and husband Brad Pitt are two of the top celebrities in the world.

The intense global interest in watching World Cup matches beamed from South Africa is likely to keep punters away from online casino, bingo and poker gaming and glued to television screens, whilst there had been an 18% decline in the daily average numbers of poker players using the group’s sites between January and May 2010, 888 reported.

The decline in poker has been reported by other online poker companies that have eschewed US business, leaving the field clear for major operators like Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker, which continue to accept US action.

888 also revealed that the weakness of the Euro and Pound Sterling against the US Dollar has exacerbated its difficulties. For example, May revenues would have been $1.9 million higher had exchange rates remained at the level seen in January. For the year to date, currency movements have adversely impacted total revenue by about $5 million.

Sant took finance minister Tonio Fenech to task for not satisfactorily responding to his request for detailed information on the contribution to the local economy made by Malta’s online gambling activities, the Times of Malta reported. Fenech had declined his request on grounds of confidentiality, Sant claimed, despite the fact that he had publicly revealed statistics on various occasions.

By way of example, Sant pointed out that the government had provided “reams of analytical information” in the Economic Survey on sectors that employed relatively few workers, and then refrained from analysing the online gambling sector which employed 5,200 people on the island.

Sant said a glance at published historical information indicated the importance the online gambling sector was assuming in the Maltese economy.

In 2007 the government revenue from gaming had amounted to €32.5 million and in 2008, this had increased to €37.2 million, Sant claimed. There were estimates of £43.4 million for 2009 and €46 million for 2010, he added. However, this data did not differentiate between taxes from local gambling and revenue from online or remote gaming – a sector which was not permitted to offer its services to Maltese citizens resident in Malta.

Dismissing the minister’s claim to confidentiality, Sant pointed out that if this was the case, the minister had himself broken “confidentiality” in March when he had addressed the World Gambling Briefing 2010 on the island.

After telling delegates how favourable Malta was to remote gaming operations, the finance minister had informed them that 350 licenses for online gaming had been issued; some 600 applications had been received; Malta had 250 internet gaming operators and the gaming industry employed 5,200, of whom 3,400 were employed directly by the remote gaming sector.

Furthermore, the Economic Survey had divulged that the category of other community, social and personal services (which included remote gambling activities) had been on a steep upward trend in recent years, Sant revealed. During the nine-month period between January and September 2009 it had increased by €23.6 million to €357.3 million.

This category had been increasing its share in regard to total market services employment, recording an increase of 1,438 jobs or 23.1% to 7,650. But the information in the publication did not separate figures into distinct categories, and those pertaining to gambling were grouped with other sectors and therefore obscured.

Sant also referred to the 2009 IMF reports on Malta which had produced a graph showing that between 2006 and 2008, the community, social and personal services sector had contributed between 50 and 60% to the Gross Domestic Product. During 2008 the sector had contributed 10% to the GDP in export services – more than double that of the financial services industry on the island.

John Pappas, Executive Director of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group, with more than one million members nationwide, today released the following statement on the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on HR 4976, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2010.

“Today’s hearing underscores the increasing Congressional interest in a licensed and regulated online gaming environment. While the robust consumer protections provided by regulation are the biggest selling point, in the current economic environment, additional tax revenue derived from a licensed industry is certainly appealing as well.

“It is important to note that this bill would not levy a new tax on poker players. Rather, it requires each licensed Internet gambling operator to pay a licensing fee – nothing would be deducted from a player’s deposit. Individuals would be required to pay annual income taxes on their net winnings, just like players who collect winnings in land-based casinos do today.

“The PPA is working to remove language from the bill that would fine players who play on unlicensed sites as we firmly believe the unlicensed sites should bear the full consequences of not obtaining a license in the U.S.

“We thank the Committee for holding this important hearing today. We look forward to a successful mark up of legislation to license and regulate online gaming in July in the House Financial Services Committee.”

Online gaming and wagering outfit Centrebet (International Ltd) says it is still in talks with a number of parties over consolidation opportunities.

Media Man down under and Gambling911 continue to delivery hard hitting, informative and entertaining news to the world. We learn the current Centrebet talks are likely to have a major impact on the online and offline gambling, betting, poker et al sector in Australia and the entire Asia Pacific…

The parties are understood to be overseas concerns, all or most of which out of Europe.

“Whilst parties have expressed interest in exploring a variety of transaction structures, no terms, including as to price, have been agreed,” Centrebet said.

“Centrebet anticipates that these discussions may continue for some time.”

Centrebet advised the talks may not result in any formal proposal being made to Centrebet shareholders.

Centrebet had said back in March that it became aware of potential takeover proposals in February and that the proposals were confidential, indicative and non-binding.

In March there was speculation that Ladbrokes, William Hill and Sportingbet were in late stages of talks with Centrebet.

Australian Gaming Shares

Centrebet $1.595

Crown Limited $8.060

Tabcorp sitting $6.43

Ainsworth Game Technology $0.14

Aristocrat Leisure Limited $4.18

Tatts Group $2.39

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company

*The writer has conducted online b2b with Centrebet

Australia is home to some of the world’s great casinos, hotels and resorts.

While the land down under has over a dozen land based casinos, there’s only three that both rate highly and grab the majority of headlines on a global stage. Enter James Packer’s Crown Casino in Melbourne, Tabcorp’s Star City in Sydney, and Jupiters Hotel & Casino on the Gold Coast.

Media Man and Gambling911 take our eye in the sky look at the landscape of the Aussie land based casino sector and bring you up to speed with what’s news down under…

Readers will be aware that there’s a “casino war” in the land of kangaroos, koalas and goannas at the moment. You would have to be Blind Fredy not to know about the ultra competitive showdown (and hunt for whales and dolphins) between Packer’s Crown Casino down south and Tabcorp’s Star City in ‘Sin City’ Sydney.

Crown Casino and Star City are following the global trend, largely driven forward from Las Vegas and Macau, of offering a total entertainment experience… not just gambling… you know, slots, poker, table games and the like. Whales aka high-rollers, have also demanded the changing face of the sector. Don’t get us wrong, the gambling aspect remains vital to the business model and to the punters, but for a variety of reasons Australian casino kings have employed a more holistic models. The reasons include being more government friendly, legal eagle elements and complimenting the larger casino, entertainment and lifestyle.

Some of the ramped up services and offerings as part of the industry development include but are not limited to:

Entertainment complex upgrades (including securing more world class acts, more often, to attract the crowds and keep all clients and business partners happy)

Hotel suite refurbishments

Private gambling room upgrades for high rolling VIP’s

Sports bar upgrades

Enhanced security – technology and more staff

Gulf Stream Jets aka Lear Jets for international high rollers in a hurry and who demand and casino afford the best

Aussie Casino News Bytes

Crown Casino: Hosted the Logies last week with 1000 guests in attendance. Broadcast on Network Nine Australia. Bert Newton did a fine job as host. One journalist / columnist was fired for what many saw as inappropriate Twitter – ing, including the editor of The Age newspaper. Upgraded website. Management in regular contact with sister casinos, City of Dreams Macau and Altira Macau. 100s more staff to be employed, some of which under the GenerationOne employment initiative, dedicated to helping get Indigenous Australians back into the workforce

Star City: Has expanded their budget by another $100,000 or so. Is ordering 1 or 2 Lear Jets to help better compete with Crown Casino. Upgraded website.

Jupiters Gold Coast: Upgraded their poker room to the tune of a few hundred thousand dollars, Mother Africa Circus of the Senses is showing at Jupiters Theater. Last week a casino courtesy bus was allegedly nabbed by a disgruntle contractor owned money. The case is currently in the courts. Jupiters is nearby to the beaches where major surfing competitions take place annually. Dreamworld (Hollywood On The Gold Coast) is only a short drive away from the casino. Upgraded website.

Burswood Entertainment Complex: Upgraded security, shows include Nitro Circus Live, Cats, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson Tribute Show and Mammi Mia! Burswood is known to put on fantastic community fundraisers. American pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan drew a massive crowd at Burswood late last year for his charity work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Virgin’s Richard Branson also did some impressive fundraising on site last month, with folks the world over keen to meet and speak to the entrepreneur. Branson’s Virgin Games remains keen to expand the gaming globally, including the AWOMO (A World Of My Own), and perhaps the face to face meetings with the media and political savvy Aussie Casino king, James Packer, won’t go astray.

Casino Canberra: Blast From The Past: Are you a baby boomer? Then don’t dare miss Baby Boomers Blast from the Past, the ultimate live entertainment experience. Laugh, dance, party Friday 14 May at Casino Canberra. Watch comic impersonator Chris De Havilland bring to life the likes of Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Elvis Presley, Joe Cocker, Neil Diamond, and many more baby boomer entertainers. On the 3rd of June – Aussie comedian legends…Austen Tayshus and Elliot Goblet!  Austen Tayshus is described as a drunken yobbo’s worst nightmare, someone who can out gross you, out yell you and out last you. Austen Tayshus walks a skillful line between the truly offensive and the truly funny. And Elliot Goblet, the master of oodles of clever but unrelated one liners and the odd two liner as well. Both comedians are on one night of classic Aussie humour. Meet the Canberra Raiders NRL Raiderettes! Before Raiders games you have the opportunity to meet some of the Raiderettes and take advantage of the beer and snack footy pack. Galaxy Nightclub – Canberra’s hottest nightclub opens from 9pm every Saturday with the beats of the 70′s and the best of the 80′s. Come and hear the soundtrack of our lives. Galaxy has a NO GLASS policy!

The Reef Hotel Casino: 13th, 14th and 15th May – Lisa Hunt Returns. Soul, Disco & Motown. The way it should sound!

Lasseters Hotel Casino: Dead Centre Show N Shine – Today! – 8th May. Outlaw Drags Spectacular – 9th May

Australian Casino Directory List

New South Wales

Star City Casino (Sydney)

Victoria

Crown Casino (Melbourne)

Queensland

Conrad Treasury Casino (Brisbane)

Jupiters Hotel & Casino (Gold Coast)

Jupiters Townsville Casino (Townsville)

The Reef Hotel Casino (Cairns)

South Australia

Skycity Adelaide (Adelaide)

Western Australia

Burswood Entertainment Complex aka Burswood Casino (Perth)

Tasmania

Wrest Point Hotel Casino (Hobart)

Country Club Casino (Launceston)

Australian Capital Territory

Casino Canberra (Canberra)

Northern Territory

Lasseters Hotel Casino (Alice Springs)

Skycity Darwin (formerly MGM Grand Casino) (Darwin)

Media Man International Profile On Australia

http://www.mediamanint.com/profiles/australia.html

Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting

Ok readers, we hear you… you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific – Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is…

Media Man and Gambling 911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:

Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money

Media Man and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more

Know the odds, set limits and have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited