NHL Odds: Recent Stanley Cup Champions Meet as Pens Host Wings
Two of the NHL’s most prodigious franchises will clash in a rematch of the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cups when the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Detroit Red Wings this Tuesday.
Not only do the Wings and Pens boast one of the most intriguing modern rivalries in the league, each have made strong pushes early on in the 2011-12 campaign to emerge as contenders in their respective conferences.
With Sidney Crosby back on the ice and as dominant as ever the Penguins have risen rapidly up the NHL odds board to the point where they’re heavily considered the favorite to win the championship this season.
According to Bodog the Penguins have 6/1 odds of winning the Stanley Cup, significantly higher than the tie for second-place between Chicago and San Jose at 9/1. The Red Wings, who currently sit in the middle of the Western Conference playoff bracket, have 13/1 odds.
The two teams haven’t yet played each other this season (aside from a pair of preseason games which they split) and aren’t about to see each other again for the remainder of the season, making the inter-conference affair all the more significant.
Will the visiting veterans find the strength to steal a win from the red-hot Penguins, or will Pittsburgh continue to hold the upper hand?
Get your NHL odds for the regular season tilt at Bodog Sportsbook.
Breaking Sport Betting News NBA Lockout is Over
While you were drinking away your Friday night, the NBA owners and players were making a deal, and NBA betting is back!
NBA owners and players reached a tentative agreement early Saturday to end the 149-day lockout and hope to begin the delayed season on Christmas Day.
NBA commissioner David Stern stated the obvious when the news broke, “We want to play basketball.”
The two sides supposedly met more than 15 hours on Friday, and also had a secret meeting earlier in the week, all to try and save a dying season. It appears after all this drama the NBA is only going to miss 16 out of the 82 games, the season should tip off on December 25th in order to play a 66-game season.
Right now this deal is just a handshake between owners and players, and it could take another 3-7 days before all the I’s are dotted. But the NBA is coming back, right around when we care about it.
“We expect our labor relations committee to endorse this deal…and we expect our Board of Governors…to endorse the deal,” Stern said.
The NBA season should kick off with the Boston Celtics at New York Knicks followed by Miami At Dallas then Chicago at Los Angeles. Unfortunately, no odds yet. But NBA futures are up in the Bodog Sportsbook. The Miami Heat, that squad we all love to hate, is the favorite listed as 5/2 to win the 2012 NBA championship. Next is the Lakers at 11/2, then the Bulls at 7/1, the Oklahoma City Thunder at 15/2 and Dallas Mavericks at 17/2.
The worst teams? That goes to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors all listed at 150/1 to win it all.
Place your bets before the players come back from Europe and Asia!
Bet on NBA odds in the Bodog online sportsbook
Doyles Room Acquired By Re-Opened Americas Cardroom
[PRESS RELEASE] Representatives from the online poker room Americas CardRoom (ACR) announced today their acquisition of DoylesRoom. Americas Cardroom, launched in 2001, was one of the original online poker card rooms. The site has recently re-entered the online poker world and is acquiring skins to fast-track itself to be a dominant player in the market.
“We’re very excited with the acquisition of DoylesRoom and the resulting expansion of the Americas CardRoom brand,” said an Americas CardRoom representative. “DoylesRoom’s new software that’s proving to be a player favorite coupled with their recent success in serving US players made the company attractive for a takeover.”
Current affiliate contracts and existing promotions, including October’s $50,000 Rake Race, will be honored and day to day operations will remain the same. With the acquisition, Americas CardRoom acquired the rights to the player and affiliate database, the DoylesRoom software and staff, and player liability.
“Players and affiliates can rest assured that their balances are safe and secure and Americas CardRoom will honor all of the existing DoylesRoom agreements.” continued the ACR representative. “With more liquidity being injected into the operation of the business, players can expect to see bigger guarantees, better promotions, and greater incentives for being a part of the Americas CardRoom community.”
Starting November 1st Americas CardRoom will have a $65,000 Rake Race and a brand new online poker series called the “Americas CardRoom Online Super Series” (ACROSS). They are also getting prepared to launch an innovative loyalty program to reward their players.
Congress To Legalize Online Gambling?
Americans appear closer than ever to being able to gamble online – as a bill aimed at legalizing Internet casino gaming could find its way before Congress by the end of the year. Only months after the federal government shut down access to online poker sites come reports that Congress could soon consider a bill that would legalize online gambling. The New York Observer is the latest newspaper to release an op-ed article favoring the legalization of online gambling. The article says, “Taxing winnings just might help solve some of the state’s revenue problems. Let the games begin!” The article appreciates that the local and state governments have desisted from broad-based tax increases to make up deficits, but laments that they have been “less wise and less creative when it comes to producing new revenue streams”. The article avers that irrespective of the legal position Americans will continue gambling online. It concludes that trying to ban online gambling is a lost cause and it is time that governments at all levels accept it and profit from the reality.
Do you think legalized online gambling is a good way to bring in tax revenue? Or is it sliding too far down a slippery slope?
50 stars casino review
50 Stars Casino is a high-quality gambling site that offers a combination of the latest games and old favorites. It also has good promo offers and helpful customer service. 50 Stars presently offers a running progressive jackpot of over $1.6 million! The simple and free download is accompanied with 22 different payment options to make deposits, whether you prefer MasterCard, Visa, FIREPAY, Click2Pay, NETeller, or several others. 50 Stars truly offers many options to their current and potential patrons. In addition to gaming activities, 50 Stars offers constant access to their support team via phone and email and also an address to the casino manager on the About Us page. All in all, 50 Stars is a young casino from a reputable company that has been in the gambling industry for several years. Without a doubt, as time passes, they will continue to get bigger and better and who knows, maybe this casino dedicated to an American flavor will help turn the tide towards legal online gambling in the United States.
Online and Offline: You can play in Fun mode both online and offline. When playing in Online Fun Mode, you are connected to the Internet. You can play in multiplayer mode and chat with other players as you would in Real Money Mode
Welcome
National Collegiate Athletic Association Football
College football season is geared up and ready for another exciting and action-packed season. NCAA play is a close second in popularity to the NFL, but it might be even better than the pro ranks for the bettor due to the higher volume of teams and thus games. More games mean more opportunities to bet. More teams mean more variability, and more chances to find and exploit value plays. There is far less scrutiny on each college football game compared to the NFL. That means information is the name of the game in investing in college football, and ixgames gambling forum are the source for all the stats and trends you need to succeed.
Welcome: Get the latest NCAA college football news, scores, stats, standings, and more on Bodog Sportsbook
Sun Palace Casino Review
At Sun Palace Casino, you can choose from a large number of different games available. The RTG software that the casino runs on provides the casino with more than 80 different games, with a promise to add more along the way. The games available include table and card games, slots, specialty games, Video Poker, and also progressive jackpots.
A majority of the games at Sun Palace are slots. The different slots games available include video slots, reel slots, progressive slots, and also the hot new Real Series slots.
The different card and table games available include Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette (American and European), Craps, Keno, Casino War, Let’Em Ride, and Red Dog.
Sun Palace Casino. is eager to please their royal players. Promotions are created for new members and abundance of gifts pours every week for the mainstays.
Initial Deposit Bonus of 125% if your fund is $20 to $100.Then if your initial deposit is $101 to $100,000 the first $100 portion will be given $125 while the rest of the amount you deposited will get the 125%. Sun Palace. will also suggest that you use their preferred deposit methods NETELLER, INSTADEBIT, Money Order or EWALLET Express then they will give you another 15% bonus for doing so.
Your welcome package has surely made you all the more impress with the palace. Their promotions and privileges for dedicated players will have you applaud more. There is the hefty $1,000 weekly reward where 10 players get $100 each. A Loyalty Program that places you in a Silver, Gold, or Platinum level. Plus get a $20 bonus to your account by referring a friend to join the table of luck.
(A definite top-ranking online casino and is recommended for everyone to check out)
Final Table Set At First Epic Poker League Event
While people have their problems with the Epic Poker League’s Global Poker Index that ranks the top 300 live tournament players in the world, it seems that there may be something to the math. The rankings system came up with a top three of Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier, Jason Mercier and Erik Seidel. Grospellier opted to not participate in the Epic Poker League’s first-ever $20,000 buy-in main event, but both Mercier and Seidel showed up and they’re sitting across from each other at the six-handed final table, which begins at 2PM today at the Palms Ballroom.
The current chip counts are as follows:
Hasan Habib — 1,655,000
Jason Mercier — 1,495,000
Chino Rheem — 1,432,000
Erik Seidel — 1,109,000
Gavin Smith — 766,000
Huck Seed — 396,000
All remaining players are guaranteed at least $107,980. First place in the rake-free tournament pays $1 million.
It’s a loaded and recognizable final table, which is the exactly why there’s an Epic Poker League in the first place. Poker pro Annie Duke and former WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack started the league with hopes that it could turn into poker’s version of the PGA Tour and with 137 pros showing up for the $20,000 event, they’re well on their way.
Top Casino Winner at Bodog Casino
Every now again a casino player adopts the no guts no glory attitude and takes risks that just may earn him/her the top prize, enter Daryl F. of KS, who after playing a combination of Penguin Power and Outta This World slots scored a grand total of $112,178 – making him our top weekend winner.
While Daryl was busy showing off his winning casino skills Nelson F. of TX scored a suave second place spot after his $33,641 win playing World Cup Soccer Spins. Want to find out if you made it onto our select list of winners? Find out below:
Other big Bodog Casino winners from the weekend included:
Eric S. from VA won an amazing $23,016 playing the Prince of Sherwood Slot game.
Beau B. from TX won a whopping $18,738 playing online Blackjack.
Arthur S. from FL made his $17,975 win playing online Craps.
David B. from MA had the last laugh against the Joker when he left with $15,812 playing Joker Poker.
Sean S. from IL had a gratifying win of $15,500 from playing online Blackjack.
Darren N. from WY won his share of gold after winning $14,725 in the Aztec’s Treasure slot game.
Congratulations to all of our grand casino winners who increased their bankroll considerably playing their favorite online casino games here at Bodog Casino.
Yesterday was definitely a great day for three of our top slot machine players who we’re shedding the spotlight on today after they scored thousands playing three of our top slot machines here at Bodog Casino.
Today we’d like to congratulate Daryl F. from KS who was in the mood for some intense car racing action yesterday after scoring a grand total of $12,805 playing Green Light slot machine – making him our top scoring player for the day.
Other big Bodog Casino winners from yesterday included:
Daryl F from KS won $11,490 while playing Archipelago slots.
Pete P from IL won $6,950 while playing Fruit Frenzy slots.
This is the first report of our top casino winners from yesterday with many more to come. For more exciting slot machine action join us at Bodog Casino for some of the hottest slot machines online including our latest additions, BATTLEGROUND slots which takes players on a comical journey with a fumbling army brigade as well as HYDRO HEAT which is the adrenaline packed slot machine where high-speed boat racing can lead to lots of bonus cash.
Join us as more and more winners are announced and hopefully, you’ll be next! Congratulations to all of our casino winners for today!
Yesterday’s casino winners were legendary, with their awesome slot machine technique and their amazing blackjack skills. Topping off our list of winners is Larry W. from TX who scored $16,705 while digging for gold playing Gold in Bars slot machine. Way to go Larry!
Michael G. from MO won some serious cash while admiring the ways of the lonesome Japanese warriors known as Ronin and walked away with $14,298.
Other big Bodog Casino winners included:
Michael G. from MO had deja vu when he made another big win of $12,756 playing Caribbean Stud Poker.
Jeffrey W.from CA made away with a whopping $11,701 in Penguin Power.
Greg L. from WI made his big win of $10,020 playing Double Double Bonus Poker.
Dean F. from WA struck gold when he won $9,302 playing Blackjack.
Head over to Bodog’s online casino and play a wide selection of free casino games including Blackjack, Roulette, Craps online slots and plenty of other exciting games.
Congratulations to all of our casino players who are starting off the weekend right, with a little extra cash in their pocket from our grandiose Winnerpalooza Friday. Stay tuned for our next round of casino winners; it could be you!
We have a handful of new slot machines here at Bodog Casino and it was Grace B. from FL who earned this weekend’s top spot after winning $85,889 playing our latest addition, Reel Blood slot machine .
Congratulations to Grace who scored the top spot this weekend but she definitely wasn’t alone as many more of her fellow casino players also scored thousands including Julie S. of CA who made her way into the second place spot after winning $61,560 playing Cleopatra’s Gold slots.
Check out our complete list of casino weekend winners below.
Other big Bodog Casino winners from the weekend included:
Karl H. of Bavaria scored $52,721 playing Goldbeard slots.
James R. of ON had it all in the bag when he won $26,677 playing BlackJack.
Patrick C. of CA won $26,505 trying his luck at 7’s and Stripes slots.
David G. of TN smoothly scored $18,546 playing Crystal Waters slots.
Darren N. of WY also won $13,965 playing Crystal Waters slots.
Michael G. of MO was living the star life in Caesar’s Empire winning $12,730.
George R. of CA was dancing in the rain after winning $11,090 playing Rain Dance slots.
Stephen C. of WI won $10,638 playing Single Deck BlackJack.
Congratulations to all of our weekend winners! Stay tuned as we announce more and more casino winners!
Yesterday, it was all fun and games for Alexandra A. of ON who had double the fun while playing Double Double Bonus Poker and walking away with $25,211 – earning her the top spot in today’s casino winners list.
Today’s second place spot went to Albert P. from Indiana who scored a boozy win after playing Dirty Martini slots and winning $16,833. Way to go Albert and Alexandra!
Check out the rest of our top winners for the day!
Other big Bodog Casino winners from yesterday included:
Patricia C. from FL conquered Rome when he won an amazing $10,793 playing Caesar’s Empire slots.
Jennifer S. from FL found her treasure after winning $10,451 playing Goldbeard.
Edie R. from WY summoned a cash spell that earned him $9,995 playing Witches and Wizards.
Darren N. from WY won a whopping $9,510 playing Caesar’s Empire slots.
Leon S. from NM made away with some of the gold when he won $8,045 playing Aztec’s Treasure.
Kim I. from CA made a way with $7,844 playing Ronin slots.
Want to play to win? Join these and so many more of our other casino winners who enjoy dozens of online casino games playing at Bodog Casino including blackjack, roulette, slots and more.
Bow down to Victoria S. from CA who wowed us all with her amazing $197,056 win playing Tiger Treasures, Crystal Waters and Rain Dance slots. She truly set the example today and earned herself the elusive top spot in Bodog Casino.
Another hot shot in the casino who earned the second place spot was Grace B. of FL who played our latest addition to our slot machine family, Reel Blood slots and won $11,412. Way to go guys!
Other casino winners from yesterday included:
Donna S. of TX won $9,157 while playing Paradise Dreams online slot machine.
Kiou J. of FL walked away with $8,390 playing online Baccarat.
Grace B. of FL was very lucky playing Witches and Wizards slots helping her walk away with $7,797.
Jerry V. of CA walked away another big winner with $6,222 playing Witches and Wizards slots.
Craig H. of CO took home $6,038 playing online Blackjack.
Looking to go down in the infamous casino winners hall of fame? Join us here at Bodog Casino for more fun, more excitement and some of the hottest casino games online.
Congratulations to all of our casino winners for today who once again scored thousands rocking their favorite casino games. Play at Bodog today and see what the hype is all about!
Join us for more and more daily casino action here at Bodog Casino. Find over 70 online casino games that pay out day after day. Make a name for yourself at Bodog Casino today.
Think Of the Child Support Payments
It’s that time of year again as horse owners and trainers look at the new crop of thoroughbred yearlings and try and divine who will be the next Triple Crown, Travers Stakes, or Breeders’ Cup champion. The prestigious Fasig-Tipton annual sales are in progress, and the company is celebrating its 91st year as the oldest American thoroughbred auction house.
The auctions take place in historic Saratoga and are attended by the very elite of the horse racing industry. The story of this year’s auction is the number of yearlings that have been sired by Bernardini and the incredible prices they are fetching. As you recall, Bernardini was the 2006 Preakness Stakes champion and won numerous graded stakes races in the same year. However Bernardini’s great achievements are happening in the bedroom and he seems to have the magic touch in producing talented offspring.
So far the most impressive purchases have been on the part of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum who is the ruler of the oil rich kingdom of Dubai. He is also a serious horse racing nut and owns the world famous Godolphin Stables. He is also coincidentally the owner of Bernardini which may be why he is buying up Bernardini colts by the herd. So far he has paid 650,000 and 750,000 for two colts, while another two have gone for a staggering 1.2 million each.
With previous offspring like recent stakes winner Stay Thirsty it will be interesting to see Bernardini’s impact on thoroughbred racing is as strong as the prognosticators make it out to be. But either way, talk about sowing your wild oats!
Visit Bodog’s 24/7 online Racebook to get your bet in! Over 6 million dollars in payouts!
Bodog pulls out of U.S. market at end of year
Following statement can be read at calvinayre.com: Bodog Brand to Leave US Market
“Following recent news that Bodog UK has been granted a gambling license by the UK Gambling Commission, we are pleased to announce further developments to the Bodog brand going forward.
“As highlighted last week, Bodog UK’s CEO, Patrik Selin, believes the trust and credibility that having a UK license brings to the brand will benefit customers and allow him to attract the best talent in the industry to work with him.
“However, in order to ensure the brand’s expansion is not affected by negative perceptions, both in the U.K. and elsewhere in emerging markets such as Asia, where Bodog88 is already successful, a decision has been made to withdraw the Bodog brand from the US market at the end of 2011. As a result, the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group’s (MMGG) brand licensing agreement will be allowed to expire on 31 December, following which US residents will no longer be able to access bodog.eu or any other Bodog branded website. We understand that MMGG will launch under its own brand in 2012, licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. All Bodog.eu clients’ funds will remain safe and they will have the option to switch to a new MMGG brand should they wish but MMGG confirms it’s business as usual.
“This decision presents a fresh direction for the Bodogbrand.com as it looks to create a new chapter in its history. The move will enable the Bodog brand to continue its growth and expansion and maintain its position as the world’s largest gaming brand.”
U.S. Digital Gaming – Bets On US Online Gambling
Backed by high-flying entertainment executives, ‘U.S. Digital Gambling’ is betting on US Federal law or at least Intrastate legislation to make online gambling legal. The way things are going at the moment, this could still go one of two ways, but this company is not taking any chances and they are expected to name a new CEO. The company was founded in 2009 by a former casino exec – Richard Bronson, and they are looking to name Jon Richmond, another ex-entertainment industry exec – their new Chief Executive Officer.
Bronson was once in charge of development operations for Steve Wynn’s Mirage Resorts; apparently he remains close to the casino impresario. In the meantime U.S. Digital Gaming currently has no revenue stream and this is probably a good thing as far as online gambling in the US is concerned: it’s legislation and this company positioning itself as a provider. What it means is there are no existing black marks, unlike Poker Stars, Full Tilt and quite a few others.
They are planning to offer services to other companies who wish to run online gambling concerns, and the range of services includes: guidance regarding law, software platforms, licensing rules, management of websites on behalf of clients and marketing as well as advertising operations. They are also planning to be in a position whereby they can move in, land on the ground running and quickly position themselves, once legislation has been passed.
Bronson expected the legalization of online gambling in the US to spread from statehouse to statehouse before federal regulation comes about, and he says “There’s no doubt in my mind that this is upon us.” As far as we are concerned, if he does not know the business, who does? Outside investors who seem to trust his intuition have backed him to the tune of $3million!
US Introduces Gambling Tax Bill
History is repeating itself in the United States. Congressmen John Campbell and Barney Frank introduced their online gambling regulation bill in March 2011. This week Congressman Jim McDermott introduced HR 2230, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act, in the House Financial Services Committee. The same steps were taken in the previous session of the Congress by the same triumvirate, but the then Internet gambling regulation bill HR 2267 could not move fast enough due to more pressing economic matters and had to lapse. As expected, Campbell and Frank are supporting HR 2230.
The objective remains the same as with the previous attempt. McDermott’s HR 2230 does not in itself seek to legalize and regulate online gambling. But, if the bill of Frank and Campbell is passed then it will require a supporting tax bill. HR 2230 will be the supporting bill, or the companion bill as it is often called, and will require online gambling casinos and other operators to withhold taxes from net online winnings. In the bill the proposed rate of the withholding tax on online gambling winnings is 28%, which is the same as the current withholding taxes for other gambling winnings. The online gambling operators would have to declare the amount of tax withheld and how much has been deposited and withdrawn during the calendar year.
HR 2230 calls upon online gambling operators to provide other detailed information about gamblers to the government to ensure the collection of the appropriate taxes.
The information would include the names, addresses and tax identification numbers of all players to the government. Information on gross winnings, gross wagers and gross losses on each person for every calendar year would also have to be provided. The bill also seeks to impose a 2% federal tax on online gambling providers. Individual American states would be given the option of taxing online gambling operators at a rate of 6%. The operators would also have to pay a tax equal to 2% of the deposits they receive each month. The bill stresses that this tax cannot be deducted from the amounts that players deposit in their account, and must be paid for by the operator. McDermott’s bill would also require online gambling operators to obtain a license. These details were provided by the Washington DC newspaper The Hill.
As laid out in his previous tax proposals, McDermott’s bill specifies how the collected federal taxes on online gambling are to be deployed. 25% of the taxes collected are to be used to fund programs that care for foster or disadvantaged children, and most of the remaining taxes would go to the general treasury.
Wondering where Atlantic City would be without casinos
From the beginning, even to this day, casino gambling has been a volatile issue in Atlantic City.
Was it all worthwhile? My friends who live out of this area often ask me that question, knowing that I have spent some time there, first as a tourist, then as a resident under military control, and more recently as a reporter. I fudge with an answer because the broad picture requires fudging more than, say, pulling saltwater taffy.
I tell my friends that I prefer the old Atlantic City, the one with the Steel Pier, the Million Dollar Pier, the Chalfonte Hotel where I stayed, and the Shelbourne Hotel where my wife and I attended a great New Year’s Eve party, the bandleader always had a glass in his hand and the music never seemed to stop from around 11 p.m. to 2 o’clock in the morning. I presume they did not have a strong union then.
I remember the old Atlantic City when I walk past the still standing Claridge Hotel, where we honeymooned after getting lost en route to Atlantic City on new roads that were under construction.
My friends persist that I am skirting the issue. Still they wonder, should Atlantic City have turned to Casino City and all the problems that come with such a change?
To arrive at what amounts to an inconclusive answer to that question, one must review the history of the big resort by the sea.
The decline starts just before World War II when there were signs that there was trouble, perhaps not in the River City of “The Music Man” fame, but certainly in Atlantic City, which had many music men and women, too – many of whom left.
There was respite for a few years when the Army Air Corps took over the city, but soon after the war, doom and gloom returned as air travel became more popular, tourists flew to places like Florida, the Caribbean, and a new place with slot machines and roulette wheels called Las Vegas.
Something had to be done in a decaying Atlantic City, its leaders decided, so they came up with gambling.
At first the voters of New Jersey weren’t very happy with the idea, turning it down in a 1974 referendum that would have made casino gambling legal statewide. The effort lost by more than 400,000 votes.
Some voters, though, changed their attitudes in a close second referendum when the game rules were changed to confine casino gambling to Atlantic City. When the pros won on Nov. 2, 1976 Atlantic City became the first city in the eastern United States to legalize gambling, which had been rampant illegally in that same city.
The pros and cons were rampant, too, in the referendum campaigns. Those in favor spoke of the benefits of increased employment that would result from the rebirth of the city and the economic benefits that would replace closed stores and struggling hotels. Opposition came from some religious groups who contended that gambling is immoral and creates other vices, as well takeing food away from the mouths of children when their parents go astray in the gambling rooms. Some of the public feared Atlantic City would follow the same pattern as Las Vegas, with prostitutes and organized crime interlopers.
Endorsed by the referendum vote, casino gambling was legalized in Atlantic City on May 26, 1976, at the renovated Haddon Hall Hotel, a place that was a hospital for wounded soldiers during World War II. It was renamed Resorts in 1978, and now the ‘injured’ were those who lost their dollars there. The ‘healthy’ were the rare ones that went away winners.
Many other casinos joined the crowd, and more were in the making as Atlantic City had the East Coast field all to itself.
Recently, competition has emerged in New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. An attempt in the ’90s by representatives of the Delaware Tribe to open a casino in Wildwood was rejected by the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Some of the arguments of the supporters and opponents of casino gambling have come to fruition. An early mayor, Michael Matthews, was sent to prison during the new phase of the gambling era, and other officials have been on the brink of deep trouble. Occasionally stories appear in the newspaper about police busting a prostitution ring. Supporters point out that in place of formerly boarded-up stores and a sparsely populated Boardwalk, there is business unmatched in Atlantic City’s history. And just recently the state has intervened to supervise the operation for which so many people had high hopes.
So was it right, as some people say, for Atlantic City to sell its soul to save its body?
What was the alternative? Shore resorts up and down the coast were suffering economic pain starting in 1969. Should they have gone the Atlantic City route instead of enduring decades of decline?
I tell my friends that the answer to their question depends on who you are. If it was wrong to do then, what was the alternative? If it was right to do, what has gone wrong and what should have been done to correct it?
I am not a Solomon, I tell them. Maybe even he couldn’t give the right answer.
Online poker in the eye of a legal storm
Steven Levitt, of “Freakonomics” fame, plays poker. His wife loves to play more than he does, as he has written on his blog.
It should be hardly surprising then that Mr. Levitt would take his analytical eye to the card game and revisit the age-old question of whether poker is a game of skill. The question is the subject of a new paper he wrote with Thomas Miles, one of his University of Chicago colleagues who was a former student. Their research could not be more timely.
The future of online poker is hazy after federal authorities last month shut down popular Internet poker sites and charged their founders with bank fraud and money laundering. The question of whether poker is a game of skill or luck goes to the heart of the debate over the legality of online poker. Games of chance are considered gambling under federal law.
Analyzing results from the 2010 World Series of Poker, the researchers looked at poker the way an investor would study a stock portfolio. They found that highly skilled players earned an average return on investment of more than 30 percent, compared with a 15.6 percent loss for all other players. They concluded that the large gap supported the idea that poker is a game of skill.
Mr. Levitt wrote on his Freakonomics blog earlier this month that “this finding has serious implications on the legality of online poker, as that debate is heavily dependent on whether the game is based on skill or luck.”
Other studies have come to the same conclusion, and yet state courts have consistently ruled that poker is gambling, said Chuck Humphrey, a Colorado lawyer who specializes in online gambling.
“It boils down to what the courts say,” Mr. Humphrey said.
Mr. Levitt became interested in studying poker after the passage of a federal anti-gambling law in 2006 that tried to shut down the online poker industry, Mr. Miles said.
Mr. Levitt could not be reached for an interview.
The 2006 law did not directly outlaw online poker sites but made it a federal crime to knowingly accept most forms of payment for Internet gambling. That move blocked access to U.S. banks, and thus, the ability to accept wagers from U.S. gamblers. Popular online poker sites took operations offshore and continued to operate.
Mr. Levitt has written that he found the logic underlying the 2006 law deeply flawed. Under the law, games of skill are exempted.
Mr. Levitt had a casual conversation about the gambling statute with Mr. Miles, a law professor who has a Ph.D. in economics.
When the World Series of Poker made its 2010 data available, “it appeared to us to be an ideal opportunity to test for the importance of skill in poker,” Mr. Miles said.
The annual event, held in Las Vegas, had 57 events last year that drew more than 32,000 participants. The researchers separated players they rated as highly skilled based on lists of rankings found in poker magazines and other sources. The pair found that the 720 players rated as highly skilled earned an average of $1,200 per tournament, while other players lost more than $400 on average.
Preview of Stanley Cup Final
The Vancouver Canucks have never won the Stanley Cup, but they’ll get a chance to finally claim that championship trophy starting Wednesday night when they begin their best-of-seven NHL betting series against the Boston Bruins.
The Canucks punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup final with a 3-2 double-overtime win over the San Jose Sharks in Game 5 of the Western Conference final last Tuesday night.
Kevin Bieksa had the winner for Vancouver in that contest, while Alex Burrows and Ryan Kesler had the team’s goals in regulation time. Roberto Luongo stopped 54 of 56 San Jose shots in the clincher, including 16 shots in overtime.
The Bruins, meanwhile, needed seven games to dispatch the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference final, winning Game 7 by a slim 1-0 margin on Friday night. Nathan Horton had the winner for Boston that day.
Vancouver won the Presidents’ Trophy during the regular season, finishing with a league-high 117 points atop the Northwest Division. The Bruins had 103 points during the regular season, winning the Northeast Division.
The Canucks and Bruins met once during the regular season, a 3-1 Boston road win on February 26. Horton, Milan Lucic, and Patrice Bergeron all scored for the Bruins that day, and Tim Thomas stopped 27 shots. Luongo made 22 saves for the Canucks.
Manny Malhotra had the goal for Vancouver in that February loss, and he’s been cleared to play in the Cup final. Malhotra hasn’t played since suffering a serious eye injury back in March.
Oddsmakers at Bodog are going with the Canucks in the Stanley Cup final, with Vancouver listed as the -240 series favorite and Boston as the +200 series underdog. The Canucks are also -200 favorites for Game 1 at home, with the Bruins at +170.
Get all your NHL odds at Bodog Sportsbook. Always know your odds.
Canucks and the Sharks Preparing Western Conference Finals Game 2
In the opening game of the Western Conference Finals, the Vancouver Canucks dropped the San Jose Sharks by a 3-2 final score. Can they carry over the momentum into Game 2?
Bet on the NHL playoffs with Bodog sportsbook.
The Canucks scored two goals 79 seconds apart in the third period to take the lead, including Henrik Sedin’s second of the postseason. He and brother Daniel Sedin both had a strong impact, which the Canucks will need to continue if they wish to advance.
Ryan Kesler’s assist on the Sedin marker gave him 16 points in the postseason, which puts him first in that category and furthers his case as an early contender for the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Vancouver Canucks have 11/10 odds of winning the Stanley Cup.
Joe Thornton had a goal and an assist of his own and Antti Niemi stopped 35 of 38 shots, but it wasn’t enough as the Sharks were hit with five minor penalties and couldn’t get any momentum at even strength, and appeared to run out of gas by the third period.
The loss was the first time the Sharks have dropped the opening game this postseason. They’ve now lost four of their last five games.
The San Jose Sharks have 9/2 odds of winning the Stanley Cup.
Be a Player. Get all your NHL odds at Bodog.
Animal Kingdom and rider John Velazquez ride to victory at the 2011 Kentucky Derby
In an upset that shocked the record-breaking 164,000-plus crowd who gathered at Churchill Downs today, Animal Kingdom took home the win at the 2011 Kentucky Derby.
The official win/place/show was: Animal Kingdom, Nehro and Mucho Macho Man. Shackleford came in fourth place.
Jockey John Velazquez was slated to ride Uncle Mo, who scratched earlier this week due to gastrointestinal problems, but picked up the mount for Animal Kingdom at the last minute. This is the first Kentucky Derby win for Velazquez and Animal Kingdom’s first race on dirt. Thankfully for Animal Kingdom, the rain held off making for a dry track although the sky over Churchill Downs was an ominous gray for the entire day.
Meanwhile, jockey Calvin Borel came in tenth on Twice the Appeal. Borel has won three Kentucky Derbies and was hoping to earn a fourth win.
With the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby over, are you ready to place your Triple Crown bets? The Preakness Stakes is just two weeks away on Saturday, May 21 and the Bodog Racebook has all online horse racing bets.
Mother’s Day Comes With $25,000 Celebration and Slots Tournaments
It’s the Mother of all Freerolls. Crazy Slots Casino, Go Casino, Grand Vegas Casino and Online Vegas Casino will host the $25,000 Mother’s Day FreeRoll that starts Sunday, May 8th at 9:00 AM (ET) and runs until Friday, May 13th 2011. 1st Place will walk away with the Mother Lode, $1000, and there will be payouts all the way to 6000th Place. The featured game is the hugely popular Lucky Lady. The Tournament is absolutely free to enter. If you play your balance down to zero, you can re-load for only $4.99.
Look for the Tournament named $25,000 Mother’s Day FreeRoll and select Register. You don’t need to deposit a penny or enter any credit card information to play the Freeroll Tournament, just a Real Money account.
Other May Highlights:
Cinco De Mayo kicks off with a 55¢ Pot Percentage Tournament on May 5th at 9AM (ET). Watch the pot grow as more and more people enter and re-buy. 1st Place takes home 20% of the pot, and there will be payouts all the way to 250th Place!
On Friday the 13th, take part in the frightening 66¢ Pot Percentage Tournament that runs from 8AM to 8PM (ET). The featured game is Monster Money.
There will be 178 different Tournaments in May and over $485,000 Guaranteed.
May Casino Tournament Highlights
May Kickoff $15,000 Guaranteed Starts on Sunday, May 1st at 10:30PM (ET) and ends on May 6th at 10:30PM (ET)
Entry fee: 6.99
Re-Buy: $6.99
Featured Game: 5 Reel Wheel of Chance
The total prize is $15,000
Cinco de Mayo 55 Cents Pot Percentage
Starts on Thursday, May 5th at 9:00AM (ET) and ends on the same day at 11:30PM (ET)
Entry fee: 0.55
Re-Buy: $0.55
Featured Game: La Cucaracha
The total prize is Pot Percentage
***$25,000 Mother’s Day FREEROLL***
Starts on Sunday, May 8th at 9:00AM (ET) and ends on May 13th at 9:00PM (ET)
Entry fee: FREE
Re-Buy: $4.99
Featured Game: Lucky Lady
The total prize is $25,000
$30,000 Guaranteed Weekend Madness – 4 separate tourneys, same conditions
Each tourney starts on a Friday (May 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th) at 10:30PM (ET), and ends on the following Monday
Entry fee: $10.00
Re-Buy: $10.00
Featured Games: Funky Chicken (May 6 to 9), Big Foot (May 13 to 16), Big Time (May 20 to 23), and Hurdy Gurdy (May 27 to 30)
The total prize per tourney is $30,000
Friday the 13th 66 Cents Pot Percentage
Starts on Friday, May 13th at 8:00AM (ET) and ends on the same day at 8:00PM (ET)
Entry fee: 0.66
Re-Buy: $0.66
Featured Game: Monster Money The total prize is Pot Percentage
James and Dawn clean up at Bodog Casino
More and more casino winners seem to pop up by the minute here at Bodog Casino with James S. in the lead with his $17,921 win playing our famed online blackjack.
While James was cleaning up playing blackjack, Dawn W. from OK also managed to secure a nice win playing Achilles online slot machine allowing her to take home a grand total of $11,140.
Other big Bodog Casino winners over the weekend included:
Joseph S. of TX also did great at the tables and won $9,958 playing online BlackJack.
Phillip S. of DC went wild playing Bonus Deuces Wild and ran off with $9,250.
Erick K. of WI played Crystal Waters and won a total of $6,767.
Joseph C. of HI won $5,604 playing Diamond Mine Deluxe.
Justin G. of NC won $5,549 playing Achilles online slots.
Timothy B. of VA won $4,995 Green Light and won.
Congratulations to all of our big winners who scored thousands in cash playing their favorite casino games here at Bodog Casino. Whether blackjack or slots is your game, Bodog has the casino action you’ve been looking for.
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