Crime

Odds on Whether US Law Enforcement Takes Down Online Sportsbook for Super Bowl 2012

Gambling911.com has been covering all the hundreds of 2012 Super Bowl betting props that are currently out there. Each year there are always a few novel prop bets such as this year’s What Color Will Madonna’s Hair Be and we’re still waiting on those Gisele Bundchen bets.

So with the US Government’s aggressive action against online gambling websites over this past year, we couldn’t help but wonder what the odds might be for a Super Bowl surprise.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Wed, 02/01/2012 - 19:23

Police Recover Funds Stolen During Jonathan Duhamel Home Invasion

Police announced Wednesday that they had uncovered approximately half of the funds belonging to 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Jonathan Duhamel stolen from his home.

Submitted by Ace King on, Wed, 02/01/2012 - 10:15

Chris Ferguson ‘Very Positive Dialog’ With DOJ

One of three individuals alleged to have taken part in an elaborate “ponzi scheme” while acting as a stakeholder in shuttered Full Tilt Poker believes he will soon have his case settled.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Tue, 01/31/2012 - 18:14

Alabama Gambling Corruption Defendant had Filed for Bankruptcy 4 Days Before Death

While police await autopsy results to determine what led to the death of a defendant in a very high profile vote rigging Alabama gambling corruption case, it was revealed on Tuesday that Ray Crosby had filed for bankruptcy just four days prior to his death.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Tue, 01/31/2012 - 17:04

Magic KingDOME: Wife of Purple Lounge Casino Director Must Stand Trial After Disney 'Toilet" Incident

The wife of Media Corp PLC Non-Executive Director Chris Gorman will be forced to stand trial after an alleged sexual encounter and assault in an Orlando, Florida nightclub bathroom this past August.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:18

Breaking News: Full Tilt Poker Class Action Suit Thrown Out

The Ifrah law firm won a favorable ruling on behalf of Full Tilt companies and the individual poker professionals who were named as defendants in the first class action suit brought by former U.S. Players in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York last summer.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Tue, 01/31/2012 - 11:39

Defendant in Alabama Gambling Corruption Case Joseph ‘Ray’ Crosby Found Dead

Police are conducting an investigation into the mysterious death of Joseph “Ray” Cosby over the weekend. Cosby is one of seven remaining defendants in a federal corruption case tied to gambling in Alabama and was found dead on Sunday, just one day before the start of a second trial in the case.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Mon, 01/30/2012 - 12:45

Dougherty Gang Planned Prison Escape After Capture

Three siblings captured after a multistate crime spree, including robbing a Georgia bank and firing at a police officer, planned a brazen escape from a Colorado jail shortly after their detention.

Dylan Dougherty, 26, gout out of his cell in Walsenburg, Colorado, and passed a note to his sister, Lee Grace, advising her he would help break her out of the jail.

Submitted by Ace King on, Fri, 01/27/2012 - 19:40

Five-Year Long Investigation Into Online Gambling About to Wrap Up?

Gambling911.com sources have revealed that a more than five-year investigation related to online gambling, telemarketing and alleged bank fraud is about to wrap up.

“Law enforcement agencies are under intense pressure to conclude ongoing investigations ahead of inevitable legalization of online poker, casino games and possibly even sports betting,” our source tells us. “But some of these agencies are just out for blood.”

Submitted by Alejandro Botticelli on, Wed, 01/25/2012 - 12:13

PartyPoker.com, Moneybookers Named in MegaUpload Piracy Indictment

For an industry rattled by US Justice Department domain seizures in recent years, it may not have been too much of a shock seeing PartyPoker.com mentioned as part of the much publicized indictment of video and image hosting website, Megaupload.com. The site was taken down by US authorities on Thursday with principles in the company charged with conspiracy.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Fri, 01/20/2012 - 21:09

US Attorney Still Bowing to Full Tilt Poker, Pixie Dust Fairies

We at Gambling911.com simply cannot take it any more and apparently neither can much of the rest of the online poker sector.

After months of reporting that a white knight had come to the rescue of Full Tilt Poker players who have been waiting upwards of nine months to get paid and how that white knight was supposedly going to set the US Feds straight by entering into some type of deal to ensure players get paid as two of its executives remain on the lam, the industry is finally coming to its senses and refraining from publication of such banter.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Wed, 01/18/2012 - 20:35

Funds Seized From Players Leaving PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

Three American players had their poker winnings seized by authorities in the Bahamas as they were leaving the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) 2012 this week.

From the Tribune News:

Submitted by Ace King on, Wed, 01/18/2012 - 19:30

Another Black Friday Defendant, Ira Rubin, to Plead Guilty

Ira Rubin, a defendant in the April 15, 2011 “Black Friday” sweeping indictments of online poker operators, is set to plead guilty, according to Bloomberg News. A Manhattan federal court clerk advised the news source.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Tue, 01/17/2012 - 11:39

Van der Sloot Sentenced in Peru

Dutchman Joran van der Sloot pleaded guilty this week in the murder of Peruvian college student Stephany Flores. On Friday he was sentenced to 28 years behind bars.

Submitted by on, Fri, 01/13/2012 - 11:34

Joran van der Sloot Pleads Guilty to All Charges Including Murder

Dutchman Joran van der Sloot pleaded guilty early Wednesday on all counts against him for the murder of Peruvian college student Stephany Flores.

"I am really sorry for what happened," he said. He pleaded guilty to "qualified murder" and simple robbery.

Van der Sloot had met Flores in a casino while attending the Latin American Poker Tour in May of 2010.

Police say van der Sloot killed Flores in his Lima hotel room shortly thereafter, then took money and bank cards from her wallet and fled to Chile, where he was arrested a few days later.

Submitted by Ace King on, Wed, 01/11/2012 - 11:05

Connecticut Online Poker ‘Inevitable’ Says Governor

Could Connecticut somehow join a multi-state pact with neighboring New York and New Jersey to pool online poker players should the activity become legal stateside?

Connecticut’s Governor Dannel P. Malloy has been among the most emphatic when it comes to welcoming Web poker to his state since the Department of Justice released a statement that it would no longer apply The Wire Act to Internet poker.

“It is quite clear that Internet gaming is coming to Connecticut. Period. It’s coming,” said Malloy. “We have a stake in protecting that industry.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Tue, 01/10/2012 - 20:25

Bail Denied for Two Assailants in Jonathan Duhamel Attack, Including Ex-Girlfriend

The ex-girlfriend of 2010 World Series of Poker champion Jonathan Duhamel and one other accomplice, John Stephen Clark Lemay, have been denied bail by a Montreal judge. Both are accused of forced entry into Duhamel’s home along with robbery and a beating of the poker pro that left him hospitalized.

Anthony Bourque, charged with the home invasion of poker champion Jonathan Duhamel, used his sweatshirt to wipe away his tears after a Quebec Court judge released him on bail today.

Submitted by Ace King on, Tue, 01/10/2012 - 15:43

Bail Decision for Bianca Rojas-Latraverse and Accomplices Will Come Tuesday

A Quebec Court judge is weighing a decision to release Bianca Rojas-Latraverse and two other accomplices out on bail after she was charged with orchestrating the forced entry and robbery of her former boyfriend’s home, 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Mon, 01/09/2012 - 15:59

Poker Pros Girlfriends, Wives From Hell

Poker pros haven’t always been lucky in love, as we have discovered in recent weeks (a la that Jonathan Duhamel home invasion, allegedly planned by his ex).

Submitted by Ace King on, Sun, 01/08/2012 - 20:21

Suspects in Jonathan Duhamel Home Invasion Like Drinking, Being Promiscuous and the Law

When asked during a bail hearing Thursday what interests a woman charged in the home invasion of World Series of Poker champion Jonathan Duhamel, Bianca Rojas Latraverse responded with a smirk: “I really like law”.

Submitted by Ace King on, Fri, 01/06/2012 - 20:25

Joran Van Der Sloot Erratic Courtroom Behavior (Video)

Joran van der Sloot, the Dutchman accused of killing a young Peruvian college student, Stephany Flores, stopped short of pleading guilty on Friday after expressing apprehension over some of the charges.

Submitted by Ace King on, Fri, 01/06/2012 - 19:59

Van der Sloot May Plead Guilty

The Dutchman accused of killing a Peruvian woman he met in a casino while attending the Latin American Poker Tour may plead guilty to the murder. Joran van der Sloot is accused of killing college student Stephany Flores in May of 2010. He has long been the prime suspect in the disappearance of High School grad Natalee Holloway on the island of Aruba nearly 7 years ago.

Submitted by Ace King on, Fri, 01/06/2012 - 13:36

UConn Poker Addict Balks at Proposed Legalization of Internet Poker in State

A UConn graduate claims that Internet poker nearly destroyed his life and balks at the idea that Connecticut and other states might consider legalizing the activity.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Thu, 01/05/2012 - 23:10

Jonathan Duhamel Ex Girlfriend Planned Home Invasion: Tipster Was Part of Threesome

The former girlfriend of 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Jonathan Duhamel is alleged to have planned the forced entry and robbery of his home outside of Montreal just days before Christmas (both are pictured). A woman who participated in a ménage à trois with the couple just months before the attack acted as a tipster.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Thu, 01/05/2012 - 22:16

Joran van Der Sloot Finally Will Have His Day in Court

The Dutchman accused of killing Peruvian college student Stephany Flores will stand trial beginning tomorrow (January 6, 2012).

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Thu, 01/05/2012 - 11:35

Duhamel Wouldn’t Have Been Sitting Duck in USA

In a tongue-in-cheek essay earlier this month about New Year's resolutions we'd like to see from poker players, Gambling911.com joked that 2010 WSOP Main Event champ Jonathan Duhamel, who was recently beaten and robbed in a home invasion, should resolve to buy a home security system and some guns.

In all reality, however, Duhamel, who lives in suburban Montreal, really can't buy a handgun to protect himself or his home, because under strict Canadian anti-gun laws, it's almost impossible for a private Canadian citizen to legally get a handgun!

Submitted by Thomas Somach on, Wed, 01/04/2012 - 21:10

UK Online Gambling Tax Could Backfire

The United Kingdom is proposing a point of consumption tax on online gambling of 10 percent that could force current operators offshore.

In anticipation of this tax, William Hill conducted its own study and found the following, a la the Telegraph:

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Wed, 01/04/2012 - 16:06

Suspects in Jonathan Dahamel Home Invasion to Appear in Court Today

Four individuals charged in a brazen home invasion outside of Montreal, Quebec will appear in court today. They are alleged to have forced their way into the home of 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Jonathan Duhamel just days before Christmas. One of the suspects is a former girlfriend who accompanied the pro to this year’s WSOP in Las Vegas. Duhamel was badly beaten during the attack.

Submitted by Ace King on, Wed, 01/04/2012 - 11:30

Bookmaker Denise Coates Receives Queen’s New Year’s Honors for Good Deeds

Bookies can be good people too. Denise Coates, founder of Bet365 in Great Britain, has been awarded the prestigious Queen’s New Year’s Honors for 2012.

Ms. Coates was honored for her community service work.

Her father, Peter, had this to say about Denise and what she has meant to the Bet365 firm, which is currently the biggest private sector employer in Stoke-on-Trent:

"We are all delighted and all proud of her.

"She has done an absolutely amazing job for bet365, building it up from scratch.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Sun, 01/01/2012 - 12:12

Jonathan Duhamel Speaks About Home Invasion: “They Threatened My Parents Lives”

A terrified Jonathan Duhamel spoke to the media just one week after a harrowing home invasion left him badly beaten and robbed of his 2010 World Series of Poker bracelet. The suspects, four in total, have been arrested. One of those charged is a former girlfriend of Duhamel’s, Bianca Rojas-Latraverse, who we are learning actually accompanied Duhamel to the WSOP Main Event this past year.

"I've played hockey all my life, so I've had some fights -- but not one like this one," Duhamel, 24, said in an interview Friday.

Submitted by Ace King on, Sat, 12/31/2011 - 11:53