Crime

Paddy Power in Hot Water With ASA Over Pistorius Advertisement

“It’s Oscar Time” – such read an advert from the controversial Ireland-based bookmaker PaddyPower.com.

Oh yes, punters love to bet on the Oscars, and they did in droves this past Sunday.

There’s just one small problem. Paddy Power’s ad had nothing to do with the Academy Awards, although it certainly looked to capitalize on them.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Wed, 03/05/2014 - 22:32

Was 1995 Penn State – Rutgers Game Fixed in Light of McQueary Claims?

ESPN The Magazine broke the shocking details that former Penn State Football Assistant Coach and one time backup quarterback Mike McQueary claims to have been a victim of sexual abuse as a child in addition to being a degenerate gambling. Now one has to wonder if McQueary’s betting on games translated into throwing one specific showdown, that wasn't much of a showdown when all was said and done.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Wed, 03/05/2014 - 21:34

Al Capone Miami Beach Mansion for Sale

Notorious late mobster Al Capone’s Miami Beach mansion is on the market for a cool £5.06m. Not bad for the Miami market.

Built in 1922 on Palm Island, off the Miami Beach coast, the extravagant home encompasses 30,000 sq ft of waterfront space.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Tue, 03/04/2014 - 19:53

Sandusky Whistleblower was a Degenerate Gambler, Abuse Victim

The man who stepped forward as a whistleblower against long time Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was reportedly a victim of sexual abuse himself. He was also a degenerate gambler.

ESPN The Magazine broke the shocking details regarding Mike McQueary.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Tue, 03/04/2014 - 19:31

Outrage Over Paddy Power Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial Betting Intensifies

The public – and presumably a chunk of Paddy Power’s customer base – have taken to Twitter to lambaste the Irish bookmaker for continuing to take bets on the outcome of South African paraplegic runner Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Tue, 03/04/2014 - 10:03

Japan Finance Minister Gathering Facts on Bitcoin Exchange Mt.Gox

(Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that the government is still trying to figure out what has led to the collapse of the Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox and is not sure whether crime is involved.

"We still have not had a clear grasp of the situation," Aso said in response to a reporter's question after a cabinet meeting. "(We) don't know if it was a crime or just a bankruptcy."

Submitted by Reuters on, Mon, 03/03/2014 - 20:59

Bitcoin Businesses Subpoenaed by US Attorney Preet Bharara

(Reuters) - Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has sent subpoenas to Mt. Gox, other bitcoin exchanges, and businesses that deal in bitcoin to seek information on how they handled recent cyber attacks, a source familiar with the probe said on Wednesday.

In the attacks - known as distributed denial of service attacks - hackers overwhelmed bitcoin exchanges by sending thousands of phantom transactions. At least three exchanges were forced to halt withdrawals of bitcoins on February 7, including Mt. Gox, which was the largest at the time.

Submitted by Reuters on, Mon, 03/03/2014 - 20:48

Paddy Power Defends Taking Bets on Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial: Angry Tweets

Controversial Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has defended its decision to offer betting on the outcome of Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial.

Pistorius, a paraplegic runner, claims he shot into a locked bathroom believing an intruder had entered the residence he shared with Steenkamp. Instead he fatally wounded his girlfriend.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Mon, 03/03/2014 - 20:31

Boxing Champion Antonio Tarver Arrested for Not Paying Gambling Debt

Boxing champion Antonio Tarver was arrested this past weekend for failing to pay a gambling debt of $200,000 to the Wynn Las Vegas. His mug shot was first published by TMZ.

Submitted by Tyrone Black on, Mon, 03/03/2014 - 15:38

Sands Employees Angry at Adelson Over Breach: ‘He Should Just Shut Up’

Employees of the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pa., are outraged and angry that their personal information has been put at risk apparently because of their boss's outspoken political statements.

Submitted by Thomas Somach on, Sun, 03/02/2014 - 22:25

Paddy Power Further Enrages Public With Oscar Pistorius Money Back Guarantee

Ireland’s biggest bookmaker, Paddy Power, incensed many last week when it opened up odds on the trial of South African paraplegic runner Oscar Pistorius.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Sun, 03/02/2014 - 18:29

Sicilian Mafia Sent Hit Man to Knock Off Rudy Giuliani

The head of the Sicilian Mafia once sent a hit man to knock off then US Attorney Rudy Giuliani in the 1980s, the New York Post reported this week.

“Boss of bosses” Salvatore Riina targeted Giuliani because of his friendship with an anti-mafia judge in Sicily, Giovanni Falcone.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Fri, 02/28/2014 - 22:19

Sands Casino Bethlehem CEO Resigns Following Hacking

The CEO of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem has resigned following a hacking that took down all Sands Las Vegas websites for nearly a week.

Robert DeSalvio, the President and CEO of the Sands establishment, is stepping down. It was revealed last week that the hacking had gone through Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. DeSalvio has insisted that his decision is unrelated to the hacking.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Thu, 02/27/2014 - 21:54

Chan Pelton Stripped of WSOP Ring Following ‘Chip Theft’: Banned for Life

Poker player, Chan Pelton, has been stripped of his ring following an investigation by World Series of Poker organizers. Pelton is also banned from all Caesars properties.

Submitted by Ace King on, Thu, 02/27/2014 - 10:39

Former Cricket Player Lou Vincent Pleads Guilty as Part of ‘Bookie’ Scheme

(Reuters) - Former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent has pleaded guilty to not reporting an approach by a bookmaker while playing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) last year.

The 35-year-old Vincent is one of three former New Zealand cricketers under investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for alleged match-fixing.

Vincent, who retired from all cricket last year, had failed to report the approach to the ICC while playing for the Khulna Royal Bengals in the domestic Twenty20 competition in January last year.

Submitted by Reuters on, Thu, 02/27/2014 - 10:21

Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Jail for Running Online Sportsbook

A Stamford, Connecticut man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his role in running an illegal online sportsbook that authorities claim had ties to organized crime.

U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly announced Wednesday that Silverio Califano, 53, of Stamford, was sentenced Feb. 26 by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford followed by three years of supervised release. He must also forfeit $40,000 and was fined another $4000.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Thu, 02/27/2014 - 10:10

FBI Accused Mafia of Fixing Muhammad Ali Fight: Liston Bet Against Himself

Newly released documents have uncovered an investigation by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) into a supposedly fixed fight between legendary boxer Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston.

The investigation accuses the Mafia of having fixed the historic 1964 fight.

Submitted by Don Shapiro on, Wed, 02/26/2014 - 17:37

Three Generations of One Family Indicted in Poker Heist

A grand jury has indicted three generations of a single family on charges related to a poker heist at Colonial Country Club in Memphis, Tennessee.

Mother Mildred Fioretto, daughter Sheree McKinley and granddaughter Marilyn Jackson were indicted in connection with the Sept. 9 robbery. McKinley’s boyfriend was also indicted.

Submitted by Ace King on, Wed, 02/26/2014 - 17:21

Crossing the Line? Bookie Taking Bets on Runner Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial

In recent years, bookies across the world have steered clear of taking bets on murder trials. This week it was observed that Irish bookmaker Paddy Power had begun to take bets on the outcome of South African paraplegic runner Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Wed, 02/26/2014 - 10:23

High Court Won't Review DiCristina Poker Club Conviction

WASHINGTON (Associated Press) — The Supreme Court will not disturb the criminal conviction of a New York man whose underground poker game ran afoul of a federal anti-gambling law.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Mon, 02/24/2014 - 20:23

Full Tilt Poker Defendant Ira Rubin ‘Faulty’ Indictment Claim Denied by Judge

A U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit judge on Wednesday rejected Ira Rubin's claim that his indictment was faulty because the conduct he was charged with was not a crime under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Wed, 02/19/2014 - 22:16

Sands Bethlehem was Main Target of Last Week’s Hacking

LAS VEGAS - (Associated Press) -- Casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Tuesday that hacking into their websites and internal systems last week went deeper than the company had previously known.

All of the Las Vegas-based company's sites were down for six days after hackers posted images apparently condemning comments CEO Sheldon Adelson made about using nuclear weapons on Iran.

Sands said hackers crashed its email system and stole employees' Social Security numbers.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Wed, 02/19/2014 - 21:55

Annie Duke Resurfaces: Will Play in Philadelphia Poker Tournament

Annie Duke announced she will be participating in the Jewish National Fund’s 7^th Annual Poker Tournament in Philadelphia on February 27. This is the first time Duke has made such a public appearance on the poker circuit in more than a year.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, Wed, 02/19/2014 - 15:57

Sands Hackers Got Customer Credit Card Info, Passwords for Slot Machine Systems

LAS VEGAS (Associated Press) — Casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. said Tuesday that hacking into their websites and internal systems last week went deeper than the company had previously known.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Wed, 02/19/2014 - 00:57

Former Baltimore Ravens Star Ray Rice Arrested at Revel Casino in Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Associated Press) — Atlantic City police said Baltimore running back Ray Rice was arrested at a casino after an argument with his fiancée turned physical.

Atlantic City police said that Rice and Janay Palmer were arrested on simple assault charges and were released on a summons after an incident at the Revel Casino early Saturday morning. Both Rice and Palmer declined medical attention, and neither reported any injuries

Submitted by Associated Press on, Tue, 02/18/2014 - 13:41

Another Man With Ties to Legends Sports Gambling Ring Plead Guilty

Timothy Robillard, 44, pleaded guilty Monday to one felony charge of running an illegal gambling operation. The former Albany, New York corrections officer faces a year of conditional discharge and a $25,000 forfeiture of profits when sentenced in April.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Tue, 02/18/2014 - 12:01

China to Crack Down on Vices Including Gambling, Prostitution

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s government told police across the country to get tough on prostitution, gambling and drugs following an expose in the “sin city” of Dongguan, where a crackdown on prostitution led to the detention of nearly 1,000 people this month.

The announcement, on the Ministry of Public Security’s official website late on Monday, said investigations had begun in several provinces, and police had broken up 73 vice rings and closed down 2410 prostitution and gambling dens over the past week.

Submitted by Reuters on, Mon, 02/17/2014 - 23:59

Sands Casino Websites Finally Restored Following Hacking

(Associated Press) - Casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. has restored its websites a week after they were hacked.

The Las Vegas-based company pulled down its sites Feb. 13 after hackers defaced them with images condemning comments CEO Sheldon Adelson had made about using nuclear weapons on Iran.

Sands restored the websites Monday afternoon. Spokesman Ron Reese says the company first became aware of the hacking on Feb. 12, when company email went down.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Mon, 02/17/2014 - 20:47

WSOP 3 Time Gold Ring Winner Chan Pelton Accused of Pocketing Tournament Chip

A three-time gold ring winner in World Series of Poker circuit events, Chan Pelton, is under investigation for allegedly pocketing a T25,000 chip from the WSOP Circuit Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida.

Submitted by Ace King on, Mon, 02/17/2014 - 12:31

Frustration Continues as Sands Las Vegas, Venetian Websites Down Again

One week after a malicious hacking of the Sands Las Vegas casino websites, the progress getting them back up has been especially slow.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Mon, 02/17/2014 - 11:43