1st US Online Casino

Online gambling group Unibet plc has reported a promising first quarter for 2009 that includes a 15% increase in gross winnings to £36.1 million (Q1,2008: £31.3 million) and a 270% increase in pre-tax profit to £10.7 million (Q1,2008: £2.9 million)

Highlights from the report, which will be discussed later today (Monday) by Unibet’s CEO Petter Nylander and CFO Henrik Tjärnström, include:

• Gross winnings revenue £36.1 million for the first quarter of 2009.
• Profit from operations up at £10.9 (Q1,2008: £10.3 million.)
• Profit before tax for the first quarter well up at £10.7 (Q1,2008: £2.9 million.)
• Profit after tax rose to £10.0 (Q1,2008: £2.2 million.)
• Operating cash flow before movements in working capital amounted to £13.5 million (Q1,2008: £13.2 million)
• Number of active customers at the end of the quarter was 314,977, up 8% from the same period a year ago.

Petter Nylander, CEO of Unibet, said: “Our strong business model and the well balanced product portfolio have resulted in another strong quarter in terms of gross winnings and operating cash flow. <

(Read the full post about ‘Unibet reports gross win and profit increases’…)

TMZ.com is reporting that poker player Scott Lazar is allegedly reneging on a promise to feature a gambling company’s brand in his upcoming film.

Gambling Times Inc. claims that Lazar’s film "Deal", which stars Burt Reynolds and Shannon Elizabeth, was to include "highly visible" product placement during the film in exchange for a $50,000 investment.

The best part of all from TMZ.com:

According to the lawsuit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, the plug was far from highly visible… because it didn’t exist at all.

Now here’s the ironic part: G.T. is suing Lazar for no less than $1,000,000 in damages — but the film only made… get

(Read the full post about ‘Poker Pro Accused of Making an Awful Deal’…)

Reports this week from the Reuters news service that online gambling group 888.com was in advanced talks to acquire up to five companies prompted the publication e-Gaming Review to ask CEO Gigi Levy whether Cashcade was on his group’s shopping list. Levy categorically dismissed the speculation.

The publication’s curiosity was understandable; Cashcade, which owns Foxy Bingo, is currently going through a bidding process. Newspaper group Independent News and Media holds a 20% shareholding in Cashcade and needs to raise funds as it has to repay €200 million this year, EGR reports. INM is understood to have a clause in its stakeholding which can force it to push a sale through.

(Read the full post about ’888.com denies Cashcade acquisition talk’…)

Following Tuesday night’s American Idol rock theme, there were a few indicators as to who might be staying on and who might be leaving this week based on search and voting trends courtesy of DialIdol.com.   

Adam Lambert not only received the most accolades from the judges, he also received the most searches according to Google Trends for his rendition of the Led Zeppelin classic "Whole Lot of Love". 

"Adam Lambert Led Zeppelin" was among the most searched for terms immediately following the show. 

There could be good news for Danny Gokey as well since his rendition of Aerosmith’s "Dream On" was the second most searched for term.  "Renegade", performed by both Gokey and Kris Allen, was also heavily searched for.

Lambert was the favorite coming into Tuesday night’s show even though he appeared among the bottom two last week.  Danny Gokey, meanwhile, has never appeared among the bottom three.  He seemed to have the second best vote total according to DialIdol.com.

< (Read the full post about ‘American Idol Results Forecast: Adam Lambert a Keeper’…)

Following record breaking traffic for the 2009 Kentucky Derby at Gambling911.com, gamblers were immediately shifting their attention to another big betting event:  Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton.

"This will be the biggest fight of the year so far," says Payton O’Brien of Gambling911.com.

Most experts and gamblers were all over Manny Pacquiao at Bookmaker.com where his odds were now at -245.  Ricky Hatton fans will be thrilled to know that their fighter’s odds were at +205 for a payout of $205 on every $100 bet.

Pacquiao’s fan base, especially back home in the Philippines, is extraordinary. 

From the Houston Chronicle:

"The last time Manny Pacquiao displayed his many talents, he stopped Oscar De La Hoya in a fight no one thought he could win. Th

(Read the full post about ‘Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton Fight Odds Another Huge Draw’…)

The gates to ParaDice, the newest gaming platform at the Vienna-listed online gambling giant Bwin, are now open following the launch this week. This arena of brand-new dice games boasts skill gaming battles galore using multiplayer dice games like Jadestone’s ‘Dice Hold’em’ and ‘Shoot the Moons’.

Both dice games offer a mix of skill, strategy and chance, offering Bwin players a more comprehensive line-up of games. The games are available as cash games or in tournament formats.

Dice Hold’em is an exciting dice version of the classic poker game Texas Hold’em.

(Read the full post about ‘Paradice online skill games launched by bwin’…)

The Australian branch of online gambling group Betfair is championing the cause of Internet gambling downunder, recommending to a government committee studying gambling reform that legalising and regulating Internet casino and poker gambling would be a good bet.

The government’s Productivity Commission is in the first phase of a government consultation process to study gambling reform, and has to date received over 200 submissions from interested parties other than Betfair.

(Read the full post about ‘Betfair lobbies Aussie Productivity Commission to legalise online wagering’…)

Christine Papakyriakou (52), a Hamilton, Ontario woman who currently awaits criminal sentencing for embezzling Cdn$7 million from her former employer to pay gambling debts that may be as high as $10 million, is to sue two land casinos and the province for her troubles.

Papakyriakou’s civil lawsuit, which contains allegations not proven in court, alleges that Casino Niagara, Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation are responsible for turning her into a pathological gambler, reports the Toronto Sun. Those named intend to defend the action.

(Read the full post about ‘Canadian fraudster says casino comps made her embezzle’…)

Adam Lambert may have sealed his chances of getting into the American Idol final after this past week’s performance.  Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have responded by making Lambert a -400 favorite to become the next American Idol.  One would have to bet $4 to win $1 (the initial $4 is returned if Lambert wins). 

From MTV.com:

What would Adam Lambert pull off this week? Dr

(Read the full post about ‘American Idol Odds Have Adam Lambert Huge Favorite’…)

Jackpot City Bingo is doing its absolute bet to make sure that their players have a great time this summer as they raise even more money for the Cystic Fibrosis fund.

Raising Good Money
Jackpot City has chosen to support the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the organization that’s dedicated to fighting this life-threatening sickness and so far they have raised over  £10,000 in aid of this worthwhile cause. But now with a limited edition signed football from French soccer star Thierry Henry, they hope to raise even more.

Great Prizes
To win this rare piece of memorabilia, players must purchase 10 or more Charity Bingo Tournament Tickets at Jackpot City Online Bingo to qualify.

(Read the full post about ‘Jackpot City Bingo Raises More Money For Charity’…)