• Jacko GUILTY Bets Public

February 11, 2005, (London, UK) – Michael Jackson is expected to be found guilty on four counts of lewd acts involving a minor, and four counts of administering an intoxicating agent, in his current trial against the State of California, according to public opinion on celebrity event betting site, www.AnyBets.com. The international pool betting site has online pools covering the entire trial process from jury selection to conviction. The public have shown they are willing to put money where their mouth is and placed bets in all nine pools related to the Hollywood trial. 59% of the betting public believe that Michael Jackson will be found guilty of at least one of the charges brought against him - 32% have bet that he will be found guilty on all 10 charges, and 27% say at least one charge but not all charges. Wacko Jacko supporters stand to win £4.81 per £1 bet placed if he is found innocent. If there is a mistrial, the odds are a staggering £22.90 for every £1 bet. Regarding the length of the trial, 52% believe it will take 16 to 20 days alone just to select the jury. The public also believes that it will take longer for the defence to present its case compared to the prosecution. 42% of bettors have said it will take the defence more than 14 days to present evidence and 56% bet it will take the prosecution 12 to 14 days to present theirs. A spokesperson for www.AnyBets.com said, “The Michael Jackson pools have been extremely popular as the betting public enjoy getting involved in current and controversial issues by placing a wager in support of their opinion. Our website appeals to a wide range of consumers and what is bet is often a reflection of their viewpoint. At the moment, the odds show a majority opinion that Michael Jackson is guilty.”

> Read the full story here Source : Press Release

• eCogra forms alliance with Global Gambling Guidance Group

Online casino regulator Ecogra has teamed with the Global Gambling Guidance Group (G4) to provide more cohesive formal precautions against underage and problem gambling. "The top online casinos regulated by Ecogra have all made in-house responsible gambling provision as part of their operational structures, and we will beef up this vital function through a partnership with the respected and professional G4 organisation," said Andrew Beveridge, CEO of Ecogra. The regulator will work with G4 to create a set of policies and procedures that will set the global benchmark for responsible gaming. Ecogra Seal casino and poker operators will be required to implement these detailed policies as part of the generally accepted practices (eGAP), and compliance will be reviewed on an ongoing basis by independent auditors. G4 management have extensive experience with responsible gaming programmes in both the terrestrial and online environments, and provide a worldwide accreditation programme. The G4 e-Gaming Code of Practice has already been implemented at major online site PokerRoom.com. Top G4 executive, Pieter Remmers said: "These 51 first rate Seal casinos represent a very significant share of the online casino gambling sector, and the real enforcement that is part of the Ecogra system makes for effective application." "Although we have other partnerships in process, this is the big one for us, because Ecogra will offer brand recognition and allow us to contribute to their sites. It is the first step in getting their members to come aboard. We have also held discussions with other groups, like the Interactive Gaming Council and certain large online poker networks, and those will continue to be our focus in the short term." Ecogra is a non-profit, non-partisan based in London, England. Founded by major online software and casino operator groups in 2002, the organisation spent some time researching the concept of regulation with experts throughout the world before formulating a set of requirements, together with an independent inspection and monitoring system for enforcement. Approved casinos are identified by a Seal, and commit to a set of professional operational practices which are independently enforced through inspection and monitoring by major international business groups. The infrastructure includes a Fair Gaming Advocate for any player disputes that cannot be resolved at casino level.

> Read the full story here Source : ATEOnline.co.uk

• Online Gambling Sites Expect Big Payoffs

Online gambling has hit the jackpot. After years of escalating growth, it's poised for its biggest year. That reflects a growing obsession with poker, advances in broadband and wireless technology, and the temptation to strike it rich from a PC. More than 2,000 gambling Web sites this year will rake in nearly $10 billion in revenue, most from U.S. consumers. That's up 40% from 2004. In 1996, when lawmakers first sought to curb Internet gambling, 30 sites collected $30 million, says researcher Christiansen Capital Advisors. That makes gambling one of the Internet's largest moneymakers, even though it is illegal. Poker revenue is expected to double to more than $2 billion and attract 1 million players a month. Americans play at 266 Web sites, up from 53 in June 2003, says gaming site CasinoCity.com. "Poker has jolted the industry," says Mike Sexton, a professional poker player who consults for PartyPoker.com, which is expected to haul in $1 billion in revenue this year. "Playing poker is a skill and considered cool," he says. "It's acceptable whether you're sitting around a table with friends or in front of a PC." [...]

> Read the full story here Source : Yahoo.com

• Proposed Bill Could Lead to Legalized e-Poker in North Dakota

A group of state legislators in North Dakota has proposed a plan that would allow the state's citizens to vote in 2006 on whether the definition of gambling should be revised to exclude Internet poker, which would be reclassified as a game of skill. If the plan is approved, the state will license Internet poker companies to operate in the state and use the millions of dollars in tax revenue for education, property tax relief and other public funding. House Bill 1509 was introduced on Jan. 17 by Reps. Jim Kasper (R), Mark Dosch (R), Ronald Iverson (R) and Dave Weiler (R) and Sen. Randy Schobinger (R). It would amend section 12.1-28-01 of the North Dakota Century Code by revising the definition of gambling. A subsection that exempts "lawful contests of skill" from a list of prohibited activities would be supplemented with the phrase "including Internet live poker." According to Kasper, "Poker is much different than gambling. The skill is what you do with what you are given." [...]

> Read the full story here Source : iGamingNews.com

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