gambling – News Stories About gambling - Page 9

Dec 26, 2008 8:17 AM CST

States See Lottery Sales Take Rare Dip

Recession crimps this usually safe revenue stream

(Newser) - In good times and bad, state governments have relied on the lottery to bring in as much as $1 billion for education programs and other beneficiaries. But last quarter, sales of tickets fell by $215 million nationwide, only the second dip in 16 years. At a moment when states are...

Vegas Is US Suicide Capital

Dec 11, 2008 3:54 PM CST

Vegas Is US Suicide Capital

Residents about 50% more likely to die by own hand; visiting increases risk for out-of-staters

(Newser) - Being in Las Vegas is quite a gamble: The risk of committing suicide for Sin City residents is twice as high as in the rest of the US, a recent study finds—with its 40 million annual visitors at even greater risk. But Harvard sociologists noted that those odds for...

Lines Keep Moving in Fight Over Online Gambling

Dec 1, 2008 2:19 PM CST

Lines Keep Moving in Fight Over Online Gambling

Critics liken government stance to Prohibition

(Newser) - Can 20th-century laws designed to stop old-school bookies put the kibosh on the multi-billion online gambling industry? Anti-gambling crusaders say they can, and they’re doing their best to prove it. Federal prosecutors have used the 1961 Wire Act to shut down several huge operations, the Washington Post reports—but...

MGM Mirage Chief Quits
Amid Fake MBA Flap

Nov 14, 2008 2:04 AM CST

MGM Mirage Chief Quits Amid Fake MBA Flap

Lanni denies sudden resignation related to degree fib

(Newser) - The CEO of MGM Mirage has announced his resignation, but denied it had anything to do with lying about having an MBA, reports the Wall Street Journal. J. Terence Lanni, one of the most powerful figures in the gambling world, has long claimed to have an MBA from the University...

In Slump,
Vegas Pushes Escapism

Nov 10, 2008 11:27 AM CST

In Slump, Vegas Pushes Escapism

Marketing gamble by casinos is coming back to haunt them

(Newser) - Las Vegas has enthusiastically promoted itself to travelers interested in pastimes other than gambling in recent years, but now that economic woes are tightening leisure budgets, Sin City is taking a hit, reports Advertising Age. With visitor volume and gaming revenue down, casinos are scrambling to respond. One has a...

MGM Delays New Casinos
for Vegas, Atlantic City

Oct 29, 2008 3:03 PM CDT

MGM Delays New Casinos for Vegas, Atlantic City

After credit downgrade, firm reports 67% decline in quarterly net income

(Newser) - MGM Mirage will suspend work on new casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City due to the dismal credit climate, the Wall Street Journal reports. The firm reported a 67% drop in third-quarter net income as the slumping economy quells consumers’ desire to gamble or spend at casino restaurants and...

Bookies Call Game 5 for Phillies

Oct 29, 2008 5:01 AM CDT

Bookies Call Game 5 for Phillies

Under Vegas rules, the fat lady sung at the bottom of the fifth

(Newser) - Game 5 of the World Series is stuck in a rain-soaked limbo in Philadelphia but it's all over in Vegas, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Nevada gaming ‘house rules’ state that a canceled game reverts to the score of the last finished inning, making it a 2-1 victory for...

On Sports Exchange, 'Trade' Takes on New Meaning

Oct 6, 2008 3:24 PM CDT

On Sports Exchange, 'Trade' Takes on New Meaning

Create a 'Sportfolio' and buy and sell shares in your favorite athletes

(Newser) - Trading baseball cards with your friends is so 20th century. A new website allows sports fans to trade shares in athletes and even teams, effectively wagering real money on the performance of pro and college athletes, reports Reuters. "I see the marketplace being enormous," says an early investor...

Donaghy Was Sole Gambling Ref, NBA Finds

Oct 3, 2008 10:25 AM CDT

Donaghy Was Sole Gambling Ref, NBA Finds

Convict's betting prompted league-wide integrity investigation

(Newser) - No NBA referee other than Tim Donaghy, who’s currently serving time for gambling, has been up to anything illegal in the sport, a 14-month league probe has found. But the report’s author did have some suggestions for keeping the game clean, including a hotline for tips on suspicious...

Casinos Staked Fortunes
on Friendly Gambler Mac

Sep 28, 2008 7:10 AM CDT

Casinos Staked Fortunes on Friendly Gambler Mac

Industry blossomed with help from legislation by life-time gamer

(Newser) - Life-time gambler John McCain is behind more casino legislation than any other lawmaker, and has helped Indian gambling become a $26 billion industry, reports the New York Times. Though the Arizona senator has called lobbyists “birds of prey,” he has enjoyed close links to casino lobbyists. He once...

NBA Ref Starts
Prison Term
for Gambling

Sep 23, 2008 1:57 AM CDT

NBA Ref Starts Prison Term for Gambling

Scandal fallout continues to batter league

(Newser) - The NBA referee who admitted gambling on basketball begins his 15-month federal prison sentence today, reports USA Today. The conviction of referee Tim Donaghy, 41, has rocked the NBA, even though officials determined he didn't bet on the specific games he worked. An NBA-sponsored investigation into gambling and referees is...

Casinos Choke on Smoke Bans

Sep 19, 2008 2:20 PM CDT

Casinos Choke on Smoke Bans

Industry sees revenues drop as state laws makes gamblers gamble less

(Newser) - Taking deep breaths of clean air won’t stave off panic for casinos confronted with smoking bans in an increasing number of states, the Wall Street Journal reports. In Illinois, casinos have posted double-digit revenue drops since a ban took effect in January. “Gamblers like to smoke and drink...

As Economy Sinks,
Lottery Sales Soar

Sep 13, 2008 10:50 AM CDT

As Economy Sinks, Lottery Sales Soar

Consumers tightening belts don't scratch their lottery spending

(Newser) - As the economy falters, one thing people aren’t cutting back on is lottery tickets, the New York Times reports. In fact, higher unemployment rates usually mean higher lottery sales, says one study, and sales are hitting record highs in at least 22 states. “With companies tightening and not...

Casino Ejects Man Over B.O.

Jul 31, 2008 4:06 PM CDT

Casino Ejects Man Over B.O.

Smelly man wants an apology

(Newser) - A gambler deemed too smelly to play is demanding an apology from New Jersey’s Borgata casino, Fox Philadelphia reports. Michael Wax, 54, had spent 17 hours gambling in the casino when an official approached him and said he had to leave because other patrons were complaining of his body...

Donaghy Gets 15 Months in Gambling Rap

Jul 29, 2008 12:37 PM CDT

Donaghy Gets 15 Months in Gambling Rap

Disgraced NBA ref gets off lightly after lawyer's plea for leniency

(Newser) - Tim Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison today for his role in the NBA gambling scandal, the Sporting News reports, a step down from the 27-33 months recommended by federal guidelines. Donaghy’s lawyers argued that the disgraced referee—who admitted to betting on games he officiated in...

Parkinson's Drugs Trigger Compulsive Behavior

Jul 14, 2008 1:14 PM CDT

Parkinson's Drugs Trigger Compulsive Behavior

Patients report sudden onset of addictions

(Newser) - Drugs for Parkinson's disease can be enormously beneficial, relieving patients' tremors and rigid muscles. But some patients are now complaining of an unusual side effect—extreme compulsive behavior. One woman began taking Mirapex to combat symptoms and suddenly found herself with a $200-a-day scratch-off lottery ticket habit, reports the Chicago ...

The Games Candidates Play, Casino Edition

ANALYSIS

Jul 3, 2008 1:16 PM CDT

The Games Candidates Play, Casino Edition

Poker pegs Obama as deep thinker; McCain's flash evident in craps

(Newser) - The presidential contenders are both gambling men, and long ago picked poisons—flashy craps for McCain, backroom poker for Obama—that reflect strikingly different competitive natures. McCain, whom aides recently had to drag from the tables, loves the “thrill seeker’s” game, Time notes: He heartily plays for thousands...

Donaghy Fights NBA's $1.4M Bill

Jun 24, 2008 12:53 PM CDT

Donaghy Fights NBA's $1.4M Bill

Says league wants to 'financially destroy' ex-ref for singing

(Newser) - A lawyer for Tim Donaghy, the NBA referee who bet on games he officiated, has accused the NBA of going after his client in retaliation for statements that detracted from the NBA Finals, AP reports. "The message from the NBA is quite clear: If you cooperate in a federal...

Fantasy Sports Ruling:
Bet on Hypocrisy

Opinion

Jun 4, 2008 9:39 PM CDT

Fantasy Sports Ruling: Bet on Hypocrisy

It's not gambling because the government says so

(Newser) - Fantasy sports are A-OK with the Supreme Court and the US government—even though they’re essentially thinly disguised gambling games, writes Jacob Sullum of Reason Online. Many leagues openly include an entrance fee and a cash prize—which seems an awful lot like sports betting. But it’s not,...

Barkley Pays Up,
But It's Not Over Yet

May 21, 2008 11:44 AM CDT

Barkley Pays Up, But It's Not Over Yet

Ex-NBA star must shell out more for DA's fee

(Newser) - Former NBA great Charles Barkley has paid off his $400,000 gambling debt to a Las Vegas casino, but he's still got a charge left to settle: the district attorney's office is levying a $40,000 processing fee. Barkley says he hadn't known about the extra charge, but plans to...