Australian
Gambling And Vice News Update, by Greg Tingle - 28th
April 2011
Australia
continues to be a hotbed for Australian gambling,
casino and vice news, be it political, legal, new
games and innovation, tours, casinos battling it out
for the top entertainment acts, and so it goes on.
Media
Man scours Australia for the hottest and most entertaining
news to be found...
South
Australia Police Officers Investigation Probe Over
Casino Fight...
A
double Australian tag team...4...off-duty police officers
are under investigation over a brawl at Adelaide's
famous SkyCity Casino. Just after midnight yesterday,
a bloke came out of a toilet and complained to a guard
a group of men were harassing him. News outlet Channel
7 reported last night the group emerged from the toilet
and approached the man, who is alleged to have told
them: "Leave me alone, I don't want anything
to do with this."
A fight then erupted, in which casino gaming tables
were knocked for six and seven security guards rushed
to the incident. The men were notified Hindley St
police had been called, to which they allegedly replied:
"We are the police." Police are reviewing
security footage, and Superintendent Graham Goodwin
said an investigation was continuing. We wish the
police good luck with the investigation - both sides
of the police.
Snoop
Dogg Enjoys Time In Australian Casinos; Star City
In Sin City Sydney..
With
hip-hop stars Snoop Dogg and Nelly have been enjoying
their time down under in Australia. At an announced
side-show in Sydney's Star City Casino last weekend,
the two famed hip-hop stars shocked the crowd when
an ensemble of acclaimed Supafest co-stars joined
them on stage. Industry luminaries The Game, T-Pain,
Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe and Spliff Star all joined in
the fun. They wowed fans with an hour of freestyle
rapping. The show is already being described as the
biggest hip-hop show in Australian history. Star City
in Sydney is hoping to look after them again, as is
the Tabcorp owned sister casino on the Gold Coast
- Jupiters Hotel and Casino.
Famous
Australian Gambler And Sportsman Brendan Fevola Will
Pay Kids' Charity...
You
know the name, and you know some of his games. AFL,
poker and casino slots. Fev will make a payment to
well known and respected charity Variety. They will
be the beneficiary of ex AFL star Brendan Fevola's
drunken New Year's Eve. The former Carlton and Brisbane
full forward will pay about $2000 to the charity to
avoid charges of obstructing police and public nuisance.
Fevola was arrested after ignoring police instructions
to get off the road in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley
about 4.30am on New Year's Day. The situation degenerated
when he resisted arrest and threatened police, allegedly
saying: "Come on, take your hat and badge off,
I'll smash you." The dual-Coleman medallist had
pleaded guilty to the charges but entered mediation
talks with police this month to have them dropped.
He also wrote a letter of apology to the police involved.
Fevola's lawyer Jim Coburn told Brisbane Magistrates
Court yesterday mediation had been successful and
a commitment has been signed for Fevola to donate
the money. The charity, Variety Queensland, was chosen
by police. Fevola has two weeks to fulfil the mediation
terms. Fevola, who has struggled with gambling and
alcohol issues throughout his career, lost about $1
million through betting and admitted he attempted
suicide at his lowest point. He spent two months in
rehab to deal with mental health and addiction issues
after the altercation with police. The living legend
was sacked by the Brisbane Lions while he was still
in rehab, a move which drew criticism from some quarters,
including the AFL Players' Association. Fevola moved
back to Melbourne after his release from rehab to
be closer to his family, however he is now estranged
from his wife Alex and three daughters. His battle
with gambling is ongoing. He has been removed from
James Packer owned Crown Casino as well as a suburban
pokies venue in recent months. Fevola has not given
up hope of returning to the AFL, playing for VFL side
Casey Scorpions to help rebuild his career. We wish
Fev well with his ongoing journey.
Crown
Casino Grease Shaft Trap Man Ocean's One Slips Legal
Charges In Melbourne...
A
Melbourne 26 year-old known as "Grease Trap Man"
and "Ocean's One" after he was rescued from
a ventilation shaft at Crown casino walked out...slipped
away if you will... a free man from court yesterday.
Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard two charges against
Brook Adrian Valencic, 26, had been withdrawn by prosecutors.
Valencic, of Sydenham, faced a charge of criminal
damage to a door at Crown and a second charge of trespass,
over the incident in July last year. It is believed
the crim defence planned to argue he was so drunk
he could remember nothing of the incident and police
concluded they could not prove the charges. Valencic
spent hours trapped in the grease-filled ventilation
shaft and was pulled clear by a search and rescue
crew after staff at the Automatic Cafe heard screaming
when they turned on the ovens. He was covered head
to toe in grease, as was worried his might of been
in line for a cooked alive number ala battered fish
fry. The rescuers had to crawl into the shaft to rescue
Valencic, who was hot and dehydrated, but otherwise
unharmed, yet a touch worried about what was about
to get cooked. At the time of the incident firefighters
thought he entered the steel duct from a stairwell,
crawled about 30m, and then fell vertically through
the vents until he became wedged above the cafe's
grill. Valencic left court without talking to the
press. Crown Casino security and law enforcement agencies
will be watching Crown Casino like hawks as The Logies
is to take place on the 1st May, opened by performing
artist come casino babe Katy Perry.
Aristocrat
Aussie Battle Returning To Casino King; Tarzan, Mr.
Cashman Headline Aristocrat's Booth at Southern Gaming
Summit...
From
Australia to Vegas To Biloxi, the embattled Aussie
firm is bouncing back with a vengeance.
Aristocrat
Technologies is bringing top-name celebrities to Biloxi
for the annual Southern Gaming Summit. "Tarzan(R)"
and "Mr. Cashman" of Cashman Fever(TM) will
be front and center as Aristocrat unveils its newest
games that will help operators across the South give
their customers the greatest gaming experience every
day. Aristocrat will be in booth #812, where the stunning
new video slot game Tarzan®Lord of the Jungle™
will bring a call of the wild to the tradeshow floor.
Tarzan Lord of the Jungle is the newest title in Aristocrat's
award-winning VERVEhd™ cabinet, where the game's
big screen style action stretches top to bottom. The
game is complete with incredible stereo sound, seven
high-hit frequency bonus features and a four-level
progressive with a jungle-sized top jackpot of $250,000.
Co-starring at the event is every casino player's
best friend, Mr. Cashman™, who is now starring
in the new video slot game Cashman Fever™. Cashman
Fever brings the fun and excitement that players have
come to expect from Mr. Cashman to a scorching hot
new level. Cashman Fever is a new feature-rich, highly
entertaining gaming experience with four red-hot,
high-frequency Cashman Fever bonus features and an
exclusive Cashman Fever Progressive Link feature that
offers 20 jackpot pools. Aristocrat is riding a wave
of award-winning success, and the company will be
showing off its most recent award-winning products,
including More Hearts™ and More Chilli™,
the opening titles on Aristocrat's all-new and award-winning
game category Mega Pay™, which was recently named
one of the Top Ten Slot Floor Products for 2011 in
the fifth annual Casino Enterprise Management Slot
Floor Technology Awards. Aristocrat will also be showing
its all-new game category Win Your Way™ and its
industry-exclusive Nteractiv™ LCD Programmable
Buttons, which were both recently named to the list
of Casino Journal's annual "Top 20 Most Innovative
Gaming Technology Awards." Aristocrat will introduce
southern operators to Stuntman Sam™, the company's
newest hero who in this thrilling new game attempts
several heart-stopping, death-defying feats to give
players an entertaining gaming experience and a big
win. And "Rock Star of the Art World," Michael
Godard's work will be on display in Monster Boogie™,
the hilarious sequel to the instant player favorite
Rockin Olives™. Also showing Gazellions™
and Fortune Fantasy™, where players have a chance
to play four games at once; and the latest entry in
Aristocrat's Reel Tall Tales™ line, The Headless
Horseman™, a triple standalone progressive with
five bonus features. They're not just games, they're
Aristocrat games, and they give the greatest gaming
experience every day.
Return
to the Scene of the Crime; Sin City Sydney Crime Tourism...
Gamblers,
histories and many tourists will love this. From murder
and robbery to gambling and civil unrest, Sydney’s
turbulent history will be revealed as we visit crime
scenes from the past and present in this fascinating
walking tour of Circular Quay and The Rocks.
The walk starts from the Justice & Police Museum
and winds its way through the city to finish in The
Rocks. Both planned and spontaneous true crime stories
are looked at in detail on this tour.
Details:
Justice & Police Museum
Address
4-8 Phillip St
Sydney 2000
Telephone 02 9252 1144
Price from $20.00 to $25.00
Date Tue 03 May
Alternative dates Tue 17 May
Open 6-8pm
Website: HHT
Also
check out
Sin
City: crime & corruption in 20th-century Sydney
No
city in the world can rival Sydney's tolerance for
organised crime - Professor Alfred W McCoy, 1980.
In the second half of the 20th century, Sin City was
in every way a fitting nickname for Sydney. Organised
crime held a grip on the city and corruption was rife,
infiltrating the top levels of politics, law and justice.
Focusing on the 1940s to the 1980s, this exhibition
will examine some of the audacious crimes, fascinating
people and various vice trades – from suburban
SP bookmakers and sly-grog sellers to narcotics dealers
and flashy illegal casinos – that bankrolled
corruption...
Website: HHT
Keith
Bulfin; Casino And Business Criminal Tells His Story
In Undercover Tell All Book...
His
colourful story, described in his autobiographical
novel Undercover, reads like a movie script. Bulfin
says while the novel is fiction, it is based on the
true events of his life. The events may sound fantastical,
he says, but he can prove it all actually happened.
The story starts in the 1990s, when he was running
a mortgage company, and fell out of favor of the law
on a charge of conspiracy to defraud in the valuations
of Lasseters Casino and Dreamworld. “My lawyers
said, ‘You’ve got no chance, they’ll
throw the book at you’. I pleaded guilty and
got sent to prison,” he says. Bulfin was stabbed
and beaten several times at Port Phillip Prison, and
progressively moved to higher security sections with
tougher criminals at every turn, until he ended up
in a so-called supermax unit. "There are 20 people
in the unit, and you’re under surveillance 24/7.
It’s one of the worst units in Australia,"
Bulfin says. Bulfin advised he has a good reason for
writing a book about such a dangerous man, someone
who could easily arrange for him to be killed. "I
was sick of psychologists. I thought I’ll write
a book, and maybe it’s therapy," he says.
"Also, by writing a book, I’m safer, and
now no-one can threaten me." Bulfin says his
book, which was originally intended to be released
as a true story, is going to be made into a movie
called The Banker. Keith Bulfin will be speaking at
this year’s Bayside Literary Festival on May
22 from 1pm–2.30pm. The event will be held at
the Brighton Savoy, 150 The Esplanade. Cost is $10,
and afternoon tea will be provided.
Aussie
Rock Gods INXS Play Moncton Casino On July 7...
Australian
rock group INXS is going to perform at Casino New
Brunswick's Entertainment Centre in Moncton in July.
The band, performing in support of new album Original
Sin, will start the rock n roller Thursday, July 7
at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Over the span of the
band's 30-year career, INXS has sold more than 30
million albums worldwide. They have scored hits on
four different continents and have received MTV Awards,
World Music Awards, two Grammy nominations, British
Music Awards and Gold, Platinum and Diamond sales
status on their records. They have also performed
over 4,000 live shows for more than 25 million people
in almost 50 countries. First as the Farriss Brothers,
then as INXS, the band is made up of brothers Tim,
Jon and Andrew Farriss, along with Kirk Pengilly and
Garry Gary Beers. Original INXS singer Michael Hutchence
died in 1997 via a dark and adventurous sexual method
and has been replaced at various times by different
singers, notably J.D. Fortune who grew up in Nova
Scotia. Fortune is fronting the band on stage, but
on Original Sin new versions of classic INXS hits
were recorded with various vocalists, including Train's
Pat Monahan, Rob Thomas and Ben Harper. Tickets for
the Moncton INXS show go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m.
Casino execs think INXS will boost numbers to the
venue and should see more folks trying their luck
on casino games. Sounds like something to check out.
Punters,
er readers, stay glued to Media
Man for more "can't miss" news on Australian
pokies and gambling wars.
News
Asia
Pacific Mega Gambling News Update, by Greg Tingle
- 9th April 2011
Newcastle
NSW War Pokie Laws...
New
poker machine restrictions proposed by Tasmanian independent
Andrew Wilkie will "annihilate" pubs and
clubs in the Hunter, leaving hundreds out of work,
ClubsNSW Newcastle councillor Jon Chin says. Clubs
Australia is launching a $20 million advertising campaign
on Monday in an attempt to prevent the introduction
of mandatory pre-commitment technology for all poker
machines. Banjo, a John "Singo" Singleton
company is behind the campaign. Mandatory pre-commitment
requires pokies users to commit to a spending limit
before they begin gambling. Once they reach that limit
they will be unable to gamble again until the following
day or longer, depending on what restrictions the
player sets for themselves. Chin said the cost of
implementing the new technology in the Hunter region
would surpass $100 million. This figure did not include
the 40% in revenue clubs would experience once the
restrictions were imposed, he said. "This means
Hunter clubs will lose another $100 million, making
it impossible for us to sustain our businesses,"
he said. Australian Hotels Association Hunter sub-branch
vice-president Bruce Woods said there was no evidence
to suggest the restrictions would discourage people
from gambling. "This won't help pathological
gamblers at all but it will lead to a loss of jobs,"
he said. "We support the clubs' campaign against
this, it will affect pubs just as much as clubs".
Online
Gaming Strong Growth In Asia...
Online
gaming industry has grown into a $US3 billion business
that provides a good standard of living to migrant
workers in Asia who play games all day and sometimes,
all night! Virtual currency is all the rage, it sometimes
gets sold to punters abroad for cash. A World Bank
study demonstrates an emerging industry in which firms
seeking to boost their brands' popularity pay low-skilled
workers overseas to become their Facebook fans or
Twitter followers. The study, Knowledge Map of the
Virtual Economy, is the World Bank's first in-depth
look at the impact of online gaming and social media
in the developing world. Vili Lehdonvirta, a co-author
of the report, advised that the bank should not pour
its money into the industry, because he said the deal
making violated some of the game publishers' terms
of service and was cheating. Known in the business
as "gold farming", the game-playing boomed
in the early 2000s with games like World of Warcraft
and has evolved considerably. Labourers in Asia spend
numerous hours each day advancing through levels of
an online game, picking up gold, swords and gems that
enhance a game player's status. Then gaming studios,
which employ the players, sell those virtual goods
to online retailers. Next step, the retailers sell
on those goods to more than 120 million players globally,
many of them in Europe and North America, who don't
want to play the games day and night to gather their
own. The bank's report indicates that online gaming
has a positive impact in Asia because 70% of the industry's
revenue remains in the gaming countries, with most
of that money going to the gaming studios. Compared
with the $US70 billion coffee market...in which only
a tiny fraction of the revenue remains in the bean-growing
countries...the gaming industry had a "much better
development impact", the report states. A report
survey checks out on a group of 26 players and studio
managers that offers a rough, yet rare demographic
look at their lives. Most of the players work out
of studios in China, in Beijing or Changsha, capital
of Hunan province. They earn an average wage of $US2.70
an hour, $US1 more than Beijing's minimum wage for
part-time factory work. "The larger point is
that online gaming is often viewed as exploitation,
Lehdonvirta said. "Certainly it's not a dream
career, but the players are not at sweatshop levels."
The gaming studios keep about 60% of the industry's
$US3 billion in revenue. Readers, would you like to
be a prize gather for the gaming studios on that level
of pay? Better not answer!
Samoan
Casino Proposal Has Social Concerns For Kiwi, Samoan
Locals...
All
these places have land based casinos - Las Vegas,
Monte Carlo, Macau, Melbourne and just maybe soon
- Apia in Samoa. Some business folks have earmarked
it as a future gambling destination, and Kiwi group,
the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand, is
advising against it, citing social harms of a casino
will outweigh any economical benefits that the Samoan
government will hope to achieve. In an admission of
the dangers of gambling, the proposed casino in Apia
will attempt to bar locals by only allowing the holders
of foreign passports to gamble. Problem #1... many
locals have duplicate passports, so getting in to
a casino for locals may not be that hard, and don't
even bring up the subject of fake ID. Will the region
get a land based casino? Stay tuned for updates.
Clubs
Australia War On Gillard Labor Government Re Pokie
Laws...
Clubs
Australia has declared "open warfare" on
the Gillard government, preparing a $20 million media
campaign to try to stop laws to limit how much punters
can spend on poker machines. Last year "Tasmanian
Devil" (MM satire) independent MP Andrew Wilkie
backed Labor to form a minority government in return
for a clampdown on the use of poker machines. Now,
the lobby that represents clubs and pubs is wrestling
and punching back, with a media blitz targeting Wilkie
and Prime Minister Julie Gillard. Both Wilkie and
Gillard are in big trouble in the popularity polls,
with Labor set to lose the next federal election,
following their NSW loss, where it was bloody and
crimson mass. Billboards, a website, beer coasters
and more It's war on nationwide. The campaign has
been criticised as misleading for claiming punters
will need a licence to gamble. Clubs Australia executive
director Anthony Ball rejects that. "What we
do know is that everyone who plays a poker machine
will need to register and obtain a card, and then
insert it into a poker machine and set a binding limit.
There needs to be player tracking, because how else
does the machine know what the player is doing? It
will have your private details and your gambling history
on it. Now if that's not a licence, I don't know what
is." Under Wilkie's master plan, gamblers would
have to nominate a dollar figure for how much they
are prepared to lose before they start gambling, a
scheme known as "mandatory pre-commitment".
Wilkie wants the law in place by 2014 and he has the
backing of South Australian independent Senator Nick
'Mr X' (MM satire) Xenophon. Senator Xenophon describes
the Clubs Australia campaign as a "joke".
"This industry is willing to spend $20 million
of tax-break money that they get from community clubs
- effectively taxpayers' monies, indirectly - to peddle
lies in terms of a campaign where they haven't even
seen what the final report will say. Whether it's
$20 million or $200 million, this mob can spend as
much as they like, but they can't spin that they are
causing enormous damage out in the community. There
are 300,000 Australians who either have a severe gambling
problem because of poker machines, or are already
showing the signs of one."
Proposed
Pokie Laws With Cost 10,000's of Aussie Jobs...
Clubs
Australia advise the changes will cost jobs. They
want it to be a voluntary scheme and have rejected
a government request to hold off on the ad war. "It
will cost jobs, for the simple reason that asking
Australians to sign on to this licence to gamble will
mean they'll do something else," Mr Ball said.
"They'll go and gamble online where none of these
controls exist, or they they'll go to the TAB - they
won't do it at the club.Even the proponent of this,
Andrew Wilkie, is saying that this will cost up to
40% of revenue."
It's all hot fodder in Aussie Parliament too. Liberal
Steve Ciobo sits on the joint committee on gambling
reform, which has been hearing arguments pro and con
against a mandatory pre-commitment scheme. "The
committee was charged by the Labor party with the
responsibility to look at a roll-out of pre-commitment,"
he said. "But Coalition members will be putting
in a dissenting report because the evidence is clear
that it's going to cost jobs, it's going to cost investment,
and I'm concerned based on the evidence that it will
make problem gambling potentially worse." The
committee is due to report in the next few weeks.
The states and territories have until the end of May
to decide if they will agree to the Wilkie-led reforms.
If they refuse, the Commonwealth believes it has the
power to introduce overriding legislation to impose
a national scheme. The pokie industry has shown the
willingness to wrestle all the way to the next election,
and perhaps even beyond. It's the lovers VS the haters.
Who will win, and when will the final victor emerge.
Stay tuned.
Sky
City Entertainment Group Stocks Fall From Sky...
Sky
City Entertainment Group, the casino and hotel operator,
fell 0.9% to $3.41 amid media reports that overseas
competitors were looking to hire the 500 staff made
redundant or on leave without pay due to the closure
of the Christchurch Casino. SkyCity owns a 50% stake
in the business.
Casino
Bouncer Thought Disabled Bloke Was Drunk...
A
South Australian man with deasiese cerebral palsy
says he was refused entry to the Adelaide Casino because
the bouncer thought he was drunk. Mark Thiele was
on a big night out with friends when he attempted
to enter the casino, but was refused by a bouncer
aka "gorilla". Thiele says the bouncer mistakenly
thought he was drunk, but the casino is sticking by
its decision. "I had said to the man that I wasn't
a drunk, I was crippled," said Thiele, talking
about his rejection on 7.30 South Australia. "He
had said to me he was convinced I was intoxicated
even though we said that I had only had a few drinks
earlier on in the evening. "So I can't see why
I was singled out and everybody else in my party wasn't.
There was no difference between any of us besides
the obvious. It's a mystery to me really." Last
month, he and his friends had walked to the casino
from the city's Hindley Street entertainment strip
a few blocks away. Thiele has trouble moving his body
and for him, walking distances is a big effort. His
mate Aaron Nettlebeck says the casino bouncer did
not understand. "Walking that sort of distance
does get very, very sweaty over that sort of short
period. It was a bit infuriating that it happened
like that after such a nice evening." Thiele
says he has not had a problem at venues until now.
"For the vast majority it's never been a problem.
Bouncers that I've come into contact with have been
understanding and even let me skip the line a few
times just to put me at ease," he said. "Obviously
it's a stamina thing that I can't walk these long
distances and stand in lines and all of these things."
He says he is considering lodging a complaint with
the commission or under South Australia's liquor laws.The
casino's general manager, David Christian, has offered
an apology of sorts. "It was certainly not our
intention that Mark would have felt discriminated
against and I'm sorry that he does feel that way,"
he said. But he is defending the actions of his staff.
"They believe that they made the right call.
I would believe that with the calibre we have and
the training we put into our security officers, and
the level of management that oversees it, that they
would be right most of the time."
New
Zealand Christchurch Casino Workers Hurting From Earthquake
Financial Aftershocks...
Financial
and emotional aftershocks are still be felt by the
casino sector after a series of earthquakes that rocked
the Asia Pacific - Japan and New Zealand region. Christchurch
Casino workers are feeling disappointed and even depressed
after having failed attempt to get a bigger redundancy
payday.In excess of 500 formally happy and motivated
casino employees were offered redundancy at the central
Christchurch casino last weekend, which was badly
damaged in the February 22 quake and has stayed closed
ever since the act of mother nature. Anyone who wants
to stay at the casino will be paid their holiday pay
as either a weekly amount or in a "lump sum".
Simply put, they will remain as employees of the land
based casino on leave without pay until the the gambling
den opens again. The SFWU (Service and Food Workers'
Union), which reps for 100 plus casino workers, has
a meeting with the casino's managers on Thursday.
SFWU strategic industry boss Len 'Razor' (MM tag)
Richards said workers were sombre but firm in their
desire about securing a more attractive redundancy
package. The union power that be were also asking
for continued pay for employees that choose to stay
on until the casino opens again. However, he advised
management was not prepared to increase the amount
of redundancy pay for staff, but did agree to request
for a government wage subsidy. Due to a private insurance
deal and policy in place, the land based casino has
not relied upon the $1.5 million government subsidy
available for quake-affected businesses. Richards
stated that the union has contacted earthquake recovery
minister Gerry Brownlee to request assistance to help
pay workers who remain employed. SkyCity, half owner
of the famous Christchurch Casino, has projected a
$130 million plus profit this year. It's not known
how much financially the quake cost Christchurch Casino
or SkyCity. Christchurch Casino top sheep er top dog...chief
executive Brett 'Ask Him' (MM satire) Anderson said
about 70% of employees have indicated they will stay
with the company rather than take the offered redundancy.
He said a number of employees are also being offered
jobs offshore. Anderson elaborated "I'm getting
phone calls from Australia looking for our people
and likewise all over New Zealand, and a few of them
have spread their wings. More than a few have gone
over to the Gold Coast. It's a lot warmer, it's a
lot more stable, you can swim in the sea, the pay
rates are better." Anderson said he still does
not know when the casino will reopen.Employees have
a deadline until Monday to decide whether they will
take the redundancy package or stay on. Yep, it's
the money or the box. Workers who have not contacted
the company by showdown at 5pm on Monday will be deemed
to have left their jobs and will be paid out a four-weeks-notice
payment, along with their annual leave entitlements.
Casino workers, did you get that. D Day is approaching.
A
Media Man spokesperson said "In the current global
economy anyone with a decent job should be grateful,
especially in the casino or gaming sector. Well done
to Christchurch Casino management for doing their
utmost to assist in their difficult times. Employers
will always want to ask for more... its in the nature.
Land based casinos generally remain popular around
the world so good staff will always be in demand."
Media
Man and Gambling911 wish all parties well with their
dealings, and hopefully some win - win - wins will
still be possible.
States
Probe Sports Betting Ads...
Aussie
states are uniting to consider a crackdown on an explosion
in advertising of sports betting, Victoria's Gaming
Minister says. Michael O'Brien last night revealed
the betting blitz on sport was being examined by the
Council of Australian Governments. "There is
growing concern at the extent to which is becoming
inseparable from the coverage of major sporting events.
Kids are being exposed to it constantly just by watching
the footy or cricket," he said.AFL chief executive
Andrew Demetriou said the league had expressed its
concerns to stadium managers. Goal posts, boundary
line fences and scoreboards at the MCG and Etihad
Stadium have been plastered with ads from bookmakers.
Demetriou said the alarm was raised during last year's
Brownlow Medal telecast. "There seemed to be
an enormous amount of (gambling) advertising after
each break," he told press. O'Brien said the
AFL, which enjoys lucrative sponsorship arrangements
with gambling giants, could take responsibility through
its media and stadium deals. "It may be that
there's an opportunity for this influence to be exercised
to ensure the promotion of sports betting isn't allowed
to detract from family-friendly objectives of (such)
sports," he said. This week, former Demon Daniel
Ward revealed in the the newspapers his battle with
gambling. "It's always in your face," he
said of the ads. "It's like being a drug addict
and an advert comes on saying, 'The first 50 people
to ring will get a free bag of marijuana'."
Hawkins
Former Ms Univervese Lookalike Kahili Blundell Wins
Ralph Swimwear Title At Star...
Sin
City Sydney babe Kahili Blundell has snatched the
Ralph Australian Swimwear Model of the Year comp.
The Crows Nest bikini super babe bested more than
2000 babes from all over Australia and Kiwi land to
grab the coveted title at Sin Sydney's Star City Casino
on Thurday. "I feel more than special right now,
I'm blown away and so honoured to be given this position,"
Blundell said. "I was expecting him to call another
number and I stood there thinking 27, is that me?
"It's also my boyfriend's birthday, but I realised
it was me and I was shivering." The 21-year-old
Jennifer Hawkins lookalike works as a personal assistant
and dabbles in makeup artistry in her spare time.
Blundell says modelling has been tough, slogging it
out for 3 years. "Since November I've been training
every week for this, thinking about it every night,"
she said. "I've been brought up to eat very healthy,
so I don't have too much trouble doing that, but I
definitely exercise a lot. I've been working very
hard so thank god it's all paid off." The comp
saw the 38 finalists strut their stuff in catwalk
parades. Sex bikinis were all the rage. A select group
of a bakers dozen were picked, then reigning champ
Emmi Moore handed over her sash and championship title
to Blundell. "I've been doing this for three
years now and this is exactly what I've been dreaming
and hoping for," Blundell said. "I'm open
to any opportunity and I love challenges. I've obviously
done well in the bikini field, so I might just continue
on this track for a little while." Burlesque
babe Sina King from Underbelly home Melbourne snatched
runner-up while second runner-up went to 21-year-old
writer - journo type Tiffany Baker from Fremantle
in Western Australia.
Australian
Boxer Katsidis To Fight Guerrero In MGM Grand Casino
Las Vegas Bloody Sunday...
Down
under's Australia's Michael Katsidis and his opponent
in Sunday's (AEST) interim lightweight world-title
fight at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Casino, America's Robert
"The Ghost" Guerrero, also have powerful
stories. Guerrero's world was crushed big time circa
2007 when his wife, Casey, was diagnosed with leukemia.
The Californian gave up boxing, giving up his world-title,
so he could be by Casey's side and stay close to their
young children as she underwent a bone-marrow transplant.
Things are now looking up for Guerrero. "Casey
has been cancer free for almost a year now,"
28-year-old Guerrero, the number one ranked lightweight
in the world and a former featherweight and super
featherweight champion, said. Last year Katsidis'
was having a dream run. The likable 30-year-old blokefrom
Toowoomba celebrated his first wedding anniversary
with wife Kumiko. He loved being a dad to their one-year-old
daughter Kalia and was preparing for the biggest bout
of his career, a world-title fight in Las Vegas against
Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez. Things quickly
went downhill when five weeks before the Marquez fight
he learned his 31-year-old brother, champion Australian
jockey (horse racing) Stathi Katsidis, had passed
away. Just days later Katsidis' longtime trainer,
Brendon Smith, received two more bad news calls. Smith's
nephew got paralysed from the chest down in an accident
and one of the trainer's former boxers passed away.
"We got it all within three weeks and just before
the Marquez fight," Smith said. Katsidis and
Smith made the call to keep training at their Thai
boxing camp and take on Marquez at the MGM Grand Casino,
a match that would be voted the Fight of the Year
after Katsidis floored Marquez to the mat in the third
round. Marquez guts and balls by getting up and pounding
Katsidis so badly ref Kenny Bayless ended the match
in the ninth round, giving Marquez a ninth round technical
knockout victory. On the eve of the Guerrero fight,
Katsidis and Smith, who kept quite before the Marquez
bout, finally opened up about their personal tragedies.
Katsidis did not sleep two days before the Marquez
fight. "He was emotionally spent before he got
in the ring and to do what he did under the circumstances
was incredible," Smith said. "I believe
if something doesn't kill you it only makes you stronger,"
Katsidis said. Guerrero has 22 knockouts in his 27
professional victories. "This is truly a fight
for boxing fans," Guerrero, who has a 28 win
(18 KO), one loss professional record, said. "You
are going to see two guys go at it and give it their
all." The winner of the match will be named the
interim World Boxing Association and World Boxing
Organisation lightweight champions. Promoter 'Golden
Boy' Oscar De La Hoya has named the MGM card "Action
Heroes", with another Mexican legend, Erik Morales,
fighting Argentina's exciting welterweight contender
Marcos Maidana and in another welterweight battle,
Brooklyn's Paulie Malignaggi VS Jose Miguel Cotto.
The matches will be broadcast live in Australia on
Sunday from 11am AEST by Main Event pay-per-view.
"For a boxing card, sounds like it will be value
for money for a bit of a change", said a Media
Man insider.
Promotions
World's Most Trusted And Respected Online Poker And
Online Poker Brands
Crown
Casino Teams Up With NRL's Melbourne Storm...
Melbourne
are expecting a cyclone size backlash as the latest
National
Rugby League club to link with a gambling establishment
after confirming Crown Casino as their new major sponsor.
In a massive deal snatcher for a club which last year
was disgraced after being stripped of all points and
two premierships during the salary cap scandal, the
Storm unveiled Crown as their front jersey sponsor
on Friday. Melbourne chief executive Ron Gauci agreed
there would be criticism of the club's link with gambling.
However he defended the arrangement and said Crown
offered a home for Storm supporters, which the club
had not had since it joined the competition in 1998.
All Storm after-match and mid-season functions for
members will be held at Crown. The casino believes
the sponsorship will boost their exposure interstate.
"I think you'll have those that wish to comment
but I think we need to emphasise what it is that we
wanted out of the relationship and that is a home
for our supporter base," Gauci said. "If
you think about what Crown has to offer as an entertainment
complex ... this is a great place to consolidate those
activities." The Storm lost major sponsors Host
Plus and ME Bank in the wake of last season's scandal.
Gauci said the new sponsorship delivered a message
of confidence in the Storm ahead of the 2011 season.
"I think it does deliver us a substantial message
to the marketplace, and for the club it's very important
to have an organisation as big a Melbourne icon as
Crown is to support the club. It delivers a magnificent
message about the confidence the corporate world has
in Melbourne Storm and our future direction."
The Storm joined South
Sydney as the second NRL club to have a gambling
establishment as their major sponsor, while Penrith
have renamed their home ground Centrebet Stadium and
Manly will also have the Centrebet logo on the back
of their jumper. Yes, NRL ramped up links to gambling
are all the rage. A rumour has started that igaming
kings PartyGaming
want into Australia and would accept an NRL jersey,
shorts or even stadium deal. The firm is known for
its well known and respected PartyCasino,PartyPoker
and World
Poker Tour brands, which have a strong following
in Australia, other parts of the Asia Pacific, such
as New Zealand. Party is also looking to ramp up sports
betting services in the Asia Pacific region. Melbourne's
announcement also comes in the same week as Ryan Tandy,
who left the Storm midway through last season to join
Canterbury, was arrested and charged as a result of
an ongoing police investigation into "irregular
betting" on a match between the Canterbury Bulldogs
and North Queensland Cowboys last August. Dennis Watt,
rugby league general manager with News Limited, who
own the Storm, defended the arrangement between a
gambling establishment and a sport sold as a family
game. "I can speak for Crown as an integrated
entertainment, retail complex. It is very much reflective
of the heart and soul of Melbourne and it's a great
relationship for us to have and I don't see a conflict
for the relationship the Storm have sought here."
He echoed the views recently expressed by NRL chief
executive David Gallop that the association between
sport and gambling "is as old as sport itself".
"Gambling's a part of the Australian way of life,
part of our character and our history," he said.
"We advocate moderation, we know that problem
gambling affects less than half a per cent of the
population. "You've got two million problem drinkers,
four million smokers, over nine million Australians
suffering levels of obesity which are also big social
issues."
A
Media Man
spokesperson said "The Crown Casino - Melbourne
Storm sponsorship deal looks to be a match made in
heaven. Crown has world class facilities and entertainment
is the name of the game. Entertainment takes many
forms, be it football, burlesque, television, rock
bands or slot machines aka one armed bandits. Crown
Casino can do it all. Already this deal has generated
national and international headlines, and yes, we
are helping spread the word to our friends in the
U.S and Canada. Gambling911, CAP, GWPA and Poker News
Daily are just a few outlets that we expect to run
the story. It's balanced and positive coverage all
the way, instead of the agenda driven gaming hater
stuff you read from time to time. Chalk up more browny
points for Crown's James Packer and his world class
team at Crown, and good on the NRL and The Storm for
seeing the golden opportunity and moving it into high
gear. I never thought I would say this again after
last season's scandals, but Go The Storm!"
Australian
Betting Limited 'Bullet Proof' NOT! Says Maker Aristocrat...
A
card-based system forcing pokie players to set betting
limits isn't a "bullet proof" solution to
problem gambling, poker machine maker Aristocrat Leisure
Ltd says. Aristocrat, representing over 60% of the
Australian pokies market, is instead proposing a machine-based
system that lets gamblers set time and/or betting
limits. But the proposal was met with some opposition
when Aristocrat executives appeared before a joint
federal parliamentary committee hearing in Sydney
on Friday. The committee is investigating the idea
of a pre-commitment scheme using smart card or other
technology to force pokie players to set limits on
their gambling. It follows a controversial commitment
from Prime Minister Julia Gillard to Tasmanian "independent"
(so to speak - has seen to be bias and preduduce against
those liking a punt) MP Andrew Wilkie to introduce
such a scheme across the country in return for his
support of her Labor government. "As a company,
we acknowledge that there is a problem out there,"
Aristocrat general manager of corporate affairs Kristene
Reynolds told the hearing. "For us, coming here
today is to come to the table and be part of that
solution." The company's managing director in
Australia and New Zealand, Trevor Croker, said card-based
systems, which have been used in other countries,
can be manipulated by problem gamblers. "It is
not a bullet proof solution. People do swap cards
and have been able to use multiple cards," he
said. "I think finding the complete solution
is going to be a very difficult outcome. "It
should not be something we don't aspire to, but it
will be very difficult, from what we see in those
(other) markets." Aristocrat will soon trial
a new slot machine that features opt-in pre-commitments,
allowing users the option to set themselves spending
or time limits. These machines could be ready for
mass production from the end of 2012, and phased in
as part of the normal machine replacement cycle, Croker
said. But with the average cost of a pokie at $25,000,
Labor MP Stephen Jones questioned the Aristocrat executives
on the cost effectiveness of such a solution. "It
would be good for Aristocrat, I can see that. But
it's a very expensive solution to the problem, isn't
it?", he asked. Aristocrat general manager of
design and development Justin Brown said smaller venues
could be given longer to replace their machines, while
newer models may only require a software upgrade,
at a cost of about $3,000. Mr Wilkie, the committee's
chairman, also questioned the motives of Aristocrat's
proposal. "I can't help feeling an element of
commercial self interest in your advice to the committee
here," he said. Further questioning resulted
in the Aristocrat executives conceding their machine-based
proposal would not prevent problem gamblers from simply
switching machines or venues once they had reached
a pre-committed loss or time limit. The hearings continue
in Canberra and Hobart later this month. In Australia
the machines are often known as pokies or poker machines,
in the U.S - slots, and much of Europe - Fruit Machines
or Fruities!
Queensland's
Sunshine Coast A Big Winner For Lottery Sector; Punters
To Win Homes Via BoysTown Gambling...
It's
steal from the rich to give to the poor! Ok, not exactly,
but read on and you will get the drift soon enough.
The Sunshine Coast has long been regarded as a prize
location by local residents, but now a range of national
and state lottery organisations are taking notice.
BoysTown Lotteries recently unveiled a million-dollar
home in Buderim as its latest prize home offering.
Located at 22 Orme Rd, the home is part of a prize
package worth more than $1.5 million. It is arguably
one of Buderim’s most beautiful homes, according
to BoysTown’s general manager fundraising Keith
Coventry. "Our previous lottery prize home was
in Nerang (Gold Coast) and the one before that was
in Rainbow Bay (Coolangatta). Now we find ourselves
in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast. When deciding on
a prize home, we look at the property itself and then
the desirability of the location and the features
of the area," Coventry said. "I think the
thing about Buderim is that you are close to the beach,
but you also have those great views over the ocean
and the coastline. I guess you get the best of both
worlds. "The Buderim home has been particularly
popular and the retail sales have been very strong."
Yet another contender in the Coast’s prize pool
is a home in Mount Coolum, raising funds for the Mater
Foundation as part of the Mater Prize Home Lottery.
Also sporting a million-dollar price tag, the home
is located at 47 Boardwalk Blvd in Coolum’s Boardwalk
Estate. Twin Waters is the site of Surf Life Saving
Lottery’s prize home, which is valued at more
than $750,000. The three-bedroom home at Lot 4 Ameen
Cct comes with $41,832 in furniture and electrical,
along with 12 months paid council rates. Coventry
said funds raised from the BoysTown lottery would
assist the Kids Helpline service, which was in particular
demand since the recent floods. "Kids Helpline
is certainly taking a lot more calls from kids who
are worried about the impacts of the floods, or who
have been affected by the floods. A lot of people
are seeking assistance with the mental health aspects
of this natural disaster, so I think that is certainly
going to be the focus of much of our fundraising over
the coming months." The money raised from Mater
lotteries help funds medical research teams and the
purchase of life-saving medical equipment, as well
as supporting patients and families. Surf Life Saving
lotteries assist Surf Life Saving clubs around the
country. Aussies, feeling lucky. Go on, give them
a go, and you know the money is going to a good place,
if you don't happen to win. Mind you, feel welcome
to check out the slots, poker, bingo and other casino
games showcased on the portal also. BoysTown Lottery
will set you back a bit, while at Media Man partners
like PartyGaming, many games can be played for free
or for money. The choice if yours. Hours of entertainment
for young and old - just kidding, check legalities
but most counties insist you are at least 18 years
old to gamble, and that includes from lottery to poker
to slots, ok crew!
Clubs
Australia VS Productivity Watchdog: Dog Fight; Bark
Worse Than Bite?...
Clubs
Australia will today accuse the nation's productivity
watchdog of making a mathematical error in its claim
that problem gamblers are responsible for 40% of poker
machine revenue. Media Man spokespersons and investigators
have been disputing the "problem gambling"
numbers for almost 2 years! The figure of 40% is being
used by anti-gambling politicians aka "gaming
haters" to try to justify new limits on gambling
the Gillard government has pledged to introduce to
maintain the support of independent MP Andrew Wilkie
in the hung parliament. Clubs Australia is fighting
a mandatory precommitment scheme that would force
pokies players to set a limit on how much they intend
to spend before they start gambling. It claims the
scheme will cost clubs and pubs $2.5 billion nationally
and cost thousands of jobs if it turns off casual
gamblers from having a punt, throwing a couple of
bucks down the throat of an "one armed bandit",
whilst often sinking a cold Aussie beer at the same
time (not that we endorse it). Beer can change ones
thinking, but you likely knew that already Jack! Politicians
backing the reform have seized on a claim in the Productivity
Commission report that problem gamblers contribute
40% of pokie revenue to justify the crackdown. Clubs
Australia president Anthony 'On The Ball' Ball will
tell a parliamentary inquiry in Sydney today the figure
is "highly contentious" and "inaccurate".
In his opening address to the inquiry he will say
that the Productivity Commission claims there are
95,000 problem gamblers who play the pokies and spend
on average $21,000 each year on the machines. When
multiplied together, this comes to a total of $1.995bn,
and this figure represents just 16.8% of the $11.9bn
total expenditure on poker machines. "These are
not our numbers. These are the figures from the commission,"
Ball will say. "Therefore the vast majority of
gambling revenue comes from recreational gamblers."
The Productivity Commission used a range of different
methods to calculate the amount spent by problem gamblers
and found both problem and recreational gamblers underestimated
how much they spent on gambling each year. The 40
per cent figure was not derived from multiplying the
number of problem gamblers by the amount they said
they spent each year but was derived from a range
of surveys that looked at what gamblers actually spent.
Clubs Australia will tell the parliamentary committee
the proposed mandatory precommitment scheme is a "massive
infringement of people's individual rights".
"There's a vast difference between making the
pre-commitment available to any player who wants to
use it, and forcing anybody who wants to play a gaming
machine to register, obtain a device and provide personal
details or fingerprints in order to be able to play,"
Mr Ball plans to tell the inquiry.
Australian
Gambling Enquiry: Traditional Gamblers Heading Online
For Slots, Poker, Roulette Et Al; Problem Gamblers
VS Problem Child Government Policy?...
Using
hi-tech to force pokies players to set betting limits
would drive gambling addicts online in the masses
and divert resources away from helping problem punters,
a Senate inquiry has heard. The inquiry, chaired by
Tasmanian federal independent MP Andrew Wilkie, is
investigating the concept of a pre-commitment scheme
using smart card or other technology to force all
pokies players to set limits on their gambling. Clubs
Australia, the peak body for registered clubs in the
nation, on Friday told the joint parliamentary committee
inquiring into the issue it had reservations about
the proposal in its current form. Clubs Australia
executive director Anthony Ball said more research
was needed on how effective it would be. "There
is very little good research out there about whether
this proposal or any others are going to work,"
he told the inquiry in Sydney. "There are a multitude
of gambling opportunities. The strategy must not be
to drive (problem gamblers) online ... The strategy
must be to find these people, get them the right treatment
and turn their lives around." He said state regulations
on gambling were sufficient and that a 'one-size-fits-all'
policy should not be applied across all states. Clubs
Australia president Peter Newell said the three main
issues regarding the scheme were cost, whether it
would reduce problem gambling and the consequences
of implementing it. He said the system failed to work
in Norway, and instead drove problem gamblers to the
internet. Five million Australians would play the
pokies in any given 12-month period and the system
would only drive away recreational players, who represented
the "vast majority" of gambling revenue,
he said. "As a recreational gambler myself, I
am disturbed that there are people who think I need
assistance in determining how I spend my money,"
he said. "Mandatory pre-commitment fails to provide
what problem gamblers need most and that is treatment,
and in doing so, diverts attention and resources away
from treatment. Problem gamblers will still gamble
in the mandatory pre-commitment system. They are addicted.
But recreational gamblers will walk away from pokie
machines." Newell said the system would be expensive
and difficult to implement across 197,000 machines
nationwide, taking years and billions of dollars to
do - forcing clubs to close and costing thousands
of jobs - with no indication as to how effective it
will be. It's man VS machine; The People VS The Government,
and The Government VS The Gaming Industry. News media
and website portals just keep lapping up the action
resulting in a readership jackpot bonanza.
The
Shane Warne Show At Aussie Millions 2011, by Greg
Tingle - 27th January 2011
G'day
everyone. How as your Australia Day maties? The casino,
gaming and sports betting news keeps coming thick
and fast. Media
Manhttp://www.mediamanint.com
and Gambling911
with the latest and greatest from the land down under...
Melbourne:
Shane Warne Shows Again At Aussie Millions...
Warnie
wore his poker face on Australia Day as he battled
some of the world's best poker champs at the Aussie
Millions Main Event at James Packers' Crown Casino.
The spinner king played among the likes of former
boxer and mate Jeff Fenech, fashion designer from
Playboy fame, Christopher Chronis and Australian poker
champ Joe Hachem. Warne and Hachem are the official
poker faces of Crown Limited and both enjoy good relationships
with Asia Pacific's gambling and media tycoon, James
Packer aka 'Our James'.
Australian
Pubs, Pokie Palaces Feel Financial Pressure, Pokie
Takings May Not Save Them...
We're
learned that 2 high-profile pub casualties, listed
freehold owner Redcape Properties and venue operator
National Leisure & Gaming (NLG) collectively owe
about $860 million to their bank lenders. A senior
banker told the press that pub loans totalling "several
billion dollars" were spread across the bigger
lenders, with the absence of pub buyers leaving few
options but to extend debt repayments. Last month
the Bank of New Zealand Australia, the business division
of NAB, extended about $150m in NLG loans due at the
end of July until January 2012. However, banks continue
to lend on pub freeholds, albeit at reduced loan-to-valuation
ratios of 50-60%. Few are lending on leaseholds. The
harder line has fuelled fears of a further half a
% softening in yields in 2011. "If a bank is
only willing to lend 50% for a $20m acquisition, that
limits the number of buyers able to stump up a lazy
$10m," the senior industry figure said. While
pub markets across Australia are under pressure, New
South Wales...where there has been about 35 receiverships
since 2008 - has suffered most. The latest to go into
receivership is Icon Hospitality - the largest tenant
of the troubled listed ING Entertainment Fund. The
least affected state is Victoria, where poker machine
baron Bruce Mathieson and Woolworths dominate the
pub scene through their Australian Leisure & Hospitality
Group partnership. Likewise, the ALE pub freehold
group has the majority of its properties in Melbourne
and Queensland, making it another standout in the
listed pub space. Many Australian leading business
people say that the clubs need to improve entertainment,
beyond just offering entertaining "one armed
bandits". Also, good food for the right price
may help save the skin of some Aussie pubs, clubs
and hotels. No wonder the club sector is pissed off
with 'Mr X', pitching proposals which will further
reduce revenue streams. Aren't you glad you don't
own a pub!
Victorian
Government Targets Real Life Underbelly In And Around
Horse Racing Scene...
The
Victorian Government has authorised the state's racing
officials to access information from more crime-fighting
bodies, as part of a crackdown on shady characters.
The Racing Integrity Commissioner, Sal Perna, can
now trade data with the Australian Crime Commission,
the Australian Securities and Investment Commission,
Centrelink and the Victorian Ombudsman. He was already
authorised to view the files of Victoria Police and
the state's gambling regulator. The Racing Minister,
Denis Napthine, says crime is not welcome at the racetrack.
"In racing there are millions of dollars involved
on a daily and yearly basis, and this can sometimes
attract people of ill repute," he said. "And
the Racing Integrity Commissioner needs to have access
to information with other agencies so that he can
investigate any suggestions of impropriety."
Victoria Police was recently criticised for entering
into an information sharing agreement with the Australian
Football League. Dr Napthine says the AFL is a private
body, and the same concerns do not apply. "The
Racing Integrity Commissioner is a state public-sector
employee, and he is responsible for protecting the
integrity of racing in the state of Victoria, and
that is why he has access to this information,' he
said. "He is fully aware of the issues in terms
of protecting privacy." Mr Perna is a former
policeman, corporate security expert, architect of
Tennis Australia's Anti-Corruption Program and also
helped develop the AFL's integrity program.
Australian
Man With Cancer - Leukaemia Stole Millions To Feed
Gambling Habit...
A
man with terminal leukaemia has been sentenced to
jail for stealing millions of dollars from a law firm
trust account. William Brenton Willoughby, 65, admitted
stealing more than $2 million to buy and train racehorses
and gamble. Adelaide District Court Judge Paul Rice
said Willoughby abused his position as a loyal and
trusted employee of the Magarey Farlam law firm and
his behaviour was morally reprehensible. The judge
said the man would serve his time harder than others
because of his leukaemia and diabetes. Willoughby
has been jailed for 9 years with a five-year non-parole
term. Rumour had it that some inmates go get to play
cards in jail, with decks of cards sometimes being
smuggled in we're told. It's unknown exactly how any
wagers are paid in the can, but we suspect with vice
like beer, cigs or even mobile phones which are known
to be smuggled in from time to time.
Alice
Springs, Northern Territory: Alice Springs Memorial
Club: Real Life Underbelly Crime Spree...
The
manager of the Alice Springs Memorial Club says crime
is out of control in the town. Andrea Sullivan said
the club was broken into around one o'clock in the
morning and alcohol was stolen. She said while police
were taking a statement from her, the alleged offenders
returned and the police chased them and arrested them.
Ms Sullivan said repeated break-ins have cost the
club more than $20,000 over the last couple of months.
"I really think that it's as simple as this -
you do the crime, you do the time" Ms Sullivan
said. "The justice system has to be a lot harsher
on these people especially these repeat offenders.
"They're coming in over and over and over again
and I can tell you the town's people are getting very
tired and sick of it." Police have been kept
busy over the last two days with break-ins at two
other licenced premises. Police said all of the alleged
offenders have been arrested and charged. The offers
decent opportunities to have a punt. TAB, Keno, Bingo
and Slots we understand. From their website we learn...
TAB - We have the perfect setting for the eager punter,
with an up to date top tipping service supplied by
Bet-Busters and screening Sky Channel, Austar and
Foxtel Sports. The TAB has it’s own separate
area away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of
the Club. Fully operational seven days a week with
a fully equipped bar and ATM facilities available.
KENO - We have a fully operational Keno Terminal and
several screens to view the Keno situated throughout
the Club. BINGO - Bingo sessions are held privately
in our hall separated from the main Club area. Guests
are welcome to try their luck at winning cash jackpots.
Monday eyes down at 7:30 pm Sunday eyes down at 1:30
pm. Gaming - All the gaming functions are incorporated
in one area of the club and include 45 Gaming Machines;
Keno; TAB; Eight Ball & Darts rooms The gaming
area reflects a casual and inviting ambiance with
a modern and bold decor. In addition to the integrated
gaming area is a further convenience of an outdoor
smoking area that is central to all. The outdoor smoking
area is a tastefully designed including a tiled floor
and shaded area. Situated just off from the Main Bar
you can enjoy a drink and a flutter on one of our
45 gaming machines. We have a 13 machine Aristocrat
“Fast Lane” Hyperlink Jackpot system, 8
machine TAB “Rocket to Riches” linked Jackpot
system, 7 machine IGT “Jetsetter” linked
Jackpot system and an excellent variety of stand alone
machines. The Club has a policy of responsible gaming
and children under the age of 18 are not permitted
in this room. The Gaming Room opens from 11am till
late Monday to Saturday and 12pm - 9pm Sunday. We
open on all public holidays except Easter Friday and
Christmas Day. Members promotions are run in conjunction
with the Pokies, TAB & Keno. Our Members promotions
are held every fortnight and we change the prizes
every three months. Our Members Promotions have proved
very popular with prizes ranging from: Win Your Weight
in Gold White Goods worth up to $10,000 Cars Huge
Cash Give-aways. To collect tickets simply spend $20
on Poker Machine change, TAB, Keno, in the Bottle
Shop or buy a main meal in the Bistro. All draws take
place between 7pm & 9pm. To be eligible to win
you must be a current Financial Member and present
at the draws. *Committee Members, Staff and Family
of both (including boyfriends, girlfriends, de-facto's
etc) not eligible to win.
Queensland
Banana Bender State: Pub Pokies And Online Pokies
Becoming More Popular?...
One
armed bandits are maintaining their popularity in
'The Sunshine State'. It's understand that punters
might have only a 1 in a million chance of winning
really big, lotto - millionaire style, but they just
keep coming back for more. Yep, throw another dime
in the pokie baby. Queenslanders "invested"
close to $2 billion last year as the punters passion
for the slots maintained its fever pace. The total
pokies expenditure of $1.81 billion was slightly down
on the previous year, it was the third year consecutively
the number exceeded $1.8 billion. We're also learned
that the 2008 figure of $1.83 billion was an all-time
record. Now, this is important - those numbers Do
Not take into account the rabid take up and roll our
of online poker or sports betting. You know, betting
over the global medium - the internet. Overall, Queenslanders
spent $7 million less on pokies than last year and
$28 million less than in 2008, but it still works
out at in excess of $150 million every month down
the slots August was the year's biggest month for
slot gamblers, who put close to $170 million in the
throats of the one armed bandits. August was also
the biggest month for gamblers in 2008, with more
than $173 million lost. Pokies remain by far the most
popular games for punters in Australia, bringing in
most of the estimated $17 billion spent on all forms
of gambling down under each year. Some insiders think
that the reduction in official spending was more a
sign of the increased popularity of internet and sports-based
gambling. Concentrating on pokie figures, it appears
Queenslanders gambled more at the height of the global
financial crisis two years ago than they did throughout
2010.
Quotes
From Nick Xenophon; Gambling And Sports Betting Hater
On South's Rabbitoh's Casino Deal...
"The
Rabbitohs players are role models for young kids and
being tethered to Star City, to NSW’s biggest
gambling venue, is really sending the wrong signal"
"It
normalises gambling behaviour for young kids."
"Why
would the Rabbitohs want to tie their reputation to
a business that causes so much misery to so many?"
"It’s
a very sad development given that South Sydney was
a beacon of hope for those clubs wanting to ween themselves
off a reliance on gambling revenue"
"This
is only one short step removed from that so there
must be better ways to raise a quid rather than off
the backs of problem gamblers."
"In
the same way that you can’t have tobacco companies
sponsoring sporting clubs, the same rule should apply
to gambling because the level of harm is so significant"
A
Media Man spokesperson said, "The you go Senator
Xenophon. Happy. We still give you coverage even if
you don't return our phone calls. Many clubs say you
are out of touch with real Australians and what the
typical bloke is all about. Punting has been a way
of life with Aussies and sports lovers the world over
since almost the beginning of time going back to the
Roman coliseum and beyond. Deal with it.
The
South Sydney Rabbitohs have announced that Luxbet
have joined the Club as a senior corporate partner
today, adding to the best-in-class brands associated
with the Club leading into the 2011 NRL season. Luxbet
is a racing and sports corporate bookmaking operation,
owned and managed by Tabcorp Holdings. Rabbitohs CEO
Shane Richardson is pleased to welcome Luxbet on board
with the Rabbitohs. "Luxbet is recognised as
a market leader in racing and sports betting and we’re
pleased to welcome them aboard for 2011. We have many
well-renowned and respected companies and brands associated
with our Club at the major and senior corporate partnership
level and Luxbet is another that we welcome to our
family." General Manager of Luxbet, Andrew Vouris,
says aligning with the Rabbitohs is a good move for
their organisation. "Luxbet’s sponsorship
of South Sydney presents us with a tremendous opportunity
to align with a club that is on the verge of an extremely
exciting period," Mr Vouris said. "We have
been particularly impressed with South Sydney’s
vision for its future and we believe the sponsorship
will deliver significant benefits to both parties."
Top
Aussie Gambling Companies Respond To Flood Cry For
Help...
Woolworths:
$6.9 million (matching customer donations in Woolies,
Big W, Dick Smith dollar for dollar)
Crown
Limited: Donation tins in Crown complexes and have
committed to matching all donations as well as staff
contributions
Tabcorp
Holdings: $1 million
Tatts
Group: Going to run a dedicated lottery for the Queensland
flood appeal where all profits will go to the Premier's
Flood Appeal. They ran the same thing in Victoria
after the Black Saturday bushfires. It will run on
Wednesday 2 Feb in Queensland and is expected to raise
$200,000. In addition, another donation will be made
from the unclaimed prizes fund of an as. yet undecided
amount
Shane
Warnie Continues To Set Story Straight About 14 Mates
And Self Attending Tennis Open...
Andy
Roddick asked me in his box," Warne tweeted.
"Said - yes ..." "How does that turn
into wanting 14 tickets, VIP treatment and escorts
to seats."
Warne's
pissed response to the Herald story, which was sourced
to two tournament officials, came as he prepared for
the second round of the Aussie Millions Poker Tournament
at Crown casino. He attended the Open with poker former
champ Joe Hachem.
James
Packer Gets Council Approval To Develop Compound At
Vaucluse; Full Speed Ahead...
Media
and gaming tycoon James Packer has received council
approval to redevelop a 3369 square metre sloping
site in Sydney’s ritzy eastern suburb of Vaucluse.
Packer with wife Erica has acquired three adjoining
homes between Wentworth and Victoria roads. The largest
home – a 1970s, unrenovated Guildford Bell designed
mansion will be retained (view from pool, right).
Packer, through company Monac Developments Pty Ltd,
paid $18 million for this home in mid 2009. Last year,
the businessman spent another $12.05 million acquiring
two smaller homes on blocks beneath the prominent
large home. These have both been demolished, allowing
the land to be consolidated. The Packer’s plan
to replace the demolished homes with a 13-car garage,
23 metre pool, underground cinema, gym and staff quarters.
A 2.4 metre high metal security gate will be developed
behind two 1.7 metre metal vehicle entry gates. It’s
speculated the renovation will cost about $13 million.
Construction is underway. We can't wait to see the
finished product.
IMF
Getting Reputation For Class Action Legal Funding
Inc Gambling Down Under...
Class
action law firms say while the size of the claims
may be bigger, there is no big jump in the number
of cases. Blake Dawson partner John Emmerig says class
actions are increasing. "The High Court in 2006
changed a law to allow litigation funders to fund
these actions and there's a huge financial motivation
for funders in doing so because they take generally
between 20 to 45% of a settlement or judgment from
these claims," he said. Litigation funder IMF
Australia is well-known for funding some of Australia's
biggest class actions such as the $145 million payout
to investors from poker machine maker Aristocrat Leisure.
IMF has around 10 class actions on the go.
Aussie
SP Bookmaking Legend Passes Away...
Bruce
Johnstone who gained fame and notoriety as one of
Melbourne's best-known SP bookmakers and two-up operators
as well as playing a leading role in transforming
the face of basketball in Australia, has died of a
blood disorder in palliative care at Yarrawonga. He
was 87. Johnstone left home near Mortlake as a 15-year-old
with just a swag and £5 sewn into the lining
of his coat by his mother, and went on to afford a
regular table at the renowned Flower Drum restaurant
on Sunday evenings. Johnstone's SP bookmaking was
the stuff of legend and not for nothing was he widely
known as "Bruce the Bookie". But the undertaking
led to problems with the police. One particular raid
caused him much grief after his cockatoo fell asleep
and failed to warn of the onrushing police who started
battering down the door as Johnstone scrambled to
collect money strewn around the room. As the plainclothes
raiders were about to burst through, he cagily shouted,
"Call the police, call the police, robbers are
here". He is survived by his wife Emma, daughter
Kay, sons Gary, Robert and Max, their partners and
75 grand and great-grandchildren. RIP.
Aristocrat
Leisure Misses Aussie Government Dealine On Pokies
Reform; What Next?...
Australian-listed
pokies manufacturer, Aristocrat Leisure, will not
meet the deadline for reforms of the gaming industry.
The reforms were demanded by independent MP Andrew
Wilkie, whose support for the minority Federal Government
was conditional on the introduction of betting limits
for gamblers. Aristocrat Leisure stated on 26 January
2011 that the new system would not be ready by 2012
as planned by the Government.
Star
City (Sydney) VS Crown Casino (Melbourne); War For
Entertaining Talent And Gambling Dollar...
Star
City Casino: Chinese New Year - The Year Of The Rabbit...
2
- 17 February
Celebrate
Chinese New Year at Star City as we bring in the Year
of the Rabbit with a whole calendar of exciting festivities
and events. Start with a bang on New Year's Eve with
Chinese crackers in the Porte Cochere then enjoy dragon
and lion dancing, roving Chinese entertainers, a delicious
banquet in Lotus Pond and lots more!
Star's
New Baccarat Room...
The
new Baccarat room is the latest area to open as part
of Star City’s extensive refurbishment. Star
City has launched a luxurious new room in order to
provide a better experience for the large number of
customers that enjoy the game of Baccarat. Situated
on the Main Gaming Floor, the new room is appointed
with a dedicated buy-in desk and 18 custom made tables
and chairs for your ultimate comfort. What’s
more, when the urge arises to dine, the new Baccarat
room is conveniently located next to Star City’s
new restaurant, Fat Noodle. Join the communal dining
tables and relax in the warm surroundings whilst experiencing
the fast paced service and culinary theatre from the
open kitchen. The opulent surroundings of the new
Baccarat room will ensure you experience the thrill
of the game on a whole new level! Come and see it
for yourself today. Opens 24 hours, everyday.
Crown
Casino, Melbourne: More Great Entertainment Coming
Up...
Burlesque
Royale...
Starring
for the first time in Australia, UK burlesque sensation
Immodesty Blaize, Burlesque Royale is a never before
seen spectacular of old fashioned showgirl glamour.
Featuring for the first time in Australia, International
stars Kalani Kokonuts (US), Michelle L'amour (US),
and Perle Noire (US). Also performing are Australian
artists Danica Lee, Holly J'aDoll, Kelly Ann Doll,
and Lauren La Rouge with a special performance by
Mada Vs Vegas - The Duelling Magicians. Hosted by
the enigmatic Supergirly, Burlesque Royale is set
to take its audience on a wild ride with tongues set
firmly in cheek. VIP tickets will include a complimentary
drink, gift bag and access to the after party.
DATE
Friday
28 January, 2011
Dragon...
In
a special 3 part concert presented by BBC 2011, DRAGON
play 20 of the best songs of the 60's British pop
Invasion by 20 great British bands. The show begins
with DRAGON playing acoustic guitars, mandolin &
melodica. They will perform a capella and acoustic
versions of such great songs as Thunderclap Newman's
SOMETHING IN THE AIR, Cat Stevens' MATTHEW AND SON,
a rousing acoustic version of The Troggs GIRL LIKE
YOU by way of The Beatles YESTERDAY and more. After
a short intermission the band will be back in electric
mode tearing into the Stones GET OFF MY CLOUD followed
by The Beatles TICKET TO RIDE. This electric set of
great British songs gets crowd singing and dancing
along. Songs such as WHITE ROOM, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL
and WATERLOO SUNSET and ITCHYCOO PARK all get the
Dragon treatment and a new burst of life in 2010.
These are the 20 favourite songs that the guys in
Dragon played when they first took up their instruments.
They are timeless songs and the band loves playing
them. The DRAGON versions are fresh and affectionate
and have an energy that references the way these songs
turned the music world upside down in the 60's. In
the encore Dragon will play 6 of their timeless hits
including APRIL SUN, CELEBRATE, RAIN and ARE YOU OLD
ENOUGH.
DATE
Friday
25 March, 2011
Cliff
& Dusty...
Three
great International artists, one unique concert experience,
featuring all the hits of two music icons once described
as the King & Queen of British rock but who, amazingly,
never appeared on stage together. That was until now
as Australian music legend Marty Rhone and the stunning
Sheena Crouch make it possible to imagine what the
experience might have been like. Audiences will hear
all the great Cliff & Dusty classics that brought
over 200 million record sales and 50 hits such as
The Young Ones, Summer Holiday, Devil Woman, We Don't
Talk Anymore, Dreamin', I Only Want to be With You,
Son of a Preacher Man, You Don't Have to Say You Love
Me and many more. Plus, direct from the UK, special
guest, Sir Cliff Richard protégé Barratt
Waugh, whom Cliff has described as one of the most
exciting and unique talents he has come across in
his 50 years in the business. We are delighted to
introduce Barratt Waugh to Australian audiences. Don't
miss the concert experience of the year.
DATE
Saturday
18 June, 2011
Getting
board of reading yet? If so, try your luck er skill
at Baccarat or Craps. If your more into luck, check
out the slots like Cleopatra, Sinatra, Rambo, Goanna
Gold and The Terminator. Rumour goes PartyGaming also
have, or will soon get, a World Poker Tour themed
online slot game. We recommend punters open an account
with PartyCasino, PartyGaming and World Poker Tour,
just to have all based covered. Party appears to still
be the most popular online casino brand in Australia
despite big efforts by the likes of 888. Marvel slot
games are forecast to be some of the most popular
of this year with Captain America and Thor tipped
to hit Australia cinema's this year, with Spider-Man
also getting a remake. Whatever your casino game of
choice, good luck, and let us know how you go guys
and girls. Spin to win.
Take
the time to research and learn games before placing
down money
Media
Man http://www.mediamanint.com, Casino News Media
Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such,
however are recognised as world leading websites that
cover the sector and act as central points to games,
news, reviews and more.
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us
in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man http://www.mediamanint.com
is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal
development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen
sectors covered
News
Australia
Day Special, by Greg Tingle - 26th January 2011
G'day
and Happy Australia Day everyone. Ok, we know some
of you punters, journos, high rollers - casino whales,
entertainment news junkies, politicians, insiders,
outsiders and legal eagles are from across the globe
are not Australia, nor have ever been down under,
but you get the idea. Did you know that some indigenous
Australia's call Australia Day 'Invasion Day'! That's
because most history books show that Captain James
Cook and his crew invaded Australia on this day in
1988. They are known by a new names including the
First Fleet, while some aborigines will always think
of them and murderous mongrels, who stole their land
and pride. It's easy for many of us to get the point
of the blackfellas (affectionate). Media
Man and Gambling911
with a bush tucker bag full of Australian gambling,
casino, poker, media and sports news. Fair winds...
Queensland
Banana Bender State: Pub Pokies And Online Pokies
Becoming More Popular?...
One
armed bandits are maintaining their popularity in
'The Sunshine State'. It's understand that punters
might have only a 1 in a million chance of winning
really big, lotto - millionaire style, but they just
keep coming back for more. Yep, throw another dime
in the pokie baby. Queenslanders "invested"
close to $2 billion last year as the punters passion
for the slots maintained its fever pace. The total
pokies expenditure of $1.81 billion was slightly down
on the previous year, it was the third year consecutively
the number exceeded $1.8 billion. We're also learned
that the 2008 figure of $1.83 billion was an all-time
record. Now, this is important - those numbers Do
Not take into account the rabid take up and roll our
of online poker or sports betting. You know, betting
over the global medium - the internet. Overall, Queenslanders
spent $7 million less on pokies than last year and
$28 million less than in 2008, but it still works
out at in excess of $150 million every month down
the slots August was the year's biggest month for
slot gamblers, who put close to $170 million in the
throats of the one armed bandits. August was also
the biggest month for gamblers in 2008, with more
than $173 million lost. Pokies remain by far the most
popular games for punters in Australia, bringing in
most of the estimated $17 billion spent on all forms
of gambling down under each year. Some insiders think
that the reduction in official spending was more a
sign of the increased popularity of internet and sports-based
gambling. Concentrating on pokie figures, it appears
Queenslanders gambled more at the height of the global
financial crisis two years ago than they did throughout
2010.
Tassie
'Devil' Gambling Tycoon Devilish Quotes...
David
Walsh from Tasmania was such a big hit with the readership
we thought we would dig up a few more of the red hot
'The Devil's' quotes, that are too good not to share.
First a refresher...Art and gambling do mix, at least
that's the experience of Brits Damian Aspinall, Phil
'Tuffers' Tufnell, Australian artist Gina Sinozich,
Media Man
(bodypaint and burlesque "fetish") and Tasmanian
gambling whale - tycoon, David 'Wicked' (satire) Walsh.
You will pick up on Dave's affectionate nickname by
us later. We like you David, ok mate. Tasmania's most
famous or infamous gambling figure, millionaire, David
Walsh yesterday gave us a peak into his art exhibit...the
biggest (and weirdest) private art gallery in Tasmania,
if not the Asia Pacific. The $110 million Museum of
Old and New Art is nestled on the banks of Hobart's
Derwent River.
Quotes
By The Tasmanian Devil!...
"FUCK
the art, let's rock'n'roll."
"I
think formal curation is a form of mental masturbation."
"I'm
not really that interested in a bunch of big names.
Most of the works are by people most people haven't
heard of and still won't have heard of because there's
no wall labels."
"I
don't want to lose control (or) something that ends
up looking like a pale version of the National Gallery
of Victoria".
"Subversive
adult Disneyland".
"Please
see reception if you are planning a pool party or
a ritualistic orgy."
"It's
the opportunity to mess with your head. I like the
idea of people having a couple of beers and looking
at the art, having a couple more and changing their
mind."
"Just
a privileged guy with a megaphone"
"It’s
like a rich man’s soap box. I’m standing
on my soapbox and I’m shouting my views like
they mean something."
"I’ll
take all the popular stuff out. And if you go to the
toilet two or three times we’ll recommend a good
urologist."
“My
brother once said about me that I’d rather be
outside a barrel pissing in than inside the barrel
pissing out. I’m anti this idea that we know
what we’re doing with certainty. I kinda think
that most things that are good happen to people largely
by accident, but then they start looking for explanations.
You see the views of rich, successful people on television,
and they tell you why they got rich and successful;
they don’t interview all the people who went
through the same process and didn’t. I think
most things are complete crap. I want to show that
you can be fortunate without believing that your fortune
was anything other than fortune."
"There
are so many things we do that we hide from. We hack
open cows and eat their guts but we compartmentalise
that away from our lives so we can pretend it’s
not happening. And on a larger, more important scale,
if each of us acted individually to say ‘OK,
we f…ed up the atmosphere, it is our personal
responsibility’, humanity would behave in a very
different way."
"One
of the things about having money is that … I
feel a bit of guilt and a level of privilege, and
it seems to be an obligation to do something, and
since art is what I’ve been doing....but it wasn’t
really like that. It was: I bought this small gallery,
bought a bigger one, and gradually it became something
of this scale. It’s become a lot more serious
endeavour than I intended it to be. There’s a
bit of thumbing my nose at the establishment and trying
to bypass academia, but mainly I just wanted it to
be a bit of fun. And it is. And it will be."
"The
gambling is all a computer thing that is going on
right now".
Queensland:
Cairns Reef Hotel Casino Poised To Raise Big Bucks
For Flood Relief On Australia Day...
Punters,
let's all spare a thought for those who have been
attacked by the floods on Australia Day. Numerous
events are being planed around Australia, from 'Sound
Relief' to and initiative from the Cairns Reef Hotel
Casino 'Bring on the Sun' It will be one of the biggest
events on the Australia Day calendar for the city
and all funds raised will go to the Premier’s
Flood Relief Appeal. There's a good old fashioned
sausage sizzle, competitions and female performers
including the Marlins’ cheer squad. "The
whole idea is slanted towards the female performer,"
entertainment manager Bruce Stewart said. "We’ve
got an eclectic blend of female artists coming to
perform as well." Cazalys, El Mundo Tapas Bar
and the Marlin Coast Bowls Club will also host events
to raise money for flood victims. Cairns Regional
Council will hold events across the region, including
the ever-popular celebrations on the Esplanade. Mayor
Val Schier said the council was expecting a good attendance
as usual with residents keen to get outside and celebrate
our sunburnt country in the green and gold. "Even
last year when it poured, a huge number of people
came to the Aussie breakfast; we expect the same will
happen this year, rain, hail or shine. It is one of
those days where people can come together as a community
and help celebrate why it is great to be an Australian.
We live in a fantastic country and it is good for
people to get out and enjoy it." Pubs and clubs
will also get into the Aussie spirit with a number
of activities on offer. Paradise Palms Resort and
Country Club has a patriotic, fun-filled day planned
with activities that pay homage to Australia’s
heritage such as the much-anticipated pie-eating competition.
"Everybody is welcome to come along and have
some fun while tucking into our Aussie selection of
meat pies, icy beers, lamingtons and classic Australian
music by DJ Danny from Millennium Sounds," director
of sales and marketing Darlene Holdsworth said.
Events
Join
the celebrations
Paradise
Palms Resort and Country Club Australia Day celebrations
What’s on: Australian menu served from noon in
Restaurant 59, pie-eating and thong-throwing competitions
start at 1.30pm. Pies, icy beers, lamingtons and classic
Australian music on offer at the resort.
Time: 12pm. Entry free.
Bring on the Sun at Cairns Reef Hotel Casino
What’s on: Entertainment, sausage sizzle, raffles,
jumping castle and more with all proceeds going to
the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.
Time: 2pm. Entry free.
Shane Warne And Poker Mates Get VIP Star Treatment
At Australian Open Tennis Sunday Night...
The
spinner got there at 8pm hoping to get star VIP treatment
for 14 of his closest mates. In the mix was was Joe
Hachem, who he had earlier caught up with at the launch
of the Aussie Millions Poker Tournament at Crown Casino.
Warne requested an escort (no, not that type silly)
when he arrived and posed mostly for photographs with
his sunglasses on. He also spent time in Andy Roddick's
player's box during his loss to Swissman Stanislas
Wawrinka. It been a big couple of days for "poker
her" for the legend, playing rendezvous with
Liz Hurley in LA. He is expected to play in the second
round of the poker tournament and could face off against
Gary Ablett Jr and Jeff Fenech tomorrow. Blett made
it through to the second round.
Australian Financial Review Goes Gaga For Lady Gaga;
Gets Facts Wrong (We Think)...
It
took us a few months of going through newspapers but
we finally found the AFR to make a slip up, and its
a doozy....An article reads "the complex will
have a few upmarket bars, including one on the roof,
and an events theatre to house live acts – think
Lady Gaga – as well as awards nights." With
Gaga's level of popularity she would require a much
larger venue than Star City. Earlier this year, she
- they played two concerts at the Sydney Entertainment
Centre, capacity 12,000 or thereabouts. Do the math.
Australia's
Kylie Minogue To Do The Colosseum At Caesars Palace
Las Vegas: Aphrodite Live...
Mark
is down Kylie fans the word over. She's doing Ceasers
Sunday May 22, 2011 8pm
Melbourne: Aussie Joker Comedian Performs At Packer's
Crown; Raises Cash For Flood Relief...
Melbourne
folks at Crown Casino recently enjoyed 'The Jokers
Comedy That Rocks' at Crown Casino. James Packer's
casino donated all proceeds from last Friday night’s
show to Queensland flood victims. Organiser William
Leitch has happy with the way things went and showcased
an evening with some of the city’s top stand-up
artists, including Brad Oakes, Christine Basil and
Greg Fleet. It's understood he got close to 150 people
to come along, and he may be invited back on upcoming
Friday nights.
Top 100 ASX Listed Companies Respond To Flood Cry
For Help; Gambling And Gaming Industry Steps Up; Mining
Firms and Banking Bastards Lead Charge...
1.
BHP Billiton: $1.3 million (in addition, matching
employee donations)
2.
CBA: $1.35 million
3.
Westpac: $1 million
4.
ANZ: $1 million
5.
NAB: $1 million
6.
News Corp: $500,000 and Blue Ribbon campaign
7.
Rio Tinto: $1 million ($700,000 to Premier Relief,
$300,000 to Emerald community)
8.
Wesfarmers: $7.5 million (plus $3.5 million from Coles
customers)
9.
Telstra Corp: up to $1 million by matching staff contributions
(so far $338,000; is also supplying phones and free
calls to people affected)
11.
Woolworths: $6.9 million (matching customer donations
in Woolies, Big W, Dick Smith dollar for dollar)
14.
Fortescue Metals: Matching staff donations dollar
for dollar
15.
CSL: $250,000
16.
QBE Insurance: not releasing a statement
17.
Origin energy: $1 million
18.
Macquarie Group: $200,000 (combined staff and company
effort with fundraising activities continuing both
here and overseas)
19.
AXA Asia Pacific: No response
20.
Santos: $500,000 plus use of helicopters and vehicles
for clean up. Also $50,000 for flooding in WA
21.
Coal and Allied Industries: (see Rio Tinto)
22.
AMP: $250,000 + matching employee contributions to
WA flood appeal up to $250,000
23.
Suncorp Group: $100,000 (staff and customers have
donated $1.5million)
24.
Foster's Group: $500,000
25.
Brambles: No response
26.
Leighton Holdings: No response
27.
Orica: No response
28.
Oil Search: No response
29.
Stockland: Donated $250,000 to the Premier's flood
relief appeal, another $30,000 to the Mayoress Rockhampton
regional flood appeal and are matching employee donations
dollar for dollar
30.
Coca. Cola Amatil: No response
31.
Amcor: No response
32.
Westfield Retail Trust: No response
33.
IAG: No response
39.
Crown: Donation tins in Crown complexes and have committed
to matching all donations as well as staff contributions
52.
Tabcorp Holdings: $1 million
78.
Tatts Group: Going to run a dedicated lottery for
the Queensland flood appeal where all profits will
go to the Premier's Flood Appeal. They ran the same
thing in Victoria after the Black Saturday bushfires.
It will run on Wednesday 2 Feb in Queensland and is
expected to raise $200,000. In addition, another donation
will be made from the unclaimed prizes fund of an
as. yet undecided amount
79.
Fairfax Media: Matching staff donations
100.
Seek: Reported it had made a donation to the Premier's
Flood Appeal but chose not to disclose how much
Brisbane:
Flood Relief Money Gets Spend On Pokies, Vice - Piss
Up At Pubs...
It's
been reported in a number of Queensland newspapers
that the $1000 flood relief grants that went to many
good folks in Granville are being used to feed slots
and buy piss (beer) rather than food and necessities.
Two Maryborough publicans say that in some instances
the answer to that is yes, and they are disgusted.
One of the publicans was so incensed by the misuse
of flood relief money she telephoned Fairfax Media
to complain. "A man came in bragging about how
he’d got the $1000 payout because he told Centrelink
he was stuck in Granville – but he was here the
whole time. It makes me sick that people are openly
admitting they’ve got the money for nothing,
while there are people who’ve died or lost everything."
She said Centrelink should have screened the applications
more carefully to make sure only people who were genuinely
in need received the cash. Another pub owner said
his one armed bandits had not stopped buzzing since
the grants became available. "We were quiet during
the actual floods but this week’s been totally
different. The pokies and the bottle shop have been
going non-stop." Yeah, Aussie continue to love
a punt, rain, hail, shine or flood!
Aussie
Millions Game 8 Results...
The
London based chap took down the $1,100 8 game mixed
event title at Crown Casino in Melbourne adding AUD$23,800
to his almost $1.2 million in career tournament earnings.
He entered the final table as the short stack, but
managed to grind his way to victory and nudge away
Australia's Bruno Portaro for the victory. The event
marked Ashby's 8th final table appearance at the Aussie
Millions that includes a side-event win back in 2005
and a seventh-place finish in the main event in 2009.
Ashby also won his first WSOP bracelet this summer
in the $1,500 7 Card Stud event and went well in the
$10k H.O.R.S.E. for his biggest career score of $378,027.
The 2011 Aussie Millions $1,100 8-Game Mixed event
drew 68-players and paid the final 7.
Here
are the results:
1 Richard Ashby AUD$23,800
2 Bruno Portaro AUD$16,320
3 Casey Kastle AUD$10,880
4 Daniel Ospina AUD$6,800
5 Oliver Gill AUD$4,760
6 Dane Coltman AUD$3,400
7 Paul Ravesi AUD$2,040
Aussie
Main Event Day 1b: PartyPoker And Full Tilt Poker
Players Feel The Pain...
PartyGaming'sPartyPoker
and Full Tilt Poker's powers that be likely won't
be celebrating. Ok, they got news coverage and exposure,
but its because their players are out. Yep, history
maties. Full Tilt went well on Day 1a but Day 1b was
rooted. Many of the big name pros went down for the
count as locals stepped up. 209 players entered the
Crown Poker room but after 7 levels of play, 80 remained.
David Oppenheim, Annette Obrestad, Carlos Mortensen,
David Benyamine, Andrew Feldman, Steve Yea, Andy Bloch
and Gus Hansen were some of the Full Tilt players
who died. Other casualties included Luke Santo, Raj
Ramakrishnan, George Moussa, Michael Pedley, Graeme
Putt, Martin Comer, Dennis Huntly, Jamie Pickering,
Bruno Portaro, Casey Kastle, Ben Savage and Tim Marsters.
2005 World Champion Joe Hachem (tweeting he struggled
with jetlag following a recent trip to the PokerStars
Caribbean Adventure.) Defending champ, 2010 Aussie
Millions Main Event winner Tyron Krost (PartyGaming's
PartyPoker
pro went down too). A new champ will be crowned in
2011 with plenty of Aussies still in contention. The
field kicked off with Jeff Rossier in the lead with
154,900, closely followed by Michael Ottobra (143,400)
and Martin Drewe, After winning the Opening Event
last week and going deep in another event, Drewe is
now set in the chip leaders in the Main Event after
getting to 136,100. Jay “SEABEAST” Kinkade
did nicely with 128,700, Haibo Chu (113,900), Manny
Stavropoulos (85,600), Sorel Mizzi (74,400), Michael
Egan (61,100), Kent Hunter (56,400), Jeff Lisandro
(55,000), Eric Assadourian (50,300), Scott Montgomery
(49,200), Chris Ferguson (45,400), Lee Nelson (30,200),
Neil Channing (28,800), Roland de Wolfe (26,100),
Aleks Brkovic (24,600), Jackie Glazier (21,900), Grant
Levy (18,300), Gary Benson (10,500) and Mel Judah
(7,200) amongst those who will return on Day 2. The
3rd and final flight of the 2011 Aussie Millions Main
will commence Tuesday with another strong field and
a few big names expected. Even Van Marcus will front
up. Van, is your Red Ferrari safe this time mate?
We're looking for more good fodder to write about.
How about do a publicity stunt and make world wide
headlines ago. Maybe someone at Crown Casino - Crown
Limited might be open to it. Stanger things have happened...
like Ferrari's getting stolen on site, casino fights
and a man getting stuck in the Crown Casino kitchen
grease vacuum.
Aussie
Millions Event #9 Day 1b: Rossiter In Front...
It
was down to business with players investing AUD$10,600
to buy in all with the goal of becoming the 2011 Aussie
Millions Champion. 7 seven levels of play, and the
209-player field went to 80. Jeff Rossiter is in front
with 154,900. Martin Drewe, 2011 Aussie Millions Event
#1 winner with 136,100 - now 3rd on the leaderboard.
Australian Jay Kinkade is on 128,700, and European
Poker Tour mainstay Jeff Sarwer sits 5th with 120,500.
Randy "nanonoko" Lew has 110,000 and Gavin
Griffin 101,700 in 9th ninth and 10th place. Sorel
Mizzi, Jeffrey Lisandro, Eric Assadourian, Team Full
Tilt's Chris Ferguson, Full Tilt Poker Red Pros Scott
Montgomery and Roland de Wolfe, Neil Channing, and
Lee Nelson have also all made it to Wednesday's Day
2, but it was touch and go for some of them, testing
the skill VS luck debate. Full Tilt Poker $25,000
Shootout Invitational winner David Oppenheim, Annette
Obrestad, Carlos Mortensen, Andy Bloch, David Benyamine,
Andrew Feldman, Gus Hansen, Joe Hachem, and David
Steicke all had to say goodnight nurse. PartyGaming's
- PartyPoker
Tyron Krost was eliminated in a hand VS Gavin Griffin
where his Ace-Queen couldn't best Griffin's Aces.
The 3rd and final Day 1 flight commences Tuesday in
Melbourne, Australia at 12:30 p.m. local time.
Getting
board of poker yet? If so, try your luck er skill
at Baccarat or Craps. If your more into luck, check
out the slots like Cleopatra, Sinatra, Rambo, Goanna
Gold and The Terminator. Rumour goes PartyGaming
also have, or will soon get, a World
Poker Tour themed online slot game. We recommend
punters open an account with PartyCasino,PartyGaming
and World
Poker Tour, just to have all based covered. Party
appears to still be the most popular online casino
brand in Australia despite big efforts by the likes
of 888. Marvel
slot games are forecast to be some of the most
popular of this year with Captain
America and Thor
tipped to hit Australia cinema's this year, with Spider-Man
also getting a remake. Whatever your casino game of
choice, good luck, and let us know how you go guys
and girls. Spin to win.
Take
the time to research and learn games before placing
down money
Media
Man,Casino
News Media and Gambling911
are website portals. Not casinos as such, however
are recognised as world leading websites that cover
the sector and act as central points to games, news,
reviews and more.
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us
in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet
portal development company. Gaming is just one of
a dozen sectors covered
News
Australian
Gambling On Pre-Commitment Pokies: Lovers VS Haters,
by Greg Tingle - 21st January 2011
Gambling
On Pub Pokies Gambling Pre Commitment?...
It's
one of Australia's hottest political stories at the
moment. At least, that's the vibe, and its getting
a good run on Aussie talk back radio and inches dedicated
to Australian newspaper print, not to mention the
strong coverage on leading news and entertainment
website portals such as Gambling911, Media
Man, Crikey and 'The Shout'.
Gaming
- pokie giant ALH (Australian Leisure and Hospitality
Group).... you've got to love the "leisure"
reference, has punished and kicked the head in (figure
of speech: there were no pub fight ok punters) of
the Aussie government plan requiring all gamblers
to nominate how much they are prepared to lose down
the throats of slots - fruit machines aka "one
armed bandits" before trying their luck, starting
it would have a "seriously" negative impact
on most who enjoy getting on the punt pokies style.
The
ALH, 75% cent owned by Woolworths, who we affectionately
call 'The Fast Cash People' (satire ok guys) advised
the gambling policy was "deeply politicised"
and club and pub owners were being unfairly targeted
while online gaming escaped regulation.
Clubs
and pubs are of course land based premises on Australian
soil, while online gaming and online gambling no very
few boundaries, with many of the world's largest media
companies, including some in Australia, covering the
sector in both a media, PR, affiliate, B2B and holistic
campaign capacity.
In
recent years Australia's Fairfax Media, publisher
of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and a number
of online news and entertainment website portals like
Brisbane Times, along with The Daily Telegraph online
and other Murdoch Australian online news entities
have developed dedicated sections on gambling, gaming,
sports betting et al, with punters and readers lapping
it up. Australia's AdNews website is has also taken
on ads, and James Packer's Betfair has promos on a
swag of websites, and on many mainstream TV broadcasts.
Yep, gambling is everywhere, and NRL team, the Penrith
Panthers is tipped to soon have their footy ground
renamed Centrebet Stadium, or something to that effect.
Website
portals like IGN, Virgin and Media
Man Int, are expanding out in a wide variety of
domain name extensions, building brands and reach,
some targeting specific geographic regions. Example:
Media Man
now has Media
Man Canada.com and well as Media
Man Asia and Media
Man Network, which Virgin has .ca and over 100
variations of its Virgin name, including Virgin Games,
Virgin Casino and Virgin Unite. For the record Virgin
is not currently accepting Australian online players
from what we can gather. PartyGaming, PartyCasino,PKR,Captain
Cooks,Winner,Centrebet
and James Packer's Betfair
appear to be some of the strongest online brands that
can accept Australians (and New Zealanders), and online
portals like Media Man list them for educational purposes,
putting the information out to the world via the global
medium - the internet. In many cases casino games
are reviewed listing currency and language options,
as well as play for free or play for money scenarios.
To
their credit, many of the media and entertainment
companies featuring some gaming and igaming coverage
do support a number of worthy causes, be it The Salvation
Army, Virgin Unite, The Red Cross and GenerationOne,
and some even making cash donations to struggling
charities on the quite, not seeking fame of thanks
for their good deeds.
Crown
Casino, home to the Aussie
Millions has an online presence, and has conducted
B2B with the likes of PartyGaming,
where the current champion is an Australian who learned
how to play online with Party's online poker brand.
Crown over the past few years have got into bed somewhat
with online poker firms, accepting "online poker
satellite qualifiers", where players play on
online websites, with the some of the best players
winning seats to the land based poker tournaments.
Back
to the politics of pub pokies, much of the fuss relates
to the Australian government broken promise to the
Australian clubs and pubs sector, while pandering
to the wish list of a certain well known Australian
senator. Many media commentators in Australia said
the senators demands (for securing his vote), accounted
to a version of blackmail! Strong allegations, and
these were carried in about a dozen different media
outlets down under in Australia. The policy itself
was a mammoth clash with the Productivity Commission's
view - policy on the run...a deal struck between the
independent... get read for the name... MP Andrew
Wilkie and the federal government. In exchange for
Wilkie's support, the government promised a "full
pre-commitment scheme" for poker machines by
2014, igniting a war of words and public backlash
from the powerful pubs and clubs sector, with Wilkie
being shouted out of a few meetings with regional
clubs, with Australian pensioners being some of the
most upset, distressed and basically, pissed off,
wanting the Aussie Labor Government thrown out of
office.
The
ALH Group outlined in its submission to a parliamentary
inquiry, the government's policy would probably be
ineffective and would basically force substantially
higher costs on pub owners, clients, associates and
suppliers.
A
lengthy Productivity Commission inquiry recommended
"full pre-commitment" by 2016, and the ALH
and others pushed for more research.
The
ALH is the proud operation of in excess of 12,000
pokies aka "one armed bandits" and 286 pubs.
They are king! Pushing for a voluntary pre-commitment,
ALH advised problem gamblers would still find a way
to bet online where the internet has few boundaries,
where less regulations applied. Online brands such
as PartyGaming, PartyCasino, Captain Cooks, Centrebet
and Betfair are well known, trusted, ethical and popular
with Australians and New Zealanders, with punters
not so keen to try out other lesser known brands.
Senator
Nick Xenophon, an anti-poker machine "hater"
(not lover), pointed the finger at Woolworths 'The
Fast Cash People' (satire) of trying to defend the
indefensible.
The
submission ignored "overwhelming evidence"
that a pre-commitment scheme would help reduce problem
gambling, Senator Xenophon said, likening its stance
to big tobacco firms denying the dangers of smoking.
The question and claim is being investigated with
some journalists not so sure it was "overwhelming
evidence" with some saying it was clever spin,
backed by "junk science" coming out of some
Australian universities known for their dislike of
the gaming and gambling sector.
'Mr
X' (satire) added "The irony is there are people
who cannot afford to buy food from a Woolworths supermarket
because they are blowing their money on a Woolworths
poker machine".
Senator
Xenophon and other anti-pokies groups convinced Woolworths
last year to keep children away from its poker machines.
Woolworths made $176.7 million in pre-tax profits
from its hotels division last financial year. The
pub baron Bruce Mathieson owns the remaining 25 per
cent of ALH.
The
parliamentary inquiry will hold public hearings in
capital cities next month.
Many
Aussie based legal eagles such as Jamie Nettleton
from Addisons are expecting strong business this year,
as the legal complexities of online vs offline, website
portals vs casinos, affiliate programs, PR VS news
and campaigns et al, continue to get looked at. Our
friend Nettleton has already gone on record that many
Australian laws are outdated and do not basically
cover or apply to the global medium that is the world
wide web. Nettleton is recommending more regulations,
which in turn will help better protect consumers,
and well as help with taxation laws and other business
functions, resulting in a win - win - win.
Australian
Land Based Casinos VS Land Based Pokie Palaces: Australian
Casinos List...
Punters,
we know your just begging to get your current Australian
land based casino hotspots back on file, many of which
are massive tourist attractions, so here it is...
New
South Wales
Star City Casino (Sydney)
Victoria
Crown Casino (Melbourne)
Queensland
Conrad Treasury Casino (Brisbane)
Jupiters Hotel & Casino (Gold Coast)
Jupiters Townsville Casino (Townsville)
The Reef Hotel Casino (Cairns)
South
Australia
Skycity Adelaide (Adelaide)
Western
Australia
Burswood Entertainment Complex aka Burswood Casino
(Perth)
Tasmania
Wrest Point Hotel Casino (Hobart)
Country Club Casino (Launceston)
Australian
Capital Territory
Casino Canberra (Canberra)
Northern
Territory
Lasseters Hotel Casino (Alice Springs)
Skycity Darwin (formerly MGM Grand Casino) (Darwin)
Tobacco Industry VS Government Wars: Australian Sinners
Key Target...
The
tobacco industry has launched a fresh and "backdoor"
type attack on legislation to make plain packaging
of cigarettes compulsory, using a regional FTO (free
trade agreement) to which Australia is expected to
sign up to.
Tobacco
giant Philip Morris has used Australia's plain-packaging
laws, set to come into effect next year, to debate
the need for "investor state" provisions
in the upcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
This would basically facilitate companies to sue member
governments if they pass legislation curtailing business
activities!
Thomas
Faunce, an Australian Research Council future fellow
at the Australian National University, called on the
federal government to resist the inclusion of investor
state provisions in the agreement. He said the provisions
duplicated ground that had already been covered in
the 2005 Australia-US free trade pact.
"Australia
can rebut such attempts on the basis that they reopen
the (free trade agreement) negotiations where an investor-state
clause was expressly excluded," Associate Professor
Faunce wrote in a critique published today in the
Medical Journal of Australia.
Negotiations
on the trade agreement - between the US, Australia,
New Zealand and six South American and south-east
Asian countries - intensified last year and are expected
to be completed in September.
In
a submission on the proposed trade agreement to the
US trade representative, Philip Morris cited Australia's
plain-packaging laws among "initiatives of concern".
The
company said it supported laws to reduce any harm
caused by tobacco, but opposed "extreme and disproportionate
regulation … which has the effect of violating
international law and expropriating intellectual property
rights".
Simon
Chapman, a professor of public health at the University
of Sydney, said the company's stance was consistent
with the tobacco industry's history of attempting
to use trade agreements to defeat individual countries'
health laws.
"It's
yet another sign of the degree to which the industry
will go to to defeat and delay any measure that will
actually work (to cut smoking rates)" he said.
The
World Trade Organisation's Uruguay Round had established
the right of countries "to put health considerations
above international trade considerations".
Patricia
Ranald, of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment
Network, which advises on human rights, and the environment,
said Australia would receive little export benefit
from the treaty because the free trade agreement was
already in place.
"What
we want to say to our government is that we should
negotiate about trade issues but not about social
policies," Dr Ranald said.
Craig
Emerson, the Minister for Trade, would not commit
on excluding investor-state provisions from the trade
pact, saying he was not prepared to make policy on
the run.
But
he said Philip Morris would be "whistling in
the wind" if it tried to undermine national anti-tobacco
laws.
The
tobacco industry ie: smoking, has long been linked
to other industries such as gambling (where punters
often chase land based pokies where smoking is allowed),
the sex and fetish industry, fashion (models smoke
instead of eat correctly, not to put on weight) and
motorsport (especially F1), but exposure of tobacco
products on cars has been massively reduced - more
than halved, over the past 5 years, with energy drinks
like Red Bull picking up some of the slack.
Media
Man,Casino
News Media and Gambling911
are website portals. Not casinos as such, however
are recognised as world leading websites that cover
the sector and act as central points to games, news,
reviews and more.
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us
in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet
portal development company. Gaming is just one of
a dozen sectors covered
News
Crown
Casino Aussie Millions Update, by Greg Tingle - 20th
January 2011
G'day
punters, journos, high rollers - casino whales, poker
sharks, entertainment news junkies, politicians, insiders,
outsiders, legal eagles... one and all. Today its
the Crown Casino Aussie Millions special. Media
Man and Gambling911
with another fair dinkum Aussie style report maties...
Aussie
Millions Plays Celeb Card...
Celeb
poker is still popular, especially down under in Australia,
despite the market becoming somewhat flooded (no pun
re Queensland floods) in recent years. Crown Casino
celeb poker was a red carpet was affair. Enter the
Aussie Millions "Celebrity Poker Challenge".
Perhaps with a tie in to the world famous Studio 54,
Crown's 'Studio 3' at James Packer's prime Australian
casino became party time. The showgirls were impossible
to miss, there was a press pack with paps - mainly
friendly ones, and a DJ to keep people pumped up on
cool music. We're pleased to report that last years
Main Event champion, PartyGaming's PartyPoker
sponsored Tyron Krost was there, and we think it was
a sighting of the Germany Shepherd dog loving Tony
G. Howard "The Professor" Lederer and Barney
Boatman were also in attendance. Insiders saw a few
glimpses of Shane 'Warnie' Warne also, but we missed
Jeff 'Marrickville Mauler' Fenech. Annette '16' (once
upon a time) Obrestad and alleged partner of some
description, Scott Montgomery showed their faces.
The brother of ex WSOP champion, Tony Hachem was seen
getting around on a crutch, apparently carrying an
injury (no, not to the groin, and no, Annie Duke didn't
do it to him, before you ask). Then, our of the shadows
a lovely lady understood to be Ann Peakcock emerged,
who soon passed the stage to Shane Warne, who appears
to be the main face of Crown Casino poker these days,
the other face being Joe Hachem. James Packer still
stays in the background most of the time, but is still
good for a media quote and photo every now and again.
Money raised from the night went to charity, with
some connection to The Shane Warne Foundation and
Variety, and somehow the cash will get to the victims
of the Australian floods, where Queensland is the
worst effected, and unfortunately it appears the death
count is just a touch less than 20, but we will keep
you updated as more news come to hand of the tragedy.
In a nice gesture, Blue ribbons were worn by all in
recognition of the floods that have hit much of Australia.
Before you could say 'Flush' or 'River' things were
transformed into a 4 table team showdown. It was a
top night and we publicly congratulate James Packer
and his world class team and associates for showing
the world how its done.
Aussie
Millions 'Celebrity Poker Challenge' Media Blurb...
Melbourne,
Australia. Tuesday 18 January 2011. Crown will deal
another royal flush TOMORROW with the annual Aussie
Millions ‘Celebrity Poker Challenge' that will
see the likes of tennis ace Andy Roddick and Brooklyn
Decker, poker champion Joe Hachem, Shane Warne, Dannii
Minogue, Gary Ablett Jnr, Glenn Archer, Grant Smile,
Kris Smith, Nathan Brown, Nicholas Bolton, Paris Wells,
Paul and Barbara Licuria, Pete Evans, Shane Delia,
Stephen Curry and Zoe Badwi join with world poker
pros Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, Howard Lederer, Patrik
Antonius and defending Aussie Millions Champion Tyron
Krost to put their best poker faces on for charity.
Aussie
Millions Updates...
Crown
Casino - Event 4: $1,100 No Limit Hold'em Shootout!
The famous poker tournament is already 5 days in punters.
An Aussie and a South African gent have got their
gold rings.
The
shootout format is the talk of the poker world, at
least as far as Aussie Millions goes. To progress
through to the next stage, a player must best all
punters at their poker table in a shootout fashion.
This is the virgin time a shootout tournament has
been run at the Aussie Millions The jet setter pros
have been arriving at James Packers' Crown Casino
and world class poker room.
Names
who appear to be lock ins include Annette '16' Obrestad,
James Akenhead, Scott Montgomery and Jonathan Karamalikis.
A
4th Aussie Millions gold ring is up for grabs, and
more likely than not, within the next 48 hours we
can report on who snatches it.
Aussie
Millions Overview...
Thus
far Crown Casino's Aussie Millions is living up to
its world class status. It got on the way last Thursday
at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia and an
impressive 762 players showed up for the opening event,
a $1,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament.
The series, which includes a grand total of 20 events,
goes thru to Sunday, January 30th and features not
only the prestigious AUD $10,000 buy-in Main Event,
but also the AUD $100,000 High-Roller tournament that
continues to snatch and catch the biggest names in
poker across the globe, year after year. Aussie professional
Martin Drewe was crowned the winner of the first event
at the Crown Casino on Sunday, besting Darren Kramer
heads-up for a prize of AUD $200,000.The 2nd event
- Jared Solomon earned a nice AUD $10,000 via Poker
Pro No Limit Hold’em Shootout. Sean Dunwoodie
picked up $1,000 in the Pot Limit Omaha Event #3 for
AUD $37,000 and Soren Blanner won in the $1,100 No
Limit Hold’em Shootout Event #4 for AUD $38,000.
The Aussie Millions main event will commence this
Sunday, January 23rd. The AUD $10,000 No Limit Hold’em
tournament had 746 entrants last year and is set for
another huge field in 2011. Defending champ, Tyron
Krost snatched AUD $2 million last year after besting
a tough final table that sported Peter Jetten, Annette
Obrestad and Sorel Mizzi. Other former Main Event
champions included Stewart Scott (2009), Alexander
Kostritsyn (2008), Gus Hansen (2007), Lee Nelson (2006),
and Tony Bloom (2004). The AUD $100,000 Challenge
might just be the most anticipated match at Aussie
Million. It's billed as the most expensive tournament
buy-in in the world. The event was first held back
in 2006, getting a modest 10 players. In 2010, the
AUD $100,000 Challenge saw 24 players hit the tables,
with Dan Shak finally beating Phil Ivey for the AUD
$1.2 million winners purse. In 2009, David Steicke
won, coming up best from from a 23 deep pack, snatching
a cool $1.2 million payday. In other upcoming action
there will be an Aussie Millions high-stakes cash
game on 24th January featuring an AUD $200,000 minimum
buy-in. Players who took part in last year’s
broadcast cash game included Tom "durrrr"
Dwan, Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies, Chris Ferguson,
Andrew Feldman, Gus Hansen and Rafi Amit.
Aussie
Millions Events (buy-ins in Australian Dollars)
Australia's
PartyGaming Poker Pro Tony G Will Get To Bring Dog
To Poker Table...
It's
a nice move by Tony, PartyGaming,
and maybe, Crown Casino powers that be. The well known
and largely feared poker shark will have at least
one dog (yep, with 4 legs) accompany him to at least
one poker game. Tony had blogged that Zasko the dog
was having some visa and security issues and would
not be able to make it. But now Tony has hooked up
with TJ, another German Shepherd breed to take the
place of MIA Zasko. "As you well know by now
I am not Phil Hellmuth so there will be no flashy
entrance but you have to be impressed that the G has
the weight to get a dog brought into the casino. He
will just be there playing around – tilting my
opponents and making the game a bit of fun,"
he blogged. Tony is looking to get TJ a meal inside
the casino and Wagyu beef comes to mid. Tony and TJ,
would you like win with that, and do you pref your
meat raw, medium or well done? Well do for adding
a bit more colour to the already party-time like event.
Security is understood to be at an all time high,
with many of the world's top casinos reporting theft,
fights and fraud matters over the past few years.
Trouble makers, best stay at home, and those who love
to party and love to win, who can also behave themselves,
you are warmly invited. Oh, if you own a fancy sports
car, why not temp fate and park it in the casinos
carpark and see if anyone dares try snatch it. Who
can forget the red Ferrari thief situation and well
as the Crown Casino robbers incidents from a few years
back, and then there was the Crown kitchen grease
trap man. Will lighting strike twice? If its too hot
in the kitchen, best get out. If your prepared to
get cooking with the best of them get your ass to
Crown. In any event, stay tuned to this website portal
for more hot action.
Take
the time to research and learn games before placing
down money
Media
Man,Casino
News Media and Gambling911 are website portals.
Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world
leading websites that cover the sector and act as
central points to games, news, reviews and more.
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us
in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet
portal development company. Gaming is just one of
a dozen sectors covered
*The
writer owns shares in Crown Limited
News
Australian
Pokie And News Media Wars, by Greg Tingle - 14th January
2011
G'day
punters, journos, high rollers, politicians, insiders,
outsiders... one and all. The battle for your hearts,
minds, wallets and purses continue as Australian gambling
and media companies continue to pull out all the stops
in order to achieve market domination, or is it world
domination? There's something for everyone here, be
it casino lovers, haters, media tarts or other. Media
Man and Gambling911
with rip snorter of a news roundup for you from the
land of Kangaroos, Koalas, convicts and all manner
of critters...
Tennis
Babe Transforms Into Casino Babe At Packer's Crown;
Australian Media's Next Hot Yummie Mummy To Be?
Tennis
babe Maria Sharapova commenced the Australian Open
Tennis in red hot fashion 2 nights ago the world's
hottest and sexiest players landed in Melbourne, home
of Australia's original TV 'Underbelly'. The babe
of the moment showed off a sparkling engagement ring
and smile. This particular Russian babe has taken
quite a liking to down under and was more than happy
to show off quite a bit of leg, but only a slight
bit of cleavage in her new range of tennis gear showcased
at a Crown casino media and PR gig. Sharapova's lucky
boyfriend, Los Angeles Lakers basketballer Sasha Vujacic,
popped the big and brave question to the tennis babe
last red October. Her competitors did not seem to
be bothered by Sharapova's "media darling"
statue or expectational good looks. World #1 Rafael
Nadal stripped down during a relaxed practice session
on centre court and Ana Ivanovic strutted her stuff
on an outside court. Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray
enjoyed a soccer workout with Melbourne Victory players
at AAMI Park. Oh, weather was also a concern, with
all the floods that hit Queensland, tipped to also
catch part of Victoria. Tourney director Craig Tiley
declared the Open weather-proof. "We have two
roofs we can close. We also have five indoor courts,
so for us rain is - unlike the US Open - easier to
deal with. If we are thrown more challenges with the
elements we will be able to do what we need to. We
have those plans in place to help in terms of scheduling."
Isolated showers across southern Victoria could affect
the first few days of the event, which starts on Monday.
The first week of last year's open was relatively
mild but the mercury rose to the mid-30s by the second
week of play. In 2009, tennis stars endured scorching
conditions with at least three consecutive days above
43C. Paramedics had their work cut out with more than
100 spectators treated for heat exhausting or sunburn.
Tiley said major redevelopment work at Melbourne Park
would not get in the way of this year's Open. More
than 600,000 spectators are expected to flood the
Grand Slam venue over two weeks. Insiders reckon the
latest range of Tennis babes cum Casino babes, are
bound to raise temperates in more ways that one. Feel
the heat.
Sin
City Sydney - Star City Soccer Fans Ralley...
Sydney
FC CEO Edwin Lugt has urged more interaction with
supporters across the country after the successful
staging of a fan forum in Sydney last night. Lugt
spoke at a fan forum organised by Footy Fans Downunder
held at Sydney’s Star City Casino Sports Theatre
Bar. The forum which will head to Melbourne next month
discussed a wide range of topics with fans being given
the floor to ask any questions of the panel. Passionate
debate and some lively ideas were discussed in front
of almost 200 fans. The night also served as a fund-raiser
for the Queensland flood tragedy. But as a forum for
ideas, it was also a useful exercise, said Lugt. "The
fact that we have this (fan forum) means the game
is getting serious. It’s maturing". It's
understood a few of the fans tried their luck on the
pokies and roulette after the forum, some winning,
some loosing, and others breaking even. The event
was a win - win for both Star City, the fans and soccer
big wigs.
Australian
Gaming And Gambling Shares...
Company
Name Price Change % Change
National Leisure & Gaming 0.01 +0.00 UP +16.66%
Crown Limited 8.57 +0.13 UP +1.54%
Aristocrat Leisure 2.94 +0.04 UP +1.37%
Ainsworth Game Technology 0.27 -0.04 DOWN - 12.91%
Centrebet International 1.49 -0.02 DOWN -1.33%
Sky City 2.57 -0.03 DOWN -1.16%
Independent
Senator Or Bias Senator; Bluffing The News Media Or
Sincere?...
The
South Australian based Senator Nick Xenaphon aka 'Mr
X's in gambling and media circles, has basically accused
Clubs New South Wales of resisting moves to implement
new gambling legislation. Senator Xenaphon has backed
anti-pokies campaigner Paul Bendat who has took it
upon himself to place a full newspaper in the Illawarra
Mercury, and is considering doing more. One of his
targets is Clubs New South Wales chairman and former
Mercury editor Peter Newell. Bendat has been threatened
with legal action over the ads. Yep, its getting personal
and legal. Senator Xenaphon says the ad calls on Newell
to direct his members to "tell the truth"
about the Federal Government's mandatory pre-commitment
plans for poker machines. "When you consider
that literally billions of dollars are lost each year
by problem gamblers in this country and that could
be avoidable, it could be substantially reduced by
a sensible system of pre-commitment. "Then the
club's propaganda on this whole issue in terms of
how expensive it will be and how impractical it will
be, these things need to be exposed." A spokesman
for Clubs New South Wales says an earlier advertisement
had implied Newell had been untruthful and the ad
was overly personal. Joke for readers... How do you
know when a politician is lying? Answer: When their
lips are moving!
Crown
Casino, Melbourne: 2011 Aussie Millions Poker Championship
On The Way...
Australia's
biggest, best and richest poker tournament has just
got on the way. Aussie Millions commenced at James
Packers' Crown Casino in beautiful Melbourne, home
to the original 'Underbelly' TV series which featured
gambling themes. We understand that the $10,600 AUD
no-limit hold’em main event will snatch the attention
of the poker players and commentators when it fires
off on January 23rd. An deep field of 746 punters
participated in the 2010 main event, with our own
Tyron Krost being crowned champion, picking up $2
million, and soon after being signed u by PartyGaming's
PartyPoker. Many other players (and brands) and keen
to knock him off as you might expect. The field is
expected to be one of the greatest ever, if not the
best. High-stakes events include the $100,000 Challenge
that commences on January 22, as well as the Aussie
Millions high stakes cash game featuring a $200,000
minimum buy-in on Jan 24th. Last year the $100,000
Challenge attracted 24 players for a prize pool of
$2.4 million, and it was Dan Shak who bested Phil
Ivey heads up to earn a cool $1.2 million. Other substantial
buy-in events this year include the $10,500 Australia
no-limit hold’em heads-up championship and a
$10,500 eight-game mixed event. Stay glued to this
dial for more coverage, and don't be surprised if
Fox Sports and or / ESPN give it a bit of TV coverage.
Poker is big business in Australia and around the
world, and media companies are keen to cash in too.
Good luck to all players, and on James Packer for
your commitment to the "sport".
Aussie
Millions Media Run Down...
The
Aussie Millions Poker Championship is the largest,
richest and most prestigious gaming event in the Southern
Hemisphere and ranked fifth largest in the world.
Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in
every major poker variation, the Aussie Millions is
poker's longest running tournament in the Southern
Hemisphere, dating back to 1998.
Facts
-
The Aussie Millions Poker Championship is held each
January at Crown Casino, in Melbourne Australia
- The Aussie Millions ranks as the fifth largest poker
tournament in the world by player number
- The championship includes over 20 tournaments culminating
in the coveted AUD$10,600 No Limit Holdem ‘Main
Event' on Sunday 23 January for Day 1 - Flight 1 (Mon
24 Flight 2, Tues 25 Flight 3 with Day 2 starting
on Wednesday 26 January 2011)
- The 2011 Aussie Millions is expected to reach a
prize pool of almost AUD$20 million with an expected
first prize of AUD$2 million for the AUD$10,600 No
Limit Holdem ‘Main Event'
- Over 2,500 individual entrants will participant
and more than 600 international visitors are expected
to attend including players from the United States,
England, Ireland, South Africa, Scandinavia, Canada,
Israel, Estonia, Portugal and Russia
- The Aussie Millions generated approximately 8,000
room nights across Melbourne in January 2010, including
over 5,000 at Crown alone
- The 2010 Aussie Millions held the largest, cash
buy in tournament ever with a $100,500 event attracting
30 players
- It is expected that there will be almost 900 individual
players in the $10,600 Buy-In No Limit Holdem ‘Main
Event'
What is being billed as the biggest game ever played,
the ‘Million Dollar Cash Game' will see 10 of
the greatest and most influential poker players of
all-time stake a minimum of AUD$1 million to play.
However, players can (and will) bring more than a
mere million dollars to the table!
IMG
Tennis Party: Tennis And Poker Celebs - Sunday 16th
January
See
some of the world's greatest tennis stars including
David Nalbandian, Donald Young, Feliciano Lopez, James
Blake, Marcos Baghdatis, Maria Sharapova, Marion Bartoli,
Mark Knowles, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Venus
Williams. Along with some of the world's greatest
poker players in town for the Aussie Millions Poker
Championship including 2005 WSOP Champion and Crown
Ambassador Joe Hachem, Team Full Tilt pro's Phil Ivey,
Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer, John Juanda etc. This
exclusive gathering of world class tennis pro's and
entertainment industry heavy weights will make this
event one of the best parties of 2011. Crown's IMG
Tennis Players Party has become one of the most high
profile events of the year. Held on the eve of the
Australian Open, the party is also a regular meeting
spot for IMG's star players who are staying at Crown.
Aussie
Millions Event Number 8 - $100,000 Challenge - Saturday
23rd January...
$100,000
No Limit Holdem Challenge will be for those with deep
pockets! Look out for some high profile players with
wallets in hand, looking for some wild action including
the Phil Ivey and 2007 Aussie Millions Champion Gus
Hansen. Up to 30 of the most prestigious and high
profile poker players in the world will descend upon
the Crown Poker Room for this event. Some of the world's
greatest poker players heading the list include; Alexander
Kostritsyn, Chris Ferguson, Erick Lindgren, Erik Seidel,
Gus Hansen, Howard Lederer, Ivan Demidov, Jeff Lisandro,
John Juanda, Patrik Antonius, Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan,
Tong G and Tony Bloom *Total Cost (Buy-In + Entry
Fee) $100,500 ($100,000 +$500). *Special thanks to
Crown Casino for providing our news media with the
detailed information. We look forward to continuing
to cover the action.
Melbourne:
Gambling Research Agenda Continues At Monash University...
Researchers
from Monash University's Department of Marketing are
interviewing men and women, from a range of backgrounds
and age groups across Victoria, to find out more about
the reasons why people gamble and how it makes them
feel. Study Principal Investigator Dr Samantha Thomas
said research was usually focused on problem gamblers
with 'next to no' research being done on people who
gamble for fun or those who feel they don't have a
problem with it. "Most research is fixated on
problem gamblers and psychological and social impacts
associated with the negative aspects of gambling.
While we're not ignoring that exists we also believe
that for most people who gamble, whether it's a problem
or not, that gambling has, at some stage, been a social,
enjoyable past-time," Dr Thomas said. "At
what point does it go from being a 'bit of a harmless
flutter' to an issue that consumes their lives? At
what point do gamblers realize they have a problem
and does public messaging warning of the dangers of
gambling have any influence on their thinking or behaviour?"
Dr Thomas said public messaging and support group
programs specifically responded to problem gambling
using poker machines. "We know that people's
gambling habits are much broader than poker machines
and while the 'pokies' have been portrayed as 'evil'
and 'addictive', problem gambling is also evident
with people who bet online, through sports betting
outlets or on casino tables," Dr Thomas said.
Dr Thomas said the research involves extensive interviews
and participants will be compensated for their time.
"Learning more about why people gamble, when
they first started to gamble, and what their social
sphere is like is incredibly important in being able
to put into perspective behaviours and perceptions
of gambling." Dr Thomas said one emerging trend
in their research to date is that it appears people
who bet on sporting outcomes often do so because they
believe it requires skill and knowledge and that winning
on 'the punt' is a sign of personal achievement rather
than just financial gain. "In contrast we see
people who bet on poker machines believing more in
'personal luck' and a desire to 'beat the system'
with their goal being a financial reward. Dr Thomas
said the team was particularly interested in the experiences
of women. "Australia has high rates of gambling
in women, and we are particularly interested to how
women perceive their gambling activities," Dr
Thomas said. Dr Thomas said it was important for government
agencies, community help organisations and the industry
to be provided with information about gambling behaviours
that will contribute to shaping policy and community
responses.
A
Media Man spokesperson said of the study "Finally,
a gambling study that appears fair and balanced, and
not just an attack on the great Aussie tradition of
having a punt. They will be interviewing a wide array
of punters, not just being focused on the so called
problem gamblers, which has been quite the fodder
of media beat-ups and junk science research for well
over a year. We are not certain the gambling hating
senators of Australia will use data from this particular
study. Why? Because it looks to be honest and straight
up, and not just pandering to the Australian government,
the like way some Aussie politicians pandered to the
American government over Wikileaks. Balanced studies
on gambling in Australia are such a breath of fresh
air. I just might have a punt to celebrate the good
news".
Foxtel
Purchases ABC TV Programs; WTF...
ABC
Commercial has recently finalized contracts on more
than a dozen programs to Foxtel’s owned and operated
channels. The deals include the first two series of
THE LIBRARIANS (12 x 30’) and all three series
of THE GRUEN TRANSFER (32 x 30’), to screen on
Foxtel’s Comedy Channel. A further nine programs
were sold to Foxtel’s History Channel, including
Screen Australia documentary series KOKODA (2 x 56’)
and Chinese/Australian co-production PUYI: THE LAST
CHINESE EMPEROR (2 x 52’) which will be an Australian
premiere for the channel. Two documentaries, GIRLS
OWN WAR STORIES (1 x 55’) and ACCENTUATE THE
POSITIVE (1 x 55’) were also sold to the Bio
Channel. “Our business with Foxtel continues
to grow and grow. We are very happy to be able to
provide Foxtel with some of the best Australian content
in the market,” said Natalie Lawley, ABC Commercial’s
Sales Manager for Asia, Australia & NZ. If we
hear of more gambling or poker programing on Foxtel
or ABC, readers, we will let you know. Be on the lookout
for Aussie Millions to get a few mentions on Foxtel
- Fox Sports, as well as on the news, and ABC TV is
rumoured to do some fair and balanced coverage on
their sports reports via TV, radio and online.
Take
the time to research and learn games before placing
down money
Media
Man,Casino
News Media and Gambling911
are website portals. Not casinos as such, however
are recognised as world leading websites that cover
the sector and act as central points to games, news,
reviews and more.
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our report? What's your
goss for us? Tell us in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
News
Australian
And New Zealand Gambling And Entertainment News, by
Greg Tingle - 9th January 2011
Punters,
January continues to shape up as a huge news month
for both Australia and our Kiwi friends in New Zealand.
Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com
and Gambling911 with another non sheep like report
- often imitated, never duplicated, from the Pacific
to the Tasman, and all points in between...
Alice
Springs - Northern Territory - Clubs, Pubs, Pokie
Palaces, Lasseter's Hotel Casino Gets Tough On Violent
Drunks...
Alcohol
laws designed with the key objective of stop drunken
violence dead on Darwin's meet streets, namely Mitchell
Street, are being rolled out to Palmerston and Alice
Springs. Drunk bastards can by law be banned for 48
hours from the 3nominated areas and will be staring
down the loaded gun barrel of a $133 on-the-spot fine,
slam bam, thank you mam. There's been 9 bans issued
since the Darwin law was introduced on October 1 of
last year, Acting Chief Minister Delia Lawrie shared
and it was "important to give police the tool
to issue on-the-spot fines and bans. It's a preventative
measure to stop people who have too much alcohol in
their system from carrying on like lunatics."
In Palmerston, the ban precinct encompasses a 1km
radius around the central business district. Mayor
Robert MacLeod supports the ban. "The ones who
are causing trouble are the ones that have to watch
out," he said. Macleod denied the law would unfairly
target itinerants and ban them from parks within Palmerston.
"If we sit back and do nothing, it stays the
same way...as leaders of the community, you have to
make decisions. If we don't try something then why
are we here?" The Alice Springs precinct boundary
is Wills and Leichhardt Tce, the golf course, Lasseter's
Hotel Casino and Stephens Rd to Telegraph Tce. Mayor
Damien Ryan is hopeful the strong arm of the law will
shift troublemakers out of the town centre. "It's
everybody's right to have an evening out without being
hassled by others who cause grief," he said.
Banned people can enter the designated area to work
but not for recreation. The NT Government plans to
introduce 48-hour precinct bans in Katherine and Tennant
Creek. Yep, we breed in tough in the "top end"
of Australia, but mongrel bastards of the drunk variety
will not be tolerated thank you.
Promoting
Lottery Syndicates; Australian Newsagents Thumps Up
On Sin D Catates!...
An
insider leaked across the www "We continue to
have good success with lottery syndicate sales, even
in our small temporary location. The small A5 mini-posters
which we have stuck on the pole holding the lottery
terminal screens works a treat for us. It is terrific
seeing a customer make a purchase and decide on a
syndicate ticket as well as the items they brought
to the sales counter. It costs nothing to make the
A5 poster. In a one hour stint last week I saw four
syndicate shares sold specifically because of this
promotional placement. We change the syndicates we
promote in this location regularly. Syndicates are
also promoted at our lottery entry table (workbench)
as well as in a display behind the counter."
Ed: apparently this is pretty big news in the world
of Australian newsagents who delight at selling lottery
tickets, so don't blame us is it doesn't turn you
on!
Elvis
Presley Impersonators Coming Up For King Title At
Milwaukee Casino; Australian Look And Act Alikes In
The Mix At Casino In Next Round...
Elvis
Mania is running wild at America's Milwakee Casino,
and yep, Australians from down under at trying their
luck to be 'The King'. "Tribute to The King"
is the gig at Milwaukee's Potawatomi Bingo Casino.
You've got all sorts of Elvis want a bees. The Elvis
impersonation comp...always near Elvis Presley's birthdate
enjoys a cult-like following. 500 folks fill up the
seats for the first round of action. Elvis nuts arrive
early to snatch the prime seats of the house. After
4our days of competition in 2010, one of these great
pretenders...Matt Joyce of Arkansas...left with the
$25,001 grand prize, billed as the largest in the
world for this type of competition. Among the judges
were three of The Imperials, a group known for backing
up Elvis Presley on his albums and tours until 1971.
"I don't think enough realize what a wonderful
singer Elvis was," says Sherman, a friend of
Elvis' who joined The Imperials as lead vocalist after
their work with the music icon ended. The event began
as a look-alike contest nine years ago, then morphed
into much more. Now Elvis fans schedule a week of
vacation around the competition, says Rachel Buelow,
the theater's entertainment coordinator. Performance
videos are part of the contestant screening process.
Judges are told to notice and rate the appearance,
costume, vocals, choreography and "overall replication
of The King." Contestants supply their own background
music, props (only guitars and scarves are allowed)
and arrive ready to perform because of a lack of changing
rooms. Next week's "Tribute to The King"
contestants include Elvis impersonators from down
under in Australia and the United Kingdom. Preliminary
competitions start at noon Tuesday through Thursday
and 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Admission is free,
but seats fill quickly. Tickets are $20 to $35 to
daily finals, which start at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through
Thursday and include a show by Elvis impersonators
Ryan Pelton and Matt Joyce as Double Trouble. Tickets
to Friday's grand championship, as usual, sold out
soon after going on sale in late November.
Australia's
Air Supply Soft Rock Legends To Perform At Casino
New Brunswick in Moncton...
Aussie
soft-rock band Air Supply, best known and loved for
'80s ballads like 'All Out of Love' and 'Even the
Nights Are Better', will perform at Casino New Brunswick
in Moncton on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. Yeap, we
know, love songs in a casino, but at least they are
not hate songs! Tickets for the show have only just
recently gone on sale today at the casino box office
for $29.50, which is pretty good value to see an hear
living legends. Air Supply has been doing their things
since 1975, when Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock
met while rehearsing for the musical Jesus Christ
Superstar in 'Sin City' Sydney, Australia. They started
out with one guitar and two voices, playing coffee
houses and local nightclubs, building up a reputation
for their harmonies and original songs. They got a
break with CBS Records and went on tour in Australia
and Canada with Rod Stewart. They signed with Arista
Records in 1980 and began a string of hits that pulled
on the heartstrings of listeners around the world.
Their rise to success coincided with the boom in music
videos through MTV and MuchMusic. Their biggest hits
included Lost in Love, All out of Love, Even The Nights
Are Better and Making Love Out of Nothing At All.
Air Supply was the first western group to tour the
orient - China, Taiwan and other countries that would
not allow pop music across their borders. They continue
to tour and record. The band has released a new album
called Mumbo Jumbo. Recorded at Graham Russell's home
studio in Utah and at the Odds On Records' studio
in Las Vegas with top session musicians and an orchestra,
Mumbo Jumbo was produced by Russell and engineered
by Sean O'Dwyer (Pink Floyd, Randy Newman and Blink-182).
"Because of our crazy touring schedule, Mumbo
Jumbo took three years to complete," Russell
says. "Hitchcock and I couldn't be happier with
the results. We had been releasing projects independently
for a long time. While sticking to our vow of never
making an album unless we are convinced it has numerous
potential hit singles, we also believe that we have
emerged with our best overall collection to date."
The band reckon the new album was welcome news to
millions of Airheads who were waiting for the duo's
latest work. Among them are Ozzy Osbourne (who has
attended their shows in disguise) and Al Pacino, who
recently was spotted hanging out in a dark booth in
the back of Orleans in Las Vegas, one of the duo's
regular venues. Hitchcock added, "We had 12 songs
recorded for the album, which to me seemed like plenty,
but Graham came to me with two more he wanted to record,
and I had an equally positive reaction to those. When
he said, OK, now we have everything we need, I knew
instinctively that we had a finished project. Writing
and recording new material is our lifeblood that keeps
us fresh and excited. In concert, we know we raise
eyebrows when we say we're going to start playing
new songs, but then we start and the audience realizes
how much love and care go into them. We've been around
nearly 40 years and are not only holding our own out
there but firmly believe, with albums like Mumbo Jumbo,
that our best days are still ahead of us." Air
Supply will perform at Casino New Brunswick on Thursday,
Feb. 17. Tickets for the show are $29.50 (plus tax
and applicable surcharge) and are available at the
Casino Gift Shop (located at 21 Casino Drive in Moncton,
exit #450 off the Trans-Canada Highway), by calling
1-866-9-GET-TIX/ 1-866- 943-8849. If the songs make
you feel lucky for the opposite sex, or whatever tickles
your fancy, you might want to have a flutter on casino
games also. But, remember, bet with you head, not
over it.
Victoria
- New Pokies Policy Stops More Pokie Palaces In Regional
Port Phillip...
Port
Phillip Council will reject any and all new applications
for gambling venues as part of its new gaming policy.
Could that be a form of discrimination many political
and gaming commentators are asking. The make on the
run policy is a knee jerk response to some folks who
are concerned about the number of venues in the area.
Insiders say many bible basher, good two shoe types
are behind it. The small but vocal minority, who like
to have a whinge and a wine about all matter of things.
If you're reading, you know who you are! There are
at least count 18 TABs and 384 electronic gaming machines,
operating from 10 licensed venues within the city.
Melbourne's Crown Casino also sits just outside Port
Phillip’s border. Mayor Rachel Powning said the
council wanted to introduce strategies to help those
at risk of problem gambling. "It comes under
part of the social justice area of council business,"
Cr Powning said. “Local agencies are under stress
in the inner-city and it is the low to middle-income
earners for which gambling is a problem here. "Along
with gambling comes depression, social isolation,
mental health issues and substance abuse." Commission
for Gambling Regulation figures show $28.2 million
was put into gaming machines in Port Phillip in 2009/2010.
The move is expected to drive forward the expansion
of illegal home poker games, gambling dens, as well
as driving more punters onto the internet sites and
games and entertainment portals.
Australian
Pokie Education And Political Format Website Portal
In War With 'The Truth'...
Here's
how it goes punters...Owing entirely to mistakes made
by the Illawarra Mercury, the Truth About Pre-Commitment
Reform was not published as contracted. Since the
time that the ad should have run, I have been accused
of actions I did not take, hung up on, indirectly
threatened with legal action by ClubsNSW (again),
and withstood suggestions to alter the advertisement
that would destroy it's core message. Provided the
Mercury make good on the commercial directors email
that states: "We are good. I will book the ad
into next weeks Mercury for Jan 11, 12 and 13. The
attached copy is the one approved to run so please
not that we will not accept any variation to this
copy without it going through the same approval process."
Readers, for more on the story and to make your own
mind up, check out
http://blog.pokieact.org/2011/01/battle-to-publish-truth-advertisement.html
Kaitaia, New Zealand; Land Of Sheep Sees 3 Lotto Wins
Born...
The
word is out - Kaitaia is lucky... or at least it just
was. 3 major prizes worth a cool combo of $654,456
grand were won in township in the span of past week.
A Lotto Strike first division ticket sold at Kaitaia
Pak'nSave won a local fella $529,456 in last Saturday's
draw, and on Wednesday, the local supermarket sold
a $100,000 Instant Kiwi ticket to another local. That
same night, a ticket sold at Kaitaia's Paper Plus
won the holder $25,000 in the Big Wednesday draw,
but that prize has yet to be claimed. The $529,456
Lotto Strike prize was claimed by a local man who
had made a last-minute addition to his grocery shopping.
Buying a Triple Dip was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
He checked his tickets online after the January 1
draw and thought it was "pretty cool" that
he had 3 of the right numbers. "I then checked
again and realised that I had all four of the right
Strike numbers, and thought, 'Oh no, that's me',"
said the man, who did not want to be named. "I'm
planning a party to celebrate. I also plan some sensible
investments with the money to make it last."
Kaitaia Pak'nSave owner Maurice Te Brake was delighted
that his store had helped put some much-needed money
into the local economy. "That's just awesome.
They [the two big winners] are local shoppers and
it's absolutely fantastic to know we've helped put
over $600,000 into the town," Te Brake said.
"I'm sure some of the money will get circulated
locally." A Media Man spokesperson said of the
new "This is great pr for the lotto industry.
It could have a few possible outcomes. More folks
will buy tickets at the shops or newsagents, or some
may hit lotto more on the internet, possibly both.
It brings some much welcome positive news to the Kiwi
lottery sector. Online casino jackpot games much also
experience a spike, as punters will be thinking to
go after the big one".
New
Zealand: Internal Affairs Loses Gambling Machine Battle,
Gambling Execs And Punters Celebrate; Machine Haters
VS Machine Lovers Kiwi Style...
The
land of sheep' Department of Internal Affairs has
lost a 3 year war to prevent passionate gamblers playing
gaming machines in the smoking area of a popular Wellington
tavern that acts are a pokie haven of sorts. Since
2007, the department has attempted to add a "special
condition" (discrimination?) to the Kilbirnie
Tavern's gambling licence that would stop people playing
the machines in areas where having a puff is permitted.
The department reckons smoking and playing pokies
encourages problem gambling. The Gambling Commission
has allowed an appeal by gaming machine operator Lion
Foundation against the condition Internal Affairs
wanted to impose. The Kilbirnie Tavern is one of lucky
7 pokie venues in New Zealand where gambling machines
are played in smoking areas. It is common for club
pokie players to enjoy a smoke while on the punt.
Online pokie players are less inclined to smoke according
to a Media Man spokesperson. Punters, 2 sins for the
price of one! Ok, were are just lightning things up
for you. If you get on the punt, please know the odds,
and most of all, have fun, with or without having
a puff on whatever weed takes your fancy.
Take
the time to research and learn games before placing
down money
Media
Man http://www.mediamanint.com Casino News Media and
Gambling911.com are website portals. Not casinos as
such, however are recognised as world leading websites
that cover the sector and act as central points to
games, news, reviews and more.
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our report? How did
you see in the new year? Did you like the extra New
Zealand supplement? Tell us in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man http://www.mediamanint.com
is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal
development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen
sectors covered
News
Australian
Gambling, Entertainment And Media News, by Greg Tingle
- 23rd December 2010
G'day
again and Merry Christmas punters, casino and gambling
millionaires, billionaires, entertainment news junkies,
insiders, outsiders, politicians, journalists and
everyone else. What a year it has been. It's just
2 sleeps before Christmas hits, depending upon where
you live, but the cracker Aussie news just keeps coming
think and fast. We thank you, the loyal readership
for your custom this year, and we look forward to
continuing to satisfy your desire for the best in
gambling, gaming, casino, entertainment and sports
news and information in 2011. Media Man and Gambling911
with a Santa's sleigh full stocking of news. Ho Ho
Ho!...
Aussie
Rat-Pack Vice King Dies At 82; Secrets Of Australia
Vice Dies With Da Man...
Former
senior detective Tony Murphy, a king of Australian
vice including the gambling and prostitution biz has
died. Legend has is that he was once one of the most
feared fit it and can do men in Sydney. By circa 2000
however has had assumed the position as the licensed
operator of the TAB betting facility at Dunwich on
Stradbroke Island, north east of Brisbane. Journey
back to 70's as he was the law man now to cross, striking
fear in the hearts of those who dared crossed him,
and who, according to many who knew him, was the boss
of corruption in a Queensland police force that was
as rotten you could get. It was the landmark inquiry
into police and political corruption headed by Tony
Fitzgerald QC began in 1987 and concluded in July
1989, that resulting in the locking up of 4 National
Party ministers as well as police commissioner Terry
Lewis, and the charging of more than 250 other people,
of whom 139 were found guilty. That's lot of heads,
crooked cops et al. All told, 30 coppers were charged
with crimes, 36 charges of official corruption laid
and 10 indemnities granted to corrupt senior police
who were involved in protecting illegal casino dens,
brothels and unlicensed bookmakers. Yep, crooks and
cops has finger in all sorts of pie. One against whom
a bush tucked bag of allegations were made but who
was never charged after the Fitzgerald inquiry was
'Our Murphy', who retired from his position of assistant
commissioner in 1983 after a "smashing"
38-year career. The Fitzgerald inquiry was told that
Murphy headed what was known as "The Rat Pack":
a trio of crooked cops who organised the standover
and the "creaming off" of organised crime
in Queensland. The Rat Pack comprised Murphy who was
the tough as shoe leather boss man, detective Glen
Hallahan and Terry Lewis. Some insider say they were
basically the creme and puppet masters of the brothels,
gambling dens and a range of other popular vice industries.
Yet another chapter of Queensland's love affair with
vice and corruption has been put to rest.
Aussie
Gambling And Media King James Packer And Mining King
Andrew Forrest Tag Team On Resources Investment...
It's
not quite the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip,
or even Packer's Crown Casino, but Packer and good
friend "Twiggy" Forrest have teamed up again,
the last known tag match being our favorite GenerationOne
indigenous employment initiative. Australian-listed
Medical Corporation saw its shares surge 342.86% to
16c yesterday, after it announced it was to buy Amphion
International, a private company backed by Packer
and Forrest, along with a $2.8 million share placement.
Packer is also understood to be a shareholder in the
Twig Meister's Fortescue Metals Group and as a vocal
supporter of the mining king's Generation One program.
Mining vet Miles Kennedy, the head of Amphion, will
head up the new project, along with Medical Corp chairman
Simon Lee, who has vast experience in the gold sector.
Packer, Forrest, along with ex Multiplex director
Tim Roberts, have supported the power play and will
take up their full entitlement in the share placement,
in a vote of confidence in the team finding a resource
project. It is understood Medical Corp will soon change
its name to reflect its new focus on the business
of mining. The purchase of Amphion and the share placement
would leave Medical Corp with about $12m in cash and
listed shares to seek out a "suitable investment"
in the resources sector. We wish the tag team will
in their hunt for their next jackpot, and we might
even pick up a shares soon, in yet another show of
support in the Packer - Forrest dream team.
Aussie
Casino And Media Tycoon James Packer And Media Boss
Kerry Stokes Now Mates!...
Having
spent years, if not decades, in a war for news media
dominance down under, the families are now sharing
luxury ski lodge digs over Xmas. We hear that The
Packer's and their two juniors are heading to Beaver
Creek in Vail Colorado for Christmas where they will
be the guests of Seven Network big cheese Kerry Stokes.
Stokes has been buying up properties in the luxury
ski resort for years and has a world class penthouse
in the region which will suit fellow billionaire Packer
to a tee. Earlier in the year JP and Stokes clashed,
when Stokes made a hostile raid on 'Our James' Consolidated
Media Holdings, but both gents have moved forward.
Packer has of course bought a large bite of Ten and
insiders reckon there's will be plenty of sport to
go around the Aussie media landscape, should it get
split up from Ten's digital channel OneHD. Afterwards
The Packer's will snatch a lend of a a boat and cruise
up to the Bahamas. Packer family matriarch Ros has
flown to Paris, France, to catch up with daughter
Gretel for Xmas. Ok, that's you first lot of Xmas
media celeb goss. Stay tuned.
Aussie
Shane Warne May Focus More On Cricket And Poker; Love
Life Suffers Blow; Twitter-Gate...
Love
him or hate him (we like him lots, but not too much),
Warnie is newsworthy. Mate and biz partner or the
rich and famous, like James Packer, just to name one,
has a thing for poker (and ladies). Warne's romance
with British babe Liz Hurley has suffered a blow out.
Hurley has apparently distanced Warne the leg-spinner's
loose fingers (phone and other... satire) and love
for hot women again led distracted him, says Murdoch's
News Of The World. The 41-year-old legend reportedly
pumped out more than 100 hot texts to a married 44-year-old
Melbourne mother of two, Adele Angeleri, while he
was courting Hurley. The pair met when Angeleri, who
runs a shop across the road from Warne's office, allegedly
approached him with a business proposal only to receive
a string of propositions herself. The sexy text affair
reportedly spun out of control when the woman's husband,
lawyer Denis Angeleri, found out and stormed into
Warne's office demanding to speak to him. The following
day Warne is understood - alleged to have telephoned
a not happy Angeleri in an attempt to keep the affair
secret. Warne, who had reportedly told friends he
wanted to marry Hurley, has not been his usually happy
go lucky self on Twitter recently. "Still no
sleep… so got up out of bed, now staring at the
water here in Perth, sulking and feeling grumpy!!
Need cheering up today!" Warne said in the early
hours of Friday morning. Not even Australia's comeback
in the Perth cricket Test could boost Warne's spirits.
He also asked why "some people enjoy being nasty,
it's good to be nice to." Media Man will be checking
in with Warnie's Twitter for further updates.
Crown
Casino Aussie Cricket Yarns And Gossip...
Cricket
Legend Jeff Thomson hit the stage at Melbourne's Crown
Casino in a shirt that Yankee ex politician and pro
wrestling colour man, Jesse 'The Body' Ventura would
have been proud of. Pink, yeah Pink! He also sported
black pants, black tie and a lovely cream jacket,
with his trademark mop of white hair hanging over
his shoulders. Maybe he mas been watching too many
re runs of WWE WrestleMania is its heyday or something.
Anyway, on with the story... the 60 year old or so
veteran was straight up at them Cricket Victoria luncheon,
and let loose with some ripper quotes on the Pommie
batsmen. Thomson had some words of wisdom for Australia's
selectors ahead of the 4th Ashes Test commencing at
the Melbourne Cricket Ground this Sunday. "Don't
worry about a spinner. Just keep the quicks. I think
we can frighten the s**t out of those blokes."
Thommo got to trade sledges with old rival Colin Cowdrey
on stage. Back in the day the story goes "Jeff
Thomson, I've been dying to meet you". Ex England
batsman David Lloyd, who suffered a nasty blow to
the groin region thanks to a Thommo thunderbolt in
the 1974-75 series. Hundred of guests laughed as they
crossed to video footage showed Lloyd sinking to the
turf in agony after been hit in the balls. Lloyd,
dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and a tie, evened
the score by sledging Thommo's dress last night. "You
look like a bag of s**t," Thommo responded. Thommo
was supportive of the Aussie side, that have been
bad ass with the sledging of late. "It's all
part and parcel of the game. "You are just trying
to upset the guy's concentration. You're out there
for six hours, you get bored sh*tless. You've got
to say something." Known for his speed in the
roaring 70s, Thommo was quizzed about reports that
his 160 km/h bowling had now estimated at closer to
170 km/h. "They came out pretty quick. I hit
a lot of sightscreens on the full. I wanted to be
the quickest and scare shit out of everybody and I
think I achieved that".
National
Australia Bank Reduces Gamble On Tabcorp Shares...
Gamiing
an gambling giant Tabcorp Holdings advised National
Australia Bank has reduced its holding in the firm.
Tabcorp advised in a statement on Monday that NAB
had decreased its relevant interest in the company
to 34,911,845 ordinary shares representing 5.097%
of its issued fully paid ordinary capital. On December
6, NAB was listed as holding 45,655, 936 shares in
Tabcorp, representing 6.67%. Tabcorp said the shares
were sold on December 14.
Aussie
Pub And Land Based Pokie Players Loose $2m Per Day!..
One
armed bandit punters are set to lose a record $800
million this year. Nearly $2.2 million a day ($200.4
million) was lost between July and September, the
third-highest quarterly loss in South Australian history.
If punters continue at this rate, they will lose more
than the record $792.6 million they fed poker machines
in the 2006-07 financial year. The last occurrence
that ore than $200 million was lost in a three-month
period was leading up to smoking bans in November
2007. Since then, losses steadily have decreased,
with pokes recording a 7-year low $729.4 million profit
in 2009-10. Last September, the state and federal
governments released the findings of two pre-commitment
technology trials in SA. They showed the technology,
which allows people to determine the amount of money
they want to spend before gambling, may be effective
in reducing the amount of money problem gamblers lose.
South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon said the latest
poker machine figures highlighted the urgency of implementing
a national mandatory pre-commitment scheme. "Voluntary
pre-commitment is a joke," he said. "What
it does show is the technology can work, but the only
way to do it properly is there has to be a mandatory
all-in pre-commitment scheme." State Gambling
Minister Tom Koutsantonis said South Australia was
leading the nation with pre-commitment technologies.
"This can empower individuals to take control
over their own spending behaviour," he said.
Yep, its man VS machine, citizens VS "big brother".
Nine
Entertainment Company Continues To Get New Blood Pumped
In...
Nine
is doing its utmost to give the business every chance
of hitting mega paydirt this year, with yet another
shot of new blood into the ranks. David Coleman will
lead Nine Entertainment’s digital growth. David
Coleman has been promoted internally to head up digital
activities across Nine Entertainment, the recently
rebranded PBL Media. Coleman, previously PBL’s
director of strategy, will retain his original portfolio.
but adds good does of digital into the nex mix of
cocktail. Nine Entertainment’s assets include
the Nine Network, ACP Magazines and joint venture
with Microsoft NineMSN. Nine Entertainment CEO David
Gyngell said "David brings great experience and
understanding to our ever growing digital businesses,
having worked in the Internet industry since the late
90s. That hands-on experience, and his runs on the
board already with our group, make him the logical
choice for the new role in what is a key growth area
for Nine Entertainment Co." Coleman said "Our
digital assets are the best in the Australian media
sector, and we intend to build on them in the future.
We see great opportunities to both grow our existing
digital activities, and enter new categories. I am
looking forward to working with David and the broader
management team as we aggressively build our position
in digital media." Coleman first joined the PBL
family 5 years back. He now reps the firm on the boards
of several group assets, including NineMSN, Rate City,
Cudo and Sky News. Prior to joining the group, he
worked like a demon at Internet companies Looksmart
and dstore, as well as for one or two consulting firms.
We wish Colman well with his ongoing career at Nine,
part of Team Gyngell, an offshoot of what's know around
Aussie media and gambling circles as the 'Aussie Gumleaf
Mafia'.
Wrap
Up...
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our report? Have you
been naughty or nice, and what sort of Xmas present
are you gambling on? Tell us in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
News
Australia
Casino Wars Examined, by Greg Tingle - November 2010
Punters,
entertainment and media news junkies, casino and media
millionaires and billionaires, and one and all. With
all the talk of the Australian media wars, we thought
we would explain a little more about what they are
today.
The
main "war" at the moment concerns the Australian
television landscape, with James Packer buying up
big in Network Ten shares. Some insiders say Packer's
but into Ten has more to do with online gaming and
gambling than one might otherwise think. Packer historically
was much closer aligned with Network Nine Australia,
of which his late father owned and run, and where
his long time mate and associate, David Gyngell works.
Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com
and Gambling911
offer up the latest on Packer VS Gyngell, and much
much more on the famed 'Australian Media Wars'...incoming!
In
simply terms the Australian mainstream news media
landscape consists of the following mains groups:
Television,
print (newspapers and magazines), radio, new media,
internet / new media, and the "what will they
think of next"? / others sector.
In
this feature we will mainly focus on television (commercial
TV), to a lesser extent pay TV (Foxtel, Fox Sports
- Premier Media Group etc), and the internet, which
is part of the convergent media sector. Media Man
is more a convergent media company, having a number
of website portals (but not owning a TV station, radio
station or print publication) to help give you an
idea.
David
Gyngell, Packer Mate And Rival Running Things At Network
Nine and PBL Media...
Gyngell's
rise from the Network Nine Network to running its
parent, PBL Media, tells us a few telling lessons.
He's extremely well-regarded by its owners (private
equity firm CVC especially, which is understood to
be looking to float the company on the stock market,
but that date is speculation. It confirms that he's
not going to be poached to run Network Ten once the
share raid on its share register has settled. It once
again is a wake up call for everyone what a turbulent
media world is in Australia.
Gyngell
is a long time friend of Packer. Packer used to be
his boss at Nine but now holds 18% of Network Ten,
and a half share of Consolidated Media, alongside
Kerry Stokes' Seven Media Group, which has a quarter.
ConsMedia has a small stake in PBL Media, a quarter
stake in Foxtel and half of Fox Sports, as does Packer's
other business mate, Lachlan Murdoch, in his capacity
as a director of News Corp, which also just happens
to own one of this down unders' 2 major newspaper
groups. Murdoch's private company holds 9% of Prime
television, and he is now its deputy chairman, and
half of Nova's holding company, DMG Radio. As well
as his responsibilities in running Nine, as chief
of PBL Media, Gyngell also runs NBN Television, ACP
Magazines and has a say in NineMSN, Ticketek and Sky
News...which is a joint venture between PBL, Seven
and British Sky Broadcasting, which is controlled
by ... News Corp, now making a bid for full ownership.
Are
you following?
Should
Murdoch buy half of Packer's stake in Ten, its register
will be dominated by a trio of two billionaire media
moguls...Packer and Win Television's Bruce Gordon...and
the son of one. Gyngell's elevation also shows us
how competitive commercial television might be next
year. Cricket tests - 20 / 20s, football codes and
Aussie drama are just some of what's on the Aussie
TV menu. PBL chief executive Tim Parker, who's also
a partner at its private equity owner CVC, thinks
Gyngell is the man to take the moguls on! Last night's
statement said: "We are thrilled to have the
best media executive in the country to lead the business.
The
Nine Network, including Channel Nine and the Go and
GEM multi-channels, are in the ascendancy in an enormously
competitive environment. The performance of Nine is
a credit to David and his team." Television is
about to get even more competitive if Ten's news strategy
weathers the storm of the Packer-Murdoch attack and
it wins at least some of the audience who have traditionally
switched off Ten at 5.59pm once its news is over,
to watch some more on Channels Seven and Nine. With
the departure of current PBL chief executive Ian Law,
Gyngell's elevation is also a reminder of how critical
television is to PBL's performance.
Australian
TV Industry On Fire Thanks To Packer, Murdoch Jr And
Gyngell...
In
the fast paced tech changes affecting how news and
entertainment is delivered to your television, computer
and wireless watsy, there is clearly a threat to the
old way of doing business. But generational change
is also happening now. David Gyngell, 44, now takes
the lead of one of Australia's biggest media concerns,
PBL Media, owner of the Nine Network.
No
longer in the hands of the powerful Packer family,
PBL Media was acquired from 2006 to 2008 by private
equity company CVC Asia Pacific. Its board has elevated
Gyngell to chief exec because it sees him as the best
man to help sell the company to investors in an expected
$5 billion stockmarket float next year. Gyngell's
best mate, James Packer, 43, last month spent $280
million buying an 18% cent stake in Ten and wants
to revamp the network's internet strategy to make
better use of the opportunities emerging. He has been
keen to install Paul Bassat, 42, who co-founded the
successful job search firm Seek. Bassat and his brother,
Andrew, have built a $2.4bn online employment and
education empire in the past decade.
Lachlan
Murdoch, 39, is also eyeing a co-investment in Ten.
The investments are a sure sign of confidence in traditional
media that was not thought of a year back. The changes
are rapid. Packer has said privately to friends he
has been surprised by the success of the new multichannels
Australians can access on their TVs and that have
attracted new advertising. Newspapers, such as The
Australian, are launching across new platforms such
as the iPad and new revenue streams are opening up.
The last great boom of technology in media and communication
companies was in swing a decade ago. How was that
for a bit of a history lesson.
Network
Ten Loves Internet; Visa Versa...
Packer
is thinking about Ten's news and online strategy,
but Ten exec are also considering a strategy when
it comes to the web. The network, which recently inked
a deal to use MCM Entertainment's video platform movideo
to play video on its website, typically divides full-length
programs into 6 parts, which enables it to show an
advertisement, dubbed a pre-roll, before each part.
Yahoo7 and Ninemsn show fewer ads on their full-length
catch-up TV content on their Plus7 and FixPlay services
respectively.
Ten's
chief digital media officer Nick Spooner said movideo
technology would enable the network to experiment
with new ad formats and recommend similar programs
to visitors who have watched a video on the site.
MCM group CEO Tony McGinn said movideo technology
would allow Ten to serve videos across all digital
platforms, including internet-delivered TV, or IPTV.
Ten's
video views were up 31% year on year to 60 million
views of premium content within 12 months, Mr Spooner
said. "It provides a better experience for the
audience in a range of ways," he said. "These
include supporting much closer links to social networking
engagement around our programs.
"From
a client perspective, we currently run pre-roll advertising,
and movideo allows us to trial new advertising formats."
Online
video advertising is a small but burgeoning market
in Australia, estimated at $25 million for the 2010
financial year, although that figure does not include
video-sharing website YouTube. According to eMarketer,
US online advertising revenues will grow at more than
30% a year until at least 2013, when they will be
worth $US4 billion. MCM group CEO Tony McGinn said
the online video platform market was worth about $480
million worldwide. MCM group, which also operates
a music and media syndication business and a digital
design agency, began marketing its video player to
third parties in March, and is now expanding into
Asia. Media Man is part of the wave of new media,
will you be?
Lachlan
Murdoch Prime Media Group Sells Assets...
Prime
Media Group Ltd has sold its non-core outside broadcast
assets amid reports its deputy chairman Lachlan Murdoch
is in talks to buy half of James Packer's new stake
in Ten Network Holdings Ltd. Prime said it had sold
OSB Australia to UK-based Gearhouse Broadcast Pty
Ltd for $8.5 million in cash and $3 million in instalments
between December 2012 and December 2014. OSB Australia
provides outside broadcast facilities and services
for professional sporting events.
Prime
will hold a 15 per cent interest in the merged OSB/Gearhouse
business, which has extended its agreement with Fox
Sports for rugby union coverage through to 2015. "The
sale of OSB Australia continues our program of divesting
non-core assets to re-focus on maximising earnings
from television and radio," Prime chief executive
Ian Audsley said in a statement. Prime in July sold
its New Zealand outside broadcast operator, OSB New
Zealand, to Sky Television Ltd and also announced
the sale of Moonlight Cinema to Amalgamated Holdings
Ltd. Prime will incur a $1 million impairment on the
sale of OSB, but will avoid $13 million of capital
expenditure that is required for OSB Australia.
The
proceeds of the sale will be used by Prime to pay
down debt, which stood at $96 million at the end of
June when the company recorded a $54.5 million full-year
net loss, a widening of its $45.5 million net loss
for the previous financial year. Separately on Thursday,
Fairfax reported Mr Murdoch's company Illyria Pty
Ltd was likely to buy 50 per cent of Mr Packer's 17.88
per cent stake in Ten acquired last week. Mr Packer's
surprise $280 million purchase marked his return to
free-to-air television after years of focusing on
the gambling sector.
The
Fairfax reports, citing "a well-placed Murdoch
source familiar with the discussions", said Mr
Murdoch saw the possible deal as a "turnaround"
story. A price had not been agreed upon, the report
said. Ten declined to comment, while Prime was being
sought for comment.
Comment
was also being sought from Consolidated Media Holdings
Ltd, where Mr Packer is deputy chair. Shares in Prime
closed steady at 65 cents, Ten shares dipped almost
two per cent to $1.50 - the same price Mr Packer paid
for his shares in the broadcaster - and Consolidated
Media shares were two cents softer at $3.35.
James
Packer Media News...
Ten
Network chairman Nick Falloon may be getting ready
to leave as media moguls James Packer and Lachlan
Murdoch join forces on the network and we ponder could
Falloon’s loss end up as Murdoch’s gain?
Meanwhile, BHP Billiton moves to squash talk that
its PotashCorp bid is set to crash and burn in Ottawa.
Elsewhere,
as the political offensive against the ASX-SGX merger
intensifies investors may be losing faith with the
exchange operators and AXA SA seals a heavyweight
China deal with the world’s most valuable lender
ICBC. With Ten Network Holdings reportedly set to
welcome two heavyweight media moguls as its major
shareholders the rumour-mill has gone into overdrive
with reports that James Packer’s planned overhaul
of the network may have claimed its first victim.
Unsurprisingly, the unfortunate victim is reportedly
the network’s executive chairman Nick Falloon.
According
to The Australian, Falloon has agreed to relinquish
his position after a meeting with Packer. Rumblings
that Falloon’s head was on the block took hold
pretty much as soon as Packer pulled of his share
raid last week and The Australian reports that his
departure is yet to be formalised. The news comes
as media scion Lachlan Murdoch looks set to take a
board seat at the network with confirmation that his
Illyria Private Limited was in talks with Packer’s
Prime Capital to buy 50 per cent of its 17.88% stake
in Ten for around $155 million. The deal between the
two moguls is expected to be finalised in a month
or so and interestingly there is talk that Murdoch
will not only push for a board seat but could possibly
be a candidate to become Ten’s chairman.
Packer
has reportedly set his sights on culling Ten’s
planned foray into news and current affairs and return
the focus on the low-cost 16 to 39 demographic. While
the plans seem to have been broadly welcomed by Ten’s
major shareholders there are detractors out there
especially analysts who point out that a return to
youth-friendly programming could actually end up costing
the network more money and with the inception of multi-channel
offerings from Seven and Nine cutting into the market
the new approach may not be as successful as first
thought.
Either
way its great reading for the the Gambling911 and
Media Man loyal following. All we can say is don't
bet against Packer.
Wrap
Up...
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our special Australian
Media Wars Explained feature? Tell us in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man http://www.mediamanint.com
is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal
development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors
including gaming and offer political commentary and
analysis.
Australian
Casino Wars: The Art Of War, by Greg Tingle -
5th November 2010
Network
Ten Nick Falloon No Fool; Likely To Dodge Board Of
Directors Execution...
Network
Ten executive chairman Nick 'No Fool' Falloon will
avoid standing up for re-election at December's AGM.
That
move is tipped to be a talking point for his new major
shareholder James Packer, and friend and associate,
Lachlan Murdoch.
Falloon
should ordinarily be required to resign his possy
and offer up his head for re-election following the
expiry this year of his 3-year term as executive chairman,
but his appointment late last year as MD means he
will not need to stand. Are you still with us?
Under
the ASX listing rules, the MD of a listed company
such as Ten Network Holdings is exempt from rules
requiring directors to be up for re-election at the
annual meeting every 3 years.
The
appointment will essentially stop Packer and his soon-to-be
fellow Ten investor, Lachlan 'Lucky Money' Murdoch,
from seeking to have 'No Fool' Falloon voted off the
Ten board at the AGM next month.
Fellow
shareholders, namely Perpetual and WIN TV owner Bruce
'Grinning' Gordon were expected to strongly support
the push. If need be, push will become shove, but
the extra force shouldn't be required.
In
a series of meetings last week 'Our James' is understood
to have requested for Falloon's immediate resignation!
Falloon agreed to step aside, bust asked for a further
14 months in the role. Perhaps he's just after a few
more fat pay days... aren't we all.
Ten
confirmed last Monday that Falloon had agreed to transfer
to a non-executive role before Packer's cunning chess
move last month to spend $280 million to buy an 18%
stake in the hot youth orientated network.
Packer
and Murdoch are now expected to question why Falloon
can retain the title of managing director after shifting
more than 2 years back to a part-time role, a move
that cut his base salary from $2.2m to only $1.1m.
You've go to feel sorry for him (Not, as comedy creation
Borat would say).
Group
general counsel... legal eagle Stephen Partington
confirmed that, in recent correspondence with shareholder
activist Stephen 'Crikey' Mayne, Network Ten had made
(good) use of the existing listing rule exemption.
Readers,
we hope you're still with us in our describing of
the complex 'Art Of War' tactics here.
"Following
the exit of Canwest from the Ten register late last
year, Nick Falloon was appointed to the role of managing
director of Ten," Partington documented.
"Mr
Falloon was originally appointed to Ten in the roles
of executive chairman and chief executive and continues
to hold these positions. On this basis and in accordance
with the company's constitution and the ASX listing
rules, Mr Falloon is now no longer required to retire
by rotation."
A
Network Ten spokeswoman declined to comment further.
Numerous
insiders agree that the change could benefit the Ten
board in the battle with Murdoch and Packer if the
board wanted to retain Falloon.
A
Media Man spokesperson said "While these maters
of the Australian media wars are complex, especially
pertaining to the changes afoot at Network Ten, Fallon
is no fool, nor are Murdoch, Packer or Nine's Gyngell.
All smart and cashed up smart cookies indeed. The
media's love affair with covering media continues,
and we're guilty of that also, and the global readership
is just loving it and lapping up every move of the
chess board. Art of war media style at its best".
The
media movements have generated extra interest to potential
investors and Media Man and other convergent media
companies are tipped to buy into the the situation
in more ways than one ala share portfolio expansions,
adding yet more fuel to the fire that is the Australian
media wars.
Ten Network Chairman Nick Falloon To Resign!...
Ten
chairman Nick Falloon has surrendered to considerable
pressure to leave the firm, advising he will go in
order to make way for billionaires James Packer and
Lachlan Murdoch.
The
company yesterday said Falloon had agreed to resign
from Ten after the AGM next month if his departure
"would assist in the resolution of the outstanding
issues" between the company, Packer and Murdoch.
A
deep throat leaked Packer and Murdoch were still trying
to obtain a 3rd board position, but did indicate they
were "prepared to negotiate."
The
Packer - Murdoch 'dream team' have been offered 2
seats on the board but are seeking a 3rd, understood
to be for Seek chief exec Paul 'Ballsy' (MM) Bassat.
The
leak also shrugged off rife speculation that Murdoch
wanted to snatch Falloon's chairmanship.
Packer
and Murdoch have been in negotiations with the network
since the beginning of the working week.
Falloon's
offer to leave Ten came days after he said he was
prepared to shift into a non-exec role...reports stating
he would fight for his life to remain at the company
he had helped successfully run since 2002.
Ten
confirmed on Monday that it had offered the dynamic
duo 2 board positions following speculation Packer
was preparing to offer his friend, and sometime business
partner, Murdoch half his 18% stake in the company.
Crown
Casino 'King Of The Castle' Packer made a cunning
grab on Network Ten last month when he bought 18%
of Ten's stock to become the largest shareholder at
an investment of a cool $280 million, pocket change
to Packer.
He
has yet to speak publicly to reveal his strategy for
buying into the company, but various media commentators
including Media Man say it's part of his master plan
to make a huge splash into online gaming and gambling,
adding to his Betfair business. A convergent media
aspect is understood to be on the whiteboard for gaming
linking Packer media businesses to Packer and affiliate
- partners online gambling products, and Packer and
co are understood to have been watching the tactics
of PartyGaming, bwin, Virgin Games, Aspers, William
Hill, Paddy Power, Centrebet and others.
Ten
advised discussions were continuing but no final agreement
had been reached.
"In
discussions to date, Ten Holdings has offered Messrs
Packer and Murdoch the opportunity to take up two
directorships on the basis that the company's board
would be expanded to 10 directors," Ten said.
"The
offer of two directorships to Messrs Packer and Murdoch
is contingent upon their agreement that the company
put in place appropriate board protocols."
Network
Ten shares closed at $1.46.
They
traded as high as $1.59 last month followings Packer's
share-buying raid which generated massive world wide
headlines and sent the industry into a spin.
Insiders
agree that thus far the latest venture between Packer
and Murdoch looks to be a 'dream team' pairing, unlike
their previous business deal with a telco start-up
that proved to be disastrous for the duo. Both have
appeared to have learnt their lessons well, and are
on top of the media world at the moment.
Wrap
Up...
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our latest on the Australian
Media Wars? Is it all part of Packer's online gambling
master plan? Tell us in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
Australian
Land Based Casino News Update, by Greg Tingle - 8th
May 2010
Australia
is home to some of the world's great casinos, hotels
and resorts.
While
the land down under has over a dozen land based casinos,
there's only three that both rate highly and grab
the majority of headlines on a global stage. Enter
James Packer's Crown Casino in Melbourne, Tabcorp's
Star City in Sydney, and Jupiters Hotel & Casino
on the Gold Coast.
Media
Man and Gambling911 take our eye in the sky look
at the landscape of the Aussie land based casino sector
and bring you up to speed with what's news down under...
Readers
will be aware that there's a "casino war"
in the land of kangaroos, koalas and goannas at the
moment. You would have to be Blind Fredy not to know
about the ultra competitive showdown (and hunt for
whales and dolphins) between Packer's Crown Casino
down south and Tabcorp's Star City in 'Sin City' Sydney.
Crown
Casino and Star City are following the global trend,
largely driven forward from Las Vegas and Macau, of
offering a total entertainment experience... not just
gambling... you know, slots, poker, table games and
the like. Whales aka high-rollers, have also demanded
the changing face of the sector. Don't get us wrong,
the gambling aspect remains vital to the business
model and to the punters, but for a variety of reasons
Australian casino kings have employed a more holistic
model. The reasons include being more government friendly,
legal eagle elements and complimenting the larger
casino, entertainment and lifestyle sector.
Some
of the ramped up services and offerings as part of
the industry development include but are not limited
to:
Entertainment
complex upgrades (including securing more world class
acts, more often, to attract the crowds and keep all
clients and business partners happy)
Hotel suite refurbishments
Private gambling room upgrades for high rolling VIP's
Sports bar upgrades
Enhanced security - technology and more staff
Gulf Stream Jets aka Lear Jets for international high
rollers in a hurry and who demand and casino afford
the best
Aussie Casino News Bytes
Crown
Casino: Hosted the Logies last week with 1000 guests
in attendance. Broadcast on Network Nine Australia.
Bert Newton did a fine job as host. One journalist
/ columnist was fired for what many saw as inappropriate
Twitter - ing, including the editor of The Age newspaper.
Upgraded website. Management in regular contact with
sister casinos, City of Dreams Macau and Altira Macau.
100s more staff to be employed, some of which under
the GenerationOne employment initiative, dedicated
to helping get Indigenous Australians back into the
workforce
Star
City: Has expanded their budget by another $100,000
or so. Is ordering 1 or 2 Lear Jets to help better
compete with Crown Casino. Upgraded website.
Jupiters
Gold Coast: Upgraded their poker room to the tune
of a few hundred thousand dollars, Mother Africa Circus
of the Senses is showing at Jupiters Theater. Last
week a casino courtesy bus was allegedly nabbed by
a disgruntle contractor owned money. The case is currently
in the courts. Jupiters is nearby to the beaches where
major surfing competitions take place annually. Dreamworld
(Hollywood On The Gold Coast) is only a short drive
away from the casino. Upgraded website.
Burswood
Entertainment Complex: Upgraded security, shows include
Nitro Circus Live, Cats, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson
Tribute Show and Mammi Mia! Burswood is known to put
on fantastic community fundraisers. American pro wrestling
legend Hulk Hogan drew a massive crowd at Burswood
late last year for his charity work with the Make-A-Wish
Foundation. Virgin's Richard Branson also did some
impressive fundraising on site last month, with folks
the world over keen to meet and speak to the entrepreneur.
Branson's Virgin Games remains keen to expand the
gaming globally, including the AWOMO (A World Of My
Own), and perhaps the face to face meetings with the
media and political savvy Aussie Casino king, James
Packer, won't go astray.
Casino
Canberra: Blast From The Past: Are you a baby boomer?
Then don’t dare miss Baby Boomers Blast from
the Past, the ultimate live entertainment experience.
Laugh, dance, party Friday 14 May at Casino Canberra.
Watch comic impersonator Chris De Havilland bring
to life the likes of Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Elvis
Presley, Joe Cocker, Neil Diamond, and many more baby
boomer entertainers. On the 3rd of June - Aussie comedian
legends...Austen Tayshus and Elliot Goblet! Austen
Tayshus is described as a drunken yobbo's worst nightmare,
someone who can out gross you, out yell you and out
last you. Austen Tayshus walks a skillful line between
the truly offensive and the truly funny. And Elliot
Goblet, the master of oodles of clever but unrelated
one liners and the odd two liner as well. Both comedians
are on one night of classic Aussie humour. Meet the
Canberra Raiders NRL Raiderettes! Before Raiders games
you have the opportunity to meet some of the Raiderettes
and take advantage of the beer and snack footy pack.
Galaxy Nightclub - Canberra's hottest nightclub opens
from 9pm every Saturday with the beats of the 70's
and the best of the 80's. Come and hear the soundtrack
of our lives. Galaxy has a NO GLASS policy!
The
Reef Hotel Casino: 13th, 14th and 15th May - Lisa
Hunt Returns. Soul, Disco & Motown. The way it
should sound!
Lasseters
Hotel Casino: Dead Centre Show N Shine - Today! -
8th May. Outlaw Drags Spectacular - 9th May
Australian Casino Directory List
New
South Wales
Star City Casino (Sydney)
Victoria
Crown Casino (Melbourne)
Queensland
Conrad Treasury Casino (Brisbane)
Jupiters Hotel & Casino (Gold Coast)
Jupiters Townsville Casino (Townsville)
The Reef Hotel Casino (Cairns)
South
Australia
Skycity Adelaide (Adelaide)
Western
Australia
Burswood Entertainment Complex aka Burswood Casino
(Perth)
Tasmania
Wrest Point Hotel Casino (Hobart)
Country Club Casino (Launceston)
Australian
Capital Territory
Casino Canberra (Canberra)
Northern
Territory
Lasseters Hotel Casino (Alice Springs)
Skycity Darwin (formerly MGM Grand Casino) (Darwin)
Ok
readers, we hear you... you also want to know some
of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies)
if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia
(including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...
Take
the time to research and learn games before placing
down money
Media
Man and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos
as such, however are recognised as world leading websites
that cover the sector and act as central points to
games, news, reviews and more
Know
the odds, set limits and have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man http://www.mediamanint.com
is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal
development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen
sectors covered
Aussie
Pokie Palace Bandits Strike; Crime Spree Continues,
by Greg Tingle - 2nd June 2010
Casino
players, would be crooks, gaming entrepreneurs, loyal
readership the world over... seems Australia is breeding
a few Bonnie and Clyde - Ned Kelly hybrid bandits,
and your local pokie palace is the next target. Following
the Gambling911 report of Aussie Bonnie and Clyde
knock offs a few months ago, another couple of punters
are having a go. Crime does not pay, well, not for
long. We take our trusty baton and plastic handcuffs
to probe down under...
An
Aussie gang of bandits raided a Melbourne, Australia,
pokies club last night.
Patrons,
punters, staff, all and sundry, were forced to get
to the floor.
The
trio set upon the club in Sunset Boulevard, Jacana,
just after 10pm armed with a firearm and a machete.
Terrified
patrons and staff enclosed in the punting section
were ordered to lay on the floor.
The
bandits nabbed a significant sum of cash, as you might
suspect, and ran off with their ill gotten gains into
the dark of night.
Police
said in a statement that no gun shots were fired and
there were no reports of any injuries during the hold-up.
Sniffer
dogs and the Police Airwing failed to locate the robbers.
Armed
Crime Taskforce Detectives are investigating.
The
attack follows a string of hold ups and crimes at
Australian pubs and hotels.
Media
Man has observed a trend of suburban and regional
pubs, watering holes, pokies hang outs and the like
being the preferred choice of criminals, over traditional
land based casinos in Australia, which have beefed
up security considerably over the past 12 months.
The
Late News...
Melbourne,
Australia - kids and parents playing poker in suburban
parks have triggered council to ban the sale of playing
cards with mixed success
A
punter who won playing roulette at Crown Casino, but
didn't get the money, another punter being handed
the loot, is suing Crown.
Online
poker and online casino games continue to grow in
popularity in Australia, despite economic recession.
The Australian government is considering how to best
implement some recommendations in the Productivity
Report. Media Man has documented some of their viewpoints
for government law maker consideration, as well as
offered Fairfax - Sun Herald - The Sydney Morning
Herald (Fairfax Media) an exclusive interview. Gambling911
will also be privy to some exclusive information regarding
the gaming sector in the Australian - Asia Pacific
region in coming weeks.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal
development company. Gaming is just one of a bakers
dozen of sectors they cover.
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new internet casinos with the online
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