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Posts Tagged ‘illegal’

Hackers Make Things Challenging for Gaming Companies

Monday, November 8th, 2010

In the world of gambling three are some scammers. It is just a fact that some people try to get whatever they can, whenever they can- whether or not it is owed to them. This is the reason why any good casino you go into is going to have a good security system. Just walk in and you are going to see the cameras pointed at almost every angle in the casino. They are above the gaming tables, at the door, at the bathrooms, and everywhere else you can look. Gaming operators work to build security systems that are as tight as they possibly can be made because they know that they have to shore up their own rules regarding protecting themselves and their revenues. It is a big problem for a lot of companies and a huge expense. They know that it is necessary though. On top of a good surveillance system, the casino most likely also has a hefty security team to watch and take care of any problems. One of the arguments of anti-gambling activists is that allowing gambling to be legalized will bring in more crime. It is a fact that casinos have put millions into their security plans over the years, so they could have some validity to their points. It is just a fact that when there is a large sum of money in one place, people are going to try to think of ways to steal it.

Another problem that gambling companies have to deal with now is the change in online gambling. Because as a market it is growing so tremendously, the online market is seeing its own share of scammers. They are in the form of hackers, of course. Hackers are people who are particularly adept at the internet and cracking through firewalls and security protocols that online websites use. There are tools to avert them, but just as quickly as those tools are being created, they are finding ways around them. It is a game of cat and mouse, and so far developers are a step ahead, but that could change at any time in the market.

The Debate Over Gambling Continues

Friday, November 5th, 2010

The world of gambling is highly lucrative. It is a billion dollar business and that is scheduled to double in the coming years. The US is a country that is still debating legalizing and regulating gambling. On one hand, some legislators believe that without those billions of dollars, the US has few other options for revival. The recession was difficult on every market and recovery is proving to be a much more difficult thing than earlier anticipated. On the other hand though, there are also legislators who believe that legalizing gambling would bring more problems than good. They agree that millions of dollars would be brought in but their argument is that gambling would create problems that would need a lot more money to fix. They believe that gambling would create more addictions, more foreclosures, more repossessions and more crime. Communities would benefit from added gambling revenue, but a huge portion of those funds would have to go directly to fixing the problems it created in the first place. No one knows which the actual outcome is, but both sides are fighting it out harshly to be heard.

In the end, it could be that gambling’s legalization wins out. The money most likely is going to be too much for legislators and voters to put off. Not only do increases in gambling facilities bring in money for economies, but they also call for more employees to manage the various casino’s positions. This is great news and right now any mention of more jobs receives a lot of praise from voters. Millions of people were out of work as a result of the recession and now they are still looking. Some had to take jobs they were over-qualified for to get by and the promise of a new job market is highly attractive to them. In the future expect legislators to continue to fight it out over the issue but likely some form of legalized online gambling will enter the US market within the next year. When it does, a lot of entities stand to benefit: companies have access to millions of new customers, communities have access to gambling tax dollars, people have new job potential. Overall it is going to change the market, and hopefully for the good.

South Dakota Residents Choose “NO” On Gambling

Monday, November 1st, 2010

South Dakota is another state that is looking to gambling changes, but it seems that residents don’t view it in a positive light. Rather they seem to be dragging their feet on the issue. Of course gambling’s legalization is a hot topic in the world. Legislators know that gambling is a billion dollar business and most likely is one of the very few options that can bring in the millions of dollars needed to turn their economies around. A good casino can bring in anywhere from $2 to $5 million in added revenue to states for any given month. This is a huge asset for any state especially when deficits are so large. Legislators know how lucrative the gambling casinos are and want to capitalize on them as quickly as possible. It is interesting because Ohio is the only state that seems to be so negative about the issue of bringing more casinos in. A recent poll showed that 63% of residents would prefer to not increase the number of casinos in the state’s market. Most other states are swayed the other way or divided more closely. It was odd that Ohio residents are collectively so negative on the issue. Still there was a group of 30% who were all for the changes. This is enough to keep the issue on the table as the future unfolds.

Part of the faction for gambling expansion believe that to keep up the state has to increase its gambling market. They note that neighboring states have plans to expand gambling and if Ohio denies it, they could be opening the door up for their residents to start wagering at other states. This could fuel money out of the state’s coffers and cause problems down the road. Still the larger voice of the people in the state want to hold off on gambling expansion so for now most likely this is what legislators will respond with. They are going to put the issue on hold and work with what they have right now. If enough pressure comes in from neighboring states though, it could change the minds of the people and sway the issue.

iMEGA Challenges US Circuit Court Ruling

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

In the world of gambling there are lawsuits after lawsuits rising up. The market is a billion-dollar one and all parties set to benefit are putting the most into their efforts. They know that if they win a battle to continue operating their gambling websites, they are in a prime position for earning millions of dollars. It is a great time for the market and the growth is huge. This is making everything more competitive than ever. Gaming companies are ready to keep on fighting for their piece of the gaming pie. Now it is iMEGA that is looking to legal action against the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA. iMEGA of course stands for Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association. The problem for iMEGA is that the US Department of Justice just made a ruling that prohibits sports betting from expanding in state-regulated gaming arenas. This could potentially infringe on the profits online gaming companies can make.

iMEGA is ready to fight for a change in legislation. The company filed a petition with the US Circuit Court recently. So far there are only four states that allow sports wagering—Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Delaware. This is the problem and what is fueling the iMEGA executives to question the ruling. It isn’t straight across the board for all states involved. It is one of those things that is in question. There are no uniform rules as of yet and that is being called into question. Senator Raymond Lesniak of New Jersey and Senate President Stephen Sweeney are also on board with the issue. They too believe that some uniform legislation has to be instituted for the sports wagering world. They believe that it isn’t fair for states to limit sports betting to just a select few states and let other states write their own rules regarding the issue. If the bill is passed though it would make it next to impossible for online casinos to work within states that deny sports wagering. Only time will tell what happens with the laws and how they change for the market. it is a long standing issue though for gamers to find the right balance of sports wagering laws and regulations that work for gamblers.

FBI Closes in on Illegal Hacking Activities

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

It is no secret that online gambling companies have to worry about security issues. If you are looking for a new online casino the number one concern you should have is whether or not they use top notch security and encryption. This is the number one thing that can protect not only your bank account, but your identity. When gambling, remember that you are going to be sharing personal information. You are going to have to provide your name, your funding account and your address- more than enough information for any good thief to do some serious damage to your life. Companies are working overtime to overcome the issues of online security. There are still hackers out there who want to find money the easy way and are going to use your account at an online gambling casino to do it.

The government is doing some fast acting though to thwart online gambling problems. In fact the FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, recently announced that they are pushing to catch cyber criminals who are accused of stealing over $70 million for different internet users and businesses. This was a few months ago that they made the announcement and now they are citing successful apprehension of the perpetrators. So far the bureau has caught up with twenty suspected in the crimes and are still looking adamantly for the additional estimated seventeen more criminals. Most of the members of this group have a past of web development, which is part of what made them so attuned to the online world and how to hack into casino websites. Their mode of operations was to create a “Trojan horse” program/virus that was able to link to personal and financial records of various online casinos. This allowed them to get to the user accounts of the same websites and thus steal their pertinent information. Of course there still is an up-side to the issue. Now that online casinos have seen their businesses hacked and their users put into danger, they are spending that much more time and money on shoring up their own security protocols for future gamers.

Canadian Market Still Shying Away from Online Gambling

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Canada is in the midst of hefty debates on the issue of online gambling and is mostly opting to continue bans on the activity. In fact some provinces are leading the way in anti-gambling legislation. It is interesting because just like other countries, Canada is suffering financially due to the market and the recent recession. It is normally the next step for legislators to find ways of bringing in revenue to shore up cash reserves and gambling has served some countries well. Consider that in Macau their gambling industry saw a 40% growth earlier this year over the course of just one month’s time. There are millions of dollars to be had in the world of gambling and it is interesting to see a country that has no designs on implementing an online gambling initiative. There have been a long list of companies that in recent months have pulled out of the country in terms of gambling and experts are saying that this could be a sign of what is to come.

BWin.com is a company that so far has pulled out of the Canadian market. It is a huge company in the world of gambling and this move most likely is a sign that it is working with the legal climate of the country. Canada is having problems with legislation and is putting no effort into gaining legalization in the market. Customers of the Bwin.com website received an email notification of the changes. The company told them that they would still have their accounts and be able to play free games with them. They just cannot play any of the actual real money games. The customers also can withdraw their money and put it into other accounts on the BWin.com transaction page. Details are not yet disclosed on what the future of the hobby will be to the market and that most likely is something that BWin.com will not have a hand in. The company will just have to wait and see if Canada is going to change its legislation on the issue and be ready to offer games if it does. The company still is in a great position to move right back into the market if the legal issues are sorted out.

WA Still Holding Off on Legalizing Gambling

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Washington is a state that is not budging on the issue of online gambling. there are many states right now that are considering legalizing online gambling because of the sheer numbers. Consider that gambling is a $3-billion business and is expected to more than double in the next four years. It is a market that is quickly taking over and offering states everywhere the chance at huge tax revenue dollars. States are still burdened with big deficits and shortfalls in the budgets, so they need some activity that could considerably increase their revenue stream for the next few years. What better activity than gambling? A good gambling initiative can bring in millions in tax revenue dollars every month. Most states are not in the position to turn down money like this and don’t want to. Their legislators want to capitalize on the money, but they want to do so with proper regulations and safeguards in place to protect all parties involved.

Washington isn’t budging though. The state has decided that the activity is illegal within its borders. Many people are appealing that decision, but it seems like everything is at a standstill right now. One of the biggest poker websites Poker Stars is pulling itself from the state as a result and that alone could mean losses of millions of dollars. The Supreme Court however stands firm on its decision and Poker Stars has no other option. They are withdrawing their real-money poker playing games from the market. Players how have real money accounts can request their funds be cashed out. They can still play with the same accounts, but it won’t be for real money. Any gaming at the website will be for fun only. The company also stated that until the laws are changes, they will continue to operate in this manner. Only time will tell whether or not the state opens the door for online gambling and changes its mind on the issue. There are millions of dollars to be had, but for some legislators this is not enough to sway them. Possibly the only thing that will change the issue is the public if they vote for changes to happen in the market.

Canadian Gaming Board Looking for True Winner

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

There are some more problems for gambling. one of the main arguments anti-gambling activists have is that they believe that gambling will inevitably bring in more crime and corruption. They state that if people are fully aware of the huge dollars available, they may be more than willing to take a chance at making some of it. Even though the activities are illegal, they could be blinded by the promise of a few “easily gotten” hundred-thousand dollars or so. Anti-gambling activists state that the price tags on illegal activities and gambling are just too big for people to ignore. There has been a rise in illegal activities. One is the latest happening in Canada. Police are looking for the proper owner of a winning lottery tickets. The tickets total up to just over CND 12 million. That is a huge payout that has yet to find its rightful owner. Police are looking and trying to sort through the lottery scandal. The owner of the store that sold the tickets tried to steal it from its owner. It is proving to be a difficult task and putting a negative spin on Canadian lottery activity.

The problem is that this isn’t the first illegal activity to be show in the Canadian market of lottery gaming. The winning ticket was won in 2003 and that is making it difficult for police to hone in on the rightful owner. Because it is so far back, it is hard to find the person. Police are calling on the public to help with any information they have. The ticket was purchased at a video store in St. Catherine’s but was validated in a different location of Burlington. The convenience store owner and his son did their job in validating the tickets, but then didn’t hand it back to the owner. They tried eventually to cash the tickets in themselves. Now police have a lot to sort through. It may take time to find the rightful owner—if he or she is ever located. Hopefully with the help of the public some one will know something and turn the right owner onto his or her winning ticket.

MA Representative Tierney in the Middle of Trouble

Monday, October 25th, 2010

The world of gambling is not without controversy. Massachusetts Democrat Representative John Tierney is now in the midst of gambling-related problems. His wife is now facing federal charges for her part in her brother’s illegal online gambling company. Patrice Tierney is being accused of managing online bank accounts for her brother and transferring over $7 million worth of money from online casinos in the process. Her brother Bobby Eremian is the one being brought up against federal charges for operating the casino. Of course in the US online gambling is still illegal and considering the amount of money he has been moving, the government is standing up to take notice. So far research is showing that Eremian supposedly established the online casino website that was based in Antigua—a country known for its lesser taxation laws for online gambling companies. Tierney then was recruited to manage the money as it moved from country to country. She allegedly facilitated the transactions and is now facing four federal changes including tax evasion and tax fraud. Eremian is facing charges for the same offences, but in addition he also has money laundering and racketeering to deal with. Sentencing is scheduled for January 13th of this coming year.

This is just another example of the problems that are occurring regarding online gambling. opponents to its legalization are stating that it is a sure fire way to increase the number of illegal activities involved. They believe that money laundering, crime, corruption and racketeering all go hand in hand with legalizing the activity altogether. Only time will tell if this is true of not, but for now the government is dealing with cases like this one in increasing numbers. Gamers are taking advantage of the huge dollars available via online gambling and using offshore companies to set up shop. They know that there are millions of online gamblers who are pushing for new gaming possibilities and want to wager. They are putting themselves into the mix—despite its illegal nature. Tierney and Eremian are just two more people caught up in the fray for their alleged circumvention of the laws.

German Man in Trouble Illegal Gaming Activities

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Michael Olaf Schütt is now facing criminal charges for crimes he committed in Germany. The 28-year old man is beign accused of involvement in illegally processing funds from online gambling activities. Schütt is currently facing charges in Fort Myers, Florida. He is a flight risk though so the Assistant US Attorney is requesting that he be remanded into custody until the case is brought to court. Schütt’s attorney maintains that he should be free until federal investigations start. Part of the deal is that for leniency, Schütt is working with investigators to aid them in finding out where the money laundering first happened and what offshore companies were instrumental in covering it up. There is more to the picture though. Schütt is married to Floridian Jennifer Sherman and she is worried that he could potentially try to leave the country and return to his homeland. If he does, due to Florida marriage laws, she would be responsible for his $100,000. So far this is proving to be quite an issue for the market due to the importance of his illegal gambling affiliations. Federal investigators want to know exactly who his contact were and what part they play in bigger illegal gambing affiliations.

This is just one incident in the world of gambling. Anti-gambling activists note that the number of illegal incidents are going to inevitably grow as the market expands. They believe that if legislators are going to push for legalization, they are setting economies throughout the nation up for disaster. It will cost too much to keep things in tack and not fall to more illegal practices. Only time will tell what is going to happen in the market. Most believe that sooner or later the US is going to legalize online gambling. The question though is what changes and laws are going to have to be in place to make it all work together? What changes are legislators going to have to make to assure that communities are safe and gambling companie are trustworthy? This has yet to be seen. US legislators are still trying to put together the proper gambling law to handle the issue.