G'day punters, sports nuts, casino and gambling millionaires and billionaires, legal eagles, and politicians...one and all. Australia continues to be one of the world's hot spots for gambling and casino news. Lovers VS Haters, gambling on politics, Aussie casino wars and more. Media Man and Gambling911 pound the pavement down under with the latest and greatest...
Aussie Casinos Hit Hard By Singapore Casino Resorts...
The Australian land based gaming sector is bashed as high-rolling whales and dolphins across the region switch from the casinos there to Singapore's new integrated resorts. The competition has led to calls by Australia's casino king, James Packer, for the federal and state governments to try to lure back these high-spending orientals. Packer's two casinos, Crown in Melbourne and Burswood in Perth, have seen turnover from high-rollers drop 8% in the six months to Dec 31. Burswood suffered more, with VIP revenue down 14.3 per cent, compared with Crown's 5.5 per cent fall. Australian casinos bring in about A$700 million (S$895 million) a year from VIP gamblers, who contribute to about 15 per cent of all casino revenue, according to a Merrill Lynch analysis. Land based casinos such as Crown tend to focus on attracting high-rollers from China and Hong Kong. Tourists from Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia also make high-spending visits to Australian casinos, according to the Australian Gaming Council, which represents the industry. Packer and the Crown brains trust are also looking at a major play to offer a wide selection of online casino games to help them match up to the offerings of the likes of PartyGaming, Microgaming and Playtech powered casinos which are serving the Australian and Asia Pacific region.
Aussie Pokie Limits Will Hit Whole Economy Down Under...
ClubsAustralia has advised the Federal Government's new controls over poker machines will hit the economy hard. The Government is trying to convince the states and territories to agree to a card-based scheme forcing poker machine players to set betting limits before they play. It still needs approval from the Parliament. ClubsAustralia chairman Peter Newell says such measures would force clubs and pubs to close. He says a study by KPMG found in New South Wales alone there would be a 30% revenue downturn. "It would result in the loss of more than 11,500 jobs, a loss of [more than] $800 million from the New South Wales economy, and the closure of clubs," he told the National Press Club. "Extrapolate it nationally with pubs and casinos included - the damaging impact would reverberate across the whole economy." But independent Senator Nick Xenophon says poker machine advocates are acting like slave owners from the past. He says gambling addiction is devastating and the pokies' lobby needs to have a campaign based on facts. "The poker machine lobby reminds me a bit like the slave owners of the 19th century in the United States, who say their whole way of life would be ruined if there were any changes bought about. That's how the industry is behaving," he said. The Government also wants to set withdrawal limits for ATMs in pokie venues. Small clubs and those in country areas are likely to get special treatment under the proposed gambling laws.
Church Group Wants Footy League To Stop Gambling Sponsorship And Deals...
Uniting Care is urging the Ballarat Football League to reconsider its decision to develop a gambling website for the competition. The league has formed a partnership with a Northern Territory online bookmaker to allow betting on local football matches. The venture is set to make the league about $100,000 over five years.
However, Dr Mark Zirnsak of Uniting Care says sporting competitions should remain separate from gambling providers. "This is very concerning about this constant expansion of this online sports betting which ... (is) currently completely unregulated and it means they are out there aggressively pushing their business, marketing in ways that other gambling providers are not permitted to," he said. Uniting Care is urging the Ballarat Football League to reconsider its decision to develop a gambling website for the competition. The league has formed a partnership with a Northern Territory online bookmaker to allow betting on local football matches. The venture is set to make the league about $100,000 over five years. However, Dr Mark Zirnsak of Uniting Care says sporting competitions should remain separate from gambling providers. "This is very concerning about this constant expansion of this online sports betting which ... (is) currently completely unregulated and it means they are out there aggressively pushing their business, marketing in ways that other gambling providers are not permitted to," he said.
Gold Coast: Stomp Musical Coming To Gold Coast's Jupiters Hotel and Casino...
A rhythmic theatre, comedy and dance spectacular that sees its cast use "everything and the kitchen sink" to entertain crowds aged from five to 95 will head to Jupiters Hotel & Casino in May for an exclusive Australian season. A slice of physical theatre, STOMP was created by co-directors Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas in Britain 20 years ago and has been touring the world ever since, playing to more than 15 million people in 48 countries. The show has become such an international success, it has been parodied on hit US TV series Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. TThe international stage phenomenon “STOMP” will be exclusive at Jupiters from 12th May and is tipped to run for 14 weeks.
Melbourne: Crown Casino Gets HIStory This Is It: Jackson Tribute Show...
The tour, entitled HIStory This Is It, is an opportunity for Jackson fans to celebrate the music, the magic and all the history! This concert is the product of twenty-five years' dedication from celebrated Las Vegas performer, Kenny Wizz, to championing MJ's genius. This is the closest you will ever get to see the King of Pop in concert... Don't miss out! DATE & SHOW TIME: Friday 3 June & Saturday 4 June 2011
Sydney: Star City To Get The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber...
25 - 29 May 2011: A new theatrical event featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most timeless songs performed by the current stars of Australian musical theatre is coming to the Lyric Theatre on 25 May for 8 shows only. He’s been described as the master of musical theatre, the maestro of musicals, and a theatrical force to be reckoned with. His musicals have been seen by hundreds of millions around the world, translated into dozens of languages and won every major entertainment award. Now – Australia is set to fall in love once more with THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER in a stunning new theatrical event that will tour Australia in 2011. After more than 40 years, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music continues to have the extraordinary ability to touch an audience, lifting them to new heights of exhilaration and emotion after just a few bars of music. Through state-of–the-art technology, audiences will be swept from the avenues of Broadway to the magnificence of Eva Peron’s Argentina and the speedways of Starlight Express, in a dazzling journey through the many settings of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s greatest works. All the ‘big’ moments from Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sunset Boulevard, Woman in White to the current Love Never Dies will be there.
James Packer: Casino And Media King May Like To Be Internet King...
The Sydney Morning Herald and others are reporting that Packer is looking to make a major splash in the internet world, one that would go far beyond his Betfair %50 owned stake. Past rumours have included a Packer buy into Media Man, Wikipedia, Fairfax Media and others, but exactly what entities are on his agenda are not known. Sources close say Packer has seen the impact of both gaming operators like PartyGaming, website portal operators like Media Man, and auction houses like ebay, and wants a big slice of the action.
A Media Man spokesperson said "It was Packer himself that famously said Internet is like electricity. Over the years he's seen the rise of Google, Wikipedia, ebay, and even Media Man. He's already got his foot in the the door with Betfair, and he wants to drive forward online casino games and well as further integrates his other business ventures into the web. Few have resources available like Packer, plus the political clout he wields, so expect a major impact, tipped to be later this year or early into the next. Packer knows he needs to make a major impact soon, before the internet gets further flooded with more portals, gaming and ecommerce offerings. It's almost a case or now or never for the maverick Packer".
Punter Fev Caught Still Punting; Horses, Now Slots...
Arguably Australia's most famous gambler of the modern era (with the possible exception of the late Kerry Packer) Brendan Fevola reckons he was not told to leave a pokies venue this morning, but admitted putting $50 in the machine to "muck about". Fev, attempting to restore his footy career in the VFL, journeyed to the Berwick Inn in Melbourne's southeast this morning and put money into a slot. Not a crime by any means, not good good for someone who says they are trying to get their gambling addiction under control. In an interview with the MTR radio station two days ago, he advised that playing the pokies had nothing to do with his gambling problem. He said he thought he would "pop in" after getting some money from an ATM on the way to training with the Casey Scorpions ahead of his VFL debut this weekend. "I put in 50 bucks...it obviously went, that’s why I left," he admitted. When quizzed if he should be playing the slots after entering rehab, Fevola said he went to rehab for addiction to alcohol and gambling on horses. "The horses are the problem, I don't understand what people don't get about this," Fevola said. "It's my life, I can f---ing do whatever I want. "(The rehab) was more for drinking in the end. It’s the horses mate, that’s the problem. "It’s ridiculous. I’m just a normal person now who plays VFL and I can do whatever I want and it’s my money … It’s got absolutely nothing to do with anyone." When probed if he should return to rehab, he replied: "What for? I’ve been sober since New Year's Eve." When the interview Mr King pointed out that people were worried about him, Fevola said: "They shouldn't be worried, I'm as happy as Larry." He denied being asked to leave or wearing a hoodie to help hide his identity, saying he had a jumper on instead. He said life at Casey Scorpions was "really good" and again denied being sacked from management firm Velocity Sports, insisting it was his decision to leave them. A spokesman for Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, which operates the venue, said Fevola was wearing a hoodie when staff approached him. "Our staff, (as we request them to do), requested that the hoodie be removed," the spokesman said. "They realised it was Brendan Fevola. He realised they knew who he was at which point in time he immediately left the venue." Fev knew they knew who he was, and were in the loop with some of Fev's gambling issues. It is believed Fev played the pokies for about 20 minutes before he was recognised, but its not totally clear what games he played. Cleopatra Black Rhino, Gone Fishing and Where's The Gold are some of the most popular land based pokies found in Australian clubs.
Independent Senator Nick 'Mr X' (satire) Xenophon called on the community not to judge Fevola. "I know some in the community will be tempted to shake their heads and blame Fevola for being weak or giving in, "he said. "We need to remember Brendan has an addiction and addicts aren't always able to exercise free will. Brendan has sought treatment for gambling addiction previously, and I would encourage him to seek further help to deal with this issue."
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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
Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...
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...
PartyCasino.com (Many of the world's best slot games. Aussies and Kiwi's welcome).
Captain Cooks Casino
Betfair (sports betting only)
PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)
PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)
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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
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