G'day punters, journos, high rollers - casino whale VIP's, gambling millionaires and billionaires, poker sharks, entertainment and arts news junkies, media tycoons, politicians, insiders, outsiders, legal eagles... one and all. You know who you are. Oriental high rolling VIP's, all 200 plus of them, are the world's most sought after casino clients, and James Packer's Crown Limited is demanding that the Australian government life their own game to help ensure the whales will come swimming (and jetting) to Australia. Media Man and Gambling911 with this high rolling report...
Casino and gambling big wigs have started to force the hand of the federal Government to streamline customs and immigration processing for Oriental high rolling whales flying down under into Australia.
James Packer's Crown Casino, and now Burswood and floating 'Infinity' wants visas made much easier to obtain, more frequent direct flights from Asia and VIP customs lounges at airports so high rolling gamblers can bypass those long queues.
Crown's chief executive Rowen Craigie advised the press the enhancements were absolutely necessary if Australia hopes to plug into the extremely lucrative middle and upper-class Chinese tourism market.
"They are the sort of issues we want to talk about with the federal Government," Craigie said, noting high-rollers wanted first-class treatment (in all aspects of their visit.)
In Singapore, where two world class casino resorts worth $11 billion opened last year, the Government has built a private lounge to fast-track customs and immigration processing for high-rollers. Officials meet and greet VIPs at the air-bridge and escort them through the process, then casino valets and porters arrive.
"It needs to be competitive," Craigie said. "At the moment, it's not."
Craigie welcomed the review that the Government announced last month into education visas. He said a similar process needed to be applied to tourist visas.
In another ultra competitive sector, higher education, the industry won the review into education visa processing after complaining that lack of access was discouraging students from studying in Australia. A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Chris Bowen would not commit to reviewing tourist visas.
Some insiders say the Immigration Department and some casinos have long-standing, prior arrangements for certain VIPs to access slightly more streamlined immigration processing.
"Australia's migration and visa programs are global and non-discriminatory," the spokeswoman said. "Where possible (we) offer streamlined processing to low-risk clients, primarily through electronic visas but also through preferred processing of applications lodged through trusted agents, as occurs in China."
Packer mate, Sir Richard Branson, king of Virgin (airline included) has casino whales on his radar, however its unclear if RB will be going after the sector this year. Packer's other Brit mate, Damian Aspinall, earlier this week advised he would be closing his Aspinall's (land based) casino, which can't have given the sector much of a confidence boost, but it might have lifted the confidence levels of gamblers, with gamblers obviously chipping away at the profits by winning. And we all thought the house always wins! Well, maybe it does, but Aspinall's house is down. Packer won't want the same luck, nor will Branson.
Stay tuned for more on the high rolling VIP's and Crown Casino management wish list.
Sneak Peak Into The World Of Oriental Casino Whales And High Rollers...
The king of the Oriental casino whales, Stanley Ho, has been in the news a lot lately, so we thought it was timely to offer the loyal readership a glimpse into the world of a whale and his pool of Asia high rollers, who by the way James Packer's Crown Casino (and Tabcorp's Star City) just to be fair, are looking to lure down under to Australia.
This is Lifestyle of the rich (and often not so famous). They don't want to be that well known outside their inner circle casino and poker dens of choice. They are the world's real casino whales and super VIP's.
Stanley Ho is one of the world's most powerful casino super whales, and he's got about 200 other whales to keep satisfied. Australian gambling entrepreneurs are looking for a greater bite of the whales swimming the ocean, and one needs to have the best lure, bait and service to ensure the whale clientele keep coming back for more.
It's the high stakes world of casino and poker tourism, and competition for the gambling and entertainment dollar has never been tougher.
They jet in for free on a $40 million Gulfstream, direct from Shanghai. The family of three is whisked from the airport in a limousine to villa valued at $27,000 a night and occupying the entire 38th floor at Melbourne's Crown Towers.
A team of staff, including a butler and chef, just meet just about any request the whale will have.
On Level 39 just about anything can happen, if the whale desires. There's gaming salons, all private, a croupier, cards and a wooden pallet are at the table. Officially betting limits are $300,000 per hand, but by special arrangement, this high roller could punt $1 million or more on a single hand of baccarat. He's one of the new US-dollar billionaires of China, a group that jumped by double last year. China is home to about 200 billionaires, second only to the United States, sitting on 403.
Casinos from Sydney, to Melbourne, to Macau to Singapore and Las Vegas are investing billions to secure a good part of this rapidly expanding sector. In Australia, the two biggest casino operators, Crown Limited and Tabcorp are spending $1.9 billion and $1.6 billion respectively on their gaming venues across four states. You could call it cash burn on the casinos part, but the rewards can be high for winning casino operators, where money (and world class service and entertainment) are the name of the game.
New six-star hotels, private jets, entertainment rooms, private gaming salons and dozens of celebrity-chef restaurants are all part of the extreme makeovers designed to make the likes of Star City, Crown Melbourne, Perth's Burswood, and Jupiters on the Gold Coast mega entertainment and tourism destinations. James Packer even has his 'Infinity' yacht ready for them off the coast of Western Australia.
The last Kerry Packer was once the king of the whales and only a few casinos in Las Vegas would accommodate him, thanks to his ability to break a casino, if lady luck went his way, and if often did.
Today, high rollers, most of them from China, also play hard and millions of dollars can pass across the table in an hour or two.
"I wouldn't call it war," Crown boss Rowen Craigie said.
"But obviously there's major investments in integrated resorts."
Integrated resorts is a term now frequently used by the newest player on the block, Singapore, to describe the mega entertainment and tourism complexes it has built around casinos. Singapore saw the boom coming, and threw out gambling restrictions in 2004 to invite private investment of $US11 billion in two super ambitious gaming, hotel and convention resorts.
The effect on inbound tourism was virtually immediate, increasing by 22% since Marina Bay Sands and Resort World Sentosa opened in the past year. "When it comes to tackling tourism from China, you have to look at what Singapore is doing," Craigie said.
At Marina Bay Sands, which cost $US6 billion, daily gaming revenue hit $4.5 million late last year, after the mid-2010 opening. It came at a cost to casinos elsewhere, with Crown's VIP revenues at its Melbourne and Perth casinos in the first six months of this financial year taking a hit, down 10% or about $35 million.
Crown's chairman James Packer used the company's AGM late last year to call for state and federal governments to change their attitude from ignoring to instead promoting casinos in official domestic and international tourism campaigns. Packer would like to see heavy private investment in "integrated resorts" matched by government backing in the form of marketing, improved visa access and procedures for VIPs and other gamblers and more direct flights from Asia.
In Singapore, high rollers are greeted by officials at Changi airport, and escorted through a private lounge for fast-tracked customs and immigration formalities. The Singaporean government actively promotes the two resorts through a special branch within its tourism authority. The resorts are a crucial part of the national campaign to rebrand Singapore as a fun place to be.
Packer told the AGM in November "I believe that Australia needs to meet the challenges and capture the opportunities that the fast growing tourism markets from Asia are presenting to this country. In order to progress this, I truly believe that it will be necessary for federal and state governments, the broader tourism industry and key Asian-focused tourism operators such as Crown to work more closely together."
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Chris Bowen would not commit to reviewing tourist visas for gamblers. "Australia's migration and visa programs are global and non-discriminatory," the spokeswoman said.
Cashed-up Chinese tourists want to gamble, but they also want to experience the finer things in life, Craigie said. Their preference is for urban attractions, so Uluru, Sydney's beaches and the Great Barrier Reef are not enough.
"You need urban tourist attractions, not just natural resource tourist attractions," Craigie said.
At Singapore's Marina Bay Sands conventions of up to 45,000 delegates can be accommodated, there are 2,560 hotel rooms and suites and a SkyPark which sits like a gigantic ship's deck stretched atop three high-rise towers. The Iron Chef of America Mario Batali, is one of a handful of world-class celebrity chefs running restaurants in the complex. There's an art and science museum and in coming weeks theatre guests can take their pick of The Lion King, Elvis Costello or Slumdog Millionaire's AR Rahman.
In lifting gambling bans in 2004, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong withstood considerable community pressure, including claims that the casinos would cost Singaporean families more than $500 million a year due to problem gambling. Locals are taxed $S100 a day to gamble in the casinos.
In 2005 Lee said: "The great majority will not go there to gamble. They will be tourists, executives or businessmen who go to enjoy the resort of attend conventions or conferences."
Tabcorp backs Packer and Crown's sentiment on the need for casinos and government co-operation to boost tourism. Crown customer research found that its clients venture out of the complex to enjoy other tourist attractions during their visit, spending about $40 million (check) outside the Crown site every year.
Tabcorp is spending almost $1 billion upgrading Sydney's Star City and another $625 billion upgrading its three casinos in Queensland. "I absolutely believe Star City will boost tourism," Star's managing director Sid Vaikunta told Agenda.
In Sydney, Tabcorp is making its first serious play for the high roller and luxury tourism market, which for Crown Casino, the market leader on VIPs, means the first real domestic competition.
High rollers collectively plunged $28 billion on Australian gaming tables in the first six months of last year. Tabcorp's share was 16 per cent, or $4.48 billion. Across the 12 months to June 2010, VIP turnover at Crown's two casinos in Melbourne and Perth was $40 billion.
"Our goal is to grow the market," Vaikunta said. The biggest gaming revenue day of the year at Star is Christmas Day and Star's intention with the redevelopment is to continue to look after its main audience of local gamblers, while opening up a new market of VIPs and rich tourists.
"We believe in the city, it has charisma, and we want it to reach that potential, as a charismatic city," Vaikunta said. "We are spending almost $1 billion and a large part of that is a trade-up in quality."
Over the next year or so a new luxury 172-room hotel will open and among the six celebrity chefs fronting 20 new restaurants are David Chang from New York, master of modern Italian Stefano Manfedi and Masterchef star Adriano Zumbo. Last week Star spent the first half of a $100 million budget for two private jets for VIPs: a Bombardier Global Express XRS.
Vaikunta said the exclusive A-list concert with Bon Jovi at Star City in December last year was a taste of things to come, when a $100-million, 3000-seat events centre is completed next year (2012). Take any big act that toured Australia last year - Lady Gaga, ACDC, Guns N Roses - and this is the calibre of musical exclusive the casino hopes to sell, at a premium price, in this new venue, he said.
The complex is being re-orientated to face the harbour, with floor to ceiling glass, outdoor gaming and balconies. Inside will be significantly changed from the windowless maze of gaming rooms that Star has been lampooned for in the past. Also going is the dated and gawdy tropical oasis display and in its place will be chandeliers and contemporary furniture.
Vaikunta hopes that in return the state and federal governments will promote Star, and give it more poker machine licenses. While no formal proposal on increasing poker machine licenses had been put to the NSW Government or opposition, Vaikunta pointed out that Crown Melbourne had 2500 poker machines, about 1000 more than Star. QLD Premier Anna Bligh recently gave the go ahead to increase by 500 the number of poker machines in two of Tabcorp's 3 QLD casinos. The Victorian Government last year gave Crown Melbourne the green light to add another 150 new gaming tables.
Macau, the only Chinese territory where gaming is legal, has just overtaken Las Vegas as the world's biggest destination for gamblers. In recent years $A17 billion has been invested in casino resorts and monthly gross casino revenue hit $US2.4 billion in December. Annual gross gaming revenue hit a record $23.5 billion, trumping Las Vegas strip takings by four fold, according to analysts. Visitors to the modest sized province have increased from 9.5 million in 2001 to more than 23 million.
Singapore is forecast to become the gaming capital of the world by 2012 and national target for visitors is 17 million by 2015. In Australia, Packer told his AGM, tourist numbers had been flat for a decade at around 5 million people.
Packer must be sorry his bid to develop one of the Singapore casinos failed. But he is tipped to raise his hand again, when other markets open up overseas. Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines are all considering "integrated resort" developments.
Stay tuned for more on the super whales and high rolling VIP's, and if you can't wait for the next plane, feel welcome to browse the casino games and reviews on the website. You don't get a butler online, but at least its private. Might be just the thing to get you in the mood to visit Crown's super whale offerings down under in Melbourne, or take your gambling to a new level of Packer's 'Infinity' floating casino.
Crown Limited and Australian government departments - your throw of the dice. No bluff!
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
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)
Profiles
Australian Casinos
World Casino Directory
Global Gaming Directory
Casino Travel
Casinos
Australia
Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:
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 http://www.mediamanint.com 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 and Ten Network Holdings
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Casino News Media offer online casino news, land based casino news, game reviews, casino gossip, gaming news, online gaming, online poker, interviews, articles, press releases, event news, multimedia and more.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Ric Flair South Carolina Education Lottery Winner: Finally!, by Greg Tingle - 7th February 2011
G'day punters, journos, sports nuts, high rollers - casino whales, gambling millionaires and billionaires, media tycoons, politicians, insiders, outsiders, wrestling fans ...yes, wrestling fans... one and all. You know who you are. The South Carolina Education Lottery finally has a big winner via the Ric Flair 'Woooooo'! connection... Media Man and Gambling911 check out the Education Lottery and investigate 'Space Mountain' with the special lottery - pro wrestling themed report...
A Winnsboro woman is a new fan of pro wrestling legend and Williams-Brice mainstay Ric Flair after she won $100,000 from a 'Woooooo!' scratch-off ticket.
The woman, who did not wish to be identified (wonder why Not), purchased the ticket at the 97 Express in Richburg, whose owner will collect a 1% retailer bonus of $1,000 for selling the winning ticket.
She advised that only her husband was a fan of the Nature Boy before she uncovered the big prize. Known for his signature, "Wooo!" catchphrase, the South Carolina Education Lottery began Flair's "Lucky Woooooo!" game on January 25th.
The winner's husband told lottery officials that he was walking around their house chanting Flair's "Woooooo!" when his wife told him quieten down.
"Now, I have a new reason to scream "Woooo!" he said in a news release. "She's started saying it."
The couple said they plan to use the money for expenses.
Pro Wrestling - Gambling Trivia...
Kevin 'Diesel' Nash, recently returned to WWE, used to be known in WCW as 'Vinnie Vegas'. Nash still has some gaming links on his official website.
Hulk Hogan, the most famous pro wrestler of all time, will have an online slot game out later this year in a deal done with Endemol. The story goes...
Endemol, along with the licensing division of Bischoff Hervey Entertainment, have partnered with Hulk Hogan to launch online game Hulk Hogan's Hulkamania.
The game, created by recently launched Endemol Games U.K., is expected to hit early next year worldwide and will be distributed internationally by Endemol Worldwide Brands. MX Gaming is co-producing Hulkamania with Endemol and Bischoff Hervey Entertainment. "Endemol Games U.K. is expanding into new areas and this deal marks one of our first third-party licensing partnerships," says Jurian van der Meer, managing director of Endemol Games U.K. "Hulk Hogan is an icon with massive global appeal and we aim to attract his fans with creative online slot games. This is a great addition to our portfolio."
Hogan also has 'The Hulk-A-Mania Experience' land based slot games which is available in some American casinos. Some of the proceeds of the Hulksters have do to The Dreamseekers Foundation, associated with native American casino tribes.
Ric Flair 'The Nature Boy' is apparently keen to explore an online casino game deal featuring his likeness.
WWE released WWE Poker in September 2010. Check it out here
http://www.mediamanint.com/profiles/wwe_poker.html
Read the Gambling911 story here
http://www.gambling911.com/poker/wwe-grooming-kids-poker-090510.html
World Wrestling Entertainment once owned a land based casino, that was never fitted out with company branding. They were miraculously were able to sell it for a profit circa 2000.
YouTube Footage
WWF Casino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UJ8Ye6lNT0
Wrestling News Media (Vinnie Vegas)
http://www.youtube.com/wrestlingnewsmedia#p/u/4/Z2a0YsMtflo
Wrestling News Media
http://www.youtube.com/wrestlingnewsmedia
Star City Casino, Sydney, Australia (Ric Flair attacks Hulk Hogan)
http://www.youtube.com/mediamanoz#p/u/50/8xsh9NT7bnw
The South Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) - Background Thanks To Our Friends At Wikipedia...
The South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) began in 2002.
South Carolina is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), best known for Powerball. Like most US lotteries, on January 31, 2010, it participated in the cross-sell lottery expansion, adding Mega Millions. SCEL-only games consist of Pick 3, Pick 4, Palmetto Cash 5, and numerous scratch tickets. Although its drawings are held daily, the SCEL is unique among US lotteries in that players cannot purchase tickets on days when elections (primary or general) are held, such as on November 4, 2008. The minimum age to purchase SCEL tickets is 18.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina_Education_Lottery
The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) - Background Thanks To Our Friends At Wikipedia...
The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) is run by the government of North Carolina. It was established after Gov. Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act[1] and the 2005 Appropriations Act. The controversial lottery proposal was approved on August 31, 2005, after then-Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue cast a tie-breaking vote in the North Carolina Senate. North Carolina, traditionally associated with the Bible Belt, was the only state on the East Coast without a lottery. The issue divided lawmakers and the public alike. At the time, the opposition of nearly every Republican and a minority of Democratic lawmakers (consisting of progressives) made the passage of a lottery unlikely. These groups denounced the lottery as a regressive tax on the poor. However, on August 30, 2005, two lottery opponents (Harry Brown, R-Jacksonville and John Garwood, R-North Wilkesboro) had excused absences. With this known, a special vote was called, which was 24-24. Lt. Gov. Perdue cast the tiebreaking vote, signaling the way for Gov. Easley to sign it into law. The vote would have been defeated had the absent senators paired their votes.
Education" Controversy: In February 2009, to reduce a budget shortfall, Gov. Perdue withheld approximately $88 million to fill shortfalls in the North Carolina budget. Perdue emptied the $50 million lottery reserve, also withholding $38 million allocated for a school construction budget in direct conflict with the mandate of the NCEL.This controversial move by the Governor prompted North Carolina lawmakers on March 10, 2009 to propose a name change to the NCEL, to remove "Education" from its name.
Proceeds and payouts:
Seven percent is paid to retailers as commission.
Fifty percent is paid as winnings to players.
Eight percent is cost-of-sales.
The remaining 35% goes to education proceeds, broken down as follows:
Before any proceeds are paid, 5% of the proceeds (1.75% of the total) goes to the Education Lottery Reserve Fund to be used when lottery proceeds fall short. This fund may not exceed $100 million. Fifty percent of the remainder (16.625% of the total) goes towards the reduction of class sizes. Forty percent of the remainder (13.3% of the total) is used for school construction. Sixty-five percent of the above (8.645% of the total) is distributed based on school enrollment. The remaining 35% (4.655% of the total) is distributed to counties with effective property tax rates above North Carolina's average based on school enrollment. Ten percent of the remainder (3.325% of the total) are distributed for college scholarships, to be used with the federal Pell Grant. Originally, North Carolina's scratch tickets had an overall payout of 52%, the lowest among scratch tickets then available through US lotteries. While its $1 instant tickets continue to pay out at roughly this level, its newer $2-and-up games now have higher-percentage payouts. The Lottery has continued to generate controversy among North Carolina constituents upset with teacher layoffs who believed the Lottery would have made up the difference. Television: Live Lottery drawings are broadcast on these TV stations:
WRAL-TV in Raleigh, WITN-TV in eastern North Carolina, WCNC-TV in Charlotte, WILM-LP in Wilmington, WYCW in Asheville, WXLV-TV in Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point
There are no designated stations for the Florence/Myrtle Beach or Hampton Roads markets, both covering portions of North Carolina.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Education_Lottery
Profiles
Ric Flair
Hulk Hogan
Kevin Nash (aka Diesel and Vinnie Vegas)
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
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)
Profiles
Australian Casinos
World Casino Directory
Global Gaming Directory
Casino Travel
Casinos
Australia
Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:
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. As Ric Flair would say, Woooooo!
*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
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
A Winnsboro woman is a new fan of pro wrestling legend and Williams-Brice mainstay Ric Flair after she won $100,000 from a 'Woooooo!' scratch-off ticket.
The woman, who did not wish to be identified (wonder why Not), purchased the ticket at the 97 Express in Richburg, whose owner will collect a 1% retailer bonus of $1,000 for selling the winning ticket.
She advised that only her husband was a fan of the Nature Boy before she uncovered the big prize. Known for his signature, "Wooo!" catchphrase, the South Carolina Education Lottery began Flair's "Lucky Woooooo!" game on January 25th.
The winner's husband told lottery officials that he was walking around their house chanting Flair's "Woooooo!" when his wife told him quieten down.
"Now, I have a new reason to scream "Woooo!" he said in a news release. "She's started saying it."
The couple said they plan to use the money for expenses.
Pro Wrestling - Gambling Trivia...
Kevin 'Diesel' Nash, recently returned to WWE, used to be known in WCW as 'Vinnie Vegas'. Nash still has some gaming links on his official website.
Hulk Hogan, the most famous pro wrestler of all time, will have an online slot game out later this year in a deal done with Endemol. The story goes...
Endemol, along with the licensing division of Bischoff Hervey Entertainment, have partnered with Hulk Hogan to launch online game Hulk Hogan's Hulkamania.
The game, created by recently launched Endemol Games U.K., is expected to hit early next year worldwide and will be distributed internationally by Endemol Worldwide Brands. MX Gaming is co-producing Hulkamania with Endemol and Bischoff Hervey Entertainment. "Endemol Games U.K. is expanding into new areas and this deal marks one of our first third-party licensing partnerships," says Jurian van der Meer, managing director of Endemol Games U.K. "Hulk Hogan is an icon with massive global appeal and we aim to attract his fans with creative online slot games. This is a great addition to our portfolio."
Hogan also has 'The Hulk-A-Mania Experience' land based slot games which is available in some American casinos. Some of the proceeds of the Hulksters have do to The Dreamseekers Foundation, associated with native American casino tribes.
Ric Flair 'The Nature Boy' is apparently keen to explore an online casino game deal featuring his likeness.
WWE released WWE Poker in September 2010. Check it out here
http://www.mediamanint.com/profiles/wwe_poker.html
Read the Gambling911 story here
http://www.gambling911.com/poker/wwe-grooming-kids-poker-090510.html
World Wrestling Entertainment once owned a land based casino, that was never fitted out with company branding. They were miraculously were able to sell it for a profit circa 2000.
YouTube Footage
WWF Casino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UJ8Ye6lNT0
Wrestling News Media (Vinnie Vegas)
http://www.youtube.com/wrestlingnewsmedia#p/u/4/Z2a0YsMtflo
Wrestling News Media
http://www.youtube.com/wrestlingnewsmedia
Star City Casino, Sydney, Australia (Ric Flair attacks Hulk Hogan)
http://www.youtube.com/mediamanoz#p/u/50/8xsh9NT7bnw
The South Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) - Background Thanks To Our Friends At Wikipedia...
The South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) began in 2002.
South Carolina is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), best known for Powerball. Like most US lotteries, on January 31, 2010, it participated in the cross-sell lottery expansion, adding Mega Millions. SCEL-only games consist of Pick 3, Pick 4, Palmetto Cash 5, and numerous scratch tickets. Although its drawings are held daily, the SCEL is unique among US lotteries in that players cannot purchase tickets on days when elections (primary or general) are held, such as on November 4, 2008. The minimum age to purchase SCEL tickets is 18.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina_Education_Lottery
The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) - Background Thanks To Our Friends At Wikipedia...
The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) is run by the government of North Carolina. It was established after Gov. Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act[1] and the 2005 Appropriations Act. The controversial lottery proposal was approved on August 31, 2005, after then-Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue cast a tie-breaking vote in the North Carolina Senate. North Carolina, traditionally associated with the Bible Belt, was the only state on the East Coast without a lottery. The issue divided lawmakers and the public alike. At the time, the opposition of nearly every Republican and a minority of Democratic lawmakers (consisting of progressives) made the passage of a lottery unlikely. These groups denounced the lottery as a regressive tax on the poor. However, on August 30, 2005, two lottery opponents (Harry Brown, R-Jacksonville and John Garwood, R-North Wilkesboro) had excused absences. With this known, a special vote was called, which was 24-24. Lt. Gov. Perdue cast the tiebreaking vote, signaling the way for Gov. Easley to sign it into law. The vote would have been defeated had the absent senators paired their votes.
Education" Controversy: In February 2009, to reduce a budget shortfall, Gov. Perdue withheld approximately $88 million to fill shortfalls in the North Carolina budget. Perdue emptied the $50 million lottery reserve, also withholding $38 million allocated for a school construction budget in direct conflict with the mandate of the NCEL.This controversial move by the Governor prompted North Carolina lawmakers on March 10, 2009 to propose a name change to the NCEL, to remove "Education" from its name.
Proceeds and payouts:
Seven percent is paid to retailers as commission.
Fifty percent is paid as winnings to players.
Eight percent is cost-of-sales.
The remaining 35% goes to education proceeds, broken down as follows:
Before any proceeds are paid, 5% of the proceeds (1.75% of the total) goes to the Education Lottery Reserve Fund to be used when lottery proceeds fall short. This fund may not exceed $100 million. Fifty percent of the remainder (16.625% of the total) goes towards the reduction of class sizes. Forty percent of the remainder (13.3% of the total) is used for school construction. Sixty-five percent of the above (8.645% of the total) is distributed based on school enrollment. The remaining 35% (4.655% of the total) is distributed to counties with effective property tax rates above North Carolina's average based on school enrollment. Ten percent of the remainder (3.325% of the total) are distributed for college scholarships, to be used with the federal Pell Grant. Originally, North Carolina's scratch tickets had an overall payout of 52%, the lowest among scratch tickets then available through US lotteries. While its $1 instant tickets continue to pay out at roughly this level, its newer $2-and-up games now have higher-percentage payouts. The Lottery has continued to generate controversy among North Carolina constituents upset with teacher layoffs who believed the Lottery would have made up the difference. Television: Live Lottery drawings are broadcast on these TV stations:
WRAL-TV in Raleigh, WITN-TV in eastern North Carolina, WCNC-TV in Charlotte, WILM-LP in Wilmington, WYCW in Asheville, WXLV-TV in Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point
There are no designated stations for the Florence/Myrtle Beach or Hampton Roads markets, both covering portions of North Carolina.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Education_Lottery
Profiles
Ric Flair
Hulk Hogan
Kevin Nash (aka Diesel and Vinnie Vegas)
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
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)
Profiles
Australian Casinos
World Casino Directory
Global Gaming Directory
Casino Travel
Casinos
Australia
Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:
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. As Ric Flair would say, Woooooo!
*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
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Media Man - Casino News Media - Global Gaming Directory - News Update
PartyCasino Wins Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' Award
Online gaming companies in for huge 2011
Online Gaming Heating Up in Australia
Real Life Underbelly NRL Style
Queensland Floods Cost Tabcorp Millions In Lost Revenue And More…
Joe Francis - Indicted Over Alleged $2M Gambling Debt
Gambling, Drugs, Cocaine; Punters With Problems Targeted By Crime Lords
Australia Zoo Viva Crocodile Las Vegas Back On
Crown Casino Demands Aussie Govt Lift Game For Asian High Rollers
Crown Aussie Million's Poker $250,000 - Greg Tingle Australia Report
NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs: Star City Casino Partnership!
The Shane Warne Show At Aussie Millions 2011
Australia Day 2011 Gambling Special
Crown Aussie Millions; James Packer Special
Running out of Internet Addresses: We Were Right
Tingle: 3D Movies And Slot Games Not Dead Yet
Tingle: Australian Underbelly History and the Anti Pokie Song
Aussie Celeb News; James Bond Casino Icon Connection
Real Life Underbelly in Sin City Sydney
Australian Gambling: Deals, Art, Politics And Vice
Australian Gambling On Pre-Commitment Pokies: Lovers vs. Haters
International Gaming Technology vs. Aristocrat Leisure Legal Battle Ensues
Australian Casino Tourism Smoking Hot Report
Gambling On Australia's Anti-Money Laundering Counter Terrorism Hit List
Tingle: Australian Gambling Regulation Won't Wipe Out Problem Gambling
Australia To Get Sports Stadiums Branded By Gambling and Gaming Companies
Australia Pokie and News Media Wars for January 14, 2011
Australia Remains In Top 10 For Gambling
Australian Pokies Saviour Or Villain; Lovers VS Haters
Crown Casino Refuse Jackpot Payment; ClubsNSW VS PokieAct
Lasseter’s Hotel Casino Getting Tough On Violent Drunks
Australian Kids Copy Parents Gambling Habits
Aussie Media Man Talks Domain Names: Gambling.com, Poker.com.au
Australian Casino, Sporting And Gambling Round Up – January 8
Brendan Fevola Released From Jail: Adelaide Clubs Get Tough On Gambling
Costigan Commission Going After Kerry Packer
Australian Land Based Casinos Rank Among The Best In The World?
Media Man News
News
Casino News
Poker News
Online Casino News
Gambling News
Australian Casino News
Australian Gambling News
Financial News
Entertainment News
Sports News
Technology News
Property News
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Online gaming companies in for huge 2011
Online Gaming Heating Up in Australia
Real Life Underbelly NRL Style
Queensland Floods Cost Tabcorp Millions In Lost Revenue And More…
Joe Francis - Indicted Over Alleged $2M Gambling Debt
Gambling, Drugs, Cocaine; Punters With Problems Targeted By Crime Lords
Australia Zoo Viva Crocodile Las Vegas Back On
Crown Casino Demands Aussie Govt Lift Game For Asian High Rollers
Crown Aussie Million's Poker $250,000 - Greg Tingle Australia Report
NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs: Star City Casino Partnership!
The Shane Warne Show At Aussie Millions 2011
Australia Day 2011 Gambling Special
Crown Aussie Millions; James Packer Special
Running out of Internet Addresses: We Were Right
Tingle: 3D Movies And Slot Games Not Dead Yet
Tingle: Australian Underbelly History and the Anti Pokie Song
Aussie Celeb News; James Bond Casino Icon Connection
Real Life Underbelly in Sin City Sydney
Australian Gambling: Deals, Art, Politics And Vice
Australian Gambling On Pre-Commitment Pokies: Lovers vs. Haters
International Gaming Technology vs. Aristocrat Leisure Legal Battle Ensues
Australian Casino Tourism Smoking Hot Report
Gambling On Australia's Anti-Money Laundering Counter Terrorism Hit List
Tingle: Australian Gambling Regulation Won't Wipe Out Problem Gambling
Australia To Get Sports Stadiums Branded By Gambling and Gaming Companies
Australia Pokie and News Media Wars for January 14, 2011
Australia Remains In Top 10 For Gambling
Australian Pokies Saviour Or Villain; Lovers VS Haters
Crown Casino Refuse Jackpot Payment; ClubsNSW VS PokieAct
Lasseter’s Hotel Casino Getting Tough On Violent Drunks
Australian Kids Copy Parents Gambling Habits
Aussie Media Man Talks Domain Names: Gambling.com, Poker.com.au
Australian Casino, Sporting And Gambling Round Up – January 8
Brendan Fevola Released From Jail: Adelaide Clubs Get Tough On Gambling
Costigan Commission Going After Kerry Packer
Australian Land Based Casinos Rank Among The Best In The World?
Media Man News
News
Casino News
Poker News
Online Casino News
Gambling News
Australian Casino News
Australian Gambling News
Financial News
Entertainment News
Sports News
Technology News
Property News
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Australian Media And Gambling Wars; Aussie Rich List, by Greg Tingle - 6th February 2011
G'day punters, journos, sports nuts, high rollers - casino whales, gambling millionaires and billionaires, media tycoons, politicians, insiders, outsiders, ... one and all. You know who you are. This is yet another instalment into the Australian media wars, with a dash of the Aussie rich list (a few gaming gambling types there) for good measure... Media Man and Gambling911 prob the Australian media business, and do the math on whose loaded up to the hilt down under...
James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch Rumoured To Be Worried With Network Ten News Progress...
After only two weeks on air, the Ten Network’s news evolution has reportedly come under scrutiny from new stakeholders James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch, thanks to a poor ratings performance. On Thursday night 6pm with George Negus attracted its lowest audience to date with only 398,000 viewers. The state based Ten Evening News at 6:30pm performed even worse, attracting only 362,000 viewers. The direction and performance of the George Negus fronted news vehicle is said to be of particular concern to new stakeholders Packer and Murdoch, the press reports. The pair reportedly told Ten Network executives they're worried that the international content of the bulletin is a turn-off for viewers. "Basically (an) email sent to Ten bosses said the predominance of overseas stories was unwise and indulgent and not calculated to build ratings," a well-placed source told Confidential. However, another Ten executive dismissed the report as "utter bollocks", going on to reaffirm the network’s long term commitment to the two-and-a-half hour news and current affairs block. "This is not a two-week plan or three-month one - you can't do what we've done and expect instant results - this is a long haul," a spokeswoman said. Rivals from other network’s have also expressed their thoughts on the $20 million a year investment in news, with one source pointing towards the timeslot winning lead-in 6pm with George Negus receives. "Aren't they conveniently overlooking the substantial lead-in it's provided every night by Ten's 5:00pm news which has always rated respectably for yonks?", said the source. On Thursday, David Gyngell, chief executive of the Nine Entertainment Company, described the performance as worse than he had expected.
Nine Network Presents Weekend 5pm New Slot...
The Nine Network will launched a new national 5:00pm weekend news bulletin Saturday, taking advantage of the Ten Network's recent departure from the timeslot. Nine's director of news and current affairs, Mark Calvert, told The Spy Report that the bulletin will be a permanent addition to the network's Saturday and Sunday schedule once the cricket season concludes tomorrow. Calvert unexpectedly announced the move via his Twitter account. "Missing having news at 5:00pm? Feeling abandoned by Channel Ten News at weekends? See Nine News first at five with Wendy Kingston," he posted. "Incredible flood rescue pix Nine News at 5:00pm. Yep, 5:00pm. You know...when Channel Ten News used to be on at weekends. Nine News at 5:00pm and 6:00pm. "Working harder than ever - Peter Stefanovic, Tracy Vo, Lizzie Pearl to get ready for Nine News first at 5:00pm then more at 6:00pm." Ten abandoned its national 5:00pm bulletin on weekends as part of its $20 million early evening revamp it unveiled two weeks ago. Since then, it has instead opted for a 6:00pm state-based service rivalling those on Nine and Seven. At this stage, it's unknown whether the half-hour bulletin will broadcast into Sydney and Brisbane when Nine's Sunday Afternoon Football returns on March 13. Nine's Afternoon News Hour will also continue to air weekdays from 4:30pm.
Australia's Richest Person Gina Rinehart Adds Value To Channel Ten Sports...
'Our Gina' loves sport, at least as far as it being a strong part of the line up on Network Nine. Fellow shareholders James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch also like sport, especially the cricket (sports betting connection), but Rinehart is more of an all rounder when it comes to the sports media side of the business. Our friends and Fairfax Media have secured a strong leak aka deep throat delivering the following: "She's tough, opinionated, sometimes difficult but never frightened". Rinehart is understood to be very happy with her 10% per cent stake in the network, and intends on getting her money's worth (and continuing to exercise her clout). Packer and Murdoch recently told Ten executives that while they like sport, they believe the network more than they should be, particularly for AFL broadcasting rights. The late great media and gambling tycoon, Kerry Packer, put aside an AFL $780 million deal over five years, not long before his passing away, but Packer Jr may want to talk it about a bit more. The AFL is set to receive the $1 billion at its next contract commencing at 2012. Ten wants to renegotiate its deal with Channel Seven over AFL coverage. David White, the sports director of Ten, has advised analysts that returns from AFL over the past season were not good. It is anticipated Ten will go after an improved ratio with Seven of their share of future fees, or demand an allocation of higher-rating match ups. Under the existing 7 - 10 agreement both networks must bid together, however if Ten is unable to improve its payment or game quality ratios, the deal might collapse. "Ten now has two directors (Packer and Murdoch) who would support the move to walk," a leak said. Rinehart may lobby to retain the agreement in support of Kerry Stokes, the owner of Seven. The word is her main reason for investing a dab of her $4.75 billion wealth for 10% of Ten is political influence. He took note of the success of the advertising campaign against the mining tax and sees the powerful control of the media on the political landscape, and those who work in it. Packer snatched his 17.9% take in Ten ($128 million) to boost his political clout, and then went on to selling half to Murdoch. JP likes the gambling and sport connection, as do many NRL and AFL clubs ala Rabbitohs - Star City and his own Crown Casino - Melbourne Storm baby. Packer gets on well at this stage of the game with Australian Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, and they are understood to enjoy a spot of golf from time to time. Packer and Murdoch famously had a bite with him at Crown Casino months ago. This past Thursday Conroy announced amendments to sport's anti-siphoning list, allowing free-to-air networks to show live sport on their digital channels! This falls into line with the ministers strategy to move Australia quickly away from analog TV. Ten has the only sports-dedicated digital channel (One) at this time. Should Packer and Murdoch be successful in convincing the Network Ten board that One is too costly and must be closed up, or switch programming, it would automatically undermine Conroy's plan to use sport to boost along the uptake of digital TV. It would also quite possibly piss off the big wigs at the NRL and AFL. AFL games shown live on a free-to-air network's principal channel in Melbourne could be shown live on its digital channel in New South Wales and Queensland, rather than suffer piss weak ratings, as Ten suffered in Sydney and Brisbane, especially on Saturday evenings. At the moment Queensland AFL fans who want Seven's coverage of Friday nights must subscribe to pay TV operator Foxtel, part-owned by companies associated with Packer and Murdoch. Shutting up shot on One would be a strategic step with a major goal being to protect this money machine, but a leaker revealed Packer would be hesitant to make too much noise or agro that might stir up regulators, with Crown Limited going so well. Best not have the government tests applied to the ownership of a casino licence if you follow. Packer is also keen to ramp up online gambling, expanding on his 50% owned Betfair. He's also aware of overseas gaming giants like PartyGaming eyeing off the Asia Pacific region, and its well known PartyGaming have the smarts to ink big government deals, as well as land based casino and b2b deals. Party also have the Hollywood branded deals performing well, so Party could be an opportunity or a threat to Packer, depending upon which way the wind is blowing, and what Australian politicians decide will be law in the online space, with the Liberal Party calling for full regulation, something PartyGaming, Media Man and we understand, Betfair, are all keen to see happen. In will also get rid of any bad eggs in the iGaming space down under. Back to the traditional news media, if Ten walks from its AFL deal with Channel Seven, it would therefore leave a 7 - Foxtel consortium as the only bidder worth their salt. Sen. Conroy "decoupled" the existing anti-siphoning arrangement where free-to-air on-sold the bottom 4 games a week to pay TV, permitting Foxtel to bid directly. Gyngell's Network Nine reserving its art of war strategy for NRL rights which expire in 2012, it is unlikely the Australian Football League will be able to hold a auction for the rights. So, no challenger to Seven for the top 4 games and Nil to Foxtel for the other 4, the AFL may not get their $1 billion bucks with JP and Murdoch Jr paying less for rights, helping make sure of continuing solid profit margins in Foxtel and Fox Sports. 'Our Gina' out in the Wild Wild West - West Australia, looks to be a key player in all of this, and not just because she's loaded and is now down under's richest woman. Yep, politics, power and money all take a seat in the box beside professional sports being broadcast on Australian TV. Don't even start us on Aussie TV being broadcast on the internet. That's all sports, but stay turned in the coming days and weeks for more on the art of war that is Australian news media.
Australian Rich List
1 Georgina Rinehart, 56, $9b (mining)
2 Andrew Forrest, 49, $6.9b (mining)
3 James Packer, 43, $4.4b (gambling, media and new media)
4 Frank Lowy, 80, $4.3b (property)
5 Harry Triguboff, 77, $3.4b (property)
6 John Gandel, 76, $3.3b
7 Anthony Pratt, 50, $2.7b
8 Kerr Neilson, 61, $2.4b
9 David Hains, 80, $2b
10 Kerry Stokes, 70, $1.9b
11 Lindsay Fox, 73, $US1.7b
12 Angela Bennett & Michael Wright, 66, $1.55b
13 Leslie Alan Wilson, 69, $1.5b
14 Paul Ramsay, 75, $1.45b
15 Michael Hintze, 57, $1.4b
16 Chris Wallin, 58, $1.3b
17 Gerald Harvey, 71, $1.2b
18 Solomon Lew, 65, $1.15b
19 Leonard Buckeridge, 75, $1.1b
20 Stanley Perron, 88, $1.05b
Source: Forbes
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
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)
Profiles
Australian Casinos
World Casino Directory
Global Gaming Directory
Casino Travel
Casinos
Australia
Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:
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 http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch Rumoured To Be Worried With Network Ten News Progress...
After only two weeks on air, the Ten Network’s news evolution has reportedly come under scrutiny from new stakeholders James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch, thanks to a poor ratings performance. On Thursday night 6pm with George Negus attracted its lowest audience to date with only 398,000 viewers. The state based Ten Evening News at 6:30pm performed even worse, attracting only 362,000 viewers. The direction and performance of the George Negus fronted news vehicle is said to be of particular concern to new stakeholders Packer and Murdoch, the press reports. The pair reportedly told Ten Network executives they're worried that the international content of the bulletin is a turn-off for viewers. "Basically (an) email sent to Ten bosses said the predominance of overseas stories was unwise and indulgent and not calculated to build ratings," a well-placed source told Confidential. However, another Ten executive dismissed the report as "utter bollocks", going on to reaffirm the network’s long term commitment to the two-and-a-half hour news and current affairs block. "This is not a two-week plan or three-month one - you can't do what we've done and expect instant results - this is a long haul," a spokeswoman said. Rivals from other network’s have also expressed their thoughts on the $20 million a year investment in news, with one source pointing towards the timeslot winning lead-in 6pm with George Negus receives. "Aren't they conveniently overlooking the substantial lead-in it's provided every night by Ten's 5:00pm news which has always rated respectably for yonks?", said the source. On Thursday, David Gyngell, chief executive of the Nine Entertainment Company, described the performance as worse than he had expected.
Nine Network Presents Weekend 5pm New Slot...
The Nine Network will launched a new national 5:00pm weekend news bulletin Saturday, taking advantage of the Ten Network's recent departure from the timeslot. Nine's director of news and current affairs, Mark Calvert, told The Spy Report that the bulletin will be a permanent addition to the network's Saturday and Sunday schedule once the cricket season concludes tomorrow. Calvert unexpectedly announced the move via his Twitter account. "Missing having news at 5:00pm? Feeling abandoned by Channel Ten News at weekends? See Nine News first at five with Wendy Kingston," he posted. "Incredible flood rescue pix Nine News at 5:00pm. Yep, 5:00pm. You know...when Channel Ten News used to be on at weekends. Nine News at 5:00pm and 6:00pm. "Working harder than ever - Peter Stefanovic, Tracy Vo, Lizzie Pearl to get ready for Nine News first at 5:00pm then more at 6:00pm." Ten abandoned its national 5:00pm bulletin on weekends as part of its $20 million early evening revamp it unveiled two weeks ago. Since then, it has instead opted for a 6:00pm state-based service rivalling those on Nine and Seven. At this stage, it's unknown whether the half-hour bulletin will broadcast into Sydney and Brisbane when Nine's Sunday Afternoon Football returns on March 13. Nine's Afternoon News Hour will also continue to air weekdays from 4:30pm.
Australia's Richest Person Gina Rinehart Adds Value To Channel Ten Sports...
'Our Gina' loves sport, at least as far as it being a strong part of the line up on Network Nine. Fellow shareholders James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch also like sport, especially the cricket (sports betting connection), but Rinehart is more of an all rounder when it comes to the sports media side of the business. Our friends and Fairfax Media have secured a strong leak aka deep throat delivering the following: "She's tough, opinionated, sometimes difficult but never frightened". Rinehart is understood to be very happy with her 10% per cent stake in the network, and intends on getting her money's worth (and continuing to exercise her clout). Packer and Murdoch recently told Ten executives that while they like sport, they believe the network more than they should be, particularly for AFL broadcasting rights. The late great media and gambling tycoon, Kerry Packer, put aside an AFL $780 million deal over five years, not long before his passing away, but Packer Jr may want to talk it about a bit more. The AFL is set to receive the $1 billion at its next contract commencing at 2012. Ten wants to renegotiate its deal with Channel Seven over AFL coverage. David White, the sports director of Ten, has advised analysts that returns from AFL over the past season were not good. It is anticipated Ten will go after an improved ratio with Seven of their share of future fees, or demand an allocation of higher-rating match ups. Under the existing 7 - 10 agreement both networks must bid together, however if Ten is unable to improve its payment or game quality ratios, the deal might collapse. "Ten now has two directors (Packer and Murdoch) who would support the move to walk," a leak said. Rinehart may lobby to retain the agreement in support of Kerry Stokes, the owner of Seven. The word is her main reason for investing a dab of her $4.75 billion wealth for 10% of Ten is political influence. He took note of the success of the advertising campaign against the mining tax and sees the powerful control of the media on the political landscape, and those who work in it. Packer snatched his 17.9% take in Ten ($128 million) to boost his political clout, and then went on to selling half to Murdoch. JP likes the gambling and sport connection, as do many NRL and AFL clubs ala Rabbitohs - Star City and his own Crown Casino - Melbourne Storm baby. Packer gets on well at this stage of the game with Australian Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, and they are understood to enjoy a spot of golf from time to time. Packer and Murdoch famously had a bite with him at Crown Casino months ago. This past Thursday Conroy announced amendments to sport's anti-siphoning list, allowing free-to-air networks to show live sport on their digital channels! This falls into line with the ministers strategy to move Australia quickly away from analog TV. Ten has the only sports-dedicated digital channel (One) at this time. Should Packer and Murdoch be successful in convincing the Network Ten board that One is too costly and must be closed up, or switch programming, it would automatically undermine Conroy's plan to use sport to boost along the uptake of digital TV. It would also quite possibly piss off the big wigs at the NRL and AFL. AFL games shown live on a free-to-air network's principal channel in Melbourne could be shown live on its digital channel in New South Wales and Queensland, rather than suffer piss weak ratings, as Ten suffered in Sydney and Brisbane, especially on Saturday evenings. At the moment Queensland AFL fans who want Seven's coverage of Friday nights must subscribe to pay TV operator Foxtel, part-owned by companies associated with Packer and Murdoch. Shutting up shot on One would be a strategic step with a major goal being to protect this money machine, but a leaker revealed Packer would be hesitant to make too much noise or agro that might stir up regulators, with Crown Limited going so well. Best not have the government tests applied to the ownership of a casino licence if you follow. Packer is also keen to ramp up online gambling, expanding on his 50% owned Betfair. He's also aware of overseas gaming giants like PartyGaming eyeing off the Asia Pacific region, and its well known PartyGaming have the smarts to ink big government deals, as well as land based casino and b2b deals. Party also have the Hollywood branded deals performing well, so Party could be an opportunity or a threat to Packer, depending upon which way the wind is blowing, and what Australian politicians decide will be law in the online space, with the Liberal Party calling for full regulation, something PartyGaming, Media Man and we understand, Betfair, are all keen to see happen. In will also get rid of any bad eggs in the iGaming space down under. Back to the traditional news media, if Ten walks from its AFL deal with Channel Seven, it would therefore leave a 7 - Foxtel consortium as the only bidder worth their salt. Sen. Conroy "decoupled" the existing anti-siphoning arrangement where free-to-air on-sold the bottom 4 games a week to pay TV, permitting Foxtel to bid directly. Gyngell's Network Nine reserving its art of war strategy for NRL rights which expire in 2012, it is unlikely the Australian Football League will be able to hold a auction for the rights. So, no challenger to Seven for the top 4 games and Nil to Foxtel for the other 4, the AFL may not get their $1 billion bucks with JP and Murdoch Jr paying less for rights, helping make sure of continuing solid profit margins in Foxtel and Fox Sports. 'Our Gina' out in the Wild Wild West - West Australia, looks to be a key player in all of this, and not just because she's loaded and is now down under's richest woman. Yep, politics, power and money all take a seat in the box beside professional sports being broadcast on Australian TV. Don't even start us on Aussie TV being broadcast on the internet. That's all sports, but stay turned in the coming days and weeks for more on the art of war that is Australian news media.
Australian Rich List
1 Georgina Rinehart, 56, $9b (mining)
2 Andrew Forrest, 49, $6.9b (mining)
3 James Packer, 43, $4.4b (gambling, media and new media)
4 Frank Lowy, 80, $4.3b (property)
5 Harry Triguboff, 77, $3.4b (property)
6 John Gandel, 76, $3.3b
7 Anthony Pratt, 50, $2.7b
8 Kerr Neilson, 61, $2.4b
9 David Hains, 80, $2b
10 Kerry Stokes, 70, $1.9b
11 Lindsay Fox, 73, $US1.7b
12 Angela Bennett & Michael Wright, 66, $1.55b
13 Leslie Alan Wilson, 69, $1.5b
14 Paul Ramsay, 75, $1.45b
15 Michael Hintze, 57, $1.4b
16 Chris Wallin, 58, $1.3b
17 Gerald Harvey, 71, $1.2b
18 Solomon Lew, 65, $1.15b
19 Leonard Buckeridge, 75, $1.1b
20 Stanley Perron, 88, $1.05b
Source: Forbes
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
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)
Profiles
Australian Casinos
World Casino Directory
Global Gaming Directory
Casino Travel
Casinos
Australia
Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:
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 http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
PartyGaming and Bwin Merger Approved at Shareholder Meetings
Profiles
PartyGaming PartyCasino.com PartyPoker.com Bwin PartyBingo.com World Poker Tour
Britain
Gibraltar
Websites
PartyCasino.com PartyPoker.com PartyBingo.com PartyGammon.com World Poker Tour
The shareholders of Bwin and PartyGaming have approved the proposed merger of these giants at separately convened general body meetings. Bwin shareholders unanimously approved the merger at the Bwin general body meeting, which was held earlier in the day. The PartyGaming shareholders met later on the same day and votes were cast for or against the merger. As it turned out, 99.4 percent of the shareholders voted for the merger, owing to which shareholder approval of the merger can be considered to be unanimous even in case of PartyGaming.
Bwin and PartyGaming had decided to merge nearly six months ago and had announced their intention on July 29, 2010. The new gaming company, which will result from the merger, will be christened Bwin.party Digital Entertainment Plc. The company will be on the London Stock Exchange list and its headquarters will be in Gibraltar. Norbert Teufelberger and Jim Ryan will be the co CEO’s of Bwin.party Digital Entertainment Plc.
The co CEOs of the new company released a joint press statement immediately after the shareholders meetings. According to this statement, theses meetings were a milestone in the merger process, putting it well on the way to a successful conclusion. The CEOs expressed their delight that the shareholders of both companies understood the operational, strategic, and financial benefits of merging and creating the largest online gaming company in the world.
Bwin shareholders hold 51.6 percent of the shares of the new company and PartyGaming shareholders hold 48.4 percent. According to the prospectus of PartyGaming, which was released on Dec 23, 2010, Bwin and PartyGaming will continue to operate independently, owing to which the community of players at Bwin and PartyGaming will not notice any difference at the operational level.
However, players will reap benefits indirectly. The merger is expected to generate revenues of around €700 million, EBITDA of around €200 million approximately, post tax profit of around €100 million, and net assets worth more than €1.27 billion, states the prospectus. The merger will result in annual savings worth more than €55 million approximately, of which €40 million will be brought into effect in 2012 and the rest in 2013.
The new company plans to create an innovation laboratory to develop new social games, establish long-term relationships with prominent gaming bodies, push for the regulation and liberalization of the online gaming market in the USA, and explore possibilities for making more acquisitions in future.
Profiles
PartyGaming
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
PartyBingo.com
PartyGammon.com
PartyBets.com
GameBookers.com
FoxyBingo.com
Bwin
Cashcade
World Poker Tour
Politics
Britain
Gibraltar
News
News
Casino News
Poker News
Gambling News
Entertainment News
Property News
Technology News
Financial News
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
PartyGaming PartyCasino.com PartyPoker.com Bwin PartyBingo.com World Poker Tour
Britain
Gibraltar
Websites
PartyCasino.com PartyPoker.com PartyBingo.com PartyGammon.com World Poker Tour
The shareholders of Bwin and PartyGaming have approved the proposed merger of these giants at separately convened general body meetings. Bwin shareholders unanimously approved the merger at the Bwin general body meeting, which was held earlier in the day. The PartyGaming shareholders met later on the same day and votes were cast for or against the merger. As it turned out, 99.4 percent of the shareholders voted for the merger, owing to which shareholder approval of the merger can be considered to be unanimous even in case of PartyGaming.
Bwin and PartyGaming had decided to merge nearly six months ago and had announced their intention on July 29, 2010. The new gaming company, which will result from the merger, will be christened Bwin.party Digital Entertainment Plc. The company will be on the London Stock Exchange list and its headquarters will be in Gibraltar. Norbert Teufelberger and Jim Ryan will be the co CEO’s of Bwin.party Digital Entertainment Plc.
The co CEOs of the new company released a joint press statement immediately after the shareholders meetings. According to this statement, theses meetings were a milestone in the merger process, putting it well on the way to a successful conclusion. The CEOs expressed their delight that the shareholders of both companies understood the operational, strategic, and financial benefits of merging and creating the largest online gaming company in the world.
Bwin shareholders hold 51.6 percent of the shares of the new company and PartyGaming shareholders hold 48.4 percent. According to the prospectus of PartyGaming, which was released on Dec 23, 2010, Bwin and PartyGaming will continue to operate independently, owing to which the community of players at Bwin and PartyGaming will not notice any difference at the operational level.
However, players will reap benefits indirectly. The merger is expected to generate revenues of around €700 million, EBITDA of around €200 million approximately, post tax profit of around €100 million, and net assets worth more than €1.27 billion, states the prospectus. The merger will result in annual savings worth more than €55 million approximately, of which €40 million will be brought into effect in 2012 and the rest in 2013.
The new company plans to create an innovation laboratory to develop new social games, establish long-term relationships with prominent gaming bodies, push for the regulation and liberalization of the online gaming market in the USA, and explore possibilities for making more acquisitions in future.
Profiles
PartyGaming
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
PartyBingo.com
PartyGammon.com
PartyBets.com
GameBookers.com
FoxyBingo.com
Bwin
Cashcade
World Poker Tour
Politics
Britain
Gibraltar
News
News
Casino News
Poker News
Gambling News
Entertainment News
Property News
Technology News
Financial News
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Virgin Hotels 'at least two years away' - 1st February 2011
Sir Richard Branson has said that his much-anticipated new hotel brand Virgin Hotels is still two years away from launching.
According to reports in US media, he told the American Lodging and Investment Summit that finding sites for the new hotel chain wasn't proving easy, although he did confirm a few places where travelers will be able to enjoy Virgin's almost-legendary hospitality.
San Diego and Washington DC are likely candidates, and Branson also announced that one of the the first sites will be in New Mexico, overlooking the spaceport which will send his Virgin Galactic tourist flights into space.
He also told conference attendees that each hotel will be different, saying that putting a Virgin stamp on the hotels wasn't enough and that the goal was to be the "funnest" hotel for guests to go to.
Fans of the outlandish British billionaire who are disappointed by the wait can take solace in exciting new hotels from America's favorite businessman Donald Trump, scheduled for the not-too-distant future.
The luxury hotel brand is set to open its first properties outside of the US in the coming months - the Trump Ocean Club Panama and the Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto are both expected in the spring.
The hotels, which will be added to the five-star portfolio of properties in New York, Las Vegas and Chicago, are built to the exacting standards of Donald and his daughter Ivanka and are both record breakers - the Panama property is the tallest and largest building in Latin America and the Toronto hotel the tallest residential building in Canada.
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
According to reports in US media, he told the American Lodging and Investment Summit that finding sites for the new hotel chain wasn't proving easy, although he did confirm a few places where travelers will be able to enjoy Virgin's almost-legendary hospitality.
San Diego and Washington DC are likely candidates, and Branson also announced that one of the the first sites will be in New Mexico, overlooking the spaceport which will send his Virgin Galactic tourist flights into space.
He also told conference attendees that each hotel will be different, saying that putting a Virgin stamp on the hotels wasn't enough and that the goal was to be the "funnest" hotel for guests to go to.
Fans of the outlandish British billionaire who are disappointed by the wait can take solace in exciting new hotels from America's favorite businessman Donald Trump, scheduled for the not-too-distant future.
The luxury hotel brand is set to open its first properties outside of the US in the coming months - the Trump Ocean Club Panama and the Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto are both expected in the spring.
The hotels, which will be added to the five-star portfolio of properties in New York, Las Vegas and Chicago, are built to the exacting standards of Donald and his daughter Ivanka and are both record breakers - the Panama property is the tallest and largest building in Latin America and the Toronto hotel the tallest residential building in Canada.
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)