The Verge – They won’t have neon signs, drive-thru windows, or 24-hour wedding chapels attached to them. But Las Vegas marijuana dispensaries will be massively profitable tourist attractions that could deepen the entire nation’s relationship with weed. At least that’s the hope of the 109 applicants who entered the heated competition for Vegas’ first medical marijuana dispensary and grow-room licenses in time for Tuesday’s deadline. Nevada voters legalized medical marijuana way back in 2000, but the state only recently enacted regulations to allow people to open pot businesses legally. Unincorporated Clark County — not to be confused with Clark County,…

The Guardian – Usually when poker makes headline news it tends be alongside the word “addiction” or “gambling”, a precautionary tale of why this card game of skill and temperament should be avoided at all costs. So when Victoria Coren Mitchell became the first person to win two European Poker Tour (EPT) titles, garnering a significant amount of press interest among broadsheets and the more reputable media outlets, the whole poker community breathed a sigh of relief. The truth is that poker has suffered greatly over recent years, particularly in the US where online poker was ostensibly banned in April…

Players have finally been rewarded with the release of the Avalon II online slot, the sequel to one of most successful Microgaming titles of all time. The original Avalon slot, launched in 2006, was an instant hit among players. It was originally released for mobile in 2010, and a multi-player version followed three years after in 2013. This online slot game builds on the success of its predecessor and rivals any video slot game out there. Players are taken on a quest to retrieve the Grail, and the game features professional voice actors, outstanding music and 3D rendered animations. The…

San Francisco Gate – An actor in a plush panda suit bounds across the stage with the enthusiasm of a minor league baseball mascot, flanked by acrobats atop bamboo poles, stone-faced kung-fu fighters and over-the-top visual effects rarely seen off the Las Vegas Strip. “PANDA!” — the first Chinese-produced show to take up a long-term residency on the famous tourist corridor — also takes pains to weave in Chinese folklore and motifs, including sweeping views of an ultra-modern Beijing skyline on giant LCD screens. The loose, wordless plot needs no translation. The subtext doesn’t either: A growing, confident China wants respect, not…

My News 4 – Ultimatepoker.com turns one-year-old on Wednesday. The first regulated, real-money online poker site in the United States led Nevada’s charge into online gaming. Online gaming in the Silver State is booming. Since the first regulated pay-to-play poker website in America launched a year ago, two more operating real-money poker websites have also started. ““Ultimate was the first,” said Nevada State Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett. “Right now, the three internet poker websites collected $926,000 is revenues for last month.”  The Nevada State Gaming Control Board said the numbers keep growing. “For the first 11 months of operation,…

Card Player – A bill (Senate Bill 0878) favorable to charity poker operations passed the Michigan Senate last week. It now moves into the House for consideration. As MLive.com reports, the measure would allow charity gaming operations to do business 365 days a year. The bill would be better for the charities than what is currently being planned by the state Gaming Control Board, which is looking to implement stricter rules next month. Basically, it’s a race to try to stop the Board’s rules before they go into effect. Michigan regulators have been giving charity poker and blackjack a hard…

The Commerce Casino, the world’s largest poker room with 160 tables, has suspended its advertising relationship with the Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise in the wake of racist comments made by team owner Donald Sterling. “The Commerce Casino has enjoyed being a sponsor of the L.A. Clippers for the past 18 years,” said a casino statement. “The arena experience for fans and the reputation the team has maintained is why we have aligned with the franchise. We know the NBA is reviewing the matter and we expect the NBA will quickly provide its findings and explain any action it will…

Charlotte Observer – Since New Jersey began Internet gambling in November, it has been difficult to use a credit card to fund an online betting account. New statistics from a company that routes those payments show just how hard it has been. CAMS LLC told The Associated Press on Tuesday that credit cards are being accepted from New Jersey gamblers between 42 and 46 percent of the time. It receives online payments from the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, which has the largest share of the state’s online market, as well as from the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort and…