Several years ago, a work colleague instructed me to use the phrase ‘gaming’, and not internet gambling when discussing our organization’s work on federal gambling policy.  She believed that term better reflected the breadth of the issue and, to a certain extent, minimized the negative connotations associated with “gambling.”  Twelve years later, I’m not sure that works anymore. First of all, if I began this column discussing “gaming” issues, you might think I’m referring to introverted teenagers hiding from the sun in front of their Xbox consoles. Second, it doesn’t really matter whether “gambling” has a negative or positive connotation….

US Poker – The dust has settled from the 140th Kentucky Derby. California Chrome celebrated in the winner’s circle on Saturday. Bettors that picked California Chrome to win took home $2.50 for every $1 bet.  Many other wagers were placed on the annual betting tradition. Churchill Downs held a large portion of the action. Win, place and show bets saw a 17.5 percent hold. Exotics had 22% taken from the prize pool. This was up from 16 percent and 19 percent in 2013, respectively. Churchill Downs booked $186.6 million in bets on Saturday across the entire race card. Winning bettors…

New York Daily News – A drunken British woman flying to Las Vegas with her parents was cuffed after loudly joining the mile-high club with a fellow passenger. The frisky flier, in her 20s, was reportedly busted romping in the restroom on the Virgin flight from London’s Gatwick Airport last week. Attendants are said to have busted down the door after receiving complaints about the loud sex noises the duo were making. She then allegedly had to be cuffed after screaming abuse at the crew. On touching down in Sin City, the woman was hauled off the plane. But, after…

Gambling Kingz – It has taken 12 weeks for the UK Gambling Commission player funds protection decisions to be made. For players, the three month consultation period was worth the wait in order to be ensured of better guidelines to keep their funds safe. While not all operators have failed to protect player funds, there have been some that have, and because of that, the need to regulate this issue came about. The UK Gambling Commission has made the decision that player deposits must be kept segregated from other funds. This means that when players make deposits, these deposits should…

Daily Mail – Sixty minutes later Daniel Tzvetkoff and a cohort of high rollers and hangers-on were partying in the Palm Hotel’s Playboy Mansion Suite. Tzvetkoff swigged Cristal champagne straight from the bottle and lounged in the infinity pool. Naked girls snorted cocaine off each other’s breasts and invited him to do the same. Tzvetkoff was 25 years old. He could have anyone he wanted at the click of his fingers.  He flew by private jet, drove Lamborghinis, Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris and more and his property portfolio was worth millions. And on that September night in Vegas, 2008, he…

Oregon Live – When it comes to online gambling vs. legalized marijuana, Americans apparently prefer pot over poker. A new poll from Farleigh Dickinson University finds that 50 percent favor legalizing marijuana use, while 27 percent support legalizing Internet gambling in the 47 states that don’t allow it. “Right now online gambling looks to be a long shot in the court of public opinion,” Krista Jenkins, the poll’s director and a political science professor told the Associated Press. The poll comes as good news to billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson, who is on a crusade to get Congress to ban…