The Guardian – Australians love a punt and new research shows we wager more, and lose more, than any other country in the world, according to a report published in the Economist. It puts Australian gambling losses at about $1144 a resident. But Australians are only the world’s biggest punters because they have the most opportunity to fritter cash away, anti-gambling campaigners say. “Gambling is just like eucalyptus oil – it’s natural,” said Tim Costello, chairman of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce. “But in Australia we’ve allowed gambling to proliferate more than anyone else in the world.” Monash University gambling…

Las Vegas Sun – Sports fans bet a record $119.4 million at Nevada casinos on the Super Bowl. Unaudited tallies showed sportsbooks made an unprecedented profit of $19.7 million on the action, the Gaming Control Board said. That’s more than the past three Super Bowl wins combined. The Denver Broncos started out as a 2.5-point favorite, but the Seattle Seahawks won 43-8. Oddsmakers said Peyton Manning fans drove the unprecedented handle, flooding Las Vegas and northern Nevada with wagers on the favored team and its veteran quarterback, who was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for the 2013 season the…

Korea Times – The government said Monday that it will ease regulations on the issuance of casino licenses to international investors. The plan was disclosed at a meeting presided over by President Park Geun-hye on how to boost the tourism industry. Up until now, foreign investors in casinos have been required to have credit ratings of higher than BBB. “We will ease the restrictions,” said an official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST). “Even if bidders cannot meet the conditions, they can be licensed in case they stand out in other areas like financial capacity. The government…

iGaming Business – Australian gaming companies Tabcorp and Tatts are seeking repayments of more than AUS$1 billion (€651.6 million/US$880.4 million) from the Victorian Government after changes were made to poker machine regulations. According to ABC Australian, the Supreme Court in Melbourne heard that Tabcorp is suing for nearly $700 million plus interest after claiming it as entitled to a payment when its poker machine licences expired in 2012. The Tatts Group is said to be seeking about $500 million from the Government in the Australian state of Victoria. The two companies held a duopoly to operate 27,000 gaming machines outside…

Card Player – A proposal up for consideration in the South Dakota legislature would allow casinos in the city of Deadwood to be able to expand their gambling offerings. The authorization would come in the form of a constitutional amendment. The Associated Press reported that the State Affairs Committee voted 10-1 this week for the measure. It would also put the idea up to a referendum in November. At the present time, Deadwood casinos offer slot machines, poker and blackjack. They are seeking to also offer roulette, keno and craps. The move reportedly comes to keep pace with nearby states…

New York Daily News – It was only a pipe dream. Workers cleaning a clogged sewer pipe at an Atlantic City casino may have thought they landed a $2.7 million windfall when they found more than 500 poker tournament chips. But the chips were counterfeit. The Harrah’s Resort and Casino employees unearthed the chips in the room of poker competitor Christian Lusardi, 42, of North Carolina, according to The Press of Atlantic City. Lusardi was taken into custody Friday at an Atlantic City motel, investigators said, accused of stuffing the chips into the pipe. The bad act spurred the cancellation…