Day might the Zombie Apocalypse arrive on Xmas? It is possible to bet on it! (Image: zombieapocalypse.com)
Every year punters place bets on whether or not they are going to get up up to a snowy blanket across their roads on Christmas morning. Oahu is the old romantic in each of us that dreams about this scenic backdrop to a joyous day, surrounded by our loved ones and overeating with the Christmas trimmings, cannibalizing and distributing our infectious zombie disease. Wait. What?
Betting on Zombies
Though some are betting for a Christmas that is white bookmaking giant Ladbrokes is offering chances of 2000/1 on this xmas being the beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse. That is clearly a nice, festive idea to have, and beats the chances they provide for football team Crystal Palace winning the Premier League in 2010 at 5000/1. Talk about harmful gambling.
‘We are quite confident that the odds of a Zombie Apocalypse at 2000/1 are correct, and although the public should exert caution throughout the Christmas period, they need to not be unduly concerned about the undead rising up to attack and eat the living,’ announced Alex Donohue, a spokesman for the Ladbrokes bookmaker.
Odds for a white Christmas currently stand at 5/1, which is a much better chance than those offered on the doomsday coming of the undead, and you are more likely in order to claim your winnings after a bit of snow in place of needing to fight your way through the zombie hordes to gather your prize. If you got that bet right, that’s for sure although you would be pretty smug with yourself.
While the chance to bet on the Zombie Apocalypse is significantly more than likely a nice bit of publicity for Ladbrokes, Sean Page zombie expert and founder associated with the Ministry of Zombies has urged the public to organize for the worst.
‘The public is definitely interested in the odds of a white xmas, nonetheless they must certanly be more concerned by the increasing chance of the Zombie Apocalypse,’ claimed Page, suggesting, possibly, that he’s nipping during the whiskey having a bit excessively alacrity.
‘The many time that is likely an outbreak is throughout the busy yuletide season as people save money amount of time in large groups, rendering it easier for the zombie virus to spread, triggering the Apocalypse,’ Page added. Apparently, he’s seen it happen before.
Wagers That Are Dead On
2000/1 seems a bit too low for the chances of a zombie epidemic really, but this is simply not the time that is first has offered the opportunity to place wagers on the Apocalypse, while they also offered equivalent odds in the outbreak of an undead siege on December 21st 2012, because of all of the hype around the end of the Mayan calendar to which doomsday ‘enthusiasts’ were clinging hopefully in expectation of these impending doom.
Strangely enough, Ladbrokes are additionally providing much more likely chances of 500/1 on the possibility of Prince Harry getting hitched to Miley Cyrus, but the smart profit this instance would most likely be on the zombies, despite the fact you know, end of the world and all that that you would be unlikely to recoup any wager due to the. So less ‘nothing was stirring’ and more ‘watch out for the bloodthirsty, flesh-eating undead outside of the door.’
MGM Clears Hurdles in Massachusetts; Gaming Commission Nevertheless Must Okay
MGM Resorts is almost through the regulatory gauntlet in Massachusetts for their Springfield casino project (Image: Artist’s rendering of casino)
Simply when you thought no one would ever be good enough for Massachusetts’ insanely gaming that is fastidious, the MGM actually earned their approbation this week. The commission’s investigative supply which could have its TV that is own series ‘MGC P.I.’ recommended that MGM Resorts be located suitable to move forward with their Springfield casino task, with the caveat that MGM executives be able to talk their way away from a few lingering issues associated with commission, concerns that came to light as soon as the commission conducted its regulatory background check in the casino company.
Cleared for Take Off
We aren’t whistling Dixie; the Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement spent the past 10 months looking through every speck of dust that anyone associated with MGM ever came across, and amazingly noted that they found nothing that would automatically disqualify the group from setting up house in the pristine state of Massachusetts when we say ‘lengthy.
But it’s not really a done deal yet; the five Massachusetts Gaming Commissioners still get to have the last term on whether or not MGM will likely be able to work in their neck associated with woods. But then be able to submit their last application as the one and only western Massachusetts casino license that will be given out; and since they’re the only remaining applicant, that would seem to be a pretty done deal if they give their papal blessing to the company, MGM will.
The sole tiny ding that the Bureau could dig up after almost a 12 months of searching all documented in a 500-page report on the topic was MGM’s means of dealing previous executive board member Terry Christensen, who in 2008 was convicted on charges relating to the wiretapping of business mogul Kirk Kerkorian’s ex-wife when Kerkorian was involved in a gruesome child support fight.
‘Despite his indictment, resignation through the Board and conviction that is ultimate Christensen was permitted to interact, on a repeated and prolonged basis, in a few sensitive and non-public corporate things of MGM Resorts … including their attendance at Board meetings,’ scolded the report.
In this dance of mea culpa, MGM CEO James Murren took the position of penitent profligate using the Commission at this week’s hearing, noting that it turned out a mistake for the company to allow bad kid Christensen to continue in just about any capability with the company.
‘I exercised poor judgment,’ said Murren, who was simply the outfit’s CFO when all this took place. ‘It was a bad idea from the very beginning. None of us should have had any contact with (Christensen).’
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
More Executive Contrition
Murren had beenn’t the only person to throw himself regarding the mercy associated with court, as present MGM board member (and head of its audit committee) Roland Hernandez produced point to inform commissioners that protocols are now in place in the business to guarantee there will be no repeats with this poor decision-making process.
All that was then left for the commish to deal with had been several questions they had about some MGM transactions in Macau; mostly, these centered around a partnership that is former Chinese business mogul (and daughter of casino mega-mogul Stanley Ho) Pansy Ho. Ho had been deemed unsuitable as someone during a 2010 nj-new Jersey regulatory hearing on the situation, and also as such, MGM had to unload a 50 percent stake in an Atlantic City casino there, just to keep their nose clean. The allegations had been that Ho’s daddy Stanley had had dealings with some Chinese gangs, a definite ‘no-no’ in today’s regulatory gaming world.
Hernandez had to the Massachusetts commissioners that Ms. Ho had been included with MGM completely separate from her father, and that she was mainly involved in non-gaming business activities regarding their MGM Macau property. Hernandez also noted that other, less finicky, states had been okay with the Ho interaction; namely, Nevada and Maryland, both of which had no problem with it. He also noted that New Jersey has now softened their own stance, and may allow MGM back to the fold in Atlantic City.
The panel should rule later on this week; the commission’s chair Stephen Crosby won’t state which way the wind is blowing, but noted he appreciated the MGM execs’ openness in working with these issues.
But also being the only applicant real-money-casino.club and regardless if cleared by the commission this it’s still not a 100 percent slam-dunk for MGM Resorts week.
‘One applicant or 10, we’ll hold their feet to the fire to make certain we have a really good application,’ Crosby encouraged reporters throughout a hearing break.
Setback for PokerStars as brand New Jersey Bars Licensing for 2 Years
PokerStars got a smack from New Jersey regulators this week once they put them in licensing limbo for the next couple of years
If there is one name that has dominated the American online poker market over the decade that is last it’s become PokerStars. However, if you’re residing in New Jersey, you mustn’t expect you’ll be playing for a site operated by the poker giant any time quickly.
Two Years in Limbo
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement determined this week to suspend the review of PokerStars’ application for an online gambling license for two years, effortlessly locking the organization out from the state’s on-line poker marketplace for that time frame.
‘The Division of Gaming Enforcement has determined that the effective use of Rational Services Limited (PokerStars) casino service industry licensure (CSIE) will likely be in a status that is suspended a period of two years,’ the Division stated in a declaration.
However, the door is not totally closed on PokerStars.
‘The Division, within that duration, may think about a demand for relief to reactivate the application if significantly changed circumstances are demonstrated, of which time the Division’s investigation of PokerStars and its particular affiliated entities and associated individuals are going to be resumed to assess suitability.’
Bad Company, Bad Actor
Although PokerStars has long settled its case using the federal government and admitted no wrongdoing as a part of that settlement New Jersey regulators still have some issues with the company. Chief the type of appears to be founder Isai Scheinberg to their association, who has been under federal indictment since Ebony Friday. Scheinberg is not a U.S. citizen, and have not come towards the U.S. to face those costs, to no body’s surprise.
While this is a loss that is huge PokerStars, it also marks a huge win for its competitors in the New Jersey market. As we reported recently, the site run by PartyPoker jointly with the Borgata Casino currently includes a 50 percent share of the state’s poker market, with the Caesars/888 World number of Poker site not far behind. Those two companies could have been overshadowed easily by the PokerStars site which would were operated along with Resorts Casino and were hoping that their head start would give them an advantage that will allow them to keep competitive. Now, they’ll have at least two years to produce brand name loyalty, something that PokerStars could have a time that is difficult, if so when they have been finally licensed for New Jersey’s online market.
PokerStars was predictably not thrilled by the news, though they noted that hawaii’s decision could improvement in the long run.
‘We are disappointed that the N.J. Division of Gaming Enforcement has suspended the review of our application at this time,’ stated PokerStars spokesman Eric Hollreiser in a statement. ‘We note that the DGE will resume the overview of our application if our circumstances change. We will stay static in open discussion with the DGE and will update them on changes in our situation as they occur.’
This wasn’t the very first disappointing result for PokerStars in nj-new jersey. Previously, the ongoing company had tried to get the Atlantic Club Casino, only to have that deal break apart over concerns about whether regulators would approve the purchase. That decision was also expensive, as PokerStars lost about $11 million they’d spent on casino expenses a total that was meant to be used to your eventual $15 million cost.