Author: Elbert Stackhouse

Gaming IPOs in doubt

Posted on by Elbert Stackhouse
UFA

Wall Street may prove to be a rocky road for casino company IPOs, despite the buzz at this week’s Global Gaming Expo.

 

Much of the public discussion and corridor buzz at the G2E gathering involved possible initial public offerings by Las Vegas Sands Inc., Coast Casinos and Wynn Resorts.

 

Market analysts on Wall Street at the end of the week, however, were saying gaming stocks could well get swamped by market trends.

 

McDonald Investments’ Dennis Forst said the market’s bearish downturn has “nothing to do with gaming. Gaming stocks have done well.

 

“The question is whether the IPO window is open at all,” he said.

 

William Weidner, president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands Inc., announced this week during one of the expo’s seminars that The Venetian will consider a “future” public stock offering to fund a new resort adjacent to The Venetian and two casinos in Macau.

 

Construction is under way on a 1,000-suite addition atop The Venetian’s parking garage and a 150,000-square-foot addition to the resort’s convention center.

 

Coast Casinos also previously announced plans for a $200 million stock offering, which Chairman Michael Gaughn recently put on hold.

 

And Wynn Resorts has about a $400 million initial UFA offering in the works as part of the financing package to develop Le Reve, a $1.85 billion megaresort on the Strip Desert Inn site, and casino resorts in Macau.

 

“It’s difficult to get investor interest in even seasoned companies,” Forst said. “It’s a very difficult market, but it’s not impossible.”

 

“(Wynn Resorts Chairman Steve) Wynn not starting his road show is an indication (of the difficulties companies face),” he said.

 

Wall Street insiders expected Wynn Resorts to start an investor presentation “road show” by Labor Day.

 

“There must be some reason he’s not out and about,” Forst said, referring to Wynn.

 

Analysts said both the Coast and Sands have “enviable” records, and would probably have little difficulties with public offerings in a more receptive environment.

 

Larry Klatzkin at Jefferies & Co. said the market’s receptivity would depend more on each individual company’s performance, its cash flow and the multiples at which offerings would be made.

 

The performance of The Venetian in particular, he said, is very strong and he would not say that Coast Casinos could not complete an offering.

 

Still, analysts agreed that individual companies and industries can only buck market trends to a limited extent.

 

This past week, the Dow Jones industrial average closed at 7986.02, down 20.3 percent for the year, and the S&P; 500 Index closed at 845.39, down 26.4 percent for the year.

 

The IPO market has been hurting all year, impeded by the tumbling stock market, a plethora of corporate-governance and accounting scandals and weak corporate earnings and profit forecasts, analysts said.

 

Wall Street analysts at G2E, however, were bullish on Las Vegas gaming companies thanks to their resilience in the face of recent market trends.

 

 

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Types of Online Qiu Qiu Casinos

Posted on by Elbert Stackhouse
Qiu Qiu

There are a number of types of online casinos at which you can play. Many of them are Java-based and load directly in your browser. Some of them use Flash or Shockwave, which also runs in your browser but may require the Flash (or Shockwave) plug-ins available from Macromedia.

Both of these types are usually referred to as no-download casinos, even though you have to download graphics and sounds every time you play. The biggest advantage of a no-download casino is that it can be played on most computers and operating systems, and many of these will also work on WebTV.

Then there are the downloadable software casinos, which will only run on Windows-based platforms. File sizes generally range from 5-15 megabytes, so you should make sure you are definitely planning to play at this casino before investing the time to download. If you run Windows, I recommend that you stick to these download casinos. They are generally more stable and secure, and once downloaded minimize communications between your computer and the casino game server, making them ideal for those of you with dial-up connections.

Bonuses

One of the biggest advantages to online Qiu Qiu gambling is the wide availability of bonuses that online casinos offer. Some casinos give you money right off the bat for you to test out their games. Others require you to make a deposit in order to receive a bonus, which is either a percentage of your deposit added to your account, or a fixed amount received for an exact deposit of X dollars.

For example, Casino A might give you $10 free just for downloading, and $40 additional when you make your first deposit of $100 within seventy-two hours.

Casino B may offer you a bonus of 25% of the amount you deposit up to a certain limit.

The reason that online casinos can offer bonuses like this is simply because they have a much lower overhead cost. Less staff, less equipment, no construction required, etc. And on top of that, they make you wager your deposit (and usually your bonus) at least three times over before you can collect your winnings.

It is very important that you read the terms and conditions which are either posted on the web site or included in your email offer—how many times you must wager the deposit and the bonus, the validity period of the bonus offer, and which games you can or cannot play in order to ensure your winnings are valid.

Making a Deposit

So you’re ready to make your first real money bet? There are usually a number of methods by which you can send the casino money.

Firstly, there’s your credit card: Visa and Mastercard are commonly accepted by nearly every online casino. However, many of you in North America may find that your credit card purchase will be rejected.

This is not because the casino doesn’t want your money; it’s because of a regulation at credit card companies, which forces the merchant (the casino) to identify the transaction as 7995: the purchase of tokens for the purpose of Internet Gambling. Most banks in the US are afraid to accept these high-risk transactions and automatically reject the purchase.

If this is the case, you have two alternative methods of using your credit card—by opening up an account at either PayPal or FirePay. You can tie your credit card to these accounts and the purchase will be identified as a pseudo-cash transaction instead of Internet Gambling transaction. These two methods are now the most common ways by which North American residents deposit money into online casinos—and in some cases casinos will offer an additional bonus if you make a deposit by one of these methods.

Many casinos also offer incentives for making a purchase by Western Union—you can use your credit card to send funds by Western Union online, or you can always go to your nearest Western Union agent and hand over cash. Some casinos will even allow you to deposit money by other methods such as ACH (which is basically an electronic check), or by wire transfer, Neteller or Layeway.

Playing the Games

Most casinos offer a pretty good selection of table games. At the very least, you should be able to find blackjack, baccarat and roulette online; many casinos offer additional table games like Caribbean Stud, Craps, Red Dog, even Casino War and Three Card Poker—but sometimes the names are slightly changed.

Video poker is one of the more popular gambling games—while a few casinos only offer one or two types of video poker, the best casinos may offer as many as 10–15 different games, and some even offer multi-hand video poker.

And then there are slots: hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of different slot machines. Whether it’s single-line, three-line, 9-line, 3- or 5-reel, progressives, bonus games, you name it, they’ve got it somewhere on the Net. The best are the progressive slots, which often pay more—and hit more frequently—than the progressives you’ll see in Vegas. The two largest portals that feature these games are Jackpot Madness and Jackpot Mania.

All of these games are simple to learn—usually just a click or two—and they play as fast as, or faster than, land-based casinos. Some are multi-player, some are single-player; but after you take a break for dinner, or perhaps take the dog out for a walk, there will always be a seat waiting for you when you come back.

Is Online Gambling Safe?

That depends. There are still rogue casino operators out there that are looking for a quick kill but they are in the minority. Most online casinos today are honest, reputable and make payments in a timely manner.

Online Gambling is Fun!

Online casino gambling is here to stay—it’s fun, always available, and you have more of a chance of winning than you do at a land-based casino. So get your snacks and a few beers ready, turn on your computer, log on to the Internet and start up your favorite casino software—pretty soon you’ll need to travel to Vegas to get away from your computer, perhaps paid for with your online winnings!

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IGC Testifies before Congress about Situs Judi Online24Jam Terpercaya 2021

Posted on by Elbert Stackhouse
Situs Judi Online24Jam Terpercaya 2021

We thank the River City Group and Keith Furlong of the Interactive Gaming Council for this update on Internet legislative action pending before Congress, noting that the IGC’s position reflects many of the points outlined by Stanley Roberts in his insightful article “State Gaming Portals,” found in this Summer’s issue of Gambling Times.

On November 30 the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC), in testimony before the House Subcommittee on Crime, urged Congress to consider regulation of Internet gaming as a better means of protecting citizens than prohibition. The Committee members were hearing testimony on legislation, H.R. 556 and H.R. 3215, to prohibit Internet gaming by deputizing the financial services industry to monitor and prohibit financial instruments for illegal Internet gaming.

In IGC testimony presented by Frank Catania, former director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), former chair of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), and current President, Catania Consulting Group, Inc., the committee heard that:

  • Internet gaming regulation is concentrated on the exact issues raised by opponents of Internet gaming and proponents of complete prohibition. The solution lies in a strictly regulated alternative aimed at ensuring the presence of harm minimization measures, not the least of which relate to the protection of children and compulsive gamblers.
  • Internet gaming already exists with the most recent statistics showing are as many as 1,400–1,650 gaming web sites currently operating, a significant increase from only one year ago.
  • Billions of dollars are reportedly being bet over the Internet with little, if any, oversight or guarantee that the operators of these sites are fair and honest, or that protections are in place to keep children and compulsive gamblers away.
  • Internet gaming revenue projections imply that a percentage of these monies are from our citizens and leave the United States with no subsequent benefit, directly or indirectly, to the U.S. or any state (including no dedicated funds for protecting children and problem gamblers through education or other programs).

 

  • Strict regulation will work; the question before Congress is not whether or not we will have online gaming—we most certainly will, unless we ban the Internet itself, but the question is whether we will have well regulated, above-board online gaming, or unregulated, underground online gaming. The bills before you opt for the latter.

 

Mr. Catania ended his testimony by commending Congressmen Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Jim Leech (R-IA), the prime sponsors of this legislation for their desire to minimize the social pathologies that attend problem and underage gaming. While the IGC have not supported their efforts, the organization respects their commitment, and we are sure that it is rooted in their experience of the harm that problem gambling can impart. More about – Situs Judi Online24Jam Terpercaya 2021

The Interactive Gaming Council is an international non-profit trade association of over 100 companies around the globe that are involved with the interactive gaming industry. The IGC’s mission is to: provide a forum to address issues and advance common interests in the global interactive gaming industry; establish fair and responsible trade guidelines and practices that enhance consumer confidence in interactive gaming products and services; and serve as the industry’s public policy advocate and information clearinghouse. An important role of the Interactive Gaming Council is to advocate for the adoption of strong government regulation of the Internet gaming industry. For more information, visit the IGC web site at www.igcouncil.org.

Frommer Bill AB 1229 Dies in California Senate Assemblyman Dario Frommer’s Bill to ban Internet Gambling in California was shelved by the State Senate after passing through the Assembly by a vote of 61-2. Frommer, D-Los Angeles, reacted angrily upon shelving of the bill stating: “The only winners in today’s action were Las Vegas’ biggest casinos, a well-connected Indian tribe, and hundreds of unscrupulous online gambling sites. The losers are average Californians who are literally a mouse click away from losing their life savings (or) homes to shady online casinos.” Frommer vowed to re-introduce his legislation in 2002.

Attempts by Gambling Times to meet with Frommer to discuss his position and reaction to the articles in the Fall 2001 issue of Gambling Times by I. Nelson Rose and Stanley Roberts have not borne fruit to this date. His Sacramento office informs us that he will not be available for an interview until January at the earliest, and phone calls to his local office have not been returned. We are still hopeful that the Assemblyman will meet with Gambling Times and Professor Rose prior to re-introduction of his bill to fully and cogently explain, to the people of California and the nation, his reasons for attempting to implement this sweeping and indeed draconian measure which infringes upon the personal rights of citizens.

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Ligaz11 Review of No Limit

Posted on by Elbert Stackhouse

 

 

I don’t know of anyone who knows who Bob Stupak is but doesn’t have a strong opinion of him. The “Polish Maverick”, as he has been called, has been one of the most colorful figures in the menagerie of Las Vegas colorful gambling figures. His tireless energy, streetwise savvy, and relentless self promotion boosted him from a kid with grandiose dreams to one of the most influential casino operators in Las Vegas, gambling’s Mecca. This book is the story to date of his wild life.

 

The book starts with Stupak’s childhood in Pittsburgh and the gambling associations of his family. The book then chronicles his restless early life, the founding of his empire during a few years in Australia, and his arrival in Las Vegas. We hear about how he builds Bob Stupak’s Vegas World from scratch, and the controversy he attracts along the way.

 

The last half of the book covers what was to be Stupak’s crowning achievement, the building of the Stratosphere hotel and casino on the site of Vegas World. The high points of the Stratosphere’s problems and Stupak’s fall from relative grace are fairly well known. The details prove to be interesting as an object lesson on one of the Strip’s few failures. We also hear about Stupak’s nearly fatal motorcycle crash and his miraculous recovery, and the book ends with Stupak, hidden away in his own “Fortress of Solitude” plotting his comeback.

 

The book is passably written, although it’s not spectacular. Early on, there are several places where the writing seems forced. We move from one event to the other with a distinct lack of continuity. In addition, sprinkled about the book, are a few places where facts seem to be thrown in more because the author felt they were worthwhile and needed to go somewhere than because they fit into that portion of the narrative.

 

The research done in preparation of the book is impressive, owing much to the late decision by Stupak to cooperate with the biographer by opening up his own “Stupak Library” to Smith. Smith covers a lot of history, not just of Stupak, but of the Las Vegas ligaz11 gambling scene to which Stupak, for better or worse, is indelibly linked. Smith also, to his credit, doesn’t bring an agenda to the recounting of Stupak’s life, other than that Stupak is an interesting figure, and his life story is worth recording.

 

On the other hand, I would like to have seen a more complete analysis of Stupak’s character. He’s a complex man who is brilliant, but uneducated, and suffers for a serious inferiority complex. Even though he is most well known for using “late night used car sales tactics” in the promotion of his properties and exorbitant wagering, there is much more to him than that. He can, alternately, charm a person with his self deprecating sense of humor, and then he can turn right around and annoy them to tears. I would have appreciated a more thorough analysis of Stupak’s motivations and a deeper exploration of his feelings as the events of his life unfold. It seems to me that all he has ever wanted to be was admired for being successful, a recurring theme in his life that is not completely developed in this work.

 

No matter what one might think of his methods, it’s hard not to admire Stupak’s tenacity and outright audacity that precipitated his rise to fame and power. His life certainly warrants being chronicled and, overall, Smith does a good, if not inspired job. Even though No Limit isn’t a brilliant work, the author should be credited with not trying to overreach and ruining this worthwhile story. Not everyone is interested in the story of Bob Stupak, but if you are, you must look here.

 

Capsule:

No Limit recounts the colorful life to date of Las Vegas legend Bob Stupak. This book isn’t a work of genius, but it does seem to be thorough, accurate, and fair. Consequently, if Bob Stupak interests you, or you want to learn this part of the complete history of Las Vegas, this book is well worth reading.

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Women Dominate Web 918KISS แตก ง่าย Gaming

Posted on by Elbert Stackhouse
918KISS แตก ง่าย

For the first time, women make up the majority of Internet users gambling and playing games online, according to a new study from online research firm PC Data. The study, “Spotlight on Games: Categories and Hardware,” found that while men make up the majority of all PC and console game players, women take the lead when it comes to the Web.

Of an estimated 30 to 40 million online gamers in the U.S., based on the study women represented 50.4 percent, PC Data Senior Analyst Sean Wargo told the NewsFactor Network.

The sample survey of more than 3,500 home Internet users — including gamers and non-gamers — considered retail sales, Internet audience measurement, software use, hardware configuration and user responses to reach its findings.

Ladies Choice

The study found that women prefer online gambling, card games and trivia quiz games when they log onto the Internet. While the study uses a general description of online gaming — “anyone who played any game online” — wagering on the Internet is most popular, according to Wargo.

“The primary games online, overall, are far and away gambling games,” Wargo said. “Women are primarily playing gambling games, sport games or card games.”

Solitaire, Free Cell and similar bundled games are the most frequently played of all online and offline games. While men prefer “war and sports” themes, women are more likely to play board or card games or trivia, and log on to sites with gambling themes 10 percent more frequently than men.

Online Escape

Female gamblers tend to be “escape gamblers” who gamble at luck games and develop gambling problems later in life, according to the Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling (ACCG), an affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling, which operates a national gambling hotline for men and women.

Men are more likely to be “action gamblers,” playing skill games such as poker or betting on sports and going 10 to 30 years before getting help, according to ACCG executive director Don Hulen. By contrast, Hulen said escape gamblers tend to seek help six months to two years after realizing they have a problem.

While the PC Data study did not separate online 918KISS แตก ง่าย gambling from other online gaming activities such as cards or trivia, it did mark an upward trend for women on the Web.

“Women are really now making their presence felt on the Internet,” Wargo said, adding that men constituted a slim majority of online gamers last year.

Men Shoot More

Women were about a third less likely than men to participate in first-person shooter games, real-time/turn-based strategy games and sports games, according to the report.

The gaming study also revealed that graphic quality was rated the primary concern of households purchasing a PC game console. While the list of available game titles was another concern, the ability to play against other players on the Internet was not.…

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The Judge: Situs Judi Bola Gambling is not Illegal

Posted on by Elbert Stackhouse
Situs Judi Bola

A federal judge has ruled in a major decision that Internet gambling is not a crime — sometimes.

Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr., of the U.S. District Court in New Orleans issued the ruling in late February, 2001. He dismissed two test cases brought against MasterCard and Visa, allowing Web betting sites to continue to take credit cards.

Judge Duval gave many reasons for throwing out the suits, including a legal conclusion that Internet gambling’s main nemesis, the federal Wire Act, applies only to sports betting.

The opinion illustrates how important it is for lawyers to research the law before they file their lawsuits. With a few changes, the nation’s two largest credit card companies might have been ordered to stop being involved with Internet gambling.

The cases arose from what should have been a fairly easy legal question: If a player uses his credit card to make bets online, does he have to pay the bill when it comes in the mail?

In most states and under most sets of facts the answer is clearly, “No.” Since 1710, when Queen Anne of England signed the Statute of Anne, gambling debts have been unenforceable under the common law of the English-speaking world.

Anyone who lends anyone else money, knowing the money will be used for Situs Judi Bola gambling, is making a contract that is normally unenforceable.

Nevada is the best example. If a Las Vegas casino accepts an oral bet and the player loses and refuses to pay, the casino has no legal right to sue. The Nevada Legislature had to pass a special law to allow suits on written markers.

In 1991, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that a gambler, Richard Kommit, did not have to pay his MasterCard bill for $5,500 cash he got from an ATM on the floor of an Atlantic City casino. The Court held that under the laws of Massachusetts, where Kommit lived, New Jersey, where he gambled, and Connecticut, where the bank issuing the MasterCard was located, credit card loans for gambling are unenforceable.

In 1998, Cynthia H. Haines was sued by MasterCard and Visa for more than $70,000, money they claimed she lost gambling via the Internet. Haines’s attorney, Ira Rothken of Corte Madera, California, filed a counterclaim. He carefully limited his legal claims to California state laws, which bar credit card loans for gambling. Although he asked for money damages, he was mainly seeking a court order that MasterCard and Visa had to stop doing business in California with online gambling operators.

The terms of the settlement are secret, but it is clear that Rothken won big.

So what did the lawyers do wrong in the most recent cases? Just about everything.

They initially filed 11 class action lawsuits in federal courts in Illinois, Alabama, New York and California. The cases, which grew to be 33 by the time of the decision, were all transferred to Judge Duval. Two were chosen to be tests of the law.

But the lawyers had chosen the wrong law. They had sued the credit card companies under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), asking for lots and lots of money.

RICO actions are always difficult to win. Plaintiffs’ lawyers would have to prove that Visa and MasterCard were part of a criminal enterprise in cahoots with Internet gaming operators. Even if the operators themselves were included as defendants, which they were not, there simply was no “enterprise.” You can use your Visa to buy pizza, but does that mean Visa is in an enterprise to sell pizza?

RICO also requires a pattern of racketeering activity, meaning specific federal crimes or state gambling felonies had been committed.

Judge Duval got the parties to agree to two test cases, involving players from New Hampshire and Kansas. But plaintiffs had no way of showing these credit card companies had committed gambling felonies. Because illegal gambling is almost always a misdemeanor, there simply were no laws on the books in New Hampshire and only one in Kansas that could conceivably apply.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys tried to find federal crimes. Naturally, they cited the Wire Act.

But, they had made the mistake of limiting their lawsuits to Internet casinos and lotteries. Judge Duval looked to the actual language of the statute as well as its history and ruled that the Wire Act is limited to sports betting.

When the U.S. Attorneys wanted to show they could go after Internet operators, they were careful to make sure that every operation took sports bets by phone. It is unclear whether the Wire Act covers Internet casinos, but it was enacted to allow the federal government to go after bookies who took sports bets by phone.

If the complaints had been framed differently, plaintiffs might have won. My advice for any lawyer fighting Internet gambling: Forget RICO, file in state court, make sure your clients were making sports bets by phone, and don’t get greedy — getting a court order that closes down a business will bring about a nice, large settlement.

 

 

 

 

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FC Pkv Games United of Manchester v Brackley Town

Posted on by Elbert Stackhouse
Pkv Games

FC United of Manchester recorded their first win in the National League North in their new home of Broadhurst Park back on August 22.

Nearly 3,000 fans were in attendance for what was an exciting match with the hosts coming through on a beautiful summer’s day.

FC United of Manchester v Brackley Town.

The visitors took the lead early on through Steve Diggin before FCUM stormed into a 3-1 lead by the 70th minute with goals from Matt Wolfenden, Sam Madeley and Tom Greaves. A late David Mayo goal for Brackley with less than 10 minutes to go ensured a nervy finish but FC United held on to raise the roof at the new stadium.

FC United of Manchester v Brackley Town, Broadhurst Park.

 

Broadhurst Park in Moston was completed in May this year with a capacity of 4,400. The first competitive fixture at the stadium was a 1-2 loss to local rivals Stockport County following a 0-1 friendly loss to Portuguese giants Benfica to open the stadium.

 

FC United of Manchester v Brackley Town.

 

FC United Pkv Games sit mid-table and face a struggle to get into the play offs in this their first season in the National League North.

FC United of Manchester v Brackley Town.

FC United of Manchester

Broadhurst Park

Lightbowne Road

Moston

Manchester M40 0FJ

Tel: 0161 769 2005

FCUM in Seoul

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Labels: Brackley Town, FCUM, Manchester, National League North

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

George’s Premiership Predictions September 26 2015

bet365

The Premiership continues this weekend after games in the Capital One Cup in midweek. The match of the weekend sees table toppers Manchester City travel south to take on Spurs at White Hart Lane.

Manchester City lost their 100% record at home to West Ham last time out, but should be backed to pick up the points against Tottenham, for whom Harry Kane has yet to find his form of last season.

Manchester United face Sunderland who sit at the bottom of the league along with neighbours Newcastle. The Red Devils are still not firing on all cylinders but should find a way to heap more misery on the Black Cats.

Chelsea beat Arsenal in a bad-tempered affair at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal are away at in-form Leicester while Chelsea make the long trek to Newcastle who can’t buy a win at this point and are rock bottom.

Pressure is mounting on Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers, the bookies’ favourite in the Premier League sack race. Aston Villa have been equally poor but we reckon the pressure may get to the players and a draw seems likely.

Saturday, 26 September 2015

Tottenham 1 v Man City 3

Leicester City 2 v Arsenal 2

Liverpool 1 v Aston Villa 1

West Ham 1 v Norwich City 2

Southampton 2 v Swansea City 2

Stoke City 2 v Bournemouth 0

Man United 3 v Sunderland 0

Newcastle 1 v Chelsea 3

Sunday, 27 September 2015

Watford 1 v Crystal Palace 1

Monday, 28 September 2015

WBA 1 v Everton 0

Soccer – Remy keen for chance to shine

Chelsea striker Loic Remy hopes he will be handed a starting spot this weekend when last season’s Premier League champions take on his former club Newcastle United. With Diego Costa suspended, Remy was among the scorers in a 4-1 Capital One Cup win over Walsall on Wednesday, and the France international is keen to start against the Magpies at St James’ Park. He said: “It’s very difficult, I can’t lie. When you come in you have to do the best, but when you are not playing much it is more difficult. “I don’t have any pressure, I just want to feel better and with the game which is coming I maybe have an opportunity to play more. We will see.” Remy, who has scored seven Premier League goals for Jose Mourinho’s team in 20 appearances, can be backed at 6/5 with bet365 to score at any time on Saturday, with Chelsea available at 7/1 to beat struggling Newcastle 2-0.

 

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World Poker Exchange Holds First National Online and Offline Intercollegiate Poker Championship

Posted on by Elbert Stackhouse
Situs Poker Online Terpercaya

Tournament Will Award Student Players Cash Scholarships, Trips and Other Valuable Prizes

ANTIGUA, BWI, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ — World Poker Exchange, (www.worldpx.com), one of the world’s fastest growing online poker sites, will host the first annual Intercollegiate Poker Championship encompassing 100 top universities throughout the United States. The championship will begin as an online tournament on February 13, 2005 and culminate on March 10, 2005 during spring break with a live tournament in Cancun, Mexico.

The World Poker Exchange Intercollegiate Poker Championship, the first of its kind, is an online and offline poker championship that requires no entrance fee and awards as a Grand Prize a $25,000 school scholarship package. The lucky 1st Place Grand Prize Student Winner will receive a $10,000 cash scholarship, a laptop computer and an all expenses paid 5-day trip to the United Kingdom to compete in the World Poker Exchange London Open in August, 2005. At the London Open, the “Best College Player in the Country” will receive free entry into this high stakes tournament, worth $10,000, and have the opportunity to share in a minimum prize pot of $2 million while playing against some of the top poker players worldwide.

 

There will be three phases to the tournament, the first of which occurs online to find the “Best Player on Campus” in which rival schools will be scheduled to compete on the same day. Those winners will then continue on to the second phase where they will compete for “Best Player in the Region.” The six regional prize winners will each receive a laptop computer and a free trip for two to Spring Break in Cancun, where the third and final portion of the championship will be held to determine which student will be crowned “Best College Player in the Country.”

In Cancun, the finals will be hosted by MTV Real World Las Vegas star Trishelle. She starred in the 2003 Playboy Reality DVD, The Surreal Life and has most recently hosted this year’s Lingerie Bowl.

The World Poker Exchange will also be awarding to the 321 best student poker players in the country valuable prize packages in a combination of cash scholarships, MP3 players, DVD membership subscriptions, free music download service and major retailer gift cards.

Players must be a U.S. or Canadian resident at least 18 years of age and currently registered at one of the 100 participating colleges. Situs Poker Online Terpercaya Players can sign up starting February 7, 2005 at www.worldpx.com/college, the official site for the championship, where complete rules, regulations, deadlines and a list of participating schools can be found. The first 2,000 registrants will receive a limited edition WorldPX.com t-shirt.

About World Poker Exchange

The World Poker Exchange (www.worldpx.com) is licensed and regulated according to the laws of Antigua. The multi-player internet poker room has served the online community since the outset of online poker play. Established in spring 2001, World Poker Exchange is one of the world’s fastest growing online poker sites.…

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Premier bore as Situs Judi Qq D-Day is dull day

Posted on by Elbert Stackhouse
Situs Judi Qq

 

 

As closing days of the Premier League go, today’s was incredibly flat.

 

There was no to-ing and fro-ing, no nail-biting tension nor edge-of-the-seat excitement. The three teams involved in relegation struggle, the tedious battle for the title having been decided already, ended up losing, leaving the league table unchanged from last week.

 

Middlesbrough and Newcastle had run out of steam and ideas long before today’s ‘do or die’ showdowns, which in the event never caught fire. The potential relegation of the Toon and their icon Alan Shearer was a good lead story, but the black and white stripes did not keep to the script and turned in a turgid performance with an own goal and no shots on target in the second half.

 

Hull had a lucky escape in the end, following a real Situs Judi Qq Jekyll and Hyde campaign. Their amazing start, when they won at Arsenal and sat in the Champions League places, became a distant memory as the Tigers went into freefall and missed the drop by a point.

 

Their curious coach Phil Brown, sporting designer gear and a year-round tan, lives to fight another day. His jaw-dropping half-time roasting of his players on the pitch at Man City in December was probably the most memorable moment of an otherwise fairly uneventful PL season.

 

There were some stellar performers – Nicolas Anelka, Andriy Arshavin, Cristiano Ronaldo, player of the season Ryan Giggs and in a coaching cameo, Guus Hiddink, while the mini-league at the top became a big three rather than big four, as Arsenal slipped off the pace and finished 11 points behind third-placed Chelsea.

 

Wenger’s empire looked cracked, his masterplan misguided, and for the first time in ages, rumors resurfaced about the length of Arsene’s reign at Ashburton Grove. Three high profile ex-players, Tony Adams, Paul Ince and Roy Keane, lost their jobs as managers, adding to the suspicion that the best players don’t make the best coaches.

 

It was cheering to see Liverpool rise again and keep Mr. Abramovich frustrated (go on Roman, head back to Russia with your winnings), but the wider fact remains that no club outside the top four has a cat in hell’s chance of breaking into the Champions League, rendering the 18-club competition for the title a de facto farce.

 

A week ago the UK government finally started talking to the PL about redistribution, but the politicians still show no willingness to take on the international cash cow while England is bidding for the World Cup.

 

With a year and a half until the 2018 hosts are decided, a spat between the government and the football authorities is the last thing England can expect.

 

Fresh Looking Korean Squad Ready To Face UAE

 

It is an interesting and, one can almost say, exciting squad. It is customary to bash the national team coach of South Korea after he announces every important roster but ahead of the 2010 World Cup qualifier in the United Arab Emirates on June 6, Huh Jung-moo looks to have done a good job.

 

Of course, naming the roster is only the first step towards completing the main job of taking the Taeguk Warriors to Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai and getting the three points that will put the 2002 semi-finalists on the brink of a place in South Africa in 12 months’ time.

 

In his 18 months as coach, Huh has demonstrated repeatedly that he is happy to give young players a chance if they are playing well in the K-League and he has done that once again. Three new faces have been called in the 25-man squad, some of which will gather in the National Football Center in Paju on May 28 before jetting off to the Gulf two days later where they will be joined by European-based stars such as Park Ji-sung, Cho Won-hee and Lee Young-pyo.

 

These are important times for South Korean football. Much attention this week will be on the appearance of Park in the UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona for Manchester United. But for the long-term good of soccer in Korea, a 2010 World Cup spot is absolutely vital.

 

Medhi Mahdavikia, a veteran star of Iran, Korea’s rivals in Group Two, told reporters recently about Iran’s quest to reach South Africa. He could have been talking about Korea.

 

“The presence in the World Cup is the dream of all our players and Iranian football fans. This could be extremely beneficial for our football. I believe that fate of our football in the next four years will depend on our qualification to World Cup,” said the man known as ‘Kia’.

 

With baseball in the ascendancy in the Land of the Morning Calm, not appearing at the biggest sporting event in the world would be a blow for the domestic scene in Korea. Media attention is massive, fans are born and stars are made.

 

One could be young Yoo Byung-soo. The Incheon United striker started his professional career just this season but a series of good performances in the k-league. At 21 years of age, he has caught the eye of coach Huh and will be on the plane to Dubai, and if things go well, South Africa.

 

“I received the news by phone. It still doesn’t seem real and I can’t stop smiling,” Yoo told local media upon hearing the news.

 

“I saw the reports in the media talking about the chance of my selection but there are so many good players that I honestly didn’t have big hopes of being chosen.If I am given the opportunity, I will do my best to help the national team.

 

“I want to play alongside players like Park Ji-sung, Lee Young-pyo and Cho Won-hee. Just thinking about training with these players makes me nervous.”

 

There are many examples in history of youngsters coming into the team at crucial moments and making an immediate impact. Park Chu-young is the most recent. The 23 year-old, now with AS Monaco in Europe, scored a vital goal in his first game back in 2005. It came in the last minute of a 2006 World Cup qualifier in Uzbekistan.

 

That gave Korea a 1-1 tie and meant that a win in the following game in Kuwait would seal a spot in Germany. Park scored the first as Kuwait was duly dispatched.

Few would complain if Yoo, or even Park, did something similar.

 

Three points in Dubai would leave South Korea needing just a point to be certain of a seventh successive place on the global stage.

 

South Korea squad:

 

Goalkeepers: Lee Woon-jae (Suwon Samsung Bluewings), Kim Young-kwang (Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i), Jung Sung-ryong (Seongnam lhwa Chunma);

 

Defenders: Cho Yong-hyung (Jeju United), Lee Jung-su (Kyoto Purple Sanga), Kim Hyung-il (Pohang Steelers), Kim Keun-hwan (Yokohama F Marinos), Lee Kang-jin (Busan I’Park), Kim Chang-soo (Busan I’Park), Kim Dong-jin (Zenit St Petersburg), Oh Beom-seok (Samara Kriliya Sovetov), Lee Young-pyo (Borussia Dortmund);

 

Midfielders: Cho Won-hee (Wigan Athletic), Kim Jung-woo (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma), Ki Sung-yeung (FC Seoul), Lee Chung-yong (FC Seoul), Kim Chi-woo (FC Seoul), Park Ji-sung (Manchester United), Choi Tae-uk (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Bae Ki-jong (Suwon Samsung Bluewings);

 

Forwards: Lee Keun-ho (Jubilo Iwata), Park Chu-young (AS Monaco), Shin Young-rok (Bursaspor), Yoo Byung-su (Incheon United), Yang Dong-hyeon (Busan I’Park)

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The Chicken or the Meg for Bandar Togel Singapore

Posted on by Elbert Stackhouse

 

 

Life is full of little contradictions. When a professional gambler shops around for value, he’s lauded for his shrewdness. Yet when I apply a similar level of financial prudence outside of the betting arena, I’m considered meaner than a premenstrual Scot with a toothache.

 

I’m not ashamed to say that I use the same approach with my shopping budget as I do with my betting bank. Why should I pay 60p for ‘brand name’ biscuits when I can buy an almost identical packet for 15p? Admittedly, the cheapskate biscuits crumble at the merest touch, but I can let this minor flaw pass, as it’s mostly the kids who eat them.

 

The little ones are always on my back to improve my fitness levels. They’re pretty heavy. My frugal nature led me to scoff at wasting £200 on a gym membership; after all, I’ve got a bike at home.

 

My economical acumen did lead to quite an embarrassing mix-up. I was feeling a little peckish after a long stint on the exercise bike, so I decided to snack on a few of the tightwad biscuits. This adequately explains how the wife found me breathing heavily while furiously stroking the crumbs off my lap.

 

Lawrie Sanchez has also been on the end of a comical misunderstanding. The Fulham manager loves to sign Irish Bandar Togel Singapore players, so when he heard of the crisis engulfing Chelsea, he made a cheeky bid to sign O’Bramovich.

 

The Chelsea squad are on the verge of mutiny as a result of their hard-to-please owner. Fat Frank, the Drog, Malouda: they’re all revolting.

 

Some of the players were in tears when Jose left, although Ashley Cole’s emotional state may be a result of Liza Minnelli’s tour drawing to a close. The 2/5 for a Chelsea win over Fulham has sent me toppling over the edge.

 

Michael Owen has once again been sidelined through injury. The King of the Castle has been ruled out with a double hernia: it started off as a single but he was feeling lucky. I’ll have a little punt on the draw between Manchester City and Newcastle at 23/10.

 

Robbie Savage has often been compared to Roy Keane. Unfortunately, the term ‘a poor man’ normally plays a significant role. The 7/4 for a Sunderland win over Blackburn can help alleviate poverty amongst the betting classes.

 

Unless Fernando Torres shares the wife’s rare medical condition where physical activity is only permitted once a week, he has to start against Wigan. I’ll happily back Liverpool at 4/6 if Torres starts: if he’s on the bench, I’ll lay it like it was Meg White.

 

Reading left it late to land a touch against Wigan last week. With two minutes to go, I was sweating like Prince Charles on Father’s Day. These Royals are pretty useful; they can leave Portsmouth with a point at 5/2.

 

They say that good things come in small packages, and that’s an adage to which I am forced to subscribe. Cesc Fabregas may be diminutive in stature, but he’s a true giant on the football pitch. Arsene has set the little man on fire, he’ll inspire Arsenal to a victory over West Ham at 10/11.

 

While Cesc is banging the goals in for fun, Andy Johnson would struggle to score at a Ronaldo house-party. I’m loving the 5/2 for a draw between Everton and Middlesbrough.

 

Steve Bruce is genuinely looking forward to the visit of Manchester United. It’s not a result of his Old Trafford ties, he just wants to stand next to Carlos Tevez and not be considered the ugly one.

The 4/7 for a Manchester United win over the Blues is absolutely stunning.

 

I’m definitely worried about this bluetongue virus. Apparently, it’s transmitted by midges, so I’m steering well clear of Sammy Lee. Bolton are worth a small bet at 7/4 against Derby.

 

Martin Jol appears to have lost the plot. I wouldn’t treat a dog the way Jol has treated Jermain Defoe, especially as she failed to swallow my biscuit story. Aston Villa will leave the Lane with a point at 9/4.

 

I’m sure the wife has shared her outrageous theory on ‘biscuitgate’ with her mother. I’ve been a nervous wreck since the incident; I just haven’t been feeling myself. Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and an Everton draw form a 14/1 weekend accer that will hopefully lift my flagging spirits.

 

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