Video Lottery Terminals Result in Social Concerns In Italy
The Top Online Casino Gambling News Reporting Site Since 2002!
Published on December 30, 2013 by April Gardner
Italy has always been strongly against online gambling, allowing just a select collection of operators to rule their gaming market. In recent years, the arena Trade Organization has forced Italy to come back into compliance with European Union trade agreements.
In the time because the country has began to comply, a distinct form of gambling has slowly chipped away at some social disorder. Italians are gambling at video lottery terminals at a record pace, and lawmakers are concerned that the social problems being because of the VLT's has become too great.
Lawmakers at a regional level have began to act at the social ills related to increased gambling problems. While the issue is one who is seen throughout Italy, with thousands of residents admitting to having a gambling problem, national legislators are turning a blind eye, consistent with one local lawmaker.
"The government gets the profits, the territory gets the problems," said Lombardy regional lawmaker Angelo Ciocca.
The social problems have resulted in a sequence of initiatives to check out and reel within the amount of gambling in Italy. Several proposals was acted upon, with most resulting in a downsizing of VLT's.
In Pavia, it's estimated that there's a slot machine for each 104 people within the city. Similar figures can also be seen in other areas of Italy.
Nationally, the federal government is raking in hundreds of millions of greenbacks in tax revenue from the machines, leaving lawmakers to show somewhat of a blind eye at the possible social ills. This is a stance that may be duplicated in nearly every country where gambling tax revenue is a huge element of the country's budget balancing.
There's not a distinction between gambling and life," said sociologist Maurizio Fiasco. "THERE'S NO separate space for gambling, it's everywhere."
Las Vegas casinos looked to be at the upswing for investors, but now is also in additional of a holding pattern.
After plummeting for over a year, casino stock prices gave the impression to have bottomed out and begun recovering within the last couple months, but at the moment are again fluttering. Gaming industry analysts are saying that there are certainly bumps ahead at the path for gambling companies, and optimism need to be guarded, if allowed at all.
The Las Vegas Journal-Review is reporting that Applied Analysis of Las Vegas found that may be monthly computation of composite gaming stock value had declined in June, after two positive months. Industry operators had hoped the nice returns in April and will would mean an escalating rate of recovery, but that has now been dashed.
"The V-shaped recovery is off the table," Rich Moriarty of Union Gaming Group told the Review-Journal. "The worst is over, but we're by no means out of the woods yet."
Applied Analysis employs it monthly gaming index to measure overall market movement. The index figures within the prices of the key Las Vegas gaming operators' stock.
The index have been as high as 667.09 in October of 2007, and fell as little as 189.50 in March. June's index was 233.03, 7 points down from May.
Interestingly, the index found manufacturers' stock to be rising, as new gambling areas are legalized, creating new demands for product.
With the DDZ4220HD and DDZ4230HD Dallmeier launches new PTZ cameras with a resolution of as much as two megapixels.
The cameras of the series DDZ42xxHD are high-speed HD PTZ dome network cameras. They're equipped with a high-performance Pan-Tilt-Zoom mechanism and supply real-time high-definition video with as much as 30fps at a resolution of 2MP. Essentially the most advanced sensor and encoder technology and the delicate image processing provide recordings with excellent contrast, brilliant clarity in addition to highest detail resolution and colour fidelity.
The DDZ4220HD features 20x optical zoom and the DDZ4230HD 30x optical zoom with auto-focus. The high zoom factor makes it possible for the simple and discreet surveillance even of faraway objects. Functions like “Digital WDR (Wide Dynamic Range)“ and “3D DNR (3D digital noise reduction)“ guarantee good image quality. The superb light sensitivity of the sensor and the delicate image processing ensure crisp colour images even in low lighting. In night mode, the cameras also provide outstanding results because of the superb infrared sensitivity. The PTZ cameras are equipped with a removable IR cut filter, and will automatically switch between day and night mode. In addition, different day and night presets for the exposure settings may also be defined and adjusted.
Up to 128 preset positions and 32 tours will also be programmed. Particularly useful in that regard are the adjustable alarm actions with contact closure: If a definite contact is closed i.e. triggered, for instance by opening an entrance door, the camera automatically moves to the programmed preset position of the relevant scene.
The DDZ4220HD and DDZ4230HD are equipped with a RAM memory that may be utilized by the EdgeStorage function for storing the video stream in case of a network failure. When the network is restored, the SmartBackfill function ensures a quick transmission to the SMAVIA recording system. This stores the video stream with high speed after which continues the recording of the live stream seamlessly.
The PTZ dome cameras come in an in-ceiling, surface or weatherproof housing. The in-ceiling variant of the camera is tested in step with the stringent requirements of the UL 2043 when it comes to flame retardancy and occasional smoke emission. Thus, it's approved for installation in air-conducting space, for instance in air shafts or false ceilings dissipating the air to a central air conditioning.
The PTZ cameras will also be conventionally provided with 24 V AC or conveniently with Power over Ethernet (PoE+).
PokerNews Podcast Episode #363: DP Voted Media Person of the Year
March 2nd, 2016
Our own Editor-in-Chief Donnie Peters was voted the Media Person of the Year on the 2016 American Poker Awards. Rich and DP discuss the evening, break down the GPL draft, and comment on PokerStars' pending return to the U.S. this month.
Battle of the Planets: dthorne04 mows down March field for $12K ^
Spring time has broken out for many of our players. Unless you reside in Canada like four players who made today's $50,000 Battle of Planets monthly triple shootout freeroll final table. Despite a couple of days of "Spring" weather, ice remains to be showing on some lakes with snowbanks prevalent while driving during the cities. The drab weather didn't bother a type of Canadians as dthorne04 prepared the ground during the icy 589 player field to win $12,000.00
Ten minutes before the 2 hour mark the general initial round table would wind its last hand down. With the blinds at 200/400 ante 25 and Bankyard holding a 5,337 to 5,163 chip lead over Chipsy36, Bankyard would raise from the button to 860 total. Chipsy36 looking down at [Kh][Ts] shoved as Bankyard complied with a choice holding [9d][As]. The flop clobbered with Bankyard's ace [7h][Ad][7d] leaving Chipsy36 to simply a runner-runner straight or trips combo to win. Two kings later [Kd] and [Kc] Chipsy36 would take down the 10,326 chip pot and gather the scraps from the following hand as a stunned Bankyard exited in 82nd place giving our remaining 81 players a minimum of $195.00 each.
34offsuitJR had a thirst for some cash today, finishing off table nine in last than an hour with the aforementioned Chipsy36 happening during heads up play to earn the primary seat on the final table. Canada would continue to fill the table (34offsuitJR) because the North American country took home four of the primary five seats.
Down to 2 tables two players from Hungary (p€troceli and SZERENCSFIA) would duke it out on table four and p€troceli winning the respect to symbolize Hungary on the final table. As Kirill Juma and ross997 would only last one hand longer on table two. With the blinds at 150.300 ante 25 Kirill Juma holding 2,903 chips to ross997's 10,597 would face a bullying button raise to 4,350. With a suited king [Kd][3d] Kirill Juma decided it was go time and called as ross997 showed [Js][Td]. A 10 in the course of the [Qd] [Th] [2h] [8s] [4h] flop was all that was had to commence the general table below:
Seat 1: dthorne04 (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: ross997 (1500 in chips)
Seat 3: AB Poker 12 (1500 in chips)
Seat 4: p€troceli (1500 in chips)
Seat 5: kanskje123 (1500 in chips)
Seat 6: nickyshu (1500 in chips)
Seat 7: Gabiru01 (1500 in chips)
Seat 8: dirty.brasil (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: 34offsuitJR (1500 in chips)
First in, first out
The 10/20 level would depart quickly because the players usually use this time to feel out their tablemates for a fast chop of the sizable amount of free cash at this table. Instead we'd get two quick eliminations after the blinds moved up. The primary hand of the 15/30 blind level saw 34offsuitJR at the wrong side of a cooler. 34offsuitJR would limp in from middle position as p€troceli made it 90 total as kanskje123 and 34offsuitJR both called. p€troceli led out for 150 at the [2c][8d][As] flop as kanskje123 folded but 34offsuitJR dialed it as much as 450 chips. Holding a collection of eights [8h][8s] p€troceli shoved as 334offsuitJR quickly called with a collection of ducks [2d][2h]. One out became no outs because the [Ac] turn and [4h] river shut down 34offsuitJR finishing in ninth place ($775.00).
Fast start
Just two hands later a second cooler would end someone's Battle of the Planets freeroll. kanskje123 would open to 150 from middle position as Gabiru01 made it 350 from the large blind. kanskje123's aces [As][Ac] went for max value by pushing 1,040 chips as Gabiru01 made the decision for less holding jacks [Js][Jc]. An ace within the door [Ah] [4d] [6h] [4s] [2h] and Gabiru01 was not more taking home $1,200.00 in eighth place.
Three-way excitement
Mid-way in the course of the 50/100 blind level Gabiru01, nickyshu, and ross997 decided to collect their chips into the center for a 4,730 chip pot. Watch below as aces go down, but nobody leaves:
Three pairs and ross997 covered the table, but it surely could be Gabiru01 finding a connection to the [Qd] [8s] [2c] [Qs] [7d] board to assert 4,270 chips from the principle pot, as nickyshu stayed alive snagging 460 from the side pot as all seven players hit the five minute break soon afterwards.
Ross erased
After losing the three-way all-in, ross997 never recovered. With the blinds as much as 75/150 dthorne04 open shove from the button as a short-stacked ross997 made the decision for less holding just 935 chips within the small blind. Pocket sevens [7c][7h] for ross997 racing against the [9h][Qd] for dthorne04. It seemed like the sevens would hold after a wheel began to appear at the [4d] [2s] [3s] [5h] board. But a [9c] river ended ross997's night in seventh place ($1,700.00).
Rise from cracked aces
The other player who lost in that pivotal three-way hand, nickyshu, made essentially the most of these leftover chips received from the cracked aces. After staying within the game, nickyshu got considering another three-way pot, this time shoving with 745 chips holding big slick [Ad][Kh], slightly greater than AB Poker 12's 725 chip shove with [Ac][7s]. Gabiru01 joined the party calling all bets holding [Qs]. Not needed but, nickyshu connected at the [Ah] [3d] [Kd] [7h] [3s] board to gather 2,365 chips as AB Poker 12 was the odd person out in sixth place ($2,200.00).
COOKIE MONSTER WANTS YOUR CHIPS!
NOM NOM NOM NOM. dthorne04's Cookie Monster avatar went in search of more chips and located some in p€troceli's stack that didn't even should be dipped in milk. With the blinds holding at 75/150 dthorne04 limped in from the small blind and p€troceli checked the choice to peer a [4s][Ac][Qc] flop. Cookie Monster led out for 155 chips and p€troceli matched it with a decision. [Tc] at the turn and dthorne04 bet again this time for 305 chips as p€troceli made a opt for the pot and shoved for 1,350 chips. Having hit a flush at the turn [8c][3c] dthorne04 quickly called as p€troceli's [7h][Jc] needed another club at the river. [3d] was not it as p€troceli took home $2,735.00 in fifth place.
More chips for the blue one
Cookie monster was not satisfied with only one helping of chips and went on the lookout for more. Because the blinds moved as much as 100/200 dirty.brasil tossed in a shove from the button for 2,170 chips as dthorne04 within the small blind re-shoved for 5,475 chips. nickyshu stayed quiet as dthorne04 showed pocket queens [Qh][Qs] leading dirty.brasil's [6h][Ac]. Despite a six at the door [6s] [Tc] [9c] [5c] [7h] dirty.brasil's stack was cleaned out in fourth place ($3,350.00).
Heads-up in a hurry
On the very next hand dthorne04 would look to make it three eliminations in a row after min-raising from the button and Gabiru01 shoved from the massive blind for 1,450 chips total. dthorne04 made the decision with [As][Tc] needing to outrun the [Qs][Jh] of Gabiru01. Top two pair at the [Ad] [Th] [5d] [2s] [4h] board was greater than plenty to knock out Gabiru01 in third place ($4,500.00).
No chat, just business and $12K please
Much just like the entire final table, the chat box stayed dead silent as no speak about chopping up the rest $19,500.00 at the table came into the play. There has been not numerous time to talk as heads-up play was over in nine minutes flat. Because the blinds moved as much as 125/250 ante 25 and dthorne04 holding a 8,035 to 5,465 chip lead, both players liked the [3d][Td][9c] flop to finish the tournament. Watch below for the conclusion:
RSS readers please click through to view video
Top pair-good kicker [Kc][Ts] for nickyshu was ok for a three-bet shove. And top two pair [Th][9s] was greater than ok for a choice . Two blanks later [8s] and [4d] dthorne04 walked away with the remainder of nickyshu's chips and $12,000.00 after winning the March Battle of the Planets triple shootout freeroll!
$50,000 Battle of the Planets triple shootout freeroll results (03-31-13):
New Jersey Asserting States' Rights in Online Casino Discussion
New Jersey is steaming ahead on its plans to license online casinos, irrespective of if or when federal action takes place.
While the government struggles to search out the need to inspect any of several bills suggesting the regulation of Internet gambling, New Jersey is thinking about all possible options to go back the state to gaming prominence, including allowing online casinos. Internet casino operators say Atlantic City can be among their most preferred US destinations in the event that they could legally base there.
State Senator Ray Lesniak has included provisions for online gambling in his bill looking to permit sports betting in New Jersey. Under the terms of the measure, casinos granted licenses in New Jersey could be in a position to run online casinos servicing New Jersey residents.
According to a report by Atlantic City Weekly, online gaming officials at a public hearing at the Lesniak act said they'd prefer a base like Atlantic City, because the stringent regulatory environment would help communicate the protection of online wagering to the public.
“The thrust of the bill is to unite the brick and mortar existing licensees with online gaming interests; to sign up for them together to allow them to complement each other," said a brand new Jersey lobbyist at this week's Global iGaming Convention to the Casino City Times. “We're going to be the primary state within the nation to have this bill passed. I'm confident in that.”
“The leading opposition to these bills in New Jersey is Harrah's," says iMEGA Chairman Joe Brennan, Jr. "Harrah's has said that they like a federal solution they usually have gone all in at the federal solution. Wel,l we at iMEGA believe that we will walk and chew gum on the same time.
Brianm15 stages spectacular comeback to take down Sunday Warm-Up!
This week's Sunday Warm-Up again saw the $750,000 guarantee shattered, as 4,412 entrants built an immense $882,400 prize pool. As always, the general table was a hard-fought affair, lasting ninety minutes before brianm15 came from an enormous short-handed chip deficit to top chip leader witcherd heads up for the title and the additional $10,000 left at the table after a four-way deal was cut. Witcherd, who held the chip lead from the time the general table started until earlier than heads up play commenced, picked up $113,400 for second place while winner brianm15 logged an $85,000 victory.
Frugtplukker was the overall table bubble boy, collecting $5,294 for 10th place when his pocket eights couldn't delay. Witcherd came into the overall table with the most important stack, but pocktnizzles and Supa4real were also stacked deep because the final nine consolidated to play for the massive money.
Almost once the general table started, it was time for one of the most tournament's scheduled breaks. After a snappy five-minute pit stop, short stack jouby44 picked up his namesake hand in late position and moved all in with 4♠-4♣. Brianm15 defended his big blind with A♥-9♦, and the race was on. That race resulted in 9th place for jouby44 because the flop came down 7♣-A♣-6♥ to offer brianm15 top pair and leave jouby44 drawing thin to mention alive. The turn and river brought no help as they came down T♥-T♠, and jouby44 was the primary elimination from the general table, picking up $7,059.21 for 9th place.
Jordie1982 went out in 8th place in very unlucky fashion once you have all his chips in as a large favorite over brianm15. After action folded around to his button, Jordie open-shoved with A♥-Q♣. Brianm15 made the decision from the small blind with K♦-Q♠, and Jordie1982 looked poised for a double up, especially when the flop came down 8♠-2♠-6♣. The 7♠ at the turn gave Brianm15 a couple of more outs to the flush, nevertheless it was the K♣ at the river that shipped the pot Brian's way, leaving Jordie1982 out in 8th place ($11,030.01).
It was becoming an evening of nasty river cards, and BillieD was the following victim to be washed away when he ran afoul of chip leader witcherd. At the short stack, BillieD open-shoved with Q♠-Q♦, and super stack witcherd defended his small blind with K♠-5♠. The flop was harmless, coming down 9♥-A♦-6♥, and the 8♥ at the turn was no help to either player. However the river peeled off the K♥, giving witcherd the larger pair, and the last of BillieD's stack in addition. BillieD picked up $19,854.01 to assuage the pain of the bad beat.
Witcherd claimed another victim when his 6♠-6♥ not just held up against kingsofcards all-in, but actually improved significantly along the way in which. Kingsofcards moved all in for an enormous preflop raise from the cutoff with 4♣-4♠, and witcherd called from the small blind with sixes. If kingsofcards was in trouble preflop, the 6♣-J♣-8♥ left him drawing to running perfect cards to stick alive. None of these running perfect scenarios included the 9♦, so when that peeled off at the turn, the king was dethroned and drawing dead. The river was a meaningless J♦, and kingsofcards was done in 6th place ($28,678.01). After that hand, witcherd's chip stack was nearly twice that of his nearest opponent.
That chip stack got even healthier when witcherd busted his third opponent in quick succession, this time putting off bboooommmmmm in 5th place ($37,502.01). Action folded around to bboooommmmmm, who moved all in preflop from the small blind with A♥-8♣. Witcherd quickly called with A♦-T♣, and the chip leader was again within the driver's seat with an opponent all within the. flop of A♠-7♥-Q♦ did nothing to switch the preflop standings, and when the turn and river came down 3♣-Q♠, it was far and wide for bboooommmmmm. The remainder four players took a moment to talk about a deal, and after lengthy negotiations came to the next guaranteed money: brianm15 locked up $75,000 even, with pocktnizzles securing $77,484.15. Supa4real claimed $88,000.00, and chip leader witcherd picked up a guaranteed $113,400.00, with $10,000 left for the eventual winner. With the deal in place, the four remaining players settled in to battle for the remainder ten grand the all-important bragging rights.
The play was slower than normal once a deal was in place, but after a couple of orbits of probing and folding, pocktnizzles and witcherd squared off for one last fight. Pocktnizzles opened for a raise from the cutoff with 8♥-7♦, and witcherd three-bet from the button with Q♣-J♣. The opposite players got out of the way, and pocktnizzles moved all in excessive. Witcherd made the call, and his overcards improved to a flush draw at the 5♠-2♣-3♣ flop. The Ks at the turn was no help for either player, and witcherd still led along with his unpaired high cards. The A♣ at the river made his flush, and pocktnizzles was done in 4th place together with his $77,484.15 payday.
Brianm15 managed to double through witcherd twice with three players left to transport right into a solid second place, as Supa4real saw his chip stack start to dwindle. After a chain of raises and re-raises, the last of Supa4real's stack went in on a flop of 8♦-6♦-8♠. Supa4real was holding K♥-7♠, but brianm15 had flopped two pair with 7♥-6♥ and made the decision. The turn and river came down 5♠-6♠ to offer brianm15 the whole house and the chip lead as he bounced Supa4real in 3rd place, good for $88,000 after the deal.Tides had certainly turned for brianm15, who was last in chips with four players left. He went into heads-up play with the chip lead, and it took only a few minutes for him to complete off his penthouse to outhouse story and lock up the additional $10,000 by booting witcherd in 2nd place. The general hand gave the impression of this:
Brianm15 opened for a raise from the button, witcherd three-bet, and brianm15 called. The flop came down 4♥-2♠-5♣, and witcherd led out. Brianm15 made the call, and the 3♠ hit the turn. Both players checked, and fireworks erupted at the K♥ river. Witcherd checked, brianm15 led out, and witcherd check-raised all in with Q♥-5♦ for prime pair at the flop. Brianm15 quickly called with A♦-9♣, showing the turned straight for the pot and the tournament win! With the additional $10,000 for winning the tournament, brianm15 secured an $85,000 payday, while witcherd still ended up with $113,400 for his work within the tournament. Congratulations to all our final table players and everybody who cashed on this week's Sunday Warm-Up!
After plummeting for over a year, casino stock prices gave the impression to have bottomed out and begun recovering within the last couple months, but at the moment are again fluttering. Gaming industry analysts are saying that there are certainly bumps ahead at the path for gambling companies, and optimism need to be guarded, if allowed at all.
While the government struggles to search out the need to inspect any of several bills suggesting the regulation of Internet gambling, New Jersey is thinking about all possible options to go back the state to gaming prominence, including allowing online casinos. Internet casino operators say Atlantic City can be among their most preferred US destinations in the event that they could legally base there.
