Day might the Zombie Apocalypse arrive on Xmas? You’ll bet on it! (Image: zombieapocalypse.com)
Every year punters spot bets on whether or not they are going to wake up to a snowy blanket across their roads on Christmas morning. It’s the old romantic in each of us that longs for this scenic backdrop to a joyous day, surrounded by our loved ones and overeating with the Christmas trimmings, cannibalizing and spreading our infectious zombie disease. Wait. What?
Betting on Zombies
While some are gambling on a white Christmas, UK bookmaking giant Ladbrokes is offering chances of 2000/1 on this yuletide being the commencement of the Zombie Apocalypse. That’s a nice, festive idea to possess, and beats the chances they offer for football team Crystal Palace winning the Premier League this season at 5000/1. Explore 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 over the Christmas period, they ought not to 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 really 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 little bit of snow as opposed to having to fight your way through the zombie hordes to collect your award. Although you will be pretty smug with yourself if you got that bet right, that’s for certain.
While the chance to bet on the Zombie Apocalypse is a lot more than probably a bit that is nice of for Ladbrokes, Sean Page zombie expert and founder of this Ministry of Zombies has urged the public to prepare for the worst.
‘The public is obviously interested in the odds of the white Christmas time, nonetheless they should be more concerned by the increasing chance of the Zombie Apocalypse,’ stated Page, suggesting, perhaps, that he’s nipping during the whiskey having a bit alacrity that is too much.
‘The many most likely time for an outbreak is during the busy holiday season as people save money amount of time in large groups, making 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 too low for the chances of a zombie epidemic really, but this is simply not the first time Ladbrokes has offered the chance to place wagers on the Apocalypse, because they also offered the exact same chances regarding the outbreak of a 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 the impending doom.
Strangely enough, Ladbrokes are additionally offering much more likely chances of 500/1 in the probability of Prince Harry getting hitched to Miley Cyrus, but the smart profit this situation would probably be in the zombies, even though 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)
Just 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 may have its very own TV series called ‘MGC P.I.’ suggested that MGM Resorts be located suitable to move ahead with their Springfield casino task, with the caveat that MGM executives have the ability to talk their way away from a few lingering issues of the commission, concerns that came to light once the commission conducted its regulatory background check on the casino company.
Cleared for Lose
As soon as we state ‘lengthy’, we aren’t whistling Dixie; the Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement spent yesteryear 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 household in the pristine state of Massachusetts.
But it’s not a done deal yet; the five Massachusetts Gaming Commissioners still get to have the last word on whether or not MGM are able to do business in their neck of the 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 nearly a year of searching all documented in a 500-page report on this issue was MGM’s method of dealing former executive board member Terry Christensen, whom in 2008 was convicted on costs involving the wiretapping of company mogul Kirk Kerkorian’s ex-wife when Kerkorian was involved in a child support fight that is gruesome.
‘Despite their indictment, resignation from the Board and conviction that is ultimate Christensen was allowed to engage, on a repeated and prolonged basis, in certain delicate and non-public business issues 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 aided by the Commission as of this week’s hearing, noting that it turned out a mistake for the company to allow bad child Christensen to continue in every ability with the company.
‘I exercised poor judgment,’ said Murren, who had been the outfit’s CFO whenever all this transpired. ‘It was a bad concept from the very beginning. None of us should have had any experience of (Christensen).’
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
More Executive Contrition
Murren had beenn’t the only person to throw himself in the mercy of the court, as current MGM board member (and mind of its review committee) Roland Hernandez produced point to inform commissioners that protocols are now in position inside the company to guarantee there would be no repeats with this poor process that is decision-making.
All which was then left for the commish to deal with were a couple of concerns they had about some MGM transactions in Macau; mostly, these centered around a partnership that is real-money-casino.club former Chinese business mogul (and child of casino mega-mogul Stanley Ho) Pansy Ho. Ho had been deemed unsuitable as a partner during a 2010 New Jersey regulatory hearing on the matter, so when such, MGM had to unload a 50 % stake in an Atlantic City casino there, simply to keep their nose clean. The allegations were that Ho’s daddy Stanley had had dealings with some Chinese gangs, a definite ‘no-no’ in today’s regulatory video gaming universe.
Hernandez had to the Massachusetts commissioners that Ms. Ho had been included with MGM completely split from her father, and that she was mainly involved in non-gaming business tasks regarding their MGM Macau property. Hernandez also noted that other, less finicky, states had been ok with the Ho interaction; namely, Nevada and Maryland, both of which had no nagging problem with it. He additionally noted that New Jersey has now softened their stance that is own may allow MGM back into the fold in Atlantic City.
The panel should rule later on this week; the commission’s chair Stephen Crosby will not say which way the wind is blowing, but noted he appreciated the MGM execs’ openness when controling these issues.
But also being truly the only applicant and even though cleared by the commission this it’s still not a 100 percent slam-dunk for MGM Resorts week.
‘One applicant or 10, we shall hold their feet to the fire to ensure we have application that is really good’ Crosby advised reporters within a hearing break.
Setback for PokerStars as New Jersey Bars Licensing for just two Years
PokerStars got a smack from nj regulators this when they put them in licensing limbo for the next two years week
If there is one name that has dominated the American on the web poker market over the decade that is last it’s to be PokerStars. However, if you’re residing in New Jersey, you mustn’t expect to be playing for a site operated by the poker giant any time soon.
Two Years in Limbo
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement determined this to suspend the review of PokerStars’ application for an online gambling license for two years, effectively locking the company out of the state’s online poker marketplace for that time period week.
‘The Division of Gaming Enforcement has determined that the use of Rational Services Limited (PokerStars) casino solution industry licensure (CSIE) will undoubtedly be held in a suspended status for a period of two years,’ the Division said in a statement.
However, the door just isn’t totally closed on PokerStars.
‘The Division, within that duration, may consider a request for relief to reactivate the application if significantly changed circumstances are demonstrated, of which time the Division’s research of PokerStars as well as its affiliated entities and associated individuals will likely be resumed to evaluate suitability.’
Bad Company, Bad Actor
Although PokerStars has long settled its case because of the authorities and admitted no wrongdoing as part of that settlement New Jersey regulators still have some problems with the company. Chief those types of appears to be their relationship with founder Isai Scheinberg, who has been under federal indictment since Ebony Friday. Scheinberg isn’t U.S. citizen, and has not come to your U.S. to face those fees, to no one’s surprise.
While this is a huge loss for PokerStars, it also marks a large win for the competitors in the New Jersey market. As we reported recently, the site run by PartyPoker jointly with the Borgata Casino currently features a 50 percent share of the state’s poker marketplace, because of the Caesars/888 World number of Poker site not far behind. Those two companies could effortlessly have been overshadowed by the PokerStars site which may have already been operated along with Resorts Casino and were hoping that their head start would give them a benefit that allows them to stay competitive. Now, they’ll have at least two years to build up brand loyalty, a thing that PokerStars could have a difficult time conquering, if and when they have been finally licensed for brand New Jersey’s online market.
PokerStars was predictably not thrilled by the news, though they noted that the state’s decision could change in the near future.
‘Our company is disappointed that the N.J. Division of Gaming Enforcement has suspended the review of our application at this time,’ said PokerStars spokesman Eric Hollreiser in a statement. ‘We note that the DGE will resume the summary of our application if our circumstances change. We shall stay in open dialogue with the DGE and will update them on alterations in our situation because they occur.’
This wasn’t the very first result that is disappointing PokerStars in nj-new jersey. Formerly, the ongoing company had tried to acquire the Atlantic Club Casino, only to have that deal break apart over concerns about whether regulators would approve the purchase. That choice ended up being also high priced, as PokerStars lost about $11 million they’d spent on casino expenses a total that was meant to be applied towards the eventual $15 million purchase price.
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