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Entertainment News: Hollywood And AussieWood - WWE, IGT, Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Hemsworth, Underbelly, by Greg Tingle

2012-01-28T14:15:00.001+11:00

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The Media Man agency has a bush tucker of interesting news to report today. We're got Hollywood, AussieWood, Australia's own Chris "Thor" Hemsworth, "Underbelly" from the mean streets of Sydney, Australia, and more. 3, 2, 1 and action...

WWE Sign Son of Legendary Country Singer Kris Kristofferson To Contract...

Country singer and actor Kris Kristofferson is currently celebrating his son Jody being signed by WWE. Jody Kristofferson had a tryout match at WWE last Summer and impressed Triple H.

The deal has apparently been in place for some time now, but the deal was kept quiet. Jody had been going by the nickname ‘Big County’ in All Pro Wrestling. APW is a California-based promotion and has helped trained many big stars in the industry including: Crash Holly, Great Khali and Sara Del Rey.

Jody has appeared on an episode of SmackDown in 2010. He wrestled against Big Show in a 3-on-1 handicap match on August 13. At the time, Matt Striker referenced him as the ‘Highway Man’. The Highwaymen were a group of country singers comprising Jody’s Dad Kris, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

After impressing WWE officials against Brodus Clay this past Summer, Jody was signed to a developmental deal and is expected to start working with Florida Championship Wrestling very soon.

Triple H notably worked with Jody’s Dad in the 2004 movie Blade Trinity.

The WWE will be in Sydney on 31st August with its RAW World Tour.

WWE Superstar David Otunga -- Slams Competition in Triumphant Return to His Lawyer Life...

WWE superstar David Otunga took a break from his full time wrestling gig to return to his previous career -- attorney-at-law -- and much like his "Monday Night Raw" matches ... crushed the competition.

TMZ found out Otunga returned to court Thursday morning to represent a man who believes he was wrongfully terminated and denied unemployment benefits. Otunga tells us he was repping the man in his appeal to the NY State Department of Labor.

The proceedings took place before an administrative judge who heard witness testimony and arguments from both sides.

Otunga -- who graduated from Harvard Law School before wrestling -- told us he "smoked the witness during cross examination." The judge agreed ... Otunga's client won the appeal and will now get unemployment benefits.

Otunga says he enjoys keeping his legal skills sharp, and adds ... "If the outcome of the case is any indication of how I'll do in the Royal Rumble this weekend, then it looks like I'll be the winner."

By the way, Otunga didn't do it for the cash -- he took the case, pro bono. (Credit: TMZ)

New Terminator film to be R-rated...

Coming the week after Sylvester Stallone confirmed that The Expendables 2 was to be a PG-13 movie, at the wishes of Chuck Norris, there’s better news surrounding the planned Terminator 5.

The project is stuck in limbo at the moment, with planned director Justin Lin committed to two more Fast And The Furious movies. But Megan Ellison, who is funding the new Terminator movie, has answered one key question about the new film: Will it be stuck with a PG-13 rating? The answer? No, it won’t.

She wrote on Twitter, “We can't really tell you guys anything about Terminator BUT it will be an R rated film as God and James Cameron intended.”

More on Terminator 5 soon.

Sly and Arnie 'killing thousands of bats'...

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone are under fire from animal activists after they woke up one of Europe's biggest colonies of hibernating bats to film their latest movie.

They say the bats may starve in their thousands because the lights and cameras disturbed their winter sleep, leaving them disorientated and confused.

Stallone, Schwarzenegger and their crew entered the Devetashka cave in Bulgaria to film The Expendables 2, due to be screened this summer.

Sylvester Stallone Responds to The Expendables 2 PG-13 Rumor...

A few days back we got wind that that The Expendables 2, the follow-up to Sylvester Stallone's 2010 action flick that starred about half of Hollywood's action stars, would be rated PG-13. The story was instantly thought as a a rumor after Chuck Norris told a Polish news site that he only agreed to appear in the sequel if the "vulgar dialogue" was dropped so the movie could avoid a R-rating that would exclude "many young people" from watching.

Was Norris misquoted? Or was the translation off? Many thought the story couldn't be true, because the first Expendables movie didn't end up earning $274 million worldwide by playing nice. While it may be disappointing for some, Stallone wrote to AICN and revealed that, yes, Norris was telling the truth after all. He also warns that before fans "pass judgement", Expendables 2 is still going to "deliver."

Harry, the film is fantastic with (Jean-Claude) Van Damme turning in an inspired performance... Our final battle is one for the ages. The PG13 rumor is true, but before your readers pass judgement, trust me when I say this film is LARGE in every way and delivers on every level. This movie touches on many emotions which we want to share with the broadest audience possible, BUT, fear not, this Barbeque of Grand scale Ass Bashing will not leave anyone hungry...Sly

The Expendables 2 brings back the Expendables crew — Barney Ross (Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), Toll Road (Randy Couture), Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) and newest members Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth) and Maggie (Yu Nan) — for a new mission where they will lose one of their own and seek revenge. Whether the movie will be the "barbeque" that Stallone promises remains to be seen, as the teaser trailer released in December spent its running time going through the movie's massive cast rather than revealing much footage from the sequel. We keenly await another trailer to help judge.

Directed by Simon West (Con Air), The Expendables 2 co-stars Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Underbelly 2012...

From the streets of 1920’s Darlinghurst to the back alleys of Melbourne in the 90’s, the Underbelly franchise has kept us engrossed by the extraordinary criminal stories in Australia. In 2012 Underbelly is back, along with one of its biggest characters ever...

Hemsworth in a constant honeymoon...

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky have been on a 'constant honeymoon' since they got married.

The couple - who are expecting their first child together - tied the knot in December 2010 after almost a year of dating and the actress says they have loved every minute of married life so far.

She said: 'Marriage has been wonderful. A constant honeymoon. I feel very lucky to have found the person who completes me.'

Though she doesn't know the gender of her unborn tot, Elsa is expecting their baby to be 'stubborn' because it is a characteristic shared by herself and her spouse.

She explained: 'Because it's our first child, we would be happy with either a boy or a girl. The only thing we care about is that it is healthy. But it's bound to be stubborn because we both have such strong personalities.'

Elsa - who is Spanish - also admitted she has no idea where she and Australian-born Chris will welcome their child into the world because her spouse is so busy.

Asked where the baby will be born, she told Britain's HELLO! magazine: 'We don't know yet. It depends where we are. We move about all the time. Chris has got a lot of projects on the go and at least four movies coming out this year, so it depends on that. Wherever he is, that's where I'll be.'

IGT Supports California Tribes Through Western Indian Gaming Conference Sponsorship...

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 27, 2012 - International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) announced today that the Company will sponsor the 2012 Western Indian Gaming Conference hosted by the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA). The conference runs from Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon, Calif.

"IGT is proud of our history of support for the California Nations Indian Gaming Association," said Knute Knudson, IGT's vice president of global business development. "We deeply value our relationship with CNIGA and our long-term commitment to CNIGA's member tribes as well as our continued support for the 2012 Western Indian Gaming Conference."

IGT has been a strong proponent of CNIGA for more than 10 years with contributions to their association to maintain Tribal Sovereignty and promote Indian Gaming. Most recently, IGT entered into an agreement with CNIGA called the IGT/CNIGA Wide Area Progressive (WAP). This mutually beneficial initiative included financial support for CNIGA while increasing MegaJackpots® WAP games on the floors of their members' properties.

"Revenues raised from the WIGC go directly to fund CNIGA's work to preserve and protect tribal government gaming rights," said Chairman Daniel J. Tucker, "Through this sponsorship, IGT continues their long standing support of the association. We are thankful to IGT for their ongoing dedication to the tribal government gaming industry."

About CNIGA
The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), founded in 1988, is a non-profit organization comprised of federally-recognized tribal governments. CNIGA is dedicated to the purpose of protecting the sovereign right of Indian tribes to have gaming on federally-recognized Indian lands. It acts as a planning and coordinating agency for legislative, policy, legal and communications efforts on behalf of its members and serves as an industry forum for information and resources. Visit www.CNIGA.com for more information.

About IGT
International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of gaming machines and systems products, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets.

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World's Biggest Gamblers; History Of Bets At Casinos - Kerry Packer, David Walsh Et Al

2012-01-28T02:00:00.001+11:00

Lloyd Williams plays blackjack with the late Kerry Packer at Melbourne's Crown Casino

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Want to try your luck at a casino? ... Land based or online - there's all sorts of options out that, but first here's some real life stories regarding whales aka VIP high rollers at casinos, the racetrack and elsewhere.

PS: how about those Aussies - they will bet on anything won't they. World's biggest gamblers we heard.

Zeljko Ranogajec – Bookies beware! Allegedly, the world’s biggest gambler is an Australian billionaire of Croatian descent. After studying law in Tasmania, Ranogajec got a job in a casino where he learnt the tricks of the trade. Starting with an initial stake of hundreds, he went on to win millions on casino betting before turning his attention to horses. He now employs a full staff to compare odds and find him the best bets, putting around $1 billion a year on races around the world.

Kerry Packer – Staying Down Under, the late Kerry Packer was the media-mogul who was a thorn in Rupert Murdoch’s side – and a prolific gambler. This was the man who would happily walk into casinos and wager millions, supposedly losing $28 million in three weeks of gambling while in London. Another time he lost $15 million on the roulette tables, the staff saying he walked out with "no regrets". However, on his better days he has won up to $7 million in one casino betting session. There’s even a legend that Packer made a bet of $100 million dollars on the toss of a coin, but his opponent backed down.

Akio Kashiwagi – Known as ‘The Warrior’, this Japanese businessman became a casino legend before meeting a violent end. A master of baccarat, he regularly wagered $200,000 a time in US casinos, once winning $6 million in one night. However, he wasn’t always so lucky; he died in 1992 after being stabbed 150 times with a samurai sword while still owing casinos millions.

Archie Karas - Perhaps the most extraordinary of recent legendary streaks is possessed by Mr. Archie Karas, a Greek immigrant, who in 1992-1993 had one of the greatest runs in Vegas history. Starting with a borrowed stake of ten thousand dollars, Archie went on a rampage of poker at Binion's Horseshoe, defeating 15 of the world's greatest poker players in head-to-head competition, including World Champions Chip Reese, Stu Unger, Puggy Pearson, and Johnny Chan. When he ran out of poker competitors, Archie headed to the Horseshoe's craps tables where he won millions more. At one point in his run, Archie possessed all of the Horseshoe's $5,000 chips -- over 11 million dollars worth. When the run was over, Archie was up over 17 million dollars between poker and craps, all at the Horseshoe.

Betfred vs Betvictor – The names behind two of the biggest high street bookies were involved in what may have been the biggest sports betting wager in British history. Fred Done of Betfred fame and Victor Chandler of Betvictor bet on the outcome of the Premier League in 2005. Fred and Victor supported Manchester United and Chelsea respectively, so they wagered £1 million, as you do. It was Chelsea who came out on top and Done paid up in one of the best bets we’ve seen; what could be better than two sports betting giants walking it like they talk it?

Steve Whitely – Arriving by bus with a free ticket to watch racing at Exeter, 61-year-old heating engineer Steve Whitely turned a couple of quid into millions back in March last year. He didn’t bother to compare odds or make an effort to find the best bets, he just used his two pounds to make a Tote bet. A few hours later and he was minted after winning the jackpot when he correctly predicted all six of the winners. So, what is Steve’s sage advice to budding punters who want to win millions? “I like racing, yeah, but I don’t know nothing about it, do I?” Cheers Steve.

David Walsh - Not a great deal is know about this Tasmanian - Australian, but he founded MONA - (Museum of Old and New Art). Australian press has described him in a few colourful ways, such as - "multi-millionaire professional gambler and one of the nation's leading art collectors - dismisses himself as "just a privileged guy with a megaphone". He might be right. But the world is about to discover just how wonderful, disturbing, beautiful and occasionally challenging that megaphone is". In the second year of his science degree at the University of Tasmania, he was asked by friends to develop a model that would enable them to win at blackjack in the nearby Wrest Point Casino. When he discovered that the scope for winning at card games was limited he dropped out of his degree and, for most of the ’80s and early ’90s, spent 100 or more hours per week developing a mathematical model that would enable him and his partners to win at other forms of gambling, especially horseracing. This he now pursues on a large scale in a number of countries. There is a network of people involved in Walsh’s outfit, most notably his business partner of 30 years, Zeljko Ranogajec. Walsh met Ranogajec at university where the latter studied law and economics before he too dropped out to pursue a career in gambling. Walsh describes Ranogajec as a “relentless motivator and a loyal friend” who, despite not sharing his interest in art, has provided financial support for his collecting mania “whenever my cashflow dried to a trickle”. As Walsh inelegantly puts it: "I am throwing the shit, he is happy to be the fan. And he doesn’t even like the shit."

Other names whose win/loss positions move in the multiple millions in a single night include Malaysian tycoons Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay and Quek Leng Chan, Indonesia’s Putera Sampoerna, and Hustler founder Larry Flynt.

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Casinos Of The World: Land Based And Online, Casino Awards By Media Man And Casino News Media

2012-01-27T19:36:00.001+11:00

Sin City Cleopatra Rambo The Godfather Sinatra The Terminator Thor Saturday Night Fever Unicorn Legend Palladium Slot

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Punters, here's 10 of the world's top land based casinos for you to mark down in your travel plans.

Monte Carlo, Monaco: Perched above the Mediterranean and bounded by the French
and Italian coastlines on either side, Monaco provides a spectacular and luxurious setting for the wealthy and the wannabees. Home to the Monaco Grand Prix and the legendary Casino de Monte Carlo, this isn't the place for those on a tight budget. The magnificent Casino hosts the annual European Poker Tour and was also the scene of several James Bond Films, including the original "Casino Royale" and "Golden Eye".

Paradise Island, Bahamas: Located just off the shore of the city of Nassau, Paradise
Island is best known for its sprawling 'Vegas-by-the-sea' resort, Atlantis. The resort spans seven acres along a lagoon, where guests can soak up the Caribbean sun and choose from a variety of outdoor gaming areas. When in need of a break from the tables, guests can enjoy the private beach or one of the resorts 20 sunlit pools.

Melbourne, Australia: As Australia's sporting and entertainment capital, Melbourne
offers the perfect option for high rollers looking for a local break. Aussies need look no further than Crown Casino on the southern bank of the Yarra River, which is one of the largest casino complexes in the southern hemisphere. The main gambling floor stretches more than half a kilometre and the casino was the first to introduce the new game Rapid Roulette, which allows players to place bets on a personal electronic touch screen connected to a central roulette wheel.

Macau, China: Known as the 'Monte Carlo of the Orient,' and the gambling capital of Asia, Macau now rivals Monaco and Las Vegas as one of the premier gambling destinations in the world. With no less than 33 casinos, in addition to local horse and greyhound racing venues, Macau is perfect for the betting junkie. The Wynn Macau casino is a standout, highlighted by 24-carat gold 'Tree of Prosperity' at the entrance, extravagant water displays and Moon Jellyfish Aquarium at reception.

Baden-Baden, Germany: Situated on the western foothills of the Black Forest and on the banks of the Oos River, Baden-Baden is not your typical casino town. However, in addition to its hot springs and picturesque countryside, the town is also known for its 200-year-old 'Spielbank' casino - the oldest of its type in Germany. With French chateau-style salons rooms named after historical figures such as Madame Pompadour and Louis XV's mistress, the quirky casino provides visitors with a very unique gaming experience.

Las Vegas, United States: With over 1700 licensed casinos in operation, Las Vegas offers the ultimate package for travellers who fancy a flutter. A visit to the famous 'Strip' is a must for any player, whether they're looking for a spin on the roulette table or a game of blackjack - this city has it all. The iconic Caesar's Palace hotel and casino offers 129,000 square feet of casino space plus an endless smorgasbord of entertainment, shopping and fine dining options, including Cleopatra's barge, a floating lounge perfect for a relaxing drink after a jam-packed night on the casino floor.

Manila, The Philippines: With a favourable exchange rate, Manila provides great value for Aussies wanting to live the high-life overseas. The city offers a range of shopping and entertainment options, along with a world-class casino at the Hyatt Hotel. Spread across three levels, the sparkling casino offers the newest in gaming facilities for both hotel guests and visitors, and is just a short distance from Manila's tourist hub.

Sun City, South Africa: Known as 'Africa's Kingdom of Pleasure,' this luxury resort and casino complex, just two hours from Johannesburg, boasts two large casinos, two 18-hole golf courses and a wildlife reserve. At the extravagant yet picturesque Palace of the Lost City, guests are treated to stunning valley views from the guestrooms, along with exclusive access to the Grand Pool. The nearby Sun City Casino is the entertainment Mecca of the resort, featuring a myriad of gaming options as well as an indoor jungle of native foliage and water fountains.

Atlantic City, United States: Regarded as the US's 'Las Vegas of the East', Atlantic City in New Jersey is renowned for its gambling, shopping and fine dining. Towering above the banks of the Atlantic Ocean, the Trump Taj Mahal casino is an icon of the city, with an on-site shopping district and an abundance of restaurants and bars. The 157,000 square-foot casino is also hard to miss, with 3,500 slot machines and 200 table games. Unveiled in 1990 by a number of celebrities, including the late Michael Jackson, the casino is the second-largest in Atlantic City and well worth a visit.

Genting Highlands, Malaysia: Nestled on the Titiwangsa mountain range, just an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur and 6,000 feet above sea level, the Resorts World Genting offers 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside. This spectacular resort has first-class accommodation, dining and entertainment, while avoiding the hustle and bustle of a capital city. The on-site casino, which covers 200,000 square feet, is Malaysia's sole gaming venue and is divided into separate themed areas, such as Hollywood and Monte Carlo, for the ultimate gambling experience.

Online Casinos:

PartyCasino.com : The world's leading online casino brand and part of Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment. Play for free or play for money at PartyCasino.com New players get up to $3000 sign up bonus via Media Man.

VirginCasino.com : Virgin Casino is part of Virgin Games. The parent company is Virgin Enterprises Limited, the creation of the world's most famous and celebrated entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson. Unfortunately the casino does not accept players from many countries due to what is known in legal circles as "grey areas". Most European players can play, but no Americans, Canadians, Australians or New Zealanders.

Captain Cooks Casino : Was once a very popular online casino with Australians and New Zealanders, however we understand these days they can only accept players from a few regions such as Europe, South Africa, Canada and South America.

PKR : Once only a 2D online poker room, they are now more 3D and offer online poker and a good range of online casino games, including classics, Marvel slots and table games.

Media Man's top online casino choice: PartyCasino.com PartyCasino is a multi-time Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' winner and have also won awards from EGR. Earlier this year PartyGaming merged with Bwin to create the worlds leading igaming company, Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment.

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PartyCasino Gets New Games...

Aztec Gold, Atomic Fruit, Nag's To Riches and Fairies Forest. Check out the new games here.

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Virgin Bingo launches brand new advertising campaign

2012-01-27T19:34:00.001+11:00

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James Packer and Richard Branson

Wednesday 25th January, 2012: Virgin Games, the leading online gaming company, has launched a brand new television advertising campaign for its bingo site – Virgin Bingo.

The latest advert is part of a £500,000 marketing campaign to run in the first quarter of 2012. It is a new concept for Virgin Bingo and is a departure from its previous animated advertisements. The new ad takes on a Willy Wonka meets Virgin theme. Staged in an imaginary factory where Virgin Bingo is made, a woman is taken on a backstage tour of the fantastical premises where Oompa-Loompas have been replaced by happy, dancing Virgin staff. The new commercial also introduces Virgin Bingo’s new welcome bonus: “Deposit £10 and play with £35”, as well as new exclusive Virgin Group prizes.

The campaign focuses primarily on women aged between 25 and 54 - the core target market for online bingo - with day time scheduling on channels such as Five, a range of Sky UK and ITV digital channels.

The 30 second advert was produced by ABF Pictures with Manning Gottlieb OMD acting as media planners and buyers. The advert is scheduled to run for multiple campaigns throughout the year across both terrestrial and freeview channels.

Simon Burridge, CEO of Virgin Games, commented: “This new advert has a flavour of Willy Wonka for adults about it. It has lots of energy, excitement and fun – just what consumers have come to expect from a Virgin advert.

“We first advertised Virgin Bingo on TV in 2010 and have witnessed fantastic customer acquisition rates as a result. We’ve found that TV advertising is a natural fit for bingo. Consumer trust and a sense of security and familiarity are very important attributes for a bingo brand. Being part of the Virgin brand helps to reassure customers that they are playing with a reputable company, while TV ads raise awareness of our existence and help to reinforce that trust and brand awareness.”

Matt Barraclough, Creative Director at ABF Pictures, commented: “We were thrilled to have the opportunity of working with the Virgin Games team. A brand like Virgin allows us to think bigger and look at online bingo in a different way. We wanted to stand out from traditional bingo commercials and do it in a very Virgin way.

“The commercial itself was produced over three months. The action was captured on green screen and the entire factory backdrop was then created using 3D modelling and animation. The inspiration for the advert was the core Virgin brand values: Fun, Value for Money, Innovation, Quality, Competitive Challenge and Brilliant Customer Service. We combined these values and used iconic Virgin styles to create an exciting and memorable advert.”

Founded in 2004, Virgin Games has over 1,000,000 players and over 295 games on its site. Through the introduction of a custom built Virgin Games platform in 2008, Virgin Games seeks to provide its players with the widest possible choice of casino games.

*Sorry, Virgin Games does not currently accept U.S, Canadian, New Zealand or Australian players. See World Casino Directory.

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PartyCasino VS Virgin Casino iGaming "war" continues

2012-01-27T14:29:00.001+11:00

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PartyCasino.com - Accepts Canadian, Australian and New Zealand players. PartyCasino new players get up to $3000 sign up bonus. Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment is the world's largest and most succesful igaming company.

VirginCasino.com - No US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand players. £100 sign up bonus. Virgin Games is part of Richard Branson's Virgin Enterprises Limited.

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Casino News Media - Media Man - Global Gaming Directory - News Update - 25th January 2012

2012-01-26T14:37:00.000+11:00

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Clubs relieved over pokies backflip...

Clubs across the New South Wales mid-north coast are breathing a sigh of relief after the Gillard Government dumped Andrew Wilkie's pokies reform deal.

Instead of the independent MP's nationwide plan, the Commonwealth has proposed a two-year trial on the pre-commitment technology in the ACT.

The trial in the ACT will begin next year, ahead of possible national rollout in 2016.

The president of Clubs New South Wales for the far north coast and Clubs Taree, Carl Guy, says it will be a good way to test the effectiveness of the system.

"The costs are exorbitant on Wilkie's proposal," he said.

"Our club here [Taree] we'd be talking about $2.2 - 3 million.

"The end result of the trial will determine ... which system they will use and how much it'll cost.

"Irrespective it will cost clubs money to put these systems in which means changing the current machines."

Mr Guy says the trial will reveal the problems that regional clubs across the nation had been complaining about.

"Anything is better than what was proposed by Wilkie," he said.

"A trial, I think, will bring out the issues that the general public and a lot of people don't understand, the ramifications and the good that the clubs do for the community.

"It's just had such a flow-on effect, it was just disturbing for all directors right throughout the industry to think what is the next step."

E-gaming barrier is lifted in U.S...

The U.S. Department of Justice recently decided that the 1961 federal Wire Act only applies to sports-related gambling. This is huge news for the potentially lucrative state-sanctioned online gaming industry. It could pave the path for agreements between legal gaming states or internationally, claims renowned gambling legal expert I. Nelson Rose.

He writes that this virtually eliminates federal anti-gambling statutes. Multi-state lotteries have existed for years, and in any case federal law does not consider poker a lottery. The only laws left are those that go after organised crime, but that requires there be another legal violation.

With intra-state games like legalised poker, many other states may eventually allow some form of online gaming to boost their revenues. That is the main reason why gaming has enjoyed such expansion in the past 15 years.

The key question all operators should ask is: how will it affect us? Will there be opportunities for us to participate in some way? Or will online gaming prove to be a threat similar to home video games, which siphoned off revenues from street and arcade operators after their introduction in the mid-1980s?

OpenBet games update & challenge darts champ Phil the Power Taylor on our stand 5165 at ICE!...

Read on to find out about our latest games releases and the top land-based slots we're converting thanks to our partnerships with Aristocrat, Cool Games & Inspired Gaming

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The Cube
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Jungle Bucks
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Treasure Island
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Double Dragon
Double Dragon, live and performing well across bookmakers’ retail estates, is coming online due to OpenBet’s partnership with Cool Games. Double Dragon captures the feeling of the Orient with rich graphics and classic casino features players love. The Dragons offer plenty of entertainment, with an innovative awards system rewarding players with free spins, cash awards and mystery bonuses. With beautifully crafted artwork, themed symbols and audio, Double Dragon is a sure favourite.

OPENBET INTRODUCES “THE HOFF” TO CUSTOMERS...

OpenBet Casino unveils new celebrity-branded content with partner, MX Gaming

Fast cars and famous faces meet fame and fortune in the online gaming world as OpenBet announces ‘The Hoff’ as the latest celebrity/big name to join OpenBet Casino. Working in partnership with MX Gaming, OpenBet will launch a fully branded David Hasselhoff slot game and scratchcard that will be available to all customers from early 2012.

Featuring one of the most recognisable faces in television and throughout the world, The Hoff online games will boast a broad demographic appeal with high-octane gameplay, rich graphics and compelling concepts featuring real life imagery and footage of the legendary David Hasselhoff. Aimed primarily at the bingo and casino markets and available in numerous different skins, the main concept of the games will be to help David Hasselhoff’s character along his eternal quest of becoming a millionaire celebrity and will include humorous twists along the way. Various free spins and a super wild feature will also boost player retention and chances of winning the main prize.

Star of iconic shows including Knight Rider, Baywatch, America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent, “The Hoff”’ and his global appeal will reach fans across the globe and entertain players off air and online. Known as a home to top brands, OpenBet’s leading casino portfolio is looking better than ever. These titles will slot neatly alongside other celebrity games including Baywatch and Hulkamania featuring Hulk Hogan.

David Loveday, Chief Executive of OpenBet, comments; “OpenBet is proud of its leading portfolio of branded content and the introduction of David Hasselhoff’s iconic “Hoff” character is further evidence of the innovative way OpenBet brings interesting content to its customers. The much loved Hoff persona allows OpenBet to bring games that are not only quirky and fun but appeal to a wide range of customers.”

David Hasselhoff, world-renowned actor, singer, producer, enthuses; “The name of the game is to work with the right partners to produce fun and new interesting material. I look forward to working with OpenBet and MX Gaming to give bookmakers, bingo providers and lotteries the opportunity to jump in on the action and rev up gaming audiences far and wide.”

Ike McFadden, Director of Business at MX Gaming, added; "We always look for ways to bring our film and TV experience to the gaming space, but our recent shoot in Hollywood with David was flat-out one of the most fun experiences we've ever had on-set. He's fun, energetic, and the perfect crossover act for the online gaming world."

Fans will have a chance to see him live in an exclusive London engagement 2 March, called “An Evening with David Hasselhoff” where he will debut his new album “This Time Around”.

NYX Gaming Group – providing the buzz at ICE...

NYX Gaming Group, the recently formed software provider incorporating NYX Interactive and NextGen Gaming, to provide a refreshing way to do business at ICE this year.

London, January 19, 2012:

The recent formation of the NYX Gaming Group incorporating Stockholm based NYX Interactive and Sydney’s NextGen Gaming will provide Operators with premium gaming innovation and flexible gaming systems in true partnership. At ICE 2012 not only will the group be showcasing its latest products, but they have enlisted the help of a professional coffee barrister to keep visitors alert during the busy week.

The NYX Gaming Group will be demonstrating several new products, including NextGen Gaming’s newest premium slot title, the 50-line Merlin’s Millions which will soon be available to Operators via new and existing aggregator partners. NextGen are proud of their reputation for delivering exceptional game performance and game longevity that translates into profit for partners and an immersive gaming experience for their players.

Also on show is the new and innovative NYX Bingo product alongside the NYX MOVE mobile gaming system, providing players with the superb functionality of the PC games they’re familiar with on their tablet and mobile devices. Completing the new product offering, ICE will exclusively host the first trade show airing of the group’s Social gaming application which launched in December 2011.

Matt Davey, CEO for the NYX Gaming Group, commented “The tie-up between NYX Interactive and NextGen Gaming creates a refreshing alternative for many Operators and World Lottery Members in the i-Gaming space. We are delighted to be able to showcase NYX innovations alongside new NextGen slot titles at ICE 2012”

Join the new NYX Gaming Group team at ICE on stand 5430.

Web: www.nyxgaminggroup.com

About NYX GG
The NYX Gaming Group has offices in London, Stockholm and Sydney providing flexible gaming solutions to some of the largest World Lottery Association members and gaming operators across the globe. NYX has previously won several awards including “Innovation in Bingo” at the 2010 E-Gaming Review Awards. Both NYX (EMEA) and NextGen (Asia Pacific) have been listed in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 listings for the respective regions.

NYX Interactive offer a top-level gaming portfolio of gaming products including the leading Bingo solution, built on a fully-flexible account and back office system which supports all parts of an Operator’s business.

NextGen Gaming is the industry’s leading platform agnostic provider of engaging and profitable repeat play Slots, providing entertainment for players and profits for Operators.

Playtech to acquire sportsbook developer...

After purchasing interactive gambling and betting games developer Ash Gaming last month for £23 million, online gaming software designer and supplier Playtech Limited has now agreed a deal to buy the entire issued share capital of Geneity Limited.

Established in 2006, Geneity is an online lottery and sportsbook software provider based in the London suburb of Chiswick and Playtech is set to pay an initial cash consideration of £11 million subject to working capital adjustments with £4 million of this due to be held in escrow for 30 months.

London-listed Playtech stated that a further £4 million will be payable ‘subject to certain agreed deliverables to be provided by Geneity’.

“Sportsbook is often the prime entry point for companies into online gaming,” said Mor Weizer, Chief Executive Officer for Playtech.

“Over the past year the pace of change in the sportsbook segment led us to believe that we needed to acquire experienced developers to immediately give us a market-leading capability. Geneity will deliver a range of features key to Playtech's sportsbook such as in-play betting and a broader range of sports on which to wager.”

Geneity currently has a deal to provide its sportsbook software to Gala Coral Group through to the end of the year while its lottery solution is being utilised by the Health Lottery. Other clients include Betfair and Ladbrokes with the firm reporting unaudited revenues for the year to the end of March of £2.3 million alongside profits before tax of £820,000.

“Geneity is delighted to be joining the Playtech family, the synergies between the respective companies and products are very strong,” said Will Slater, Managing Director for Geneity.
“At Geneity we've created a highly advanced sportsbetting platform with integrated in-play algorithms, per channel pricing and a scalable and modular architecture.

“It's very exciting to be able to offer our sportsbetting platform to a wider audience alongside Playtech's existing best-of-breed products.”

Amaya signs Aristocrat licensing deal...

Server and network-based gaming specialist Amaya Gaming Group has announced that it has entered into a three-year development and licensing agreement with a subsidiary of Australian land-based casino systems supplier Aristocrat Leisure Limited.

Montreal-based Amaya revealed that the deal will allow its Chartwell Technology subsidiary to adapt a number of Aristocrat gaming titles including Wild Panda, Pompeii and Where’s The Gold for use in online and video lottery terminal (VLT) applications.

“The online gaming opportunity is becoming increasingly attractive as a number of jurisdictions around the world are considering regulatory changes that would allow new domestic gaming websites to operate,” said Darcy Krogh, Business Development Vice-President for Amaya.

“This agreement strengthens Amaya’s position by supplementing our existing online gaming content with Aristocrat titles, which are well known among casino customers worldwide.”

Amaya stated that the online titles it will develop based on Aristocrat games are to be subsequently distributed through its virtual and land-based VLT channels.

“Aristocrat’s proven slot content is ideally suited to transition to the online space as our initial titles have shown,” said Gillian Findlay, Online Gaming General Manager for Sydney-based Aristocrat.

“Online gaming is growing rapidly and Amaya’s strong distribution helps expand the reach for our extensive portfolio to more players.”

iGaming Business Wins Best Industry Publication of the Year...

24th JANUARY 2012 (London, UK) - iGaming Business, information provider for the online Gambling Industry, was recognised last night as the Best Industry Publication of the Year 2012 at the International Gaming Awards (IGA). This category is rewarded to the publication that has pushed the boundaries in above-the-line reporting, with innovative special feature highlighting and involving the reader more effectively into the publication.

The organisers of the event explain the merits of the awards 'The International Gaming Awards 2012 is supported and enhanced by well renowned industry insiders as well as gaming clients from all tiers of the gaming world. Listening carefully to the views of gaming clients and industry professionals, we are able to recognise and celebrate the biggest and best charity event of the year with class.'

These awards are bestowed on nominees by expert judges who are deeply involved in the gaming sector, such as the Senior Vice President of Communications/Government Relations at Caesars Entertainment Corp, the Founder and Director of Sportingbet Plc, the Founder & Owner of
PokerScout.com, the Vice President of Public Affairs of the Canadian Gaming Association, the founder of the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) and many more. This result is a reflection on the readership and scope of iGaming Business magazine.

'Winning was an incredible feeling, especially as we had such worthy competitors for the award.' Explains Alex Pratt, Head of iGaming Business 'But in the end, I'm glad that our efforts to continuously provide the industry with the best analysis, worldviews and high class editorial meant that we came home with the trophy. It makes us as determined as ever to win again next year and keep improving and innovating.'

More information on iGaming Business can be found at www.iGamingBusiness.com

Isle of Man calls renewed...

The Isle of Man government has renewed its calls for potential operators and developers to come forward and declare their interest in applying for the island’s newest casino licence.

The government is due to close its process of seeking expressions of interest for the new casino and five-star hotel on January 31. In previous statements, the government had indicated that hundreds of responses had been received.

“We have been pleased with the number of interesting responses we have received to date,” said John Shimmin, Minister for the Department of Economic Development. “The Isle of Man feels that the time is right to diversify its dynamic and growing economy through the establishment of a permanent hotel and casino resort, providing a further location for gaming activities for residents and visitors alike.”

Tenders submitted will involve consideration by the Department of Economic Development, which will be liaising with Global Betting and Gaming Consultants and the island ’s Gambling Supervision Commission.

“We hope that development of a new hotel and casino will be a catalyst for growing visitor business on the island through the next decade,” said Department of Economic Development Director Tim Craine.

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WWE Legend's House begins filming next month in California; Foxtel May Scoop Slam, by Greg Tingle

2012-01-24T20:37:00.000+11:00

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Wrestling fans from Sydney's Bondi Beach, New York, USA, Hollywood and around the world are buzzing at the news of an upcoming WWE television show - WWE Legend's House, which will be one of the showcase programs on the new WWE Network.

Filming is to commence next month in Rancho Mirage, California, USA and its turned into quite a news media frenzy with video camera operators and photographers all seeking out shots of the legends.

This February at least eight former World Wrestling Entertainment stars will be under one roof in a show not too unlike MTV's "Real Life" with a bit of "Jersey Shore", "Big Brother", "The Ultimate Fighter" and "Tough Enough" thrown in there for good measure.

WWE Legends House will be filmed in Rancho Mirage at the historic home of late comedian Harpo Marx at the Tamarisk Country Club.

WWE Hall of Famer "Mean" Gene Okerlund, the legendary wrestling announcer and interviewer, has been confirmed for the show. Australian fans will recognise Gene as the host of "WWE Vintage Collection" as seen on Foxtel - Fox 8, usually in a TV spot next to WWE SmackDown or WWE Superstars.

We're been tipped off that other cast members with include "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and The Iron Sheik. We're hoping that Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, "The Honky Tonk Man", "The Magnificent" Don Muraco or even Ric Flair (*Flair is currently under contract to Impact Wrestling) are also a chance to appear. Don't expect Scott Hall to appear as the man formally known as "Razor Ramon" has been getting some WWE Wellness Program rehab (for real) in recent years, and to have Hall on the new show would not be a wise risk to take at this stage of the game, however we're hopeful Hall may be able to appear on future episodes of Legends House, should the show be as wildly successful as anticipated.

Sadly Australia's "Outback Jack" - real name Peter Stilsbury (circa 1987 with WWF) won't appear, nor will Nathan "The Front Row" Jones. Neither would be considered an outright WWE legend, however both were certainly well known in their day.

Can you imagine The Iron Sheik drinking, eating and just socializing in general with other WWE legends. Something tells us they are going to have to bleep out much of his foul language, but fans familiar with the very funny and vulgar sheik will get the idea.

Hardcore fans will remember the time Australia's Wide World of Sports on Channel Nine aired the Madison Square Garden matches featuring "The Iron Shiek". One was when then WWF Champion Bob Backlund got caught in the camel clutch by the Iranian and Backlund's manager, (the late) Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel. The other famous sheik match that aired on the then Kerry Packer owned Channel Nine was when Hulk Hogan beat the sheik with his famous clothesline and atomic leg drop. The old WWF Championship Wrestling used footage from the Hogan - Sheik match for its intro music video for many years.

The WWE is going to pitch "Legends House" to audiences as unscripted drama, which is curious as pro wrestlers by nature usually work of a script. Wooooo! - we just broke kayfabe again, but most of the western world knows pro wrestling aka "sports entertainment" has storylines, angles, script writers et al these days, but that's not to say they are not talented athletes - they are indeed some of the best athletes on the planet, but only a few such as Roddy Piper could be considered a very talented actor as far as regular movie appearances go.

The concept does share some similarities to the UFC's Ultimate Fighter (TUF) series, but its wrestling legends - not up and coming UFC stars, who have to prove their worth in matches.

Many fans are hoping for a few outcomes - legends sharing tales from the road trips and locker rooms, who hated who for real, secrets of the profession and that sort of thing. We suppose if a real fight breaks out on set that will be a bonus.

The Media Man agency's spokesperson said "We fully expect that WWE Legends House" will become one of the most popular and most talked about shows on both American and Australian television. WWE top brass genius Vince McMahon has really hit the sweet spot with this one. It's got ratings winner all over it and fits in perfectly with the current "reality era" of the WWE, where the pro wrestling action and scripts carry a much more realistic edge than in the '90 - 2000 era. Australian TV networks, be it Foxtel or Network Nine or Ten, would do well to get in early on this one and secure the rights of a sure fire winner. Kids and parents should try not to copy some of the bad language and practical jokes that are bound to be a staple of this hot new show".

*Wrestling History

January 23, 1984: Hulk Hogan beats Iron Sheik to win hist first WWF title - Madison Square Garden, New York, USA

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Pokies argy-bargy waste of time, says Julia Gillard - 23rd January 2012

2012-01-23T16:27:00.001+11:00

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Politics Gaming

PM Julia Gillard is sticking by her decision to pull back from a deal on poker machine aka slot machine reforms, stating there is no point to parliament engaging in political argy-bargy over the issue.

The Prime Minister insists there is insufficient support in parliament's lower house for mandatory pre-commitment, despite her deal with independent MP Andrew Wilkie following the 2010 general election.

Instead the government will fund a trial of the problem-gambling measure across the ACT in 2013 ahead of a possible national rollout in 2016.

The decision has pissed off anti-gambling advocates and Mr Wilkie, who has withdrawn support for the minority Gillard Government.

It is however welcomed by Labor backbenchers who have felt the stress of an awesomely effective campaign war by the registered clubs sector.

Ms Gillard says there is no point in putting Mr Wilkie's measure to the parliament because it does not have the support of the coalition and key crossbenchers.

"We can have all sorts of political argy-bargy and end up with nothing," she told press today.

"Or we could get a piece of legislation through the parliament that will deliver real change."

Other government measures will include limits on ATM cash withdrawals at gaming revenues.

Ms Gillard also flagged the government may be prepared to consider a trial of $1 bet limits on "low-intensity" poker machines.

But she said that measure, proposed initially by Mr Wilkie and backed by the Australian Greens, was the most costly option to address problem gambling.

The Prime Minister has defended the decision to pay ACT clubs at least $37 million to take part in the mandatory pre-commitment trial.

The Government will pay clubs a monthly compensation fee for the year, and is also offering a total of more than $1 million for training, specialist workers and business planning.

It has not ruled out there could be more compensation as the trial is reviewed.

"We need the cooperation of the clubs to have the trial," Ms Gillard said.

"To go down the path ... you don't give them full compensation would equal having no trial."

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Hulk Hogan Pro Wrestling God Tours Casinos; Sports Entertainment News Update, by Greg Tingle

2012-01-23T15:43:00.000+11:00

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Sylvester Stallone Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon

From Bondi Beach, Australia to Japan, Canada, the USA - most of the world knows of Hulk Hogan.

Who can forget the Hulk-A-Mania Australian tour from a few years ago where he feuded with long time rival Ric Flair, and how about the wrestling angle at the then Star City Casino (now The Star), where it appeared at first that Hogan and Flair went at it for real when Flair implied he "had" Hogan's wife "Jennifer", before Hulk did! Now, that would start a fight and boy did the blood flow. The action was so hot that Seven News decided to purchase the video camera footage from the Media Man agency for a considerable sum.

The red did turn to green, as the old wrestling kayfabe saying goes, but not anywhere near as much as the Australian promoter or Hogan would have prefered.

The arena numbers in Australia were on the downside so much that it was largely responsible for TNA Wrestling deciding not to to ahead with an Australian tour.

The only American (or actually global) pro wrestling - sports entertainment company that he since graced Australian shores is the one and only WWE, headed up by promoter genius Vince McMahon. Once in a while Hogan teases a return to the WWE, and the two do have some line of communication. Take note that McMahon has old Hogan rival Flair getting inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame again (with the other 3 Four Horseman members) the night before WrestleMania, so anything can and does still happen in the WWE. Read up on other recent Media Man WWE news for more on that matter.

This writer would like to see Hogan and Flair both become official WWE spokespersons at some point, but if its to be - they need to make the move soon. Father time is ticking away.

Pro wrestling cousin of sorts, UFC from the MMA world is about to hit Sydney, Australia for a third time, but it ain't wrestling. Note, Brock Lensnar from the UFC and pro wrestling world, has left the UFC recently suffering a loss at the hands of Alistair Overeem at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, USA.

Hardcore pro wrestling fans of the WWF and ECK ilk will likely know this bit of trivia. It was Lesnar that "injured" Hogan's back in 2002 which was the official reason that The Hulk didn't visit down under back then. The back story is that Hogan and McMahon couldn't come to business terms. What's left to say but that's the pro wrestling industry.

Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan was at Speaking Rock Casino and Entertainment Center last week.

Hogan was there for the Micro Championship Wrestling event held at the venue.

Hogan was accompanied by the Nasty Boys, Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags, as well as Ed Leslie, better known as Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, the former WWF Tag Team Champion (having held the title with wrestling legend Greg "The Hammer" Valentine).

Micro Championship Wrestling has a show promoted by Hogan on TruTV. The show, which screens as midget wrestling which has been up and running since August. Note we called them midgets, not dwarfs, so haters lay off ok. Some of the wrestlers also like to be called "little people". Whatever, they are full of excitement, talent and fun, and don't mind sharing it with the world.

Australia's Foxtel doesn't currently get TruTV, so we can't enjoy Hogan's midget wrestling show on the box at this stage, but we're hopeful time will change that. Foxtel is going to soon get a new Factual channel, so there's hope yet wrestling fans.

Hogan is the most recognizable figure in the history of professional wrestling from his success in the business since the 1980s. Hogan's also had many of movies and a host of other high profile shows and projects. Hogan's star power even ecliped "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Gorgeous George (Wagner) and Bruno Sammartino (for you old school wrestling fans out there).

Hogan enjoyed high level feuds with the likes of Andre the Giant, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Paul "Mr Wonderful" Orndorff, King Kong Bundy, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, "The Magnificent" Don Muraco, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

On the big screen Hogan has starred in "No Holds Barred," "Suburban Commando" and "Mr. Nanny." He has also made appearances in Rocky III and Walker, Texas Ranger. One can argue that current WWE superstars, John Cena, "The Rock" and Steve Austin took off where Hogan finished as far as mixing wrestling and movies. Roddy Piper is widely regarded as the most talented actor that pro wrestling ever produced. From time to time Piper does his famous "Pipers Pit" talk show segment for the WWE as well as helping out a few other smaller wrestling promotions.

Hogan even had his own reality TV show called "Hogan Knows Best.", and it wasn't long before daughter Brooke, did her own "Brooke Knows Best" show.

Hogan became a household name while in Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF), now known as WWE, which enjoyed a live event in Las Cruces, New Mexico on Sunday at the Pan American Centre.

He is currently signed to the Impact Wrestling - Total Nonstop Action wrestling promotion and has a range of business projects on the go including in the TV, gaming, casino and internet b2b sectors.

Recently, Hogan has made headlines on celebrity websites for his divorce, his son Nick's car crash, daughter Brooke's music career and the pending removal of his world famous moustache (to satisfy some Hollywood movie producers).

Other

Ric Flair is almost as famous as long time rival Hulk Hogan, who along with Flair is currently under contract to Impact Wrestling. Most would argue that Flair is one of the greatest pro wrestlers in history, while Hogan has earned more income from wrestling and wrestling related activities than just about anyone else.

* The writer has a b2b agreement with the WWE (WWE Shop)

* Wrestling legend Andre The Giant gets online slot game via Richard Branson's Virgin Casino.

* Hogan recently released his Kinnect-based "Hulk Hogan's Main Event" game which got mixed reviews from the gaming industry. The game promo goes "Get pumped and bring the pain in the first full-body wrestling game on Kinect for Xbox 360! In Hulk Hogan’s Main Event Hulkamaniacs can train with wrestling icon Hulk Hogan himself. As your mentor, Hulk will help you build your own wrestling personality and school you in the art of showmanship to win over the crowd. Entertain roaring fans with brutal stunts, combos, even devastating chair hits, that will knock your opponent to the mat or out of the ring. The crazier and wilder your motions, the more high impact your wrestling performance is in your living room ring!"

* Hulk Hogan is also tipped to be soon getting his own online slot game. His Hulk-A-Mania game is being developed by Endemol Games. Endemol is the company behind the famous Big Brother franchise, so you know they know about marketing and publicity. The Media Man agency is tipped to soon come to business terms with Endemol.

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Kapow! EPIX Pre-empts Stan Lee Documentary Before Slamdance Debut

2012-01-23T09:27:00.003+11:00

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From Bondi Beach to New York, Hollywood, to Africa and beyond, the whole world knows of Stan Lee's Marvel superheroes.

You know - The Hulk, Spider-Man, Captain America - Lee was instrumental in their creation and was co-creator of many of these awesome hero's.

Slamdance has snatched a sweet deal. EPIX is closing a preemptive deal for With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story, a documentary that makes its Slamdance debut this Tuesday.

Lee is the co-creator of hundreds of comic character superheros that include Marvel movie staples Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Hulk, Fantastic Four, Daredevil and Iron Man.

We understand that the documentary will premiere on the pay channel along with EPIXHD, later this year. The doco examines Lee’s life, from growing up in the depression to finding his way to become an iconic comic creator during the Marvel heyday.

We were pleased to learn that the flick features the likes of Tobey Maguire, James Franco, Samuel L. Jackson, Kirsten Dunst and others who’ve starred in Marvel movies.

Lee shows up in all those movies in cameos and is still creating superheroes at age 88.

From comics, to movies, to games and exclusive interviews - its all in the flick.

The film’s produced by Paris Kasidokostas Latsis, Terry Dougas, Nikki Frakes, and Will Hess through 1821 Pictures. WME Global’s Deborah McIntosh is closing the deal.

Superhero fans around the world collectively shout "Excelsior!".

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PartyCasino News: PartyCasino 5 Star Vegas Dream Ticket

2012-01-23T00:13:00.001+11:00

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Media Man News - Casino News, Entertainment News, Business News...

2012-01-22T23:18:00.001+11:00

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PartyCasino.com Wins Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' Award

PartyCasino VS Virgin Casino war continues

WWE Named as Supporter of SOPA Bill

WWE(R) Studios Options Found Footage Script BERMUDA

Megaupload's Kim Schmitz arrested in Auckland, site shut down

'James Bond' in PH to visit wife: source

US shuts down leading file-sharing site

What are the odds of Zynga getting into online gambling?

The DeanBeat: Should Zynga move into online gambling?

Million dollar message: Wrestling legend Ted DiBiase exchanges grappling for the gospel

Good deal for Sky City is raw deal for Auckland community, says Winston Peters

Suspect sought for killing possum at casino

Jacksons drop action against Conrad Murray

2012 Aussie Millions Day 10: Pedley Wins Event #6; Krost Wins Tournament of Champions

Know When to Hold ’Em: DOJ Opens Door for Online Gambling

Watch Now: ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Tokyo Press Conference

Super Hero Squad Online: Meet Nightcrawler

Animal: "Punk is living out my brother's dream"

Bin Laden Movie Remains Top-Secret, Joel Edgerton Says

PartyGaming, PartyCasino, Bwin Do Deal With Las Vegas Land Based Casinos

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Positive Macau Numbers to Drive Melco Crown Entertainment and MGM Resorts This Earnings Season - 19th January 2012

2012-01-22T21:41:00.001+11:00

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Casino Casinos World Casino Directory James Packer Melco Crown City of Dreams Altira Macau Lawrence Ho Gaming Crown Casino Asia Asian Gaming Australian Casinos

Five Star Equities Provides Stock Research on Melco Crown Entertainment & MGM Resorts...

NEW YORK, NY, Jan 19, 2012 - Casino stocks have been on the upswing this week as positive news out of China helped drive shares of gaming companies with a heavy presence in Macau higher. China said its economy grew by 8.9 percent in the fourth quarter, which was slower than the previous quarter. Analysts, however, consider these levels "robust," the Associated Press reports. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for the Resorts and Casinos Industry and provides equity research on Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. MPEL +0.27% and MGM Resorts International MGM -0.39%.

According to data published by the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (GICB), gross gaming and gambling revenues in Macau totalled 269.058 billion patacas (US$33.632 billion) in 2011. MacauHub.com reports that revenues in 2011 were an almost five-fold increase on revenues in 2006 (57.521 billion patacas). Revenues also jumped from 189.588 million patacas in 2010.

By the end of 2011, there were 34 casinos in Macau, 20 of which were owned by Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, three by Venetian Macau, five by Galaxy Casino, three by Melco/PBL Jogos (Macau) and one each by Wynn Resorts and MGM Grand Paradise.

A recent article from Forbes helps explain why Macau continues to grow at such a rapid pace. For example, Macau has initiated a series of initiatives to encourage visitors, Forbes reports. The tiny island investing in new transportation links to ease travel for Chinese visitors. Now, a new railway line connects Macau to Guangzhou in China and a new road bridge links it to Hong Kong.

With China's middle class continuing to expand, Forbes highlights an increase in disposable income in China's population, which is driving the growth of mass market in Macau.

Melco seeking Studio City loan...

Local gaming operator Melco Crown Entertainment is in negotiations with banks to try to raise up to MOP 16 billion in debt to fund the development of long-delayed Macao Studio City project.

According to sources quoted by Bloomberg, the Hong Kong-listed company is seeking a loan of around USD 1.5 billion (MOP 12 billion) and will also issue bonds worth USD 1 billion (MOP 4 billion), Reuters adds Melco is currently negotiating with banks to ensure the financing, in case there are not enough takers. The company is about three to four weeks away from hiring banks, sources said.

A source claims the debt will be used to build up Macao Studio City. Last year Melco Crown’s co-chairman Lawrence Ho Yau Lung said the operator would invest USD 1.7 billion (MOP 13.6 billion) in the development of the Cotai project. He added that construction would commence in 2012 and the property may open in 2015.

But there is still no word on whether Studio City will have a casino. On Wednesday the secretary for Transport and Public Works, Lau Si Io, told lawmakers the introduction of a gaming space at the project has not yet been approved.

“And in order to make it a reality, of course, we would need the necessary gaming tables to make the project financially viable for us,” Ho acknowledged last August. The son of ailing tycoon Stanley Ho Hung Sun said he was confident of gaining authorities’ support.

“Before we even undertook investing in the Macao Studio City project, we had dialogue and communication with various levels of the Macau Government and they have been very supportive throughout the way,” Ho said.

Melco and the other five gaming operators all climbed in Hong Kong trading yesterday on expectations they will benefit from more mainland China visitors during the coming Lunar New Year holiday.

“Investors are expecting the footfall in Macau casinos to rise during the Chinese New Year,” said Edwin Fan, an analyst with Bank of China International in Hong Kong, quoted by Bloomberg.
But the holiday period will come too soon for new resort Sands Cotai Central, which will open “between March 22 and 27,” wrote HSBC Global Research’s Sean Monaghan in an investors note.

The analyst, quoted by Macau Business, believes the resort will account for 28 percent of Sands China’s earnings for 2013.

Melco Crown Jumps to Two-Month High in U.S. on Loan Speculation...

Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. rose to a two-month high in U.S. trading on speculation the Macau casino venture between billionaires Stanley Ho and James Packer is seeking a loan to fund the development of a new project.

American depositary receipts of Melco gained 3.2 percent to $11.18 by 10:41 a.m. in New York, the highest intraday level since Nov. 9. The ADRs, each representing three common shares in the Hong Kong-based company, have increased 6.2 percent over the past three days.

Melco Crown approached banks to finance its Studio City project in the former Portuguese colony city that is the only place in China where public gambling is allowed, according to four people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified as the details are private. The loan may be about $1.25 billion, two of the people said.

Studio City will be an integrated resort with a “theme and demographic focus” aimed at differentiating it from the company’s existing portfolio of assets, according to Melco Crown’s website. The company is about three to four weeks away from hiring banks, the people said.

Melco Crown’s shares gained 2.2 percent earlier today in Hong Kong to HK$28.15, the equivalent of $3.63 per share. The ADRs are trading at a 2.7 percent premium over the Hong Kong stock.

MGM China Leads Gains in Macau Casinos Ahead of New Year Holiday...

MGM China Holdings Ltd. and Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. led gains in Macau casino operators on expectations they will benefit from more mainland China visitors during the coming Lunar New Year holiday.

MGM China advanced as much as 6.9 percent to HK$11.48, the highest intraday level since Nov. 9, before trading at HK$11.38 at 11:34 a.m. in Hong Kong. Galaxy Entertainment climbed as much as 5.8 percent, its biggest intraday gain since Dec. 1.

The week-long Lunar New Year holiday kicks off on Jan 23 and tourists from mainland China tend to boost gambling and shopping revenue in Hong Kong and Macau during that period.

“Investors are expecting the footfall in Macau casinos to rise during the Chinese New Year,” said Edwin Fan, an analyst with Bank of China International in Hong Kong.

Casino revenue in Macau, the world’s largest gambling hub, rose 25 percent in December to 23.6 billion patacas ($3 billion), as Chinese tourists spent more. Chinese gamblers have fueled growth in the former Portuguese colony, where gambling sales have more than tripled in the past four years.

Wynn Macau Ltd. rose as much as 5 percent and Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. as much as 3 percent.

Sands China Ltd., the Hong Kong-listed unit of billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas-based company, climbed as much as 4.4 percent. SJM Holdings Ltd., Asia’s biggest casino operator by revenue, gained as much as 3.4 percent.

Packer eyes another big investment in Perth casino, as Chinese tourism soars...

Gaming billionaire James Packer is believed to be eyeing another massive investment in Crown's casino in Perth, talking with the state Government about acquiring land for a new hotel and entertainment complex.

According to the Australian Financial Review, Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett is supportive of the idea of another hotel for the listed company.

The report follows the casino group's decisions to change the casino's name from Burswood to Crown Perth, and Packer's comments he wanted to do more build up more attractions such as golf course in the city.

Sources close to the project expect Crown to invest under $1 billion, the paper says.

Housing Industry Association chief economist Harley Dale says commercial has outperformed residential property in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

"If you were to generalise, you'd say commercial has outperformed there and it's reasonable to take this as another vote of confidence in the medium-term outlook in the WA economy as a whole," Dale says.

Dale says there are signs that hotels, warehouses and the office sector have good growth outlooks, he says.

"At the same time, you seem to continue getting these ticks in the box for aggregate economic conditions in WA, but there are a lot of sectors – such as residential – that are losing out."

Packer last year raised eyebrows by saying Australians over-estimated the effectiveness of their tourism campaigns, and risked ignoring the emerging Asian middle-class.

The Crown Perth plans come as official tourism figures show short-term arrival figures were up 0.8% in the year to November but short-term resident departures soared 8.1% over the same period.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, released yesterday, show that the number of tourists from China rose by 19.7% in the year to November 2011, followed by a 6.3% rise from India, a 3.2% rise from New Zealand and a 1.1% rise from Singapore.

Conversely, tourist numbers from the United Kingdom fell by 6.5%, 5% from the United States, 8.8% from Korea and 9.9% from Japan.

You bet, internet gambling on the rise...

Internet gambling is on the rise, with convenience and accessibility contributing to its popularity, research has found.

The findings follow the largest survey of internet gamblers to date in Australia with more than 6680 people participating in the self-selected, online questionnaire.

Dr Sally Gainsbury, from Southern Cross University’s Centre for Gambling Education and Research, said internet gamblers had significantly more positive attitudes towards gambling.

“People appear to be gravitating towards online gambling because of the availability and the convenience,” she said.

“It can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

“But for people with existing gambling problems, internet gambling may create additional risks.”

Dr Gainsbury said overall the research showed internet gamblers were not more likely to be problem gamblers but they did appear to be at higher risk of developing problems.

She said internet gambling posed particular risks to players; it was constantly available and people could play online in private with relative anonymity.

More than half of the 450 problem internet gamblers responding to the survey said the use of credit cards or internet bank transfers increased the amount they spent compared to less than one in 10 of the 2270 non-problem internet gamblers.

Southern Cross University and the University of Sydney conducted the research.

Anita Hartley at Mission Australia’s North Coast Gambling Counselling Service is not surprised by the research findings.

“Our service is seeing a steady increase of people with online gambling issues and it is a real concern,” she said.

Ms Hartley said she had seen first-hand that it did appear to target the vulnerable.

She said we needed a strong approach to work out sensible safeguards for people, including good government regulation.

“We would encourage the Australian government to take a leading role in influencing the design of global consumer protection standards while online gaming is still in its infancy,” Ms Hartley said.

Internet gambling’s popularity has soared in the past few years with trends indicating an increasing number of people starting to gamble online.

More than half of the survey participants started gambling online from around 2006.

Mission Australia recognises while Australia has a ban on online gaming, Australians can gamble using offshore websites.

“While we do not wish to see a proliferation of online gaming in Australia, we also recognise that a well regulated Australian industry could help to reduce the impact of unscrupulous overseas providers,” Ms Hartley said.

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Packer's Melco Crown eyes $2b in new debt - 19th January 2012

2012-01-20T19:30:00.001+11:00

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Casino James Packer Melco Crown City of Dreams Altira Macau Lawrence Ho Gaming Crown Casino Australian Casinos

James Packer’s Melco Crown joint venture, one of the six licensed casino operators in Macau, is looking to raise up to $US2 billion ($1.92 billion) in debt to fund a new project in the former Portuguese colony, according to sources.

Proceeds will finance Melco's plans to build Macau Studio City, a $US2.5 billionn-plus gaming and entertainment resort on the developing Cotai strip, said one source.

The debt funding will feature a loan-cum-bond combo with the loan expected to be for around $US1.25 billion and the US dollar bond for the remainder, according to another source. The borrower is in discussions with banks for the loan financing and is seeking underwritten commitments.

Melco's last visit to the loan markets was in May 2011 when it raised $US1.2 billlion through a dual-tranche financing comprising an $US800 million term loan and a $US400 million revolver. The term loan amortises to 50 per cent and has a two-year grace period. The blended average life is 4.1 years.

ANZ, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Bank of China Macau, Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank were coordinating lead arrangers and bookrunners on the fully underwritten facility. The deal paid top-level blended all-ins of 208-308 basis points over Libor.

In May 2010, Melco raised $US600 million through an eight-year non-call four global bond paying a coupon of 10.5 per cent.

Melco is a joint venture between Mr Packer's Crown and Lawrence Ho, son of the Macau gaming mogul Stanley Ho. Crown has a 33.4 per cent stake in Melco Crown Entertainment, which runs the Altira Macau and City of Dreams casinos.

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Packer's Melco Crown eyes $2b in new debt - 19th January 2012

2012-01-20T11:30:00.000+11:00

Celebrities reach phone hacking settlement - 19th January 2012

2012-01-20T11:05:00.001+11:00

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Rupert Murdoch's media empire has made huge payouts to 37 phone-hacking victims, including actor Jude Law, singer Danii Minogue, and former British deputy prime minister John Prescott, their lawyers said.

The High Court in London heard new details of settlements amounting to more than 645,000 pounds ($960,000), including 130,000 pounds for Alfie star Law, for hacking by the News of the World tabloid.

Law said in a statement after the hearing that he launched his case "to find out the truth" about the phone-hacking scandal, which led to the closure of the 168-year-old News of the World in July.

"For me this case was never about money. It was about standing up for myself and finding out what had happened. I owed it to my friends and family as well as myself to do this," said Law, 39.

He said the hacking by the News of the World and its daily sister paper The Sun led him to to suspect friends and family because private information kept appearing in the press when the hacking took place between 2003 and 2006.

"I changed my phones, I had my house swept for bugs but still the information kept being published. I started to become distrustful of people close to me," he added.

"No aspect of my private life was safe from intrusion."

Among the other payouts, Prescott received 40,000 pounds, Law's ex-wife Sadie Frost received 50,000 pounds, Law's personal assistant Ben Jackson received 40,000 pounds, and rugby player Gavin Henson, the ex-husband of singer Charlotte Church, also got 40,000 pounds.

Guy Pelly, a close friend of Prince William and Prince Harry, won 40,000 pounds, while Chelsea and England footballer Cole and Australian singer Minogue won undisclosed settlements.

The victims also included two journalists who worked for other papers in Murdoch's empire.

The judge heard statements read out in court on behalf of 18 of the 36.

Mark Thomson, a lawyer for some of the victims, said the claimants had been "extremely brave to take on and succeed against a massive and influential multinational media organisation."

"They can take the credit for triggering the new police investigation, the parliamentary inquiries and the Leveson Inquiry. They should be very pleased with what they have achieved," he added.

He said the majority of people pursuing damages claims had now settled but that others would press ahead with a trial scheduled for next month.

Mr Murdoch's company apologised to Law in court.

Lawyer Michael Silverleaf said his client offered "sincere and unreserved apologies to the claimant for the damage, as well as the considerable distress caused to him and those close to him."

News International, the British newspaper arm of Murdoch's US-based News Corporation, refused to give any further details on the settlements.

"At the moment we're not commenting at all," a News International spokeswoman said.

The company has set up a multi-million-pound compensation scheme for victims of phone hacking in a bid to avoid further costly civil lawsuits.

Among those it settled with last year were British actress Sienna Miller, Law's ex-girlfriend, and James Hewitt, the former lover of Diana, Princess of Wales.

It has also made a payout of 2 million pounds to the family of murdered British schoolgirl Milly Dowler, while Mr Murdoch made a personal donation of 1 million pounds to charities chosen by her family.

Revelations that the News of the World hacked her phone caused public outrage when they emerged in July last year, turning the long-simmering issue into a major public scandal.

Prime Minister David Cameron launched the Leveson Inquiry into the ethics of the press which has heard from a string of hacking victims and media figures since July.

Police have arrested several people including Andy Coulson, a former News of the World editor and media chief for Mr Cameron, and former News International boss Rebekah Brooks.

Allegations that police were too close to Mr Murdoch's papers also claimed the scalps of Scotland Yard's top officer and another senior policeman. (Credit: Wires)

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Severed head, hand found below Hollywood sign - 19th January 2012

2012-01-19T15:56:00.000+11:00

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Police have found a human hand near where a pair of dog walkers found a gruesome severed head on a hiking trail leading up to the iconic Hollywood sign.

The hand was found after police sealed off the area overnight following the discovery of the head, reported to be that of a male in his 40s, on a trail in the Hollywood Hills.

Detectives believe the victim was killed elsewhere and his body parts dumped on the trail, which leads up through a canyon to the Hollywood sign, photographed by millions of tourists every year.

Two female dog walkers made the gruesome find on Tuesday afternoon (local time) after noticing two of their dogs playing with an object, which on closer inspection turned out to be a male human head.

Police said the remains appeared to be relatively fresh.

The LA Times newspaper reported the head belonged to an Armenian American in his 40s with salt and pepper hair. Los Angeles has a large Armenian community.

The head - which could be identified by dental records - was being examined on Wednesday, coroner's assistant chief Ed Winter said.

The victim's identity could also be tracked down by fingerprints.

The hillsides around the Hollywood sign are criss-crossed with trails used by hikers, horse riders, and tourists seeking to reach the Tinsel town symbol, visible from miles away on the northern rim of the sprawling city.

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PartyCasino VS Virgin Casino iGaming War Continues

2012-01-19T12:54:00.000+11:00

International Game Technology to Acquire Social Gaming Company Double Down Interactive

2012-01-19T03:58:00.001+11:00

-Transaction propels IGT into a leadership position within social gaming
-Double Down is anticipated to contribute rapid user and revenue growth
-Combination allows IGT to leverage Facebook distribution channel
-Acquisition estimated to be accretive to IGT's fiscal year 2012 adjusted earnings

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International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT - News), the global leader in the design, development and manufacture of gaming machines and systems products, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Double Down Interactive LLC – a leading online social gaming company and developer of the popular DoubleDown™ Casino found on Facebook.

Launched in April 2010, the DoubleDown™ Casino is the world's largest virtual casino and one of the top 4 social media games in 2011 as rated by Facebook. According to AppData.com, DoubleDown™ Casino currently has 4.7 million monthly active users, up from 3.3 million in October 2011. With a broad and expanding portfolio, Double Down offers blackjack, slots, slot tournaments, video poker, and roulette to social gamers all around the world.

The total consideration includes $250 million in cash, $85 million in retention payments over the next two years and up to $165 million in cash payable over the next three years subject to Double Down meeting certain financial performance targets. IGT expects to fund the transaction from cash on hand.

The addition of Double Down provides IGT instant size and scale in the fast growing world of casino-style social gaming and is expected to broaden IGT's popular gaming titles beyond the physical casino to Facebook, the world's largest social network with over 800 million global users. This powerful distribution model is anticipated to provide IGT an opportunity to entertain players with consistent, ubiquitous, thrilling gaming experiences across multiple platforms.

"Double Down and IGT share complementary cultures focused on innovation and creativity. Both companies are committed to providing unrivaled quality, service and entertainment to millions of players," said Greg Enell, CEO of Double Down. "Leveraging IGT's Research and Development, global reach, and best-in-class content will provide our loyal player base with an even more robust experience and is expected to augment Double Down's growth trajectory."

"As technological innovations increasingly influence consumer behavior, social dynamics are quickly transforming entertainment and gaming experiences everywhere," said Patti Hart, CEO of IGT. "The addition of Double Down launches IGT into a leadership position in social gaming, extends our global reach through new mediums, and leverages our unmatched expertise in game development. We intend to drive meaningful value from this rapidly growing distribution platform that reaches a new, but complementary, demographic of gamers."

The transaction is estimated to be accretive to IGT's fiscal 2012 adjusted earnings and is projected to close within the second quarter of its current fiscal year. Greg Enell will continue to lead Double Down and the company's operations will remain in Seattle, WA after the acquisition is complete. Through the integration, IGT will operate Double Down with the appropriate level of independence needed to continue to foster exceptional growth.

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including, but not limited to, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The final purchase price is subject to certain post-closing adjustments.

Conference Call Information
IGT will host a conference call regarding its acquisition of Double Down on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, at 5:00 a.m. PST. The access numbers are as follows:

Domestic callers dial 888-606-7043, pass-code IGT
International callers dial 1-212-547-0361, pass-code IGT

The conference call also will be broadcast live over the Internet. A link to the webcast is available at the IGT website: http://www.IGT.com/InvestorRelations. If interested parties are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived until Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 also at http://www.IGT.com/InvestorRelations.

Interested parties who cannot participate at the time of the call may listen to a taped replay of the entire conference call commencing at approximately 7:00 a.m. PST on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012. This replay will run through Friday, Jan. 27, 2012. The access numbers are as follows:
Domestic callers dial 888-568-0521
International callers dial 1-402-998-1495

About Double Down Interactive
Double Down Interactive is the leading casual games developer of "fun to play" casino experiences on the Internet. With veterans from top online game companies, the team is committed to providing consumers an online social casino experience that is unrivaled by anything else available. Anyone can play at the DoubleDown Casino by visiting http://apps.facebook.com/doubledowncasino/ or www.doubledowncasino.com. Double Down Interactive is based in Seattle, Washington.

About IGT
International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT - News) is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of gaming machines and systems products, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets. More information about IGT is available at www.IGT.com or follow IGT on Twitter at @IGTNews or Facebook at www.facebook.com/IGT.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning the proposed acquisition of Double Down Interactive, including the expected benefits of the acquisition to IGT and IGT's strategic, financial and operational expectations for its business, including the Double Down business following the closing of the acquisition. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the possibility that the transaction might not close or that the closing may be delayed, IGT's integration of Double Down, its products, technologies and employees may experience difficulties, and the anticipated benefits of the transaction to IGT and its customers might not be realized. More information about potential factors that could affect IGT's business and financial results is included in IGT's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in IGT's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its 2011 fiscal year, and available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov and on the investor relations section of IGT's website at www.IGT.com. All information provided in this release is as of January 12, 2012 and IGT does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update this information.

Double Down Interactive LLC, International Game Technology - M&A Call

Operator

Good morning, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to International Game Technology's Conference Call regarding the acquisition of Double Down Interactive. [Operator Instructions] Today's call is being recorded. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to turn the call over to Mr. Matt Moyer, Vice President of Investor Relations. Sir, you may begin.

Matthew G. Moyer

Thanks, Kim. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to IGT's Conference Call regarding the acquisition of Double Down. On the call today are Patti Hart, CEO; and Pat Cavanaugh, CFO.

Before we begin, I'd like to remind listeners, our discussion will contain forward-looking statements concerning the proposed acquisition of Double Down that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in our discussion due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Information about potential factors that could affect IGT's business and financial results are included in our filings with the SEC, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in our press release relating to the Double Down acquisition. All information discussed in this call is as of today, January 13, 2012, and IGT does not intend and undertakes no obligation to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances. With that in mind, I'll turn over the call to Patti.

Patti S. Hart

Thanks, Matt, and thanks to all of you for taking time to join us this morning. Yesterday, we announced our entry into the rapidly growing world of social gaming with our agreement to acquire Double Down Interactive. Double Down is the developer of the world's leading virtual casino found on Facebook. This investment is consistent with our strategic objective to lead the wave of change coming to gaming around the globe. We have always delivered products and innovation across all available distribution channels with the end player experience in mind. The acquisition of Double Down is consistent with our historic approach and allows our games to be accessible to the broader space of players in all relevant format and across all leading edge outlets. The addition of Double Down further solidifies our interactive gaming leadership and is compelling for the future growth of IGT. With more than 1 million daily active users, DoubleDown Casino is attracting more than 10x the average number of daily visitors to Las Vegas, while also delivering positive adjusted EBITDA and is adding users and growing revenues at impressive rates. We will operate Double Down with a level of independence necessary to continue to foster exceptional growth. This transaction marks another important step towards the execution of our plan to prioritize higher growth opportunities that we believe will result in strong returns for our shareholders. The combination of IGT and Double Down is compelling for both companies, but also for gamers around the world and our stakeholders. I'll now turn the call over to Pat.

Patrick W. Cavanaugh

Thanks, Patti, and good morning everyone. As we indicated in our press release, our definitive agreement to acquire Double Down is for a total consideration that includes $250 million paid out in cash, $85 million paid out in retention payments over 2 years and up to $165 million that could be earned subject to the company meeting certain financial performance targets over the next 3 years. The final purchase price is subject to customary post-closing adjustments and is expected to close within this fiscal quarter. The transaction was priced to reflect the value that IGT identified in Double Down based on a variety of factors, including growth rates of the company, financial performance, technology and competency of senior management and is in line with comparable valuations. We expect Double Down to be accretive in our fiscal 2012 adjusted earnings. However, currently it is too early to accurately determine the size of the potential accretion. We currently anticipate including Double Down in our interactive revenues, which are accounted for in our gaming operations line of business. At this time, we are not changing our fiscal 2012 adjusted earnings guidance. With that, I'd now like to turn the call over for questions. Operator?

Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

[Operator Instructions] And our first question comes from Joe Greff with JPMorgan.

Joseph Greff - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division

Pat, Patti, Matt, if you can talk a little with the background of this deal, how was this deal sourced? Was it the competitive situation? You talked about the valuation is in line with some other comparable transactions. Can you help us understand those transactions or what you looked at on a comparative-valuation basis? And then, when you think of strategically what this does for you, what are the returns if this is just a platform for social gaming? And if you can talk about how this might interface with an effort for online poker or online gaming subject to obviously the legislation being passed and all that good stuff?

Patti S. Hart

A lot of step in line, Joe. Thanks for that. That gives us a chance to maybe answer a lot of questions. So I'll add some comments and then let Pat as well. So I mean, as you would suspect, I mean, we have had our eye on the social gaming part of the marketplace for quite some time. Seeing that -- with the regulatory environment currently as it is in the U.S., a need to provide to our customers and to patrons around the globe an experience that is more reflective of what our gaming experience is today with our machine and game experience. And the free play experience in our research just does not provide the kind of compelling entertainment experience that our patrons are used too. So we've had our eye on the social casual gaming with virtual currency for some time. Double Down, you run into everybody at all of these conferences, so Double Down is someone we've had conversations with off and on when it comes to partnerships and sharing content and what have you. And at some point, it turned into a more curious conversation. Strategically, I'll let Pat talk to you about some of the comps in a second, but strategically, this is an important fit for us. It does a number of things. I think it begins to allow us to reach a younger demographic with our core competencies, what we do best, which is create great gaming experiences that include a wager. A wager of some sort of consideration, in this case, it happens to be a virtual currency. To reach that younger demographic and to educate the younger demographic that today doesn't necessarily enjoy our games even when they're in a casino environment. So it allows us to begin to educate, it also allow us to reach the deeper into the social fabric for our core products to really add a social layer to the core gaming experience and in a land-based environment. So it's a real move forward. I believe in convergence and the creation off a true global gaming ecosystem that allows you to play on any device with any sort of currency around the globe. And so, it strategically fits nicely for us. And I think having the opportunity to add the leading virtual casino, if you will, to our portfolio of products is very powerful for us. So Pat, you want to talk about the comps for this.

Patrick W. Cavanaugh

Sure. Sure, Joe. If you look at it, I mean, when we buy anything as most companies, we look at valuation on a number of metrics. And so, if you were to look at this acquisition compared on a DCF or preceding gaming transactions or discount equity value, what you'd find in, and I would highlight obviously the most visible public comp out there recently is Zynga. What you'll find is, we paid a reasonable value for this business. It's obviously more than something we might pay for in our core business just because of the phenomenal growth rates that this segment is experiencing. So you're going to -- you're going to pay up for that. But we feel it's reasonable, and we're excited about the opportunity.

Operator

And our next question comes from Bill Lerner with Union Gaming.

William J. Lerner - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

A couple of questions. One is, I guess just technical and the other is more, I guess, more strategic. On the technical, there's -- these numbers of course are floating around out there and reported with frequency about daily users and billings and all this other stuff for sites like this. But the one thing I just wanted to clarify, are you guys talking about -- when these numbers of $140,000 a day in revenue are attributed to Double Down, which we understand are much higher now, are those gross? Are those net? Are those billings? What is that number and helps us model this more accurately is the first question. And then I guess, I have another one for Patti. Just generally speaking, why not -- as we think of the size of the acquisition, $500 million or up to $500 million, tremendous amount of capital, obviously, you have great liquidity, but why not build this yourself, right? I mean, you could -- I believe do a similar deal if not the same or maybe a better deal with Facebook. You've got resources and content. But why not do something like this yourself? These guys, I understand, started this business relatively speaking not too long ago, but is it a race to get this done because of the timing of online poker legislation at the federal or state levels? Or is there something about this that I guess, maybe we're just not understanding?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, so I'll take the second half, and then I'll let Pat talk to you a bit about the billings and gross versus net. Yes, we did as you would imagine, we did a fairly exhaustive make-versus-buy analysis within the company. And I would say it was driven by a couple of things. One is, if you take Double Down as an example, they were founded 2009, so they're about 2 years in to where it is today, and that's kind of building from scratch with a maniacal focus on one thing. And so, the first was a time to market that it was likely longer than 2 years for us to go from scratch inside of a company that already has a product, and we do believe that time to market is important in this particular space. I mean, Zynga is a relatively new company. Double Down is -- most of the players in this market are relatively new. And there's new entrants coming every day. And the first mover advantage in this marketplace really matters because liquidity equals members in this environment. So the more liquidity you have, the more interesting your product is. So the land grab for liquidity will impact product performance over time. So I would say the first was about time to market. The second was really distraction to our core business. I mean, our core business is the most valuable piece of IGT, and to distract from the core business to attempt to build something that was so far removed because the important element of Double Down is the social fabric. Something that we do not have expertise in. So we would have to not only build the expertise, we would have to hire people. It would take us some time, and we felt that it would be hard to do inside the core business. And then from a cost perspective, it didn't look all that different actually. If you look at a 2- to 3-year time window and the hiring of people and the buildup of skills that we thought that it was fairly close from a cost perspective. So we really value the time to market in this one, and that's why we moved now and why we chose not to build it ourself. Pat?

Patrick W. Cavanaugh

Excuse me, Bill, on your technical question around revenue. I think the best way to think about this is, think about it in net bookings meaning less the amount paid to Facebook. And you'll find a few -- if you review Zynga's public filings that's very consistent. I think they're probably the best precedent that we have to go on out there. It's an evolving space, obviously it's new, and so it's evolving on a number of fronts particular from an accounting perspective, revenue recognition is evolving, but also on this gross versus net revenue. And we view this as a B2B to C type business, so net sounds like a more appropriate because the relationship is really between us and Facebook and then to the end consumer. So recording that net relative to the number that you quoted. I know that I saw that in an article out there. I don't know if we really have anything to remark on at this point given that the transaction hasn't closed, but will more to follow as the transaction closes.

William J. Lerner - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Pat, just to clarify, so you're saying net -- so net after Facebook credits or whatever in a quarter was actually called in this business. So net after Facebook is paid is...

Patrick W. Cavanaugh

Correct. Correct.

Patti S. Hart

Yes, it's actually a reverse. It's basically that we generate -- Double Down announcing, we already -- Double Down generates revenues through Facebook and then Facebook remits 70% of the gross revenues to Double Down.

Operator

And your next question comes from Cameron McKnight with Wells Fargo.

Cameron Philip Sean McKnight - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division

Patti, a question for you and then I'll have a couple of follow-ups. If we were to speak to some of your customers, let's say MGM, Boyd, Caesars. What do you think's their reaction to this deal would be?

Patti S. Hart

Well, I have actually as you can imagine done that already. So I think it will take them a while to digest it and understand what it really means to them. I think in the case of our friends at Caesars, I mean, they've made a similar acquisition with Playtika, so I mean, they understand the need to be in this -- part of the universe as well. I would say my -- the way I think about it for them is, we spent $500 million of our shareholders' money to add capabilities that will benefit them that will provide them an on-ramp capability in the social gaming space in virtual currency ahead of real money wagering in the United States that we have added some capabilities from a convergence perspective, and that we will be working with them to educate the new generation of gamers in the places that they go to determine their loyalties for entertainment experiences, which is in the social media world. So I believe this is very positive for our existing customers. If we didn't think that, we wouldn't have made the acquisition because that's who we live to serve. So we think it's very positive for them. But on the other hand, this is also an opportunity for us to reach more broadly into a marketplace with our gaming experiences that we're not reaching today in the land-based environment. So -- and hopefully bring those to our customers' doorsteps.

Cameron Philip Sean McKnight - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division

Right, sure. And I mean, presumably the cost of developing an online, let's say for example, slot machine, property or product versus one that's designed for a box is vastly lower. What sort of R&D in progress are you guys acquiring with this deal, and specifically I'm referring to the potential to move into mobile apps and indeed other distribution networks and other social networking platforms?

Patti S. Hart

Well, I think the Double Down workforce, very nimble, a business cadence that we'll have to adjust to, I'm sure. And they have every intent to move into mobile apps. All of the places that you interact with the social world, whether it's on your mobile phone or your laptop or your notebook or your iPad. They will -- their intention is to take their product and experience to every place that Facebook touches today. And so, we'll expect that the same will happen in the new environment with us. From an R&D perspective, I think you can assume that they look very similar to any other technology company at their stage in that the lion's share of the operating expenses is R&D because they're just all about making products today. They have very little operating expense beyond that. So we will pick up not only the expense of those folks, but cover it up with revenue and profit, but also the skills, which is something that we need to enter into the new devices that today we're not engaging with.

Chad Beynon - Macquarie Research

Right, great. And then just a final quick question for Pat. Pat, you stated in the release that you expect the deal could be slightly accretive to EPS, presumably that is -- that calculation backs out any of the intangibles that the auditors would require to amortize post deal?

Patrick W. Cavanaugh

That's correct, Cameron.

Cameron Philip Sean McKnight - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division

And will you be breaking out or do you envisage you're going to break out interactive going forward, say in fiscal '13?

Patrick W. Cavanaugh

Yes, that's one of the ongoing analysis is, do we break that out. And so, yet to be determined, but there is a reasonable likelihood that, that could happen.

Operator

Our next question comes from Robin Farley with UBS.

Robin M. Farley - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division

I wonder if you could just -- I know you're not prepared to talk about the specific multiples that you're using for evaluation, but can you just give us a sense of, is it an EBITDA multiple or a multiple of revenue or just what is the metric that you have in mind, even if you aren't specifying the number?

Patrick W. Cavanaugh

I would think about it on a EBITDA multiple, Robin.

Robin M. Farley - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division

Okay. And then, so you guys have talked before about your online revenues, including Entraction at the moment totaling less than 5% of revenues. If you now fold in Double Down into that, does that -- do you get over 5% online revenues at that point or not yet?

Patrick W. Cavanaugh

Yes, I would say, yes.

Robin M. Farley - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division

But you -- I guess, you'd be required to break it out if it were over 10% of revenues, but you have some discussion that it's between 5% and 10% of revenues, is that the best way to think about it?

Patrick W. Cavanaugh

Yes, and like I've said earlier, that's an ongoing analysis that over the coming months -- we don't yet own this business, right? There's still a lot to be learned, but that is work underway so...

Patti S. Hart

Yes, and I think Robin, I think that's a good question because it's something that's been on our mind at IGT, and I think the decision will be less driven by rules and regulations that require us to disclose and more driven by our desire to allow you to have a bit more transparency into the kind of things we're doing at IGT and the strategic value that we're providing on a go-forward basis. So that -- I would say our analysis is more around that and then getting the systems cleaned up in a way that we can do that for you. So I think it's an if not ever, it's a when not if, and that's really what we're working through.

Robin M. Farley - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division

That's great. And then the last one question is just -- in terms of the economics to IGT, do you see the growth size you achieved from the acquisition primarily coming from just the addition of users or are there other revenue sources before, in other words, I guess, do you probably see it as a vehicle for adding initial users or taking new users and getting additional revenue streams from the deal?

Patti S. Hart

I think it's combination of both. I think there's some planned new product launches that are adjacent to, if you haven't had a chance to go on your Facebook page and try Double Down, I would encourage you to do that, so there will be really some adjacent products that they've been working on that you can expect to see in the marketplace in a relatively short period of time, and then at the same time, it's about adding more users as well. While the number of users that visit the DoubleDown Casino seems like a large number, it's not when you compare -- when it's compared to the number of people around the globe. So there's a lot of room to go in new users, but there's also a lot of room to go in breath of product. And so, we'll be focused on both.

Operator

And our next question comes from Mark Strawn with Morgan Stanley.

Mark Strawn - Morgan Stanley, Research Division

One question. Just wondering how you think about barriers to entry in the social gaming space in general and maybe how that affects marketing costs, or your expectation for marketing cost and customer acquisition cost going forward and how that will impact margins?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, so barriers to entry, that's -- going back to my earlier statement, I mean, the biggest barrier to entry in this space is liquidity. Speed to market creates huge barriers to entry over time. It's much tougher to come into the marketplace after there's already loyalty built to a particular brand or a particular experience. So I would say liquidity is kind of #1. But also for us in the combination of Double Down with IGT, it will really, I think, another barrier to entry for others will be the speed at which we will be able to put games into the marketplace. We have such a portfolio of games that we have developed over the years sitting on the shelf that can be re-purposed rapidly into this environment, while others will be building from scratch, others that we compete within the social gaming space specifically. So I think at first, it will be about liquidity, which is why going quickly was important to us. And second, will really be about the content that we already have on our shelves.

Mark Strawn - Morgan Stanley, Research Division

And do you see those barriers to entry changing over time and not having an impact on marketing or customer acquisition cost? And are those factored into your assumptions for the deal longer term?

Patti S. Hart

Well, the customer acquisition cost again, we're still in a B2B model, so the customer acquisition cost really we rely on Facebook in this environment for the customer acquisition. So while we will be focused on once the customers are acquired, keeping them and engaging with them at higher levels, the customer acquisition component of it is really not a robust part of this business model. Will we change over time? I mean, in this part of our world, things change daily. So I'm sure they will change and adjust as things -- as the whole business model becomes more robust and more challenged and more mature. But for today, I think for the foreseeable future, it will be these 2 things.

Operator

Our next question comes from Carlo Santarelli with Deutsche Bank.

Carlo Santarelli - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Just one question. When you think about the long-term strategy as you guys venture into online, does this deal serve as the hub of that and we should maybe think about future subsequent deals being kind of the spokes from the wheel around this, or will there be more similar of size, similar of nature types of deals as you try and build a larger presence?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, I mean, we've had a nice presence. I wouldn't say this is our hub. I mean, we have a great hub that exist today and our wager works in interactive business with Entraction as the poker platform. This is another hub that plays through the social fabric and with a different currency than that. But I wouldn't think about it as a hub, I would think about it as a large ecosystem that requires us to have product offerings in various formats, whether it's poker, bingo, casino-style games or sports betting type applications in multiple devices. So think about it as, just void [ph] on multiple devices from your cell phones, your laptop, to a slot machine, to a betting hall and with multiple revenue models, whether it is virtual currency or real money gaming or subscription-like models or advertising-like models. So there's a multiple dimensions from the currency that drives revenue to the actual vertical application to the device used to deliver the experience, and our strategy has been all along to have robust product offerings that cover that wide spectrum.

Operator

And our next question comes from Dennis Forst with KeyBanc.

Dennis I. Forst - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division

I wanted to ask about the senior management. You've got these big retention bonuses. How many people in senior management, and how many people are receiving retention bonuses and what were the terms of the retention bonuses?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, so Greg Enell is the CEO, who I didn't mention, and I should have, of Double Down who we have great respect for and his leadership and the work that he's done there. The retention bonuses are kind of widely distributed. So it's not 1 or 2 people that enjoy this. It is, I think the great value in Double Down has been a few amazing leaders that we have great respect for and Greg and Glenn and Cooper up there. But also in addition, just an amazing workforce, and it takes a village in this environment. And so, we designed a retention plan to respect the workforce broadly.

Dennis I. Forst - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division

And what is the term of the retention bonus?

Patti S. Hart

It's paid out over 2 years.

Dennis I. Forst - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division

2 years.

Patti S. Hart

Yes, based on a number of things, but it's over 2 years.

Dennis I. Forst - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division

Okay. And my other question was about other applications or other platforms where Double Down could go. Are they -- do they have an exclusive deal with Facebook or can you migrate this to other platforms?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, I mean, in the world of social gaming, there's not much called exclusive anywhere. So I mean, today, Facebook is the leading social media company. They have defined it and invented it for all intents and purposes. But there's nothing that would keep us from exercising any other direct-to-consumer distribution platform that has similar characteristics.

Dennis I. Forst - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division

Is that possibility in the near-term?

Patti S. Hart

I would say near-term, depending upon how you define it. I think near-term for us is really to get the transaction closed and then get inside and understand whether expanding to new platforms first is what we'd prefer versus adding new product to the existing platform or focusing on growing users. I think we have a lot of different alternatives. We'll probably do a little bit of each, but I think for now, the Facebook environment is working and it's not exhausted for us with our Double Down friends. So I think focusing on exhausting the existing environment is likely the path.

Dennis I. Forst - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division

Okay Patti, and lastly, you talked about expanding products. Would we see some of IGT's most popular games on Double Down, say in the next 12 to 18 months?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, our core products that are our unbranded products, if you will, can move fairly rapidly. We're in the process of reviewing each of the license agreements to determine whether or not there needs to be adjustments to license or whether current licenses allow or restrict us to take some of the branded product. But I mean, you all know the catalog we have of core products is huge. So this will be a quick introduction of game themes that the gaming community is familiar with into the social environment.

Operator

Our next question comments from Harry Curtis with Nomura.

Harry Curtis - Nomura Securities Co. Ltd., Research Division

Just 2 quick questions following up on the management. First of all, if it's a 2-year retention plan, does that mean that management, the key management, key designers are locked up for 2 years, or is there a longer lockup?

Patti S. Hart

Well, I mean, nobody in the world is locked up. Everybody makes their own choices, but the retention plans specifically are designed for -- to motivate them to remain employed by IGT. Certainly, we would expect that at the end of 2 years, we would have a significant number of employees that would elect to remain IGT employees. But keep in mind also that the performance earn-out, it is a 3-year earn-out. A significant number of employees are also shareholders, so they would participate in the third year payout on the earn-outs, their performance-based earn-out as well.

Harry Curtis - Nomura Securities Co. Ltd., Research Division

Second question is, just going back to Internet poker question. I'm still a little bit fuzzy on how Internet poker fits into your plans for Double Down. It seems -- I don't have a sense of how profitable the social gaming arena really is. And if it's just limited to social gaming, I'm just wondering if you're a kid sitting outside of the candy store, so to what degree do you think that Internet poker fits into the grand scheme of things?

Patti S. Hart

Our traditional Internet poker product is our Entraction product, which is our real money-wagering poker product that has all of the characteristics to manage those sorts of things, for age verification and location verification and what have you. So that's our real money-wagering product, Entraction, and that's integrated into our real money-wagering infrastructure that includes casino games and bingo and sports betting and what have you. The social aspect of Double Down, whether it's with poker or anything else is it's just that. It's a social gaming experience. It's not real money wagering. There is no prize and in return for your consideration. So it is a game, if you will, as opposed to a bet.

Harry Curtis - Nomura Securities Co. Ltd., Research Division

So it's really its own industry is what you're saying, and you think it's just the early stages or the early innings of that industry growth?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, it is. It's an -- I would say it's a very early business model, right? The whole notion of entertaining yourself with virtual currency as opposed to real money, whether it's -- in whatever form you do that on Facebook, gaming isn't the only way you do it. It's certainly at the very, very early stages of developing as a model.

Operator

Your next question comes from Ryan Worst with Brean Murray.

Ryan L. Worst - Brean Murray, Carret & Co., LLC, Research Division

Just a couple of questions, one follow-up Patti. Is Wheel of Fortune available for you guys to use online? Could that be transported to the online environment?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, we -- I mean, we're still in that process as I indicated, we're looking at the brands that we have exercised historically that we've acquired, and we're not through that process yet of working through every single brand and understanding, which move and which don't move. As you -- if you spend any time in social gaming, you'll see that the notion of a wheel is not -- it is frequently used, right? It's not unfamiliar in that environment, so the notion of a wheel, but the brand Wheel of Fortune is something that we're still taking a look at.

Ryan L. Worst - Brean Murray, Carret & Co., LLC, Research Division

Okay. And then could you just talk about, like what needs to change legislatively or otherwise for you to meet your return hurdles? I mean, do we need legalized poker or casino games or do you not even need that for this to eventually grow to meet some return objectives?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, so this, again, similar to our Entraction acquisition. This acquisition was analyzed and entered into assuming no change in legislation in the U.S. around legalized online gaming, including poker. So this is, again, this is our effort to move outside of this current restriction that we're all battling to participate in a gaming experience that has many similarities, but is different, in the actual way the financial transaction takes place.

Ryan L. Worst - Brean Murray, Carret & Co., LLC, Research Division

Okay. And then just one final question. How will you account for the contingent payments Pat? Is it going to be on an annual basis or every quarter, and is it going to flow-through the income statement?

Patrick W. Cavanaugh

Yes, good question, Ryan. It will be on a quarterly basis as you might imagine. And so, will flow-through, so it will be adjustments -- and we'll call out, so that we help you walk through that each quarter.

Operator

And our next question comes from Jeff Gates with Gates Capital Management.

Jeffrey Linn Gates - Gates Capital Management, Inc.

A couple of questions. First, you talked about the relationship of Double Down with Facebook and you said that you are not, Double Down is not necessarily exclusive to Facebook, but can Facebook -- if triple down comes along, can they, can Facebook use whatever they want as well, number one? And number two, if you have more online real gaming, are there any concerns longer-term that, that could cannibalize the virtual currency gaming?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, so the -- as I indicated in the social media space, there's very little exclusivity that exists, and things are not contractual, but they're there more enablement and then you kind of earn your way as you go. I mean, the Double Down and Facebook relationship is very symbiotic. I mean, Double Down creates and generates all of their revenues through Facebook and generates a lot of revenue for Facebook. And in return, Facebook remits 70% of those gross revenues to Double Down. Double Down creates a lot of traffic for Facebook, which allows Facebook then in turn to monetize that traffic for advertising. So that's really the way the relationship works. And again if you go into Facebook and you make your way around and you do some social gaming, you'll see that while Double Down is the most successful casino-style social game, it is not the only social game in Facebook and will likely not be. So will there be a triple down? I'm not exactly sure. I think that the advantage again for us is that Double Down is the leading provider of social gaming with casino-style games. So all the casino-style games. there's a lot of games in Facebook, and you all are familiar with many of them. My family is addicted to Words with Friends, like everybody else. But this is not that style of gaming. This gaming is specific to casino-style gaming. And so, that's the relationship that exists. And you had a second half of your question, I can't remember what it was.

Jeffrey Linn Gates - Gates Capital Management, Inc.

If online gaming gets -- proliferates and becomes more legal, will there be a threat longer term of that cannibalizing the virtual currency?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, I mean, again it's -- I think it is 2 different experiences. It's 2 different -- there are similarities, but different demographics in this user base. So I believe that, will there be some overlap? There'll be some overlap. But will it be a complete -- I mean, who knows maybe virtual currency will cannibalize the real money gaming that exists online today. I mean, I think that they will peacefully co-exist, and they will be different experiences played by different people, and in fact, in many cases, the same players. So the ability to come into your online gaming world and play with virtual currency or real money or playing a subscription model is likely the model that will be successful going forward.

Operator

And our final question comes from Edward Williams of BMO Capital Markets.

Edward S. Williams - BMO Capital Markets U.S.

A couple of questions. Can you give us a sense as to what your monetization rate is like with Double Down in terms of the percentage of daily average users or monthly average users? And then also, can you give us some color as to where those users actually are? What the percentage is in the U.S. market versus some of the other international markets? And then thirdly, you may have sort of met this earlier, but can you give us a sense as to what the growth trajectory is like for bookings?

Patti S. Hart

I'm writing all those down. Just one second. So the monetization rate is not something that we've made public, and I think ahead of closing the transaction probably is not appropriate that we make public, just in the event that something would ever happen and the deal wouldn't close -- it just wouldn't be fair to our friends at Double Down. But having said that, if you, the best public comp is Zynga. And so, I would encourage you to take a look at Zynga. But the monetization rate actually for Double Down is actually a bit better because of the fact that the way the product plays, and the volatility of the casino-style gaming versus something that looks like a less volatile game. They actually exhaust at a faster rate in Double Down than they do in traditional gaming. So you could think about it in the public comp as Zynga escalated a bit on the way they monetize in growth and bookings. In growth and bookings, again, I wouldn't share their private data. They're a private company. And I think it would not be appropriate for us. Suffice it to say that they launched their first product in about a year ago. Robert, am I, right? About a year ago, and you can see, April was it? So just this past April and you can see what their growth has been from the time of launch till today. So a pretty significant growth in a very short timeframe in a marketplace that is still defining itself. So we expect for the forward 12 to 24 months to be very similar in growth from launch to today.

Edward S. Williams - BMO Capital Markets U.S.

Okay. And then, if you were to look at -- if you look at Zynga, so Zynga Poker has been obviously very successful for them for a number of years since they launched it in 2007, 2008. And they're launching Zynga Bingo this year and folding those games into what they call Zynga Casino. How -- obviously, they have tremendous liquidity with a little over 200 million monthly average users. How do you look at taking Double Down and building scale as rapidly as possible given that landscape, that competitive landscape you have with Zynga?

Patti S. Hart

Yes, I actually think having only one competitor is a nice thing. It gives you -- we don't have only one, but I'm saying if all you're doing focusing on Zynga, that maniacal focus I think is actually a positive thing, but it really comes down to -- going back to the core competencies of IGT, which is we build great games. We build really incredible gaming experiences, and what will keep people in and playing is the experience has to be something that's interesting. It has to be valuable enough for them to use their Facebook credits to experience it over and over again. Liquidity will be important, which is why it's very important that we grow numbers and users quickly, but it is about the good gaming experience. It's no different than how we put machines on the floors of casinos around the globe. You have to build the best gaming experience, which is why we think our core competency in the core of IGT is so valuable as we put these 2 companies together.

Operator

That does conclude the question-and-answer portion of the call.

Patti S. Hart

Well, thank you very much. Today is a great day for IGT, but also a great day in the gaming industry as we really take a step forward to add to the gaming ecosystem that we expect patrons around the globe to enjoy and engage with. So thank you very much for your time. We appreciate your interest.

Operator

Thank you. This concludes today's conference. You may disconnect at this time.

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Participants

International Game Technology (IGT)

January 13, 2012 8:00 am ET

Executives

Patrick W. Cavanaugh - Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Executive Vice President and Treasurer

Matthew G. Moyer - Vice President of Investor Relations

Patti S. Hart - Chief Executive Officer, Lead Independent Director and Member of Stock Award Committee

Analysts

Edward S. Williams - BMO Capital Markets U.S.

Harry Curtis - Nomura Securities Co. Ltd., Research Division

Ryan L. Worst - Brean Murray, Carret & Co., LLC, Research Division

Chad Beynon - Macquarie Research

Robin M. Farley - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division

Dennis I. Forst - KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division

Joseph Greff - JP Morgan Chase & Co, Research Division

Jeffrey Linn Gates - Gates Capital Management, Inc.

Carlo Santarelli - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Mark Strawn - Morgan Stanley, Research Division

Cameron Philip Sean McKnight - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division

William J. Lerner - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Website Network

Media Man Int

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Casino News Media

Global Gaming Directory

Virgin Casino Releases Andre the Giant Slot Game

2012-01-19T02:52:00.001+11:00

Profiles

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In this round, the player is giving 10 free spins. Throughout these 10 free spins, Attack symbols are collected and saved for the second phase of this bonus round. These symbols are some of Andre the Giant signature wrestling moves. Once the free spins finish, the player then takes the Attack symbols collected into the next part of the bonus round where they pick an opponent to fight and then unleash the Attack symbols on that opponent.

Opponents include Flame Bro, Jimmy Iron Legs and Voltage Van Zandt. No, Hulk Hogan or Jake "The Snake" Roberts are not in the game, but we hear both of these wrestling icons are interested to have their own slot game, and Hogan's wish will be coming soon later this year.

If Andre the Giant hits the opponent then the player wins bonus credits. If Andre the Giant hits the opponent three or more times then the player can select one of Andre the Giant’s finishing moves to win the bout and earn multiple bonus credits.

The Andre the Giant slot game is available to play Virgin Casino right now and Virgin offer some of the best online casino bonuses on the planet so ring the bell!

*Andre The Giant fans may also like The Incredible Hulk online slot. Hulk Hogan purchased the Hulk naming rights to use "The Incredible Hulk" from Marvel Entertainment in a multi million dollar deal approximately 20 years ago.

*Australian, New Zealand and Canadian players - try other Hollywood and branded slot games at PartyCasino.com

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2012-01-18T19:20:00.001+11:00

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"Spider-Man" Broadway producers sue director Taymor - 18th January 2012

2012-01-18T19:15:00.001+11:00

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The producers of Broadway's version of "Spider-Man" filed a countersuit against the musical's ousted director Julie Taymor on Tuesday, accusing her of jeopardizing the production by not caring about ticket sales.

The 66-page filing submitted in federal court in New York by producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris, accuses Taymor of "developing a dark, disjointed and hallucinogenic musical," and it comes in response to Taylor's lawsuit against them which she filed in November.

After a disastrous start that saw injuries to actors and opening night delays, "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" has been packing in audiences on Broadway. It made a record-setting $2.9 million from Christmas to New Year's Day, according to figures from industry website The Broadway League.

The stunt-heavy musical based on Marvel Comics' most famous character, which cost over $70 million to bring to the stage with music by Bono and The Edge, was reworked after Taymor was fired from the production in March 2011.

Taymor, the Tony-winning director of "The Lion King," worked on the musical's original book -- the non-sung words -- before she left the show.

Her copyright infringement lawsuit filed against the "Spider-Man" producers last year argued that, after the show was revamped, the producers continued to make "unauthorized and unlawful use" of her written works.

But attorneys for the producers, in their countersuit filed on Tuesday, stated that Taymor breached her duties to co-write and collaborate on the musical.

"Taymore refused to develop a musical that followed the original, family-friendly 'Spider-Man' story, which was depicted in the Marvel comic books and the hugely successful motion picture trilogy based on them," the lawsuit stated.

"Instead, Taymor, who admits that she was not a fan of the 'Spider-Man' story prior to her involvement with the musical, insisted on developing a dark, disjointed and hallucinogenic musical involving suicide, sex and death."

An attorney for Taymor could not be reached for comment.

Her lawsuit stated she suffered over $1 million in damages.

The countersuit filed by producers on Tuesday brought to light what it described as conflicts between Taymor's creative desires and the show's need to turn a profit.

At one point, Taymor used an expletive to say that she did not care "about audience reaction" to the musical, the lawsuit stated.

"Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" received poor reviews when it opened under Taymor's direction in preview shows in late 2010, and the production suffered cast member injuries in its first weeks.

When it officially opened in June 2011, after Taymor's ouster, critics only warmed slightly to the new show. But audiences, who were drawn in part by the show's sensational publicity, began to make the show a hit.

The musical has grossed over $81 million to date, according to The Broadway League.

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Wrestling News: Ric Flair - Four Horsemen Appearing at the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony

2012-01-17T21:09:00.002+11:00

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From Bondi Beach, Australia to Japan, Canada, the USA - most of the world knows of Ric Flair.

Flair is almost as famous as long time rival Hulk Hogan, who along with Flair is currently under contract to Impact Wrestling. Most would argue that Flair is one of the greatest pro wrestlers in history, while Hogan has earned more income from wrestling and wrestling related activities than just about anyone else.

The last memory of Ric Flair for many people was the night after WrestleMania 24 when he "retired" into the sunset. Maybe only Flair knows for sure if he thought he had retired for real back then.

This past Monday's WWE Raw, the Four Horsemen—Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, Arn Anderson and Ric Flair—were announced as inductees for the 2012 Hall of Fame.

Ric Flair's inclusion has got the industry and fans talking given "The Nature Boy" is currently under contract with another wrestling organisation.

Ric Flair himself confirms he will be present at the American Airlines Arena the night before WrestleMania 28.

Speculation on how all of this came about is rife.

Did the WWE negotiate a deal with Impact Wrestling so that the 16-time world heavyweight champion could make a one-night appearance?

If such a deal wasn't made, did Flair take it upon himself to commit to show up?

Let's assume a deal wasn't reached between the two companies...it's possible that Flair being shown on WWE TV may have have legal ramifications.

Could WWE top brass Vince McMahon be looking to take over Impact Wrestling, just as he did with WCW and ECW?

Wrestling fans the world over are glued for this developing story and Media Man will be following up.

The Late News...

* Ric Flair spoke with Mike Mooneyham of The Post & Courier about The Four Horsemen going into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

Flair confirmed reports that Triple H called him while he was at the Impact tapings to tell him about the induction. Flair said the whole TNA crew was watching the Hall of Fame video from RAW backstage at the tapings.

Flair also said that WWE has limited his speech this year to 7 minutes. When Flair was inducted back in 2008, his speech went over an hour.

Flair is looking forward to linking back up with the WWE crew and said, "We’re going to blow the roof off."

* Wrestling legend Andre The Giant gets online slot game via Richard Branson's Virgin Casino.

* Hulk Hogan is also tipped to be soon getting his own online slot game. His Hulk-A-Mania game is being developed by Endemol Games. Endemol is the company behind the famous Big Brother franchise, so you know they know about marketing and publicity. The Media Man agency is tipped to soon come to business terms with Endemol.

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'Amazing Spider-Man,' Batman 'The Dark Knight Rises', 'The Avengers' and 2012 Movie News; Superheros Red Hot, by Greg Tingle

2012-01-15T21:09:00.001+11:00

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Hollywood is continuing its lover affair with superhero themes, movie revamps and the like.

So in 2012 we're looking at a bush tucker bag of sequels, prequels, remakes... you name it. The Hollywood studios will be pumping out their best efforts in order to make as much money as they can muster.

Entertainment kingpin Marvel Entertainment are going to be spinning out their “The Amazing Spider-Man”, hitting us hard with "The Avengers" and the Warner Bros. - DC Comics tag-team is going to ink us with the next instalment of Batman - "The Dark Knight Rises".

You've also got fantasy themes with “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” More scary stuff with "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2.” Then there's “Men in Black 3.” More Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and Incredible Hulk with "The Avengers." And there's the classic “The Three Stooges.”

Add in three action movies based on fairy tales and four 3-D revamps of major blockbusters, and some keenly awaited films, such as “The Hunger Games,” and 2012 might see Hollywood lure back audiences after movie attendance last year sunk to its lowest level since 1995.

Here’s a peek at some of this year’s coming attractions...(US dates)

Nicolas Cage provides a winter warm-up with “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” (Feb. 17), returning as the bounty hunter from hell on a mission to rescue a child from the devil.

“The Avengers” (May 4), teaming Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as the Incredible Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye.

Next is “The Amazing Spider-Man” (July 3), with Andrew Garfield taking over as Peter Parker in director Marc Webb’s new take on how a mutant spider bite turns a teen into a web-slinging hero.

Christian Bale returns as Batman in “The Dark Knight Rises” (July 20), director Christopher Nolan’s third and final tale of the well to do vigilante with all the cool gadgets. Anne Hathaway joins the cast as Catwoman.

After the late Heath Ledger’s Academy Award-winning performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” Nolan went with a lesser-known villain: This time, it’s Bane (Tom Hardy), known to comic-book fans as the brute who breaks Batman’s back and puts him in a wheelchair.

Julia Roberts is the wicked queen to Lily Collins’ Snow White in “Mirror Mirror” (March 16), with the banished heroine raised by dwarfish rogues and leading a battle against the mean old monarch. “Twilight” star Kristen Stewart is the warrior princess in “Snow White and the Huntsman” (June 1), trained by a hunk (“Thor” star Hemsworth) to wage war against her own wicked queen (Charlize Theron).

A magic beanstalk unleashes an army of super-sized warriors in “Jack the Giant Killer” (June 15), starring Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane and Ewan McGregor.

George Lucas begins his sci-fi saga all over, in 3-D, with “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” (Feb. 10), the first of his six space epics converted to three dimensions.

James Cameron gives the same 3-D treatment to “Titanic” (April 6), whose 3-D version coincides with the 100th anniversary of the luxury liner’s sinking.

Disney follows the success of “The Lion King” in 3-D by adding an extra dimension for reissues of “Beauty and the Beast” (Jan. 13) and the Pixar Animation blockbuster “Finding Nemo” (Sept. 14).

“The Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson returns to J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy realm with “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (Dec. 14) the first in his two-part prequel chronicling how Bilbo Baggins came to possess that pesky evil ring.

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2” (Nov. 16) picks up where we left off — with Bella (Kristen Stewart) newly changed into a vampire, while her bloodsucking hubby (Robert Pattinson) and his werewolf rival (Taylor Lautner) aim to defend her against a world of evil.

And more...“Dark Shadows” (May 11), with Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter in director Burton’s take on the vampire TV soap opera; “Prometheus” (June 8), Ridley Scott’s return to his “Alien” sci-fi world with a space adventure starring Theron, Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender; “The Woman in Black” (Feb. 3), with “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe as a grieving lawyer who encounters a vengeful ghost; and “World War Z” (Dec. 21), starring Brad Pitt in the story of a worldwide zombie outbreak.

Will Smith’s Agent J travels back in time to save his partner, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones), in “Men in Black 3” (May 25), which reunites both actors with director Barry Sonnenfeld and nicely casts Josh Brolin as the young Agent K.

Other sequels, updates and spinoffs include: “Total Recall” (Aug. 3), with Colin Farrell as a blue-collar guy who learns he might be a deadly super-agent with falsified memories; “The Bourne Legacy” (Aug. 3), with “Avengers” co-star Renner as a new agent caught up in the fallout from the earlier films; and “Taken 2” (Oct. 5), with Neeson going after more bad guys that threaten his family.

Not quite everything in the genre is a sequel or remake. With “Harry Potter” done and “Twilight” nearing its end, a new youthful literary series debuts in “The Hunger Games” (March 23), with Jennifer Lawrence among teens fighting to the death in a televised bloodbath in post-apocalyptic North America.

The knuckleheads are back. Directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly revive Curly (Will Sasso), Larry (Sean Hayes) and Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos) in “The Three Stooges” (April 13).

Other comedy to look out for includes “American Reunion” (April 6), reteaming the “American Pie” gang for a high school reunion; “The Dictator” (May 11), with Sacha Baron Cohen as a Third World tyrant; “This Is 40” (Dec. 21), Judd Apatow’s “Knocked Up” offshoot, with Rudd and Leslie Mann reprising their roles as troubled marrieds, and “Ted” (July 13), “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane’s story of a grown man (Mark Wahlberg) saddled for life with a talking teddy bear.

2012 also offers up serious movies that attack the world of politics, war et al. Executive producer George Lucas’ “Red Tails” (Jan. 20) features Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard in the World War II story of black pilots in the Tuskegee Airmen program; “The Great Gatsby” (Dec. 25) stars Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic about 1920s blue-bloods; “Won’t Back Down” (March 30) casts Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal as mothers aiming to salvage their kids’ inner-city school; and Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” (December) has Daniel Day-Lewis as the 16th president.

If it sounds like 2012 is going to be a pretty good year for movies, both on an entertainment front (for fans) and business angle (for studios etc), that's because it is. Enjoy.

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Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Australian Tour; Melbourne Premiere And Sydney Red Carpet

2012-01-15T18:39:00.001+11:00

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Vanessa Hudgens (Suckerpunch and High School Musical) and Josh Hutcherson (Journey to the Centre of the Earth and The Hunger Games) are heading down under to Australia for their new film Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

The tour lands the duo in Melbourne first for the world premiere on Sunday the 15th of January before they adventure to Sydney for a red carpet premiere on Tuesday the 17th of January.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island begins when young Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson, reprising his role from the first film) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist. It’s a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret.

Unable to stop him from going, Sean’s new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), joins the quest.

Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is directed by Brad Peyton (Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore). It also stars Michael Caine as Sean’s grandfather, Alexander Anderson, and Kristin Davis as Sean’s mum, Liz Anderson.

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND 3D releases in cinemas nationally on January 19th.

The folks at Village Roadshow (Australia) are well organised and friendly, so the Melbourne and Sydney premiere's are "don't miss" attractions, from both a news media and fan perspective.

The movie tagline is 'Believe the impossible. Discover the incredible.' We suggest you do the same and get yourself to the premiere and the cinema for a journey you won't soon forget.

Director: Brad Peyton
Writers: Brian Gunn (screenplay), Mark Gunn (screenplay)
Stars: Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson and Michael Caine

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Sydney's The Star: Stabbing in casino complex shadows - 15th January 2012

2012-01-15T18:26:00.001+11:00

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It's long been known that Australian land based casinos are not a particularly safe place to frequent, however to their credit The Star in Sydney as well as casinos run by competitor Crown Limited (inc Crown Casino), have beefed up security a great deal over the past few years.

Obviously, all the security in the world is sometimes not enough to prevent a serious incident.

Security guards and casino "eyes in the sky" can only do so much.

Police are investigating after a male was stabbed at 'The Star' casino in Sydney in the early hours of the morning.

Emergency crews were called to the scene at around 2am after reports a man had suffered a single knife wound to the back.

His condition is unclear at this stage.

Detectives are reviewing CCTV video to try to identify the attacker.

Australian casino operators are watching the situation closely and most are reviewing their security and emergency response procedures.

James Packer's Crown Casino (direct competitor to The Star) is currently enjoying its Aussie Millions Poker Championship in Melbourne. Over the past 48 hours two poker professionals were thrown out of the tournament for cheating - handing their poker chips to another player. See other Media Man blog reports for full details.

Media Man is following up these and other Australian casino news matters with more details coming in the next 48 hours.

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Poker News Media: Aussie Millions Poker Championship At Crown Casino, Melbourne, Australia

2012-01-15T12:45:00.000+11:00

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If there’s one thing the Australians love more than gambling it’s sport and for them poker is fair game. This means that once the cards hit the felt at the Aussie Millions you can expect a raucous atmosphere from the crowds inside the Crown Poker Room. Indeed, since its inception the Main Event has grown immensely from just 133 runners in 2004, to 681 runners in 2009 and 721 in 2011.

The Aussie Millions is considered to be one of the game’s crowning majors – on a par with the WSOP or the WPT World Championship – and for good reason too. The Melbourne-based tournament is situated in one of the most desirable locations in the southern hemisphere and will again be hosted at the world-class Crown Casino complex, where all manner of poker action will unfold from January 12–30.

As ever the 2012 Aussie Millions schedule will be highlighted by the AU$10,600 Main Event, a five-day behemoth that last year awarded a staggering AU$2 million to winner David Gorr, but that will be just one of the 26 events on offer this year. Perhaps one of the more eye-catching side events taking place will be the $100,000 Challenge – a two-day event that will pit a granite-hard field of the game’s elite against one another for a total prizepool that last year exceeded AU$3,800,000. But while that blue chip tournament may well be out of reach for all but a select few of poker’s established Illuminati, there will be plenty of mid-high-stakes action for the more budget-conscious traveller, as outlined on the schedule at www.aussiemillions.com

Aussie Millions highlights

So, what should you be playing to keep yourself busy in January? Here’s our pick of the action over the fortnight. (All entries are in Australian Dollars.)

January 12–15 - $1,000+100 - NLHE Freezeout

January 16–18 - $1,000+100 - PLO

January 17–19 - $1,100+100 - NLHE Shootout

January 21–22 - $1,500+150 - NLHE Bounty Event

January 22–28 - $10,000+600 - NLHE MAIN EVENT

January 22–23 - $100,000+500 - NLHE $100,000 CHALLENGE

January 23 - $4,750+250 - Chinese Poker

January 25–26 - $2,250+250 - H.O.R.S.E.

January 29–30 - $10,000+500 - 8-Game Mix

Two Poker Players Disqualified from Aussie Millions - 13th January 2012...

Two poker players were nabbed attempting to re-enter a player at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship, resulting in both players being disqualified and banned from Crown Casino.

The Aussie Millions tournament is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, and the largest event of the year taking place in Australia. This year's series began with a $1,100 event that saw 274 players participate on the first of three starting day options.

The cheating matter commenced when one player was eliminated early on the first day. A few minutes later, an attentive tournament official recognized the same player sitting at another table with a new stack of chips.

It was then revealed that the player was using another poker players chips to continue in the tournament. After discussion with the player, it was revealed that a second player had realized that he could not play on Sunday, the Day 2 when all three starting day fields will merge together. Realizing this, and noticing that another player he knew had been bounced from the tournament already, he waited for a table break and then handed his stack off to the previous eliminated player.

Once the cunning scheme was uncovered, both players were immediately disqualified from the tournament. In addition, both players have been banned from the Crown Casino for a yet-to-be-determined length of time.

The identities of the two players have not been released, but we suspect that names will go public sooner rather than later.

The 2012 Aussie Millions will feature a total of nine official events, including the Main Event, which will commence on January 22, as well as a $100,000 Challenge beginning on the same day.

In addition, the Aussie Millions will celebrate the 10th anniversary of this tournament by staging a Tournament of Champions on January 21. This event will feature the previous nine event champions in a single-table event, with the winning earning free lifetime entries into the Aussie Millions Main Event.

Aussie Millions Announces Tournament Of Champions To Celebrate 10th Anniversary...

The world famous 2012 Aussie Millions Poker Championship commenced Thursday with the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Opening Event. Crown told the press that in celebration of the Aussie Millions’ 10th anniversary, a special Tournament of Champions will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21...one day day before the Main Event.

Tournament officials have confirmed that eight of the nine Aussie Millions champs will attend. Only Alexander Kostritsyn, 2008 winner, will be unable to attend as his partner is due to give birth at that time.

The eight players who will attend are Peter Costa (2003), Tony Bloom (2004), Jamil Dia (2005), Lee Nelson (2006), Gus Hansen (2007), Stewart Scott (2009), Tyron Krost (2010), and David Gorr (2011).

The champions will compete for a "golden ticket," which will award the winner a lifetime of buy-ins to the Aussie Millions Main Event.

"I’m really excited about having all of the former champions return to celebrate our 10th anniversary,” said Christian Vaughan, tournament director at Crown. "This will be the first time Jamil Dia has been back since his win in 2005 and we haven’t seen Peter Costa in many years. It’s thrilling to have all these great players under the same roof and battling it out for a lifetime freeroll at the Aussie Millions.”

The 2012 Aussie Millions features 26 events and runs through Jan. 30.

May the best player win.

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Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Co CEO Jim Ryan has gone on record advising PartyCasino will soon feature more Hollywood blockbuster themed slots. A few in the know journalists and media agents have been recently tipped off that an all time classic movie adaption will be showcased in the PartyCasino portfolio within 1 month. PartyCasino has the world's most impressive line up of Hollywood themed games, and more are just around the corner.

PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com customers can also benefit from rewards and bonuses via PartyPoints and the Palladium Lounge. Be certain to check out the PartyCasino selection of promotions this month which are some of the best available in the industry today.

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Wrestling News Media: WWE Australian Tour; International Hulk Hogan, Austin and Piper News, by Greg Tingle

2012-01-13T20:23:00.001+11:00

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Professional wrestling aka "sports entertainment" continues to be a red hot commodity in both Australian and overseas markets.

The United States may be the birthplace of pro wrestling but Australians have long been recognised as some of the most passionate fans on the planet, dating back to the good old days of the original World Championship Wrestling which was broadcast on Kerry Packer's Channel Nine circa 1970 - 78.

Early on into 2012 and pro wrestling appears to be heading towards another golden era in pro wrestling with more focus been giving to wrestler's with tremendous athletic gifts such as CM Punk, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho and the soon (likely) to be returning, Brock Lesnar.

Sydney, Australia, will soon once again be host to the WWE Live Tour, as the gentle giants tour down under, also doing Melbourne and most other capital cities, promoted by Melbourne based Dainty Entertainment. The WWE Tour is set to hit Australia on the 30th August 2012.

Not to be outdone, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is set to return to Sydney via All Phones Arena on 3rd March 2012, but sadly Brock Lesnar will not be going there, having recently retired from UFC - MMA compeition, following his loss against Alistair Overeem.

This development of course may be WWE's gain, aiming to secure Lesnar for their yearly showcase event - WrestleMania.

WWE RAW World Tour 2012, Australia details...

Presented by: Dainty Group

WWE's unique brand of action packed entertainment is returning to Australia with WWE RAW. Fans will be able to see all their favourite WWE Superstars including John Cena®, Alberto Del Rio®, CM Punk®, The Miz® and many more*.

*Card subject to change

WHEN: In Brisbane from 19.30, Thursday, August 30th
In Sydney from 19.30, Friday, August 31st
In Melbourne from 19.30, Saturday September 1st

WHERE:

Live from the Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Live from the Sydney AllPhones Arena
Live from the Melbourne Rod Laver Arena

Tickets go on sale on Thursday, December 8th at 9am and can be purchased at:
Online: www.ticketek.com.au
Charge by Phone: 132 849

* Card subject to change

TOUR DATES
Thu 30 Aug - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Fri 31 Aug - Allphones Arena, Sydney
Sat 1 Sep - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Let's bodyslam ourselves into what's news on some of the world's hottest pro wrestlers...

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin - 'STONE COLD' STEVE AUSTIN Tebow Can HAVE My 3:16 If ...

Before there was Tebow 3:16 in the NFL ... there was Austin 3:16 in the WWE ... and now the wrestling legend says he's willing to surrender his iconic numbers to the NFL star, pending one GIANT condition.

TMZ spoke with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin -- who tells us he watched Tebow's Mile High Miracle this weekend and was blown away when he learned Tim threw for exactly 316 yards in the playoff victory.

FYI -- the numbers have a special meaning with Stone Cold, who created the famous faux bible verse back in the '90s to humiliate his enemies -- "Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ass!!!"

Now, Austin tells us, "Austin 3:16 still rules" ... but adds, "If Tebow can throw for 316 yards again this weekend then hell, he can have the numbers and I'll have no problem with it."

Austin continues, "A guy named John was using it before me ... so if Tebow can do it again, more power to him!"

"I wish him all the luck in the world," Austin says ... adding, "I'm not a Denver fan but Tim's a great role model for kids." (Credit: TMZ)

Hulk Hogan...

Hulk Hogan to shave off his iconic moustache...

Hulk Hogan is going to shave off his iconic moustache.

The wrestling legend has revealed he is planning to take a razor to his famous facial hair and long hair in the coming weeks for some movie auditions.

Hulk - who has starred in several films, including 'Rocky III' and 'Suburban Commando' - said: "I'm getting ready to go to some auditions; I'm getting ready to shave my head and moustache so that should be scary!"

The TNA Wrestling star has also revealed he had to have a "hole drilled" into his head to clear an infection in his mouth.

The 58-year-old grappler underwent surgery in October to get dental implants and then after having a teeth mold fitted he got an infection which wouldn't clear up which was revealed to have been caused by a metal tack left in his mouth by a dentist.

He told TMZ.com: "The theme for today is kids take care of your teeth, because if you stuff candy in your mouth you're going to rot your teeth out.

"After many years of not taking care of teeth correctly I had to finally have surgery and a couple of glitches in the system and we got an infection.

"I had surgery and they drilled a hole in my head - which I needed to let all the hot air out - cleaned everything up so I'm good to go. But it feels like somebody punched me in the face."

Over the course of his five decade spanning career, Hulk has only been seen a handful of times without his moustache in the ring and on screen.

It is not yet known if the 12-time world heavyweight champion will recover in time to join the rest of the TNA roster for the Maximum IMPACT Tour of the UK later this month.

The tour kicks off on Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Nottingham Capital FM Arena before heading to the Manchester MEN Arena.

The company's flagship TV show 'IMPACT Wrestling' - which is broadcast on Challenge TV in the U.K. and Ireland and Spike TV in Canada and the U.S. - will then be filmed for the first time outside of the U.S. at London's Wembley Arena on Jan. 28.

The tour will feature a host wrestling's biggest names, including Kurt Angle and AJ Styles and will also be the last ever appearance made in the UK by grappling icon Sting.

Hulk Hogan Surgery Scare - Metal Tack Removed, Will Shave Off Iconic Mustache?...

Hulk Hogan is going to shave off his iconic mustache.

The wrestling legend has revealed he is planning to take a razor to his famous facial hair and long hair in the coming weeks for some movie auditions.

Hulk – who has starred in several films, including 'Rocky III' and 'Suburban Commando' – said: "I'm getting ready to go to some auditions; I'm getting ready to shave my head and mustache so that should be scary!"

The TNA Wrestling star has also revealed he had to have a "hole drilled" into his head to clear an infection in his mouth.

The 58-year-old grappler underwent surgery in October to get dental implants and then after having a teeth mold fitted he got an infection which wouldn't clear up which was revealed to have been caused by a metal tack left in his mouth by a dentist.

He told TMZ.com: "The theme for today is kids take care of your teeth, because if you stuff candy in your mouth you're going to rot your teeth out.

"After many years of not taking care of teeth correctly I had to finally have surgery and a couple of glitches in the system and we got an infection.

"I had surgery and they drilled a hole in my head - which I needed to let all the hot air out - cleaned everything up so I'm good to go. But it feels like somebody punched me in the face."

Over the course of his five decade spanning career, Hulk has only been seen a handful of times without his moustache in the ring and on screen.

It is not yet known if the 12-time world heavyweight champion will recover in time to join the rest of the TNA roster for the Maximum IMPACT Tour of the UK later this month.

The tour kicks off on Thursday January 26 at the Nottingham Capital FM Arena before heading to the Manchester MEN Arena.

The company's flagship TV show 'IMPACT Wrestling' – which is broadcast on Challenge TV in the UK and Ireland and Spike TV in the US - will then be filmed for the first time outside of the US at London's Wembley Arena on January 28.

The tour will feature a host wrestling's biggest names, including Kurt Angle and AJ Styles and will also be the last ever appearance made in the UK by grappling icon Sting.

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper...

Wrestling Legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper Reveals One Last Match...

Professional wrestling legend, and star of the cult horror classic movie by John Carpenter "They Live", Roddy Piper announced on his Twitter that he expects to wrestle one last match. A fan asked Piper about the possibility of having a final match and Piper responded, via the social networking site, "I have not been asked to be in Royal Rumble. I tell u a secret, promise to keep it? I am going to do 1 more balls to wall match!"

Andre The Giant

Andre The Giant (the late) - set to appear in an online slot game at Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment - PartyCasino. The game was developed by North Sydney based NextGen Gaming. You can trust the Media Man and Wrestling News Media network to keep following up the story.

WWE producing "Legends House"...

WWE continues to develope a slew of new content for the launch of their upcoming 24/7 channel, WWE Network. "Legends House" is set to be a part of the launch as a reality series focusing on WWE legends living together in the a house. WWE has promoted the show and the new network via WWE RAW on the USA Network.

The concept of the show is expected to be similar to traditional reality set-up like MTV's "Real World" and CBS's "Big Brother", yet with larger-than-life personalities of WWE peformers it will be must-see TV for any wrestling fan, as well as for fans of the reality TV genre.

No legendary stars have been confirmed for the series yet, but there's plenty of speculation.
The very controversial and foul mouthed Iron Sheik is rumored to a part of the cast. On social media many fans have chatted about what legends they would want to see on "Legends House." Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Roddy Piper, Jimmy Hart, and Dusty Rhodes were among some of the names being tossed around between fans on Twitter and Facebook. We're hoping Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Sgt Slaughter, Billy "Superstar" Graham, Don "Magnificent" Muraco, Paul "Mr Wonderful" Orndorff, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, and Dusty "The American" Dream also get serious consideration. A similar pitch was made to Media Man three years ago, however at the time a number of financial related aspects slowed concept to reality. This time around the project looks to be moving full speed ahead and the Media Man agency will be offering strong media coverage should the project keep moving forward. For the record, we think its going to cross the finish line and put a nice little pay cheque in a few people's pockets. Let's hope the legends are looked after fairly for all their blood, sweat and tears they put out over the years.

The Late News...

Shaquille O’Neal Close to WWE WrestleMania Deal?; Latest on Brock Lesnar’s Return...

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Shaquille "Shaq" O’Neal has reportedly been closing in on his WWE WrestleMania deal, and he may have already agreed to business terms.

WWE creative has been told to start thinking about weaving O’Neal into storylines - likely for a match with The Big Show (Paul Wight).

Due to its John Cena vs. The Rock main-event, WrestleMania 28 is a strong contender to set the all-time buyrate record, and WWE is striving to do everything it can to push the interest and buy rates to the moon. Adding Shaquille O’Neal into the equation, especially with Shaq should help further the event’s must see statue as WWE’s biggest WrestleMania of all-time.

Regarding a Brock Lesnar return, no one has been provided any reason to expect it will happen at this year’s WrestleMania, but it might just happen. WWE top brass Vince McMahon reportedly told at least one creative staff member that it is not a foregone conclusion a Lesnar return would include the return of Paul Heyman as his manager.

Recently returned WWE Superstar, Chris Jericho, for what its worth, has been having little verbal jabs at Lesnar, so we will have to see if that develops into something more.

In any event, this years WrestleMania should be awesome.

For recent updates on pro wrestling keep checking the Wrestling News Media www.wrestlingnewsmedia.com web blog along with the website of our friends over at Wrestling.net.au

Websites

Wrestling News Media

WWE

WWE Corporate

Hulk Hogan official website

Dainty Group

DeathClutch (Brock Lesnar official website)

Wrestling.net.au

Media Man News

Website Network

Media Man Int

Media Man News

Wrestling News Media

Echo Entertainment tipped to be taken over by Crown Limited - 12th January 2012

2012-01-13T12:48:00.000+11:00

Profiles

Australian Casinos Casinos Echo Entertainment The Star Lyric Theatre Gambling Sydney Australia Global Gaming Directory

Casino owner Echo Entertainment is Australia's prime contender to be taken over in 2012 says JP Morgan.

There's a play for Echo Entertainment tipped owner of The Star casino in Sydney, by James Packer's rival Crown casino group - Crown Limited.

"Echo is our highest conviction takeover target for 2012," JP Morgan said.

"Now is the time that Crown has to move if it wants to buy the company at a decent price. Once the (Star casino) capex benefits start flowing through to the bottom line, the share price might be out of reach," it said. Crown already owns a 4.9 percent stake in Echo Entertainment.

A Media Man spokesperson said "James Packer continues to make all the right moves. He will not be repeating any of the same kind of mistakes he made in Las Vegas, USA, a few years ago. Packer and his team have also made themselves more available for news media, knowing that they will get written about anyway. Lately, there's largely only positive news to report and JP even gives the tabloids a bit of fun stuff to run with once in a while also. Packer can also be thankful that his casino investments in Macau are paying off which is helping keep his bottom line more impressive than all other Australian based gaming entrepreneurs".

*the writer is a shareholder in Crown Limited.

Websites

Echo Entertainment

The Star

Crown Melbourne

Media Man News

Casino News Media

Website Network

Media Man Int

Media Man

Media Man News

Media Man Entertainment

Casino News Media

Global Gaming Directory

Mad Max to film in Africa; Broken Hill misses out on movie dollars, by Greg Tingle

2012-01-13T10:13:00.003+11:00

Profiles

Movies Hollywood Mad Max Africa World Directory

Mad Max vehicles have been hidden at Port Kembla and they will soon be sent up to to Africa - the site of the next instalment of the famous movie franchise.

As you would imagine security is extremely high around the vehicles trucked in from Broken Hill for the fourth instalment of the series, but some crafty news media got a few shots at them.

Also in the batch are numerous of Max's own pursuit vehicles, made to resemble the "Interceptor", a souped-up Ford XB GT Falcon coupe driven in the original movie. The amount of these vehicles makes one think Max's car may again end up in a heap, as it did in Mad Max 2: Road Warrior.

The cars are heading up to South Africa, final confirmation that the film has been lost to Australia.

Director George Miller had planned to shoot the new film, Fury Road, near Broken Hill, but there was too much rain last year and the usually dry desert location was covered in flowers and green, and not even cleaver Hollywood - AussieWood computer CGI tricks were going to fool anyone into thinking the location was wasteland worthy of a Max Max return.

Miller revealed that Fury Road will be the first part of a new Mad Max trilogy, with scripts being written for fifth and sixth movies. Scrapping filming will hurt Broken Hill, said the city's mayor, Wincen Cuy. "It's going to affect the community as a whole," he said. "What we've lost is to associate our name to it and any marketing." However, he saw the irony in the fact that the rain the town had prayed for is what did them in. "One man's medicine is another man's poison," Cuy said. "But Broken Hill's had a film industry for 30 years and it will continue."

The film will star Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Hugh Keays-Byrne.

Other...

The Mad Max franchise refers to a series of futuristic films, taking place in the "Mad Max Universe", that tell a story of breakdown of society, murder, and vengeance. The first Mad Max was an Australian action film directed by George Miller and written by Miller and Byron Kennedy, released in 1979. It produced two sequels, Mad Max 2, also known as The Road Warrior, in 1981 and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in 1985. The series has had a lasting influence on apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction ever since. An animated feature film sequel and video game tie-in are both currently in pre-production, with a predicted release date of 2011 or 2012. In May 2009, it was reported that location scouting was underway for a new live action filming of Mad Max 4: Fury Road.

Websites

Mad Max Online

Media Man News

Website Network

Media Man Int

Media Man

Media Man News

Media Man Entertainment

Australian Sports Entertainment

Casinos in Italy

2012-01-13T00:33:00.001+11:00

For more information about casinos in Italy and around the world see Global Gaming Directory and World Casino Directory

“Bond, James Bond.” That’s the image you get of the incredible Italian Casinos. You’re just waiting for 007 to walk through the doors. Although there are very few Casinos in Italy, no other country has done more for the development of gambling than Italy. In ancient times, the Italians adopted the fortunetelling cards of the invading Saracens and first used them for gambling. Bacacart was invented in Italy, probably in the late 15th century. The lottery first appeared in 1530 and from this bingo was born – in Italy! The first casinos were opened in Venice in 1726.

Until recently, gambling was not viewed positively by Italian citizens. Certainly the “involvement” of the mafia in illegal gambling clubs caused concern. Gambling was something that most Italians avoided. Although horse racing and casinos were legal, they have not been popular like in the States. Slowly this has changed. In 2007, Italy allowed legalized online gambling and betting stations. Now, the legalized gambling age in Italy is 18. And so gambling is starting to grow in Italy.

There are just a few casinos in Italy, but most are very beautiful – especially the first three in this list:

Casino de la Vallee, Casino Municipale di Campione d’Italia, Casino Municipale di Sanremo, and Ca’ Vendramin… and so here they are:

Casino de la Vallee

The largest casino in the country, Casino de la Vallee is located just off A5, Northwest of Milan and features 95 table games and 512 slot and video poker machines. Games include 5 Card Stud, American Roulette, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Chemin de Fer, Craps, English Roulette, French Roulette, Poker, Punto Banco and Trente Quarante.

Address

Via Italo Mus Valle d’Aosta, 1
Saint Vincent, Italy, 11027
Tel. +39 1665 221
Located just off A5, Northwest of Milan – Highway A5 Torino-Aosta, exit Saint-Vincent, Chatillon. At the end of the turn right towards the center of Saint-Vincent, and follow the signs to the Casino.
Opening times – Slots:
2.00pm – 2.00am Sun – Fri
2.000pm – 3.00am Sat
Opening times – Tables:
3.00pm – 2.00am Sun – Fri
3.00pm – 3.00 am Sat

Fast Facts
Location: 90 km from Turin in North West Italy
Nearest Airport: Turin, Caselle (TRN)
Minimum Gaming Age: 18
Entrance Fee: Free Mon to Thu; 3 Euro Fri, Sat & Sun and festive days.
ID/Passport: Required
Dress Code: Casual for the slot hall only, Smart for table games and for French games jacket is also required for men.
Gaming Currency: Euro

Games to play:

Two halls electronic games
“Slot Club” 300+ slots/video machines with progressive jackpots, 2 Royal Ascot horse racing, open daily from 14:00
“Slot Circus” 90+ slots/video machines, open daily weekdays from 15:00 weekends from 10:30 (free entrance, parking, cloakroom and breakfast)

Live table games:
Two halls
“French games” 17 French roulette (from 10 Euro), 18 Fair roulette (from 5 Euro), 9 Chemin de Fer (from 100 Euro), 3 Trente et Quarante (34/40, min. 50 Euro), 3 Poker Teresina (5-card stud poker, from 5 Euro), 3 Saint-Vincent poket (Caribbean style poker, from 10 Euro), Texas Hold’em
“American games” 28 American roulette (double zero, from 2.5 Euro), 11 Blackjack (from 10 Euro), 1 Craps (min. 10 Euro), 3 Punto Banco (from 25 Euro)

Casino Municipale di Campione d'Italia

This ulta-modern casino was opened in May 2007. This striking building has nine floors and three levels of underground parking. It was designed to provide “an exclusive experience, the perfect union between culture and fun, relaxation and sophistication, splendor and warm hospitality.”

The first casino here was opened in 1917, but closed only two years later in 1919. It did not reopen until 1933. Now the casino has become not only a powerful economic engine of the city, but also a place suitable for the culture and social events. It has hosted VIPs and intellectuals, international stars, fashion shows and concerts ranging from pop, to jazz, rock.

Campione d’Italia is an enclave located 60 km from Milan, on a strip of land situated on the shores of Lake Ceresio. Campione d’Italia has been described as a small air bubble in a glass slab, for its particular location: the small town – belonging to Lombardy- is actually set in the Swiss confederation. The casino features baccarat, blackjack, craps, Punto Banco, roulette, European roulette and Chemin de Fer. 225 gaming machines are also available. All major currencies are accepted, and the minimum age to enter is 18.

Address

Piazzale Milano 1
22060, Campione d’Italia, Italy
Tel. +41 916 40 1111
The casino is located in northern Italy, approximately 60 km from Milan, 28 km from Como, 33 km from Varese, 60 km from Lecco, and only 10 km from Lugano. By car, you would take the Motorway A9 Milan-Como-Lugano.
Opening times :11.30am – 5.00am Mon – Thur
11.30am – 6.00am Mon – Fri
10.30am – 6.00am Sat
10.30am – 5.00am Sun

Fast Facts:
Nearest Airport: Lugano Airport 5km (3.7 miles), Malpensa Airport 45km (27.7 miles), Milano Linate Airport 55km (41.3 miles), Zurich International Airport 165km (101.6 miles).
Minimum Gaming Age: 18
Registration: Required
Entrance Fee: Free
ID/Passport: Required
Dress Code: Smart/Casual
Gaming Currency: Swiss franc (CHF), Euro currency exchange facility

Games to play:
600 Jackpot Slots/Video Machines with progressive games, Touch-bet Roulette, Horse Racing, Random Bingo; Live table games: French Roulette, Fair Roulette, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Texas Poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker, Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer, Craps, Trente/Quarante (roulette min. from 5 CHF, card games min. from 10 CHF); Cardroom area: Texas Hold’em Poker, Tournaments

Remarks:
Campione d’Italia is an Italian island in Swiss territory. It is an Italian enclave 60 km from Milan. Casinò di Campione is one of the largest in Europe. It was founded in 1933. In the 75 years to 2008 the gaming activities of the Casino have increased to the point that a new, larger and more modern site was built close to the old one and renamed Nuovo Casinò di Campione.

Casino Municipale di Sanremo

The Casino of Sanremo opened January 14 1905. It’s certainly one of the most important monuments of the Belle Epoque in Sanremo. Over the years, its appeal has remained unchanged. The elegance of the interior furnishings and offers visitors a unique environment where you can spend unforgettable moments.
Everything started on Jan.12Th 1905, when, for the first time ever, the halls of the Casino’ Municipale of Sanremo (which used to be called Kursaal ), opened to the public, during a luxurious Gala night exclusively reserved to special guests. From that moment on, the Sanremo Casino started to write its own, fascinating history, full of alternate luck (especially for the players ) and big cultural, artistic, theatrical attractions which complete the activities of the house of games, making it an important cultural magnet for the Citta’dei Fiori.

The project for the Liberty-style building was edited by the Parisian architect Eugène Ferret, who had previously made a project for other casinos ( Saigon and Cannes ) and soon the white building became one of the symbols of Sanremo throughout the world.

Many celebrities, kings, actors, singers, rich tycoons went through the playing halls of the Casino… For over 100 years, its salons have seen some of the most famous people in the world. The playing house of Matuziana has always been an important cultural magnet, also thanks to the presence of a theatre which offered prestigious plays ( the De Filippo used to play there quite often ). The tradition of the theatre still carries on today, with great success.

Many have been the important cultural events through the decades, from concerts, to music competitions, ballet dancing, operas…art exhibitions ( Aligi Sassu, Salvador Dalì, Giacomo Manzù, Antonio Rubino ……..). In 1951, two of the symbols of the Citta’ dei Fiori met in the party salon of the Sanremo Casino, the Festival della Canzone Italiana ( Festival of Italian Songwriting ), which started on Jan. 29Th 1951 right under the wing of the House of games.

The notorious “Festival” that’s still going and it is the reason why Sanremo turns into the capital of the world for a week…

Not to be forgotten are the “Martedi’ Letterari”, a “remake” of the “Lunedi’ Letterari” of the 30′s ( a time when the main characters of the conferences were as prestigious as Francesco Pastonchi e Luigi Pirandello ). Every year, these events offer a wide variety of the most important writers and literary men, known internationally ( Rita Levi Montalcini, Arrigo Petacco, Vittorio Sgarbi, Magdi Allam……).

This casino features two restaurants and live entertainment. There are a total of 433 gaming machines and 38 table games. These games consist of American roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and French roulette.

Address
Corso degli Inglesi 18
18038 Sanremo Italy
Tel. +39 0184 5951
From the A10 Savona – Ventimiglia, exit at either Sanremo East or West.

Opening hours
Slot machines room: 10.00 – 02.00 (04.00 during festive periods )
European gaming room: 14.30 – 02.00 (04.00 during festive periods )
American gaming room: 14.30 – 02.00 (04.00 during festive period)

Fast Facts
Nearest Airport: Villanova d’Albenga “C. Panero Airport” 37 km; Nice “Cote d’Azur Airport” 59 km; Genoa “Cristoforo Colombo Airport” 139 km
Minimum Gaming Age: 18
Membership: Required
Entrance Fee: Free from Monday to Thursday. 7.50 from Friday to Sunday and during festive periods
ID/Passport: Required
Dress Code: Smart/Casual; Jacket and tie are required in the Private Hall, the Roof Garden, the Liberty Hall, and the theatre.
Gaming Currency: Euro

Games to play:- “Antique Hall for Parties” on the ground floor of the building, completely renovated becoming the actual Slot Machines Hall with about 470 of the latest slots/video machines with progressive games (including reel slots, video slots, video pokers, multi-games and virtual horse racing)
- “Liberty Hall” dedicated to the American games including Blackjack (min. bet 5 Euro), Hold’em Poker, Fair Roulette (min. bet 5 Euro) and 41 latest slot machines
- “Giò Ponti Hall” French Roulette, Chemin de Fer and Trente et Quarante
- “Comune Hall” completely dedicated to the French games
- “500 Hall” close to the Comune Hall, dedicated to the Roulette, Chemin de Fer and American Roulette
- “De Sanctis Hall” also known as Yellow Hall, American games: 10 Roulette tables and 8 Card tables including Blackjack, Mini Punto Banco and Texas Hold’em Poker
- “Golden Hall” or ‘Super Privé’ hall for French games only (Reserved only for high rollers who can bet 500 Euros or more per bet. To get into this elegant and refined hall a direction authorization is needed because its guests want to protect their privacy during the game. The Golden Hall can accommodate 250 people also for gala nights.)
- “Events Area” close to the Golden Hall, the Texas Hold’em Poker games and ‘Sit and Go’ tournaments take place in the Event Area during high attendance periods (New Year’s day, the Italian Song Festival, Easter and mid-August holidays)

Remarks:
The Casino of Sanremo was elegantly planned by the French architect Eugenio Ferret and on 14th January 1905 it opened for the first time to the public. The building, rich in Art Nouveau and Baroque style decorations. VIP players are offered high betting standards as well as confidential and refined playing areas.

Casino Municipale di Venezia

The very first casino was established in Venice. And the magical city built on water still preserves the oldest gaming house in the world. Opened in 1638, the Casinò di Venezia has always been a centre of international attraction. Classic games in a sumptuous environment and innovative entertainment entrusted to highly professional personnel. All in the privilege of a totally unique setting.

From the golden sand of the Lido, where at the end of the thirties the Casinò di Venezia was opened as an important part of the city’s hospitality, entertainment and culture, to the noble banks of the Grand Canal where the Casino’s city location was opened during the 1950s. “A sculpted cloud resting on water”: is how Gabriele D’Annunzio immortalized Ca’ Vendramin Calergi. A perfect example of aristocratic renaissance architecture, home to doges and the last resting-place of Richard Wagner. This is one of the most elegant palazzi overlooking Venice’s main waterway.

In 1999 the Ca’ Noghera was opened, the first American-style casino in Italy. Games, lights, sound and colour in a modern, informal dimension. Here are the two locations in Venice of the Casinò di Venezia. (Note – third location is presently closed)

Ca'Vendramin

In The Lagoon

The heart of the Casinó di Venezia beats on the Grand Canal at Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, a sophisticated arena of classic casino games, including Chemin de Fer, French Roulette, Fair Roulette, Black Jack, Trente et Quarante, Caribbean Poker and electronic games with a total of 500 gaming places. A whole floor of new Slot Machines is scheduled to open in spring 2007. And then there are the gala dinners, concerts in the garden and numerous other events and shows. A historical setting for infinite emotions.

Address
Palazzo Vendramin Calergi
Cannaregio 2040 – 30121 (Venezia)
Just a few minutes’ walk from S.Lucia station
Tel. +39 041- 5297111
Opening times – Slots:
3.00pm – 2.30am Sun – Thurs
3.00pm – 3.00am Fri – Sat
Opening times – Tables:3.30pm – 2.30am Sun – Thurs
3.30pm – 3.00 am Fri – Sat

Fast Facts
Location: Just a few minutes’ walk from S.Lucia station.
Nearest Airport: Venice, Marco Polo (VCE)
Minimum Gaming Age: 18
Membership: Optional
Entrance Fee: 5 Euro (If you are staying at a hotel in Venice ask for the free entrance coupon)
ID/Passport: Required
Dress Code: Smart, guests wear jackets (available for hire inside).
Gaming Currency: Euro

Games to play:
Jackpot Slots/Video Machines with progressive games;
Live table games: French roulette, Fair Roulette, Blackjack, Trente et Quarante, Chemin de Fer, Caribbean Poker, Tournaments

Facilities:

Restaurant, Bar, Promotions, Free shuttle from Piazzale Roma every 10 mins from 2.50 pm onwards

Remarks:

Casinò di Venezia offers you in its two locations, both with their own special character, Traditional card games in the historical palazzo Ca’ Vendramin Calergi and slot machines and American-style games in the brightly coloured setting of Ca’ Noghera. An exclusive gift awaits all clients who come and play at the Casino di Venezia on their birthday.

Ca' Noghera

On Land

In 1999, Ca’ Noghera, the first American style Casinó in Italy was opened near the Marco Polo airport. A thousand gaming places in an area of 5500 square metres of entertainment, including Fair Roulette, Black Jack, Caribbean Poker and a floor of over 400 slot machines. Ca’ Noghera also acts as a show room for other gaming houses on the lookout for the latest electronic games. Like “Pepo”, the Ferrari of Roulettes, with its unique, futuristic design and the “Wheel of Fortune”, a new, European exclusive, 9-station slot machine. And for visitors who wish to extend their evening, there is also the Theatre Arena hosting concerts, shows and catwalks.

Address
Via Paliaga 4/8 (Venezia)
Opposite Marco Polo Airport
Tel. +39 04 1269 5888
Opening times – Slots:
11.00am – 2.30am Sun – Thurs
11.00am – 3.00am Fri – Sat
Opening times – Tables:
3.30pm – 2.30am Sun – Thurs
3.30pm – 3.00 am Fri – Sat

Fast Facts
Location: Opposite Marco Polo Airport.
Nearest Airport: Venice, Marco Polo (VCE)
Minimum Gaming Age: 18
Membership: Optional
Entrance Fee: 5 Euro (If you are staying at a hotel in Venice ask for the free entrance coupon)
ID/Passport: Required
Dress Code: Casual
Gaming Currency: Euro

Games to play:
Jackpot Slots/Video Machines with progressive games;
Live table games: Fair Roulette, Blackjack, Caribbean Poker

Facilities:
Restaurant, Bar, Promotions, Free shuttle from Piazzale Roma every 10 mins from 2.50 pm onwards

Casinó del Lida

At Sea

During the summer of 1938, on the “Spiaggia dei veneziani” overlooked by the Oriental-style domes of the Hotel Excelsior and the elegant Hotel Des Bains bathing areas, the classic summer location of the Casinò di Venezia was opened.

Closed in the year 2000, for gaming enthusiasts and lovers of the exclusive hospitality offered by the Lido, the dream of the Casino reopening may, perhaps, come true …

Casino del Garda

From their website: Located in Bussolengo, Verona, just besides the Verona Village center, an elegant and comfortable atmosphere warmly welcomes you, to let you live a truly unique experience. Casino del Garda is the new age of amusement: the thrill of the challenge, the pleasure of relaxing, the warranty of playing safely.

If you like to play, the casino offers several amusement opportunities – But there’s even more. Two giant screens allow you to follow all the live sport events, while you’ll have the chance to have a look at the most important horse races in a dedicated area. Moreover, a big, cozy bar area offers you the relaxing chance of a comfortable break

At Casino del Garda you can take your chance on luck – but also spend some time together without playing. A huge betting area, two electronic multiplayer roulettes, 90 last-generation Slots.

Address
Via del Lavoro, 131
Bussolengo, (VR) Italy
Telephone +39 04 5671 7778
Opening Hours
Mon. & Tue. 10.30 am – 00.30 am
Wed. – Sat. 10.30 am – 02.00 am
Sunday 10.30 am – 01.00 am
- Entrance allowed ONLY to 18- years olds or older.
- Entrance allowed after registration and subsequent release of an entrance card; The entrance card is strictly personal: it can’t be transferred or manipulated, under pain of revocation.

Queen Bingo Hall

Seventy table games are featured within the casino’s 1,250 square foot gaming area.

Address
Via San Vitale
Bologna, Italy

For more information about casinos in Italy and around the world see Global Gaming Directory and World Casino Directory

Crisis turns Mafia into Italy's 'No.1 bank' - 11th January 2011

2012-01-12T12:18:00.001+11:00

Profiles

Italy Mafia News Financial News

Organised crime has tightened its grip on the Italian economy during the economic crisis, making the Mafia the country's biggest "bank" and squeezing the life out of thousands of small firms, according to a report.

Extortionate lending by criminal groups had become a "national emergency", said the report by anti-crime group SOS Impresa, released overnight.

Organised crime now generated annual turnover of about 140 billion euros ($175 billion) and profits of more than 100 billion euros, it added.

"With 65 billion euros in liquidity, the Mafia is Italy's number one bank," said a statement from the group, which was set up in Palermo a decade ago to oppose extortion rackets against small business.

Organised crime groups like the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, the Naples Camorra or the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta have long had a stranglehold on the Italian economy, generating profits equivalent to about 7 per cent of national output.

Extortionate lending had become an increasingly sophisticated and lucrative source of income, alongside drug trafficking, arms smuggling, prostitution, gambling and racketeering, the report said.

"The classic neighbourhood or street loan shark is on the way out, giving way to organised loan-sharking that is well connected with professional circles and operates with the connivance of high-level professionals," the report said.

It estimated about 200,000 businesses were tied to extortionate lenders and tens of thousands of jobs had been lost as a result.

Extortion with a clean face

Old style gangsters handing out cash in bars and pool halls had been replaced by apparently respectable bankers, lawyers or notaries, the report said.

"This is extortion with a clean face," it added. "Through their professions, they know the mechanisms of the legal credit market and they often know the financial position of their victims perfectly."

Small businesses, who have struggled to get hold of credit during the economic slowdown, may have been increasingly tempted to turn to the mafia, said the report.

Typical victims of extortionate lending were middle-aged shopkeepers and small businessmen who would struggle to find a new job and who were ready to try anything to avoid bankruptcy, it added.

"They are usually people in traditional retail sectors like food, greengrocers, clothes or shoe shops, florists or furniture shops. These are the categories which, more than any other, are paying the price of the (economic) crisis," it said.

According to a separate report this week from small business association CNA, 56 per cent of companies had seen banks tighten their lending requirements in the past three months. (Credit: Reuters)

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Casino News Media: PartyCasino Big Cash Hunt and Top Floor promotions

2012-01-12T11:55:00.001+11:00

PartyCasino.com continues to offer the world's greatest online casino promotions

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James Bond Skyfall Movie Shooting In London

2012-01-11T12:59:00.001+11:00

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Funeral scenes from the latest James Bond movie Skyfall were being filmed in London over the weekend.

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich was the set for the scenes, which featured eight coffins draped in union flags.

One passer by wrote on Twitter: "Walked past eight hearses with flag draped coffins at the Chapel at the Old Royal Naval College. The funeral scene for the new James Bond."

Ralph Fiennes has confirmed that he will appearing in the new James Bond film.

The actor didn't away too much about his role in the upcoming film but it is believed that M, played by Dame Judi, will be forced to quit and train "agent" Fiennes to take over her position.

Skyfall is due for release on October 26, 2012.

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Media Man Network Gets New Promotions And Advertisers

2012-01-11T01:21:00.000+11:00

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bwin.party enters Danish market; PartyCasino Big Cash Hunt and Top Floor promotions - 4th January 2012

2012-01-09T10:58:00.000+11:00

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The world’s largest listed online gambling operator, bwin.party Digital Entertainment, has launched online poker and casino games in Denmark for Danske Licens Spil, a wholly-owned subsidiary of state monopoly Danske Spil that posted a turnover of $1.8 billion in 2010.

“Building on our recent announcement regarding deals with both MGM and Boyd in the US market, this is another important milestone in the execution of our stated strategy that is focused on securing leadership positions in regulated and to-be-regulated markets,” read a statement attributed to Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, Co-Chief Executive Officers for bwin.party.

“We are delighted that Danske Licens Spil has recognised our expertise and high standards of business practice and we look forward to building a market-leading customer offer for the Danish consumer.”

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PartyCasino Wins Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' Award

2012-01-08T22:45:00.000+11:00

PartyCasino.com has been awarded the Media Man and Casino News Media "Online Casino Of The Month" award.

PartyGaming's igaming suite has grown a custom to winning awards since they first opened for business in 1997.

The competition for the coveted award was intense again this month with massive bids from both Virgin Casino, PKR Casino and Captain Cooks Casino however there can only be one winner... ladies and gentlemen, that's PartyCasino.com

The award follows PartyPoker's EGR Poker Operator Of The Year and PartyGaming also made the shortlist for EGR Operator Of The Year. Recently PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com also won the Casino News Media "Online Poker Website Of The Month".

The Media Man - Casino News Media accolade is based on a combination of elements including user experience, innovation, trustworthiness, customer service, gameplay, affiliate program offerings, newsworthiness and company values.

PartyCasino.com is one of a number of Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment brands.

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Summernats Festival delivers Canberra cars, music, girls, tourism dollars and more - 7th January 2012

2012-01-08T18:55:00.001+11:00

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The 25th Summernats festival reved up things for Canberra again today as it continued on with parade of show cars.

It wasn't just about cars as event co-owner Andy Lopez told the press. It was more about entertainment and a more family atmosphere, but make no mistake - it was mainly about the cars...and a good dose of loud music - as if the roar of the engines wasn't enough to burst your eardrums (earplugs are provided upon entrance to the festival - satisfying OH&S regulations).

Event numbers are understood to be up this year, approaching 90,000, up at least 10,000 from the last Summernats Festival.

Mr Lopez said "People are going to get see something really terrific...two hundred cars in convoy, beautifully managed, well presented, a complete range of all the types of vehicles that Summernats has to offer and I think pretty much the community is excited about it."

Canberra has had a bit of a love - hate relationship with Summernats over the years, but this year there was plenty of love to go around. There were loads of car lovers, even love-mobile muscle cars, and of course the Ms Summernats competition - and not to be outdone, Fever Australia girls gave the Ms Summernats young ladies a run for the money with photographers and news crews.

No, there were not any riots and a good number of police and event organisers were quick to defuse any potential incidents before they started.

New co-owner Andy Lopez, who purchased Summernats said it's another sign the event has turned a corner.

"This isn't a choir convention, but at the same time we're not like a gathering of satanists either," he said.

"Ninety-nine-point-nine per cent of people that go to Summernats are there because they love what the event is about and if there is anyone else who is looking to cause trouble then we're going to deal with it."

Mr Lopez, originally had little interest in cars, said 2012 is shaping be the most successful Summernats yet.

"We want this to be the premier street machine, modifier event in the world," he said.

"We'll have 1200 people watching our burnout competition and that's something you can't do anywhere else in the world.

"If you win the summernats burnout competition, you are the undisputed champion.

"That's what we want the Summernats to be about."

Summernats attracts many of the nations most talented motor and mechanical craftsmen, artists and all matter of other folks who are in the business of hotted up cars. They also attract news media from from across the country - and this year its been mainly positive, with the festival being pro active to remove the more troublesome aspects of years gone by. The festival also adds a much needed boost to the ACT economy, with nightclubs, hotels and restaurants all reporting business definitely being up since the car-show hit down.

Some of our favourite aspects of Summernats 2012 included:

The burnouts - big congratulations to Peter and Debbie Gray (burnout masters and celebrated husband and wife team).

Miss Summernats contestants - Canberra local Sabrina Damiano, 25, who took out the Miss Summernats honours this year from a field of 14 contestants.

Show N Shine - car enthusiasts shinned up their toys and showed them off to thousands of adoring fans

Radio Revhead - great show put on by John McCoy-Lancaster and special guest in from Utah 1060AM U.S - J.C Hackett

The music - rockin with the massively talented Heaven The Axe (fronted by Phoebe, who is a bit of a Joan Jet - Angus Young (AC/DC) hybrid in our estimation. Phoebe and her crew absolutely rock and they reved up a storm at the Jim Beam Bar

Unexpected attendance by SBS entertainers / actors Rob Shehadie and Tahir (from Fat Pizza fame)

Body ink comp and display

Sidcrome tools display

The super cool personalised number plates which accompanied all show-cars

Top 60 finalist (car) show

A big thank you to Tom and the media crew for being so helpful, and to the other great people who worked so hard to make this years event such a massive success.

It's not too late to enjoy Summernats - it runs through to the 8th, and you don't have to be a rev head to enjoy it. Get your set of wheels and join in the action, and please drive safely.

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Lyric Theatre Sydney: Enjoy music shows in the company of your loved ones

2012-01-05T16:43:00.000+11:00

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In November 1997 Theatre was inaugurated and it has gained popularity. Most of the people think that without these theatres and musicians Sydney is not complete. Excellent audibility is also offered by the Star City's Lyric Theatre...

The most pictures perfect views are offered by the Sydney and these views cannot be found anywhere in the whole world. In case, you are looking for more information on theaters, you must visit www.lyrictheatre.com.au

Every person wants to visit this spot on the map and in the list of his or her travel plans, this destination is on the top. With the modernity and traditionalism, Sydney is prepared so it is the city with a combination of both of these. Sydney is the city in which a person can enjoy and have a lot of fun and he can feel free from the problems of his daily life. Its popularity can also increase if to the charismatic place the music is also included. Of all the desires which are related to the music, the Lyric Theatre Sydney is the best option to visit because here all the desires are fulfilled. In these entertainment venues the opera, musicals, theatre and ballet are performed, it is an enthralling experience, and for the lifetime, it is like that moment which can’t be forgotten.

At the Star City, it is located and comfortable seating plan is offered by it. The seating plan is very good and nice there. The Lyric Theatre seating plan is shared by the Star City on the internet and to the people it becomes easy to plan and mark the enjoying the experience. For different leading world entertainers Lyric Theatre Brisbane is also a preferential concert venue. Moreover, in these Venues the most perfect performances are performed. For the performers who are legendary these Lyric theatres are the big proof, these performers is Julio Iglesias, Michael Crawford and Tony Bennett, and these performers are always remembered by the people because they were such a good and talented performer.

In these theatres, many different kinds of musical shows were also held. The performances of the Manna Mia and Oliver were the best performances. Information about Brisbane Lyric Theatre and many others is also offered by the Sydney Lyric Theatre. The live entertainment venues are also found in Sydney where the ballet, opera and musicals come and one can never forget this experience. You can get on www.lyrictheatre.com.au to know more about theater and shows.

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Paramount Pictures Seek Dismissal of John Singleton's Fraud Case

2012-01-05T14:51:00.001+11:00

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Paramount Pictures enjoyed a fantastic 2011, both in Australia, as well as in the United States and other markets.

However, now they seek to rid themselves of an unwelcome legal challenge.

Paramount is looking to dis a $20 million lawsuit brought by American film director John Singleton for allegedly reneging on a promise to back two films as part of a 2005 deal to acquire the breakout hit “Hustle and Flow.”

In response to Singleton’s lawsuit in October, the studio filed a demurrer in November 2011 that aims to demonstrate that even if the facts as laid out in the plaintiff’s complaint are true and correct, it won’t support the allegation that any fraud was committed, according to entertainment news giant The Hollywood Reporter.

“Hustle and Flow” was a hit at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. Singleton claims that he passed on a higher advance offered by another studio to accept Paramount’s $9 million offer because the studio promised to “put” two additional features as long as their budgets didn’t exceed $3.5 million each and his producing fee wasn’t higher than 7.5 percent.

The director says that Paramount Pictures reneged on that deal by concocting new conditions on the “puts.” In his lawsuit, Singleton said he needed to make sure he was not taken advantage of and that his rights were protected.

In response, Paramount points to alleged flaws in the lawsuit prepared by Singleton’s attorney, Marty Singer:

“Plaintiffs’ fraud claim fails because it is not supported by a single fact — much less one with the required level of specificity for fraud claims — showing that Paramount or MTV harbored an intention not to perform the put provision at the time of the HAF Agreement’s formation.”

Paramount advised that Singleton can’t simply rely upon the alleged contractual non-performance to show the studio intended to deceive him, and as such, Paramount requests that a Los Angeles Superior Court judge dismiss the fraud claim.

Similarly, Paramount also wants to dismiss a rescission claim because it partly relies upon the same fraud theory and partly because its contract with Singleton’s company, Crunk Pictures, limits remedies for a breach of contract to monetary damages. (In the lawsuit, Singleton wants money from the exploitation of Hustle and Flow plus a reversion of rights in the picture.)

Paramount Pictures is also seeking to dismiss a claim for unjust enrichment because Paramount says there is no cause of action for this claim in California.

If a judge accepts these arguments, that would leave the dispute turning on a question of how to interpret the main contract between the parties.

From the media reports thus far and public comments about the dispute, it appears that Paramount is prepared to argue that Singleton never produced and delivered two pictures by a Jan. 22, 2010 deadline.

But Singleton suggests that development work on those films was already underway and that there wasn’t any express contractual obligations that the work be completed by that date. According to the original complaint:

“When plaintiffs attempted to exercise their right to ‘put’ the two pictures to Paramount, Paramount for the first time informed Plaintiffs that…the Put Pictures had to be fully completed films rather than films in production, and that the Put Pictures had to be scripted full-length theatrical or direct-to-video motion pictures.”

Absent the fraud claim, the lawsuit becomes a “What came first — the chicken or the egg” controversy. Did Singleton have to complete the two films to get Paramount’s distribution guarantee? Or did Paramount have to guarantee distribution to get Singleton to complete the two films?

Either way, the outcome is unlikely to have any real impact of Paramount Pictures success in Australia.

Paramount Pictures Enjoyed Banner 2011...

In the U.S they totally dominated the box office and knocked off the former global leader Warner Brothers. Paramount's studio has enjoyed more success distributing films via expiring partnerships with Marvel Entertainment / Marvel Studios and Stephen Spielberg's DreamWorks Animation than it has had creating its own in-house franchises.

Let's see... there was “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” and “Paranormal Activity 3,” and these contributed heavily to Paramount's bottom line.

In 2011, Paramount has fielded nine films that have crossed the $100 million barrier in U.S ticket sales, including 2010’s “True Grit,” which snatched the majority of its $250 million worldwide gross in this calendar year.

With $1.73 billion at the U.S box office thus far and two tentpoles in for the end of the year, "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" and Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin," Paramount ended Warner Brothers' three-year reign at the U.S box office.

And with $2.84 billion in international revenue and $4.6 billion in global receipts to date, Paramount Pictures ended Warner's international and worldwide leading streaks.

"Going into the summer, we certainly felt like we had a number of big tentpole movies, and on balance, they all delivered,” said Don Harris, Paramount's president of domestic (U.S) theatrical distribution. “They all opened at high numbers."

But get this. There's an imminent departure of partners Marvel and DreamWorks Animation, the team behind such recent winners as “Thor,” "Captain America: The First Avenger," “Kung Fu Panda 2” and "Puss in Boots."

Combined, those films comprised four of Paramount's top five grossing movies this year.

Paramount gets distribution fees from DreamWorks Animation and Marvel, but it doesn’t own the rights to the superhero and family films.

Paramount's deal to distribute Marvel films has ended, and its deal with DreamWorks Animation expires in 2012. Though Paramount received an 8 percent distribution fee for its efforts with the two studios, the departure of Marvel and DreamWorks Animation will take a big chunk out of the studio’s market share.

Emboldened by the average success of “Rango” ($245 million), Paramount recently launched its own animation division with an eye toward owning the family films it distributes outright. It expects to release its first film through via the new arm in 2014.

The DreamWorks deal was relatively low-risk and good money.

Paramount appears to believe hat after a number of years of serving as a distribution house for other companies, it has developed enough of its own intellectual property to move forward without the comic book based company and the animation studio.

It's hoping that Pixar whiz Brad Bird (“The Incredibles”) can reinvigorate its “Mission: Impossible” franchise after 2006’s disappointing third installment, and it already successfully rebooted the wilting “Star Trek” franchise. A sequel to its hit 2009 "Trek" film is due out in two years.

"Transformers” - "Dark of the Moon" grossed $1.1 billion worldwide and was more positively embraced than its predecessor.

Paramount Pictures has enjoyed a burst of lower budget successes, adding to their whale size film portfolio.

Created for a cost of a modest $13 million, the studio’s Justin Bieber concert film “Never Say Never,” took in nearly $100 million worldwide. Likewise, “Paranormal Activity 3” continued the ultra-low budget series’ knack for healthy profit margins. Produced for a tiny $5 million, the haunted house film clocked up $201.9 million worldwide.

Almost everything Paramount Pictures touched turned to gold. The big write-off would be "Hugo", with a budget of $170 million and grossing just $33 million globally. Let it be noted that Paramount only distributed the film and this means that the dip falls on the head of producer Graham King.

The remake of '80s dance film “Footloose” failed to bring in audiences. The $24 million film snatched a $62 million worldwide gross, which is well below par for Paramount.

What's in Paramount's future? Paramount appears unlikely to duplicate its record breaking success in 2012 at the box office. The studio expects big things for its zombie flick "World War Z" with Brad Pitt and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” but appears that's not comic book films in the works to excel this years numbers.

Take note that in the 2012 more of the films that Paramount Pictures releases are owned by them. This means that the studio will be able to keep more of the profits for themselves, but that appears to be a higher risk strategy than the one they employed this year.

Paramount will survive, no doubt, but it may be more of a stock market - roller-coaster type ride than the relatively smooth sailing they enjoyed over the past 12 months.

See you at the movies.

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Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment directors buy up shares - 3rd January 2012

2012-01-04T18:47:00.000+11:00

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Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment directors Jim Ryan and Geoff Baldwin have snapped up shares in the online gaming firm. The announcement comes on the same day bwin.party launched a number of online poker and casino games in Denmark for Danske Licens Spil (DLS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Danske Spil group. Danske Spil, which is one of the largest betting and gaming organisations in Europe and 80% owned by the Danish government, already has over 600,000 registered online customers. Baldwin, a non-executive director who joined bwin's board in July last year, made the biggest purchase and bought £156,620-worth of shares at 156.62p each. Co-Chief Executive Officer Ryan took his total stake in the firm to 0.19%.

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2012-01-04T15:49:00.000+11:00

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Movie Box Office News: Tom Cruise leads US box office for 2011

2012-01-04T14:58:00.001+11:00

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Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible movie held on to the top of box office charts over New Year's weekend as Hollywood said see ya to a slow-ish year at movie theatres.

As 2011 ended, US and Canadian revenue dipped from last year and attendance slumped to its lowest level since 1995.

Most industry commentators including the Media Man agency put the low numbers down to the struggling economy, with many movie fans staying at home watching commercial or pay TV, and getting the occasional DVD new release to satisfy their new release fix. Movie lovers also satisfied their entertainment desires with internet use and a range of handheld devices.

The year's final weekend saw top movies add to ticket sales from the Christmas holiday one week earlier but no change in the top three chart positions.

The Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise films took the second and third positions behind Cruise's Mission: Impossible.

From Friday through to Monday, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol netted in an estimated $US38.3 million at US and Canadian theatres, distributor Paramount Pictures advised.

The movie that features the 49-year-old Cruise as special agent Ethan Hunt hanging off the world's tallest building has grossed $US366.5 million globally.

Of that, $US225.3 million has come from international markets, affirming Cruise's place as a solid performer for global audiences and cementing a strong year for Paramount Pictures.

Rocketed along by the third Transformers film, Paramount's movies grossed nearly $US5.2 billion worldwide, the studio said. The total included nearly $US2 billion at U.S theatres and a record $US3.2 billion internationally.

No new movies were released nationwide over the weekend.

In second place, detective sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows grossed $US26.5 million over four days. Third place belonged to family film Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, which pulled in $US21 million.

Rounding out the top five, Steven Spielberg's family film War Horse galloped into fourth with $US19.2 million, and thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo pulled in $US19 million.

Elsewhere, The Iron Lady starring Meryl Streep in a critically praised performance as former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, opened strong with $US280,409 from just four theatres. That's a massive per-screen average of $US70,102, nearly three times higher than the next-closest movie.

U.S ticket sales for all films rose 10 per cent from the same weekend a year ago, but the strong finish could not lift yearly revenues in line with 2010.

U.S revenue for 2011 fell 3.4 per cent to $US10.2 billion, the second-straight yearly decline, according to estimates from Hollywood.com. More troubling for studios and theatre chains is that attendance dropped 4.2 per cent to 1.3 billion, the lowest pace since 1995.

Commentators typically peg low turnout on unappealing movies, but this year studio executives and industry experts have said other factors may be dampening sales. They cite the weak economy and competition from mobile devices, social networking, video games and a range of other entertainment options.

This year also was measured against early 2010 results from Avatar, the top-grossing movie of all time with $US760 million at U.S and $US2 billion at international box offices.

"A confluence of factors contributed to the downturn," said Paul Dergarabedian of box-office tracker Hollywood.com.

The coming year, with a large slate of promising titles, "will be a very pivotal year. It will tell us, is it really just the product, or is something bigger going on," he said.

But the year ended on a positive theme. The final week of the 2011 ranked as the year's second highest with domestic sales of more than $US350 million, said Chris Aronson, senior vice-president for domestic distribution at 20th Century Fox.

"It's not all doom and gloom," he said. "We just had a sensational week of movie-going."

Executives also note global ticket sales remain healthy with several of 2011's biggest titles seeing the bulk of sales from international markets, much like Mission: Impossible.

Looking forward, Hollywood aka Tinsel Town is counting on a packed line-up of big-budget action movies and sequels to bring crowds back in 2012.

The offering will include Batman sequel The Dark Knight Rises, superhero flick The Avengers, young-adult book adaptation The Hunger Games and the first of two Hobbit movies.

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PartyCasino VS Virgin Casino iGaming "war" continues

2012-01-03T21:48:00.000+11:00

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2012-01-03T18:01:00.001+11:00

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Rolling Stone Magazine Australia Announces 3rd Annual Awards

2012-01-03T18:00:00.001+11:00

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To say we’re excited about the 3rd Annual Rolling Stone Awards is a massive understatement. Last year’s event was a huge, sweltering party (highlights – Paul Kelly turning up, Michael "Freaking" Chugg’s sweary tirade, Lupe Fiasco’s bodyguard, Art Vs Science’s DJ set, and a surprise display of beatboxing from Plan B’s cohort Faith SFX). There’s an expectation that this year’s event will be bigger and better, and Rolling Stone Australia and everyone else involved doesn't aim to disappoint.

Due to the success of last year’s event, RS be keeping the 3rd outing of the Rolling Stone Awards just as exclusive and star-studded, albeit at a new more central (and air conditioned) venue. Drawing from a long list of entertainment and pop culture luminaries, the judging panel is as illustrious as it was tuned-in and the resulting winners will be a nicely varied bunch. But that’s what you get when you ask comedians, actors, politicians, writers, tour promoters, artists and professional skateboarders to try and agree on a shortlist.

Judges this year included the likes of Tim Ross, Jon Coghill, Michael Chugg, Brendan Cowell and Morgan Campbell, just to name a few.

The categories include:

The Rolling Stone Award: Our top honour of the year, awarded for an outstanding contribution to popular culture. The winner of this award can come from any area – music, film, TV, literature, art, politics, activism, etc. This award is open to Australian/NZ candidates only.

Best Female: Awarded to a local lady for outstanding contribution to popular culture, whether that is music, film, TV, literature, art, politics or activism. This award is open to Australian/NZ candidates only.

Best Male: Awarded to a local bloke for outstanding contribution to popular culture, whether that is music, film, TV, literature, art, politics or activism. This award is open to Australian/NZ candidates only.

The International Award: Awarded to an international male, female or group who have had a profound positive impact on popular culture in Australia/NZ. The winner of this award can come from any area – music, film, TV, literature, art, politics, activism, etc.

Mover & Shaker: Awarded to someone who has changed the game in their particular field this year – a maverick, trailblazer or revolutionary. The winner of this award can come from any area – music, film, TV, literature, art, politics, activism, etc. This award is open to Australian/NZ candidates only.

The Immortal: A lifetime achievement award for outstanding contribution to popular culture. This award is open to Australian/NZ candidates only.

Album of the Year: The best full-length album released in 2010. Simple as that. This award is open to Australian/NZ candidates only.

Best Live Act: Just as the name says, honouring the best live performance or tour by a band – Australian or international – in Australia/NZ in 2010.

Artist to Watch: This is an acknowledgement of an outstanding emerging artist – regardless of how long they’ve been around – who is set to blow up big. This award is open to Australian/NZ candidates only.

Artist of the Year: Music only, the best all round artist of the year. This award is open to Australian/NZ candidates only.

We also roped in celebrity writers close to the winners to pay tribute to their mates (or in one case, uncle), making this far livelier and more fascinating than some stale old list of winners. But let’s stop patting ourselves on the back, it’s really time to congratulate our winners who will be announced at on Wednesday 25th January. All winners will also be listed in the March issue of Rolling Stone Magazine (out on 1 February 2012).

Be sure to check out the BlackBerry Lounge while you’re there and of course, the fantastic cocktails!

We'll see you there fellow rock n rollers.

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Cruise rings in New Year at top of box office - 2nd January 2012

2012-01-03T16:37:00.001+11:00

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Mission: Impossible Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Movies Hollywood Paramount Pictures Tom Cruise News News Entertainment News

Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol has topped the North American box office for a second straight weekend, ringing in the New Year with $US30 million in ticket sales.

The action film, the fourth in the series, thus far has taken in $US133 million, according to estimates from Exhibitor Relations.

In second place was Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, a sequel to the 2009 film about the detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It took in $US22.1 million in the third week since its release.

In third place with $US18.3 million was Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, the third animated film about the singing critters.

Fourth place went to Steven Spielberg's War Horse, about the bond between a boy and his horse during World War I, which was expected to reap $US16.9 million.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - the Hollywood adaptation of the wildly popular Stieg Larsson novel, starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara - took in $US16.3 million for fifth place.

Family film We Bought A Zoo starring Matt Damon finished in sixth place, taking in $US14.3 million.

Another Spielberg film, The Adventures of Tintin, about an intrepid Belgian boy reporter, was seventh with $US12 million.

Star-studded holiday romance New Year's Eve earned $US6.7 million for eighth place, while thriller The Darkest Hour took ninth place with $US4.3 million.

Rounding out the top 10 was The Descendants starring George Clooney, which grossed $US3.7 million.

Final figures are due out tomorrow after the four-day New Year's holiday weekend in the US.

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PartyCasino News: Top Floor and Big Cash Hunt Casino Promotions

2012-01-02T23:15:00.000+11:00

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Australian Casino News: Woman wins $100k after pokies fight; Woman run over by taxi at Burswood Casino

2012-01-02T21:50:00.001+11:00

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Woman wins $100k after pokies fight...

An Adelaide woman is receiving a $100,000 Christmas present after the Adelaide Casino agreed to pay out a pokies win after an 18-month fight.

Cecilia Cubillo played a $1 credit that another person had left in the poker machine when she hit the jackpot.

But her excitement was cut short when the casino told her it would not be giving her the money.

The casino says it is against regulations set by the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner to pay out abandoned credits, but the casino says the Commissioner has now agreed to review those regulations.

The casino has apologised to Ms Cubillo for any stress and embarrassment and will now give her the money.

It has asked the Commissioner to clarify his position on the use of abandoned credit to avoid similar situations in the future.

Woman run over by taxi at Burswood Casino...

A woman has received serious head injuries after being run over by a taxi at Burswood Casino.

Police are investigating whether she was involved in a separate incident just prior to the crash at 4.30am on Sunday.

The taxi left the scene, however, has since been located by Police Major Crash investigators.

It is unknown if the driver was aware of the incident.

The woman remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Police are calling for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

Lotto tickets to be sold online...

Making lottery tickets available online will fuel gambling addiction, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says.

SA Lotteries will begin selling tickets on the internet from the middle of 2012.

The arrangement is expected to provide $3 million a year in revenue and has been approved by the South Australian Government.

Credit card purchases of tickets will be limited to $1000 a week.

Senator Xenophon says that is an extraordinarily high cap and will only encourage problem gamblers.

"That's close to average weekly wages and to have it on credit is very problematic.

"If a publican gives you credit at a pokies venue that's a serious criminal offence. Using a credit card to get lotteries tickets really can fuel gambling addiction.

"You're not using your own money, you're using credit. At least if you buy lotto from a newsagent the newsagent can see the whites of your eyes and at least make some judgments... to determine whether they're dealing with a problem gambling.

"But there won't be any such controls with online sales."

Finance Minister Michael O'Brien says careful consideration was given to the decision.

"The SA Lotteries Board have indicated to me that they believe that the regime that is in place for online gambling actually offers higher protection for the potential problem gambler than is the case currently," he said.

"People spend whatever they wish either on the poker machines or on lottery tickets or on the horses, or whatever other form of gambling. Now whether they do that by cash or by cash via a credit card facility, they still spend the money. At least with this particular arrangement, there is a limit."

He says the decision brings the state into line with the rest of Australia.

Woolworths arm takes over pubs...

Grocery giant Woolworths is buying more heavily into the liquor market.

Its pub and bottle shop company ALH Group is taking out long-term leases on 31 pubs located across New South Wales.

Woolworths already operates 27 pubs in the state as the majority owner of ALH Group, which is also Australia's largest poker machine operator.

ALH spokesman David Curry says the buy up boosts the grocery giant's ownership of pokie machines to almost 13,000 nationwide.

He says it has invested in pubs with good trade potential as well as their gaming capabilities.

"There's about 680, it brings the total nationwide to just under 13,000 - proportionately, we don't have a significant percentage of electronic gaming machines - we've only got about 6 per cent of electronic gaming machines in the country," he said.

"Notwithstanding the pokie tax or what's been proposed by the Federal Government, we think the hotels we've actually signed long-term leases to can achieve good trading growth.

"We're looking at injecting further capital into the business and overlapping our management expertise in NSW across those hotels."

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Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Stellan Skarsgård Talk Marvel Entertainment - The Avengers

2012-01-01T23:55:00.000+11:00

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News items with Marvel's upcoming superhero movie The Avengers has been pretty slow ever since the first trailer was released last October, leaving Marvel, and parent company Disney, to keep The Avengers in the public domain by recently announcing that the flick would be released in 3-D - a fact that many insiders knew since the commencement of production was announced in April). Writer-director Joss Whedon responded by publicly stating that the movie won't be "obnoxiously 3-D".

Avengers actors are talking to numerous press about other movies they will also be seen in. While discussing the American remake of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård (who ironically did not appear in the 2009 Swedish adaptation) discussed his return in The Avengers as Erik Selvig, the character he portrayed in Thor, in an interview with Moviefone. After his appearance in the post-credits scene in Thor.

Plot...

Nick Fury and the international agency S.H.I.E.L.D. bring together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki & his various membered army.

Director: Joss Whedon

Writer: Joss Whedon

Actors: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Clark Gregg, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgard

Producers: Avi Arad (executive), Jon Favreau (executive), Kevin Feige and Stan Lee (executive)

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Gaming - gambling companies happy as U.S. signals end of prohibition; Players rejoice

2011-12-30T22:41:00.001+11:00

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Shares of online gaming firms hit the jackpot after the US Department of Justice revealed it now plans to free them from legislation that should only apply to sports betting.

As industry experts forecast the beginning of the end for online gambling prohibition in the US, Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment jumped 29.7p to 160p, 888 Holdings advanced 3.25p to 39.25p and Playtech 34.5p to 266p.

There is no doubt the new stance on the Wire Act of 1961 marks a huge shift for the Justice Department, which has previously proclaimed all forms of internet gambling – especially the increasingly popular online poker – are illegal.

The Wire Act, which banned gambling via telecommunications across state lines, has also been applied within states to prevent web-based betting.

But in recent months it has become evident the Justice Department was moving away from that strict interpretation.

In April Preet Bharara, the US Attorney in Manhattan, indicted 11 individuals in a crackdown on online poker websites and launched a £1.95bn civil lawsuit against firms including PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, but did not include any Wire Act violations among the charges.

Rather, Bharara alleged the men had violated the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which became law in 2006, and the Illegal Gambling Business Act.

And as the Justice Department now advises that the Wire Act does not apply to online poker, industry followers believe the way is clear for online gambling to proceed within state boundaries.

Broker Investec advised that the states of California, New Jersey, Nevada, Illinois, New Hampshire, Florida and Washington are in advanced discussions to open up gambling across state lines too, with regulation likely to take shape during the upcoming year.

A spokesman for Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment said: "It is an interesting step forward and we will continue to keep a close eye on the situation."

If individual US states are allowed to profit from online gambling, the federal government will soon take an increased interest in controlling and taxing the market rather than allowing a patchwork quilt to emerge.

Bwin.Party brands include PartyPoker, PartyCasino, PartyBets and World Poker Tour.

Other countries whose citizens enjoy online gambling - such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Italy are watching the situation closely.

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Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Profiles; PartyCasino And PartyPoker Get New Promotions And Games

2011-12-30T19:31:00.000+11:00

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The World's Most Spectacular New Year's Eve Party Just Got Even Better; 1 Day To Go

2011-12-30T19:17:00.001+11:00

Sydney Resolution Excluded From Dry Zone; Let The Champers Flow!

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Sydney Resolution New Year’s Eve Concert is thrilled to let New Year’s Eve party goers know that on the back of Sydney Council’s announcement of alcohol-free zones at New Year’s Eve fireworks hot spots, Sydney Resolution will remain a licensed event – with multiple bars stocked with a full range of beer, wine and spirits – exclusively for Sydney Resolution patrons to enjoy.

Last weeks announcement of alcohol bans across Sydney will ensure that those seeing in the New Year around popular party locations (parks, beaches and reserves) will have to do so with water, juice and soft drinks only due to a Sydney Council dry zone decision. However, Sydney Resolution patrons will not only be able to enjoy the very best in music and premium fireworks displays, but also icy cold beers, chilled wines, spirits and flowing champagne.

Sydney Resolution New Year’s Eve Concert is Sydney’s biggest New Year’s Eve party, which will be staged at Sydney’s Glebe Island, overlooking the iconic Sydney Harbour on Saturday December 31st 2011. The inaugural Sydney Resolution New Year’s Eve Concert will feature international superstars including Jamiroquai, Culture Club and Pet Shop Boys, as well as Australia’s very own Guy Sebastian, Pseudo Echo and Lyndsey Ollard.

With unobstructed, stunning views of the city and the fireworks display, there is no better place to be on New Year’s Eve than Glebe Island. See 2011 out with a bang with some of the world’s biggest classic and contemporary artists, playing all the songs you know and love.

Sydney’s Glebe Island will turn into a ‘mini city’ for this very special event, with a custom-built venue providing the very best in entertainment and bars, an incredible on-site ‘village’ showcasing Sydney’s best local and international food, and a unique array of retail and market stalls.

Sydney Resolution New Year’s Eve Concert is the hottest ticket in town for New Year’s Eve!
Please be advised that Sydney Resolution New Year’s Eve Concert is a licensed event – all patrons must be over 18 years of age.

Glebe Island is situated under the Anzac Bridge on the beautiful Sydney Harbour. All patrons will arrive and depart by ferry or bus service from terminals and wharfs provided by Sydney Resolution New Year’s Eve Concert.

Please note there is no parking at the event. Gates open at 2pm, entertainment commences at 4:00pm and all performances will conclude by 1:45am. Gates close at 3.00am.

The Line Up...

JAMIROQUAI With more than 25 million album sales worldwide it’s fair to say that JAMIROQUAI are one of the UK’s most successful acts of any era. Fronted by the charismatic Jay Kay, JAMIROQUAI are coming down under for an electrifying live funk spectacular. JAMIROQUAI led the acid-jazz movement in the early ‘90s, later shifting to a unique mix of funk, soul and disco. Hits such as Cosmic Girl, You Give Me Something, When You Gonna Learn, Virtual Insanity, Little L and Love Foolosophy all formed the sound of a generation. With a seventh hit album, Rock Dust Light
Star, JAMIROQUAI show no sign of stopping, as they dust off their moves for an exclusive show at Sydney Resolution New Year’s Eve Concert.

CULTURE CLUB were at the forefront of the New Romantic movement, and one of the defining music acts of the 1980s. CULTURE CLUB – Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss – had an incredible seven Top 10 hits in Australia including Do You Really Want To Hurt Me, Karma Chameleon, Church Of The Poison Mind and The War Song. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see CULTURE CLUB in all their original glory. The songs are timeless, the voice is unique and the band is still one-of-a-kind.

PET SHOP BOYS - Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe - are electronic dance-pop pioneers and one of the world’s bestselling artists. PET SHOP BOYS have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and had 17 Top 40 hits in Australia, and continue to set the charts and dance floor on fire with dance and pop classics like West End Girls, It’s A Sin, Go West, What Have I Done To Deserve This and Always On My Mind. Fans at Sydney Resolution New Year’s Eve Concert can expect a one-of-a-kind show from the PET SHOP BOYS, who are reproducing their theatrical stage performance – including the major video and dance component – that was created in 2009 at London’s O2.

GUY SEBASTIAN is undoubtedly one of Australia’s greatest singer-songwriters. His first solo single, Angels Brought Me Here, debuted at number one and was the fastest-selling Australian single in ARIA chart history. Add to this his string of awards and the fact he is the only Australian male artist in Australian music history to achieve five chart-topping singles
– including Angels Brought Me Here, All I Need Is You, Out With My Baby, Like It Like That and Who’s That Girl? – and you can see why GUY SEBASTIAN is not to be missed this New Year’s Eve.

PSEUDO ECHO pioneered the new ‘80s electro-pop sound in Australia and quickly established themselves as one of the country’s most successful and influential bands with Top 10 hits such as Listening, A Beat For You, Don’t Go, Living In A Dream and their iconic cover of Lipps Inc’s Funky Town. Since forming in 1982, the band have had album sales in excess of one million worldwide, a Top 10 single on the Billboard US pop charts and a number one single on the
Billboard US dance charts. In 2011 PSEUDO ECHO’S relentless party groove continues to resonate with musicians and fans alike, so get ready to keep groovin’ with some energy this New Year’s Eve!

LYNDSEY OLLARD is an English-born recording artist who splits her time between the Australian Northern Beaches and her UK home. Her debut album, One Night Stand, is eclectic and witty with a combination of catchy beats, haunting melodies and at times hilariously dry lyrics – from the tongue in cheek pub anthem Wasted, through to the heartbreaking tribute Too Young To Die.

Websites

Sydney Resolution Concert Series

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Main Event TV - NYE

Flourish PR

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Alan Jones Joins Cast Of Annie The Musical At Lyric Theatre; The Star

2011-12-30T13:57:00.001+11:00

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Australian broadcasting legend Alan Jones will demonstrate his singing skills when he makes his musical theatre debut in a new Australian production of Annie - The Musical.

Jones will star alongside Anthony Warlow, Todd McKenney and Nancye Hayes in producer John Frost's latest show.

The musical marks a return to the role of Daddy Warbucks for Warlow, who played the character in a 2000 production of Annie, about an orphan girl taken in by the multi-millionaire in Depression-era New York.

"It was a wonderful experience then. People say never work with children and animals, but in this case the children were wonderful," Warlow said.

Jones, who will perform a musical number in his role as president Roosevelt, was handpicked by Frost, who advised he had Jones in mind from the early casting days.

"I wanted to pull a rabbit out of the hat in a way," Frost said.

In a video message played at the show's launch on Monday, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said he couldn't believe Frost had taken Jones on, "because he never ever takes direction".

Jones talked down his part in the production, requesting news media to direct questions to "the stars" of the show.

He said he just hoped he could do the role justice.

"I have a lot of good people to help me. I hope I'm going to do alright and not let the team down," he said.

Frost, who is the man behind the smash hit Australian productions of Wicked, Chicago and Phantom of the Opera, is confident Jones will not need any acting or singing lessons, despite having no previous theatrical experience.

Frost knows Jones is a safe bet.

"He's full of confidence and he holds a tune well," he said.

"If anything I'd love to put another song in for him, but I can't."

He said the show will be a true performance of the original stage production.

"The timing now is right to bring it back. With a fresh cast, I think it's got a good chance of being a great success," Frost said.

The battle for the Australian entertainment dollar continues, and certainly Sydney's The Star is going full speed ahead and betting that world class entertainment will remain paramount in the quest to bring more punters to land based casinos and entertainment complexes.

Media blurb we secured...

The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including It's the Hard-Knock Life, Easy Street, N.Y.C. and the ever-optimistic Tomorrow, Annie is one of the most awarded and loved musicals of all time. Reprising one of his all-time favourite roles as the charismatic and sophisticated New York ‘zillionaire' Daddy Warbucks, is Anthony Warlow. He will be joined by the ever-popular Nancye Hayes playing everyone's favourite villain, Miss Hannigan. Todd McKenney, Chloë Dallimore and Julie Goodwin also bring their talents to this delightful musical. And in a special treat, radio star Alan Jones will join the cast in the role of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A MESSAGE FROM PRODUCER JOHN FROST

It gives me great pleasure to bring ANNIE back to Australian audiences. When I produced this show 12 years ago I was overwhelmed by the response it received. ANNIE is such a well known, well loved production that appeals to so many different age groups. Its popularity means that it is staged once a year in many countries around the world, and I have no doubt that the Australian audiences are well and truly ready to see it again.

This time around, I am especially delighted to be able to work once more with Australia's favourite leading man, Anthony Warlow and theatrical legend Nancye Hayes.

To be taking this wonderful show and the star studded cast on tour in 2012 presents a unique and exciting opportunity to reach a new generation of Australians and it gives me enormous pleasure to think that people Australia wide will again be able to experience this special production.

Websites

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Movie News: Australian Box Office Figures In 2011

2011-12-29T20:29:00.001+11:00

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Top 10 highest grossing films of 2011 in Australia

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - $52.5 million
2. Transformers: Dark of the Moon - $37.3 million
3. The Hangover Part II - $32.6 million
4. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 - $28.5 million
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - $27.2 million
6. Bridesmaids - $27.1 million
7. Fast & Furious 5 - $25.2 million
8. Tangled - $22.2 million
9. Red Dog - $21.4 million
10. Cars 2 - $20.1 million

Runner Ups

The Smurfs ($19.8 million)
Kung Fu Panda 2 ($19.4 million
Thor ($18.9 million)

References: Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, Village Roadshow, Legendary Pictures, Walt Disney, Universal Pictures, Roadshow Film Distributors, Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Google News, IMDB, Box Office Mojo, News Limited, Fairfax Media

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