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WWE
Live RAW Tour: Event Results From Sydney, Australia
- 31st August 2012, by Greg Tingle
C.M
Punk VS Daniel Bryan - Allphones Arena, Sydney,
Australia
Pro
wrestling WWE style - Sports Entertainment returns
to Sydney, Australia...
WrestleMania (Australian style) returned to Sydney
on Friday night and the show did not disappoint.
Pro
wrestling fans young and old got their fix of WWE
grapplers.
The
WWE marketing and media machine can be attributed
to what looked to be a 90 percent full Allphones Arena
- making it a crowd of approximately 15,000. It's
unclear how much of the crowd was papered (unpaid),
but the smart money says it was fans who parted with
their hard earned money.
A
mixed crowd of both hardcore fans, casual fans and
families, who were pretty vocal and hyped up for the
show.
The
show commenced with Brodus Clay VS Jack Swagger. Naomi
was with Brodus, no Cameron. Swagger got some good
heat, but Brodus got his hand raised quick. Entertaining
and fun, but not a classic wrestling match - nor was
it supposed to be. Kids just love Clay.
Next
was the divas (ladies) match. WWE Divas Champion Layla
defeated Rosa Mendes. We appreciated the effort of
the ladies but its safe to say the WWE should raise
the bar in the Diva's division. Maybe bring in a few
Japanese lady pro wrestlers as well as snatch some
of TNA Wrestling's best also. WWE have so much TV
time to fill up, so ramp up the Diva's for the female
and male fans in the WWE Universe.
WWE
Tag Team Champions R-Truth and Kingston beat Primo
and Epico in a solid match. R-Truth was on fire, both
with in-ring skills and the mic, and 'Little Jimmy'
was over big time with young and old.
The
Miz defeated Alex Riley to retain the Intercontinental
Championship. The Miz got strong heat. Nice mic work
telling everyone he wasn't "awful", but
"awesome". AR was surprisingly over. Maybe
because he's a pretty strong worker and Australian
fans are not overexposed to the WWE product (with
live shows), like rather spoilt American fans. Lot's
of Wooooo's! (for the chops), respecting Ric Flair,
who most fans want to see return to his rightful home
- WWE.
Zack
Ryder defeated Tensai. Zack Ryder got a huge pop and
Tensai got pretty decent heat and reactions. At least
Tensai looks like a pro wrestling "monster"
- he has the look and size, and moves well for a big
man. Younger fans seem to be scared of Tensai and
went nuts when Ryder got the win.
Santino
defeated David Otunga. Decent heat for Otunga. Santino
is over in Australia, but not as much as he is in
the U.S. Keep WWE belts off both these guys... they
don't need them. They worked the crowd fairly well
and Santino is funny, but this was not a classic wrestling
match - and it was never expected to be. Passable
- just.
CM
Punk defeated Daniel Bryan to retain the WWE Championship
in an awesome match which went for almost 30 minutes.
Stalling by both at first, but the crowd was pretty
into it. Established characters can stall for ages
with little fan backlash - the way the late Randy
"Macho Man" Randy Savage and living legends
Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair used to do. CM Punk worked
as a face and was over big time. "Yes" chant
all throughout the match as well. Tons of fan signs
for both and lots of fans bought their t-shirts.
John
Cena defeated The Big Show and John Laurinaitis in
the main event. Decent match for these guys. After
the match Laurinaitis attacked Cena with a chair,
but Cena turned around and hit him with an attitude
adjustment to finish the show.
Overall
strong show - especially for an Australian WWE show,
which were mixed in the past. We're giving it 8 out
of 10 and it was value for money.
Strongest
pops:
John
Cena
CM Punk
Zack Ryder
Most
heat:
The
Miz
The Big Show
Jack Swagger
Match
Of The Show:
C.M
Punk VS Daniel Brian
Room
for improvement: More strong WWE Divas, bring back
Ric Flair urgently (1000s of fans did the Woooooo!),
bring Ziggler and Randy Orton to the next Australian
show, have 2 top line NXT talents on the next down
under show. It would be nice to see Ric Flair and
Hulk Hogan back with the WWE. Strong rumours Flair
will be back within a month or two, so hopefully he
makes the next Australian tour. Wooooo!
News
Melbourne
Storm NRL team ink sponsorship deal with Packer's
Crown Casino; Sydney news, by Greg Tingle - 31st August
2012
Melbourne
Storm Crown
Casino Crown
Limited
The
Melbourne Storm is raking it in, with an extra $1.5
million in with Crown Limited inking as major sponsor
for a third year running, while rugby league in Victoria
could also benefit significantly.
Thursday's
renewal of Crown's only team sponsorship is believed
to be valued at $1 million, give or take a few dollars.
The
funds boost joins the $500,000 Australian Rugby League
Commission chairman John Grant confirmed on Monday
would be delivered to all clubs before October 31.
With
a back-of-jersey sponsorship still to be sold before
the finals, Storm might well collect another payday.
Club
chief exec Ron Gauci advised the funds would be used
to help expand the code in Victoria, a cause boosted
last month with the debut of born-and-bred local Mahe
Fonua.
Storm
officials aim to fund youth teams down to under-16s
and spend up to keep Melbourne "ahead of the
pack" with cutting-edge, football-specific technology.
"We'll
continue to invest in the organisation. We'll invest
both across the football department and administration,"
Gauci said.
"We
want to continue being best practice and continue
being ahead of the game. We'll invest in football
operations and pathway development.
"We
want to extend the Storm brand beyond the under-18s
and we've put in a proposal to the Australian Rugby
League Commission to facilitate the growth of the
game in Victoria and now have the funds to help make
that happen.
"For
us, any investment needs to have a long-term benefit."
The
push from the Government-backed Victorian Major Events
Company to secure more State of Origin clashes in
Melbourne could reap even more cash for local rugby
league.
Plans
are in place to establish a youth academy, with only
the arrival of sufficient funding needed to make it
happen.
Great
to see Crown's casino king James Packer sharing the
love and funds around to worthy causes.
It's
understood that Sydney's South Sydney Rabbitohs management
including king bunny, Russell Crowe, are taking an
interest in the way The Storm and Crown do things,
as you might expect with Rabbitohs also having a sponsorship
deal with gaming - entertainment firm - The Star.
Sydney NRL team also has casino deal...
The
South Sydney Rabbitohs are continuing to enjoy their
sponsorship deal with The Star (formally known as
Star City Casino).
NRL
top brass has said rugby league has benefitted from
its association with betting agencies because it allows
better access to information about irregular plunges.
As
the Australian and globally economy continue to go
through tough times its going to be interesting to
see if more NRL teams ink deals with Australian casino
or gaming firms. I for would would bet yes.
And
what's to become of the Barangaroo 6 star hotel and
casino development in Sydney? Could they also become
a sponsor of an NRL team? With James Packer in the
think of the action one would think so. Keep watching
this space.
Media Release...
Exclusive
Deal For 6 Star Hotel...
Last
week's announcement by Lend Lease and Crown, that
they had signed an exclusive agreement to develop
a six star hotel at Barangaroo South, has attracted
wide ranging media coverage and commentary. Below
is a summary of the media releases and media coverage
to date.
Following
the announcement, the Authority confirmed it will
continue to work with Lend Lease, and now their exclusive
rights partner Crown, to negotiate a new location
for the hotel in Barangaroo South and oversee the
appropriate planning applications that must be approved
before any concept moves ahead.
Acting
Premier Andrew Stoner last week said the development
of such a hotel would represent a significant investment
in NSW tourism infrastructure, and today’s agreement
is a vote of confidence in the NSW economy.
“It
is, of course, subject to all the necessary planning
and regulatory approvals but Lend Lease already has
an existing permit to build a hotel in Barangaroo
South and are negotiating with the Barangaroo Delivery
Authority to relocate that onshore,” he said.
“The
creation of a hotel of this stature would deliver
new jobs in construction, off-site manufacturing and
the tourism industry, along with hundreds of millions
of dollars for the State economy each year.”
Lend
Lease Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director,
Steve McCann, said that Lend Lease and Crown would
now work towards achieving the necessary development
approvals from the NSW Government for the hotel and
jointly develop the concept plan for the hotel. Lend
Lease is currently in negotiations with the NSW Government
to finalise the hotel location.
“Barangaroo
South is a major urban regeneration project that provides
a unique opportunity to create a world class commercial,
residential, entertainment and mixed use destination
on Sydney Harbour. A key part of Lend Lease’s
vision for Barangaroo South is to have a high quality
international hotel,” said Mr McCann.
*the
writer is a shareholder in Crown Limited, Virgin Blue
and Ten Network Holdings.
News
Nine,
Fox top 'must-win' NRL rights fight - 21st August
2012
The
Nine Network has secured its future by nailing down
the NRL broadcast rights in a joint $1 billion deal
announced with Fox Sports.
The
Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) announced
on Tuesday that Nine and Fox Sports had secured the
NRL free-to-air and pay TV broadcast rights respectively,
in a five-year deal worth $1.025 billion.
Nine
chief executive David Gyngell says the deal, in which
incumbents Nine and Fox Sports trumped bids from the
Seven and Ten networks, had been a must-win for Nine
but that the price is "fair and reasonable".
"We
have certainly stepped up and paid as much money as
we could," Mr Gyngell said.
Mr
Gyngell also said the deal - the most valuable in
the history of rugby league broadcast rights - would
be revenue positive.
"This
is an exclusive sports rights' deal," he said.
"In
this deal, we are the only free-to-air network to
have exclusive sport at prime-time."
The
agreement comprises $925 million in cash, of which
$90 million is paid at the start of the 2013 season,
and $100 million in advertising.
Nine
will show three free-to-air matches weekly, while
Fox Sports will have five a week on pay channels.
Nine
will also have State of Origin games and an evening
Grand Final.
NRL
rights were last secured by Nine and Fox Sports in
2005 in a $500 million, six-year deal.
Nine
Entertainment, owned by private equity firm CVC, has
about $3.6 billion of debt due for refinancing in
2013 and 2014.
Media
buyer Harold Mitchell, executive chairman of Aegis
Media, said Nine had not overpaid and would meet its
share of the $1.025 billion price tag through advertising
revenue.
"Advertising
volume hasn't been growing but it hasn't been collapsing,"
Mr Mitchell said.
"Key
to any network's success will be sports programming
and (Nine) are a stronger network with it than without
it.
"This
secures their future."
Mr
Mitchell said the $1 billion deal was a positive sign
for Australia's advertising market, which was in "unbelievably
good shape compared to the rest of the world".
Morningstar
head of equities research Peter Warnes said Nine had
paid a fair price but also had to secure the rugby
league as a key driver of audience numbers.
"Where
would Nine be if they lost it? They had to win it,"
Mr Warnes said.
"I
think they've probably paid a fair price.
"Had
it been $1.2 billion, it would have been over the
top."
Ten
Network had been rumoured to have secured a package
of NRL games ahead of Tuesday's announcement but is
now without either rugby league or AFL, the rights
to which are held by Seven.
Mr
Mitchell said the NRL deal "places Ten in a difficult
position". (AAP)
Captain
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News
Aussie
Gambling Firms Push Via Sports Broadcasts, by Greg
Tingle - 2nd April 2011
G'day
punters, casino and gambling millionaires and billionaires,
sports nuts, politicians, legal eagles, one and all.
Australia remains red hot territory for gambling news.
We've got Aussie sports media commentators plugging
gambling, the pro club gambling campaign driving forward,
NRL sports betting probe developments with a link
to Tasmanian "devils" and Aussie pokies
manufacture Aristocrat making a comeback, with the
pokies boss hitting his own jackpot. All that and
more. Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com
and Gambling911
with your gambling, sports betting and pokies news
mix from the land of kangaroos and koalas, with a
rabid Tasmanian devil on the loose...
Gambling
Companies Push Via TV Broadcasts And News Media...
Gambling
giants have the big push on via promoting sports
betting with a volatile and quite effective array
of sweet deals with clubs,
sporting codes, television stations and a big spread
of traditional and new media
outlets.
Sports
commentators are at the front line with frequent betting
odds updates, and mid-match updates are a field day,
if you will. It's all part of the strategy in place
with bookies and big name gambling operators.
"If
you like to have a punt on rugby league, and why wouldn't
ya, the Broncos are $1.50 on TAB Sportsbet,"
former Queensland Origin great Paul Vautin told NRL
viewers in Friday's opening-round match against the
Cowboys.
"Please
bet responsibly - we have to say that. If you race
down to the TAB at half-time, or ring TAB Sportsbet,
they are the prices at the moment."
Next
up was Network
Nine broadcaster Wally Lewis just after the first
half of the game with "TAB Sportsbet right now,
Broncos first to score in the second half, $1.75."
Plenty
of other sports are in on the action too, with Network
Nine sports getting the nod on the most gambling and
sports betting plugs. Cricket has broadcasting Richie
Benaud discussing the odds, with a bit of help from
his fellow commentators, as part of a cool deal with
James
Packer's 50% owned Betfair.
Nine
head of sport Steve Crawley said the broadcaster's
promotion was no different from newspapers providing
odds on sports and horse races.
"We're
electronic media, so when we do that it's in-game.
I realise some people have awful problems with gambling,
but the reality is that it's getting bigger and bigger."
It's
hot fodder in the NRL, which is sponsored by TAB Sportsbet,
has deals with "approved betting providers"
and permits clubs to have their own gambling sponsors.
The
footy still has a scandal on the go from alleged illegal
betting surrounding last year's infamous Canterbury
Bulldogs VS North Queensland Cowboys game.
NRL
chief exec David Gallop said corruption was one of
the biggest concerns for sporting administrators.
"The
risks in terms of penalties have to be severe,"
said Gallop, who is pushing for a specific match-fixing
offence and has warned of offenders facing life bans.
The
AFL is also sponsored by TAB Sportsbet and betting
firms support individual clubs, including Centrebet's
deal with 2010 runner-up St Kilda for a reported $1
million a year.
TAB
Sportsbet has deals with Seven
and Fox
Sports.
Overseas
operators such at PartyGaming
and PKR
have also leaked that they are interested in getting
into big media deals in Australia,
with an already strong internet presence.
Cricket
Australia allows Betfair
on grounds, and the National Basketball League has
a deal with Centrebet
that includes court promotions.
UFC,
boxing,
horse
racing, tennis, soccer
and even surfing
enjoy strong sports betting action in Australia, with
a number of other sports like snooker
looking to plug into the gambling
deals in Australia.
Aussie
Media and Racing King John Singleton Drives Forward
Pro Pokies Ad Push...
John
"Singo" Singleton, who happens to love
a punt himself, in the man and the brains behind the
$20 million advertising campaign by the Aussie clubs
against the Julia Gillard government's slot machine
reforms.
The
Gillard government is hell bent so it seems to implement
the "problem gambling" reforms to retain
whatever support might remain from Tasmanian "devil"
(satire) "independent" Andrew Wilkie.
Singo's
ad firm Banjo has developed a media and public relations
campaign to focus on recreational gamblers' fears
of having any government 'Big Brother' spying on their
betting habits. Yep, we kid you not. Australia's are
being spied on, and pokie palaces may turn into one
of the ultimate evil "eyes in the sky",
that may end up making Google Earth and Google Maps
look like child's play.
The
Banjo deal for a cool $20 mil, running for 2 years,
started with online video and newspaper adverts. It
will then pick up even more stream via radio, television,
billboards and even pub coasters. Australian newspapers
have already been giving the news story strong mileage
and its taking on a life of its own, with most gamblers
hating what they hear of government 'Big Brother'.
The
clubs is dead against a mandatory scheme for players
to register before playing poker machines, using so
called smartcards (not so smart say European trials)
and self-selected gambling limits (which can be manipulated).
A
leak said "Clubs Australia said that gambling
revenue will drop considerably as recreational gamblers
get pissed with the government and clubs, and will
take more to online gambling "like a duck to
water". This is right on the money and cards.
The 'Big Brother' approach is a false solution - actually,
its no solution. It's a smokescreen and spin. The
public are not that stupid, they are actually quite
smart, and Labor has underestimated Australians intelligence
once again. No wonder Labor lost the NSW state election".
Singo
and a consortium of investors, including the investment
banker Mark Carnegie, the retail king Gerry Harvey
and ex Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon, have purchased
high-profile Sydney pubs including Kinselas, the Bellevue
Hotel and Peakhurst Inn. Singleton also jointly owns
the Hotel Steyne in Manly.
He
had a strong association with the Labor government
under Bob Hawke during the '80s and early '90s, but
last year developed ads attacking Labor on health
during the election campaign, and earlier joined the
mega push against the mining tax with a campaign for
a Perth client, tipped to be Andrew "Twiggy"
Forrest.
"The
government's belated decision to perform a cost benefit
analysis on mandatory pre-commitment is back to front,''
a spokesman for Clubs
NSW said.
''This
sort of analysis should have been done before the
government announced it was introducing the technology.
''If
that had been done then almost certainly the Prime
Minister would never have been conned by Andrew Wilkie
into making a commitment that will devastate the club
industry.''
The
Families Minister, Jenny Macklin, said ''The government's
position is clear and has not changed.''
Police
Seek Woman Punter Re NRL Cowboys - Bulldogs Betting
Scandal...
Police
have released CCTV images of yet another punter they
want to speak to about an alleged NRL betting scam.
The images were captured at a Browns Bay betting outlet
in Auckland, New
Zealand, between 4.50pm and 5.15pm on August 20
last year - the day before the game between the Bulldogs
and North Queensland Cowboys, police advised. The
woman was described as being aged in her 20s, with
a slim build, shoulder-length hair and of Caucasian
appearance. She was wearing a dark-coloured zippered
hooded jacket, blue jeans and carrying a red handbag
and was seen pushing a young boy in a pram, police
said. She returned to the betting facility about 5.35pm
on August 21. Police said in a statement that they
were not alleging she had done anything illegal, but
said investigators wanted to find out who she was
so they could speak to her. Player agent Sam Ayoub
and ex-player John Elias have been charged in direct
relation to the betting inquiry, while now ex-Bulldogs
prop Ryan Tandy has been charged with four counts
of giving false or misleading evidence to a NSW Crime
Commission hearing. Among the charges Tandy faces
is one of giving false evidence about having placed
a bet on a game between the Bulldogs and Gold Coast,
also last year. The charges against Ayoub and Elias
followed an unusual plunge on a betting option that
the first points of that game would come from a penalty
goal. Tandy was penalised two minutes into the game
for impeding Cowboys playmaker Grant Rovelli in front
of the posts. The Cowboys were awarded a penalty,
but took a tap kick instead of kicking for goal. Tandy,
29, pleaded not guilty to all charges during his appearance
in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on March 3.
Meanwhile, St George Illawarra can finally get down
to concentrating on their 2011 following Wayne Bennett's
decision to leave the club at the end of the season.
The coach's announcement has removed the largest cloud
hanging over the Dragons' premiership defence, with
the constant innuendo and rumour having played a part
in the side's sluggish start to the year. While the
issue won't be fully resolved until Bennett reveals
where he will coach next season, back-rower Ben Creagh
said news of the coach's impending departure would
at least focus the players' efforts on getting the
most out of the time he had left. While the appointment
of Bennett's right-hand man, Steve Price, and the
retention of much of the same squad for 2012 should
ensure a smooth transition to the new era, the Dragons'
best chance to win another premiership in the near
future would surely be while Bennett is the man.
Aristocrat
Boss Hits The Jackpot...
Jamie
Odell, chief exec of Aussie pokie manufacturer Aristocrat,
has hit the jackpot on an 'one armed bandit', if you
follow the lingo. Odell snatched 24% jump in total
pay to $2.5 million last year, despite Aristocrat
putting out another very average result. The chief
executive's base pay in the period increased 19% to
$1.25 million. Aristocrat's normalised profit after
tax dropped 53% in 2010. One of the resolutions at
the upcoming June AGM in Sydney to be voted on by
shareholders is a grant to Odell of 1.02 million performance
share rights as part of his long-term incentive package.
The rights, which would be granted over a 3-year period,
are performance based. If Aristocrat happens to outperform
the ASX 100 by more than 10% cent each year, Odell
will snatch 30% of the shares. He will get 70% of
the shares if he hits certain earnings targets. Will
he meet his targets and hit the Gold Mega Jackpot?
Stay tuned to find out. Aristocrat is also currently
working on a number of b2b deal with online casino
operators which are also tipped to return a healthy
jackpot to the company, as well as hours of fun for
online gamblers.
Greg
Tingle runs the Media
Man International website, he is a Special Contributor
for Gambling911.com
News
Australian
Celeb News: Media, Casino And Gaming Celebs, by Greg
Tingle - 29th January 2011
G'day
punters, celebrities, journos, high rollers - casino
whales, gambling millionaires and billionaires, poker
sharks, entertainment news junkies, media tycoons,
politicians, insiders, outsiders, legal eagles,...
one and all. You know who you are. Seems just about
everyone is a celebrity, or knows a celebrity these
days. God know the poker world is full of them. This
is our Aussie celebrity special, featuring Aussie
celebs from the world of media, gaming, poker and
more, and even a few ring-ins for good measure. Media
Man and Gambling911 with celebrities you love
to love, and even a couple you love to hate...
Shane
Warne...And Liz Hurley...
Warnie
and Liz look to be in love, with each other and with
Twitter. The spinner is hanging out for a game of
poker or "poke her" with Liz, almost begging
for Hurley
Burley to come down under for a face to face. The
couple have taken to Twitter like ducks to water.
Warne and Hurley's developing romance is good fodder
out for their almost half a million Twitter followers.
They are now publicly planning her trip Down Under.
The poker - fashion babe might be in Australia within
weeks. Hurley has been tweeting about her new parrot,
Ping Pong. "I'm getting jealous of ping pong!
Think it's time you left ping pong alone for a while
& come visit me in Australia," Warne tweeted.
"No need for jealousy SW, she's not getting any
cuddles or kisses!" Hurley replied. The model
brunette is teaching the parrot to talk and Saints
fan Warne has urged her to teach it the St Kilda club
song. "Don't forget advance Australia fair !!!!
In tune too please ping pong . . . Ps organized kangaroos
and koalas for your trip," he wrote. The affair
between the former spinner and the movie - poker babe
went public in December and the pair were busted on
a romantic weekend in LA earlier this month. Both
have bounce back, and judging by the Tweets, can't
wait to bounce, fly and play together. Is it an Aussie
expression... a bird in the hand is worth two in the
bush? Never mind. Tweet me at twitter.com/mediamanint
Russell
Crowe: Ex Kiwi (On Defending His South Sydney Rabbitoh's
Star City Casino Deal)...
"The
football club is a completely different organisation
from the leagues club. We don't have any control over
what the leagues club does; they run their own game."
Crowe
then went on to defend the move by pitching Star
City as primarily an entertainment precinct and
putting forward society benefits from gaming revenue,
of which there is some truth in. Entertainment is
the name of the game, and its broken into sub sectors.
"This is an entertainment venue in general; it's
not just about gaming. Let's get real about this situation;
we're living in a state where they're telling us that
the revenue from poker machines is paying for our
hospitals. What we're talking about here is about
a connection between two organisations that are all
about entertainment, that are all about the future
of Sydney." Souths chief executive Shane Richardson
seconded the views put forward forward by NRL chief
executive David "Gambling" (MM satire) Gallop
this week that the association between sport and gambling
"is as old as sport itself". "Let's
be honest no sport in the world could ignore it, we're
not holier than thou, the NFL, the English Premier
League, wherever it is, there's gambling. As David
Gallop said all along, it's going to be there, it's
a major part of what sport is whether we like it or
not and we've got to be part of it to have some sort
of control over it." Crowe did concede that his
own personal beliefs on gambling were at odds with
the deal and recognised that problem gamblers were
an issue of concern. "I don't like them (pokies).
I'm not a fan of them; I've made that clear in the
past. "But in life I am a gambler. The fact that
I took on South Sydney underlines that." Media
Man and Gambling911 congratulate both the Rabbitohs,
Crowe and Tabcorp's Star City for taking a bet on
this. Life is a gamble, just don't let it get the
better of you, and always have fun... on and off the
field. Work hard and play harder!
Julian
Assange...
He
is possibly Australia's most notorious public figure
in a strange sort of way. Hero or Villain? Guess it
depends on who you ask. If you ask Prime Minister
Julia
Gillard we think you know the answer! This weekends'
The Australian newspaper fueled rumours that the James
Bond franchise might like to have an Assange type
in an upcoming flick. The journo penned...Ian Fleming
could have turned the WikiLeaks boss into a villain
in a James Bond novel. Given the pervasiveness of
the Bond myth, it is no surprise that Assange, like
Osama bin Laden before him, should be likened to a
Bond villain. He has been labelled many things both
positive and negative, from champion of free speech
to cyber-terrorist. Perhaps the strangest, and for
many fans of popular culture most glamorous, epithet
applied to Julian Assange is that of Bond villain.
Moreover, it is an epithet that has found widespread
media acceptance. The connection has been made in
blogs and especially tabloid newspapers, and equally
it has surfaced in such diverse publications as Britain's
The Guardian, The Financial Times and the US's The
Washington Post. The most conspicuous parallel between
Assange and the fantasy world of Ian Fleming's James
Bond involves the Bond villain's lair. The WikiLeaks
HQ, known as the Pionen data centre, is a remodelled
Swedish nuclear bunker set in a granite mountain face.
Special thanks to Simon Caterson at News Limited.
We like your work mate.
Elle
Macpherson...
The
once former flame of Brit gambling tycoon Damian Aspinall
has got busy again as of late. Elle
Macpherson and Cate Blanchett were guests at the
major bling event for the Portofino range at a dinner
in Geneva yesterday. They were joined by Lost's Matthew
Fox - looking heavier and a bit ratty in a Brad Pitt-style
Catweazle beard - plus Kevin Spacey, Ronan Keating
and more. We're sure it was a fun event. And we're
sure all received a special gift.
Damian
Aspinall (James Packer Mate) To Sell Aspinall's Casino
In Britain Following Bad Luck!..
Damian
does business with Australia's James
Packer, but its possible that soon that may come
to an end. The Brit has had relationships with glamorous
women, including the TV presenter Donna Air, Elle
Macpherson and Naomi Campbell. He confirmed the
scale of the club’s debts but said it was not
unusual for a casino business. He said: “You
are talking about a business that has £250 million
a year drop (the money staked by its clients). So
it is a bit circular. You are looking at unlucky years.
That is the business we are in. “Anyone in the
business with high value VIP tables will have years
when you do well and years when they don’t do
well because it is volatile." Asked about the
house’s performance last year, he added: “That’s
completely normal. You are talking about a volatile
business.” He said over a 10-year period Aspinall’s
was winning 18 per cent of the money gambled at its
tables. But he added: “You have years when you
do nine per cent and years when you do 24 per cent.”
The most recent available accounts for the club are
for 2009 and Mr Aspinall said the club was now doing
better. He said that despite his plan to move away
from the elite clubs founded by his father such businesses
would not die out. “I think there is a future.
You have got to be grown up about those sorts of investments.
You lose £10 million one week, and win £8
million the next. It is part of the business. When
you lose these amounts it is a knock for the casino
concerned, but you have weeks like that. We also had
a week where we won £11 million in six days.
It is big numbers these days. The winners could be
three people over a number of days, it can be one
person in one night. There are plenty of players all
over the world who have won and lost that sort of
money in a night."
Mel
Gibson...
American
law enforcement sources say Summit Entertainment which
is distributing Aussie Mel's upcoming movie, "The
Beaver" - gave Mel the final cut of the movie
on DVD. Mel
screened it at his home, and at 10:45 AM put the DVD
in his mailbox so a courier could pick it up and return
it to Summit. The DVD was rumoured to go missing in
action, not Mel!
Hugh
Jackman...
Hugh
Jackman, Oprah
Winfrey, Halle Berry and Marisa Tomei Among Oscar
Presenters...Tony Award winner and previous Academy
Awards host Hugh Jackman will be part of this year's
Oscar ceremony, according to the Associated Press.
Jackman will be a presenter at the 83rd Academy Awards.
Other presenters currently include Sandra Bullock,
Jeff Bridges, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry and Marisa
Tomei. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements
of 2010 will be presented Feb. 27 at the Kodak Theatre
at Hollywood & Highland Center. The awards will
be televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning
at 8 PM ET. James Franco and Anne Hathaway will co-host
this year's ceremony. Jackman, who was seen on screen
in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine,"
earned a Tony Award for his work in the Broadway musical
The Boy From Oz. He is also known for his film roles
in the "X-Men"
trilogy, "Someone Like You," "Swordfish,"
"Kate and Leopold," "Van Helsing"
and the recent "The Fountain" and "Happy
Feet" (in voice). His stage credits also include
Trevor Nunn's staging of Oklahoma! at Britian's National
Theatre and award-winning work in productions of Sunset
Boulevard and Beauty and the Beast.
John
Travolta...(As John Gotti)...
Travolta
was at Amici restaurant in Brentwood a few nights
ago. He wasn't giving much away about taking the role.
But Marty Ingels, Executive Producer of the movie
was much more direct, stating Travolta will play the
lead role in the movie, "Gotti." Leaks tell
us James Franco has been approached to play John Gotti,
Jr. Bang! Hit us up for an update soon.
David
Gyngell...
Gyng
is tipped to be very shortly flying to the U.S to
test the waters re the upcoming float on the stock
market on his CVC. Nine
Entertainment's private equity owners will assess
the health of the local equity and advertising markets
this month. After which, they will decide the date
for a $5 billion listing of the television, magazine
and digital group. According to market sources, Nine's
owner, CVC Asia Pacific, is yet to decide on the listing
date although most observers expect the debt-laden
group to test the waters as soon as April if global
equity markets remain relatively strong. Management,
including newly installed chief executive David Gyngell,
will travel to the US next month to gauge the interest
of potential offshore investors.
Celebrity
Poker Pros: Tyron Krost And Stewart Scott: Celebrity
Stars Going Down In Ratings; Direct Response To Poor
Showing In Aussie Millions 2011...
These
couple of poker celebs were on fire at some point,
but lately a shower has been thrown on their parade.
Both are former Aussie Millions champs - Krost from
last year, Scott from 2009. Fellas, time to win some
big games again or you might not even be thought as
celebs any more. Start performing or might those sponsorship
deals with PartyGaming's
PartyPoker.com
dry up?
Van
Marcus...
Poker
pro Van Marcus, currently in Melbourne for Aussie
Millions, is the chap who has his red rare Ferrari
nicked from the Crown valet parking last year, in
a story that generated massive international headlines.
In the past days Marcus has been seeing driving around
Melbourne in what looks to be the same card, but this
time reportedly with a hot blonde or brunette in the
passenger seat. Hows the ride girls?
Australian
Chris Hemsworth Plays Father To Thor; Anthony Hopkins
Is Thor!...
The
Aussies and Brits are teaming up again in film, thanks
to our friends at Marvel Entertainment. The industry
is abuzz for Aussie Hemsworth and Brit Hopkins. Hopkins
has portrayed so many notable characters from history,
literature, and the arts, that it’s no surprise
we will see him in yet another role of stature. In
this year’s hotly anticipated Paramount
Pictures and Marvel
Entertainment epic adventure Thor, he will be
Odin, the major god of Norse mythology, and father
to Thor, (played by Australian Chris Hemsworth). The
film is based on the Stan
Lee comic book version, and directed by Kenneth
Branagh. Excelsior! Marvel Entertainment: Don't just
buy the comics and watch the movies, play the games
at PartyGaming. May the power of Thor be with you.
James
Packer And Co...
Marketing
and gaming advisers to James
Packer have leaked that they see merit in having
an Aussie Millions branded online slot game. They
saw the popularity of Cleopatra and Sinatra in an
online environment, and well as PartyGaming's World
Poker Tour slot in land based casinos. They have
not confirmed a Kerry Packer themed slot game, with
some concerns it may be a uncomfortable proposal for
one or two of the Packer family, however many punters
and insiders think that Kerry would have loved the
idea, and further would have loved the concept that
a slot game will his likeness via tribute slot would
actually make Crown
Limited money. PartyGaming,
WMS
and IGT
are keen to talk turkey with Crown Limited with their
online plans, which may also compliment what's in
store for the further development of Packer 50% owned
Betfair.
Who is tipped to the the contract?
We
think PartyGaming,
based on their strong US land based casino deals,
ink still drying over the last few days, but you will
just have to keep watching the space.
As
they say on TV, I'm a celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here!
*Media
Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet
portal development company. Gaming is just one of
a dozen sectors covered
*the
writer owns shares in Crown Limited and Ten Network
Holdings
News
Australia
Day Special, by Greg Tingle - 26th January 2011
G'day
and Happy Australia Day everyone. Ok, we know some
of you punters, journos, high rollers - casino whales,
entertainment news junkies, politicians, insiders,
outsiders and legal eagles are from across the globe
are not Australia, nor have ever been down under,
but you get the idea. Did you know that some indigenous
Australia's call Australia Day 'Invasion Day'! That's
because most history books show that Captain James
Cook and his crew invaded Australia on this day in
1988. They are known by a new names including the
First Fleet, while some aborigines will always think
of them and murderous mongrels, who stole their land
and pride. It's easy for many of us to get the point
of the blackfellas (affectionate). Media
Man and Gambling911
with a bush tucker bag full of Australian gambling,
casino, poker, media and sports news. Fair winds...
Queensland
Banana Bender State: Pub Pokies And Online Pokies
Becoming More Popular?...
One
armed bandits are maintaining their popularity in
'The Sunshine State'. It's understand that punters
might have only a 1 in a million chance of winning
really big, lotto - millionaire style, but they just
keep coming back for more. Yep, throw another dime
in the pokie baby. Queenslanders "invested"
close to $2 billion last year as the punters passion
for the slots maintained its fever pace. The total
pokies expenditure of $1.81 billion was slightly down
on the previous year, it was the third year consecutively
the number exceeded $1.8 billion. We're also learned
that the 2008 figure of $1.83 billion was an all-time
record. Now, this is important - those numbers Do
Not take into account the rabid take up and roll our
of online poker or sports betting. You know, betting
over the global medium - the internet. Overall, Queenslanders
spent $7 million less on pokies than last year and
$28 million less than in 2008, but it still works
out at in excess of $150 million every month down
the slots August was the year's biggest month for
slot gamblers, who put close to $170 million in the
throats of the one armed bandits. August was also
the biggest month for gamblers in 2008, with more
than $173 million lost. Pokies remain by far the most
popular games for punters in Australia, bringing in
most of the estimated $17 billion spent on all forms
of gambling down under each year. Some insiders think
that the reduction in official spending was more a
sign of the increased popularity of internet and sports-based
gambling. Concentrating on pokie figures, it appears
Queenslanders gambled more at the height of the global
financial crisis two years ago than they did throughout
2010.
Tassie
'Devil' Gambling Tycoon Devilish Quotes...
David
Walsh from Tasmania was such a big hit with the readership
we thought we would dig up a few more of the red hot
'The Devil's' quotes, that are too good not to share.
First a refresher...Art and gambling do mix, at least
that's the experience of Brits Damian Aspinall, Phil
'Tuffers' Tufnell, Australian artist Gina Sinozich,
Media Man
(bodypaint and burlesque "fetish") and Tasmanian
gambling whale - tycoon, David 'Wicked' (satire) Walsh.
You will pick up on Dave's affectionate nickname by
us later. We like you David, ok mate. Tasmania's most
famous or infamous gambling figure, millionaire, David
Walsh yesterday gave us a peak into his art exhibit...the
biggest (and weirdest) private art gallery in Tasmania,
if not the Asia Pacific. The $110 million Museum of
Old and New Art is nestled on the banks of Hobart's
Derwent River.
Quotes
By The Tasmanian Devil!...
"FUCK
the art, let's rock'n'roll."
"I
think formal curation is a form of mental masturbation."
"I'm
not really that interested in a bunch of big names.
Most of the works are by people most people haven't
heard of and still won't have heard of because there's
no wall labels."
"I
don't want to lose control (or) something that ends
up looking like a pale version of the National Gallery
of Victoria".
"Subversive
adult Disneyland".
"Please
see reception if you are planning a pool party or
a ritualistic orgy."
"It's
the opportunity to mess with your head. I like the
idea of people having a couple of beers and looking
at the art, having a couple more and changing their
mind."
"Just
a privileged guy with a megaphone"
"It’s
like a rich man’s soap box. I’m standing
on my soapbox and I’m shouting my views like
they mean something."
"I’ll
take all the popular stuff out. And if you go to the
toilet two or three times we’ll recommend a good
urologist."
“My
brother once said about me that I’d rather be
outside a barrel pissing in than inside the barrel
pissing out. I’m anti this idea that we know
what we’re doing with certainty. I kinda think
that most things that are good happen to people largely
by accident, but then they start looking for explanations.
You see the views of rich, successful people on television,
and they tell you why they got rich and successful;
they don’t interview all the people who went
through the same process and didn’t. I think
most things are complete crap. I want to show that
you can be fortunate without believing that your fortune
was anything other than fortune."
"There
are so many things we do that we hide from. We hack
open cows and eat their guts but we compartmentalise
that away from our lives so we can pretend it’s
not happening. And on a larger, more important scale,
if each of us acted individually to say ‘OK,
we f…ed up the atmosphere, it is our personal
responsibility’, humanity would behave in a very
different way."
"One
of the things about having money is that … I
feel a bit of guilt and a level of privilege, and
it seems to be an obligation to do something, and
since art is what I’ve been doing....but it wasn’t
really like that. It was: I bought this small gallery,
bought a bigger one, and gradually it became something
of this scale. It’s become a lot more serious
endeavour than I intended it to be. There’s a
bit of thumbing my nose at the establishment and trying
to bypass academia, but mainly I just wanted it to
be a bit of fun. And it is. And it will be."
"The
gambling is all a computer thing that is going on
right now".
Website
Museum
of Old and New Art
Queensland:
Cairns Reef Hotel Casino Poised To Raise Big Bucks
For Flood Relief On Australia Day...
Punters,
let's all spare a thought for those who have been
attacked by the floods on Australia Day. Numerous
events are being planed around Australia, from 'Sound
Relief' to and initiative from the Cairns Reef Hotel
Casino 'Bring on the Sun' It will be one of the biggest
events on the Australia Day calendar for the city
and all funds raised will go to the Premier’s
Flood Relief Appeal. There's a good old fashioned
sausage sizzle, competitions and female performers
including the Marlins’ cheer squad. "The
whole idea is slanted towards the female performer,"
entertainment manager Bruce Stewart said. "We’ve
got an eclectic blend of female artists coming to
perform as well." Cazalys, El Mundo Tapas Bar
and the Marlin Coast Bowls Club will also host events
to raise money for flood victims. Cairns Regional
Council will hold events across the region, including
the ever-popular celebrations on the Esplanade. Mayor
Val Schier said the council was expecting a good attendance
as usual with residents keen to get outside and celebrate
our sunburnt country in the green and gold. "Even
last year when it poured, a huge number of people
came to the Aussie breakfast; we expect the same will
happen this year, rain, hail or shine. It is one of
those days where people can come together as a community
and help celebrate why it is great to be an Australian.
We live in a fantastic country and it is good for
people to get out and enjoy it." Pubs and clubs
will also get into the Aussie spirit with a number
of activities on offer. Paradise Palms Resort and
Country Club has a patriotic, fun-filled day planned
with activities that pay homage to Australia’s
heritage such as the much-anticipated pie-eating competition.
"Everybody is welcome to come along and have
some fun while tucking into our Aussie selection of
meat pies, icy beers, lamingtons and classic Australian
music by DJ Danny from Millennium Sounds," director
of sales and marketing Darlene Holdsworth said.
Events
Join
the celebrations
Paradise
Palms Resort and Country Club Australia Day celebrations
What’s on: Australian menu served from noon in
Restaurant 59, pie-eating and thong-throwing competitions
start at 1.30pm. Pies, icy beers, lamingtons and classic
Australian music on offer at the resort.
Time: 12pm. Entry free.
Bring on the Sun at Cairns Reef Hotel Casino
What’s on: Entertainment, sausage sizzle, raffles,
jumping castle and more with all proceeds going to
the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.
Time: 2pm. Entry free.
Shane Warne And Poker Mates Get VIP Star Treatment
At Australian Open Tennis Sunday Night...
The
spinner got there at 8pm hoping to get star VIP treatment
for 14 of his closest mates. In the mix was was Joe
Hachem, who he had earlier caught up with at the launch
of the Aussie Millions Poker Tournament at Crown Casino.
Warne requested an escort (no, not that type silly)
when he arrived and posed mostly for photographs with
his sunglasses on. He also spent time in Andy Roddick's
player's box during his loss to Swissman Stanislas
Wawrinka. It been a big couple of days for "poker
her" for the legend, playing rendezvous with
Liz Hurley in LA. He is expected to play in the second
round of the poker tournament and could face off against
Gary Ablett Jr and Jeff Fenech tomorrow. Blett made
it through to the second round.
Australian Financial Review Goes Gaga For Lady Gaga;
Gets Facts Wrong (We Think)...
It
took us a few months of going through newspapers but
we finally found the AFR to make a slip up, and its
a doozy....An article reads "the complex will
have a few upmarket bars, including one on the roof,
and an events theatre to house live acts – think
Lady Gaga – as well as awards nights." With
Gaga's level of popularity she would require a much
larger venue than Star City. Earlier this year, she
- they played two concerts at the Sydney Entertainment
Centre, capacity 12,000 or thereabouts. Do the math.
Australia's
Kylie Minogue To Do The Colosseum At Caesars Palace
Las Vegas: Aphrodite Live...
Mark
is down Kylie fans the word over. She's doing Ceasers
Sunday May 22, 2011 8pm
Melbourne: Aussie Joker Comedian Performs At Packer's
Crown; Raises Cash For Flood Relief...
Melbourne
folks at Crown Casino recently enjoyed 'The Jokers
Comedy That Rocks' at Crown Casino. James Packer's
casino donated all proceeds from last Friday night’s
show to Queensland flood victims. Organiser William
Leitch has happy with the way things went and showcased
an evening with some of the city’s top stand-up
artists, including Brad Oakes, Christine Basil and
Greg Fleet. It's understood he got close to 150 people
to come along, and he may be invited back on upcoming
Friday nights.
Top 100 ASX Listed Companies Respond To Flood Cry
For Help; Gambling And Gaming Industry Steps Up; Mining
Firms and Banking Bastards Lead Charge...
1.
BHP Billiton: $1.3 million (in addition, matching
employee donations)
2.
CBA: $1.35 million
3.
Westpac: $1 million
4.
ANZ: $1 million
5.
NAB: $1 million
6.
News Corp: $500,000 and Blue Ribbon campaign
7.
Rio Tinto: $1 million ($700,000 to Premier Relief,
$300,000 to Emerald community)
8.
Wesfarmers: $7.5 million (plus $3.5 million from Coles
customers)
9.
Telstra Corp: up to $1 million by matching staff contributions
(so far $338,000; is also supplying phones and free
calls to people affected)
10.
Woolside Petroleum: $122,395 (corporate + employees)
11.
Woolworths: $6.9 million (matching customer donations
in Woolies, Big W, Dick Smith dollar for dollar)
14.
Fortescue Metals: Matching staff donations dollar
for dollar
15.
CSL: $250,000
16.
QBE Insurance: not releasing a statement
17.
Origin energy: $1 million
18.
Macquarie Group: $200,000 (combined staff and company
effort with fundraising activities continuing both
here and overseas)
19.
AXA Asia Pacific: No response
20.
Santos: $500,000 plus use of helicopters and vehicles
for clean up. Also $50,000 for flooding in WA
21.
Coal and Allied Industries: (see Rio Tinto)
22.
AMP: $250,000 + matching employee contributions to
WA flood appeal up to $250,000
23.
Suncorp Group: $100,000 (staff and customers have
donated $1.5million)
24.
Foster's Group: $500,000
25.
Brambles: No response
26.
Leighton Holdings: No response
27.
Orica: No response
28.
Oil Search: No response
29.
Stockland: Donated $250,000 to the Premier's flood
relief appeal, another $30,000 to the Mayoress Rockhampton
regional flood appeal and are matching employee donations
dollar for dollar
30.
Coca. Cola Amatil: No response
31.
Amcor: No response
32.
Westfield Retail Trust: No response
33.
IAG: No response
39.
Crown: Donation tins in Crown complexes and have committed
to matching all donations as well as staff contributions
52.
Tabcorp Holdings: $1 million
78.
Tatts Group: Going to run a dedicated lottery for
the Queensland flood appeal where all profits will
go to the Premier's Flood Appeal. They ran the same
thing in Victoria after the Black Saturday bushfires.
It will run on Wednesday 2 Feb in Queensland and is
expected to raise $200,000. In addition, another donation
will be made from the unclaimed prizes fund of an
as. yet undecided amount
79.
Fairfax Media: Matching staff donations
100.
Seek: Reported it had made a donation to the Premier's
Flood Appeal but chose not to disclose how much
Brisbane:
Flood Relief Money Gets Spend On Pokies, Vice - Piss
Up At Pubs...
It's
been reported in a number of Queensland newspapers
that the $1000 flood relief grants that went to many
good folks in Granville are being used to feed slots
and buy piss (beer) rather than food and necessities.
Two Maryborough publicans say that in some instances
the answer to that is yes, and they are disgusted.
One of the publicans was so incensed by the misuse
of flood relief money she telephoned Fairfax Media
to complain. "A man came in bragging about how
he’d got the $1000 payout because he told Centrelink
he was stuck in Granville – but he was here the
whole time. It makes me sick that people are openly
admitting they’ve got the money for nothing,
while there are people who’ve died or lost everything."
She said Centrelink should have screened the applications
more carefully to make sure only people who were genuinely
in need received the cash. Another pub owner said
his one armed bandits had not stopped buzzing since
the grants became available. "We were quiet during
the actual floods but this week’s been totally
different. The pokies and the bottle shop have been
going non-stop." Yeah, Aussie continue to love
a punt, rain, hail, shine or flood!
Aussie
Millions Game 8 Results...
The
London based chap took down the $1,100 8 game mixed
event title at Crown Casino in Melbourne adding AUD$23,800
to his almost $1.2 million in career tournament earnings.
He entered the final table as the short stack, but
managed to grind his way to victory and nudge away
Australia's Bruno Portaro for the victory. The event
marked Ashby's 8th final table appearance at the Aussie
Millions that includes a side-event win back in 2005
and a seventh-place finish in the main event in 2009.
Ashby also won his first WSOP bracelet this summer
in the $1,500 7 Card Stud event and went well in the
$10k H.O.R.S.E. for his biggest career score of $378,027.
The 2011 Aussie Millions $1,100 8-Game Mixed event
drew 68-players and paid the final 7.
Here
are the results:
1 Richard Ashby AUD$23,800
2 Bruno Portaro AUD$16,320
3 Casey Kastle AUD$10,880
4 Daniel Ospina AUD$6,800
5 Oliver Gill AUD$4,760
6 Dane Coltman AUD$3,400
7 Paul Ravesi AUD$2,040
Aussie
Main Event Day 1b: PartyPoker And Full Tilt Poker
Players Feel The Pain...
PartyGaming's
PartyPoker
and Full Tilt Poker's powers that be likely won't
be celebrating. Ok, they got news coverage and exposure,
but its because their players are out. Yep, history
maties. Full Tilt went well on Day 1a but Day 1b was
rooted. Many of the big name pros went down for the
count as locals stepped up. 209 players entered the
Crown Poker room but after 7 levels of play, 80 remained.
David Oppenheim, Annette Obrestad, Carlos Mortensen,
David Benyamine, Andrew Feldman, Steve Yea, Andy Bloch
and Gus Hansen were some of the Full Tilt players
who died. Other casualties included Luke Santo, Raj
Ramakrishnan, George Moussa, Michael Pedley, Graeme
Putt, Martin Comer, Dennis Huntly, Jamie Pickering,
Bruno Portaro, Casey Kastle, Ben Savage and Tim Marsters.
2005 World Champion Joe Hachem (tweeting he struggled
with jetlag following a recent trip to the PokerStars
Caribbean Adventure.) Defending champ, 2010 Aussie
Millions Main Event winner Tyron Krost (PartyGaming's
PartyPoker
pro went down too). A new champ will be crowned in
2011 with plenty of Aussies still in contention. The
field kicked off with Jeff Rossier in the lead with
154,900, closely followed by Michael Ottobra (143,400)
and Martin Drewe, After winning the Opening Event
last week and going deep in another event, Drewe is
now set in the chip leaders in the Main Event after
getting to 136,100. Jay “SEABEAST” Kinkade
did nicely with 128,700, Haibo Chu (113,900), Manny
Stavropoulos (85,600), Sorel Mizzi (74,400), Michael
Egan (61,100), Kent Hunter (56,400), Jeff Lisandro
(55,000), Eric Assadourian (50,300), Scott Montgomery
(49,200), Chris Ferguson (45,400), Lee Nelson (30,200),
Neil Channing (28,800), Roland de Wolfe (26,100),
Aleks Brkovic (24,600), Jackie Glazier (21,900), Grant
Levy (18,300), Gary Benson (10,500) and Mel Judah
(7,200) amongst those who will return on Day 2. The
3rd and final flight of the 2011 Aussie Millions Main
will commence Tuesday with another strong field and
a few big names expected. Even Van Marcus will front
up. Van, is your Red Ferrari safe this time mate?
We're looking for more good fodder to write about.
How about do a publicity stunt and make world wide
headlines ago. Maybe someone at Crown Casino - Crown
Limited might be open to it. Stanger things have happened...
like Ferrari's getting stolen on site, casino fights
and a man getting stuck in the Crown Casino kitchen
grease vacuum.
Aussie
Millions Event #9 Day 1b: Rossiter In Front...
It
was down to business with players investing AUD$10,600
to buy in all with the goal of becoming the 2011 Aussie
Millions Champion. 7 seven levels of play, and the
209-player field went to 80. Jeff Rossiter is in front
with 154,900. Martin Drewe, 2011 Aussie Millions Event
#1 winner with 136,100 - now 3rd on the leaderboard.
Australian Jay Kinkade is on 128,700, and European
Poker Tour mainstay Jeff Sarwer sits 5th with 120,500.
Randy "nanonoko" Lew has 110,000 and Gavin
Griffin 101,700 in 9th ninth and 10th place. Sorel
Mizzi, Jeffrey Lisandro, Eric Assadourian, Team Full
Tilt's Chris Ferguson, Full Tilt Poker Red Pros Scott
Montgomery and Roland de Wolfe, Neil Channing, and
Lee Nelson have also all made it to Wednesday's Day
2, but it was touch and go for some of them, testing
the skill VS luck debate. Full Tilt Poker $25,000
Shootout Invitational winner David Oppenheim, Annette
Obrestad, Carlos Mortensen, Andy Bloch, David Benyamine,
Andrew Feldman, Gus Hansen, Joe Hachem, and David
Steicke all had to say goodnight nurse. PartyGaming's
- PartyPoker
Tyron Krost was eliminated in a hand VS Gavin Griffin
where his Ace-Queen couldn't best Griffin's Aces.
The 3rd and final Day 1 flight commences Tuesday in
Melbourne, Australia at 12:30 p.m. local time.
Getting
board of poker yet? If so, try your luck er skill
at Baccarat or Craps. If your more into luck, check
out the slots like Cleopatra, Sinatra, Rambo, Goanna
Gold and The Terminator. Rumour goes PartyGaming
also have, or will soon get, a World
Poker Tour themed online slot game. We recommend
punters open an account with PartyCasino,
PartyGaming
and World
Poker Tour, just to have all based covered. Party
appears to still be the most popular online casino
brand in Australia despite big efforts by the likes
of 888. Marvel
slot games are forecast to be some of the most
popular of this year with Captain
America and Thor
tipped to hit Australia cinema's this year, with Spider-Man
also getting a remake. Whatever your casino game of
choice, good luck, and let us know how you go guys
and girls. Spin to win.
Take
the time to research and learn games before placing
down money
Media
Man, Casino
News Media and Gambling911
are website portals. Not casinos as such, however
are recognised as world leading websites that cover
the sector and act as central points to games, news,
reviews and more.
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us
in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet
portal development company. Gaming is just one of
a dozen sectors covered
Websites
AustralianSportsEntertainment.com
www.cooldudesandhotbabes.com
Australian
Sports Entertainment
Sports
Entertainment News
Classic
Slots Online
Poker
News Media
MARVEL
SLOTS ONLINE
MARVEL
HEROES CASINO
Australian
Casino News
Marvel
Heroes Casino
Casino
News Media
Casino
Travel Media
Casino
Travel Tourism
Cleopatra
Slot News
Website
Statistics
Live
search at Alexa.com
News
Sports
News
Entertainment
News
News
Australia
To Get Sports Stadiums Branded By Gambling and Gaming
Companies, by Greg Tingle - 15th January 2011
G'day
punters, journos, high rollers, sports news, entertainment
news junkies, politicians, insiders, outsiders...
one and all. Today we probe the situation where a
number of Australian sports grounds could soon be
named after gaming and gambling companies. How do
like the sound of Betfair Stadium, Centrebet Park
and PartyGaming Cricket Ground? Don't laugh, this
type of scenario is on the cards, with local gaming
brands likely the first to pounce, followed by international
powerhouses. Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com
and Gambling911 with another ground breaking news
report from the land of world class casino, media
companies and sports arenas...
Australia
Will Get Gambling Arenas; Aussie Aussie Aussie; Oi
Oi Oi...
With
Australia being in the world's top 10 gambling nations,
it shouldn't shock or surprise that we're tipped to
soon have a number of sporting arenas and grounds
named after gambling and gaming companies, both national
and international brands. Yep, money will talk where
B.S sometimes walks.
James
Packer's Betfair is understood to build upon their
Betfair Park branding, Europe's PartyGaming is keen,
and currently Centrebet looks to be leading the charge,
with many insiders saying its a case of when, not
if, for the household name brand.
Centrebet
already has significant branding, thanks in part to
a swag of TV and online adverts, plus who can forget
the Centrebet branded part of Network Nine's 'The
Footy Show'.
The
gambling companies already have a number of key targets,
and many cash strapped and / or cash handy NRL team
and home grounds are near the top of the hit list.
For
instance NRL team, The Penrith Panthers, are seriously
considering having their home stadium named Centrebet
Stadium. We kid you not punters.
If
the deal goes through, they will make history becoming
the first major Australian sporting team to snatch
a betting firm as the naming-rights partner for a
playing venue.
Horse
Racing already has some naming rights deals with tracks
and in the mix such as Betfair Park and then you have
races named after gambling brands such as the Lasseters
Cup, Lasseters known for its hotel - casino up in
Australia's top end.
The
forecast Betfair deal comes as a police continue to
probe the NRL gambling scandal that from last season
following a number of "irregular" wagers
was picked up in the Canterbury Bulldogs VS North
Queensland Cowboys match up.
The
Panthers, Centrebet and a swag of gambling companies,
have rather pissed off the gambling and gaming haters,
who continues to get organised into lobby groups.
A
Media Man
spokesperson such "Many people in and out of
news media and gaming, the general public, are starting
to get really pissed off at the gaming, gambling and
sports betting haters. The bible bashers. Who do they
think they are trying to push their beliefs onto others.
Many Australians just love a punt, and that's the
way it is. Some of the gaming haters have strong ties
to church groups and there appears to be some sort
of brainwashing system going on. They keep discussing
the 'evils of gambling'. I mean, seriously, come on.
People know not to over-do it on on the slots, sports
events, poker and the like, but the haters keep trying
to be the thought police. Gambling companies in Australia
have a very high focus on responsible gambling with
warnings everywhere. It's great to see the gambling
and gaming industry place so much focus on safe better.
The sports stadiums will be great for business, ,
but no one is forcing anyone to have a bet. It's a
personal decision, as it always has been. 2011 is
going to be a very exciting year for punters, especially
those who like to have a bet of sports matches, and
television and online website portals and brands will
bring it all together nicely".
Back
to the first prime target #1...The modest 22,500-capacity
sports ground, owned by Penrith City Council, was
in a past life known as CUA Stadium. What's up is
that the club's contract with the Brisbane financial
services company has expired, and negotiations between
Panthers, the footy club and Centrebet have been taking
place, even prior to Christmas about renaming the
stadium. Other clubs and stadiums have also caught
the buzz and are opening chequebooks and crunching
the numbers.
The
first of its kind business agreement between the club
and Centrebet is just about a done deal, and ink is
expecting to try on contracts sooner rather than later,
possibly within a fortnight. An exciting, if not controversial
type of announcement is fully expected by the Panthers
in the coming week. Sports and gambling commentators
are quick to point out that Penrith already has ties
to Centrebet, the gambling brand being lit up across
the top of the video screen at the stadium. This kind
of exposure has also been very good for their mobile
- hand held device sector.
Anti-gambling
campaigner Senator Nick Xenophon is especially unhappy
with the development of the gambling branded sports
stadiums in Australia. He went on recent with:
"How
can a footy code currently embroiled in a betting
scandal possibly allow a stadium to be named after
a betting agency? There was a time when rugby league
was all about the game. Now it's all about the odds,
and that is ruining the game".
Over
the last couple of years the NRL (and AFL) has watered
down its laws and regulations relating to clubs' deals
and partnerships with gambling - sports betting firms,
allowing them to be branded on footy jerseys for a
virgin time. Cronulla Sharks have sponsor PokerStars
(.net) on their jersey sleeves while cashed up Manly
Sea Eagles are tipped to have Centrebet's signage
on the back of their jerseys this season after a widely
reported $1 million plus deal with the Northern Territory
based betting outfit announced just before Christmas.
Yep, it looks like a few clubs and stadiums will be
getting their Christmas presents and will have lots
to celebrate, while the gambling haters will be spewing
in Grinch like fashion.
The
National Rugby League of course also has corporate
ties with TAB Sportsbet, and is understood to snatch
a 5% "product fee" via the company's rugby
league betting profit.
NRL
spokesman John Brady advised he would not comment
on individual clubs' sponsorship agreements but maintained
there was no concern about the prospect of gambling
agencies assuming naming rights for the game's venues,
at least from his take on the situation.
"It's
an area that was relaxed last year. As such there
are a number of betting sponsorships that are available
to clubs in terms of jerseys and other opportunities,"
Brady said.
He
advised any and all betting firms involved with the
NRL via sponsorship of clubs were made to sign "integrity
agreements" to ensure transparency.
The
majority of NRL clubs now have corporate deals with
betting agencies. Centrebet sponsors five teams: Penrith,
Manly, Parramatta, St George Illawarra and North Queensland.
"Comon' Betfair and PartyGaming, pull you're
finger out", a Media Man sports journalist was
overheard shouting when he found out the news of Centrebet's
ongoing infiltration of the sport.
Penrith's
stadium pending name change has been intertwined we
understand by some to the financial problems that
have hit the football club's parent body, Panthers
Group.
The
licensed club is no longer quite the licence to print
money as it was in the 90s Some audited figures about
to do public by the conclusion of the month are expected
to show black and white confirmation of a Murdoch
- News Limited news story of last February that said
Panthers were due to report a rather embarrassing
net loss of $11 million bucks.
Panthers
are not afraid to speak on the record about their
on and off field performance, which has seen better
days.
Ric
Simpson, Panthers Group chief exec since last July,
said a culture change and "renewal of process"
across Panthers clubs had improved their situation.
Analysts question that was a PR line or absolute truth.
Mind you, we don't blame club for trying to focus
on positives. "We're probably looking at reducing
that loss by somewhere in the order of $8-$9 million,"
Simpson said.
A
Media Man
spokesperson said "At this stage of the gaming
the overseas trend of seeing sports groups and football
teams pick up sponsorship and strong branding for
gambling, gaming... sports betting companies looks
to be moving full speed ahead down under in Australia.
Centrebet might become the Bwin of Australia. PartyGaming
is said to be currently crunching numbers to see if
an Australian sports ground deal is viable. They already
have a Aussie Millions former champion sponsored by
their poker brand and a couple of Aussie poker players
signed up, so anything is possible. James Packer's
Betfair, a direct competitor of Centrebet is not likely
to take the situation lying down either. Betfair is
50% Packer owned and wants to keep building their
sports betting brand, as well as opening up many online
casino games in Australia, poker and more. Could an
Australian sports stadium ever be known as PartyGaming
stadium or WPT Stadium? Not overnight, but never say
never, stranger things have happened. It's all going
to add a lot of money into the game and business of
sport and entertainment, and already our firm is starting
to experience some positive spin off benefits. It's
all very exciting and profitable".
News
3D
For Australian Sports, TV Series, Web And Casinos,
by Greg Tingle - 20th May 2010
3D
technology is on fire, a bushfire on steroids in fact,
down under in Australia. Media
Man, Gambling911 and readers don the 3D glasses
and look and see what's cooking in Aussie sports,
movies, casinos, poker and more...
It's
all about entertainment, eyeballs, and the entertainment
dollar. 'Entertainment' is something that PartyGaming,
Virgin
Games (and Media Man and Gambling911) are big
on. What's the point in advanced technology if its
not fun and entertaining to the punter or consumer
at large? Content producers and platforms have largely
also realised that a product or service for gamblers,
gamers or combo, needs to be compelling, or they won't
come back and will find another game, website, live
event or whatever. Have you checked out the Gambling911
forum or Media Man YouTube lately?
With
that in mind check out the huge amount of entertainment
on now, and coming up for gamers, gamblers, sports
punters and even tech heads and geeks...
FIFA
World Cup in South Africa
SBS
has announced it will form a three-way partnership
with Sony and Harvey Norman to bring Australian soccer
nuts the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 3D.
The
partnership means up to 15 matches throughout the
World Cup tournament will be available on a dedicated
3D channel in addition to SBS’s coverage –
including Australia’s opening match against Germany.
FIFA
will provide a 3D broadcast feed of matches throughout
the tournament, which will then be broadcast live
by SBS and then repeated on a "loop" until
the next 3D match is made available.
"The
Australian Communications and Media Authority has
been working with us on a spectrum solution and we
will be using our digital transmission network for
the broadcast," said SBS’s chief operating
officer Richard Finlayson.
Australian Socceroos Catch 3D Fever
The
Socceroos 2010 World Cup team anthem will feature
what Sony music claims as the first 3D music video
in Australia. The video clip for the Rogue Traders
new single, Hearts Beat as One, will be shot in 3D
as the official Qantas Socceroos team anthem for the
2010 FIFA World Cup.
"The
potential of movies, sports and gaming in 3D is already
evident and as the hype around 3D continues to build,
Sony remains at the forefront of delivering unique
experiences from the lens to the lounge room,"
said Carl Rose, Managing Director, Sony Australia
and New Zealand.
3D
technology in Australia continues to generate unprecedented
hype in Australia with SBS to trial 3D TV broadcasts
for the duration of the 2010 World Cup, Channel 9
screening the State of Origin in 3D, and Foxtel strongly
hinted its intention to start broadcasting in 3D later
this year.
Major
television manufacturers including Sony have also
been pushing 3D technology hard after the widespread
theatrical success of Avatar in 3D.
Sony
expects the 3D music video to premiere in early June.
Google TV To Include Gaming And Lots More
Internet
king Google is out to expand its kingdom to the living
room with an new service that lets punters mesh television
viewing with surfing the web.
Google
TV, developed in partnership with technology big shots
Sony, Intel and Logitech and launched in the US overnight,
fuses the freedom of the internet with television
programming.
Google
executives vowed their TV platform would succeed where
offerings such as Apple TV have foundered and hopefully
capture some of the $US70 billion ($85 billion) American
TV advertising market.
Google
TV product manager Salahuddin Choudhary said in a
blog post that Google TV will allow TV viewers to
get "all the (TV) channels and shows you normally
watch and all of the websites you browse all day.
"You
can access all of your favorite websites and easily
move between television and the Web," Choudhary
said.
"This
opens up your TV from a few hundred channels to millions
of channels of entertainment across TV and the Web,"
he said.
"With
the entire Internet in your living room, your TV becomes
more than a TV - it can be a photo slideshow viewer,
a gaming console, a music player and much more,"
he added.
Google
is not the first technology company to attempt to
unite the TV set and the Internet and a number of
electronics manufacturers are already offering Web-enabled
televisions or digital set-top boxes.
Choudhary
said the Internet-enabled televisions, Blu-ray players
and companion boxes from Sony and Logitech, which
are powered by Intel Atom computer chips, would be
available soon in the U.S via Best Buy stores. No
dates for Australia yet.
A
wireless computer keyboard and box were used during
the on-stage demonstration here of Google TV, which
uses traditional search to find TV channels or websites.
Sony
chief executive Howard Stringer described it as "a
very big deal."
"I
can't stress that enough," Stringer said on stage.
"When you put all this, as we've done for the
fall, into the world's first Internet television,
the opportunities are, in a sense, just mind boggling."
Google
did not announce pricing for the TV sets or the set-top
boxes.
Other
Developments
PartyGaming
Not
to be outdone, PartyGaming's PartyCasino has released
the Circus Slot, more a 2D experience, but is understood
to be the world's first interactive role playing online
slot game. Party insiders say to expect "Avatar"
type technologies with the Sly Stallone name coming
up in Chinese whispers. Rocky or The Expendables?
Who knows, but its going to be even bigger and better
than Evolution Gaming 'Live Dealer' we hear. 'Rambo'
is already available at Party, which is a good sign
of substance to the buzz.
PartyCasino.com
Virgin
Richard
Branson's Virgin Games is expanding globally, with
virtual world platform, AWOMO (A World Of My Own)
to be a major focus. Think Tomb Raider: Underworld
... in 2D, maybe 3D at some stage. Whatever the case,
its going to be out of this world, fast and value
for money. How long till Aussies and Americans can
get the downloads remains to be seen, but Branson
is to hard launch the product at the E3 Expo in Los
Angeles next month.
VirginCasino.com
PKR
Poker, Casino And Now Sports Betting
Yep,
world famous 3D poker rooms, PKR, now not only offers
poker, but also casino games and sports betting. The
virtual reality live poker remains their main drawcard,
however they smartly realised that poker players generally
also like a bit of casino games and sports punting
on the side
PKR.com
SEGA
Understood
to have done a considerable deal with Playtech. Casino
and poker is on the menu Sega style. Media Man is
not impressed yet...with the technology, however,
that's not to say that we won't be in coming weeks
and months. Next...
FOXTEL - Microsoft Xbox LIVE deal (not gambling, but
speculation)
FOXTEL has signed a deal with Microsoft to deliver
30 channels of pay TV over the internet.
FOXTEL
and Microsoft today announced a new partnership offering
Australians a brand new way of receiving FOXTEL –
over the internet and direct to television sets through
Xbox 360’s online service Xbox LIVE.
FOXTEL by Xbox LIVE will allow Xbox 360 owners in
Australia to access FOXTEL channels including FOX
Sports, Discovery, Nickelodeon, Disney, MTV, and other
leading channels via their Xbox 360 entertainment
console.
FOXTEL by Xbox LIVE will also provide a wide range
of Video-on-Demand (VoD) services, including television
series and movies. When the ground-breaking service
launches later this year it will enable Australians,
for the first time, to access FOXTEL without the need
for a FOXTEL set-top-box.
FOXTEL by Xbox LIVE will be accessible in FOXTEL areas
across Australia to all homes with a broadband internet
connection. All you need is an Xbox 360, an Xbox Gold
subscription and a FOXTEL by Xbox LIVE subscription.
The agreement brings together two of Australia’s
most recognised and respected brands combining each
company’s profound entertainment and consumer
offerings.FOXTEL by Xbox LIVE provides Australians
a new way of enjoying FOXTEL, and cements Xbox 360
as one of this country’s leading innovative social
entertainment platforms. Xbox LIVE connects more than
23 million people across 26 countries to an ever-expanding
world of games, movies, TV, music, sport and social
entertainment.
FOXTEL Chief Executive and Managing Director, Kim
Williams AM said, “This is a very exciting new
frontier. FOXTEL by Xbox LIVE will provide our 1.6
million subscribing households, as well as new customers,
a transformative way of receiving and enjoying FOXTEL
over the internet. We will offer FOXTEL by Xbox LIVE
with various packages and prices and under flexible
agreements. It is an exciting new way of exploring
FOXTEL’s universe of content for a new generation
of customers.”
SecondLife
Rumors
persist that as different countries get their communications
laws up to speed that SecondLife.com may once again
offer pro active virtual casinos as part of their
offering. The parent of SecondLife
is Linden Research, and Linden Labs is understood
to be where the "cool kids" hang out. The
virtual currency is the Linden dollar L$.
Network Nine Underbelly And NRL State Of Origin In
3D
Nine
advise they will carry Rugby League's 'State of Origin'
clash in 3D on 26th May. It's forecast to cost the
network $10 million to broadcast, and Nine have flown
over technology experts from the United States to
make it happen.
Underbelly
continues to drive forward the crime genre, and not
just on TV. Wires are reporting that at least 3 Australian
crime shows are due to be released over the next 12
months, quite likely soon, such is the current appetite
of Australian audiences.
The
next series of Underbelly, featuring the Gold Coast
- up Surfers Paradise way, will be shot, pardon the
pun, in 3D. The rumour mill says some scenes and footage
is already "in the can" (also Aussie for
in jail)!
Free Gaming VS Paid Gaming - Trends Summary
The
US currently leads the world in online business revenues,
but general belief is that the EU and other territories
will continue to grow gaming revenue.
"These
free options are definitely broadening the appeal
of video games among older and female demographics,
and a lot of these consumers don't actually consider
themselves gamers at all," Michael Cai, vice
president of video game research at Interpret.
"Without
casual gaming portals like Pogo, Real Networks, and
Big Fish Games, many older female gamers would have
never paid for gaming content."
Interpret
discovered that 21 per cent of the US population,
or over 46.1 million Americans, play social network
games. Over 11 million Americans only play social
network games. The median age for social network gamers
is 38.8, versus 30.9, which is the median age of console
gamers.
Cai
found that 12 per cent of these social network gamers
plan on buying a Wii, which would be their first game
console.
More
console game makers are offering consumers free play,
including downloadable game demos through Microsoft's
Xbox Live Arcade and Sony's PlayStation Network Store.
"Handing
over free content to gamers can be tremendously beneficial
to developers and publishers, even if it comes in
the form of a short playable demo of a game that's
not spectacular," said Patrick Shaw, features
editor, GamePro Magazine.
Gaming
on Facebook is becoming more popular, and players
like to check out games on YouTube before signing
up for accounts at game portals and online casinos.
PartyGaming PartyCasino
'Play For Free' (before 'Play For Money') option continues
to be mega popular. Media Man has quizzed the powers
that be on this matter, and has some data to prove
this is the case. YouTube remains the king of internet
streaming for the masses, and owned by Google, it
can afford for it to be a loss leader if need be.
Censorship In Australia - Online, Offline and Everywhere
Richard
Branson's Virgin
and Google's 'Google Guys' remain in the long list
of new media entrepreneurs seeking clarity on Australia's
censorship laws, both current and upcoming. The current
guidelines are an absolute mess and out of line with
laws in other developed countries such as the United
States, Canada and United Kingdom.
The
Aussie government initiative to filter the internet
down under is currently due to be actioned in 1 to
3 months, depending upon what report and source you
choose to believe. Govt legal eagles and policy makers
are still deciding what to do as far as policy relating
to video game ratings that are sold off the shelf,
and technologies such as AWOMO (A World Of My Own)
are likely to also be effected from Australian censorship
laws (even if some quarters of the Australian government
doesn't want to call it "censorship", we
know better!
Media
Man International TV Not (YouTube)
Check
out games, poker, even the 'Sin City' expo on Media
Man YouTube! Go on, we know you want to
So,
gamers, gamblers, square eyes, couch potatoes, or
whatever is your poison.
There's
a universe of 2D, 3D and interactive entertainment
coming up.
We
know your already in information overload, so just
wait until you check out the above mentioned new big
boys toys. Know the odds, bet with your head, not
over it, and have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
Media
Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet
portal development company. Gaming is just one of
a dozen industry sectors they cover.
News
Australian
Sports Form Anti-Corruption Alliance, by Greg Tingle
- 22nd May 2010
The
reputation of Aussie sports, thus sports business,
and to a broader degree, entertainment industry, has
a take a bashing of late. Desperate to fix up ala
"fix the fix" et al, a broad range of Australian
sports are teaming up for the greater good. A sports
betting fix and salary cap rorting re Melbourne Storm
was the recent trigger, but most insiders agree there's
been issues with the integrity of Australia sports
for decades, and we're not just talking about Aussie
Olympic team and management stuff ups. Media
Man and Gambling911 go crash tackling, body slamming
and Hills Hoist clotheslining with this report...
Australian
sports have formed an alliance to share information
that could help guard against corruption arising from
the burgeoning sports gaming industry.
Sports
heads from Aussie Rules, rugby, soccer, tennis and
netball (no NRL or MMA) formed the Coalition of Major
Professional & Participation Sports (COMPPS) this
week.
The
group said in a media statement last Friday its formation
reflected "the importance of continuing public
confidence in the integrity of major sports' results".
"There
have been concerns about corrupt gaming's influence
in some sports in some parts of the world and the
newly constituted COMPPS group sees the importance
of guarding against corruption in Australian sports
gaming as one of our priorities," Executive Director
Malcolm Speed said.
"Australia
has an excellent sports gaming integrity reputation,
which we want to maintain and as a first step, we
will start sharing information within the COMPPS membership."
...well, that's what they said, but we detected a
bit of spin. It's not the word on the street or in
balanced news media reports. Mind you, the Storm,
snooker championship and Aussie - Indian cricket got
everyone very suspicious and tainted Australian sports
across the board.
This
new collaborating would share information about codes
of conduct, education and disciplinary processes in
a bid to strengthen sports integrity, the statement
said.
The
group's establishment comes off the back of the probe
by the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption
unit into Pakistan's under-performing tour of Australia
this year.
The
unit's outgoing chairman Paul Condon, who confirmed
the probe on Thursday, warned that match-fixing could
be ruinous to cricket if the sport was not vigilant
about rooting it out.
Significant,
ok, huge, match-fixing scandals have also broken in
snooker, and European and Chinese soccer in recent
months. These attracted international headlines.
Former
world snooker champion John Higgins was suspended
by the sport's governing body earlier this month after
a newspaper reported he had agreed to take a bribe
to lose frames, and published damaging photographs
of a handshake deal.
German
police dismantled a gang of more than 200 suspects
operating in nine European leagues in November, while
Chinese authorities have arrested in excess of 20
league and club officials for match-fixing offences
as part of a probe sparked last year.
Team
Media Man, Gambling911 and the loyal readership are
hoping things return to normal, and the way they should
be, for Australian and international sport in the
near future.
Good
hunting and happy punting, and may the best and fairest
team win.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet
portal development company. They also publish Australian
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