THE AMERICAS
Caesars Entertainment accidentally launched the real-money version of its WSOP.com site while blogger Chad Holloway earned the first bracelet of the 2013 World Series of Poker; the feds indicted virtual currency purveyors Liberty Reserve while the world’s largest Bitcoin exchange said it would require government ID to buy or sell Bitcoins; Nevada ruined William Hill’s week by banning sports betting kiosks; Bwin.party flip-flopped on its quest for a Nevada online poker license; Amaya Gaming’s 2012 acquisition binge weighed heavily on its Q1 balance sheet; Antigua’s prime minister felt “more encouraged” about the country’s WTO fight after a meeting with US veep Joe Biden; hedge funds expressed a desire to bust up Caesars Entertainment and Victor Rocha told Becky Liggero why the motto of his new gaming conference was No Tribe Left Behind.
EUROPE
The Remote Gambling Association protested Greece’s protectionist gambling policies (again); the parent company of Dutch slot developer Sheriff Gaming found itself under investigation for money laundering and drug trafficking; Facebook blocked gambling sites from Dutch users; Gala Coral released “satisfactory” Q2 earnings; Lee Davy prowled the Wembley Stadium pitch to cover the International Stadiums Poker Tour and Becky Liggero toasted some amazing women at the Women In Gaming Awards.
ASIA
Tom Waterhouse issued an apology for getting Australia’s collective panties in a bunch over live-odds promotion during sports broadcasts; Universal Entertainment and Robinsons Land ditched their deal on a Manila casino; India’s sports minister denied reports that he was writing legislation to legalize sports betting; Tatts Group sued the state of Victoria over an unfair pokies levy; former PAGCOR chief Efraim Genuino was hit with graft and malversation charges; Macau regulators reclassified some SJM gaming tables as VIP-only and casino operators got a preview of upcoming tax hikes; Singapore instituted a new casino visit limit scheme; Lee Davy discussed the Asian poker market with Xuan Liu and Vince Martin offered investment advice on Malaysian casino operator Genting.
