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Betting on the Kentucky Derby – Things You Should Know

When it comes to betting on this year’s Kentucky Derby there are some important things you should know first.

Biggest Movers and Shakers

Gambling911.com has found that on Saturday, the biggest mover when it came to Kentucky Derby odds was none other than General Quarters.  We have seen his odds jump from +2000 all the way to +500.  Some online sportsbooks like SBG Global still had General Quarters with odds of +2000 for a payout potential of $2000 on every $100 bet.  That’s a great value considering everyone seems to be loving this horse on Saturday and the payout is only $500 for every $100 bet at some online gambling websites.

New 2009 Kentucky Derby Favorite

With I Want Revenge scratched from Saturday’s race, there is a new 2009 Kentucky Derby favorite:  That would be Friesan Fire. BetUS.com cut him down to +200.  Friesan Fire for sure is another of the big movers and shakers Saturday since his odds earlier in the day were as solid as +600.

Louisville Weather

All the talk Friday was about rain on Saturday.  Most of the bad weather has since past however.   Weather radar does not indicate any rain coming for the next few hours.  Contenders that were expected to have an advantage on a muddy track are not looking so much like strongholds any longer.

Biggest Payout Potential

It was only a few years ago we witnessed one of the biggest upsets in Kentucky Derby history when 50-1 longshot Giacomo went on to win it.  This year we have Join In The Dance with even longer odds (and the longest in the race), promising a payout of $8000 on every $100 bet at Sports Interaction

Top 4 Horses and Best Payout Odds

There are four contenders with single digit odds of winning this year’s Kentucky Derby:  Dunkirk, Friesan Fire, Pioneer of the Nile and now General Quarters.  The best payout odds for each can be found at:

BetUS.com – Dunkirk +450

Sports Interaction – Pioneer of the Nile +550

SBG Global – Friesan Fire +500 and General Quarters +2000

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher 

Minnesota ban latest – state will not prosecute gamblers

The extraordinary attempt by the state of Minnesotas’s Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement Division to require ISPs and telecomms companies to block online gambling sites operating outside the states continued to dominate the headlines as the week ended, overshadowing even Barney Frank’s new bill attacking the UIGEA, which is scheduled for introduction next week.

The Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association asked for, and received a copy of the black list sent to ISPs, which contained 210 well known casino names, but strangely many of these have already exited the US or do not accept US sign-ups.

“We question how much thought was put into the selection of these sites,” said Joe Brennan Jr., iMEGA chairman. “To propose censoring Minnesota residents’ Web access and not to know which sites are even in the US market makes me wonder just how seriously the DPS is taking this action. It comes off as a half-baked attempt at intimidation rather than thoughtful enforcement.”

AGED director John Willems explained that the list contained only a small percentage of the “literally thousands of (gambling) websites on the Internet, and that it had been compiled by making selections “…at random without regards to what type of internet gambling each site is engaged in.”

The list includes many well established and reputable international online gambling venues including operations like Full Tilt Poker, 32 Red and sister casino Dash Casino, Betfred, Casino Room, English Harbour, Everest Poker, Gaming Club, Party Casino and a host of others. Yet it omits the biggest US-serving online poker site on the Internet – PokerStars.

Willems has also confirmed that his department does not intend pursuing or prosecuting Minnesota online gamblers. “We’re not pursuing any of the bettors and we’re not keeping people from accessing their money,” he said in a Poker News Daily interview. “We wanted to let everyone in the world know what we were up to in order to be transparent. We wanted to let them know that if we were successful, it might impact their ability to get funds they may have online. The last thing that we wanted to do was surprise everyone. Our actions have also increased the level of conversation on this topic.”

Willems also denied that his motive was the protection of the many other forms of gambling sanctioned in Minnesota. “The motive is to deal with sizable illegal gambling activity and to use the most reasonable tool we can to deal with it. We are an enforcement agency that has very few tools available,” he said.

“I hope we’ll have a mutually satisfying outcome to whatever occurs and I hope we’ll get good public policy because of it. It appears to me, based on voice messages and phone conversations, that the Poker Players Alliance must have contacted their membership because I’ve gotten a lot of feedback. I respect their viewpoint and understand it. As much as I can, I try to take the calls, but there are too many of them. I do understand their concerns and I’m not disrespectful of that, but there is a difference of opinion.”

The Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) has added its voice to other civil rights and freedom of speech critics speaking against the Minnesota action. Grover Norquist, head of the Washington-based organisation, opined that the Minnesota action was typical of a growing authoritarian trend of officialdom trying to control the Internet.

“The State of New York wants to tax people who download movies. There is an effort throughout the states to tax internet sales on sites like eBay,” he elaborated. “One of the reasons that the internet is so helpful is that it allows competition. The best way to keep taxes low is to allow people to be able to access other jurisdictions.

“You can’t always pick up and move, but on the internet, you can buy things in other states and other countries. That’s one of the reasons why the internet is so helpful. It’s none of the government’s business what you do online. We just went through this in Kentucky,” Norquist added in a reference to the so far unsuccessful attempt by that state to seize international domain names.

Norquist said it was not helpful to have politicians “pushing people around” when it came to the protection of civil liberties.

Public Sides With Joan Rivers in Celebrity Apprentice Feud With Poker Pro

She’s among the biggest fundraisers for charity in the world of poker (see Ante Up for Africa).  Donald Trump said "she seems like a nice woman".  But in the eyes of comedian Joan Rivers and her now castaway daughter, Melissa, poker pro Annie Duke is the devil.  Mother Rivers continually refers to her fellow Celebrity Apprentice rival as a "Nazi".  "My apologies to Hitler," Rivers said on her blog last week.

And while Melissa may have lost some of her stock with Celebrity Apprentice fans following this past Sunday’s tantrum upon being fired, her mom is still getting plenty of support from fans, more so it appears than rival Duke.

From WickedChopsPoker.com:

"What’s not funny though is how, even after last night, the majority of people still seem to side with Joan Rivers over Annie (Melissa’s tantrum killed her popularity). Read these comments on the EW message board. It’s about 90% pro-Joan. Again, Annie is overtly manipulative, but she’s never taken a personal, below the belt shot at anyone on the show. Joan looks like the undead and goes out of her way to say the worst possible thing you can say to someone when she gets mad. So how are the viewers siding with Joan? Damn people suck so bad."

Rivers walked out behind her daughter, which left fans wondering if she would return next week.

Both Joan Rivers and Annie Duke were among the early favorites to win this season’s Celebrity Apprentice.

"This is one of the best seasons of the show ever," said Gambling911.com’s Payton O’Brien, referring to both the entire Apprentice Franchise.  This is the second season of the Celebrity Apprentice.  Other seasons have featured normal every day professionals vying for a job in Donald Trump’s vast empire. 

Duke is a spokesperson for the popular online poker room www.ultimatebet.com.

Jordan Bach, Gambling911.com        

Gambling911.com Abruptly Scraps Plans to Attend 2009 WSOP

In a sign of the worsening economy, Gambling911.com, one of the top 10 most read poker news sites, has decided to scrap all plans to attend this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP). 

"There are simply not enough events taking place outside the tournament to justify attending," explains Payton O’Brien of Gambling911.com. 

In the past there would be a few dozen parties taking place across Las Vegas, attended heavily by celebrities.

"It’s just not worth our time," says O’Brien.  "Other poker news sites will have a better grasp on the daily happenings during actual play at the main event.   But with a few thousand entries anticipated, the real excitement won’t happen until the field is cut down to a few dozen."

The final table of nine would reconvene in November.

Correspondents Jenny Woo, Anna Lexington and Sparky Collins were initially on tap to mix and mingle with poker players and celebrities during the first few days of the main event.  Gambling911.com was provided with carte blanche through its connections to Harrah’s. 

"Three years ago the Gambling911.com team would network with a few dozen online poker sites spending a million dollars each at the exhibit hall, then head over to a special gathering with Pamela Anderson, then the Doyle Brunson toast.  Bluff Magazine would hold a grand celebrity filled party in conjunction with DoylesRoom.  Bodog would have something exciting going on as would PartyPoker.  There’s just not a whole lot of excitement building this year and no doubt much of this has to do with the troubled economy and tightening purse strings."

But events in all industries are feeling the pinch.

"We saw this at the New York Fashion Week two months ago," says Sparky Collins, Gambling911.com’s resident Cuban transgender reporter, who was hoping to attend the 2009 WSOP.  He even picked out a stunning new black gown just for the WSOP main event.  "Parties are the core foundation of Fashion Week and there were practically none."

Gambling911.com is based out of Miami Beach as is three quarters of its staff.  

Pioneer of the Nile Odds Looking Good Ahead of Kentucky Derby

As a 5/1 favorite to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Pioneer of the Nile was looking hot early on at Churchill Downs.  The horse covered the distance in 1:00.80 during this week’s workouts. The time was the fourth-fastest of 19 at the distance over a surface that seemed to be playing slower as the morning wore on.

From Bloodhorse.com:

"Pioneerof the Nile, who made the recent Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) his fourth consecutive stakes victory, covered the distance in fractional times of :12.20, :24.20, and :36.40. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40."

Trainer Bob Baffert told Bloodhorse he is pleased with the way Pioneerof the Nile is getting over the sandy loam surface at Churchill Downs.

"I ended up working him seven-eighths and let him gallop out strong. I got him in :26-and three, and he galloped out all the way down the backside. So it was a good little work and it was not really hard on him."

Baffert said Pioneer of the Nile would work one more time before the May 2 Derby, most likely on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Pioneerof the Nile has a record of 5-0-1 in eight races and has earned $1,234,200.

For Gambling911.com, the Kentucky Derby represents the biggest single betting day of the year.

"We are anticipating around 3 million hits to the website on that Saturday," said Gambling911 Senior Editor, Payton O’Brien.  "It’s a very exciting time for us and we will be covering the Derby odds ad nauseum between the time the post up positions are announced to the end of the race."

For now, only a handful of online gambling websites are offering odds on the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Bookmaker.com has odds on Pioneer of the Nile and a whole list of other horses potentially taking part in the big race.

Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com 

Bwin renews software licence with Chartwell Technology

The Canadian Internet gambling software developer and provider Chartwell Technology Inc., has announced that the major Vienna listed online gambling group Bwin International has renewed its software licence – the fourth time it has done so.

Dave Acorn, COO of Chartwell Technology Inc., said: “This (licence renewal) is always a great vote of confidence for us when one of our valued clients renews.”

“We have been working with Bwin for eight years and have always endeavoured to provide them with a continually expanding online entertainment experience for their customers. This renewal confirms our level of service and support and we are delighted to continue our partnership for another two years.”

Business: New South Wales to offer lottery license

New South Wales Treasurer Eric Roozendaal announced Tuesday that the Australian state will offer a 30-year distribution license for its NSW Lottery products. The state will offer the license, Roozendaal said, following a “strategic review” of the lottery’s business.

The license will grant exclusive rights to use NSW Lottery brands and intellectual property, but will prohibit the licensee from distributing keno products. In a press release the state said that it will solicit feedback from prospective bidders, stakeholders and the public before issuing the license.

The press release went on to say that the strategic review will consider “current market conditions, the performance and readiness of the business, current regulatory framework, license terms, transaction structure, and overall process and timetable.”

“Issuing a license for the operation of NSW Lotteries means public funds can better be directed to priorities such as health, transport and education,” Roozendaal said. “These funds will come from the proceeds of issuing the license and the continuing receipt of duties.

“As a strong and resilient business, NSW Lotteries is a compelling investment opportunity. We are encouraged by the high degree of interest from prospective buyers of the license.”

phill.provance@gamblingplanet.org

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Party Gaming CEO pockets 125,000 share incentive

Online gambling group PartyGaming's CEO, Jim Ryan has an added incentive to keep the company forward – this week he was awarded company shares worth more than £280,000, six months after he was issued company shares worth almost £1.5 million under PartyGaming’s Share Option incentive plan (ESOP). As the operational leader of the company Ryan gets 125,000 shares each year under the plan.

Ryan can cash in his shares at 227p each, so his latest annual tranche of shares is worth some £283,750. In terms of his employment contract, Ryan received 645,100 shares late last year, which at the 227p exercisable rate were worth £1.5 million.

Ryan has some daunting responsibilities in running the large and diverse group for owners Ruth Parasol and her husband Russ Deleon – the major shareholders. He has been closely involved in the difficult and protracted negotiations which this week finally saw the US Department of Justice let Party off the hook on a threatened prosecution for its pre-UIGEA activities in America … at a cost of $105 million spread over several years and regarded by most industry observers as good horse-trading. And with that cloud removed from its horizon, Ryan will be even busier expanding the group with merger and acquisition strategies.

Ryan’s management colleague, finance director Marty Weigold has an even bigger incentive under the ESOP arrangement – he has been awarded 337,500 shares worth around £766,000 at the excercisable rate, his third such incentive from the company which has given him shares worth a total of £1.36 million.

Singapore introduces family exclusion orders to protect problem gamblers

Singapore’s two integrated casino-resorts are cooperating with Family Service Centres and the National Problem Gambling Association in the launch of a new exclusion facility designed to protect the dependents of compulsive gamblers, Mediacorp reports this week.

The facility enables families of problem gamblers to have the compulsive gambler barred from entering the casinos, empowering immediate family members such as spouses, children, parents and siblings, including adopted and step relations, to apply for Family Exclusion Orders (FEO), which serve as a social safeguard for problem gamblers and those with financial difficulties.

Minors below 21 and those with physical or mental impairment can also apply for the FEO with an extended family member, or a Minister-appointed person.

Applications must be made in person at the Family Service Centre, and information is also available through the National Problem Gambling Helpline.

German Interstate Gambling Treaty protectionism costs Tipp24 139 jobs

The disastrous consequences of Germany’s exclusive gambling policies under the German Interstate Gambling Treaty were showcased this week in a press release from the major German Internet lotto provider Tipp24 AG. Hounded out of its own country, the firm has transferred operations to the more enlightened environment of the UK, shedding 139 out of 154 German jobs in the process.

When the second stage of the State Treaty on Gaming came into force on 1 January, 2009, Tipp24 AG was forced to drastically reduce its business activities and discontinue its previous internet-based brokerage business for participation in games operated by ‘Deutscher Lotto- und Totoblock’ as a result of prohibitions introduced by the new gaming legislation, the statement reveals.

The Tipp24.com website has since been operated by Tipp24 Services Ltd., based in London, resulting in the loss of German jobs.

The company statement reveals that just 15 employees will remain in service at its headquarters in Hamburg due to Germany’s controversial Interstate Gambling Treaty, which was enacted on January 1, 2008, and prohibits Tipp24 from conducting any form of lottery brokerage online in Germany in competition with German state gambling monopolies. The affected employees will cease working for Tipp24 AG by 31 March 2009 at the latest.

“We are forced to lay off the majority of our staff as the new State Treaty on Gaming forbids us from any form of lottery brokerage via the Internet in Germany,” says Jens Schumann, Chairman of the Executive Board of Tipp24 AG.

“The majority of these jobs will probably be replaced by new ones abroad – where the restrictions do not apply,” he added. “At the same time as the German state is spending billions to save German jobs, it is also destroying the jobs of a healthy, mid-size company with a law which contravenes EU legislation.

“Moreover, Tipp24 AG transferred around €130 million in tax revenues to the federal states last year alone. This money will now no longer be available to the state.”

Tripp24′s statement goes on to recap the background to the State Treaty on Gaming. The legislation forbids the online marketing and advertising of lotteries, allegedly to protect problem gamblers. There have been no scientific studies to date, however, which prove the government’s claims of a sociologically relevant ‘lottery addiction’.

“It seems more likely that the state treaty is designed to eliminate private companies under the pretext of preventing addiction,” Schumann asserts. “After all, controlling addiction would be much more effective via the Internet than at the lottery kiosk. We will therefore continue to take legal action against the new state treaty.”

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