The man with the perfect name for a dynamic new poker champion just won the most recent World Series of Poker tournament, held at the Rio in Las Vegas. Schock electrified the record tournament field of 606 entries and created a buzz by winning his first WSOP gold bracelet. He also collected the handsome sum of $310,225 in prize money.

Schock’s victory came in the $2,500 buy-in Pot Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha Mixed Championship. Schock awed the competition. He outlasted everyone in a three-day poker test that was just as much a battle of physical and mental endurance as poker skill. His final heads-up match took three hours, ending in a triumphant victory against runner up Rodney Brown.

Schock finally ended the duel with a sledgehammer on what turned out to be the final hand of the tournament, winning on the Pot-Limit Omaha round with double-suited aces, which flopped the nuts.

Schock is a 40-year-old professional poker player from Bismarck, N.D. He has been playing professionally since the mid-1990s. Schock is also a single father to three children. Perhaps his biggest source of pride from this victory is being able to lay claim to being the first WSOP winner in history from the state of North Dakota.

Prior to playing poker professionally, Schock held a number of different jobs, primarily in the construction business. Schock has been very active organizing poker games and activities, particularly in North Dakota. He has helped to create various poker charity tournaments that were successful. He often emcees the events and says they are designed to be fun and raise money for good causes.

Schock also invested in a bar poker league as well as heads-up poker machines, which are still found in various places around the country.

Rodney Brown, from Brea, Calif., had to settle for second place. He is a 37-year-old professional poker player. Brown once worked as an insurance company executive. But he found he could make more money and manage his time better by playing poker in and around the local Los Angeles poker scene. To Brown’s credit, he was but one card away from victory at one point, but missed and ultimately had to settle for a nice paycheck and some fond memories.

Jan Collado, a 23-year-old student from Oyten, Germany, finished third for $135,921. . Carter Gill, a 24-year-old who claims to be a hand model from Madras, Ore., finished fourth. Tyler Patterson, a 24-year-old professional gambler from Everett, Wash., finished fifth, James Vanneman, a 24-year-old poker pro from Boston, was sixth, David Lestock, a 27-year-old semi-pro from Bradenton, Fla., was seventh, Jonas Mackoff, a 24-year-old from Vancouver, B.C., was eighth.

Rami Boukai, who won this same event two years ago, made it to the final table again. He finished in ninth place.

When final table play began, Tyler Patterson enjoyed a chip lead of more than 2-to-1 over his closest threat. Seven of the players were out-chipped by 3-to-1 or more (including Schock, the eventual winner).

The top 63 finishers collected prize money. In addition to Boukai, several former gold bracelet winners cashed, including: Joe Hachem (12th), Scott Clements (14th), David Williams (24th), Tom “Hot Pants” Schneider (26th) and Humberto Brenes (39th).

With this cash, Humberto Brenes is now alone in fourth place in the all-time WSOP cashes list.

The revision reflects greater confidence that Las Vegas Sands will be able to reduce its debt ratio, which is required for a one-notch ratings upgrade.

“Las Vegas Sands would also need to adhere to a conservative long-term financial policy in order to achieve a Ba2 corporate family rating,” said Keith Foley, a Moody’s senior vice president.

The positive outlook also incorporates Moody’s favorable view of Las Vegas Sands refinancing. The company’s Chinese subsidiary, Sands China, refinanced its $3.5 billion credit facility and could raise another $1 billion in an effort to strengthen the company’s balance sheet.

The company plans to retire its older loans covering The Venetian Macau and will use funds for construction on two development sites on the region’s Cotai Strip.

“The affirmation of Las Vegas Sands corporate family rating reflects the strong performance and the favorable growth prospects for the company’s Asian gaming assets, the high quality of its gaming and resort assets, and very good liquidity profile,” Foley said.

The Vienna based casino, gaming and entertainment company currently operates 38 land-based casinos in 16 countries, 8 shipboard casinos, 15 slot parlors and a range of lottery products in Argentina. CAI posted aggregate revenues of 860 million euro for 2009.

“Over the past 18 months we have refocused our efforts on delivering the most exciting online casino gaming platform”, commented Dave Acorn, COO of Chartwell. “Confirmation of the success of our strategy is clearly evident by the selection of our gaming platform by this pre-eminent casino operator”.

“The vast structure of the CAI operations presented numerous technological challenges”, adds Dave Acorn. “By overcoming these obstacles we have enhanced the ability to provide our flash-based online casino platform to geographically diverse casino operators”.

Chartwell’s gaming platform provides a full suite of the most advanced flash-based gaming content developed around an open architecture, designed to provide the efficiency and flexibility demanded by today’s leading gaming brands. Licensed by the Gaming Commission (UK), Chartwell licensees are assured of using the online casino platform approved by one of the strictest regulated gaming markets in the world.

“Tapping into the world of online gaming is an important as well as a natural step for CAI as we continue to diversify, integrating new innovative products into our portfolio”, says Casinos Austria International CEO Paul Herzfeld. “We are delighted to have Chartwell Technology as our trusted technology partner in this new venture and look forward to the launch of the customized casino platform as we further develop our activities as a trusted provider in regulated online gaming markets.”

“We are looking to emphasize the ‘World’ in World Series of Poker as our vision of the brand extends beyond the annual events in Las Vegas and London,” said Mitch Garber, Chief Executive Officer of HIE. “By tapping the global reach and expertise of IMG, we are confident that together we can take the brand to new levels on the international stage through new international bracelet events and other WSOP licensed poker events.”

IMG has served as WSOP’s agency of record for sponsorship and licensing since 2005, helping to attract several corporate sponsors to the sport including Jack Link’s, Hershey’s and Planters.

“The World Series of Poker is an impressive property that we believe is well positioned to expand successfully into international markets given the increased activity in the online and offline poker business in key international markets,” said David Abrutyn, Senior Vice President, Global Managing Director IMG Consulting.

The IMG agreement marks the third strategic business relationship formed by HIE in the past few months. Recent other deals include Dragonfish who will provide the infrastructure for entry into online gaming in the UK; and a renewal with ESPN to provide a long television promotional platform for the brand in the U.S. through 2017.

The World Series of Poker, in its 40th year, has experienced record growth in the last five years. Participants from 115 nations competed in this year’s tournament, up from 24 just five years ago and entrants have gone from 13,036 to 60,875 during the same span. The WSOP expanded into Europe in 2007 with the creation of the World Series of Poker Europe® held each fall in London.

“The Ohio Newspaper Poll, released Sunday, found that 59 percent of registered voters support Issue 3 on the Nov. 3 ballot, while 38 percent oppose it.

“Three percent were undecided.

“The proposal would put casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo…”

In direct response to the activities of leading European internet betting destination, Bwin, the ECJ case could set a precedent that online gambling trade bodies have been fighting hard to prevent. What has thus far been a pendulum battle between top European gambling operators and various EU member countries, just when things look as if state-run gambling monopolies are coming to an end, a ruling such as this keeps the battle going.

The argument of anti-gambling monopoly proponents is that EU rules require businesses to conduct trade and services openly and freely across EU member state borders, including services rendered on the internet. The monopolies, however, contend that these rules can be restricted if the public welfare is indeed at stake in regard to the services being offered. And since this is gambling we’re talking about (a dangerous and evil activity lest you forget), the monopolies claim they are the only ones fit to amply protect their citizens.

According to recent ECJ ruling, this would appear to be the case. Bwin, however, has been quick to release a statement in response to the ruling. Bwin’s co-chief executives, Manfred Bodner and Norbert Teufelberger, reiterate that online gambling applications using an IT-based medium are actually more effective at protecting online gamblers and control fraudulent activities. Citing the Codes of Conduct upheld by leading European trade bodies, the European Gaming and Betting Association and the European Sports Association, Bodner and Teufelberger rightfully argue that land-based casinos and betting operations are simply not keeping up with the growth of the internet.

Not all EU member state’s have chosen the stance of Portugal, however. Italy, France and especially Great Britain have made concessions to change legal framework allowing for cross border trade of internet betting services. The reality of the situation is that court ruling’s will not be able to fill in for online gambling regulation. If law’s are not updated, a black market will thrive and more citizens will fall prey to the potential downfalls associated with online gambling.

Considering the ECJ is the European Union’s highest court, the ruling against Bwin (which extends to their sponsorship of the Portuguese football league), is certainly a hard knock. It is the first ECJ ruling that essentially gives a gambling monopoly to extend services to the internet. However, Bwin is not one to back down from a legal challenge, and despite a setback in Portugal, will continue providing services to a large portion of the European internet betting sector.

Local media report that only two months into the gambling ban, “interactive clubs” are springing up using offshore facilities. New clubs have sprung up around Kiev en masse in the last two weeks, newspaper note, adding that gambling experts warn that many more are likely to follow if left undisturbed by the authorities.

“The ban is being circumvented legally,” said Danylo Getmantsev, honorary president at Jurimex law firm and author of a book on gambling in Ukraine. “The server is set up in another jurisdiction [offshore], where gambling is permitted, and here the owner [of the establishment] is simply an agent providing access.”

The owners’ profit comes from payments for use of the Internet and, most lucratively, a share of the money that clients load onto their accounts. The system was brought in from Russia, where a similar gambling ban came into effect on July 1, the media reports claim.

Reporters investigating the phenomenon said that one establishment using Internet terminals was doing steady business. It was a gaming hall before the ban, but now has no branding or identity upfront, with the only signs on the facade resembling the Internet Explorer logo.

Inside, gamblers sat and played away at terminals on screens decked out to look similar to the old gaming machines. An employee, who would give neither his name nor that of the company, called the establishment an “interactive club.”

Gamblers pay for access to the Internet, then choose which games they want to play on screen. When they run out of money on their account, they can simply load more on. Although gamblers are playing over the Internet, there is little effective difference from the halls that were on almost every street corner before the ban came into effect.

“In order to ban such practices, Internet gambling would have to be outlawed or a legal precedent set in the High Court,” said Getmantsev. Otherwise, he said, their number is likely to multiply as owners become more confident that they are not going to be closed down or fined.

The Internet gambling halls show the difficulties the authorities are experiencing in removing gambling completely from Ukraine. Sources in the Interior Ministry said that a large number of gaming establishments remain open illegally, and there is a lack of consistency in the way the police are applying the law.

Officials at the Interior Ministry’s Department for Economic Crime, which is responsible for ensuring the law is being adhered to, were not immediately available for comment. But the department’s Kyiv branch placed a statement on its web site at the end of August saying that it was carrying out checks at all sites where large groups congregate, and asking the public to call in any information on “either traditional or Internet” casinos operating “underground.”

Valeriy Pysarenko, a local politician who authored the bill banning gambling, said he believes the Internet gaming halls are a temporary phenomenon thought up by businessmen who suddenly had revenues cut off.

“We will solve this problem by legislation as soon as this is possible,” Pysarenko said, adding that a bill would also be proposed in the near future on special zones in Ukraine where gambling would be permitted.

He said that the legislation would be tabled soon, “as long as parliament isn’t blocked right up to the presidential elections [in January].”

“‘[Gamblers are] probably cashing out sooner than they would have,’ in flusher times, said Sandra Lee, a Lottery spokeswoman.

“Players put $214,389,788 into the video gambling machines in July at Twin River and Newport Grand, combined, up 6.8 percent from the $200,676,136 they put into the machines during July 2008.

“But the machines netted about 1.3 percent less in July, $41,023,969, than the $41,552,359 netted in July 2008. The state retains about 61 percent of the net income, with the remainder divided among the slot parlors, machine vendors and the host communities.

“Despite the decline, the slot parlors are faring far better than most casinos around the country, many of which are suffering in the recession…”

“• LetOhioVote.Org, a newly formed committee, asked the Supreme Court to affirm the right of voters to decide whether video slot machines should be placed at Ohio’s seven racetracks. If the court agrees, the group will launch a petition drive to put the issue on the November 2010 ballot and delay plans to roll out the slots before then, Carlo LoParo, spokesman for the group, said.

“• Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced an investigation into alleged irregularities involving petition circulators gathering signatures to put a plan for four casinos before voters on Nov. 3. In a news release, Brunner said “in the end it is likely to be the Ohio Supreme Court that will determine whether this issue is submitted to voters this fall.”

“The challenge to the slots plan comes three days after Gov. Ted Strickland signed a new $50.5 billion, two-year state budget that includes the slots. The budget projects that slots would rake in $933 million over two years to help balance the budget.

“If successful, the lawsuit could throw the budget out of balance quickly…”

European online gambling and betting companies left the US market in 2006, but still suffer legal proceedings by US authorities based on their past activities in the US market. The report comes to the conclusion that these proceedings are legally unjustified as well as discriminatory, because the activities of EU companies took place under the cover of US World Trade Organisation commitments.

The European Commission, spurred by complaints from European operators on the selective enforcement of anti-online gambling laws the US despite its World Trade Organisation agreements, investigated the issue and recently published a damning report on the the US actions, classifying them as obstacles to trade and in conflict with WTO rules and principles. WTO proceedings against the US would be justified, the Commission opined, although it suggested that the issue should be addressed to the US Administration, with a view to finding a negotiated solution.

Lindsay writes that in its detailed and substantiated report, the EC highlighted the example of Malta as demonstrating the adverse trade effects, within the syntax of the Trade Barriers Regulation, the situation is having on the Maltese economy.

The Mediterraean island has suffered a unquantified but significant negative impact on its economic activity and employment, according to data provided by Maltas government to the Commission services during the investigation.

The contribution of the gaming industry to Maltas GDP in 2007 was 5.4 percent, and 6.3 percent of the total gross value added of the Maltese economy. Moreover, the sector in Malta had a 12 percent market share of the industry in 2007, and employed a total of 1 882 staff as of June 2008.

The report concludes that the US measures constitute an obstacle to trade that is inconsistent with WTO rules.

The European online gambling sector is economically significant, the Commission’s report noted, estimating that at least 10 000 employees are EU nation residents. The sector also has a significant indirect economic impact on other sectors of the economy which are involved in providing the infrastructure that an Internet business requires, such as financial services, information technology and professional services.

The study offers some useful insights into the remote gambling market, including the position of EU companies and the impact on employment. For example, it remarks that in Malta, Gambling GGR as a percentage of GDP in 2003 was 7.3 percent compared to the EU average of 0.7 percent, and concludes that EU companies enjoy a leading position in the world-wide remote gambling and betting market.

In its report, the Commission noted that the EU has developed the worlds leading remote gaming businesess and that many of the worlds largest companies are licensed in and operate from Malta, the UK, Gibraltar, Ireland and Austria. Moreover, the report observed that there are significant back office operations providing technology, marketing and customer service support in those and in other members.

According to professional estimates furnished to the Commisson investigators, over 15 000 workers are employed by the Internet gaming industry in the EU, with a current average annual growth rate of 10 percent. There are eight thousand employees in the UK; 2 000 in Malta; 2 000 in Gibraltar; 1 500 in Ireland; 500 in Sweden; 500 in Cyprus; 500 in Austria; and 500 in the rest of the EU.