No sooner had it been reported that the operators of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa in Oklahoma had donated thousands of dollars to local nonprofit and volunteer organizations and volunteer hours working on a local community center another act of great kindness was extended to the Northeastern Oklahoma community. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa donated close to 3,000 frozen turkeys to several organizations to help stock kitchens aimed at helping hungry Oklahomans. Some of these donations came as a surprise to the recipient organizations as part of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa’s Anything Can Happen initiative to support the community. Of the more than $1 million the casino’s operators make in donations close to $100,000 has gone to Anything Can Happen.

The Salvation Army received 1,000 frozen turkeys. This was the largest turkey donation the Tulsa Metro Area Command has ever received. The Salvation Army gives to more than 5,000 families each year. They have been expressing the need for more donations this year. Another surprise donation of 100 frozen turkeys was made to the Tulsa Boy’s Home. “What a generous donation this is. The timing is perfect!” exclaimed Executive Director for the Tulsa Boy’s Home Michael Conway. He thanked the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa, and noted that the turkeys, “…will go a long way for us in feeding the boys.”

The best part about the donations is it comes directly from he employees of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Every year the casino offers its employees the chance to take a turkey home or donate it. Casino workers decided to give. “It’s a tough time for many families, and our employees responded very generously by choosing to donate more turkeys than ever to our neighbors. Other donations were made to Community Food Bank, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Iron Gate, Meals on Wheels, and Cherokee Nation food distribution centers.

Of course opposition to legalizing online gambling and casinos in the United States is coming from conservative leaders. They make valid arguments that online gambling is hard to police. Even though there have been major improvements in software and operating systems, spotting underage and problem gamblers is still difficult. Some members of the committee brought up examples of problem and compulsive gamblers getting lost in online gambling. Republican Representative Bob Goodlatte of Virginia argued that online gambling has dropped among college aged males since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed. He was one of the original supports of the bill. Compulsive and underage gambling is a problem. “They are tragedies right now,” claimed Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Democrat of Oregon. He argued and others argued that both online and land based casinos don’t want that “black eye.” However, those problems are going to exist no matter what, so why not let regulation help police that type of action.

Moral implications are important and should be examined. However, regulated online gambling’s biggest debate amongst supporters is the two percent deposit tax. The tax would give state and tribal governments a chance to collect on some of the money coming in. It cod be as much as $30 billion over the next decade when combined with some of the states’ income taxes. Most supporters both in Congress and the U.S. casino industry do not think the tax is fair. Representatives from Nevada weighed in on the proposed tax. Rep. Dean Heller asked if the tax would make sense if someone walked into a department store with money and walked out with nothing.

Rep. Shelley Berkley likes online gambling. Most representatives from Nevada believe that online gambling would find a natural jurisdiction in the state, and create over 30,000 jobs. However , Berkley also claimed that the bill would not gain support with this tax. Rep. Berkley feels, “The issue of taxation and legalization are separate and distinct.”

McDermott argued that his research with online gambling operators showed they would rather pay the deposit tax than a gross gambling tax, because they know players are going to spend that money anyway. “In talking to the industry, they say this is the best way to do it.” In any case, the debate is on and making progress. Online gambling within the U.S. is now more than just an idea.

When the government in Singapore granted the notion of allowing two casino resorts in 2005, the hope was to bolster their economy and tourism. They made a point of stipulating that the properties had to be much more than jut a casino. In fact, while both Resorts World and the Marina Bay Sands are both casino resorts, the actual square footage of the casinos makes up only a small portion of the properties. So far the plan has worked. Both resort areas have come up with innovative ideas in presesntaion, architecture, and fun for casino resorts. There are theme parks, sky parks, theaters, aquariums, museums, and the list goes on and on. They have changed the landscape of the modern casino resort, and turned the whole resort into a family fun destination spot.

All of this fun will no doubt have an effect on the other Asian gambling markets. According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the new casino resort openings in Singapore may “poach” some of the high rollers in the Asian market. The cliental the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World is after is the same that frequent the Crown Melbourne, and the casinos in Macau. Some casino operators feel that Singapore’s status as a financial hub makes it an attractive gambling spot for those who have lots of cash to drop in a casino. When this is coupled with some of the high rollers are Singaporean it makes established casino operators nervous. The Crown Melbourne has recently spent over $200 million upgrading its VIP facilities.

However, those from Las Vegas Sands Corp. who own and operate the Marina Bay Sands don’t feel the new casino resort will take away from their other Asian properties, especially in Asia’s Las Vegas, Macau. “Some of our big players will go to Macau and Singapore for different purposes,” said Las Vegas Sands President, Michael Leven. He added, “Some of Macau’s business will move, but it won’t be permanent. Macau has a much bigger market potential than Singapore because of mainland China.”

Still those who have lots of money to spend in casinos have lots of money to spend on other things, like theme parks, sky parks, theaters, aquariums, museums…you get the idea. They can also enjoy the gambling while their family enjoys The Lion King or Shrek 3D.

Spring Break is one of the party times in college life. This is the one week that college aged students get out of their little towns and go off to find new adventures. There is no wonder that this type of excitement would lead to many road trips that reach throughout the United States. Some kids go somewhere that they can ski and see snow, maybe for the first time, while others hit the beaches to show off their new bathing suits for the first time. Studies are now showing other places that kids are going for different types activities, more specifically gambling.

The casinos on the Las Vegas Strip are legendary throughout the United States, and even the world. Its allure brings with it the danger of gambling in the casinos, the fun of partying it up in a club, and a nightlife that lasts throughout the next morning. It truly is a City that never sleeps. To top it off, the casinos are pumped with oxygen and stale cigarette smoke and are deep enough inside resorts that it is easy to lose track of time. It is this type of activity that will keep kids out all night before they realize that it is time to go home.

Another aspect that brings college aged kids to the lights and sounds of the Las Vegas casino Resorts is usually the inexpensive accommodations and the cheap flights. This makes a trip the Nevada a pretty good deal on a college kids borrowed budget. For just a few hundred dollars these party animals can pack into a hotel room, eat cheap fast food or one expensive buffet that will last them most of the day and even have a little cash left over for gambling. The danger is of course in realizing that they can use credit cards at the casinos, and that is how both the venues and the credit companies are able to stay in business. This year, Young gamblers are already planning their trips and Heading to the Casinos of Las Vegas.

Online gambling is considered illegal in the United States. Did you notice the word “considered?” Even though the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 made it illegal for American financial institutions to process transactions involving online gambling sites, Americans still found ways to wager close to $6 billion in 2008. Clearly the online gambling industry is profiting from American gamblers. There are some in the federal government that know this and have put together committees, studies and the formation of bills to allow regulated online gambling within the United States. The gaming industry’s lobbying group, the American Gaming Association, has, so far, taken a neutral stance in the bills that have been presented before Congress.

According to the AGA’s Chief Executive Officer, Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. the AGA has been split three ways on the issue. Some are ready for regulated online gambling, some thought it would hurt the land based gambling industry, and some were unsure. That is about to change. It looks like the AGA is ready to support the idea of online gambling in the United States provided it be heavily regulated. However, they did stop short of lending their support to any of the bills proposed in Congress. Mr. Fahrenkopf stated, “The majority of our board now has a favorable stance on Internet gaming, as long as there is strong regulatory control. But also, we’re not endorsing any of the bills now in the loop.”

In recent months an independent study into online gambling in the United States judged that the technology exists to effectively regulate online gambling. Many now believe it is possible to protect consumers, identify under age gamblers, and ward off money laundering. As far as online gambling taking over the established gambling cities, the AGA thinks that this is less likely seeing as how online gambling is already a $6 billion a year industry. The biggest split for the AGA now is whether online gambling in the United States should be controlled at the state or federal level.

There has been so much written on the proposed casino in New York City. It has been ages since the Big Apple had a legal established gambling hall. For decades, New Yorkers have traveled to Atlantic City and its boardwalk to get their gambling fix. Then Pennsylvania legalized some gambling action. Connecticut became a gambling destination for New Yorkers. Native American tribe owned casinos, like Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, offered all the class of high end hotels, shops, and gambling while also giving visitors spectacular views and a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Atlantic City and New York City.

The story of the future slots parlor in New York City is filled with enough drama to match the soap operas that are taped there. For starters there was a lengthy, drawn out, up and down bidding process for the gambling license. Major names in the casino and casino resort industry were in the mix. Names like Wynn, Sands, Penn National Gaming and Harrah’s Entertainment all had their names in the hat. The New York Governor’s office finally awarded the license to a group call the Aqueduct Entertainment Group. Even though one of the partners is a well established gaming name from Las Vegas, AEG claimed to be more of a local group and named themselves after the Aqueduct Racetrack which is the location of the future casino. They might not have been the highest bidder and this put a bad taste in the mouth of the other bidders.

Then the Governor threatened to pull the casino license from the Aqueduct Entertainment Group if they were not able to get their finances and plans in line within a certain time. Now there is even more political drama. Three New York State Senators have been issued subpoenas surrounding the Queens casino. Senators Sampson, Smith, and Espada Jr. are being questioned to discover if they have any connections with the awarding of the casino contract. All three senators are seeking to quash the subpoenas. Stay tuned

Usually when one thinks of Las Vegas the first thing to come to mind is gambling. It’s true, the cash drop of the desert is the casino industry. This goes double for the glitzy casino hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. However, there is another closely related market that is second to the casino hotels, but can be just as glitzy and sought after, hotels with no gambling. There is a market for this, and big name hotel companies are proving it by building high end non-casino hotels right on or just off Las Vegas Blvd. CityCenter knows this. Only their flagship, Aria, houses a casino. The most famous real estate mogul in the world knows this. Donald Trump has his signature Trump International Hotel brand there.

The Trump International Hotel sits steps away from the action of the Las Vegas Strip. It is situated across the street from the Fashion Show Mall and occupies the back end of the property that used to be the Frontier hotel and casino. It does not have a casino. Mr. Trump himself said, “There are people who come to Las Vegas, who want to stay in a nonsmoking, non-gaming luxury hotel.” Of course it has everything else you would expect from a Trump property, gold-glassed floor to ceiling windows, restaurants, pools and spas. It is luxury at its highest degree.

However, like everything else during the economic and real estate nose dive, the Trump International Hotel ran into some financing problems. It seems, though, those problems have been remedied. It was recently announced that the operators of the hotel and lenders cam to a new agreement that would lower the non-casino hotels mortgage payments. “I think this says something positive about Las Vegas and is a good sign. This type of financing wouldn’t have happened a year ago,” commented Mr. Trump.

Even though it does not offer a casino, the Trump International Hotel offers everything else you would want in a glitzy Las Vegas Strop hotel. It also offers one thing the others can’t, a reprieve from the Strip, without leaving the Strip.

Back in the early 1990’s Iowa, the plain state almost smack dab in the middle of the United States, (and future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk), became one of the first states to approve measure to allow casinos on riverboats. This was a big step for the casino and gambling industry. When the United States and gambling were mentioned in the same breath it usually meant Las Vegas, Reno, or Atlantic City. From time to time it could mean one of the regional casinos run by Native American tribes, but during this time they were small, smoke filled casinos which hosted little more than slots machines, keno, and possibly a sports book.

With the riverboat casinos, the regional gaming market to a big leap forward. Riverboat casinos are casinos that are basically a on a riverboat by name only. It harkens back to the old days of the mid to late 1800’s when boats would steam up and down America’s great rivers like the Mississippi and the Missouri. In order to host a casino these new riverboats basically had to keep their gambling to a structure that was technically floating on the water. However, smart gambling entrepreneurs quickly realized that They could build hotels, restaurants, and convention spaces around these casinos and increase their draw. (Consequently the Native American casino operators found the same thing, and thus the boom of the regional casino market.) Now riverboat casinos can be found in states like Louisiana, Missouri, and Iowa.

Iowa which already hosts seventeen riverboat casinos and two Native American operated casinos now is looking at adding four more. Governor Chet Culver is wants Iowa’s gaming regulators to approve licenses in four different counties. He is citing jobs, revenue and economic stimulation for those counties. “It’s important that Iowans know that I want to bring these jobs to Lyon, Webster, Wapello and Tama counties,” he stated. He also confirmed that voters in the respective counties approved of the measures that would allow the expansion of gambling. When one thinks of Iowa they think of farms, and maybe Captain Kirk (if they’re nerdy enough). Maybe they should think of a casino resort vacation.

Tiger Woods has seen some difficult times as of late. His failed judgement has led him to be the subject of criticism throughout the country and even the world. Since his first public appearance where he made his apology, the sponsors have not been on board with supporting Tiger through this time. In fact, many of his sponsors have decided to jump ship so as not to tarnish their own name. Although many companies are leaving Tiger behind, one Powerful Online gambling company is now in their courting phase.

Tiger Woods had sponsorships galore when he was in his hey day. Now that the scandal has been brought public, he has been dropped by cutting edge, iPhone selling provider AT&T. Other sponsors have also fled, but companies such as Nike who have stabilized to the point that even with the scandal, Tiger Woods merchandise is still flying off the shelves. The company has decided to stand behind him after all they have invested in him. In fact, there is even a building on the Nike Campus that proudly presents Tiger’s name. With that in mind, online gambling firm, Paddy Power is ready to jump on board in supporting Tiger.

Since the incident, Paddy Power has been trying to get a sponsorship deal with Tiger for thei online casinos. Tiger has denied them on more than one occasion, but they are not planning on giving up any time soon. Their latest rejected deal by Tiger was for an alleged $75 million for 5 years. After Tiger declined, the company has gone back to the drawing board and are trying to come up with a better deal.

The real gambling takes place in whether or not the golf icon will return to the sport. If Tiger comes back, then anyone who supported him through this time will profit greatly. Those such as AT&T who jumped ship when things got bad will not be as lucky. Tiger Woods is a huge name in the gambling world, in fact every time he leaves the sport, even for a small injury or rest, the entire field of gambling is disrupted. It is amazing to think that golf of all sports has now had some of the most action in sportsbetting over all other sports.

Stanley Ho has been a large figure in gambling and has recently been struggling with his health. In the past year he has been in and out of the hospitals with a variety of issues. In August of last year he underwent a surgery that was unspecified, and later that year was submitted again after falling and hitting his head. The rumor spread that he had a brain condition which would explain the first surgery, and possibly could lead to thought on the following incident.

Ho has been a major player in the gambling world and now has over half of the licenses within his family of the casinos in Macau. HE also had the gambling monopoly sewed up in Macau for nearly 40 years before his string of luck ran out in 2002. This billionaire has been alleged to have ties with the mafia which has caused quite a bit of controversy within the gambling communities. It is also the reason that some governments don’t want to go into business with him as they are not sure of his reputation.

Now Ho has been released from the hospital in Hong Kong, and the stock markets are once again happy. When Ho entered into the hospital each time, his gambling stock dropped due to the news. Now that he has returned, his stock once again rose, showing the full power that this one man has over the casinos and gambling in Macau. His company SJM is now benefiting from the release of the billionaire as they have the largest market share in all things gambling in Macau. At his ripe old age, Ho should be looking towards a successor who will continue the family business with as much faith from the investors as he has. The idea that one man’s health will determine the rise and fall of a company is a sign that extreme measures must be prepared for the future. At least for now the Gambling King is returning to his throne which is making everyone very happy.