Unfortunately more serious casino news out of Australia.
News Limited and wires report the latest in a string of attacks and bashings in and around Australia's land based casinos and gambling dens.
FORMER AFL star Jonathan Hay was attacked and kicked in the face in an apparently random attack at Crown casino.
Hay was celebrating his 30th birthday with friends when a gang of seven thugs forced him to the ground just after 2am Sunday.
The former All-Australian fullback suffered bruising and a cut to the head in the latest episode of mindless CBD violence.
It would appear on the surface that online casinos, online casino portals and the like, are gaining another advantage from their land based cousins by default. Of course online casino don't have actual muggers, however one still needs to watch out for online casino stings and low acts, like they type that were documented on the United States version of 60 Minutes last year.
I would like to see Crown Casino offer an online casino portfolio, perhaps showcased by a Kerry Packer themed game. PartyGaming of course has a Frank Sinatra and The Godfather slot, so why not a Packer game?
PartyGaming's PartyPoker, Noble Poker, and Euro Partners Titan Poker, and a few other brands, are offering satellites to the Poker Cup at Crown Casino later this year beginning in September. Let's just hope the live events are incident free. Insiders are looking to confirm if Mike Sexton, Chris Moneymaker, Daniel "Kid Poker" Negreanu, Annie Duke, Phil Hellmuth, and Tony G are likely to attend. Those individuals may or may not add to aggressive play et al on location. Folks are extremely interested to see if poker Doyle Brunson will turn up, as Mr Brunson has been in a war of words with some of the folks at Party over the past few years, and the word on the street is that Party is interested to talk serious shop with the powers that be at Crown (and Star City). It's got all the makings of a real life battle royal, and a serious mix of personalities. You can bet that Crown's James Packer will have security at an all time high, comparative to when Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes stayed at Crown a few months ago.
It's in Crown's best interest to beef up security to protect its customers, visitors and reputation.
Greg Tingle, Special Contributor to Gambling911.com (be sure to check Greg's commentary out regularly at Media Man Australia Here) (Credit: Gambling911)
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
World Poker Tour to sell after 'superior offer' from PartyGaming - BizJournals - 25th August 2009
World Poker Tour - WPT Enterprises Inc is to be purchased by igaming and gaming powerhouse, PartyGaming. The story has attracted significant national and international media and gaming media interest. BizJournals report:
WPT Enterprises Inc., parent company of the World Poker Tour, is moving forward with a deal to sell its assets, but, will instead sell to Peerless Media Ltd., a division of PartyGaming plc.
Peerless Media will pay Long Angeles-based WPTE $12.3 million and will pay WPTE an ongoing 5 percent participation in gaming and other revenue generated by the assets, which include WPTE's television library, intellectual property rights, brand names, trade names, certain assumed contracts and tangible personal property.
WPTE will retain its cash and cash equivalents, investments in debt securities and put rights, certain other investment and litigation assets, and future license revenues from certain existing sponsorship deals for season seven of the World Poker Tour.
The World Poker Tour will have its first televised tournament from the Dayton/Cincinnati region next spring when it has a $10,000 buy-in tournament from Hollywood Casino in just across the state line in Lawrenceburg, Ind.
The acquisition deal, announced Tuesday, kills off a previously announced bid of $9.075 million from Gamynia Ltd.
"The Board of Directors has determined that PartyGaming's acquisition proposal is financially superior and we look forward to working with one of the pioneers and leaders in the poker and online gaming markets to provide a strong vehicle for the WPT brand to continue its global expansion and return to online gaming," Steve Lipscomb, president and chief executive officer of WPTE, said in a statement.
Both the PartyGaming and Gamynia bids are far cries from Doyle Brunson's $700 million bid for the company in 2005. Brunson's bid was eventually investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (Credit: BizJournals)
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WPT Enterprises Inc., parent company of the World Poker Tour, is moving forward with a deal to sell its assets, but, will instead sell to Peerless Media Ltd., a division of PartyGaming plc.
Peerless Media will pay Long Angeles-based WPTE $12.3 million and will pay WPTE an ongoing 5 percent participation in gaming and other revenue generated by the assets, which include WPTE's television library, intellectual property rights, brand names, trade names, certain assumed contracts and tangible personal property.
WPTE will retain its cash and cash equivalents, investments in debt securities and put rights, certain other investment and litigation assets, and future license revenues from certain existing sponsorship deals for season seven of the World Poker Tour.
The World Poker Tour will have its first televised tournament from the Dayton/Cincinnati region next spring when it has a $10,000 buy-in tournament from Hollywood Casino in just across the state line in Lawrenceburg, Ind.
The acquisition deal, announced Tuesday, kills off a previously announced bid of $9.075 million from Gamynia Ltd.
"The Board of Directors has determined that PartyGaming's acquisition proposal is financially superior and we look forward to working with one of the pioneers and leaders in the poker and online gaming markets to provide a strong vehicle for the WPT brand to continue its global expansion and return to online gaming," Steve Lipscomb, president and chief executive officer of WPTE, said in a statement.
Both the PartyGaming and Gamynia bids are far cries from Doyle Brunson's $700 million bid for the company in 2005. Brunson's bid was eventually investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (Credit: BizJournals)
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009
PartyGaming Plc - Agreement to acquire the World Poker Tour
PartyGaming, the world’s leading listed online gaming company, has agreed to acquire the business and substantially all of the assets of WPT Enterprises Inc. (“WPT”) for a cash consideration of $12.3 million and an ongoing revenue share relating to the purchased assets under which PartyGaming will make a minimum aggregate payment of $3m over the next three years.
Subject to formal approval by the shareholders of WPT, the acquisition is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2009.
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Subject to formal approval by the shareholders of WPT, the acquisition is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2009.
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Poker News Cup
Win your seat at one of Australia’s biggest poker tournaments
Melbourne’s Crown Casino is the place to be this September when the PokerNews Cup returns for 2009. With a guaranteed first prize of $200,000, you’ll want to join us at the heart of the action.
We’ve got two great ways for you to qualify for this fantastic event. Each PokerNews Cup prize package includes:
The main event buy-in ($1,850)
Six night's accommodation at the Crown Promenade hotel
Spending money ($3,500 Package= $200. $5,000 package= $1,700)
You are free to play in either qualifying structure but you can only win one package through our PokerNews Cup satellites.
Australian-based players
PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed
$6
Daily at 02:55, 05:05, 06:40
1 in 8 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite Qualifier.
PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed Rebuy
$2
Daily at 00:55, 01:55, 03:55, 05:55
For every $40 in the prizepool an entry is awarded to the next PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite Qualifier
PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite Qualifier
$38 + $2
Daily at 04:55 ET
Sundays (Speed) at 01:55 ET
1 in 10 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite
PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite
$350 + $30
Sundays at 04:55 ET
1 in 10 players will win a $3,500 PokerNews Cup Package.
Rest of the world players
PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed
$8
Daily
1 in 8 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite Qualifier.
PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed Rebuy
$2
Daily
For every $58 in the prizepool an entry is awarded to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite Qualifier.
PokerNews Cup Satellite Qualifier
$53.50 + $4.50
Daily at 15:20 ET
Sundays (Speed) at 12:20 ET
1 in 10 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite
PokerNews Cup Satellite
$500 + $35
Sundays at 15:20 ET
1 in 10 players will win a $5,000 PokerNews Cup Package.
Join us at one of the largest and most dazzling casinos in the southern hemisphere: qualify for the PokerNews Cup today.
Please note:
All amounts stated are in American dollars (USD)
There is no cash alternative for prize packages
Visas and travel arrangements are the sole responsibility of package winners
Players are free to play in either qualifying structure
Players can only win one prize package to the PokerNews Cup
The PokerNews cup takes place between September 27th – October 5th 2009 with the main event starting on 2nd October.
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Melbourne’s Crown Casino is the place to be this September when the PokerNews Cup returns for 2009. With a guaranteed first prize of $200,000, you’ll want to join us at the heart of the action.
We’ve got two great ways for you to qualify for this fantastic event. Each PokerNews Cup prize package includes:
The main event buy-in ($1,850)
Six night's accommodation at the Crown Promenade hotel
Spending money ($3,500 Package= $200. $5,000 package= $1,700)
You are free to play in either qualifying structure but you can only win one package through our PokerNews Cup satellites.
Australian-based players
PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed
$6
Daily at 02:55, 05:05, 06:40
1 in 8 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite Qualifier.
PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed Rebuy
$2
Daily at 00:55, 01:55, 03:55, 05:55
For every $40 in the prizepool an entry is awarded to the next PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite Qualifier
PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite Qualifier
$38 + $2
Daily at 04:55 ET
Sundays (Speed) at 01:55 ET
1 in 10 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite
PokerNews Cup Aussie Friendly Satellite
$350 + $30
Sundays at 04:55 ET
1 in 10 players will win a $3,500 PokerNews Cup Package.
Rest of the world players
PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed
$8
Daily
1 in 8 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite Qualifier.
PokerNews Cup Sub Qualifier Speed Rebuy
$2
Daily
For every $58 in the prizepool an entry is awarded to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite Qualifier.
PokerNews Cup Satellite Qualifier
$53.50 + $4.50
Daily at 15:20 ET
Sundays (Speed) at 12:20 ET
1 in 10 players will gain entry to the next PokerNews Cup Satellite
PokerNews Cup Satellite
$500 + $35
Sundays at 15:20 ET
1 in 10 players will win a $5,000 PokerNews Cup Package.
Join us at one of the largest and most dazzling casinos in the southern hemisphere: qualify for the PokerNews Cup today.
Please note:
All amounts stated are in American dollars (USD)
There is no cash alternative for prize packages
Visas and travel arrangements are the sole responsibility of package winners
Players are free to play in either qualifying structure
Players can only win one prize package to the PokerNews Cup
The PokerNews cup takes place between September 27th – October 5th 2009 with the main event starting on 2nd October.
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Monday, August 17, 2009
Commerce Casino To Host New Autumn Tournament Series, by Earl Burton - Poker News Daily - 17th August 2009
After moving the extremely popular California State Poker Championship to May earlier this year, the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, CA, was left with a gap in its schedule of poker events in the fall when the CSPC traditionally was held. To cover up that gap and offer some innovations to the poker tournament world, the Commerce announced last Friday that the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series would take place from September 10th to September 25th.
The Commerce Casino Hold’em Series will feature sixteen tournaments that offer buy-ins from as low as $220 up to the $2500 buy-in for the Championship Event. In a departure from most tournaments, nearly each event will have guaranteed prize pool ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 guaranteed for the players. The $335 No Limit Hold’em Shootout tournament and a $1065 Pot Limit Hold’em event will not have guaranteed prize pools and other tournaments that do not have guarantees will offer seats to the $2500 Championship Event to the victors. Along with a wealth of cash, there are other innovations that will be tested during the run of the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series.
One of the best innovations is offered to players in the first tournament on the series, the $220 No Limit Hold’em tournament with a $500,000 guarantee. Slated to have three Day Ones and be a four day tournament, a player who is eliminated on Day 1A has the option to come back and buy in again to play on Day 1B. Any players eliminated on Day 1B will also have the option to buy in again and play Day 1C. The potential exists for a player to take three shots at the $500K prize pool, which should exceed the guaranteed amount.
Other interesting tweaks to tournament poker can be found later in the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series schedule. The Commerce will put a twist to the Heads Up format when they offer the $545 Double Elimination (meaning that a player has to lose twice before they are eliminated) Heads Up Championship on September 22nd, which will feature a seat into the $2500 Championship Event for the eventual winner in addition to the cash prize. Also on the 22nd, the first ever $335 Knockout Bounty Tournament with a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool will play out. For each player that a competitor eliminates in that tournament, the winning player will get $100 on the spot from the Commerce Casino.
On September 23rd, arguably the most original event of the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series will take place with the $1600 Ironman Challenge. The tournament, which will have $10,000 added to the final prize pool, will truly be a test, as it has no scheduled breaks and will test the abilities of the players under extreme and unrelenting pressure. While the tournament does not deny the players the opportunity to leave the felt, the tournament does not stop and the player’s stack continues to be in play and blinded off. The payout of the event is also like no other tournament, as 50% of the prize pool is paid to first place and no deals are allowed at the final table.
Some of the new twists on tournaments are courtesy of the gentleman considered the finest tournament director around today, Commerce Casino’s very own Matt Savage. “The series will feature huge guarantees and unique tournaments that have never been seen before in poker,” Savage commented during the announcement of the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series. “The diversity of events and unusual formats will continue to make Hold’em tournaments at Commerce Casino exciting, stimulating and rewarding for our players.”
With the fall schedule a little slow in the poker community, Commerce Casino’s Hold’em Series should offer different innovations for players and plenty of guaranteed money for the winners. For a full look at the schedule of events or other information, visit the Commerce Casino website to learn more. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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The Commerce Casino Hold’em Series will feature sixteen tournaments that offer buy-ins from as low as $220 up to the $2500 buy-in for the Championship Event. In a departure from most tournaments, nearly each event will have guaranteed prize pool ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 guaranteed for the players. The $335 No Limit Hold’em Shootout tournament and a $1065 Pot Limit Hold’em event will not have guaranteed prize pools and other tournaments that do not have guarantees will offer seats to the $2500 Championship Event to the victors. Along with a wealth of cash, there are other innovations that will be tested during the run of the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series.
One of the best innovations is offered to players in the first tournament on the series, the $220 No Limit Hold’em tournament with a $500,000 guarantee. Slated to have three Day Ones and be a four day tournament, a player who is eliminated on Day 1A has the option to come back and buy in again to play on Day 1B. Any players eliminated on Day 1B will also have the option to buy in again and play Day 1C. The potential exists for a player to take three shots at the $500K prize pool, which should exceed the guaranteed amount.
Other interesting tweaks to tournament poker can be found later in the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series schedule. The Commerce will put a twist to the Heads Up format when they offer the $545 Double Elimination (meaning that a player has to lose twice before they are eliminated) Heads Up Championship on September 22nd, which will feature a seat into the $2500 Championship Event for the eventual winner in addition to the cash prize. Also on the 22nd, the first ever $335 Knockout Bounty Tournament with a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool will play out. For each player that a competitor eliminates in that tournament, the winning player will get $100 on the spot from the Commerce Casino.
On September 23rd, arguably the most original event of the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series will take place with the $1600 Ironman Challenge. The tournament, which will have $10,000 added to the final prize pool, will truly be a test, as it has no scheduled breaks and will test the abilities of the players under extreme and unrelenting pressure. While the tournament does not deny the players the opportunity to leave the felt, the tournament does not stop and the player’s stack continues to be in play and blinded off. The payout of the event is also like no other tournament, as 50% of the prize pool is paid to first place and no deals are allowed at the final table.
Some of the new twists on tournaments are courtesy of the gentleman considered the finest tournament director around today, Commerce Casino’s very own Matt Savage. “The series will feature huge guarantees and unique tournaments that have never been seen before in poker,” Savage commented during the announcement of the Commerce Casino Hold’em Series. “The diversity of events and unusual formats will continue to make Hold’em tournaments at Commerce Casino exciting, stimulating and rewarding for our players.”
With the fall schedule a little slow in the poker community, Commerce Casino’s Hold’em Series should offer different innovations for players and plenty of guaranteed money for the winners. For a full look at the schedule of events or other information, visit the Commerce Casino website to learn more. (Credit: Poker News Daily)
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Saturday, August 15, 2009
One tribe proposing legalization of Internet poker in California, by Jim Miller - The Press Enterprise - 12th August 2009
SACRAMENTO - The Morongo Band of Mission Indians near Banning is at the forefront of an effort to craft legislation legalizing online poker in California.
The influential Inland tribe, which runs a successful casino off Interstate 10, has collaborated with some Southern California card clubs on a proposal to create a "tribal intrastate Internet poker consortium." It aims to make California the first state with online poker that complies with federal law.
"This would be a game for Californians, run by Californians," said Patrick Dorinson, a spokesman for the tribe. Participating tribes, card clubs and the cash-strapped state would share in the revenue, but an exact split hasn't been determined, he said.
There are an estimated 2,300 online poker sites generating $4 billion in revenue. An estimated 1 million Californians play online poker.
The sites avoid 2006 federal restrictions on online poker by operating outside the U.S. Under some legal interpretations, federal law would allow online poker when players are in the same state as computer servers hosting the games.
No bill has emerged and there is no author for the proposal so far. Any measure would be considered during the final four weeks of the legislative year after lawmakers return Monday from their summer recess.
Already, though, the idea has received a cool reception by some other tribes with casinos.
The California Tribal Business Alliance, which includes several wealthy tribes with casinos, this week announced its opposition to the idea.
In a letter, the group called the online card game proposal "ill-conceived" and warned that it could lead to "the wholesale expansion of non-Indian, off-reservation gambling in California" by potentially bringing casino-style machines to card rooms.
"It's way too complicated to rush something through at the end of session," said Alison Harvey, the alliance's executive director.
In the Inland area, the Morongo tribe belongs to the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, which includes several tribes with casinos in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
The normally tightknit group has taken no position on the online card game proposal. Two nearby group members with large casinos -- the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians near San Bernardino and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in the Coachella Valley -- also are neutral.
Morongo officials have been briefing tribal leaders from around the state in recent days. No other tribes have endorsed the proposal, Dorinson said.
The two legislators whose districts include the Morongo reservation and casino have not been approached about the tribe's proposal.
State Sen. John J. Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, questioned if there would be enough time to consider online poker legislation before lawmakers adjourn their regular session Sept. 11. Prison reform and water are expected to dominate the end-of-session agenda.
"I'm all ears. But it certainly would be an uphill battle to get it done in the time frame they're talking about," Benoit said.
Federal legislation
The online poker proposal has been in the works for several months. Talk of its introduction as a bill comes as the U.S. Senate prepares to consider related legislation.
New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez introduced a measure last week to regulate online poker and other games. In a news release, the senator's office said the legislation could raise up to $3 billion in revenue while protecting players from unscrupulous offshore poker sites.
"Pulling Internet poker out of the shadows and into the light of the law, we have the opportunity to help our economy while protecting our families," Menendez said in a statement.
Dorinson said the California proposal would ensure that revenue from online poker played here would help the state.
At least one online poker group is skeptical about the idea.
John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, said the California proposal would give a monopoly to just a few entities. California, he said, instead should license a variety of online poker sites or host its own games. The players alliance is funded by the Canada-based Interactive Gaming Council, which represents online poker sites.
The Schwarzenegger administration does not have a position on online poker, a spokeswoman said.
Last summer, the Legislature considered a bill that would have legalized online poker. It stalled after major opposition from some tribes and tribal organizations, including the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations.
Political fights
Underlying the latest proposal is the recent acrimony between some of the groups involved.
In 2004, tribal casinos defeated a ballot measure pushed by card clubs and horse tracks that would have ended the tribes' monopoly on slot machines.
In 2007 and 2008, some members of the tribal business alliance spent millions in an unsuccessful campaign to overturn 2006 casino-expansion agreements between the state and the Morongo tribe, along with several others.
Last year, the tribes joined forces to push through legislation to ban devices in some nontribal bingo halls run by various charities. Critics called the devices illegal slot machines. But opponents of the bill said it hurt the charities' fundraising. (Credit: The Press Enterprise)
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The influential Inland tribe, which runs a successful casino off Interstate 10, has collaborated with some Southern California card clubs on a proposal to create a "tribal intrastate Internet poker consortium." It aims to make California the first state with online poker that complies with federal law.
"This would be a game for Californians, run by Californians," said Patrick Dorinson, a spokesman for the tribe. Participating tribes, card clubs and the cash-strapped state would share in the revenue, but an exact split hasn't been determined, he said.
There are an estimated 2,300 online poker sites generating $4 billion in revenue. An estimated 1 million Californians play online poker.
The sites avoid 2006 federal restrictions on online poker by operating outside the U.S. Under some legal interpretations, federal law would allow online poker when players are in the same state as computer servers hosting the games.
No bill has emerged and there is no author for the proposal so far. Any measure would be considered during the final four weeks of the legislative year after lawmakers return Monday from their summer recess.
Already, though, the idea has received a cool reception by some other tribes with casinos.
The California Tribal Business Alliance, which includes several wealthy tribes with casinos, this week announced its opposition to the idea.
In a letter, the group called the online card game proposal "ill-conceived" and warned that it could lead to "the wholesale expansion of non-Indian, off-reservation gambling in California" by potentially bringing casino-style machines to card rooms.
"It's way too complicated to rush something through at the end of session," said Alison Harvey, the alliance's executive director.
In the Inland area, the Morongo tribe belongs to the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, which includes several tribes with casinos in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
The normally tightknit group has taken no position on the online card game proposal. Two nearby group members with large casinos -- the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians near San Bernardino and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in the Coachella Valley -- also are neutral.
Morongo officials have been briefing tribal leaders from around the state in recent days. No other tribes have endorsed the proposal, Dorinson said.
The two legislators whose districts include the Morongo reservation and casino have not been approached about the tribe's proposal.
State Sen. John J. Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, questioned if there would be enough time to consider online poker legislation before lawmakers adjourn their regular session Sept. 11. Prison reform and water are expected to dominate the end-of-session agenda.
"I'm all ears. But it certainly would be an uphill battle to get it done in the time frame they're talking about," Benoit said.
Federal legislation
The online poker proposal has been in the works for several months. Talk of its introduction as a bill comes as the U.S. Senate prepares to consider related legislation.
New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez introduced a measure last week to regulate online poker and other games. In a news release, the senator's office said the legislation could raise up to $3 billion in revenue while protecting players from unscrupulous offshore poker sites.
"Pulling Internet poker out of the shadows and into the light of the law, we have the opportunity to help our economy while protecting our families," Menendez said in a statement.
Dorinson said the California proposal would ensure that revenue from online poker played here would help the state.
At least one online poker group is skeptical about the idea.
John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance, said the California proposal would give a monopoly to just a few entities. California, he said, instead should license a variety of online poker sites or host its own games. The players alliance is funded by the Canada-based Interactive Gaming Council, which represents online poker sites.
The Schwarzenegger administration does not have a position on online poker, a spokeswoman said.
Last summer, the Legislature considered a bill that would have legalized online poker. It stalled after major opposition from some tribes and tribal organizations, including the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations.
Political fights
Underlying the latest proposal is the recent acrimony between some of the groups involved.
In 2004, tribal casinos defeated a ballot measure pushed by card clubs and horse tracks that would have ended the tribes' monopoly on slot machines.
In 2007 and 2008, some members of the tribal business alliance spent millions in an unsuccessful campaign to overturn 2006 casino-expansion agreements between the state and the Morongo tribe, along with several others.
Last year, the tribes joined forces to push through legislation to ban devices in some nontribal bingo halls run by various charities. Critics called the devices illegal slot machines. But opponents of the bill said it hurt the charities' fundraising. (Credit: The Press Enterprise)
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Win Multiple Summer Jackpot Prizes at Titan Poker
12th August 2009
This summer players can enjoy three incredible jackpot promotions with generous cash prizes at Titan Poker
The $50,000 Summer Jackpot Race (http://www.titanpoker.com/summer_jackpot.html) is based on daily and weekly races where points are accumulated and placed on a leader-board. The top 50 players at the end of the month will share in a jackpot prize of $30,000. The Summer Jackpot takes place on four consecutive days and if a player finishes in the top 10 for four days in a row they will be rewarded a prize of $500. All players have an equal chance of winning their share in the weekly and monthly prizes, as well as the side-pot jackpot.
The Titan Double Tournament (http://www.titanpoker.com/titan_double.html) takes place every night, just five minutes apart. If a Titan Poker player wins two tournaments on the same night they will be rewarded with the Titan Double Progressive Jackpot. This jackpot continuously increases until the pot is won.
Fort Knox - Jackpot Sit 'N' Go Tournament (http://www.titanpoker.com/fortknox.html) will reward players who win six Tournaments in a row with a grand prize starting at $50,000. The Fort Knox is a six-player, $50 + $9 sit 'n' go tournament. As soon as six players sit down at the table, the action begins. The Jackpot is progressive and grows larger each week until claimed.
Titan Poker invites both amateur and skilled poker players to take part in these three superb Summer Jackpots. This promotion is for a limited time -- the earlier players join, the sooner they can start to reap the rewards.
About Titanpoker.com:
TitanPoker.com is Europe's number one online poker room and part of the iPoker Network. Titan Poker's software is developed and maintained by Playtech, a public company and leading gaming software developer. With nearly 30,000 online players at peak hours, Titan Poker guarantees $16,000,000 in monthly prizes, features special sit 'n' go tournaments with progressive jackpots as high as $100,000, and awards players with entries to major worldwide poker tournaments. Titan Poker VIP players enjoy the highest online poker rewards. The Titan Poker brand is promoted exclusively by Euro Partners (http://www.europartners.com).
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This summer players can enjoy three incredible jackpot promotions with generous cash prizes at Titan Poker
The $50,000 Summer Jackpot Race (http://www.titanpoker.com/summer_jackpot.html) is based on daily and weekly races where points are accumulated and placed on a leader-board. The top 50 players at the end of the month will share in a jackpot prize of $30,000. The Summer Jackpot takes place on four consecutive days and if a player finishes in the top 10 for four days in a row they will be rewarded a prize of $500. All players have an equal chance of winning their share in the weekly and monthly prizes, as well as the side-pot jackpot.
The Titan Double Tournament (http://www.titanpoker.com/titan_double.html) takes place every night, just five minutes apart. If a Titan Poker player wins two tournaments on the same night they will be rewarded with the Titan Double Progressive Jackpot. This jackpot continuously increases until the pot is won.
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Titan Poker invites both amateur and skilled poker players to take part in these three superb Summer Jackpots. This promotion is for a limited time -- the earlier players join, the sooner they can start to reap the rewards.
About Titanpoker.com:
TitanPoker.com is Europe's number one online poker room and part of the iPoker Network. Titan Poker's software is developed and maintained by Playtech, a public company and leading gaming software developer. With nearly 30,000 online players at peak hours, Titan Poker guarantees $16,000,000 in monthly prizes, features special sit 'n' go tournaments with progressive jackpots as high as $100,000, and awards players with entries to major worldwide poker tournaments. Titan Poker VIP players enjoy the highest online poker rewards. The Titan Poker brand is promoted exclusively by Euro Partners (http://www.europartners.com).
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Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Poker In The Park Hits London
For the third year running London’s Leicester Square will play host to Europe’s largest Poker festival.
Poker in the Park will take place on Thursday 13th of August and continue until Friday 14th.
Join poker enthusiasts from across Europe as they descend on Leicester Square for free poker lessons and tutorials as well as hourly free poker tournaments. With stalls selling discounted poker gear and books and with the UK’s biggest poker leagues in attendance you won’t want to miss out on this spectacular poker event.
Come along and you’ll also get a chance to meet some of the UK’s biggest celebrity players. If that’s not enough former WSOP Main Event Winner Jamie Gold will be hosting a charity tournament and current WSOP Champion will also be there giving lectures on improving your game. This years Poker in the Park promises to be a fantastic event so be sure to get down there and take part.
Thursday 13th of August – (17:00 - 21:30)
Friday 14th of August – (12:00 - 21:30)
PKR Headline Sponsor At Poker In The Park!
PKR are, for a second year in a row, lead sponsors of Poker in the Park, Europe’s largest poker festival. Held on the 13th & 14 of August in Leicester Square, PKR will be hosting one of the festival’s main attractions, The Poker Dome.
PKR will be welcoming an array of Pub Poker Leagues into the Poker Dome to host their respective tournaments during the festival. Each league will run an hour-long No Limit Hold’em Tournament with a maximum of 80 runners. These tournaments are free to play and open to anyone who registers at the PKR Poker Dome.
PKR will also be teaming up with glamorous massage company Xhilarate, who will have their own space within the Poker Dome and will offer an exclusive massage therapy service to attendees of the festival.
Also present at the Poker Dome will be members of Team PKR Pro, recently back from the WSOP and happy to join in on the festivities at Poker in the Park.
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Poker in the Park will take place on Thursday 13th of August and continue until Friday 14th.
Join poker enthusiasts from across Europe as they descend on Leicester Square for free poker lessons and tutorials as well as hourly free poker tournaments. With stalls selling discounted poker gear and books and with the UK’s biggest poker leagues in attendance you won’t want to miss out on this spectacular poker event.
Come along and you’ll also get a chance to meet some of the UK’s biggest celebrity players. If that’s not enough former WSOP Main Event Winner Jamie Gold will be hosting a charity tournament and current WSOP Champion will also be there giving lectures on improving your game. This years Poker in the Park promises to be a fantastic event so be sure to get down there and take part.
Thursday 13th of August – (17:00 - 21:30)
Friday 14th of August – (12:00 - 21:30)
PKR Headline Sponsor At Poker In The Park!
PKR are, for a second year in a row, lead sponsors of Poker in the Park, Europe’s largest poker festival. Held on the 13th & 14 of August in Leicester Square, PKR will be hosting one of the festival’s main attractions, The Poker Dome.
PKR will be welcoming an array of Pub Poker Leagues into the Poker Dome to host their respective tournaments during the festival. Each league will run an hour-long No Limit Hold’em Tournament with a maximum of 80 runners. These tournaments are free to play and open to anyone who registers at the PKR Poker Dome.
PKR will also be teaming up with glamorous massage company Xhilarate, who will have their own space within the Poker Dome and will offer an exclusive massage therapy service to attendees of the festival.
Also present at the Poker Dome will be members of Team PKR Pro, recently back from the WSOP and happy to join in on the festivities at Poker in the Park.
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Friday, August 07, 2009
PartyPoker's Satellite Series Announced
We've teamed up with the world's best poker rooms to bring you some unbelievable satellites to the PokerNews Cup Australia. Packages will contain some great offerings including Main Event Entry, cash for travel, luxurious accommodation at the fabulous host venue hotel, cash for travel, party invites and exclusive excursions.
Stay tuned to Media Man Australia as we continue to bring you more rooms to qualify on!
PartyPoker
PartyPoker.com is yet another room to bring you an incredible Satellite Series to the 2009 PokerNews Cup Australia. The series awards two different types of packages - $3,500 and $5,000. Qualify through daily sub satellites starting from as low as $2. Alternatively, you can buy-in direct to the Super Satellite for $380 (1 in 10 players win a $3,500 package) or $535 (1 in 10 players win a $5,000 package) running on Sundays.
The $5,000 package includes:
Entry to the Main Event
Accommodation at the host venue hotel
$1,500 cash for travel
The $3,500 package includes:
Entry to the Main Event
Accommodation at the host venue hotel
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Stay tuned to Media Man Australia as we continue to bring you more rooms to qualify on!
PartyPoker
PartyPoker.com is yet another room to bring you an incredible Satellite Series to the 2009 PokerNews Cup Australia. The series awards two different types of packages - $3,500 and $5,000. Qualify through daily sub satellites starting from as low as $2. Alternatively, you can buy-in direct to the Super Satellite for $380 (1 in 10 players win a $3,500 package) or $535 (1 in 10 players win a $5,000 package) running on Sundays.
The $5,000 package includes:
Entry to the Main Event
Accommodation at the host venue hotel
$1,500 cash for travel
The $3,500 package includes:
Entry to the Main Event
Accommodation at the host venue hotel
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PartyPoker.com
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Crown Casino
Casino Travel
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Thursday, August 06, 2009
Media Man Group Blog: Wrestling News
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WWE star Rhonda Rousey tipped to leave WWE soon; May return to UFC - July 2023
“This was always, always, always the plan. What screwed it up, and admittedly, and everyone will admit this, as far as it was screwed up – when I was telling everyone a long time ago, hey, Ronda and Shayna are gonna win the tag team titles, it kept getting delayed and then Ronda got hurt.
“The thing was, and I don’t know the date, it might be SummerSlam, it might be a little bit after. The deal is that Ronda has a hard out. She gave a date, ‘This is my last date’.
“Because I remember talking to somebody there and it’s like, well, I know they’re gonna do this, make the big match for WrestleMania, and it’s like, ‘No, her hard out is long before WrestleMania’.
“The point is that, whatever it is that they’re planning to do… they wanna do a feud. The whole tag team was to set up Ronda and Shayna doing a feud. Ronda wanted to do this feud with Shayna, she got what she wanted. She’s always wanted to do it because Shayna’s the one that got her basically into pro-wrestling.
“Shayna developed Ronda’s love for professional wrestling, so to her pay her back, they’re gonna do a program. I don’t know if it’s one match, I don’t know if it’s two or three, but based on whenever that out is, they had to get it done now.
“This was the latest they could go. They wanted a long title reign to build it up and to do the whole thing where you can see the (turn) coming, the little teases and everything – they didn’t have time.” - Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer
Boxing News: Jake Paul speaks on PPVs
Boxing: "Piracy is rampant, competition for eyeballs non-stop. "Doing a million buys today is like doing two million buys 10 years ago." "current PPV movers no matter the opponent" are Tyson Fury, Canelo Alvarez and self. One of boxing's top 3 PPV attractions; Believes that he is one of the top attractions with Tyson Fury & Canelo Alvarez. "Selling PPV is really hard". "Less than 10 fighters in the world can truly move six figures on their own consistently: Jake Paul
Wagering, TV bodies slam proposed gambling ads ban; AFL wary of impact - June 28th, 2023
Some of Australia’s biggest bookmakers have decried a potential ban on gambling advertisements as an ineffective and short-sighted way to remediate gambling harm, after a parliamentary inquiry report recommended the Albanese government commit to a comprehensive ban across all sectors within the next three years.
Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) is the body that represents gambling giants including Sportsbet, PointsBet and Ladbrokes. It said the proposal, one of 31 recommendations raised by the House of Representatives standing committee on social policy and legal affairs, was a step too far and jeopardised the future of sporting codes and local broadcasters.
“Other more measured options which could be considered by the government include capping the numbers of gambling ads to be shown,” RWA chief Kai Cantwell said on Wednesday.
“By doing this, the expectations of the community to see less advertising would be met, while also maintaining the crucial support to sporting codes and local broadcasters.”
Tabcorp, which is not a member of RWA, welcomed the proposal after previously joining advocates in supporting a total ban on gambling broadcast advertising.
Tabcorp chief Adam Rytenskild said the report’s release marked an important moment for the sustainability of the wagering industry, reiterating a point from the inquiry’s hearing that the proliferation of gambling advertising is excessive.
“Tabcorp welcomes the committee’s recommendation for a nationally consistent regulatory framework. All wagering operators should have to adhere to the same regulations.”
Tabcorp’s stance is motivated by a keenness to protect its market share, according to rivals, and Rytenskild’s comments offer a stark contrast to RWA chief Cantwell who said the recommendations fail to consider the evidence from the committee hearings earlier this year.
“RWA recognises community concerns around online wagering advertising and there are more effective ways of meeting community expectations,” Cantwell said.
RWA and Free TV Australia, which has acted on behalf of Seven, Ten and Nine (the owner of this masthead), have argued for frequency caps on the number of ads shown across different channels, rather than a blanket ban.
Cantwell said by capping the number of ads, the community’s expectations to see less advertising would be met, while maintaining the support to sporting codes and local broadcasters.
He added a blanket ban through a phased roll-out was “short-sighted, ineffective and not the answer”, and could lead to more Australians turning to illegal offshore markets.
The AFL’s chief financial officer and general manager of broadcasting and clubs, Travis Auld, said on Wednesday it was too early for the league to have a response, and it had been consulting with the federal government about changes that could work.
“Any changes we make and the consequences of those changes need to be well thought through and well understood. There are some significant decisions within there that have impacts potentially on our industry,” Auld said.
He said that money from wagering firms was part of the AFL’s infrastructure, helping the competition keep its prices low, as well as invest in the game at a grassroots level. The AFL has an $8 million a year deal with Sportsbet.
“Of course money is part of it. It’s what allows us to keep our prices where we are, it’s what allows us to invest in boys and girls playing football at this level,” said Auld.
Despite a record $4.5 billion broadcast agreement signed with Seven Network and Foxtel in 2022, Auld said the AFL and both of its partners would represent themselves independently in any conversations around potential financial impacts.
“The commerciality from their point of view will remain known to them. I think we’ve been clear on the impacts on us.”
Free TV Australia’s CEO, Bridget Fair, warned a “kneejerk move” to implement an outright ban “will ultimately hurt viewers and the television services they love”.
“Many of the sports broadcasting deals have been agreed to beyond the three-year phase-out
period for advertising,” Fair said.
An NRL spokesperson said it recognised the significant stakeholder and community interest in gambling, saying it is committed to ensuring the NRL’s approach reflects this interest, “while also encouraging a holistic, evidence-based approach to mitigate the risks of gambling harm more broadly”.
A report earlier this year from the Australian Gambling Research Centre found most Australians (64 per cent) believe governments should play the biggest role in how wagering is advertised.
Dr Kei Sakata, the research centre’s acting executive manager, welcomed the report’s recommendations, saying it is a crucial step in reducing gambling harm.
Sakata also welcomed the committee’s recommendations of a national classifications scheme and effective warning labels for simulated gambling games and loot boxes, as well ongoing funding for gambling research.
(The Sydney Morning Herald)
WWE Money in The Bank breaks records - 2023
WWE Money in the Bank 2023 set a huge company record, as did this week’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown.
Both the June 30 SmackDown episode and the July 1 WWE premium live event emanated from the O2 Arena in London, England.
Both shows were eventful, with passionate UK fans filling the arena on both nights.
During the post-show press conference, Triple H revealed that Money in the Bank 2023 was the highest-grossing arena show in WWE history.
Triple H didn’t specify how much WWE brought in, but this would mean that the show earned more than any other WWE event to take place in an indoor arena.
The Chief Content Officer also revealed that the previous night’s edition of SmackDown was the highest-grossing SmackDown in WWE history.
He did state that over 37,000 fans were in attendance at the O2 Arena across both nights, noting that WWE is proud of the success of SmackDown and Money in the Bank.
As far as attendance figures go, WrestleTix previously reported that 17,617 tickets had been distributed for the sold out Money in the Bank event.
The premium live event was certainly eventful, with Jey Uso pinning Roman Reigns in the Usos vs Reigns & Solo Sikoa Bloodline Civil War.
This marked Reigns’ first pinfall loss since December 2019.
Reading restrictions imposed on Twitter users - July 2, 2023
Elon Musk has imposed temporary reading restrictions for Twitter users, announcing paying customers will be allowed to see more tweets than unverified accounts.
Mr Musk says extreme levels of data scraping has prompted the social media company to limit users to reading 6,000 posts per day.
Accounts without a blue tick will be restricted to 600 posts per day.
New accounts yet to be verified will be capped at 300 tweets.
Several US Agencies Set Up New Crypto Task Force in Arizona to Combat Illegal Online Activity - June 2023
Federal agencies have joined forces to combat crimes involving cryptocurrencies in Arizona after seeing an increase in digital transactions related to narcotics, firearms, and other illicit activity.
On June 15, Homeland Security Investigations in Arizona and representatives from four other federal agencies signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the “Darknet Marketplace and Digital Currency Crimes Task Force,” according to a June 20 press release by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The other agencies who signed the agreement are the IRS, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona.
Over the past several years, federal agencies have seen an increase in the use of the internet to facilitate illegal transactions involving narcotics, personal information, firearms, and other contraband, the report said, adding that the use of digital currency to facilitate these transactions has also risen.
The task force aims to “disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations that exploit the appearance of anonymity on the darknet or use digital currency to facilitate criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, money laundering, theft of personal information, and child exploitation.”
The new task force is expected to serve the needs of Arizona.
Darknets are internet-based networks that require special software and authorization to access. They’re designed to provide anonymity, making them a haven for criminal activity.
Illicit Crypto Activity
According to a February 2023 report by forensic cryptocurrency firm Chainalysis (pdf), the illicit transaction volume in the cryptocurrency market rose to $20.6 billion in 2022 from $18.1 billion in 2021 and $8.4 billion in 2020.
The share of illicit activity in the overall cryptocurrency activity stood at 0.24 percent. Although this is the second-lowest number in six years, it is up from 0.12 percent in 2021.
Darknet markets and fraud shops made an estimated $1.5 billion in 2022, down from $3.1 billion in 2021, the report said. The reason for the drop is attributed to the shutdown of Hydra Market, a leading darknet marketplace.
“Hydra’s closure prompted a sector-wide decline in darknet market revenues, with average daily revenue for all markets falling from $4.2 million just prior to its closure and to $447,000 immediately after. While drug markets’ collective revenue hasn’t recovered fully, it climbed slowly back toward previous levels in the second half of 2022. Fraud shops, however, have continued to decline,” the report said.
When it comes to scams, U.S. victims of cryptocurrency scams lost five times more money in 2022 compared to other types of internet crimes, according to a June 6 study by cybersecurity company Surfshark.
Each American victim is estimated to have lost an average of $86,000 per year due to cryptocurrency scams compared to the average loss of $16,000 per year in scams involving traditional payment methods.
In total, over $2.3 billion worth of cryptocurrencies are calculated to have been lost to internet crimes across the United States last year.
Crypto Use by Sanctioned Entities
The Chainalysis report also pointed out that 43 percent of 2022’s illicit transaction volume came from activity associated with sanctioned entities. It gave the example of cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, which accounted for the majority of the sanctions-related transaction volume last year.
The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Garantex in April 2022, but “as a Russia-based business, the exchange has been able to continue operating with impunity,” the report said.
“Transactions associated with Garantex or any other sanctioned crypto service represent, at the very least, substantial compliance risk for businesses that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction, including fines and potential criminal charges.”
America’s rivals like China and North Korea also use cryptocurrency for illicit activities. A June 11 report from The Wall Street Journal claimed that North Korea stole more than $3 billion in cryptocurrency and used it to fund about half of its ballistic missile program.
A May 23 report by Elliptic highlighted China’s use of cryptocurrencies in its fentanyl trafficking operations.
“Elliptic’s blockchain analysis shows that the cryptocurrency wallets used by these [Chinese fentanyl precursor] companies have received thousands of payments, totaling just over $27 million, and that the number of transactions has increased by 450 percent year-on-year,” the study said.
“$27 million would purchase enough precursor to produce fentanyl pills with a street value of approximately $54 billion,” it said.
What's going on at Twitter? Elon Musk's latest controversial decision is 'read limits' - 3rd July 2023
As Twitter imposes limits on the number of tweets users can view, we look back at Elon Musk's tumultuous and confusing ownership of the social media platform.
KEY POINTS
Twitter has limited the number of tweets an unverified user can read to 1,000 a day.
The decision has been taken to reportedly limit data scraping.
Owner Elon Musk has cut the company's value by more than half since October.
Twitter owner Elon Musk has introduced a limit on how many tweets users can view, meaning verified accounts will have a 'read limit' of 10,000 posts a day and unverified accounts can only read 1,000 posts a day.
Twitter's decision was made to discourage "extreme levels" of data scraping and system manipulation by actors, including AI companies, Mr Musk wrote on the platform.
It's the latest eyebrow-raising move at the company since the billionaire bought the company for US$44 billion ($66 billion) and took over in October last year, with many wondering what his strategy is.
Here's a look back at the confusing and controversial decisions at the company, which even Mr Musk admits is now worth far less than what he bought it for - he reportedly sent a memo to staff suggesting it was worth US$20 billion ($30 billion).
Why did Elon Musk fire so much of Twitter's workforce?
One of Mr Musk's first decisions at the company was to sack thousands of workers globally, allegedly to reduce costs.
He has since said around 80 per cent of staff have gone from the company, meaning its books now have around 1,500 staff, compared to over 8,000 before his takeover.
The purge included former chief executive Parag Agrawal, chief financial officer Ned Segal and other executives, and also led to mass sackings of curators and moderators which has had knock-on effects to the product's algorithm and advertisers abandoning it.
Twitter's Australia operation lost most of its workers.
Linda Yaccarino was appointed to take over the reins in May.
Many at the company were hoping the former ad executive would help bring back advertisers who had abandoned the platform since the Musk takeover.
What happened when Twitter introduced verified accounts?
Twitter began charging $12 a month for the iconic blue tick in a 'Twitter Blue' subscription, again under the banner of eliminating data scraping and managing bots.
The tick was once known as a symbol to verify one's identity and granted to high-profile figures such as celebrities, politicians and journalists for free, but those who declined to pay for the new subscription have since lost their ticks.
Mr Musk said that those who have a Twitter Blue subscription are being prioritised in the algorithm.
Twitter Blue users also get access to posting longer videos, the ability to edit tweets and an ad-free experience.
Is Twitter allowing hate speech to go unchecked?
Australia's eSafety Commission has issued Twitter a warning and threat of hefty fines if it does not deal with a surge of online hate.
Mr Musk allowed 62,000 banned or suspended users to be reinstated to the platform, many of which had been banned for hate speech.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in June there have been more complaints about online hate on Twitter in the past year than any other platform, and complaints have spiked since October.
Ms Inman Grant said Twitter's policies prohibited hateful conduct on the platform but rising complaints to eSafety and reports of the toxic content remaining on the platform show that Twitter was probably not enforcing its own rules.
"We are also aware of reports that the reinstatement of some of these previously banned accounts has emboldened extreme polarisers, peddlers of outrage and hate, including neo-Nazis both in Australia and overseas," Ms Inman Grant said.
US advocacy group GLAAD has designated Twitter as the most hateful platform towards the LGBTQ+ community.
Research by the UK-based Centre for Countering Digital Hate demonstrated that slurs against African Americans showed up on Twitter an average of 1,282 times a day before Mr Musk took over the platform. Afterwards, they more than doubled to an average of 3,876 times a day.
Reversing ban on COVID-19 misinformation
Similarly, Twitter's terms and conditions were changed to reverse a ban on posting misinformation related to COVID-19.
"Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy," the terms said.
Public health officials condemned the decision and said it could lead to more false claims about the virus or the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
With additional reporting by AAP.
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