Thursday, August 22, 2013

news.casinolife

news.casinolife

DICK RIZZO TO RECEIVE CASINO DESIGN’S SARNO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT G2E LV

Posted: 21 Aug 2013 02:56 PM PDT

 

 

 

 

LAS VEGAS – The American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions today announced that they will honor Richard J. Rizzo, vice chairman of Perini Building Company, Inc., with the 2013 Sarno Lifetime Achievement Award. Rizzo is being recognized for his unmatched contributions to casino resort construction across the United States. He will be presented with the award during the Casino Design Awards at Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2013.

Richard J. Rizzo, vice chairman of Perini Building Company, Inc

“It is with great honor that we present the 2013 Sarno Lifetime Achievement Award to Dick Rizzo,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. “He has played an integral part in the construction of some of the country’s most well known casino resorts and has helped to shape the Las Vegas skyline we see today.”

As vice chairman of Perini Building Company, Rizzo is responsible for new business development and company growth, with particular emphasis on developing national clients. Rizzo joined Perini in 1977 and was instrumental in steering the company into the hospitality and gaming industry. Today, the company is a leader in its market and has built many of the nation’s most recognizable casino resorts.

Rizzo oversaw the development of many of the following casino resorts and attractions in Las Vegas, including: Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino; CityCenter Las Vegas; The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas; Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa & Casino; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas; Luxor Las Vegas; Palms Casino Resort; and Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.

He has also overseen construction of several casino resorts across the United States, including: MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.; the Mohegan Sun expansion in Montville, Conn.; Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif.; Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif.; the Resorts Casino Hotel expansion in Atlantic City, N.J.; Resorts World Casino New York City; the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos in Hollywood and Tampa, Fla.; and the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, N.J.

In addition to the 2013 Sarno Lifetime Achievement Award, Rizzo is the recipient of many accolades, including the 2009 Hospitality Industry Network Industry Achievement Award and the 2002 Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Award. He also was recognized as one of the 10 most respected executives in Nevada in 2004 by Nevada Business Journal and was listed as one of the most influential businessmen in 2003 by In Business Las Vegas.

Rizzo serves on the G2E conference advisory board for casino design; the advisory board for the department of construction management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and the board of directors for Three Square Food Bank. He attended Lehigh University and holds bachelor’s degrees in business administration and civil engineering. He also graduated from Stanford University’s Executive Management Program.

Presented annually during Casino Design at G2E, the only conference dedicated to casino architecture, design and decor, and construction, the Sarno Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor afforded to any individual involved in the design and construction of casino resorts. The Sarno Award is named for Jay Sarno, the grandfather of casino design, who envisioned such well-known casino resort properties as Caesars Palace and Circus Circus in the 1960s. The 2013 Sarno Award will be presented by Sarno’s son, Freddie Sarno, during a cocktail reception on Monday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. in Venetian Ballroom G.

G2E is the premier trade show and conference event for the international gaming entertainment industry and will be held Sept. 23-26, 2013 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. For more information or to register for G2E 2013, visit www.globalgamingexpo.com.

To stay up-to-date on G2E, year-round educational opportunities and the latest news and issues in the industry, connect with G2E on the G2E Blog, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is the international gaming trade show and conference “by the industry and for the industry.” Organized by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions, G2E made its debut in fall 2001, defining itself as the pre-eminent show for the gaming-entertainment industry.

The AGA represents the commercial casino-entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues. The association also serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leader in organizing a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. In 2006 Reed brought together more than 6 million industry professions from around the world, generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held in 34 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organized by 37 fully staffed offices. Reed’s portfolio of more than 460 events services 52 key industry sectors.

 

 

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Glitz and Glamour as Stake Me to Play Launches

Posted: 21 Aug 2013 10:19 AM PDT

21 August 2013 (London, UK) - On Friday 16th August, the poker world saw revolutionary new staking company Stake Me To Play launch with a bang.

The glitzy launch event, held at Aspers Casino in Stratford London, saw hundreds of people turn up to celebrate the company's official beginning. The VIP guest list was made up of the crème de la crème of the poker community – industry and media experts, as well as professional poker players with an interest in being staked.

In particular, there was immense variety in the players who attended. Pros of all levels made an appearance, from micro-stakes grinders all the way to famous tournament sharks including Paul "The Marbella Kid" Zimbler.

Stake Me To Play's celebratory freeroll tournament swiftly got underway at 10pm. Seats for the tournament had been highly sought after, and play was jovial but fierce in a field of 60 extremely talented players. After a good few hours, the freeroll was eventually won by Brandon Sheils from Birmingham. Claiming the incredible first prize of a £5,000 seat to EPT London, Sheils will go on to represent Stake Me To Play in October.

Winner Brandon Sheils

Brandon, whose favourite players are Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey and Jake Cody, described the win as "an amazing experience".

"I can't wait to play in the EPT London and take down the pros!" said the 18-year-old, who is due to start studying maths at Birmingham University in September.

Having played card games since the age of 8, Brandon will now benefit from Stake Me To Play's world class training programme. He will receive coaching from the likes of Jared Tendler and other top strategists in order to help him prepare for the biggest tournament of his life.

"A huge thank you to everyone who came along and helped make it such a special night," Operations Director Paul Conroy-Frost said. "I'm delighted so many people turned out to show their support for Stake Me to Play, and we're all really excited for the future too."

With the fun and triumphant atmosphere lasting well into the early hours, it was certainly a night to remember. Everyone who attended would surely agree that the event was the perfect beginning for Stake Me To Play, and now all that's left is for them to go on and make their mark on the poker world. Watch this space!

Watch the Event highlights video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSKThS9ZfF0

 

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The World Cup and Olympic Games trigger debate on sports integrity and regulation of gaming in Brazil

Posted: 21 Aug 2013 06:34 AM PDT

 

LONDON (21st August) – Despite Brazil's ban on most forms of gambling, betting is a popular pastime amongst Brazilian football-fanatics. The estimated size of the un-licensed sports betting market is unknown, but exponential growth is anticipated during the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016. With an intensified betting activity in an un-licensed and un-monitored environment comes a higher risk of match-fixing, which is why the issues around sports integrity start coming to the forefront in Brazil's preparations to host the sports events.

Well-regulated betting markets are key to supporting sports integrity initiatives and preventing match fixing. One example is the Joint Assessment Unit, set up during the London 2012 Olympic Games by the IOC, UK Gambling Commission and the licensed

Andre Gelfi, Codere do Brasil

betting operators to monitor and protect the integrity of the Games in 2012. European Sports Security Association, an industry body set up by licensed European sports betting operators, works closely with the sports governing bodies to identify and report suspicious betting patterns. 'Corruptors are generally steering clear of ESSA’s well-regulated and vigilant betting operators, because a perfect audit trail would be created,' said Antonio Costanzo of ESSA in a recent interview with TotallyGaming.com.

ESSA's Chairman and Director of a British sportsbook Ladbrokes, Michael O'Kane, will be one of the speakers at the first Brasilian Gaming Congress (BgC), scheduled to take place on 18-20 November 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. Sports integrity, security of the games and consumer protections will be at the heart of the many debates planned for the Congress. There will be a focus on international perspective on the link between gaming regulation and sports integrity offered by Dale Sheehan, Director Police Training and Capacity Building, Interpol, Rhadames Killy who oversaw regulations at ARJEL at the time of the WorldCup in France and Thierry Pujol, Director Security and Risk Management, La Française des Jeux and Chair of the Security and Risk Management Committee of the World Lottery Association. Brazilian perspective will be provided by Jorge Barbosa Pontes, Security International Relations Manager, Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Andre Gelfi, MD for Codere do Brasil and Fabio Cleto, VP Government Funds and Lotteries, CAIXA Economica Federal, and sports bodies in attendance at the Congress.

Andre Gelfi of Codere do Brasil, a company that operates horserace betting in Brazil and is the headline sponsor of BgC, commented: 'It is high time that some of the myths around match-fixing and sports betting are abolished in Brazil. It has been well demonstrated that licensed operators contribute to preventing match-fixing through the scrutiny their security teams apply when monitoring betting activities. The Brasilian Gaming Congress will be a great opportunity to showcase how it is done and how regulation of gaming can contribute to a more transparent and fair sporting events'.

The Brasilian Gaming Congress will take place on 18-20 November in Rio de Janeiro. More details are available on www.brasiliangamingcongress.com.

 

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Net Entertainment Adds Reel Rush to Mobile

Posted: 21 Aug 2013 02:09 AM PDT

 

August 21, 2013 – Net Entertainment, the world's leading provider of high-quality online casino games, announces the release of its latest mobile video slot, Reel Rush Touch™.

This is one of the most innovative video slots to hit the online market this year and offers players a chance to experience a level of win anticipation unheard of in online casino gaming.

Features include Wild substitutions, re-spins and Free Spins with 3125 Ways to Win. Re-spins in Reel Rush Touch™ create chances for massive wins, with increasing Ways to Win on each re-spin. It's a game guaranteed to catch the attention of the online casino community, satisfying and captivating any player who takes a spin on the reels.

Blending soft graphics with colourful animations and vigorous sounds, Reel Rush Touch™ presents a unique take on the original Reel Rush game.

Players have the opportunity of winning up to 5 re-spins, with each re-spin changing the shape of the reels. During each re-spin, two new positions on the reels open in a puff of clouds, revealing two symbols that can help create winning combinations after the reels stop spinning. Free Spins are activated when players reach a specific total.

Wild symbols in Reel Rush TouchTM add even more excitement to the game with catchy animations. They can appear on reels 2-5 in the main game and Free Spins, and substitute for all symbols.
"Developing Reel Rush TouchTM for mobile was the logical move after the positive response we have had from players enjoying the video slot." comments Simon Hammon, Chief Product Officer of Net Entertainment. "The mobile sector continues to grow at a fast pace and Net Entertainment meets the high demand by continuously growing our innovative mobile portfolio."

To view a demo of Reel Rush Touch™ click here.

 

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