Areas of Expertise
2301 stories by Erik Gibbs
Madonna’s Old Hollywood Home, a Former Mafia Gambling Den, for Sale
A home that once belonged to Madonna and reportedly was a gambling parlor for mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel just hit the market. It's available for around $21 million. The house was purchased by Madonna for $5 million in 1993, according to a...
Singapore Gambling Addict Forged Checks Using Erasable Pen, Heads to Prison
An administrative clerk at a temple in Singapore was secretly carrying out a scheme to steal funds to feed her gambling habit. Now, after stealing more than SGD207,000 (US$155,167) over the course of a year, she's going to prison. On Thursday, February...
Merkur Wants to Bring 24-Hour Casino to Scarborough, England
While some casino operators are having a difficult time staying afloat in the UK, others see plenty of opportunity. Merkur Slots Ltd., the UK subsidiary of German gaming giant Gauselmann Group, is one of those, and has plans for a 24-hour casino...
US Sanctions Ex-Bulgarian Finance Minister For Gambling Favors
Vladislav Goranov, Bulgaria's former finance minister and a close confidant to former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, has found himself in an unwanted spot. The US has added him to a sanctions list under the global Magnitsky Law for significant corruption tied...
Chinese National Heads to Prison After Singapore Gambling Scam
A Chinese national who scammed two people in Singapore out of millions of dollars was recently sentenced to 12 years in prison. During her sentencing, the presiding judge called 41-year-old Wu Hong a “heartless con artist” who led a fake investment scam...
Australian Judge Blasts AUSTRAC Over Crown Resorts Lawsuit
Australian casino operator Crown Resorts recently asked Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) for additional time to develop its defense, according to court documents. Now a federal judge has chided the financial watchdog over its continued foot-dragging in the lawsuit against...
UK Casinos Shut Down as Inflation Takes Toll on Gaming Industry
Inflation remains high in the UK, and the prolonged economic strain is taking its toll on the casino ecosystem. Two properties, the Broadway Casino in Birmingham and the Cornerhouse in Nottingham, recently announced their closures. One is already in administration, while the...
Philippine Human Trafficking Victims Return Home After Myanmar Gambling Scam
Authorities in the Philippines and Myanmar recently aided in rescuing eight Filipinos who were trafficked by Chinese criminal gangs. These individuals, which included four men and four men, were allegedly recruited to Myanmar for legitimate work, only to find themselves caught in...
Vietnam’s ‘Valley of Love’ Seeking Approval to Build Casino
Vietnam's most popular tourist destination, the city of Da Lat, is one of the few areas in the country absent of a casino. The region, also known as the "Valley of Love," is now planning to seek federal approval for a gaming...
Rio de Janeiro May See Regulated Sports Betting This Year
Brazil's federal government hasn't made much progress with sports betting legislation, so the states are picking up the slack. Rio de Janeiro is moving forward with its own plans, and wants to have a market in place within the next six months....