1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender
Chicago Area Grocer Shelved to Federal Prison for Bookmaking, Tax Evasion
A 63-year-old meat market owner from suburban Chicago was sentenced to a year in prison by a federal judge Monday for running an illegal bookmaking operation and failing to report nearly $4 million in income from the sports betting enterprise. Domenic Poeta...
Bob Baffert’s Life is Good Leads the Pack in 2021 Kentucky Derby Futures Betting (VIDEO)
We’re still more than five months away from the 2021 Kentucky Derby, but it already seems like bettors have found their horse for next year’s Run for the Roses. Betting opened at noon ET Thursday at Churchill Downs on the first futures...
Illinois Casinos Want Lawmakers To Take Up iGaming, Mobile Sports Betting Registration in 2021
As Illinois casinos enter their second week under Gov. J.B. Pritzker's closure order, signs point to the 10 gaming properties lobbying lawmakers for some more changes to state laws. Tom Swoik, the executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, told Casino.org...
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Creating LLC to Pursue Commercial Casino Acquisitions
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council has funded the due diligence on its possible purchase of the Caesars Southern Indiana casino. But tribal council members also approved another initiative to help the nation expand into commercial gaming. At its Nov....
Indiana Gaming Officials Give Caesars Another Year to Find a Buyer for Horseshoe Hammond
Caesars Entertainment now has more time to sell its Horseshoe Hammond Casino in northwest Indiana. On Monday, the Indiana Gaming Commission extended the deadline to find a deal for the casino by a year, to Dec. 31, 2021. Horseshoe is one of...
Indiana Gaming Commission Expands Spectacle Probe, Action May Come Soon
The scope of the Indiana Gaming Commission’s investigation into Spectacle Entertainment has widened, Executive Director Sara Gonso Tait told commissioners Monday. As a result, the company that operates the Majestic Star Casinos and building a $300 million land-based replacement in Gary with...
New Podcast Series Highlights Diversity of Underground Gamblers, Shows Winning Traits
A new podcast series focuses on the lives of professional underground gamblers. The podcast goes inside the world of professional gambling and attempts to show what traits make these players successful. Gamblers is hosted by David Hill, a veteran writer on gambling....
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Exclusive Window to Purchase Caesars Southern Indiana
Caesars Southern Indiana casino may soon find itself under new ownership. Earlier this month, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians signed a letter of intent with Caesars Entertainment Inc. that gives the tribal nation an exclusive 45-day window to negotiate a purchase...
Feds Say Cincinnati Councilmen Sought Bribes to Support Project Tied to Sports Betting
For the second time this month, federal prosecutors have announced charges against a sitting member of the Cincinnati City Council for soliciting bribes on projects. One of those projects included an endeavor tied to sports betting. City Council Member P.G. Sittenfeld was...
Pennsylvania Woman Out of Work By Pandemic Wins $443,000 Online Slot Jackpot
Just in time for the holidays, a 40-year-old Pennsylvania mother of three unemployed for seven months became the latest big winner on BetRivers online casino. The Allentown woman was playing the Divine Fortune slot machine on her mobile phone when her $3...
