The head of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), Nan Yong is discharged from his job. Allegations of matchfixing sparked an investigation into the troubled sport of China, after being questioned by police Nan Yong, was taken away.

Wei Di, the former director of water sports will replace Nan Yong as director of the CFA. Vice minister van sport, Cui Dalin said in an interview at a press conference: “We firmly support the police’s crackdown on the criminal activities of illegally manipulating games and soccer gambling. Anyone involved in soccer that commits these crimes will be seriously punished.” Vice president Yang Yimin, who has also lost his job was taken into custody together with Nan Yong and also Zhang Jianqiang, the CFA’s head of women’s soccer. The suspects were asked to clear up a few facts in some high-profile cases of soccer betting and manipulating the outcome of domestic soccer league games by bribing game officials. Nan Yong was best known for organising the women’s World Cup finals in China in 2007. Last year he also replaced the ridiculed Xie Yalong last year. Over 20 officials, players and club managers have been arrested in the past two months on suspicion of match-fixing or illegal gambling. The investigation into the scandal led to more than 200 games in more then 20 country’s being investigated and already more than 25 people are arrested for suspect illegal gambling.

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Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama and fanatic opponent of legal gambling, finds himself once again in a bind as the head of his special anti-gambling task force resigned after it became public he won £1400 in a Mississippi casino.

It seems even the closest allies in Governor Riley’s battle against gambling love the game so much they cannot stay out of the casino. David Barber, head of the anti-gambling task force has resigned from his position because the impropriety of his decision. Riley’s campaign became a debate both on morality as well as on legality in the minds of the people, while the governor persisted Alabama wouldn’t tolerate even the simple e-bingo games found in other places. In an written explanation to Riley, Barber wrote: “While my actions were in full compliance with the law, I am convinced that the forces that operate illegal casinos in Alabama will focus on my actions as part of their continuing effort to smear you and your task force.” A lot has been said about governors Rileys ties to Indian casinos in neighbour states, because Riley was mentioned by a former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, saying Riley would never allow gambling in Alabama. One of Riley’s assistants has worked with Abramoff, who is now convicted for his felony, and rumours have it that Riley received huge campaign funds from the casinos. David Barbers resignation came on the same day that the Alabama Supreme Court overturned a judge’s order that banned the task force from raiding electronic bingo operations.

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One of the larger sportbooks in the world, bwin has assigned the former member of Boss Media, Peter Bertilsson, as the new Managing Director of poker subsidiary bwin Games AB, as the company looks to reorganise its poker business and create a B2B offering to exist alongside its successful customer business.

Peter Bertilsson was Managing Director of Boss Media from 2001 to 2006, and has more than fifteen years experience in the online gambling industry. Norbert Teufelberger, Co-CEO of bwin said: “We have convinced a true veteran of internet casino gambling B2B business to take the challenge leading this business unit. As the market environment changes in the fast moving online gambling industry, the B2B capabilities will be key for USA and Asia but also for riding the regulation wave in Europe.” Bwin said they will continue to focus on its B2C poker product alongside its core sports betting offering, they added that the appointment of Bertilsson will strengthen its B2B offerings. Teufelberger added: “To carve out a distinct and strategic B2B unit is the order of the day. It is time to evaluate, complete and enhance the product portfolio to prepare for the future.” Bertilsson will follow in Carl Klingberg’s footsteps as Managing Director of Bwin Games. Bertilsson said: “I am very happy to take this opportunity, there have never been greater opportunities within the gambling industry than right now and bwin has a very strong position to make these opportunities happen.” Bwin is following the example of the market leaders, PartyGaming and 888 both enjoy a well established B2B division and lucrative partnerships such as 888’s B2B deal with Harrah’s Interactive and PartyGaming’s recently announced exclusive contract with Denmark’s Danske Spil.

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As a result of steady growth at CryptoLogic, an innovative provider of Internet gambling, they had to expand its payment processing capabilities. The expansion is needed to support their card processing requirements in a growing customer base.

To that end, online gambling provider CryptoLogic has closed a three-year deal with payment processor Realex Payments. Realex will provide its services to offer more functionality and additional capacity for CryptoLogic. Under terms of the agreement, Realex will provide payment processing in the Cryptologic network. They will handle a variety of currencies, regions and types of cards, so they act as a gateway service for its partners, most of which are online casinos. The agreement provides CryptoLogic with significant improvements of their technical infrastructure to support future growth plans and requirements on safety and reliability in the betting industry.

Kieron Nolan, Finance Director at casino provider CryptoLogic commented on the agreement and said: “Realex was able to implement the solution quickly and efficiently, meeting our demands in the time-frame required. As well as providing an impressive cost-effective solution, Realex offered a high level of support and consultancy. Compared with other solutions on the market, Realex Payments technology and operational approach is far more advanced, modern and fitting to our needs.”

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In the US state of Texas 176 people including 15 children have been arrested for involvement into an illegal cock fighting betting ring or animal cruelty. Cock fighting is a criminal act in 39 states and a misdemeanor in the other 11 states.

The children arrested where between the ages of  7 to 15 and where watching the cockfights with their parents. Even though cockfighting is a criminal act in the US, it is one of the most popular illegal forms of gambling in the country. Supporters of cockfighting say it is a sport based on the natural behaviour of the animal, but opponents like the Humane Society say its is brutal and cruel and has nothing to do with sport. Owners of the birds of the feed their birds steroids or other supplements, to make the animal more aggressive. Sometimes owners will attach razors to the animals feet, to ensure a deadly outcome of the fight. Authorities say that besides 115 roosters, police found illegal drugs at the site. Marijuana, cocaine and other drugs where found on the premises, police also took in evidence on the cockfighting ring. Magazines razors and dead roosters where also found. 2010 Starts with the continuation of the gambling crackdown, although we too think cockfighting is a cruel act.

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Two NBA stars, Javaris Crittenton and Gilbert Arenas are suspended from playing any NBA games until investigation into the gun drawing incident about 10 days ago is completed. What exactly happened is unclear, but it is said the incident happened over gambling debts.

It is said the two Washington Wizards basketball players where playing a game of poker in the locker room before a match. Arenas was in a losing streak, and after one too many bad beats, he drew a gun and pointed it at Crittenton refusing to pay the money. It is said the debt of the player was 15.000 pounds, Crittenton quickly responded by drawing his own gun and taking aim back. Eventually things calmed down, police will now investigate the two athletes for firearm offences. Having a weapon is against NBA policy’s against firearms at venues. Poker games usually does not know such violence, but high stakes and big debts can cause confrontations between players. The Wizards are giving as little information as possible, only saying they will give their full support to the investigation. The incident left online gambling insiders with a familiar taste in their mouths, that of the sports league being against any sort of gambling with all their players and fans wagering and gambling on all sorts of games.

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