Poker Meets Academia -- Harvard Law School's student-led Poker Strategic Thinking Society (GPSTS) and Harvard Law Professor Charles Nesson have scheduled a series of lectures and conferences to examine the role of poker in the law and education. The lecture series begins today with a look at how the game of poker mirrors the challenges of real life in terms of risk taking, management skills, decision making, and strategic thinking. Panel members include Crandell Addington, co-founder of the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and poker pro and WSOP bracelet winner Howard Lederer. The series will continue through the end of the fall semester with lectures each Monday on a different topic related to poker.
Sting -- Police in Taichung, Taiwan arrested 18 people Tuesday on suspicion of running an illegal Internet sports betting operation. The Taipei Times reports that officers from the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) busted the gambling ring, arresting main suspect Huang Chu-ming and 17 accomplices. Police said the group had set up several Web sites as part of the business and had received NT$100 million (US$3 million) on average in bets each month. The group also established a fake law firm as a front for the operation, according to police. A number of computers used to run the gambling Web sites were seized in the raid.
Stingo -- Swedish gaming technologies company NYX Interactive has partnered with Folkspel and Bonnier Gaming to launch a bingo product called "Stingo." The game is based on the existing technology/product platform currently used by Bingolotto.se and is made up of several different bingo games.
Terminated Talks -- Takeover talks between Leisure & Gaming (LNG) and Dublin-based casino and slots provider CGTV Games have been terminated, LNG chief executive Henry Birch said this morning in a prepared statement. Talks began in September as "an approach" by CGTV, but came to nothing, Birch said, adding that the termination was in the "best interests of shareholders." LNG reports that it has been approached by several additional suitors, though it has not entered into discussions with any of them.
Cantor and Punch -- Cantor Gaming today launched a new online casino owned by British pub and entertainment group Punch Taverns. Licensed in Malta, Pub-casino.co.uk offers blackjack, roulette, video poker, slots and baccarat. More poker and bingo products will be made available.