gambling

Powerball Jackpot Leaps to $550M

The Powerball jackpot has jumped to $550 million, a major climb less than a day after the latest drawing produced no winning ticket.

Ex-San Diego Mayor's Gambling Wagers Top $1 Billion

Former San Diego Mayor Maureen O'Connor acknowledged Thursday in federal court that she took $2.1 million from her late husband's charitable foundation and gambled it away during a nearly decade-long binge when she wagered more than $1 billion.

Midday Market Minute: A Prelude to Internet Gaming in New Jersey

Guests at one New Jersey casino will be the first in the United States to place bets with the click of their television remote controls, as gambling gets ever closer to going online in the state. Governor Chris Christie narrowly vetoed a bill last week which would have legalized online gaming.

Super Bowl Squares: How Much Are Your Numbers Worth?

Super Bowl Squares are the second most popular office sports betting tradition in the country (beaten only by March Madness brackets), maybe because winning is based solely on luck. Now that you know your numbers, we'll tell you how much they're worth.

Investing.com Is 2012's Priciest URL, but the Real Money Is in Sin

This week, financial news company Forexpros.com shelled out $2.45 million to acquire the Investing.com domain name. That's the biggest URL price tag of the year, but when it comes to the most valuable Internet properties, it's not money that sells: It's sex, alcohol and gambling.

President Romney? Gamblers Say Don't Bet on It

We've heard from poll after poll in recent months predicting who would win the presidential race: Barack Obama or Mitt Romney. But poll respondents don't have anything to lose when they give their opinions. Gamblers betting on the outcome do, and they give overwhelming odds to one candidate.

Japanese Pachinko Mogul Sues Wynn Resorts in Tokyo

In the latest move in a months-long battle between Japanese pachinko tycoon Kazuo Okada and American casino owner Steve Wynn, Okada has filed a $140 million lawsuit against Wynn, claiming that the actions of his former friend and business partner damaged his company, Universal Entertainment.

Place Your Bets: Which Gambling Hot Spot Now Dwarfs Las Vegas?

If you thought Vegas was where the big gamblers went to play, you're behind the times. Sin City has been blown past by another exotic destination once infamous for corruption and mob activity. But you probably won't be heading there to play baccarat any time soon.

Leveraged Buyout Trailblazer Ted Forstmann Dead at 71

Theodore J. "Ted" Forstmann died on Sunday from complications related to brain cancer. The private equity pioneer's firm, Forstmann Little & Co., was one of the first to engage in leveraged buyouts -- using borrowed money to buy companies.

Poker Champ Pays No Taxes on $8.7 Million

There's Herman Cain's 9-9-9 Plan. There's the Buffett Rule. But Pius Heinz's All for Me deal is our favorite. Heinz recently won the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, earning $8,715,636 -- tax-free.

How to Bet the Horses and Win on a Budget

You don't need to pony up a lot of cash for a victorious day at the track. Just ride these tips from Dave Litfin of the Daily Racing Form and Andy Serling of the New York Racing Association.

The Painfully High Price of Gambling Addiction

The severity of America's gambling addiction isn't too far behind the nation's drug problem, and it's growing. In 2007, Americans lost more than $92 billion gambling, almost 10 times more than what U.S. moviegoers spent on tickets -- and about nine times what they lost 15 years earlier.

The Ten States that Profit Most from Sin

As state budgets strain under huge debt loads, they are counting increasingly on "sin taxes," one of the few reliable sources of revenue in these uncertain economic times.

For Las Vegas Sands, the House Edge Is Global Reach

Las Vegas Sands benefits from being more geographically diversified than its major competitors. With a casino resort presence that spans the U.S., Macau and Singapore, LVS is a strong player that can ride out local downturns, and one stock analysis firm thinks its stock is undervalued by 10% to 15%.

Jackpot! States With Biggest Lottery Payouts

Lotteries are big businesses in most states, and they can provide windfalls for both the winning ticket-holders and state coffers. But which states give the most back to ticket-holders and through government services?

Cash In on Asian Gambling With Shares of Las Vegas Sands

Singapore is expected to overtake South Korea and Australia this year to become the second-largest Asia-Pacific casino market behind reigning leader Macau. For U.S. investors looking to profit, Las Vegas Sands looks nicely positioned.

Jeopardy! Challenge: Bettors Are Gambling on the Machine

IBM's supercomputer Watson racked up $5,000 in winnings on day one of the three-day Jeopardy! challenge Monday, but so did one of its human competitors. The human champs, Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings, face long odds -- at least according those betting their own money on the action.

Motorcycle Robber Steals $1.5M in Bellagio Casino Chips

In the 10th Las Vegas casino robbery this year, an armed man stole about $1.5 million in betting chips from the Bellagio hotel early Tuesday morning and escaped on a motorcycle. No shots were fired and no one was injured.

Apollo and TPG Plan an IPO for Harrah's

Private-equity firms Apollo Management and TPG, which took Harrah's Entertainment private in January 2008, are now preparing a $575 million initial public offering. An IPO may be just as bold a move as the buyout, as investors remain wary of IPOs from private-equity firms.