Australia News - Page 17

International News Brief: Victorian poker machine gamblers have lost a record $1.35 billion in just six months.

Alexander Kostritsyn outlasts a record field of 780 players in Melbourne to win the $1.65 million jackpot, the largest prize ever awarded in a live poker tournament in the Southern Hemisphere.

International News Brief: One of the players at the centre of the ATP Tour's inquiry into match-fixing has accused the governing body of men's tennis of 'political terrorism' and using scare tactics to get players to cooperate.

International News Brief: Tattersalls has been accused of greed after removing its machines from small news agencies.

International News Brief: Tennis Australia has employed a team headed by a former senior detective to catch any cheats as part of a blitz on match fixing.

Team Full Tilts Howard Lederer added to his illustrious resume this week by claiming one of the most prestigious titles in tournament poker, the $100K No-Limit Hold ‘em event at the Aussie Millions.

International News Brief: Sydney's Star City Casino is proposing a $3.9 million redevelopment for outdoor gambling in response to the New South Wales smoking bans.

UltimateBet.com today announced that acclaimed world poker champion Annie Duke is heading to Australia for the 2008 Aussie Millions this month.

After approximately six hours of intense poker at Melbourne's Crown Casino, Englishman Luke 'Resteal' Abolins was crowned PokerProForAYear beating out stiff competition from nine other talented players from around the world.

International News Brief: Smoking bans introduced in pokies venues to protect the health of staff and patrons have had the added bonus of providing a long-term fall in gaming losses, mostly benefiting heavy gamblers.

International News Brief: Ambulances are being called to Melbourne's Crown Casino complex so often that some health experts believe a permanent paramedic presence at the venue may be necessary.

International News Brief: Former Australian prime minister Sir Robert Menzies played a key role in blocking early plans for a casino in Canberra, Cabinet documents released under the 30-year rule have confirmed.

International News Brief: Crown casino will go to trial over explosive claims it lured a banned pathological gambler to blow $30 million.

International News Brief: A physical education teacher from Sydney's western suburbs has won $1 million in the city's richest poker tournament.

International News Brief: James Packer's new $2.5 billion-plus media group, Consolidated Media Holdings, and a $10 billion casino company, Crown have debuted on the stock exchange.

International News Brief: TABCORP chief executive Elmer Funke Kupper has written to the NSW and Victorian premiers seeking a ban on betting exchanges.

International News Brief: A highly organised Asian syndicate cheated the Gold Coast's Conrad Jupiters Casino out of almost $1 million in less than an hour at the high rollers' tables before being arrested.

International News Brief: Star City made a one-off $100,000 donation to the NSW Labor Party in the lead-up to the 2007 election only months before it was due to begin negotiations with the State Government over its monopoly casino licence.

International News Brief: Greek gambling giant Intralot has backflipped on last week's pledge not to introduce SMS punting.

International News Brief: The Tasmanian Gaming Commission's annual report has been released in State Parliament.