(LinkAsia: 4/20/12) Gambling and corruption have infiltrated the struggling Taiwanese professional baseball league, culminating in a high profile investigation of a coach. Contributor Cindy Sui reports from Taipei, where the government is starting to crack down. IMAGE: Base runner Park of South Korea’s Samsung Lions slides to second base during the second inning of their Asia Series 2011 baseball game at Taoyuan: REUTERS/Pichi Chuang
J Todd returns from yet another “secret location” to preach the gospel according to gambling! We have more on Full Tilt Poker troubles and their mounting legal issues, plus possible payouts from Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker as rumors of a deal with the Department of Justice circulate. Also, a new “dynamic” website review and “This Weeks” rant.
Two Batavia firefighters and a chef at the VA nursing home are all facing more serious felony charges for a suspected gambling operation that police say involved at least a million dollars.
I’m not defending PvP gambling in this video, nor am I bashing staking. I’m merely sharing an observation with you guys - Why is it that staking is so celebrated while PvP gambling (dice, flowers, etc) is shunned? When you actually look at the facts, it makes no sense. Sure, some people hate staking too. But the majority of people love staking and hate PvP gambling. Which simply does not make sense.
People always ask magicians if they’re banned from casinos or exclaim that they wouldn’t want to play cards with the performer. To laypeople, having an advantage at gambling and games of chance is an alluring idea and a magician demonstrating his skill usually brings this enticing image to the fore. On this DVD, you’ll meet seven magicians who perform and teach great commercial magic effects that combine the worlds of conjuring and gambling. Johnny Thompson is first with his version of Dai Vernon’s classic Poker Deal demonstration, followed by John Mendoza, who demonstrates Three Card Monte much like you’d see it today on the streets of major cities. Michael Ammar is next with Hornswaggled, a time-honored and very entertaining short-change routine while Dan Harlan teaches a trio of effects based on an elementary card magic principle that still manages to fool. Harry Lorayne performs and teaches the 10-Card Poker Deal straight out of one of his classic books while Scotty York weaves a tale with a handful of money that will leave any audience rubbing their eyes. Finally, you’ll be treated to a short film created by gambling expert and true sleight of hand legend Ross Bertram, demonstrating his unsurpassed skill with cards, dice, and shells. Tricks with a gambling theme have built-in spectator interest and you’d be hard-pressed to find better examples of this genre of magic than the performers and their creations you’ll find presented here. Running Time Approximately: 1hr 40min
