Monthly Archives: July 2017

India is currently suffering from an illegal form of gambling called satta matka. The lottery game is becoming increasingly popular beyond the boundaries of the countrys law.

Unfortunately, the problem is showing no signs of going away and it is only expected to become more of an issue over the coming years.

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Unless you have visited India recently or have relations based in the country, its highly likely you will be looking at the start of this article with a puzzled expression. Matka gambling, also known as satta or satta matka is a type of lottery game.

It initially involved players betting on the opening and closing values of cotton on the New York Cotton Exchange. It can be traced back to a time before Indias independence in 1947 and is believed to have originally been called Ankuda Jugar.

In the 1960s, the game was altered due to the New York Cotton Exchange clamping down on the betting. After this other ways of generating random numbers were used, such as dealing cards or pulling slips out from a pot called a matka.

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Ever since its introduction to Indian society, matka gambling has increased in its popularity. This has particularly been the case with idlers and compulsive gamblers.

When the New York Cotton Exchange halted the practice of satta matka gambling in 1961, the government hoped that the recreation would disappear.

However, it simply evolved. In 1962, Kalyanji Bhagat set up the Worli matka. Just two years later, the rules were modified by Rattan Khatri who invented the New Worli matka.

These games saw the two men go on to become known as The Matka Kings.

This established solid foundations for more modern versions of satta matka in India. The activity then hit a peak during the boom period of the 1980s and 1990s.

Bets exceeding the value of Rs.500 crore each month would be recorded. The Mumbai police attempted to pull off a huge crackdown on matka betting operations but it simply drove the games underground and to the outskirts of the city.

By 1995, satta matka was in a state of slight decline. This has continued with the number of bookies in Mumbai falling from 2,000 in the mid-90s to just over 300 in the present day.

In comparison to the heights hit in the 80s and 90s, it is now estimated that just Rs.100 crore are bet on matka games each month.

Matka gambling isnt just located in Mumbai anymore either, it is now believed to be most popular in the region of Maharashtra.

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Individuals that have earned a huge sum of money from their involvement in satta matka gambling have become known as Matka Kings. Two individuals stand out as the most revered Matka Kings.

Kalyanji Bhagat Born into a farming family in the peaceful village of Ratadia in Gujarat, Bhagat was part of a family that had their name given to them by the King Kutch due to their commitment to religion.

Bhagat became involved in satta matka after migrating to Bombay in 1941. He initially worked a range of jobs including selling spices to working in a grocery store before becoming one of the great matka pioneers.

He was the first individual to accept bets based on the opening and closing prices of cotton on the New York Cotton Exchange.

He made his fortune by operating his satta matka gaming business out of his own building in Vinod Mahal, Worli.

Rattan Khatri As one of the original Matka Kings, Khatri held a firm grasp over a nationwide illegal gambling network in India throughout the 1960s to the 1990s.

Khatris involvement in matka gambling started in the humble Dhanji Street in Mumbadevi. As interest in his business increased and the bets became larger, the punters wanted more. Khatri delivered this by offering a syndicate for a lottery where three cards were randomly drawn to determine a daily winning number.

Khatri built a reputation for honesty as he was one of the only operators to carry out the draw in front of the players.

Khatri was imprisoned during the emergency in India of 1975 to 1977. He served 19 months in jail and has now retired from all forms of gambling.

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Matka gambling is not without is controversies. In 2008, one Matka King was the victim of an alleged assassination.

Suresh Bhagat was travelling in his Mahindra Scorpio car with his lawyer and bodyguards. The vehicle was hit by a truck, killing all six people in the car. Police investigations found that Bhagats son, Hitesh, and his mother, Jaya, had been behind the plot to kill Suresh.

The money earned through running statta matka games was pin pointed as the motive for the murder.

In 2015, a politician identified as Kiran was caught up in a matka gambling scandal in Goa too. A First Information Report (FIR) petition was launched by social activist Kashinath Shetye after a newspaper article linked the politician, high-profile police, and gambling professionals with the activity.

It was the first time that political figures had openly been linked with participating in the satta matka games.

Recent reports now suggest matka gambling is experiencing a period of rejuvenation.

A recent article in the Navhind Times stated that police are struggling to block websites promoting playing satta matka games for money. Despite claiming to have control over the activity in its land-based form, they are now fighting a battle online.

The fact that matka gambling has even influenced Bollywood means that its impact on pop culture in India has brought it into the mainstream once again.

The movie Dharmatma was based on the life of Matka King Rattan Khatri. It seems that satta matka might well be considered illegal in India but that has not stopped millions of players from continuing to bet on it.

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Matka Gambling/ Satta - Casino.Org News (blog)

Jackpot gambling creates a unique set of problems for addicts, as they are hooked on the games and seem to be in a trance-like state when playing, said experts.

Some jackpot machine addicts may also find themselves skipping meals, and having an illusion of control over the machine.

As those who play jackpot machines tend to be "escape gamblers" seeking to avoid problems in real life, they may also require more targeted forms of treatment focused on helping them cope with negative emotions, said National Addictions Management Service (Nams) senior psychologist Lawrence Tan.

About 14 per cent of gamblers seen by Nams engage in jackpot machine gambling, and nine out of 10 are men aged around 40 on average.

While the problem gambling rate dropped from 2.6 per cent in 2011 to 0.7 per cent in 2014, according to a gambling survey carried out every three years by the National Council on Problem Gambling, analysis from consultancy H2 Gambling Capital also found that gamblers in Singapore suffered the second-greatest losses per capita in the world last year, after Australia.

A report in The Economist on this data showed that gamblers here lost US$5.9 billion (S$8 billion) last year.

9 in 10

Proportion of gamblers engaging in jackpot machine gambling who are men aged around 40 on average.

The general treatment for gamblers targets their distorted beliefs, aiming to modify them to more rational ones, said Mr Tan. For example, one of Nams' clients, a woman in her 50s, could not stop gambling on jackpot machines, and believed she could predict eventual outcomes by spotting patterns in the game.

Near-misses on the machine also egged her on, and she lost about $40,000 over three to four years.

Addiction specialist Thomas Lee said those addicted to jackpot machines are drawn to the visual and auditory stimulation, with exciting music and images on the screen.

"We need to address why a person is attracted to jackpot machines, find out what triggers a person to play on the machine, and do some cognitive challenges or therapy to identify the false beliefs that a jackpot player has," he said of treatment methods. "We need to challenge these thoughts, so the person may not be hooked as readily as before."

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Licking the gambling problem - The Straits Times

The nation of Malta long a pioneer in internet gambling is quickly moving ahead with plans to allow for the legal use of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies at online casinos.

In a new interview, Joseph Cuschieri, executive chairman of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), which oversees the country's land-based and online casinos, said that the regulatory body has commissioned a detailed technical study to explore the best path forward for legal and regulated cryptocurrency use in gambling.

"We believe that cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies are emerging innovations which need analysis and an assessment of the risks and opportunities for potential adoption in the gaming sector," he said.

Cuschieri told CoinDesk:

"The shape and form of the framework governing cryptocurrencies will be announced in due course and once the risk assessment is carried out. Once the results of the study are evaluated, the MGA will make its position official on how cryptocurrencies will be adopted."

The agency expects to detail the findings from its study in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Cuschieri's comments come on the heels of a recently released white paper by the MGA exploring how its legal and regulatory approach to online gambling must evolve to keep pace with technology.

One of the report's conclusions is that cryptocurrencies should be embraced for purposes of competitive advantage, and because more widespread use and application of these technologies is certain.

It stated:

"The Authority is cognizant that the rise of crypto-currencies is inevitable. Conscious of the need to remain at the forefront of innovation and to keep up with new developments in technology and the industry ...the Authority is committed to allow the use of cryptocurrencies by its licensees in the immediate future."

The push for legal and regulated cryptocurrency gambling is a component of a broader, aggressive push by the Maltese government to develop a blockchain strategy and position itself at the forefront of the technology's adoption.

"We must be on the frontline in embracing this crucial innovation, and we cannot just wait for others to take action and copy them. We must be the ones that others copy," Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in April when the draft strategy was first revealed.

Silvio Schembri, Maltas parliamentary secretary for digital economy, told local press this week that the island is committed to rolling out distributed ledger technology throughout the public sector and attracting blockchain companies.

He said:

"We've heard enough about the opportunities posed by blockchain and it's now time to put words into action to create new opportunities for both citizens and the economy. It's my priority to turn this vision into a reality."

But creating a regulatory framework for the fast-moving technology requires balancing the careful study of consumer protection and anti-money laundering implications with competitive pressures from other jurisdictions.

Bitmalta, a local cryptocurrency advocacy group, applauded the MGA's initiative, but called upon the agency to move quickly in order to keep pace with other nations looking at legalized cryptocurrency gambling.

The group said in a statement:

"Other jurisdictions such as the UK have already legislated in favor of the use of cryptocurrencies by remote gaming operators, and unless Malta wants to play second fiddle to such other jurisdictions, it should ramp up its efforts to embrace such technologies."

Cuschieri insisted that while a key goal is to attract new operators and investment to the island, he wouldnt be welcoming in just anybody.

"Our key priority is always the integrity of our jurisdiction. Whoever does not meet our fit and proper, regulatory, anti-money laundering and consumer protection standards is not welcome in Malta," he said.

Bitcoin and cryptocurrency casinos have been one of the predominant applications of blockchain technology since its invention a decade ago, but many of these entities have operated out of unregulated or lightly regulated jurisdictions raising concerns about their use by unsavory actors.

Cuschieri reckons that the most straightforward way to tame illicit behavior is to bring these types of casinos out of the shadows.

"We firmly believe that the best way to control gambling, prevent criminal activity and protect players is through robust and effective regulation and enforcement," he said, adding:

"Prohibition or barriers only lead to underground activities and black market operations. The latter is not in the best interest of players and the sector in general. That is why it is best to establish transparent regulatory regimes so that we bring integrity and trust into the system."

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Malta Is Gearing up to Greenlight Bitcoin Gambling - CoinDesk

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With the busy World Series of Poker schedule behind us, PokerNews brings you a Vegas tale from Sin Citys past. Take a break from the poker action and check out one of gamblings most amazing runs at the craps table.

The California Hotel and Casino sits a bit off the beaten path. Located far away from the Las Vegas Strip, the old casino founded in 1975 sits at the intersection of East Ogden Avenue and North Main Street. Main Street Station is across the street, but the Cal sits a bit outside the unique festive atmosphere of the Fremont Street experience.

The casino has long catered to residents of Hawaii and a trip inside exudes that relaxed atmosphere that founder Sam Boyd brought to the property. That effort attracted many gamblers from the islands looking for a good gamble and they still flock to the action there today. The state doesnt have casino gambling and from its early days, Boyd offered cheap vacation packages for islanders and even island culinary delights, and still does. Deals on chartered flights from Hawaii sometimes were as low as $9.90.

The Cals website even uses the tagline, Aloha Spoken Here, and dealers even sport Hawaiian-print shirts. The casino has become so ingrained with many island gamblers that in 2008 the University of Hawaii Press published the book California Hotel and Casino: Hawaiis Home Away From Home. Flying over for weddings and other special occasions at the downtown casino became a regular for many islanders.

Craps is a fairly easy game. In essence, a shooter rolls to establish a point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) and then attempts to roll that number again before hitting a seven (crapping out). Wagers on the board vary, but if the shooter hits that point number without rolling a seven, those betting with the shooter win. A few nice rolls can certainly make for a fun night.

However, rolls rarely even make it into the double-digits and streaks of more than 30 minutes are rare. But on May 28, 1989, Oahu native Stanley Fujitake defied all the odds. A regular at the Cal, Fujitake was also a regular dice player. Around midnight, he dropped $5 on the pass line and took the dice in hand. What followed became a Las Vegas legend.

"There were at least 30 to 40 people trying to place bets at his table."

Fujitake continued to roll for just over three hours. Crowds gathered around throughout the night to take in the mystical roll those red dice bouncing along the green felt and hitting point number after point number.

Guido Metzger was dealing craps at a table next to Fujitakes table that night. Now director of casino operations for Boyd Gamings downtown properties, Metzger remembers the as something he had never seen before at a casino as dealers struggled to keep up with players wins as more and more players tried to squeeze into the action.

They had trouble keeping up with the chip payouts that night, Metzger said in 2014 in an issue of Boyd Buzz. My table was empty. But there were at least 30 to 40 people trying to place bets at his table. They couldn't get fills to the table fast enough and had to start issuing scrip [casino credit] because not enough people were going to the cage and cashing in their chips."

During his historic night, Fujitake rolled 118 times for 18 pass line winners. After beginning with the table minimum, the sharpshooter had increased his bet to the table maximum of $1,000 when he finally passed the dice. Friends said on a previous trip Fujitake has rolled the dice for an hour and 45 minutes. Casino staff were astounded at the scene.

Half an hour is average, over an hour is amazing, but more than three hours is totally astounding, casino manager John Repetti told the News at the Cal in July of 89 after Fujitakes accomplishment.

The craps king passed away in 2000, but his widow Satsuko recently spoke with Hawaii News Now about that amazing night.

"It was a miracle, because it's impossible to hold the dice," said Satsuko, who introduced her husband to the game. "It doesn't happen all the time, maybe it's only once in a lifetime deal."

Fujitake took home about $30,000 that night, Satsuko said, and the California Hotel and Casino paid out about $750,000 in winnings to players gathered around with their pass line and other bets at the table.

That was one of the ironic things about his roll the other players at the table ended up winning a lot more money than Stanley did! says David Strow, Boyd Gaming vice president of of corporate communications.

While the casino may have lost big bucks that night, Boyd took it in stride and turned the legend of Stanley Fujitake into a marketing opportunity, and reward, for craps players. He was nicknamed The Golden Arm and the casino has since hosted the the Golden Arm Club. Inside a glass trophy case, Fujitakes hand is cast in bronze holding those winning dice from that night.

Next to the case, small golden plaques display the names of all those players who have rolled for an hour or more become members of the club, which averages about on player a month.

How does one earn entry into the Golden Arm Club? Simply roll without sevening out for an hour. More than 300 players can now call themselves members. Roll for 90 minutes or obtain Golden Arm status more than once and your name gets placed on the even more exclusive Platinum Wall located on the mezzanine level of the casino. Fujitake was a platinum member himself after reaching the one-hour threshold a staggering four times.

The Fujitakes visited the California often and while he may be gone, the Hawaiian craps champ wont be forgotten. The Cal even hosts the annual Golden Arm Craps Tournament in his honor. His wife Satsuko told Hawaii News Now: "As my husband of 54 years, in my heart, he is still the champ to me and will be forever.

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A Gambling Tale: Stanley Fujitake and One Amazing Roll - PokerNews.com