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Sunday, September 02, 2012

WWE Live RAW Tour: Event Results From Sydney, Australia - 31st August 2012


Pro wrestling WWE style - Sports Entertainment returns to Sydney, Australia...




Profiles

WWE Wrestling Entertainment Australia

WrestleMania (Australian style) returned to Sydney on Friday night and the show did not disappoint.

Pro wrestling fans young and old got their fix of WWE grapplers.

The WWE marketing and media machine can be attributed to what looked to be a 90 percent full Allphones Arena - making it a crowd of approximatly 15,000. It's unclear how much of the crowd was papered (unpaid), but the smart money says it was fans who parted with their hard earned money.

A mixed crowd of both hardcore fans, casual fans and families, who were pretty vocal and hyped up for the show.

The show commenced with Brodus Clay VS Jack Swagger. Naomi was with Brodus, no Cameron. Swagger got some good heat, but Brodus got his hand raised quick. Entertaining and fun, but not a classic wrestling match - nor was it supposed to be. Kids just love Clay.

Next was the divas (ladies) match. WWE Divas Champion Layla defeated Rosa Mendes. We appreciated the effort of the ladies but its safe to say the WWE should raise the bar in the Diva's division. Maybe bring in a few Japanese lady pro wrestlers as well as snatch some of TNA Wrestling's best also. WWE have so much TV time to fill up, so ramp up the Diva's for the female and male fans in the WWE Universe.

WWE Tag Team Champions R-Truth and Kingston beat Primo and Epico in a solid match. R-Truth was on fire, both with in-ring skills and the mic, and 'Little Jimmy' was over big time with young and old.

The Miz defeated Alex Riley to retain the Intercontinental Championship. The Miz got strong heat. Nice mic work telling everyone he wasn't "awful", but "awesome". AR was surprisingly over. Maybe because he's a pretty strong worker and Australian fans are not overexposed to the WWE product (with live shows), like rather spoilt American fans. Lot's of Wooooo's! (for the chops), respecting Ric Flair, who most fans want to see return to his rightful home - WWE.

Zack Ryder defeated Tensai. Zack Ryder got a huge pop and Tensai got pretty decent heat and reactions. At least Tensai looks like a pro wrestling "monster" - he has the look and size, and moves well for a big man. Younger fans seem to be scared of Tensai and went nuts when Ryder got the win.

Santino defeated David Otunga. Decent heat for Otunga. Santino is over in Australia, but not as much as he is in the U.S. Keep WWE belts off both these guys... they don't need them. They worked the crowd fairly well and Santino is funny, but this was not a classic wrestling match - and it was never expected to be. Passable - just.

CM Punk defeated Daniel Bryan to retain the WWE Championship in an awesome match which went for almost 30 minutes. Stalling by both at first, but the crowd was pretty into it. Established characters can stall for ages with little fan backlash - the way the late Randy "Macho Man" Randy Savage and living legends Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair used to do. CM Punk worked as a face and was over big time. "Yes" chant all throughout the match as well. Tons of fan signs for both and lots of fans bought their t-shirts.

John Cena defeated The Big Show and John Laurinaitis in the main event. Decent match for these guys. After the match Laurinaitis attacked Cena with a chair, but Cena turned around and hit him with an attitude adjustment to finish the show.

Overall strong show - especially for an Australian WWE show, which were mixed in the past. We're giving it 8 out of 10 and it was value for money.

Strongest pops:

John Cena
CM Punk
Zack Ryder

Most heat:

The Miz
The Big Show
Jack Swagger

Match Of The Show:

C.M Punk VS Daniel Brian

Room for improvement: More strong WWE Divas, bring back Ric Flair urgently (1000s of fans did the Woooooo!), bring Ziggler and Randy Orton to the next Australian show, have 2 top line NXT talents on the next down under show. It would be nice to see Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan back with the WWE. Strong rumours Flair will be back within a month or two, so hopefully he makes the next Australian tour. Wooooo!




Websites

WWE official website

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Allphones Arena

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Planet Pit World Tour: Pitbull, Taio Cruz, Havana Brown and Timomatic: Sydney, Australia - 1st September 2012


International Planet Pit Tour...

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Music Sydney Entertainment Australia




Tonight the Planet Pit tour hit Sydney via AllPhones Arena at Homebush in Sydney's west.

A packed arena saw the mega music card headlined by Pitbull (Armando Christian Pérez) go crazy.

Mr Worldwide was the main event, but we think the show was loaded up with other top line performing artists to spread risk and get bums on seats in what is an entertainment industry that has seen better days, with Australia being bombarded by overseas acts and artists, with only so many entertainment dollars to go around.

This concert was rather like a mini music festival in some respects. Even five years ago you would expect an artist such as Pitbul to tour Australia with maybe one support act to open, but not this time.  The show has 4 headliners - yes, 4.

Timomatic and his dancers were awesome as always.

DJ Havana Brown brought it and rose up the level of energy in the stadium in a big way.

Taio Cruz did his thing, aided by some very cool lasers and lights.

Pitbul with his band which included a DJ, a keyboard player, a drummer, a percussionist and two synth players, one of which switched between bass and synth and the other who alternated between saxophone and synth.

We think most fans would have go their money's worth, which is what its all about.

MTV News: Pitbull Report...

He wowed the crowd when he took to the VMA stage last year alongside Ne-Yo to perform their smash hit ‘Give Me Everything,’ and now, rap superstar Pitbull has revealed his favourite memories from that night – as well as his thoughts on this year’s nominees!

The Miami-born muso, who’s in the country this week as part of his ‘Planet Pit’ world tour, told MTV Australia that meeting two of hip hop’s biggest names was the highlight of the night for him!

“One of my best memories was how I was rehearsing, and I walked back, and Kanye said that, you know, he respects our movement,” Pitbull told us.

“More than anything, I got a chance to shake Jay-Z’s hand, which is someone that I idolise - not only as an artist but as a businessman.”

“It was a great day. A magical moment for me.”

So who does he think will take home the Moonmen at this year’s ceremony?

“I don’t know. I just think to be part of the VMAs you’re already a big winner.”

But while he may have stayed mum on who’ll walk away a winner on the night, the ‘I Know You Want Me’ singer had nothing praise for Aussie sensation Gotye and his track ‘Somebody That I Used To Know!’

“[He’s] a great candidate to win something, absolutely, cause it’s a great, great, great record!” (MTV Australia)

Promo...

International Planet Pit Tour

Dainty Group announced today that No. 1 selling artist PITBULL will be touring Australia on his International Planet Pit Tour this August. The tour will have crowds partying with Mr Worldwide in arenas in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

Adding to the avalanche of hits at these shows will be international special guest TAIO CRUZ. This unbelievable line-up will also feature Havana Brown and Timomatic, creating a pop dance explosion!

Pitbull has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the business, achieving back to back hits with tracks such as 'On the Floor' with Jennifer Lopez, 'I like It' with Enrique Iglesias and 'DJ got us fallin' in love' with Usher. You cannot turn on the radio without hearing a track featuring Pitbull! The list of superstar collaborations is endless and has cemented Pitbull as one of the most sought after artists on the planet who has also now created a spectacular live show!

TOUR DATES:
Thu 23 Aug - Burswood Dome, Perth
Sat 25 Aug - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Mon 27 Aug - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Wed 29 Aug - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Sat 1 Sep - Allphones Arena, Sydney

Websites

Pitbull official website

Taio Cruz official website

Havana Brown official website

Timomatic official website

Dainty Group

Allphones Arena

Eva Rinaldi Photography

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

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Saturday, September 01, 2012

Joe Francis 'Goes Wild' On Steve Wynn's Lawsuit - 31st August 2012


Profiles

Casinos Steve Wynn Entertainment United States Sports Betting Gambling Las Vegas Affiliates




Las Vegas is a town accustomed to big-ticket bouts, and now one of sin city's nastiest fights is about to enter round three as "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis is taking on hotel magnate Steve Wynn in court.

Francis, who is known for creating the salacious spring-break videos "Girls Gone Wild," insists the only person who has gone wild is Wynn, the Las Vegas casino billionaire who Francis claims wants him dead.

"I was afraid for my life … He made it very clear that he wanted to kill me," Francis told ABC News in an exclusive interview.

Francis says Wynn sent ominous, threatening emails about him that were seen by multiple people, including legendary music producer Quincy Jones.

"In all caps, and then exclamation points -- like a crazy person's e-mail – [Wynn wrote] 'I'm going hit to him in the back of the head with a shovel and have him buried in the middle of the desert,'" Francis said.

Francis, 39, is now entrenched in a contentious court battle with the Vegas hotel magnate. Wynn, 70, is also suing Francis for defamation, saying Francis has been telling people about the alleged death threats in an attempt to ruin his reputation.

"There has never been any statement from Quincy Jones or anyone else confirming that this ever happened," Wynn said.

Jones was initially scheduled to testify during the trial, but he's since been excused due to a medical condition. He said that he has no comment on the case.

"For Wynn to win this case, he has to show that Francis made statements against him that were false and that hurt him," Los Angeles trial lawyer Irwin Feinberg said. "For Francis to win, he has to show that the statements he made -- either didn't make the statements, or if he made them they were true, or if they weren't true, they were somehow privileged."

This clash erupted more than three years ago when Francis allegedly racked up a $2 million gambling debt at one of Wynn's casinos.

Francis denies this, telling ABC News, "the gambling debt never existed."

Wynn took Francis to court, not once but twice. And now he's rolling the dice again.

Wynn's lawyer also claims Francis talked about the "ominous" emails to a reporter outside the courtroom "knowing that the statement would be republished throughout the world."

Francis denies this, claiming that the reporter heard him talk about it inside the courtroom, and that his courtroom comments are "privileged."

Francis, who is also suing Wynn in three lawsuits currently pending --for alleged forged documents, fraud and defamation -- has asked for a restraining order against Wynn. Francis feels confident facing the third round of this battle.

"I'm going to win!" he said. (ABC News)

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Melbourne Storm NRL team ink sponsorship deal with Packer's Crown Casino; Sydney news - 31st August 2012


Profiles

Crown Casino Casinos Melbourne Storm Australian Casinos Games Sports Melbourne Australia




The Melbourne Storm is raking it in, with an extra $1.5 million in with Crown Limited inking as major sponsor for a third year running, while rugby league in Victoria could also benefit significantly.

Thursday's renewal of Crown's only team sponsorship is believed to be valued at $1 million, give or take a few dollars.

The funds boost joins the $500,000 Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant confirmed on Monday would be delivered to all clubs before October 31.

With a back-of-jersey sponsorship still to be sold before the finals, Storm might well collect another payday.

Club chief exec Ron Gauci advised the funds would be used to help expand the code in Victoria, a cause boosted last month with the debut of born-and-bred local Mahe Fonua.

Storm officials aim to fund youth teams down to under-16s and spend up to keep Melbourne "ahead of the pack" with cutting-edge, football-specific technology.

"We'll continue to invest in the organisation. We'll invest both across the football department and administration," Gauci said.

"We want to continue being best practice and continue being ahead of the game. We'll invest in football operations and pathway development.

"We want to extend the Storm brand beyond the under-18s and we've put in a proposal to the Australian Rugby League Commission to facilitate the growth of the game in Victoria and now have the funds to help make that happen.

"For us, any investment needs to have a long-term benefit."

The push from the Government-backed Victorian Major Events Company to secure more State of Origin clashes in Melbourne could reap even more cash for local rugby league.

Plans are in place to establish a youth academy, with only the arrival of sufficient funding needed to make it happen.

Great to see Crown's casino king James Packer sharing the love and funds around to worthy causes.

It's understood that Sydney's South Sydney Rabbitohs management including king bunny, Russell Crowe, are taking an interest in the way The Storm and Crown do things, as you might expect with Rabbitohs also having a sponsorship deal with gaming - entertainment firm - The Star.


Sydney NRL team also has casino deal...

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are continuing to enjoy their sponsorship deal with The Star (formally known as Star City Casino).

NRL top brass has said rugby league has benefitted from its association with betting agencies because it allows better access to information about irregular plunges.

As the Australian and globally economy continue to go through tough times its going to be interesting to see if more NRL teams ink deals with Australian casino or gaming firms. I for would would bet yes.

And what's to become of the Barangaroo 6 star hotel and casino development in Sydney? Could they also become a sponsor of an NRL team? With James Packer in the think of the action one would think so. Keep watching this space.


Media Release...

Exclusive Deal For 6 Star Hotel...

Last week's announcement by Lend Lease and Crown, that they had signed an exclusive agreement to develop a six star hotel at Barangaroo South, has attracted wide ranging media coverage and commentary. Below is a summary of the media releases and media coverage to date.

Following the announcement, the Authority confirmed it will continue to work with Lend Lease, and now their exclusive rights partner Crown, to negotiate a new location for the hotel in Barangaroo South and oversee the appropriate planning applications that must be approved before any concept moves ahead.

Acting Premier Andrew Stoner last week said the development of such a hotel would represent a significant investment in NSW tourism infrastructure, and today’s agreement is a vote of confidence in the NSW economy.

“It is, of course, subject to all the necessary planning and regulatory approvals but Lend Lease already has an existing permit to build a hotel in Barangaroo South and are negotiating with the Barangaroo Delivery Authority to relocate that onshore,” he said.

“The creation of a hotel of this stature would deliver new jobs in construction, off-site manufacturing and the tourism industry, along with hundreds of millions of dollars for the State economy each year.”

Lend Lease Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Steve McCann, said that Lend Lease and Crown would now work towards achieving the necessary development approvals from the NSW Government for the hotel and jointly develop the concept plan for the hotel. Lend Lease is currently in negotiations with the NSW Government to finalise the hotel location.

“Barangaroo South is a major urban regeneration project that provides a unique opportunity to create a world class commercial, residential, entertainment and mixed use destination on Sydney Harbour. A key part of Lend Lease’s vision for Barangaroo South is to have a high quality international hotel,” said Mr McCann.


*the writer is a shareholder in Crown Limited, Virgin Blue and Ten Network Holdings.

Websites

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The Star

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Barangaroo

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Friday, August 31, 2012

Betting firm bwin signs three-year deal with Man United - 16th August 2012


Profiles

Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment PartyCasino.com PartyPoker.com Britain Soccer Betting Sports Sports Betting Affiliates




British online betting firm bwin.party digital entertainment said it had entered into a three-year deal with Manchester United, including the right to run betting kiosks and advertise at the English premier league football club’s Old Trafford home.

Bwin said the deal would also give it the chance to exploit the club’s international appeal to expand in social gaming – free-to-use web games played against other users that offer additional features paid for with online credits.

“Man Utd has 569 million followers outside of Europe, providing us with a great opportunity to offer jointly designed and innovative products in countries that do not yet allow real money online sports betting,” said bwin.party’s co-CEO Norbert Teufelberger.

Bwin, which is already the shirt sponsor of Spanish football club Real Madrid, said football remained key to its long-term future, making up about half of its sports betting revenue in 2011.

Man Utd, which debuted on the New York stock exchange last week, has a series of commercial linkups, including with insurance broker AON, whose name is currently emblazoned on its shirts, set to be replaced on the famous red jerseys by GM’s Chevrolet in 2014.

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The Beach Boys perform at AllPhones Arena: Sydney, Australia - 30th August 2012


Profiles

Music Sydney Entertainment Surfing Australia




The Beach Boys are conducting an Australian tour and tonight it was AllPhones Arena in Sydney.

They are touring the world to mark their 50th anniversary.

Long time fans are wrapt, if not amazed, to see that Brian Wilson and Mike Love have put aside past differences and are once again collaborating together.

Bruce Johnston remains in the group alongside early guitarist David Marks, and Al Jardine has returned to for the first time since the late 1990s.

Joining the original players are nine other musicians including well-known voices in Beach Boys circles, Jeff Foskett, Darian Sahanaja, Scott Totten and the superb drummer John Cowsill.

The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group initially comprised brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. They were managed early on by the Wilsons' father, Murry. The band's leader, composer, arranger and producer, Brian Wilson was responsible for writing most of the band's early singles and albums.

The Sydney concert went for about 2 hours and no support group was needed.  Make no mistake, these boys still have tons of energy and its little wonder they have a broad fan based - from 10 to 80 year olds the world over - the music being timeless.

Australia is very fortunate to have the Beach Boys touring do yourself a favor and check them out if you have a chance. Surfs up down under.


Promo...

Paul Dainty, Chairman of Dainty Group has announced that one of the worlds' most legendary and influential bands of all time The Beach Boys, will tour Australia this year as part of their 50th Anniversary Tour with dates confirmed in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

The 50th Anniversary Tour marks the first time in more than two decades that original members Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks will tour together.

The 50th Anniversary Tour, which commenced in North America in April, is receiving critical acclaim and proving to be a historical concert event not to be missed.

For five decades, America's first pop band to reach the 50 year milestone has recorded and performed the music that has become the world's favorite soundtrack to summer. Founded in Hawthorne, California in 1961, The Beach Boys were originally comprised of the three teenaged Wilson brothers: Brian, Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and school friend Al Jardine. In 1962, neighbour David Marks joined the group for their first wave of hits with Capitol Records, leaving in late 1963, and in 1965, Bruce Johnston joined the band when Brian Wilson retired from touring to focus on writing and producing for the group.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and recipients of The Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award, The Beach Boys are an American institution that is iconic around the world.

TOUR DATES*:
Tuesday 28 August - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Thursday 30 August - Allphones Arena, Sydney
Friday 31 August - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Sunday 2 September - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Thursday 6 September - Burswood Dome, Perth

Websites

The Beach Boys

Dainty Group

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

David Jones and Qantas partner to reward cardholders; Miranda Kerr on board - 30th August 2012





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Fashion Travel Lifestyle Australia

News

Financial News Business News News

This morning well known Australian fashion model, Miranda Kerr, joined Qantas and David Jones execs to help promote their new branded credit card. They are hoping the public snap up their credit card at a time when many Australians are not in such a great position to endure even more credit pressure. Obviously Ms Kerr's financial position is different from many Australians so good luck to her and the top brass.

Media...

SYDNEY: Thursday 30 August 2012. Two of Australia’s most iconic brands, David Jones and Qantas, have partnered to enable Australian shoppers to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points as an additional rewards option on the David Jones American Express Card.

From tomorrow (Friday 31 August 2012), all David Jones American Express Cardmembers will have the choice of converting their Reward Points to points in either the American Express Membership Rewards Program or the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

With a points redemption of 1 Reward Point = 1 Membership Rewards point or 1 Reward Point = 0.75
Qantas Frequent Flyer points, the David Jones American Express Card offers one of the most attractive retail rewards programs available to shoppers and travellers in Australia.

David Jones CEO, Mr Paul Zahra says, “David Jones and Qantas are both recognised as premium
Australian brands with a strong heritage of service, which creates a natural affinity across our different business platforms.

“With American Express, this is a fantastic opportunity for David Jones to enhance our customer
experience and provide new and rewarding opportunities for our David Jones American Express
Cardmembers.

“We welcome Qantas as the newest addition to the  portfolio of  premium Australian brands that
customers will find at David Jones and look forward to a successful – and rewarding – partnership.”

CEO Qantas Loyalty, Ms  Lesley Grant says, “We are delighted to be launching our new  alliance with David Jones and to further strengthen our long term partnership with American Express.

Qantas and David Jones share similar philosophies, including a strong commitment to customer service and both organisations take great pride in offering high quality products at great value.”

“We look forward to offering David Jones customers a world of options in terms of redeeming their points, including Reward flights across the Qantas domestic and global networks.”

From tomorrow (Friday 31 August, 2012), existing David Jones American Express Cardmembers can elect to choose the new Qantas Frequent Flyer Reward option by simply calling 1300 36 89 89.

The Qantas Frequent Flyer program launched in 1987 and has over 8.7 million members across
Australian and globally. The program has more than 500 partners including airlines, hotels, financial institutions and retailers. More than 3.4 million Award flights were redeemed by members last year.

All new David Jones American Express Cardmembers will be offered the choice of American Express
Membership Rewards or Qantas Frequent Flyer when they join, with both rewards programs including
David Jones Gift Cards as redemption options.

Even More Rewards

David Jones will offer complimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer membership to David Jones American
Express Cardmembers, who are not already a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, if they apply online at
qantas.com/joinffdavidjones from tomorrow (Friday 31 August, 2012).

Existing Qantas Frequent Flyers will also benefit from the partnership, with David Jones Gift Cards now available through the online Qantas Frequent Flyer store.

The launch of the Qantas Frequent Flyer reward option with the David Jones American Express Card is phase one of David Jones’ partnership program with Qantas Frequent Flyer.  David Jones  Storecard members can look forward to the addition of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program as a rewards option to their card in 2013.

Mr Zahra says, “The real winners will be our customers. This is a meaningful reward that we know will resonate with our customer community and we look forward to being able to extend the benefit of our Qantas Frequent Flyer partnership to all of our Cardmembers.”

To select the Qantas Frequent Flyer reward option on your David Jones American Express Card, call 1300 36 89 89 from tomorrow (Friday August 31, 2012).  If you are not already a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, Cardmembers can receive Qantas Frequent Flyer membership with the joining fee of $82.50 waived if they apply at qantas.com/joinffdavidjones


News Media...

Miranda Kerr (one of the Qantas Global Ambassadors)

We're proud to welcome Miranda Kerr onboard as our latest Qantas Global Ambassador. We look forward to this exciting partnership.

Miranda Kerr grew up in Gunnedah, before winning a modelling competition in 1997. Since then, Miranda has gone on to become one of the most recognisable faces worldwide, gracing countless runways and featuring in high profile campaigns.

In 2008, Miranda was named as Fashion Ambassador for Australian department store, David Jones. With the support of this partnership, Miranda developed KORA, an organic skin care range.

Miranda's passion for sustainable living was further evident in 2011, when she acted as Global Ambassador for Earth Hour.

Earlier this year, Miranda joined John Travolta as a Qantas Global Ambassador, at a G'day USA cocktail event in Los Angeles. This Qantas Spirit of Australia event celebrated Australian talent on the world stage and was attended by actors, artists, designers and chefs representing the best of contemporary Australia. (Credit: Qantas)

Websites

Qantas

David Jones

Miranda Kerr official website

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Cougar at casino - 26th August 2012





Sin City Casinos Nevada United States Games Harrah's Entertainment

A mountain lion has been caught after trying to slip into a casino in Reno, Nevada.

A Nevada Department of Wildlife spokesman, Chris Healy, said the young male cat's behaviour was "almost the equivalent of being a stupid teenager".

Mr Healy said coming-of-age cougars often ended up where they shouldn't after being chased out of a territory by adults.

A wildlife official tags a tranquilised mountain lion that wandered into a Reno casino and hid under a stage.

Guests at Harrah's casino reported seeing the 45-kilogram cat trying to walk into the casino on Friday morning. When the animal couldn't negotiate the revolving door, it hid under a stage in a nearby plaza.

Wildlife officials tranquilised the two-year-old cat and plan to release it into the wild.

No injuries were reported.

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Casinos of The World: Land based and online




Sin City Cleopatra Rambo The Godfather Sinatra The Terminator Thor Saturday Night Fever Unicorn Legend Palladium Slot

Punters, here's 10 of the world's top land based casinos for you to mark down in your travel plans.

Monte Carlo, Monaco: Perched above the Mediterranean and bounded by the French
and Italian coastlines on either side, Monaco provides a spectacular and luxurious setting for the wealthy and the wannabees. Home to the Monaco Grand Prix and the legendary Casino de Monte Carlo, this isn't the place for those on a tight
budget. The magnificent Casino hosts the annual European Poker Tour and was also the scene of several James Bond Films, including the original "Casino Royale" and "Golden Eye".

Paradise Island, Bahamas: Located just off the shore of the city of Nassau, Paradise
Island is best known for its sprawling 'Vegas-by-the-sea' resort, Atlantis. The resort spans seven acres along a lagoon, where guests can soak up the Caribbean sun and choose from a variety of outdoor gaming areas. When in need of a break from
the tables, guests can enjoy the private beach or one of the resorts 20 sunlit pools.

Melbourne, Australia: As Australia's sporting and entertainment capital, Melbourne
offers the perfect option for high rollers looking for a local break. Aussies need look no further than Crown Casino on the southern bank of the Yarra River, which is one of the largest casino complexes in the southern hemisphere. The main gambling
floor stretches more than half a kilometre and the casino was the first to introduce the new game Rapid Roulette, which allows players to place bets on a personal electronic touch screen connected to a central roulette wheel.

Macau, China: Known as the 'Monte Carlo of the Orient,' and the gambling capital of Asia, Macau now rivals Monaco and Las Vegas as one of the premier gambling destinations in the world. With no less than 33 casinos, in addition to local horse and greyhound racing venues, Macau is perfect for the betting junkie. The Wynn Macau
casino is a standout, highlighted by 24-carat gold 'Tree of Prosperity' at the entrance, extravagant water displays and Moon Jellyfish Aquarium at reception.

Baden-Baden, Germany: Situated on the western foothills of the Black Forest and on
the banks of the Oos River, Baden-Baden is not your typical casino town. However, in addition to its hot springs and picturesque countryside, the town is also known for its 200-year-old 'Spielbank' casino - the oldest of its type in Germany. With French chateau-style salons rooms named after historical figures such as Madame Pompadour and Louis XV's mistress, the quirky casino provides visitors with a very unique
gaming experience.

Las Vegas, United States: With over 1700 licensed casinos in operation, Las Vegas
offers the ultimate package for travellers who fancy a flutter. A visit to the famous 'Strip' is a must for any player, whether they're looking for a spin on the roulette table or a game of blackjack - this city has it all. The iconic Caesar's Palace
hotel and casino offers 129,000 square feet of casino space plus an endless smorgasbord of entertainment, shopping and fine dining options, including Cleopatra's barge, a floating lounge perfect for a relaxing drink after a jam-packed night on the
casino floor.

Manila, The Philippines: With a favourable exchange rate, Manila provides great value
for Aussies wanting to live the high-life overseas. The city offers a range of shopping and entertainment options, along with a world-class casino at the Hyatt Hotel. Spread across three levels, the sparkling casino offers the newest in gaming
facilities for both hotel guests and visitors, and is just a short distance from Manila's tourist hub.

Sun City, South Africa:  Known as 'Africa's Kingdom of Pleasure,' this luxury resort
and casino complex, just two hours from Johannesburg, boasts two large casinos, two 18-hole golf courses and a wildlife reserve. At the extravagant yet picturesque Palace of the Lost City, guests are treated to stunning valley views from the guestrooms, along with exclusive access to the Grand Pool. The nearby Sun City Casino is the entertainment Mecca of the resort, featuring a myriad of gaming options as well as an indoor jungle of native foliage and water fountains.

Atlantic City, United States: Regarded as the US's 'Las Vegas of the East', Atlantic City in New Jersey is renowned for its gambling, shopping and fine dining. Towering above the banks of the Atlantic Ocean, the Trump Taj Mahal casino is an icon of the city, with an on-site shopping district and an abundance of restaurants and bars. The
157,000 square-foot casino is also hard to miss, with 3,500 slot machines and 200 table games. Unveiled in 1990 by a number of celebrities, including the late Michael Jackson, the casino is the second-largest in Atlantic City and well worth a visit.

Genting Highlands, Malaysia: Nestled on the Titiwangsa mountain range, just an hour's
drive from Kuala Lumpur and 6,000 feet above sea level, the Resorts World Genting offers 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside. This spectacular resort has first-class accommodation, dining and entertainment, while avoiding the hustle and bustle of a capital city. The on-site casino, which covers 200,000 square feet, is Malaysia's sole gaming venue and is divided into separate themed areas, such as Hollywood and Monte Carlo, for the ultimate gambling experience.

Online Casinos:

PartyCasino.com : The world's leading online casino brand and part of Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment. Play for free or play for money at PartyCasino.com New players get up to $3000 sign up bonus via Media Man.

VirginCasino.com : Virgin Casino is part of Virgin Games. The parent company is Virgin Enterprises Limited, the creation of the world's most famous and celebrated entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson. Unfortunately the casino does not accept players from many countries due to what is known in legal circles as "grey areas".  Most European players can play, but no Americans, Canadians, Australians or New Zealanders.

Captain Cooks Casino : Was once a very popular online casino with Australians and New Zealanders, however we understand these days they can only accept players from a few regions such as Europe, South Africa, Canada and South America.

PKR : Once only a 2D online poker room, they are now more 3D and offer online poker and a good range of online casino games, including classics, Marvel slots and table games.

Media Man's top online casino choice:  PartyCasino.com  PartyCasino is a multi-time Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' winner and have also won awards from EGR. Earlier this year PartyGaming merged with Bwin to create the worlds leading igaming company, Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment.

News

Playtech Signs Gala Coral Contract, Acquires Mobile-Bet Company...

Playtech Ltd, the Internet gambling software maker and content developer which has a joint venture with William Hill Plc (WMH), said it signed a long-term contract with Gala Coral Group Ltd., and acquired Mobenga AB, a mobile-phone sports-betting company.

Playtech will pay as much as 15.8 million euros ($22.4 million) for Mobenga, the Isle of Man-based company said in a statement. Playtech also said second-quarter revenue rose 7 percent to 39.6 million euros over the same period a year earlier, led by online casino games.

Gala Coral, which has 2,000 betting shops in the U.K. and Italy, should become one of Playtech’s top three clients within a year after its software is transferred, in 2012, Playtech’s Chief Executive Officer Mor Weizer said in a telephone interview. Mobenga will help Playtech expand in mobile telephone gambling, which generates 30 percent of bets for some companies, he said.

“This is a very important win for us,” Weizer said. “We already have most of the established operators in the U.K., and Gala Coral we were after for a long time.”
Playtech gained 18.25 pence, or 5.4 percent, to 356.75 pence at 8:47 a.m. in London, after earlier rising as much as 6.3 percent. The shares have fallen 16 percent so far this year, giving the company a market value of 866.3 million pounds.

Stockholm-based Mobenga will give Playtech the ability to combine sports-betting, casino and poker games in one mobile- phone application, Weizer said.

Playtech generates more than 10 million pounds ($16.1 million) from its biggest client, Imperial E-Club Ltd., Weizer said.

‘Players’

Most of the company’s clients attract players through sports, though they make most of their money through games, so they’re always seeking to convert sports betters to game players, he said.

Second-quarter casino revenue gained 9 percent to 27.3 million euros, and bingo sales increased 32 percent to 3.6 million euros, the company said.

Poker sales dropped 32 percent to 5 million euros, the company said. The poker business declined even though the U.S. charged founders of online poker companies still accepting games in the country with money laundering in April.

Weizer said the companies still had cash to lure poker players. Poker numbers have been “picking up” since the end of June, when one of the companies stopped play, he said. Full Tilt Poker, then the world’s second-biggest poker site, lost its license from Alderney on June 29.


PartyCasino Gets New Games...

Aztec Gold, Atomic Fruit, Nag's To Riches and Fairies Forest. Check out the new games here.

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Kath & Kimderella movie premiere at Entertainment Quarter; Sydney, Australia - 28th August 2012


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Movies Hollywood Entertainment Sydney Australia




Tonight the Australian "foxy moron" (Kath & Kim lingo) film enjoyed its Australian premiere at Entertainment Quarter in the shadow of Fox Studios Australia, Moore Park.

The Kath & Kim franchise is well established and its usually a case of you either love them or hate them. Tonight there were hundreds of lovers of course.

Some passionate fans dressed up as their idols - including some grown men in K&K drag.

The girls at the premiere switched in and out of character, as they often do in news media interviews.

The Flick...

Kath, Kim and the latter's daggy offsider, Sharon (Magda Szubanski) are soon shipped off to Papilloma, a bankrupt principality in Italy, where the monarch, King Javier (Rob Sitch) mistakes Kath for a wealthy noble and plans to seduce her, while his son fixates on Kim as a princess.

Plot...

Fountain Lakes’ foxiest ladies turn more than just heads when they go on an OS trip and end up being the centre of their very own fairytale.

Starring: Jane Turner, Gina Riley, Magda Szubanski, Glenn Robbins & Peter Rowsthorn.

Director: Ted Emery

Kath & Kimderella opens nationally Thursday, September 6.

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The Expendables 2 snags No. 1 box-office spot for second-straight weekend


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Movies Hollywood Entertainment The Expendables The Expendables 2 Affiliate Programs Advertising




Sylvester Stallone's "The Expendables 2" snagged the No. 1 box-office spot for the second-straight weekend with $13.5 million. Released by Lionsgate, the film raised its domestic total to $52.3 million after two weekends.

Holdover movies easily led the weekend box office again, as "The Bourne Legacy" landed in second place with $9.3 million, followed by "ParaNorman" with $8.5 million.

Hollywood may have run out of summer hits, but an anti-Obama documentary is helping to fill the gap.

The weekend's new wide releases were overshadowed by "2016: Obama's America," which expanded from limited to nationwide release and took in $6.2 million to finish at No. 8.

The documentary is a conservative critique of what the country would look like four years from now if President Barack Obama is re-elected.

Released by Rocky Mountain Pictures, "Obama's America" nearly matched the $6.3 million debut of the No. 7 movie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's action tale "Premium Rush," a Sony release that played in more than twice as many theaters as the Obama documentary.

The weekend's other new wide releases opened weakly. Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell's road-chase comedy "Hit & Run," released by Open Road Films, debuted at No. 10 with $4.7 million, and the Warner Bros. fright flick "The Apparition" opened at No. 12 with $3 million.

The weak openings are typical of late August, a dumping ground for movies without much audience appeal as the summer blockbuster season winds down and young viewers switch to back-to-school mode.

But with less competition from Hollywood releases, it also opens the door for surprise successes such as "Obama's America."

"Obama's America" is based on the book "The Roots of Obama's Rage," written by Dinesh D'Souza, who co-directed the movie with John Sullivan.

The documentary now has climbed to a $9.1 million domestic total, with prospects for strong business as the Republican National Convention unfolds over the next few days. (U.S report)

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Sunday, August 26, 2012

PartyCasino Wins Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' Award


PartyCasino.com has been awarded the Media Man and Casino News Media "Online Casino Of The Month" award.

Bwin.Party's igaming suite has grown a custom to winning awards since they first opened for business in 1997.

The competition for the coveted award was intense again this month with massive bids from both Virgin Casino, PKR Casino and Captain Cooks Casino however there can only be one winner... ladies and gentlemen, that's PartyCasino.com

The award follows PartyPoker's EGR Poker Operator Of The Year and PartyGaming also made the shortlist for EGR Operator Of The Year. Recently PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com also won the Casino News Media "Online Poker Website Of The Month".

The Media Man - Casino News Media accolade is based on a combination of elements including user experience, innovation, trustworthiness, customer service, gameplay, affiliate program offerings, newsworthiness and company values.

PartyCasino.com is one of a number of Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment brands.

The most popular PartyCasino.com games of late include Heist, Circus, Rambo, Palladium Slot, The Godfather, Sinatra, Slotbox, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mission: Impossible, The Terminator, Cleopatra, Sinatra, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, Monopoly, Resident Evil, Melon Madness, Wheel Of Fortune and Mega Fortune Wheel.

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PartyCasino's most recent game releases include Shaaark! SuperBet, Crocodopolis, Alice's Wonderland, Glamour Puss, Super Cubes, Heist, Palladium Slot and Circus Slot.

Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Co-CEO Jim Ryan has gone on record advising PartyCasinowill soon feature more Hollywood blockbuster themed slots. A few in the know journalists and media agents have been recently tipped off that an all time classic movie adaption will be showcased in the PartyCasino portfolio within 1 month. PartyCasino has the world's most impressive line up of Hollywood themed games, and more are just around the corner.

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Friday, August 24, 2012

How the video games industry is faring - 23rd August 2012


How the video games industry is faring

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Companies in the video games business have been reporting earnings for the most recent quarter. Here's a look at reports and results for selected companies that make or sell video games.

— July 12: NPD Group reports that U.S. retail sales of video game hardware, software and accessories fell 29 percent in June to $700 million. It's the seventh consecutive month of decline. Sales of console and portable software — the video games themselves — fell 29 percent from a year earlier, while sales of hardware fell 45 percent. Sales of accessories grew 4 percent. Excluded are sales of used games and rentals as well as digital and social-network spending. The top-selling game was "Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes," from Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. Interactive.

— July 19: Microsoft Corp. says it sold 1.1 million Xbox 360 consoles, down from 1.7 million a year earlier, in what it calls a soft console market. Membership in its Xbox Live service increased more than 15 percent.

— July 25: Nintendo Co. says it sold 710,000 Wii units in the April-June quarter, down from 1.56 million a year ago. Nintendo is coming out with a successor, the Wii U, this year. It is forecasting 10.5 million units for the full fiscal year, which ends in March 2013.

— July 31: Video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc. reports a wider net loss and lower revenue in its latest quarter, but results are largely in line with expectations. It also announces a stock buyback of up to $500 million.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., another game publisher, says its loss in the latest quarter was much bigger than expected, because sales of "Spec Ops: The Line" and "Max Payne 3" were not as high as the company hoped.

— Aug. 2: Sony Corp. says sales fell about 15 percent, largely because of lower sales of the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable devices and the games that go with them. The decline was partly offset by the new PlayStation Vita, which went on sale in December in Japan and in the U.S. and Europe in February.

Video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. says net income dropped because of lower revenue from games. But adjusted results — the more closely watched figure — easily surpassed Wall Street's expectations and were much higher than a year ago.

— Aug. 6: Video game publisher THQ Inc. says revenue fell in the latest quarter, but adjusted results beat Wall Street's expectations as the company plan to reshape its business advanced. THQ is changing its focus to its core gaming business that includes popular wrestling and action-adventure video games such as "WWE" and "Darksiders." As part of that, it exited its traditional kids' licensed game business, trimmed its product line and streamlined operations. The process, however, is still ongoing.

— Aug. 7: The Walt Disney Co.'s interactive games division saw revenue fall 22 percent to $196 million as there were fewer significant titles compared with a year ago.

— Aug. 9: NPD says retail sales of new video game hardware, software and accessories fell for the eighth straight month in July. Overall sales fell 20 percent to $548.4 million. Sales of consoles and portable software — the video games themselves — fell 23 percent, while sales of hardware fell 32 percent. Accessories sales rose 8 percent. "NCAA Football 13" from Electronic Arts Inc. was the month's top seller.

— Aug. 16: GameStop Corp., the world's biggest video game retailer, reports a 32 percent decline in its quarterly income as sales slowed because not enough new games came out to draw in customers. Revenue fell 11 percent to $1.55 billion, short of Wall Street's $1.61 billion estimate. (AP)

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Marvel Entertainment News: The Wolverine, Marvel Games; Hollywood


The Wolverine, Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Games...

Profiles

Movies Hollywood Entertainment Marvel Entertainment Amazing Spider-Man The Wolverine The Avengers United States Affiliate Programs Advertising




New X Men, Wolverine 2 Film Revealed Possible New Viper Actress...

New X Men, Wolverine 2 film revealed possible new Viper actress. According to a new report from Collider, talks with Jessica Biel to play character Viper in the new Wolverine 2 flick, did not workout,so now, this new Russian actress Svetlana Khodchenkova is currently in talks to play Viper instead. It’s also reported that Svetlana is expected to close a deal with the studio pretty quickly.

The character of Viper is said to be of Eastern European decent, and has a complex relationship with Wolverine that includes, at one point, a sham marriage. Svetlana is mostly known for her work in Russia, but she appeared last year in the espionage flick “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.”

On location work on The Wolverine will be done in Japan, while stage work will be shot in Australia in August. The movie stars: Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Hiroyuki Sanada, Hal Yamanouchi, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, Brian Tee, and is scheduled to hit theaters on July 26th,2013. Stay tuned.


Wolverine sequel: Jessica Biel out...

Just days after Jessica Biel was announced to play Viper in the forthcoming Wolverine sequel, The Wolverine, it has emerged that the actress has now walked away from the project after contract talks broke down.

James Mangold has taken the reins for this installment with Hugh Jackman returning to play the titular title role. It will hopefully stay faithful to the Chris Claremont/Frank Miller series which sees Wolverine transported to Japan in one of his darkest storylines.

Biel had been cast as Viper, a character who has a tempestuous relationship with Wolverine/Logan, including blackmail, a forced marriage and the odd wound – both physical and mental. Viper is also known as Lady Hydra, a high ranking officer in the Hydra network, but this may not be referenced in The Wolverine as the rights to Hydra are with Disney/Marvel Studios and Hydra was used in Captain America: The First Avenger.

The Wolverine has had a bumpy ride so far getting to the big screen, with Darren Aronofsky leaving the project very early on. This caused a delay in filming, which then grew as Hugh Jackman had commitments to film Les Miserables.

It’s another setback for the production that commences in Australia this August before filming on location in Japan. Sources say that Fox are now talking to other actors about the role as they look to move quickly to replace Biel.

The film is scheduled for release July 2013.


Marvel Entertainment movies; Thor, Spider-Man boost popularity of online slot games...

The Media Man agency reports that Marvel comics themed games such as Amazing Spider-Man, Thor, Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk have received a boost thanks to recent and upcoming movie releases tied in with Marvel Entertainment. For the gaming world that Excelsior! (as Marvel legend Stan Lee would say). Check em out at PartyCasino, as featured across the Media Man network.


Comic Book Movies News Update...

DC Comics:

Director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino will soon be scripting for DC Comics. The announcement, made at San Diego Comic Con, was nothing short of cryptic, and we are waiting on more details to be divulged.


Marvel Comics:

The Marvel NOW! Point-One teaser sequentially revealed the heroes that will be strongly implicated in the special issue to be released this Fall. The characters are Nick Fury, Jr., Cable, Ant Man, Loki, Wiccan, Miss America, Nova and Starlord.


Film and Television:

Dreamworks recently entered a bidding war for Classic Media film and television rights to properties like He-Man, Godzilla, Voltron, Turok, Dick Tracy, Archie, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and many more.

Marvel Studios is investigating the leak that uncovered the production of a Guardians of the Galaxy film weeks before the film's planned announcement at San Diego Comic Con.

The Dark Knight Rises has reportedly earned $162 million at the box office in its opening weekend despite tragedy. The gross puts TDKR third behind Marvel's The Avengers and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II, both of which had inflated grosses due to 3D ticket sales.


Hugh Jackman echoes sorrow over massacre...

Australian actor Hugh Jackman has expressed his sadness following the mass shooting at a US screening of The Dark Knight Rises.

'All I can echo is the sorrow I feel for the families, the community, for everybody,' he says.

'It's an issue that goes way beyond, obviously beyond acting, beyond film or anything like that.

'This is just a tragedy on a level that we have experienced in Australia many years ago in Tasmania and it's devastating and I can't comment on (it) anymore than as a human being and my feelings for those people involved.'

Jackman was speaking in Sydney at a press conference on Tuesday for his new film The Wolverine, alongside its director, James Mangold, and Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Jackman was sporting a red right eye, but it wasn't because of training for the action movie, but rather 'a very energetic game of tag with my kids', which he thinks burst a blood vessel.

Jackman says it wasn't easy getting back into shape for the part, particularly coming from his last role as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.

'That was a particular challenge because Les Mis, I had to start at 83 kilos and I finished at about 97 kilos by the end of the movie,' he says.

'We did have a holiday recently, but it was more like boot camp for me. But the kids and Deb (his wife, actress Deborra-Lee Furness) were happy.'

Shooting of The Wolverine is scheduled to start in Sydney on July 30, after a number of setbacks for the sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Last March, director Darren Aronofsky left the project, and Mangold stepped in to replace him. Then the shoot, which was originally meant to be in Japan, was postponed last October because of weather conditions.

Mangold says The Wolverine is based on a series of comics that detail the mutant's journeys in Japan and he refuted reports that Jessica Biel had turned down the lead role of Viper.

'The story couldn't be more of a fantasy frankly, in terms of what I was reading, so it was nothing more than a list of people we were considering and still are,' he says.

Jackman, who has played Wolverine now in five different movies over the past 12 years, says he takes the movies on one at a time.

For The Wolverine, he saw the screenplay and was sold.

'I feel like a golfer, always looking for a hole in one and I thought this was the best script we've had,' he says.


Hollywood declares box office truce after massacre...

The Hollywood studio behind the Batman movies has decided not to publish weekend box office figures after the Colorado theatre massacre.

Twelve people were killed and 58 injured when a gunman dressed in full body armour opened fire at a packed midnight premier of The Dark Knight Rises in Denver.

James Holmes, 24, was taken into custody outside the cinema after the attack. He is in solitary confinement and is due in court on Monday morning.

Within hours of the attack, Warner Brothers had cancelled the movie's Paris premiere, which was to have been accompanied by a press junket with the cast and crew including director Christopher Nolan and main star Christian Bale.

The company also cancelled red carpet events for the film in France, Japan and Mexico, although screenings will go ahead as planned.

Warner Bros has now confirmed it will not publish weekend takings - a form of crowing about box office success - until Monday.

This was despite the fact that unofficial figures cited by industry daily Variety suggest that it made $US75 million on Friday alone, the third biggest opening day ever at the US box office.

The move was swiftly followed by major Hollywood rivals including Disney, Fox, Sony, Lionsgate and Universal.

After initial radio silence from most of the cast and crew, Nolan issued a statement lamenting the "senseless tragedy," and expressing "our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community".

On Saturday Bale, who plays Bruce Wayne aka Batman, also expressed his sadness.

"Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them," he said in a statement.

In a separate move Warner Bros scrambled to pull a trailer for another film, Gangster Squad, including a scene in which mobsters shoot at theatre audiences. (AFP)


Christian Bale: My Heart Aches for Victims

The film is expected to be among the most lucrative movie openings and possibly contend with the record $207.4 million brought in by "The Avengers."

"The Dark Knight Rises" star Christian Bale said Saturday that his heart goes out to the victims of the Colorado shootings, a tragedy that brought Hollywood studios together in a rare show of solidarity as they opted to give the weekend box-office a rest.

"Words cannot express the horror that I feel," Bale, who plays the caped crusader in the film, said in a statement. "I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them."

Meanwhile, Sony, Fox, Disney, Universal, Fox, Paramount and Lionsgate said Saturday that they are joining "Dark Knight Rises" distributor Warner Bros. in withholding their box-office numbers for the weekend.

Warner Bros. announced Friday that it would forgo the usual revenue reports until Monday out of respect for the victims and their families in the Aurora, Colo., shooting that killed 12 and wounded 58 at the midnight show of "The Dark Knight Rises" earlier in the day.

The other studios said they also would not report numbers until Monday. Box-office tracking service Rentrak, too, said it would not report figures this weekend.

Sunday box-office estimates are a weekly routine for Hollywood, with studios jostling for bragging rights as the No. 1 movie and always aiming to break revenue records.

Before the shooting in an Aurora, Colo., movie theater at a midnight screening of the new Batman film, the box-office performance of "The Dark Knight Rises" had been eagerly anticipated. The film is expected to be among the most lucrative movie openings and possibly contend with the record $207.4 million brought in by "The Avengers."

But that now appears unlikely, even though "The Dark Knight Rises" earned $30.6 million from midnight screenings alone. Hollywood trade publications Variety and Hollywood Reporter reported estimates of roughly $75 million to $77 million for the film on Friday, based on box-office insiders.

That would put it on track for somewhere around $165 million for the weekend. Such a total would be the second highest weekend opening ever, after "The Avengers."

Any projections, though, are bound to be rough approximates given the atypical nature of the situation. Many of Friday's tickets were presold before the shooting. Moviegoers making their way to theaters also faced increased security and, in some places, bag checks. AMC Theaters, the country's second-largest movie chain, said it would not allow costumed fans or face-covered masks into its theaters.

Warner Bros. rushed to react to the tragedy, immediately canceling a Friday night premiere in Paris. On Saturday, it also canceled the other remaining red-carpet extravaganzas in Mexico City and Tokyo.

The studio, a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., also moved to pull trailers from its upcoming film "Gangster Squad" from theaters. The trailer of the film, which stars Sean Penn and Ryan Gosling in a ruthless war between Los Angeles police and the mob, includes a scene of mobsters firing into a crowded movie theater from behind the screen.

Christopher Nolan, the director of "The Dark Knight Rises" earlier responded to the tragedy, expressing his sorrow for the victims and their families.

Said Nolan: "The movie theater is my home and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me."

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IIGT Highlights Innovative 3D Gaming Technology and a Star-studded Gaming Lineup at the Australasian Gaming Expo

Profiles

IGT Sydney Entertainment Australia Gaming Promotions Publicity


IGT Highlights Innovative 3D Gaming Technology and a Star-studded Gaming Lineup at the Australasian Gaming Expo



LAS VEGAS, Aug. 20, 2012 -- International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT), a global leader in casino gaming entertainment and systems technology, announced today it will deliver new industry firsts for Australia's gaming enthusiasts at the Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE) Aug. 21 – 23 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre in Sydney, Australia.



IGT will launch the 3D gaming technology MLD™ (Multi-Layer Display™), paired with the unveiling of one of the world's most iconic pop culture brands, Elvis The King®. This new title is now available in Australia exclusively on the IGT bluechip Neo® Tower Top cabinet after successful launches in other global markets, along with many new games and products.



"IGT continues to provide our customers with strong game performance, the widest variety of games, the latest in systems innovation and world-class service, all of which will be on display at AGE," said Eric Tom, IGT executive vice president of Global Sales.



"Our research indicates that many players are entertainment seekers who are attracted to iconic brands and IGT delivers this with our pop culture hit Elvis The King®. This game has been adapted to suit the Australasian players' playing style. The 3D capabilities of MLD with Elvis The King® also provides venues with a strong differentiator as they look to broaden gaming's appeal and provide something special for players," said Tom. "Elvis The King® is packed with multiple features and number one hits."



IGT's 3D MLD™ screens take gaming to another dimension in play. The 3D effect is simulated because the content exists on two separate LCD panels; one in front of the other which gives a depth of field, with game elements appearing and moving between the front and back screens. This allows for new game play options and heightened entertainment.



The line-up of over fifty games at AGE reflects IGT's re-invigorated game design strategy with the legendary performance of games such as Siberian Storm®and Dangerous Beauty®. Additional games debuting at AGE include:



Black Widow® – a low denomination game with a 'web capture' feature during free games for the chance to accumulate additional credits.

Dakota Thunder® - featuring the 'Thunder Shudder'.

A global leader in casino gaming entertainment and systems technology, IGT provides a holistic solution to the industry and its strength in gaming management systems and new interactive technologies will also be showcased at AGE.



The IGT Advantage Club® System will be demonstrated with new technologies such as Service Window, a small window that appears on the left hand side of the screen. The Service Window can be used for personalized player messaging and for service requests, adding a unique level of service for venues with the IGT system. The IGT Advantage Club® system is proving to be a winner with clubs in New South Wales.



IGT will again be playing host to industry experts who will present a range of topics including game floor design, customer service and systems. For more details on the free business seminar sessions visit www.igt.com.au/AGE12.



About IGT

International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader in casino gaming entertainment and continues to transform the industry by translating casino player experiences to social, mobile and interactive environments for regulated markets around the world. IGT's recent acquisition of Double Down Interactive provides engaging casino style entertainment to more than 5 million players monthly. More information about IGT is available at www.IGT.com or connect with IGT at @IGTNews or www.facebook.com/IGT.



© EPE, Reg. U.S. Pat & TM O_.



Dangerous Beauty and Black Widow were created by High 5 Games. For more information on High 5 Games, go to www.High5games.com



Pure Depth™, MLD®, Multi-Layer Display® and Actual Depth™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pure Depth, Inc. All other trademarks are registered trademarks or the property of their respective owners without the intent to infringe. www.puredepth.com. All trademarks or registered trademarks are owned by IGT (Australia) Pty. Limited or its related entities. All information is subject to change without notice. Game type availability is subject to jurisdictional approval.0. SOURCE IGT



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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Australasian Gaming Expo report from Sydney; Australia - Day 3 - 23rd August 2012


Profiles

Human Statue Bodyart Sydney Entertainment Australia Gaming Promotions Publicity




Today was the 3rd day for the most high profile and successful gaming expo in Australia - the Australasian Gaming Expo, which is being hosted by the Sydney Convention Centre at Darling Harbour. It's gaming, gambling, technology, sales...even creative arts elements and much more.

It's a key time for the gaming industry in Australia with all the regulation elements, responsible gambling initiatives and such, and most of the big boys of the industry were on hand to show off their wares, with some exhibitors demonstrating significant creative flair to help showoff their latest and greatest wares.

Our friends at Human Statue Bodyart were back again and they had a couple of body models made up in bodypaint (Anastasia as a butterfly and Victoria as a panda) - complete with wings and sparkles, for leading gaming brand Paltronics and its latest game 'Jungle Madness'.

The expo centre itself is huge - 15,000 square metres (about the size of an Aussie Rules football oval) and this provided more than ample opportunity for over 750 slot games on display.

The Australasian Gaming Expo is by far the largest event of its type in Australia and one of the world’s biggest.

We learned through the grapevine that a trip for 2 to Las Vegas will be won by a lucky visitor on each of the 3 days of the Expo, and this is compliments of the Gaming Technologies Association which owns the event. It's understood the winner of the trip will be named later this afternoon.

It's tipped over 20,000 people have walked through the games expo thus far, with those in the business being the majority, and no doubt a few punters, checked through the gates (but note that the games on display do not accept coins or notes).

Well done to everyone associated with the success of the expo and we'll see you there again next year.

Websites

Australasian Gaming Expo

Gaming Technologies Association

PALtronics Australasia

Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre

Human Statue Bodyart

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