2008 April 10 Gambling News, Events and Happenings

BLACKBURN, England (AFP) - England midfielder David Bentley has admitted he had a gambling problem that threatened to wreck his career.

A TOP police officer of the city arrested five persons for illegal gambling in Kilometer 23, Bunawan, Wednesday morning. The suspects were Noel Johnson, 31; Alexander Lumar, 44; Richard Naroga, 24; Jonathan Cunanan, 24; and Merlina Panes, 40, residents of the place.

CEDAR RAPIDS - Gamblers at Iowa casinos can keep their cigarettes, but come this summer, bingo halls could be smoke-free. Thursday night was the first bingo night at Hawkeye Downs since both the Iowa house and Senate passed a smoking ban.

TRENTON A Harrison Township man and 23 others were indicted Thursday by a New Jersey grand jury on allegations they were involved in a sports bookmaking ring that operated inside the Borgata Hotel Casino poker room and took in more than $60 million in bets in 20 months, Attorney General Anne Milgram said.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The state has a new tool to fight casino crime. A faux-casino has been built in the new Department of Public Safety building in Des Moines. It is being used as a life-like training floor for state agents assigned to spot cheating in casinos.

PROVIDENCE Heading into a one-week recess, Senate leaders yesterday took their cue from the House and put a 24-hour gambling proposal on hold.

Sen. Paul Moura, D-East Providence, hears that his bill that would allow 24-hour gambling on weekends and holidays would not be heard on the Senate floor yesterday. Story on Page B3.

Tonya Stanford drew a winning hand Thursday, as did her sister, cousin and uncle. They attended a casino job fair at the DeSoto Civic Center sponsored by the Seminole tribe to find workers for its Florida casinos.

A 90-year-old woman accidentally backed into a McDonald’s restaurant, disrupting a bingo game and sending a couple to the hospital with minor injuries. Lois Weber told police one of her tennis shoes became stuck under the gas pedal on her 2004 Cadillac, causing her to lose control and back into the restaurant Wednesday. She said she recently changed shoe brands and was not used to the wider …