Phil Taylor exits the competition of William Hill World Darts Championship upon he has been unexpectedly defeated by Jelle Klaasen.

None of the online gambling news in the UK would have predicted the results of the World Darts Championship on day 12 since it did bring some shocking result. Not only Michael van Gerwen has been forced to leave the tournament but Phil Taylor exits as well due to a surprisingly great performance by his opponent Jelle Klaasen.

Phil Taylor exits the William Hill World Darts Championship as early as day 12. This is an incredibly poor performance by the successful darts player as he was regarded as number three seed player, meaning he is in the top 3 out of all participating darts players. However, Jelle Klaasen proved to be better than last year’s runner-up this time.

Gambling facts could not have been trusted this time since nothing implicated that Klaased could be good enough to defeat Phil Taylor. Klaasen did not win any major darts tournament since 2006 when he won the World Darts Championship. However, this time his performance was good enough to force out Phil Taylor’s exit of the competition.

Phil Taylor is one of the most famous darts players. Not only he was seeded number 3 this year, but he is a living legend in darts. He has won the World Darts Championship 16 times in the past and has been looking for his 17th world cup glory since 2013. He was extremely close to it last year but Gary Anderson defeated him in a glorious battle in the final. Now Jelle Klaasen did the same to him before the finals so the legendary darts player will have to wait at least another year to be able to become World Darts Champion again, for the 17th time throughout his fascinating career.

Phil Taylor exits the competition of William Hill World Darts Championship upon he has been unexpectedly defeated by Jelle Klaasen.

None of the online gambling news in the UK would have predicted the results of the World Darts Championship on day 12 since it did bring some shocking result. Not only Michael van Gerwen has been forced to leave the tournament but Phil Taylor exits as well due to a surprisingly great performance by his opponent Jelle Klaasen.

Phil Taylor exits the William Hill World Darts Championship as early as day 12. This is an incredibly poor performance by the successful darts player as he was regarded as number three seed player, meaning he is in the top 3 out of all participating darts players. However, Jelle Klaasen proved to be better than last year’s runner-up this time.

Gambling facts could not have been trusted this time since nothing implicated that Klaased could be good enough to defeat Phil Taylor. Klaasen did not win any major darts tournament since 2006 when he won the World Darts Championship. However, this time his performance was good enough to force out Phil Taylor’s exit of the competition.

Phil Taylor is one of the most famous darts players. Not only he was seeded number 3 this year, but he is a living legend in darts. He has won the World Darts Championship 16 times in the past and has been looking for his 17th world cup glory since 2013. He was extremely close to it last year but Gary Anderson defeated him in a glorious battle in the final. Now Jelle Klaasen did the same to him before the finals so the legendary darts player will have to wait at least another year to be able to become World Darts Champion again, for the 17th time throughout his fascinating career.

The UK Government will move forward with its plan to tax remote gambling companies who cater to British players.

The court has given the British Government the green light to implement its new gambling laws. The decision comes after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association challenged the government’s new licensing and taxation policies in court, hoping to receive approval to continue catering to British players remotely, without actually paying taxes in the UK.

For several years now, top gambling operators – including big names like William Hill, Ladbrokes or bet365 – have been running their online casinos and betting services from places like Gibraltar, Malta or Isle of Man. These offshore jurisdictions have much lower taxes than the UK, allowing gambling companies to pocket millions of pounds that would normally go to the British government.

The industry has been preparing for the big tax change, which is expected to cost it around GBP300 million a year, but the move has also caused share prices to drop. British bookmaker William Hill saw its shares fall 3.3%, while Ladbrokes shares dropped more than 4% following the court’s decision.

Reuters: RPT- Court clears Britain to take tighter control of online gambling

In order to tighten controls on the online betting industry, the British Government will require all internet gambling companies to obtain a license from the UK Gambling Commission before providing their services on the local market.

With the new license comes an additional 15% tax on online profits made from bets placed by UK-based customers, which is scheduled to come into force on December 1. As of March 2015, bookmakers will also pay 20 to 25% more on lucrative high stakes gambling machines. It is estimated that this tax increase will cost betting companies around GBP75 million a year.

As for the new gambling act, officials had initially set the deadline for October 1, but were forced to postpone the measures until November 1 after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) challenged them in court, claiming they contravened European laws guaranteeing free movement of services.

Judge Nicholas Green dismissed the appeal on Friday, saying: “Parliament was clearly within its rights to act as it did.”

“We remain concerned the UK regulator will find it difficult to hold companies to account in jurisdictions outside of the EU where it has no legal powers and common legal framework or culture,” the GBGA wrote in a statement.

Critics argue that the new regulations will result in unlicensed operators offering better odds on sports scores, thus encouraging gamblers to turn to illegal websites, which offer no consumer protection.

GBGA: “Unlawful’” Gambling Law Poses “New Danger” for Consumers

Earlier in June, the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) raised a few issues regarding the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014, labeling it as “unlawful”, and claiming that it “threatens the safety of consumers online.”

The new regime will require the UK Gambling Commission to police the online industry worldwide, which will be very difficult. GBGA chief Peter Howitt believes that the new law, combined with planned tax changes, will cause local players to migrate to the unregulated market.

“This is bad for UK consumers, bad for the regulated industry, bad for Gibraltar and is in breach of European law, but fantastic news for operators who choose to avoid proper regulation,” he said in a statement.

“We know of no precedent where any regulator in any industry will be granted the role of licensing and regulating operators all over the world in this way, threatening to criminalize companies and people who fail to submit to its regime. This is plainly unworkable.”

In addition to being “unlawful” and “unworkable”, the new law is also “unnecessary”, the association said. Gibraltar has one of the world’s most effective regulatory regimes and would continue to be responsible for its gambling industry, but it would also have to share information with the UK regulator on a formal basis.

In a statement released by the GBGA, the association’s lawyers added: “All this Act achieves is a wholly unjustified, disproportionate and discriminatory interference with the right to free movement of services, a right enshrined in European Law.”

Gaming Intelligence: Pinnacle Sports to shut down UK operations

Curaçao-licensed betting operator Pinnacle Sports announced that it will withdraw from the UK market. The company decided to stop catering to British players after the Government announced it was introducing tighter regulations under the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014.

At the beginning of September, the company sent a notification to all its customers, announcing it will shut down its UK operations from September 30th. Apart from withdrawals, all account functions have been disabled starting September 30. The restriction applies to subscribers who have listed UK as their place of residence, in their account details.

“Amendments to the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act come into force on October 1st, 2014 requiring all companies that advertise or provide gambling services to British residents to obtain a license from the British Gambling Commission,” the betting operator explained in a statement.

Pinnacle is just one of the many online gambling operators who chose to withdraw from the British market due to the 15% point of consumption tax. The list also includes SBOBet and 12BET, both licensed in Isle of Man, and Gibraltar-based Mansion casino.

The UK Government will move forward with its plan to tax remote gambling companies who cater to British players.

The court has given the British Government the green light to implement its new gambling laws. The decision comes after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association challenged the government’s new licensing and taxation policies in court, hoping to receive approval to continue catering to British players remotely, without actually paying taxes in the UK.

For several years now, top gambling operators – including big names like William Hill, Ladbrokes or bet365 – have been running their online casinos and betting services from places like Gibraltar, Malta or Isle of Man. These offshore jurisdictions have much lower taxes than the UK, allowing gambling companies to pocket millions of pounds that would normally go to the British government.

The industry has been preparing for the big tax change, which is expected to cost it around GBP300 million a year, but the move has also caused share prices to drop. British bookmaker William Hill saw its shares fall 3.3%, while Ladbrokes shares dropped more than 4% following the court’s decision.

Reuters: RPT- Court clears Britain to take tighter control of online gambling

In order to tighten controls on the online betting industry, the British Government will require all internet gambling companies to obtain a license from the UK Gambling Commission before providing their services on the local market.

With the new license comes an additional 15% tax on online profits made from bets placed by UK-based customers, which is scheduled to come into force on December 1. As of March 2015, bookmakers will also pay 20 to 25% more on lucrative high stakes gambling machines. It is estimated that this tax increase will cost betting companies around GBP75 million a year.

As for the new gambling act, officials had initially set the deadline for October 1, but were forced to postpone the measures until November 1 after the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) challenged them in court, claiming they contravened European laws guaranteeing free movement of services.

Judge Nicholas Green dismissed the appeal on Friday, saying: “Parliament was clearly within its rights to act as it did.”

“We remain concerned the UK regulator will find it difficult to hold companies to account in jurisdictions outside of the EU where it has no legal powers and common legal framework or culture,” the GBGA wrote in a statement.

Critics argue that the new regulations will result in unlicensed operators offering better odds on sports scores, thus encouraging gamblers to turn to illegal websites, which offer no consumer protection.

GBGA: “Unlawful’” Gambling Law Poses “New Danger” for Consumers

Earlier in June, the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) raised a few issues regarding the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014, labeling it as “unlawful”, and claiming that it “threatens the safety of consumers online.”

The new regime will require the UK Gambling Commission to police the online industry worldwide, which will be very difficult. GBGA chief Peter Howitt believes that the new law, combined with planned tax changes, will cause local players to migrate to the unregulated market.

“This is bad for UK consumers, bad for the regulated industry, bad for Gibraltar and is in breach of European law, but fantastic news for operators who choose to avoid proper regulation,” he said in a statement.

“We know of no precedent where any regulator in any industry will be granted the role of licensing and regulating operators all over the world in this way, threatening to criminalize companies and people who fail to submit to its regime. This is plainly unworkable.”

In addition to being “unlawful” and “unworkable”, the new law is also “unnecessary”, the association said. Gibraltar has one of the world’s most effective regulatory regimes and would continue to be responsible for its gambling industry, but it would also have to share information with the UK regulator on a formal basis.

In a statement released by the GBGA, the association’s lawyers added: “All this Act achieves is a wholly unjustified, disproportionate and discriminatory interference with the right to free movement of services, a right enshrined in European Law.”

Gaming Intelligence: Pinnacle Sports to shut down UK operations

Curaçao-licensed betting operator Pinnacle Sports announced that it will withdraw from the UK market. The company decided to stop catering to British players after the Government announced it was introducing tighter regulations under the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014.

At the beginning of September, the company sent a notification to all its customers, announcing it will shut down its UK operations from September 30th. Apart from withdrawals, all account functions have been disabled starting September 30. The restriction applies to subscribers who have listed UK as their place of residence, in their account details.

“Amendments to the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act come into force on October 1st, 2014 requiring all companies that advertise or provide gambling services to British residents to obtain a license from the British Gambling Commission,” the betting operator explained in a statement.

Pinnacle is just one of the many online gambling operators who chose to withdraw from the British market due to the 15% point of consumption tax. The list also includes SBOBet and 12BET, both licensed in Isle of Man, and Gibraltar-based Mansion casino.

After rumors that Kate might be carrying twins, UK betting companies found themselves forced to change their strategy.

Less than a month after gambling news announced that bookmakers were taking bets on the name, gender and weight of the second royal baby, some companies are starting to fear they might be cleared out due to inside knowledge.

Bookmakers have become suspicious after a large number of newly opened accounts where users have placed a lot of money on Kate being pregnant with twins. While some of them have slashed the odds, but kept the option, others have suspended betting on it altogether.

On September 8, when it was confirmed that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a second child, odds for twins were at 20/1. But once the media spread the rumor that Kate is having twins and people rushed to the bookies to place money on it, most companies adjusted the odds in their favor.

At most online sportsbooks, wagering on two new royal babies could pay out a modest 5/2, while William Hill has decided to suspend bets entirely.

Daily Mail: All bets are orf! Insider info fears see bookmakers suspend betting on Kate giving birth to twins after surge in wagers from new accounts

The surge in baby bets started on Monday night, when William Hill initially slashed the odds on Royal twins from 20/1 to 9/1. After that, the company suspended wagers entirely. Rupert Adams, a spokesman for the company explained: “We have had a load of unexpected bets including a large number of new accounts. With any other market I would say that people know.”

Another major betting company, Coral, changed its odds from 20/1 to 10/1 and then to 8/1, in just a few weeks. The bookmaker claims it was the first one to make the change, after one customer placed a GBP1,000 bet on royal twins, at odds of 20/1.

Coral spokesman Nicola McGeady told reporters: “Since Will and Kate announced their news, all the big money has come for twins. With the gamble picking up pace overnight, we fear someone knows something we don’t.”

Ladbrokes was recently offering 8/1 and Paddy Power adjusted its offer to as low as 5/2. The odds for triplets remain at 100/1.

ParentDish: Duchess of Cambridge pregnant with twins? Betting suspended on royal baby

Newspapers have reported that the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant with twins. What first sounded like unsupported gossip has started to seem highly probable, after bookmakers said they were suspecting that the large number of royal twins’ bets could mean the rumors are true.

Clarence House announced Kate’s second pregnancy on September 8, adding that she is suffering with hyperemesis gravidarum, or extreme morning sickness. Bookmakers quickly added baby names to their regular sports scores offers.

Meanwhile, the internet started to spread the information that Kate must be pregnant with twins, because the medical condition is more common in multiple pregnancies. The truth is that the Duchess suffered of the same extreme morning sickness with her first baby. It is unlikely that the Palace will release any more details about whether Kate is carrying twins or not. When she was expecting Prince George, all they did was confirm the month she is due.

But just to be on the safe side, top UK bookmaker William Hill suspended wagering on the couple expecting twins on Monday, and Coral followed its example putting all royal baby betting options on hold for now.

International Business Times: Kate Middleton, Prince William To Name Royal Baby Girl After Princess Diana: Report

Newspaper have already reported that Kate Middleton and Prince William received permission to name their new child after Queen Elizabeth, but royal biographer Andrew Morton claims the pair told friends they also want to honor William’s late mother, Princess Diana.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have yet to learn the gender of their second child, but if female, she will be named Elizabeth Diana Windsor, British newspapers wrote. Morton says the couple is hoping for a girl to join their 14-month-old son, Prince George.

Morton, who is best known for his 1992 biography on Princess Diana, told reporters: “They discussed girls’ names before George was born and now they’re hoping the next one is a girl so they can carry out their wish to honor William’s mother. They’re not too thrilled at the thought it would be shortened to Princess Di but it won’t change their minds.”

The Globe cited an “inside source” saying: “They’ve already told the ailing queen that they believe it’s a girl. Like many of us, William and Kate fear the queen doesn’t have long left and want to honor her while she is still alive.”

After rumors that Kate might be carrying twins, UK betting companies found themselves forced to change their strategy.

Less than a month after gambling news announced that bookmakers were taking bets on the name, gender and weight of the second royal baby, some companies are starting to fear they might be cleared out due to inside knowledge.

Bookmakers have become suspicious after a large number of newly opened accounts where users have placed a lot of money on Kate being pregnant with twins. While some of them have slashed the odds, but kept the option, others have suspended betting on it altogether.

On September 8, when it was confirmed that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a second child, odds for twins were at 20/1. But once the media spread the rumor that Kate is having twins and people rushed to the bookies to place money on it, most companies adjusted the odds in their favor.

At most online sportsbooks, wagering on two new royal babies could pay out a modest 5/2, while William Hill has decided to suspend bets entirely.

Daily Mail: All bets are orf! Insider info fears see bookmakers suspend betting on Kate giving birth to twins after surge in wagers from new accounts

The surge in baby bets started on Monday night, when William Hill initially slashed the odds on Royal twins from 20/1 to 9/1. After that, the company suspended wagers entirely. Rupert Adams, a spokesman for the company explained: “We have had a load of unexpected bets including a large number of new accounts. With any other market I would say that people know.”

Another major betting company, Coral, changed its odds from 20/1 to 10/1 and then to 8/1, in just a few weeks. The bookmaker claims it was the first one to make the change, after one customer placed a GBP1,000 bet on royal twins, at odds of 20/1.

Coral spokesman Nicola McGeady told reporters: “Since Will and Kate announced their news, all the big money has come for twins. With the gamble picking up pace overnight, we fear someone knows something we don’t.”

Ladbrokes was recently offering 8/1 and Paddy Power adjusted its offer to as low as 5/2. The odds for triplets remain at 100/1.

ParentDish: Duchess of Cambridge pregnant with twins? Betting suspended on royal baby

Newspapers have reported that the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant with twins. What first sounded like unsupported gossip has started to seem highly probable, after bookmakers said they were suspecting that the large number of royal twins’ bets could mean the rumors are true.

Clarence House announced Kate’s second pregnancy on September 8, adding that she is suffering with hyperemesis gravidarum, or extreme morning sickness. Bookmakers quickly added baby names to their regular sports scores offers.

Meanwhile, the internet started to spread the information that Kate must be pregnant with twins, because the medical condition is more common in multiple pregnancies. The truth is that the Duchess suffered of the same extreme morning sickness with her first baby. It is unlikely that the Palace will release any more details about whether Kate is carrying twins or not. When she was expecting Prince George, all they did was confirm the month she is due.

But just to be on the safe side, top UK bookmaker William Hill suspended wagering on the couple expecting twins on Monday, and Coral followed its example putting all royal baby betting options on hold for now.

International Business Times: Kate Middleton, Prince William To Name Royal Baby Girl After Princess Diana: Report

Newspaper have already reported that Kate Middleton and Prince William received permission to name their new child after Queen Elizabeth, but royal biographer Andrew Morton claims the pair told friends they also want to honor William’s late mother, Princess Diana.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have yet to learn the gender of their second child, but if female, she will be named Elizabeth Diana Windsor, British newspapers wrote. Morton says the couple is hoping for a girl to join their 14-month-old son, Prince George.

Morton, who is best known for his 1992 biography on Princess Diana, told reporters: “They discussed girls’ names before George was born and now they’re hoping the next one is a girl so they can carry out their wish to honor William’s mother. They’re not too thrilled at the thought it would be shortened to Princess Di but it won’t change their minds.”

The Globe cited an “inside source” saying: “They’ve already told the ailing queen that they believe it’s a girl. Like many of us, William and Kate fear the queen doesn’t have long left and want to honor her while she is still alive.”

While focusing on how to increase taxes on remote gambling, officials seem to have forgotten about the more pressing issue of FOBTs.

UK’s problems with fixed-odds betting terminals are at the center of attention again. The latest gambling news have brought the issue up again, by publishing the story of a former gambling addict who revealed how he spent GBP200,000 on betting machines, over the past ten years.

Meanwhile, the government is having difficulty implementing its changes to the current remote gambling laws after online operators have challenged the decision in court, but the FOBT issue has not been handled yet. Politicians have talked about reducing the maximum stake from GBP100 to GBP50, but for now online casinos and sportsbooks seem to be a priority.

Other amendments granting local councils the power to deny betting shop applications were announced earlier this year, but they haven’t been implemented yet.

The Mirror: Gambling addict blew £200,000 in ten years after becoming hooked on fixed odds betting terminals

In an interview with The Mirror, a former gambling addict tells reporters how he blew GBP200,000 on FOBTs. Simon Perfitt had a good job, but in ten years he went from a GBP50,000 salary to living on benefits after becoming hooked on the controversial machines. He blew up to GBP3,000 per day, he told reporters.

Simon says he didn’t start betting until de has 45, but it only took him ten years to lose all that money. In 2001, the businessman from Dudley was living a lavish lifestyle. He could afford it, thanks to his well-paid in e-commerce. He had also just moved in with his girlfriend. But after becoming addicted to gambling machines – he liked to play roulette – he lost all of his hard-earned money.

“These fixed odds betting terminals destroy you. I became addicted instantly after a friend who played the machines asked me to pop into a bookies one day and have a go. After that, all I thought about all day was gambling.”

“I worked to go on these machines and could spend up to 12 hours a day in there. I used to get up early and go in to the bookies before I went to work, at lunchtime and would go straight into one after work. Within 10 years I had lost GBP200,000, a relationship and my home as well. My whole personality changed. I became very introverted, made excuses not to see family and friends,” he told reporters.

FOBTs have been dubbed the crack cocaine of gambling and have been causing players to lose fortunes. These betting machines bring bookmakers GBP1.5 billion in profits every year.

The Telegraph: Councils to get power to ban new betting shops in blow for gaming industry

The Government said it would give local councils the power to stop new betting shops from opening in their towns. The administration intends to create a new planning class for betting shops, which would allow councils to monitor new applications more closely, as well as to veto them.

The measure is designed to limit concerns over the damaging effects of gambling machines, especially fixed-odds betting terminals, found inside most betting shops. Critics refer to them as “crack cocaine” gambling machines because of their addictive nature.

The industry is expected to oppose resistance to such measures. William Hill has already announced its intentions to close more than 100 betting shops, blaming it in the increased taxes on FOBTs. But even so, the gambling machines are the highly profitable and account for a large part of the land-based betting sector’s profits.

Sources cited by the Telegraph said the new gambling laws would also force companies to comply with protection measures, including promotions and window displays.

The Guardian: Maximum cash stake on fixed-odds betting terminals to be restricted

After anti-betting groups have voiced complaints over the damaging effect of FOBTs, the government said it would impose a GBP50 limit on the maximum wager allowed on these machines, instead of the higher GBP100 stake allowed at present.

The new rules would require anyone who wants to bet more than GBP50 at a time to inform staff. Gamblers would be given the alternative to open an online account, where their spending history can be tracked. Campaigners are still unsatisfied with the announced measures, claiming that ministers have “ducked the big issue” by not cutting the maximum bet in all circumstances.

Matt Zarb-Cousin of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling told reporters: “Staff intervention does not mean player protection. We know from academic studies that employee training is the most commonly tried method to control problem gambling and the least effective. Why would staff stop people from putting money into FOBTs when their pay depends on it?”

On the other hand, the Association of British Bookmakers said new measures would “restrict growth for the sector and mean hundreds of shops and thousands of jobs are now at risk”.

In an assessment released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, officials argued that “account-based play allows players access to up-to-date information which can reduce biased or irrational gambling… and help people maintain control.”

“Making payments over the counter rather than on to the machine directly can provide opportunities for intervention which may give players a reality check,” it added.

While focusing on how to increase taxes on remote gambling, officials seem to have forgotten about the more pressing issue of FOBTs.

UK’s problems with fixed-odds betting terminals are at the center of attention again. The latest gambling news have brought the issue up again, by publishing the story of a former gambling addict who revealed how he spent GBP200,000 on betting machines, over the past ten years.

Meanwhile, the government is having difficulty implementing its changes to the current remote gambling laws after online operators have challenged the decision in court, but the FOBT issue has not been handled yet. Politicians have talked about reducing the maximum stake from GBP100 to GBP50, but for now online casinos and sportsbooks seem to be a priority.

Other amendments granting local councils the power to deny betting shop applications were announced earlier this year, but they haven’t been implemented yet.

The Mirror: Gambling addict blew £200,000 in ten years after becoming hooked on fixed odds betting terminals

In an interview with The Mirror, a former gambling addict tells reporters how he blew GBP200,000 on FOBTs. Simon Perfitt had a good job, but in ten years he went from a GBP50,000 salary to living on benefits after becoming hooked on the controversial machines. He blew up to GBP3,000 per day, he told reporters.

Simon says he didn’t start betting until de has 45, but it only took him ten years to lose all that money. In 2001, the businessman from Dudley was living a lavish lifestyle. He could afford it, thanks to his well-paid in e-commerce. He had also just moved in with his girlfriend. But after becoming addicted to gambling machines – he liked to play roulette – he lost all of his hard-earned money.

“These fixed odds betting terminals destroy you. I became addicted instantly after a friend who played the machines asked me to pop into a bookies one day and have a go. After that, all I thought about all day was gambling.”

“I worked to go on these machines and could spend up to 12 hours a day in there. I used to get up early and go in to the bookies before I went to work, at lunchtime and would go straight into one after work. Within 10 years I had lost GBP200,000, a relationship and my home as well. My whole personality changed. I became very introverted, made excuses not to see family and friends,” he told reporters.

FOBTs have been dubbed the crack cocaine of gambling and have been causing players to lose fortunes. These betting machines bring bookmakers GBP1.5 billion in profits every year.

The Telegraph: Councils to get power to ban new betting shops in blow for gaming industry

The Government said it would give local councils the power to stop new betting shops from opening in their towns. The administration intends to create a new planning class for betting shops, which would allow councils to monitor new applications more closely, as well as to veto them.

The measure is designed to limit concerns over the damaging effects of gambling machines, especially fixed-odds betting terminals, found inside most betting shops. Critics refer to them as “crack cocaine” gambling machines because of their addictive nature.

The industry is expected to oppose resistance to such measures. William Hill has already announced its intentions to close more than 100 betting shops, blaming it in the increased taxes on FOBTs. But even so, the gambling machines are the highly profitable and account for a large part of the land-based betting sector’s profits.

Sources cited by the Telegraph said the new gambling laws would also force companies to comply with protection measures, including promotions and window displays.

The Guardian: Maximum cash stake on fixed-odds betting terminals to be restricted

After anti-betting groups have voiced complaints over the damaging effect of FOBTs, the government said it would impose a GBP50 limit on the maximum wager allowed on these machines, instead of the higher GBP100 stake allowed at present.

The new rules would require anyone who wants to bet more than GBP50 at a time to inform staff. Gamblers would be given the alternative to open an online account, where their spending history can be tracked. Campaigners are still unsatisfied with the announced measures, claiming that ministers have “ducked the big issue” by not cutting the maximum bet in all circumstances.

Matt Zarb-Cousin of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling told reporters: “Staff intervention does not mean player protection. We know from academic studies that employee training is the most commonly tried method to control problem gambling and the least effective. Why would staff stop people from putting money into FOBTs when their pay depends on it?”

On the other hand, the Association of British Bookmakers said new measures would “restrict growth for the sector and mean hundreds of shops and thousands of jobs are now at risk”.

In an assessment released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, officials argued that “account-based play allows players access to up-to-date information which can reduce biased or irrational gambling… and help people maintain control.”

“Making payments over the counter rather than on to the machine directly can provide opportunities for intervention which may give players a reality check,” it added.

In efforts to maintain a more transparent approach with their gaming practices, some of the biggest bookmakers in Britain believe it is in their best interest to establish a supervisory watchdog. This newly formed group will aim to keep them in line with responsible gambling and other relevant standards that the industry calls for.

The Guardian: Bookmakers sign up to voluntary watchdog

With the current industry demands to create a higher standard of gaming and increase efforts to engage in responsible gambling, several high-profile firms are looking into setting up a watchdog. William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Paddy Power are all among the gaming providers that want to implement the new group to oversee their practices.

They have come up with this plan in order to help them with avoid statutory measures for offering “free money” on many of their gaming machines and in betting shops. All of these big firms have agreed to remove all advertisements for touch-screen roulette machines from their respective shops starting from next month.

Additionally, they will also install responsible gambling messages that will be visible across a fifth of their shops’ space. Advertisement that promote “free bets” and “free money” for players to claim will not be aired before 9pm.

Latest gambling news reports that the new overseeing association will be called the Senet Group. Among their many responsibilities will be to fund educational advertising campaigns on problems that are associated with gambling. The group will also make sure to alter their TV commercials to contain more messages that are oriented towards responsible gambling.

Latest gambling news reports that Silver is determined many states that are currently experiencing financial difficulties will want to follow the model set by Nevada. The gaming state allows sports betting and is showing a steady growth.

Financial Times: Britain’s biggest bookmakers to create gambling watchdog

In order to follow through on tougher gaming standards that are being imposed by officials, four of the biggest bookmakers in Britain will create a new overseeing body. Problem gambling has become a heated debate in the industry, so establishing a board should help them curtail issues associated with that.

The self-regulatory body will be titled the Senet group (named after a board game in ancient Egypt), and its purpose will be to help maintains the standards that are sought by the industry today. The group will have the capacity to “name and shame” and also impose fines for any companies that don’t follow through on the missions and objectives set by it.

Other big name gaming providers like Bet365 and BetFred have also been invited to participate and sign-up for the new supervisory entity. The planned date for its launch is currently believed to be in January after several important steps pass completion.

Chief executive of Gala Coral, Carl Leaver, stated, “Actions speak louder than words. That’s why the Senet Group will be given the independence, budget and purpose to hold the betting industry to account.”

Recently, government official have expressed concern about the increased number of betting shops and the effect that they have on Britain’s society. This has seen them launch initiates to reduce problem gambling which is heavily linked to gambling advertisements and high-stakes betting machines that are provided by many betting shops.

Express & Star: Bookies back responsible gambling

William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Paddy Power have all come together to form a new overseeing entity that is intended to help them maintain responsible gambling practices. Many corners of the country believe that gambling providers should be held accountable for problems that may arise due to intense gambling pursuits.

Therefore, the new body titled the Senet Group will be tasked with implementing strict guidelines and measures for all the gambling providers to follow. The key goals that have been put forward by the firms involve the voluntary ban on advertising various gambling offers such as “free bets” and “free money” before 9 pm.

Betting shops will also remove all advertisements of gaming machines from all their windows. Additionally, they will convert a fifth of their shop window advertisement space into messages that will bear responsible gambling points, according to gambling news.

The aim is to protect “vulnerable” gamblers from spending all of their money, while the new group will also have the power to “name and shame” and impose fines for any provider that doesn’t follow the regulations.

Although currently there are four founding companies looking to establish a watchdog, others have also been encouraged to join. Chief executive of Ladbrokes, Richard Glynn, commented, “Gambling has long been a leisure pursuit and part of the cultural fabric of the UK, but we are alive to the concerns of the public to keep gambling a responsible and fun activity.”

PoliticsHome: Four bookmakers set up watchdog to keep themselves in check

A total of four gaming providers have come up with a plant to set up an overseeing body that will make sure all the companies are running socially responsible operations. William Hill, Ladbrokes, Gala Coral and Paddy Power have all agreed to start the new Senet group to keep them in line with the guidelines demanded by government officials and the public.

All of the big four companies are already member of the Association of British Bookmakers, and the new group will help them maintain leverage over BetFred, which the largest non-member of the Association.

The Gambling Commission was established by the government to oversee and make sure all practices are scrupulous and responsible towards the society at large. However, up until it has not done much with its powers but instead has managed to receive criticism from some corners of the public for not doing any effective work.

No fines or penalties like loss of license have been issued to providers for breaching regulations on gambling. The Commission has not been able to discipline the perpetrators for not following the rules which has propelled the government and the public to seek a better regulating body to ensure all runs according to the guidelines.

In efforts to maintain a more transparent approach with their gaming practices, some of the biggest bookmakers in Britain believe it is in their best interest to establish a supervisory watchdog. This newly formed group will aim to keep them in line with responsible gambling and other relevant standards that the industry calls for.

The Guardian: Bookmakers sign up to voluntary watchdog

With the current industry demands to create a higher standard of gaming and increase efforts to engage in responsible gambling, several high-profile firms are looking into setting up a watchdog. William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Paddy Power are all among the gaming providers that want to implement the new group to oversee their practices.

They have come up with this plan in order to help them with avoid statutory measures for offering “free money” on many of their gaming machines and in betting shops. All of these big firms have agreed to remove all advertisements for touch-screen roulette machines from their respective shops starting from next month.

Additionally, they will also install responsible gambling messages that will be visible across a fifth of their shops’ space. Advertisement that promote “free bets” and “free money” for players to claim will not be aired before 9pm.

Latest gambling news reports that the new overseeing association will be called the Senet Group. Among their many responsibilities will be to fund educational advertising campaigns on problems that are associated with gambling. The group will also make sure to alter their TV commercials to contain more messages that are oriented towards responsible gambling.

Latest gambling news reports that Silver is determined many states that are currently experiencing financial difficulties will want to follow the model set by Nevada. The gaming state allows sports betting and is showing a steady growth.

Financial Times: Britain’s biggest bookmakers to create gambling watchdog

In order to follow through on tougher gaming standards that are being imposed by officials, four of the biggest bookmakers in Britain will create a new overseeing body. Problem gambling has become a heated debate in the industry, so establishing a board should help them curtail issues associated with that.

The self-regulatory body will be titled the Senet group (named after a board game in ancient Egypt), and its purpose will be to help maintains the standards that are sought by the industry today. The group will have the capacity to “name and shame” and also impose fines for any companies that don’t follow through on the missions and objectives set by it.

Other big name gaming providers like Bet365 and BetFred have also been invited to participate and sign-up for the new supervisory entity. The planned date for its launch is currently believed to be in January after several important steps pass completion.

Chief executive of Gala Coral, Carl Leaver, stated, “Actions speak louder than words. That’s why the Senet Group will be given the independence, budget and purpose to hold the betting industry to account.”

Recently, government official have expressed concern about the increased number of betting shops and the effect that they have on Britain’s society. This has seen them launch initiates to reduce problem gambling which is heavily linked to gambling advertisements and high-stakes betting machines that are provided by many betting shops.

Express & Star: Bookies back responsible gambling

William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Paddy Power have all come together to form a new overseeing entity that is intended to help them maintain responsible gambling practices. Many corners of the country believe that gambling providers should be held accountable for problems that may arise due to intense gambling pursuits.

Therefore, the new body titled the Senet Group will be tasked with implementing strict guidelines and measures for all the gambling providers to follow. The key goals that have been put forward by the firms involve the voluntary ban on advertising various gambling offers such as “free bets” and “free money” before 9 pm.

Betting shops will also remove all advertisements of gaming machines from all their windows. Additionally, they will convert a fifth of their shop window advertisement space into messages that will bear responsible gambling points, according to gambling news.

The aim is to protect “vulnerable” gamblers from spending all of their money, while the new group will also have the power to “name and shame” and impose fines for any provider that doesn’t follow the regulations.

Although currently there are four founding companies looking to establish a watchdog, others have also been encouraged to join. Chief executive of Ladbrokes, Richard Glynn, commented, “Gambling has long been a leisure pursuit and part of the cultural fabric of the UK, but we are alive to the concerns of the public to keep gambling a responsible and fun activity.”

PoliticsHome: Four bookmakers set up watchdog to keep themselves in check

A total of four gaming providers have come up with a plant to set up an overseeing body that will make sure all the companies are running socially responsible operations. William Hill, Ladbrokes, Gala Coral and Paddy Power have all agreed to start the new Senet group to keep them in line with the guidelines demanded by government officials and the public.

All of the big four companies are already member of the Association of British Bookmakers, and the new group will help them maintain leverage over BetFred, which the largest non-member of the Association.

The Gambling Commission was established by the government to oversee and make sure all practices are scrupulous and responsible towards the society at large. However, up until it has not done much with its powers but instead has managed to receive criticism from some corners of the public for not doing any effective work.

No fines or penalties like loss of license have been issued to providers for breaching regulations on gambling. The Commission has not been able to discipline the perpetrators for not following the rules which has propelled the government and the public to seek a better regulating body to ensure all runs according to the guidelines.

The Scottish independence referendum is just three months away and it will happen on 18th September 2014. The decision about it came after the Scottish and the UK governments signed an agreement, followed by the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill, which dealt with the details around this historic event.

The Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament in November 2013 and it received Royal Assent in December 2013. The Electoral Commission put forward the following wording for the referendum question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” which people have to answer when they go to vote.

Naturally, this issue is pretty hot in Scotland and there are a lot of scenarios and speculations discussed among people and the media. The latest impressive gambling news came from a Surrey punter, who gambled GBP 400,000 that Scottish voters will say no at independence referendum. More about one of largest political bets even placed can he found on:

TheGuardian: Scottish independence referendum: man bets £400,000 on no vote

Bookmakers around the country are extremely excited about the impressive bet calling it the “biggest political bet ever struck.”

One of the biggest betting houses in the UK William Hill reported that the bettor in question showed a banker’s draft for GBP 400,000 in a branch in south-west London. Keeping in mind that the odds are at 1/4 for a no vote, he will most probably earn profit of GBP 100,000.

Additionally, William Hill reported that it already has a GBP 200,000 bet placed again on a no vote, which isn’t surprising as people’s support for a no vote has grown by eight points to 61%, while backing for a yes vote has declined to 18%.

Graham Sharpe, spokesman of William Hill commented: “As far as we can ascertain, this is the biggest political bet ever struck.”

Moreover: “The previous record was a GBP 200,000 bet also struck on a no vote in the Scottish referendum earlier in the campaign, and the same amount was gambled by a customer who backed David Cameron to become Tory leader.”

And: “We are now well on the way to turning over GBP 1 million on the outcome of the Scottish referendum, which is exceeding our expectations.”

TheIndependent: Scottish referendum set to be the most gambled on political event ever

William Hill is definitely one of the big winners, who are discussed in numerous gambling blogs, as this referendum will most probably earn the company more than any other political vote.

Sharpe added the revenue results on the referendum outcome are very impressive, especially keeping in mind that “our total turnover on the last General Election in 2010 was no more than one and a half million.”

With the current bet of GBP 400,000 the UK is pretty high in the table of political bets, very close behind the biggest reported non-UK bet, which was GBP 419,000. It was placed by an Australian gambler, who bet that Tony Abbott would win the 2013 Australian general election.

TheTelegraph: Man bets £400,000 on Scotland saying ‘no’

The GBP 400,000 wager on the outcome of the independence referendum in Scotland is definitely one of the most commented issues in the UK, prior the vote, which will happen in September this year.

William Hill reported that the bettor, who is part of all conversations in the gambling circles, is middle-aged man from Surrey and didn’t have Scottish accent. He placed the bet through a banker’s draft and will have the chance to “make profit” of GBP 100,000 if his prediction comes true.

In reality, “there are less than 100 campaign days to go until Scottish voters go to the polls to decide whether their country should remain part of the United Kingdom.”

Naturally, all three parties in UK’s parliament offered deals to Scotland if it rejects the independence, like more powers on the issues of tax and spending.

However, there are some controversies regarding the support, as last week Gordon Brown, who supports the “No” campaign against independence, accused David Cameron of making a “big mistake” in confronting Scotland against England in his attempt to save the union.

The former Prime Minister expressed his concern that threatening the Scottish population with cuts of jobs and bankruptcy if they vote for independence, transformed the debate and made it simply “Scotland versus Britain.”

Reuters: Gambler in England bets 400,000 pounds that Scots will reject independence

One of the “world’s biggest ever political bets” will most probably bring the bettor who placed it quite impressive revenue.

The GBP 400,000 bet is twice as big as the one of GBP 200,000, also placed on a no vote, by a Scottish man at an earlier stage of the independence referendum campaign.

Despite the larger percentage of people who will most probably vote “No”, in comparison to the supporters of Scottish independence, there are still a lot of voters who haven’t made up their minds.

Thus: “The bookmakers said they had shortened their odds on a “no” vote to 1/5, suggesting this was now more likely to happen than previously thought. Their odds on a “yes” vote stand at 10/3, meaning winners getting 10 pounds back for every three they bet.”

The Scottish independence referendum is just three months away and it will happen on 18th September 2014. The decision about it came after the Scottish and the UK governments signed an agreement, followed by the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill, which dealt with the details around this historic event.

The Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament in November 2013 and it received Royal Assent in December 2013. The Electoral Commission put forward the following wording for the referendum question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” which people have to answer when they go to vote.

Naturally, this issue is pretty hot in Scotland and there are a lot of scenarios and speculations discussed among people and the media. The latest impressive gambling news came from a Surrey punter, who gambled GBP 400,000 that Scottish voters will say no at independence referendum. More about one of largest political bets even placed can he found on:

TheGuardian: Scottish independence referendum: man bets £400,000 on no vote

Bookmakers around the country are extremely excited about the impressive bet calling it the “biggest political bet ever struck.”

One of the biggest betting houses in the UK William Hill reported that the bettor in question showed a banker’s draft for GBP 400,000 in a branch in south-west London. Keeping in mind that the odds are at 1/4 for a no vote, he will most probably earn profit of GBP 100,000.

Additionally, William Hill reported that it already has a GBP 200,000 bet placed again on a no vote, which isn’t surprising as people’s support for a no vote has grown by eight points to 61%, while backing for a yes vote has declined to 18%.

Graham Sharpe, spokesman of William Hill commented: “As far as we can ascertain, this is the biggest political bet ever struck.”

Moreover: “The previous record was a GBP 200,000 bet also struck on a no vote in the Scottish referendum earlier in the campaign, and the same amount was gambled by a customer who backed David Cameron to become Tory leader.”

And: “We are now well on the way to turning over GBP 1 million on the outcome of the Scottish referendum, which is exceeding our expectations.”

TheIndependent: Scottish referendum set to be the most gambled on political event ever

William Hill is definitely one of the big winners, who are discussed in numerous gambling blogs, as this referendum will most probably earn the company more than any other political vote.

Sharpe added the revenue results on the referendum outcome are very impressive, especially keeping in mind that “our total turnover on the last General Election in 2010 was no more than one and a half million.”

With the current bet of GBP 400,000 the UK is pretty high in the table of political bets, very close behind the biggest reported non-UK bet, which was GBP 419,000. It was placed by an Australian gambler, who bet that Tony Abbott would win the 2013 Australian general election.

TheTelegraph: Man bets £400,000 on Scotland saying ‘no’

The GBP 400,000 wager on the outcome of the independence referendum in Scotland is definitely one of the most commented issues in the UK, prior the vote, which will happen in September this year.

William Hill reported that the bettor, who is part of all conversations in the gambling circles, is middle-aged man from Surrey and didn’t have Scottish accent. He placed the bet through a banker’s draft and will have the chance to “make profit” of GBP 100,000 if his prediction comes true.

In reality, “there are less than 100 campaign days to go until Scottish voters go to the polls to decide whether their country should remain part of the United Kingdom.”

Naturally, all three parties in UK’s parliament offered deals to Scotland if it rejects the independence, like more powers on the issues of tax and spending.

However, there are some controversies regarding the support, as last week Gordon Brown, who supports the “No” campaign against independence, accused David Cameron of making a “big mistake” in confronting Scotland against England in his attempt to save the union.

The former Prime Minister expressed his concern that threatening the Scottish population with cuts of jobs and bankruptcy if they vote for independence, transformed the debate and made it simply “Scotland versus Britain.”

Reuters: Gambler in England bets 400,000 pounds that Scots will reject independence

One of the “world’s biggest ever political bets” will most probably bring the bettor who placed it quite impressive revenue.

The GBP 400,000 bet is twice as big as the one of GBP 200,000, also placed on a no vote, by a Scottish man at an earlier stage of the independence referendum campaign.

Despite the larger percentage of people who will most probably vote “No”, in comparison to the supporters of Scottish independence, there are still a lot of voters who haven’t made up their minds.

Thus: “The bookmakers said they had shortened their odds on a “no” vote to 1/5, suggesting this was now more likely to happen than previously thought. Their odds on a “yes” vote stand at 10/3, meaning winners getting 10 pounds back for every three they bet.”

UK bookmaker and online gambling operator William Hill made a $130 million takeover offer to Centrebet, one of the first licensed sportsbooks in Australia. Both parties insist that talks are preliminary, though it has been said that William Hill executives are now in Australia looking over Centrebet’s operation. The move seems to be part of William Hill’s recent globalization strategy.

The Australian: UK group William Hill to bid $130m for Centrebet

UK online sportsbook William Hill is poised to offer £80m ($132m) for online gambling operator Centrebet International.

William Hill’s executives are said to be in Australia examining Centrebet’s operations. It is understood that the groups are still in discussions, with final offers not yet regarded as imminent. Other major sportsbooks like Ladbrokes are still in the running.

William Hill has said it is interested in expanding its operations offshore by increasing its online presence instead of going for land-based betting shops. Australia is seen as fertile territory for bookmakers looking to expand.

“William Hill, Ladbrokes and (British group) Coral are companies I would expect, whether it’s through acquisitions or starting up themselves, to look at entering the Australian market at some point in the next year or so,” says Betfair Australia chief executive Andrew Twaits.

Sky News Australia: William Hill to make offer for Centrebet

UK sportsbook operator William Hilll has offered to pay $132 million for Centrebet.

Australian newspaper The Sunday Times reports that William Hill executives are in currently Australia, examining Centrebet’s books as part of an ongoing negotiation.

In March, Centrebet announced that it had received a number of acquisition proposals and was considering them all.

It is believed that there are other gambling groups interested in acquiring Centrebet, including William Hill’s UK rival Ladbrokes and Austria’s BWin.

The draft recommendation to liberalise Australia’s gambling laws recently published by the Productivity Commission has boosted overseas interest in internet gambling in Australia.

The Sydney Morning Herald: Centrebet continues consolidation talks

The internet gambling and betting group Centrebet International Ltd is still in talks with other operators over consolidation opportunities.

“Whilst parties have expressed interest in exploring a variety of transaction structures, no terms, including as to price, have been agreed,” Centrebet said in a statement on Monday.

“Centrebet anticipates that these discussions may continue for some time.” The group also admitted that the talks are preliminary, and may not result in any formal proposal being made.

Centrebet revealed back in March that it had received takeover proposals in February, and that the proposals were confidential and non-binding. At the time, it was speculated that Ladbrokes, William Hill and Sportingbet were all in talks with Centrebet.

UK bookmaker and online gambling operator William Hill made a $130 million takeover offer to Centrebet, one of the first licensed sportsbooks in Australia. Both parties insist that talks are preliminary, though it has been said that William Hill executives are now in Australia looking over Centrebet’s operation. The move seems to be part of William Hill’s recent globalization strategy.

The Australian: UK group William Hill to bid $130m for Centrebet

UK online sportsbook William Hill is poised to offer £80m ($132m) for online gambling operator Centrebet International.

William Hill’s executives are said to be in Australia examining Centrebet’s operations. It is understood that the groups are still in discussions, with final offers not yet regarded as imminent. Other major sportsbooks like Ladbrokes are still in the running.

William Hill has said it is interested in expanding its operations offshore by increasing its online presence instead of going for land-based betting shops. Australia is seen as fertile territory for bookmakers looking to expand.

“William Hill, Ladbrokes and (British group) Coral are companies I would expect, whether it’s through acquisitions or starting up themselves, to look at entering the Australian market at some point in the next year or so,” says Betfair Australia chief executive Andrew Twaits.

Sky News Australia: William Hill to make offer for Centrebet

UK sportsbook operator William Hilll has offered to pay $132 million for Centrebet.

Australian newspaper The Sunday Times reports that William Hill executives are in currently Australia, examining Centrebet’s books as part of an ongoing negotiation.

In March, Centrebet announced that it had received a number of acquisition proposals and was considering them all.

It is believed that there are other gambling groups interested in acquiring Centrebet, including William Hill’s UK rival Ladbrokes and Austria’s BWin.

The draft recommendation to liberalise Australia’s gambling laws recently published by the Productivity Commission has boosted overseas interest in internet gambling in Australia.

The Sydney Morning Herald: Centrebet continues consolidation talks

The internet gambling and betting group Centrebet International Ltd is still in talks with other operators over consolidation opportunities.

“Whilst parties have expressed interest in exploring a variety of transaction structures, no terms, including as to price, have been agreed,” Centrebet said in a statement on Monday.

“Centrebet anticipates that these discussions may continue for some time.” The group also admitted that the talks are preliminary, and may not result in any formal proposal being made.

Centrebet revealed back in March that it had received takeover proposals in February, and that the proposals were confidential and non-binding. At the time, it was speculated that Ladbrokes, William Hill and Sportingbet were all in talks with Centrebet.

Tiger is not his real name. This golf legend – perhaps the most famous golfer who ever lived – was born Eldrick Tont Woods. The name “Tiger” was given to him as a child by his father, and the nickname stuck with him through adulthood.

Woods’ father was a Vietnam vet. His mother was originally from Thailand. Both of his parents had mixed ancestry, making Woods one-quarter Chinese, one-quarter Thai, one-quarter African American, one-eighth Native American, and one-eighth Dutch. To keep things simple, Woods refers to himself as Cablinasian (Caucasian, Black, (American) Indian, and Asian.

In 1978, when Woods was 2 years old, he made his first television golf appearance, putting against showstar Bob Hope on The Mike Douglas Show. Before the year was up, he had won his first golf competition.  At age three, he shot a 48 over nine holes over the Cypress Navy course, and at age five, he appeared in Golf Digest. Woods established himself as a golf prodigy from an early age, and has yet to live down that title.

As a teenager, Woods’ career really picked up. He started getting noticed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, and he was winning more big events than ever before. In 1994, at the age of 19, he moved on from his Junior League career to play in the U.S. Amateur Championship, becoming the youngest winner the event had ever seen.

After high school, Woods attended Stanford University on a golf scholarship. After two years of mixing school and golf, he left university, went pro, and immediately signed a $40 million endorsement deal with Nike – the biggest such deal the golf world had ever seen. Since then, the sponsorship deals have only increased, during Woods into the most marketable athlete the world has ever seen.

Woods has had an impressive pro career. To date, he has won 71 official PGA Tour events including 14 majors. His focus is on raw power, and he is known for his long drives. His short game is also good – his putting skills, especially when he’s under pressure, are a sight to behold. Despite his incredible skill he remains cautious in his game – he plays fewer big events than most pros, preferring to spend more time preparing for each one to be sure he plays the best game he can play.

The man’s skills have certainly paid off. Last year, Forbes confirmed that Woods is the first male athlete in sports history to earn more than one billion dollars during his career.

Woods has had a bad year, there’s no question about that. He’s lost many of his most lucrative sponsorships, and his charities have taken a hit. But as of April 2010 Woods back in the game, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, both Both William Hill and Ladbrokes, two of the largest online sportsbooks, have Woods listed as the 4-1 favorite to win the next Masters. Does he still have what it takes?

Tiger is not his real name. This golf legend – perhaps the most famous golfer who ever lived – was born Eldrick Tont Woods. The name “Tiger” was given to him as a child by his father, and the nickname stuck with him through adulthood.

Woods’ father was a Vietnam vet. His mother was originally from Thailand. Both of his parents had mixed ancestry, making Woods one-quarter Chinese, one-quarter Thai, one-quarter African American, one-eighth Native American, and one-eighth Dutch. To keep things simple, Woods refers to himself as Cablinasian (Caucasian, Black, (American) Indian, and Asian.

In 1978, when Woods was 2 years old, he made his first television golf appearance, putting against showstar Bob Hope on The Mike Douglas Show. Before the year was up, he had won his first golf competition.  At age three, he shot a 48 over nine holes over the Cypress Navy course, and at age five, he appeared in Golf Digest. Woods established himself as a golf prodigy from an early age, and has yet to live down that title.

As a teenager, Woods’ career really picked up. He started getting noticed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, and he was winning more big events than ever before. In 1994, at the age of 19, he moved on from his Junior League career to play in the U.S. Amateur Championship, becoming the youngest winner the event had ever seen.

After high school, Woods attended Stanford University on a golf scholarship. After two years of mixing school and golf, he left university, went pro, and immediately signed a $40 million endorsement deal with Nike – the biggest such deal the golf world had ever seen. Since then, the sponsorship deals have only increased, during Woods into the most marketable athlete the world has ever seen.

Woods has had an impressive pro career. To date, he has won 71 official PGA Tour events including 14 majors. His focus is on raw power, and he is known for his long drives. His short game is also good – his putting skills, especially when he’s under pressure, are a sight to behold. Despite his incredible skill he remains cautious in his game – he plays fewer big events than most pros, preferring to spend more time preparing for each one to be sure he plays the best game he can play.

The man’s skills have certainly paid off. Last year, Forbes confirmed that Woods is the first male athlete in sports history to earn more than one billion dollars during his career.

Woods has had a bad year, there’s no question about that. He’s lost many of his most lucrative sponsorships, and his charities have taken a hit. But as of April 2010 Woods back in the game, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, both Both William Hill and Ladbrokes, two of the largest online sportsbooks, have Woods listed as the 4-1 favorite to win the next Masters. Does he still have what it takes?