Philippines Politician calls for further probe into illegal gambling activity

Sunday August 23,2015 : PHILIPPINES CORRUPTION SCANDAL LINGERS

Politician calls for further probe into illegal gambling activity.

Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz, a member of the Philippines House of Representatives, is clearly dissatisfied with the results of a House and Department of Justice enquiry into the Wang Bo affair and allegations of bribery among Immigration officials and lawmakers.

He has introduced House Resolution 2255 calling on the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to mount a new investigation into the proliferation of illegal internet gambling operations in the guise of gaming and information technology enterprises.

InfoPowa readers will recall that Wang Bo, allegedly an international online gambling ring leader wanted by the Chinese government, took refuge in the Philippines and fought stubbornly to avoid deportation back to China, giving rise to bribery and improper conduct accusations against senior Bureau of Immigration officials and lawmakers.

A House and Department of Justice probe into these allegations cleared Wang Bo of involvement, and he was subsequently deported to China...but the issues of possible violations of immigration, investments and taxation laws have lingered.

Rep. Dela Cruz said this week that over the course of the hearings on Wang Bo, he was concerned over the possibility that illegal gambling operators might also be engaged in massive tax evasion and other crimes.

He is also worried about how easily companies - particularly those engaging in “new and improved information and communications technology systems” - obtain registration papers from the Securities and Exchange Commission, and subsequently achieve licensing in the nation's Special Economic Zones.

“The easy and loose manner by which these companies have been given ‘legal status’ to conduct their businesses has resulted in a spike in criminal activities, including but not limited to money laundering, bribery and corruption of public officials,” Dela Cruz claims.

NHL Odds: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals on Tuesday - Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs touch down in DC this Tuesday (7 PM ET on TSN) as one of the hottest teams in the NHL. They've tallied a ridiculous 26 goals through only five games played; that's more than five goals scored per game on average. They'll be up against an equally potent Washington Capitals team.

Pro League Reveals Sportradar Contract Details - The partnership between the PLC and Sportradar aims to provide a high-quality level of service to all Arabian Gulf League stakeholders in addition to making verified official data about players performances available to coaching and scouting staff and supplying match information to media outlets.

NFL Odds: Steelers Visit Undefeated Chiefs #TNF - The Kansas City Chiefs (5-0 SU and ATS) have been flawless as an NFL pick thus far. Their chances of remaining undefeated in Week 6 look good; after opening at –4.5, Kansas City is a 5-point home chalk for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS), beginning at 4:25 PM ET on CBS.

Mega Moolah strikes again - The jackpot was hit on a mobile device on Sunday 1 October 2017 by a UK player on Betway, this time awarding a £1,448,116.31 pay day.

2 New Slots For Microgaming Casinos - David Reynolds, Games Publisher at Microgaming, comments: “On top of our branded title game Halloween, we’re delivering two more slots this October, each bringing exciting features and a different theme.

MLS Odds: Red Bulls vs. Whitecaps - The New York Red Bulls (12W, 12L, 7T) haven’t won a match since August 15, but they’re –165 favorites this Saturday against the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps (15W, 10L, 6T), beginning at 5 PM ET. Vancouver is a +475 underdog with the draw priced at +285.

Simon Jones is crowned the Greatest Poker Player in the Universe - A €10,000 leaderboard tracked player progress throughout the series to determine who the Greatest Poker Player in the Universe was. Professional poker player/sports psychology lecturer, Simon Jones, took the crown with a €5,000 cash bonus and trophy to prove it.

MLB Odds: Yankees Favored in AL Wild Card Game - After a strong regular season, the New York Yankees (91-71, –1.00 betting units) opened as –235 home favourites for Tuesday’s AL Wild Card Game against the Minnesota Twins (85-77, +11.48 units). First pitch is at 8 PM ET on ESPN.