NJ's casinos to launch Internet gambling Nov. 26

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — New Jersey residents and visitors will be able to start gambling online on Nov. 26, after a five-day trial period to make sure the systems operated by the city's 12 casinos work properly.

The state Gaming Enforcement Division told The Associated Press on Friday that Atlantic City's casinos may begin a "soft play" period on Nov. 21 for invited guests. If all goes well, the casinos can begin full Internet gambling at 9 a.m. EDT on Nov. 26.

Gamblers would have to be physically located within New Jersey's boundaries to play. New Jersey will be the third state in the nation to offer online gambling, along with Nevada and Delaware.

"I think this is going to be a significant revenue stream," said Robert Griffin, CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts, which operates two casinos here. "It has the potential to make up 20 percent of our revenue."

He said state regulators have not yet explained how the guests who are invited to participate in the trial period are to be selected, but said it would have to be a significant enough number to test the system's capabilities.

Online gambling is designed to give the struggling casinos new revenue, though some worry the in-person business will simply migrate to computers, leading to casino job losses. Atlantic City's casino revenue has plunged from a high of $5.2 billion in 2006 to a little more than $3 billion last year and could dip below that mark by the end of this year. Thousands of casino jobs have been lost already as many gamblers choose options closer to their homes in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland.

Regulations governing online gambling will take effect Oct. 21.

Nine of the city's 12 casinos have acknowledged lining up partners for Internet gambling, and a 10th is widely rumored to have selected a partner, as well.

The Tropicana Casino and Resort has joined with Gamesys Limited, which runs the jackpotjoy.com website. The four casinos owned by Caesars Entertainment — Caesars Atlantic City, Bally's Atlantic City, Harrah's Resorts Atlantic City and the Showboat Casino Hotel — are partnering with 888 Holdings.

The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is partnering with bwin.party for online gambling.

Resorts Casino Hotel has joined with PokerStars, the world's largest poker website, which had tried to buy the Atlantic Club earlier this year before the deal fell apart.

The Taj Mahal Casino Resort chose Ultimate Gaming, which began offering Internet gambling in Nevada earlier this year. Trump Plaza is widely reported by industry publications to have chosen Betfair, the British online gambling firm, although neither the casino nor the company would comment.

The Golden Nugget Atlantic City is offering its own brand of Internet gambling using Bally Technologies.

Revel Casino Hotel and The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel have not divulged their online gambling plans.

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Wayne Parry can be reached at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC

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These top-notch Hub homes will have you salivating

Just won the lottery and want to splurge on a new dream home? Here's a few of 
Boston's luxurious offerings.

The Mandarin, 776 Boylston St

Unit W12B, $13,500,000

This 5,000-square-foot home is on the 12th floor of the Mandarin Oriental building. With multiple terraces, you'll be able to sip your morning coffee or evening glass of wine outdoors while gazing at the expansive Charles River views. The interior includes three bedrooms, 2A bathrooms, an expansive living area complete with fireplace, and exquisitely finished with limestone and walnut hardwood flooring. There are two master suites as well as a separate study and media room. Are you a collector of vintage wines? Not to worry. There is an abundance of built-in wine storage and a commercial-grade kitchen with separate butler's pantry for all of your entertaining needs. With extensive storage included in the unit, two additional storage spaces will hold any extra pieces of fine art you might have. The two full garage parking spaces complete this dream residence.

This home is being offered exclusively by Megan Kopman of 
Campion and Company Fine Homes and Real 
Estate, who can be reached at MKopman
@campionre.com.

259 Marlborough St.

Unit 7, $5,500,000

Do you enjoy stepping out of your front door onto a brick sidewalk shaded by an ever-changing landscape of trees? Then this meticulously renovated penthouse duplex on the sunny side of Marlborough Street might just be for you. With a complete custom renovation this year, this home is ready for your personal belongings. The 3,310 square feet of living space includes three bedrooms and 3A bathrooms as well as one direct-access deeded parking space and a private elevator that services both levels of the unit. With an open-concept floor plan you'll have access to not only a 400-square-foot mahogany terrace complete with exceptional Back Bay skyline views, but also an additional 1,200-square-foot private roof deck with additional views of the Charles River. This wonderful home is complete with a cedar-lined walk-in closet, gas fireplace, custom built-ins, wet-bar and wine fridge.

This home is being offered by Kevin Caulfield of Coldwell Banker Residential 
Brokerage, who can be reached at Kevin.Caulfield@nemoves.com.

130 Commonwealth Ave.

$13,900,000

If you're really the entertaining type, then you're in for a treat with this magnificent home, which is one of the finest luxury offerings available in the city. Situated on one of the Back Bay's most desirable streets, the exterior of 130 Commonwealth Ave. evokes the timeless elegance of 18th century Parisian architecture. Part of the famed "Commonwealth Sisters," this single-family behemoth has 9,908 square feet of living space as well as five bedrooms, six full bathrooms, two half-bathrooms and six (yes six), parking spaces. This true mansion in the heart of Boston also boasts five fireplaces, a 2,000-bottle wine cellar, a private elevator and a magnificent chef's kitchen. The finish work in this home was executed flawlessly in recent renovations by a skilled architect and artisans whose attention to detail is absolutely stunning.

This home is being offered by William Montero of 
Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, who can be reached at William.montero@sothebysrealty.com.

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No slots filled at Caesars’ jobs ‘forum’

As the state Gaming Commission cleared the way for three proposals to move forward yesterday, an "employment forum" Caesars Entertainment and Suffolk Downs said it held to tout job opportunities at their proposed resort casino appeared to be more of a get-out-the vote rally for their $1 billion project.

After a panel discussion during which a half-dozen Caesars employees from around the country gushed about the company's benefits and opportunities for advancement, Lynda Tocci, a lobbyist for the proposed casino, took the stage, asking for volunteers to take bumper stickers, canvass neighborhoods, plant lawn signs and man phone banks to urge East Boston and Revere residents to approve the project next month.

"I'm a little disappointed," said 50-year-old Elina Mushin of Marblehead, a recent law school graduate who came with her resume at the ready. "I thought it would be more of a job fair, but they're promoting the casino just to get people to vote."

Suffolk Downs officials said the casino will create 4,000 permanent jobs and 2,500 construction jobs and the average salary at the proposed casino would be $42,000, but they refused to say how much the lowest- and highest-paid workers would make.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, meanwhile, yesterday granted the city a variance allowing East Boston residents to vote on the project on Nov. 5 even though the commission has not yet completed its background check on Caesars Entertainment and determined the proposed casino's suitability. If the commission finds the proposal unsuitable, that will bring the project to an end, even if voters approve it next month.

The commission unanimously determined Mohegan Sun's proposal for a resort casino in Palmer is qualified to take the next step in the process to secure the sole license in western Massachusetts, and announced that Penn National is qualified to pursue the state's single slots parlor license in Plainville after it completed a hearing and background check.

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Legal Sea Foods looks to hook ‘stupid’ ideas for ads

Legal Sea Foods wants to see just how stupid people are willing to get to land in its latest advertisements.

The Boston restaurant chain is calling for photos of "less than intelligent behavior" — brainless acts, momentary lapses in judgment or clearly stupid ideas.

Contest winners will receive $250 Legal gift cards and could have their stupid human tricks featured in the company's new "Fish Is Brain Food" ad campaign.

But Legal CEO Roger Berkowitz insists he doesn't want anyone to risk their safety.

"I'm not encouraging people to do anything that will harm them or anyone else, or harm animals," he said. "But if it's funny and stupid, why not?"

Legal is known for its irreverent and sometimes edgy advertising.

"It gets my attention when I see something that is a little sarcastic, a little edgy," Berkowitz said. "The point of advertising is to make you think a bit and really not to just blend in where it becomes innocuous."

Created by New York ad agency DeVito/Verdi, Legals' "Fish is Brain Food" campaign launched this summer using homemade videos of people's brainless acts, including a guy using his shirtless buddy for target practice as he shoots off roman candle fireworks.

Contest photos can be submitted through Nov. 17 on Instagram or Twitter via the hashtag #fishisbrainfood, or through an app on Legal's Facebook page.

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Techies let their hair down

It was definitely not your father's networking event — billed as a block party, the inaugural Boston TechJam last night brought together entrepreneurs, startups, students and venture capitalists to make connections, share ideas and celebrate the Hub's innovation community.

More than 1,000 members of the tech community attended the sold-out event at District Hall, the city's new innovation center in Southie's Seaport District, which featured live music — provided by bands that had at least one member who was an employee of a local tech company — robots, games and a "Pitch Heard Round the World" contest for startups, entrepreneurs and students.

Mark Lorion, chief marketing officer of Apperian and co-founder of TechJam, said he is hoping it will be the start of an explosion of social and cultural events in the innovation community.

"We're trying to bring together every corner of what makes this economy work," said Lorion.

Boston's startup scene has long been criticized for its lack of after-hours interaction, and events that bring together the tech community for relaxed networking with music, food and drinks could reinforce the Hub's reputation for innovation and help reduce the number of promising entrepreneurs that graduate from local schools and leave for New York or Silicon Valley, organizers said.

"This stuff has to happen in Boston," said Rob Weeks, co-founder of Sol-Power, adding he would welcome more events like TechJam.

Michael Skok, a venture capitalist with North Bridge Venture Partners, agreed.

"Startups are much too hard unless it's serious and fun," Skok said.

But it wasn't just fun and games. Another crucial part of TechJam, said Lorion, is the wide range of companies involved — everyone from Zipcar to Rethink Robotics to Aereo. Bringing companies and sectors together is crucial for the growth of Boston's innovation economy, he said.

"We're all kind of in this together," said Lorion.

Aaron Burke, president of Paraware, said he made several connections with local companies at TechJam. Traditional networking events don't translate to a younger audience, he said.

"That's really for older people," he said.

Burke took part in the pitch competition, where he had two minutes to sell mino, a sensor that tells when running shoes have worn out.

While DataCrowd, a startup that crowdsources data research for marketers took the prize, Burke said the feedback from venture capitalists and other investors was invaluable.

"It really helped us understand how to add elements to our typical pitch that describes an investor's viewpoint," he said.

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Market Basket workers to protest

Market Basket employees will converge at the Waltham site of a stalled store Sunday for a protest against the grocery chain's board.

"The point of the rally is to bring attention to the board and the damage they're causing," said organizer Cindy Whelan, store manager at the Market Basket in Epping, N.H.

A June election left majority power with "A" shareholders led by Arthur S. Demoulas, a cousin of CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, whom they're trying to oust. The board's failure to make payments has put on hold stores in Waltham, Revere and Plymouth, said Scott Lang, the developer's attorney.

A board spokeswoman did not respond to Herald inquiries.

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The Ticker

Hacking group members indicted

A federal grand jury yesterday indicted 13 members of the Internet hacking group Anonymous for allegedly carrying out cyber-attacks worldwide, including against targets that refused to process payments for WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy website founded by Julian Assange.

The U.S.-based members of Anonymous are accused of zeroing in on the computers of governments, trade associations, law firms, financial institutions and other institutions that oppose the philosophy of Anonymous to make all information free for everyone, regardless of copyright laws or national security considerations.

Twitter's IPO reveals it's losing money

Twitter revealed its confidential IPO filing yesterday, clearing the way for one of largest and most hyped IPOs since Facebook.

The filing reveals that the company is still growing, but is losing money. Twitter's revenue was $253.6 million in the first half of this year, up from $122.4 million in the year-ago period. However, the company had a net loss of $69.3 million in the first half, compared to a net loss of $49.1 million in the year-ago period.

Instagram to start sponsored ads

Instagram has decided to flick on its revenue engine, announcing plans to bring sponsored images and videos into the mix.

Facebook's popular app was widely expected to make the move to launch advertisements. The company plans to launch these sponsored images and videos in the coming months.

Data of 3 million Adobe Systems customers accessed by hackers

Adobe Systems said yesterday that hackers had accessed personal data for nearly 3 million of its customers.

Brad Arkin, Adobe's chief security officer, wrote in a blog post that the hackers had removed data including encrypted credit- and debit-card numbers, but that the company does not believe any decrypted numbers were taken.

The Shuffle

 Kristen Zemeitus, left, has joined the 451 Marketing consumer public relations team as account executive. Zemeitus brings seven years of public relations experience in the food, pet, fashion apparel, footwear and sporting equipment industries.

 J. Barrett & Company announced that Realtor Ann-Marie Ciaraldi has joined the agency in its Beverly Farms office. Ciaraldi's business background includes owning her own marketing company for three years.

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MBTA, union sue over arbitrator's pay award

BOSTON — MBTA management and the union representing some workers have filed dueling lawsuits in a dispute over an arbitrator's award that would increase T workers' salaries by an average of more than 10 percent.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials say the raises outlined in the arbitrator's decision would cost $62 million to $88 million, a sum that would put the transit agency in financial jeopardy.

An official with the Boston Carmen's Union said in a message to its 6,000 members, which include MBTA bus and subway operators and maintenance crew, that the T is trying to shortchange them in fighting the award.

A T spokesman tells The Boston Globe (http://b.globe.com/1bDBAS5 ) the arbitrator did not give due consideration to the MBTA's financial ability in her decision.

___

Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.bostonglobe.com

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Fred Toucher: ‘Huge swell’ of support for Pitino hang-up

A host of the "Toucher and Rich Show" this morning fired back at critics of their on-air radio hang-up on ex-Celtics coach Rick Pitino, saying there was a "swell" of support for an antic he described as deliberately "dumb"

"There's like this wave of people who are like, 'It was unprofessional,' " Fred Toucher told listeners this morning. " 'It was a slap in the face. It was crude. It was classless.' That's my job. I don't have any class. I'm not F. Scott Fitzgerald. I'm not Bob Woodward. People are like 'Oh it was dumb' OK, it was dumb! What do you want out of me? It was 10 seconds out of my radio career. And people are acting so sanctimonious."

Related: 

Yesterday the top-rated morning radio show on 98.5 FM had the former coach on the air to promote a self-help book. Toucher told listeners he knew the interview would not last long. He said he didn't want to get into a shouting match with the Hall of Fame coach, who led two college squads to national championships but is widely criticized for his blunders in Boston.

"It's getting time for the interview and it's a dopey self-help book that's the second one he's put out, or third he's put out, and I'm thinking, 'Aw, who cares.' I realize everyone hates him here and I'm like, 'I don't want to get into a fight with him. I have five minutes with the guy,' " Toucher told his audience on the air this morning. "I'm not going to get anything in depth out of him. I think as a goof ... I'm just going to hang up on him, it'd be kind of funny, who cares."

The interview yesterday lasted only seconds. Toucher welcomed Pitino to the show. Pitino said "Morning guys" Toucher said "You stink. You ruined the Celtics," and hung up.

Toucher told his audience this morning that the initial response was a "swell" of support.

"I swear to God. I've never gotten a more positive, I've never got a more positive response, it was literally over 1,000 people," he said. "Of all the things we've done, I've never really had any kind of huge swell of positive support. Deadspin called it hilarious, which is nice, I mean it wasn't hilarious. The guy from Sports Illustrated said 'I've listened to it six times, I can't stop listening to it.' "

But he told listeners that the show has also been hit with outrage from the hometowns of Pitino's college teams, including one death threat.

Pitino was coach of the Celtics from 1997 to 2001, and amassed a losing record. He once berated Boston sports fans and called the city "lousy."

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Twitter dishes tantalizing tidbits in IPO treatise

SAN FRANCISCO — Twitter, a privately held company built on blurbs, has finally laid itself bare in documents that read more like a treatise than a tweet.

The roughly 800-page filing Twitter Inc. released late Thursday on its way to an eagerly anticipated IPO contains tantalizing tidbits about its growth and its attempts to make money from its influential short messaging service.

The suspense surrounding Twitter's IPO was heightened by the company's decision to take advantage of a law passed last year that allows companies with less than $1 billion in annual revenue to keep their IPO documents under seal until management is ready to make formal presentations to investors.

With Thursday's lifting of the veil, Twitter can start pitching investors during a so-called "road show" as early as Oct. 24. The San Francisco company's stock could begin trading under the ticker symbol "TWTR" before Thanksgiving.

Here are five key details revealed in Twitter's tome:

—TWITTER'S GOT GROWTH TO GET EXCITED ABOUT

After Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey sent out the first tweet in March 2006, the company didn't even try to make money for its few years. Instead, management focused on attracting more users and making the service more reliable.

Twitter's patient approach is paying off. Since former Google executive Dick Costolo became Twitter's CEO in 2010, the company's annual revenue has soared from $28 million to $317 million last year. Through the first half of this year, Twitter's revenue totaled $254 million, more than doubling from last year. If Twitter maintains that growth pace through the second half, the company's revenue will surpass $656 million this year.

Twitter gets 87 percent of its revenue from advertising. The rest comes from licensing agreements that give other companies better access to the flow of activity on its service.

Meanwhile, Twitter ended June with 218 million users, up from 30 million in early 2010. More than three-quarters of those users, or 169 million people, are located outside the U.S. Twitter is growing fastest in Argentina, France, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

—BUT THE COMPANY ISN'T PROFITABLE

It takes more than cultural heft to build a business, as Twitter is learning. The company has suffered uninterrupted losses of $419 million since its inception. Twitter can afford the losses because it has raised $759 million from investors. The company still had $375 million in the bank at the end of June and hopes to raise at least $1 billion more in its IPO.

But Wall Street won't tolerate losses for long, and it may be a while before Twitter turns a profit.

Twitter's losses widened during the first half of this year to $69 million, up from $49 million in the same period last year. In contrast, both Facebook and LinkedIn were profitable when they went public.

—COMING UP... MORE ADS

To make money, Twitter will likely get more aggressive about showing ads. In the three months ending in June, Twitter generated revenue of $139 million, or an average of just 64 cents per user. In contrast, Facebook generated second-quarter revenue of nearly $1.2 billion, or an average of $1.58 per user, while LinkedIn posted revenue of $364 million, or an average of $1.53 per user.

As Twitter cranks up its marketing machine, it runs the risk of alienating an audience accustomed to seeing relatively few ads in their news feeds. Beyond the U.S., Twitter is gearing to expand its advertising efforts in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom.

—TWITTER'S MORE "MOBILE" THAN FACEBOOK

Twitter appears tailor-made for an age of increasing reliance on smartphones and tablet computers. Three-fourths of Twitter's users already use the service on mobile gadgets. Perhaps more important to investors, the company sells 65 percent of its ads on smartphones and tablets. Facebook gets 41 percent of its ad revenue from mobile devices.

—ITS MARKET VALUE COULD BE AS HIGH AS $20 BILLION

Twitter hasn't set a price target for its IPO yet, but its documents contain some clues about its recent market value. The company's stock last sold in a privately arranged swap nine months ago at $17 per share. That deal implied Twitter had a market value of $10 billion to $11 billion at the time. Last month, Twitter priced some of its employee stock options at $20.62, based on a third-party appraisal of the company's value.

Some analysts predict Twitter will seek $28 to $30 per share in its IPO. If those projections pan out, Twitter will have a market value of $17 billion to $20 billion, including stock options and restricted stock likely to be converted into common shares after the IPO. Facebook made its stock market debut with a market value of more than $100 billion, but its stock plummeted before making resounding comeback this year.

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