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Pittsburgh Woman Claims Rivers Casino Helped Her Ex Spy On Her

A Pittsburgh woman is suing Rivers Casino, members of its security staff, her ex-husband, and his lawyer, claiming they used the casino’s video surveillance system to spy on her while she was gambling there last fall.

In a suit filed in the Court of Common Pleas Of Allegheny County Civil Division on Aug.3, Hayley Clerici alleges Rivers’ security staff used the casino’s video surveillance system to zoom in on her cell phone and read and record texts, emails, and personal banking information.

The suit claims security staff recorded Clerici’s bank account information when she used a mobile-banking app on her phone and a casino ATM. It also alleges Rivers staff recorded her personal emails and texts on a number of occasions while she was patronizing the casino.

Clerici then alleges Rivers’ security staff handed the recordings over to her ex-husband’s lawyer, Dennis McCurdy, in compliance with a subpoena the casino should have known was invalid.

The suit claims the lawyer shared the recordings with her ex-husband, Scott Scherer, an Allegheny County police officer with whom she was involved in a custody battle. Finally, Clerici alleges Scherer used the recordings, which contained information about her personal finances and relationships, to publicly embarrass her.

The eye in the sky

The suit alleges these actions violated the Wiretap Act and constitute a complete disregard of Clerici’s rights and privacy.

The lawsuit claims Clerici had a reasonable expectation of privacy in regards to personal text messages and emails while at Rivers. She claims to have sent the messages privately. Plus, at no time did she hold up her phone to display the messages, read them aloud, or share them.

Clerici is seeking at least $35,000 in damages on each of 17 different counts against the various defendants.

An almost identical lawsuit has also been filed by Julie Capone. Capone is a friend of Clerici who gambled with her at Rivers. She alleges McCurdy subpoenaed security footage of her text messages and emails, along with anyone associated with Clerici.

Rivers management have declined to comment publicly.

PGCB surveillance regulations

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board regulations require PA casinos to use surveillance systems. However, the systems must comply with wiretapping and electronic surveillance laws. PGCB must approve the systems. Plus, PA casinos are required to provide access to the systems to the Board and the Pennsylvania State Police.

The regulations mandate casinos use light-sensitive cameras with 360° pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities. However, the cameras are for monitoring:

  • Gaming activity
  • Cage operations
  • The count room
  • The movement of cash and chips
  • All entrances and exits
  • Any other activity or areas designated by the Bureau of Casino Compliance

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A Declining New Jersey Online Poker Market Highlights the Need for Shared Liquidity

The only online poker room thriving in New Jersey is the one that is able to offer its services across multiple states.

Online poker operators in New Jersey reported $1.8 million in revenue for the month of August 2018. The figures released by the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) show that the online poker market in New Jersey continues to be in a state of decline.

On a year-to-year basis, last month’s revenue total represents the lowest amount recorded during the month of August since the market opened. In fact, all but two months this year have produced the lowest revenue amounts (compared to the same month in previous years) in the market’s five-year history.

Read the full article on pokerfuse →

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Skill-Based Casino Game ‘Deal Or No Deal Poker’ Released By Gamblit Gaming

US casino visitors are finding a new skill-based game on their next trip to several major casino properties. Unlike previous skill-based games that most people walk by, this one has a very familiar theme that might cause patrons to stop and give it a try.

One of the most popular booths at the 2017 Global Gaming Expo (G2E) housed skill-based casino game developer Gamblit Gaming. And one of the most popular products in the Gamblit booth was its multiplayer Deal or No Deal Poker game.

Roughly one year after G2E 2017, not one, but two different versions of Deal or No Deal Poker have found their way onto the gaming floor of several popular Las Vegas, Nevada casinos.

Per a press release by Gamblit Gaming:

In an exclusive partnership with Endemol Shine Gaming, Gamblit Gaming brings a hit TV game show to casino floors with Deal or No Deal® in both a multiplayer form with Deal or No Deal Poker Special® on Gamblit’s Model G™ interactive game tables and single player experience, Deal or No Deal Poker on the TriStation™ game machine.

Where to play these casino games

According to Gamblit, the Model G are now live at Caesars Palace, Paris, Planet Hollywood, Harrah’s Las Vegas, the Flamingo, The LINQ and MGM Grand, as well as other locations across the country.

The TriStation version of the game is available at The LINQ, Planet Hollywood, MGM Grand, the Flamingo, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Bally’s Las Vegas, The Orleans and more.

A multiplayer Deal or No Deal Poker game

Gamblit describes its multiplayer Deal or No Deal Poker Special as, “Players compete to uncover the highest value briefcase in the ultimate challenge of striking a deal to win big or risk it all.”

Here’s how it works.

The Model G game table the game is played on accommodates up to four players. At the start of the game, each player places a wager and chooses a briefcase. Only the winner’s briefcase will be revealed at the end of the game.

After that, the game begins.

Cards appear in the middle of the table and players can ignore them or grab them (the first player to grab the card receives it) in order to make a five-card poker hand. At the end of the round, the best poker hand wins. However, the game is not over at that point.

Like Deal or No Deal, the player still doesn’t know what’s in their briefcase (their winnings) and is offered a deal by the banker. The deal offered is based on the briefcases selected by the players at the beginning of the game, so it could be high or low. The player can either accept the offer or open their briefcase.

Single player TriStation version of Deal or No Deal Poker

Unlike the competitive Deal or No Deal multiplayer game featured on the Model G table, Gamblit’s TriStation games are single player. They use a standard video poker style payout table.

The single-player TriStation version is more like classic video poker. Instead of grabbing cards from the table, the player is dealt a five-card hand and can either hold or discard each card.

Instead of being dealt a random card, each briefcase holds one of the remaining cards in the deck. A number of briefcases will be revealed and the player chooses one of the remaining briefcases for each discard.

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More new games on the horizon

Another popular Gamblit game at G2E 2017 was its multiplayer Pac-Man tables. These are also apparently being converted to the single-player TriStation format.

After the launch of Deal or No Deal Poker, both versions of Pac-Man are likely to land on casino floors soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Will The Republican Candidate For Nevada Governor Kill Online Poker?

Are the days of legal online poker in Nevada numbered? They very well could be if Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt wins the race for Governor this November.

Laxalt, 39, won the incumbent Republican Party primary in June and will look to continue a two-decade-long stranglehold the GOP has enjoyed on the Nevada Governor’s Office in the November election. Current Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval cannot run for re-election. The Nevada Constitution prescribes a two-consecutive-term limit.

Gov. Sandoval is known as a staunch supporter of online gambling. In fact, he led the push for the legislation that made online poker legal in the state back in 2013. However, Laxalt has been a thorn in his side on the issue ever since.

Laxalt and RAWA

In 2015, Laxalt made his anti-online gambling stance crystal clear. He suggested money launderers might be victimizing online gambling operators. He expressed a desire to return Nevada to the status quo pre-online poker. Plus, Laxalt added his name to a list of state attorneys generals who support the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA) movement. The RAWA movement backs federal legislation that would effectively end online gambling in Nevada and across the US.

At the time, Gov. Sandoval struck back. He blasted Laxalt for speaking out against current state law in Nevada’s top industry while it’s his job to represent the state’s legal interests:

“As a former Attorney General, Gaming Commission Chairman and someone who worked with the industry and the Legislature on Nevada’s online poker legislation, I am very concerned that anyone representing the state’s legal interests would speak out against current state law in our leading industry.”

Laxalt and the letter to Trump

However, a year later, Laxalt was one of ten state attorneys general signing a letter to then-Vice President-Elect Mike Pence and President-Elect Donald Trump‘s transition team asking the federal government to change its position on the Wire Act. In 2011, the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel released the opinion that the act only applied to sports betting. This ultimately paved the way for states to legalize and regulate other forms of online gambling.

The letter implored the Trump administration to help spearhead legislation reaffirming that the Wire Act covers online gambling. A move that would make online gambling illegal across the US.

This time, a source in Gov. Sandoval’s office confirmed Laxalt acted without consulting the Governor.

Then-Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman AG Burnett said he is “disappointed Mr. Laxalt didn’t consult with his clients on this,” adding that online gambling has been a regulatory success in the state.

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Laxalt and Adelson

Not surprisingly, no one has made more contributions to the Laxalt campaign than anti-online gambling zealot and the man behind RAWA, Las Vegas Sands Corporation founder, chairman and chief executive officer Sheldon Adelson.

Prior to the Republican primary this year, Las Vegas Sands Corporation casinos donated $30,000 to the Laxalt campaign. In Laxalt’s 2014 campaign for Attorney General, he reportedly received $210,222 from gambling and casino interests. Some $40,000 of that money came from Adelson and those associated with him. Laxalt even received a $5,000 donation from Adelson’s daughter.

Adelson, his wife, family members, and Las Vegas Sands officials have also reportedly donated $100,000 to Laxalt’s Morning in Nevada PAC since 2015.

State Treasurer Dan Schwartz, who ran against Laxalt in the Republican primary, suggested throughout the campaign that Laxalt is in Adelson’s pocket.

Laxalt asked Burnett to intervene in a civil lawsuit between Adelson and former Sands executive Steven Jacobs in 2016. The Deputy Attorney General had already asked Burnett not to. Burnett secretly recorded his conversations with Laxalt and turned the recordings over to the FBI. The FBI ultimately decided Laxalt’s actions were not criminal.

The lawsuit, which surrounded Adelson’s efforts to gain leverage on gaming officials in Macau, ended with a $75 million settlement for Jacobs.

Laxalt and others accused Burnett of colluding with Nevada Democrats to attack him. Burnett stepped down in November 2017.

The upcoming election

Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak, 64, won the Democratic primary in June. He will take on Laxalt in an election expected to primarily focus on the issue of education funding.

The Nevada Independent conducted a poll in April pairing Laxalt and Sisolak as gubernatorial candidates. Sisolak won by six points.

However, Laxalt may find a way to continue the Republican’s dominance in the state. If he does, Nevada’s fledgling legal and regulated online poker industry could very well be in his post-election crosshairs.

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Mohegan Inks A Deal To Run Two Canadian Casinos In Niagara Falls

A growing US commercial and Native American casino operator is heading north of the border. Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment has inked a deal to become the official service provider of Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment is the owner and operator of the flagship Mohegan Sun casino and resort property in Uncasville, Connecticut. Plus, the company owns, develops, and manages a number of integrated casino resorts in New Jersey, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Additionally, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment is building a casino resort in South Korea near Seoul’s Incheon International Airport.

The company was given the Canadian casino service provider job by the provincial government’s Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) after winning a competitive bidding process. Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment will take over operations inside the province’s two most popular casinos in the summer of 2019.

Niagara Falls casinos

Casino Niagara first opened in 1996. It features 95,000 square feet of gaming space with over 1,500 slots and 40 table games. Similarly, there is a sports betting lounge and a poker room on the property.

The $1 billion Fallsview Casino Resort opened to the public in June 2004. It features a 374-room hotel that a overlooks Horseshoe Falls. Also, its 200,000-square-foot casino includes over 3,000 slots and 100 table games.

Mohegan will also assume the day-to-day operations at the future 5,000-seat Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre. However, the concert and entertainment venue is currently under construction adjacent to Fallsview Casino Resort.

Mohegan Chairman Kevin Brown “Red Eagle” said this sets up the company as a world leader in gaming:

“We are honored to have been selected as the service provider by OLG in what was a very competitive process. This procurement marks Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment’s advancement as a leader in commercial gaming and integrated resort experiences around the world, while promoting greater economic development and tourism in the Niagara region through our outstanding gaming, entertainment and resort offerings.”

The Mohegan plan

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment plans include leveraging the two Niagara Falls casinos in conjunction with the future Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre to create a “dynamic entertainment experience.” Moreover, it will help drive increased tourism and traffic to Niagara Falls.

It’s all about offering world-class entertainment and amenities to tourists and locals, thereby creating economic development and increased job opportunities. Mohegan Senior VP Anthony Casdia said it wants to become part of the community to help the region grow:

“As a brand known for our all-encompassing entertainment destinations, we are excited to work with OLG, the City of Niagara Falls, Canadian Niagara Hotels Inc., Niagara Falls Entertainment Partners and other local stakeholders in supporting a twin-anchor strategy that is critical to the success of tourism throughout the Niagara region.

“The Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre will create unique experiences for the benefit of the Niagara Region, create more jobs, and encourage economic growth. As the operators of one of the most successful arenas in the U.S. over the last 15 years, Mohegan Sun Arena, we are eager to put our experience to work and establish Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre as one of Canada’s top-ranked venues.”

Ontario Lottery & Gaming Commission will provide oversight

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment will take over responsibility for the day-to-day gaming operations at the casinos. However, the OLG will continue to provide strategic oversight. In other words, Mohegan will need approvals before making significant operational changes.

OLG President and CEO Stephen Rigby said the decision to select Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment was done in the name of modernization:

“Selecting Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment is the latest step OLG is taking in our land-based gaming modernization, which is investing in communities and providing customers with new and exciting entertainment options. By leveraging the success of the Niagara casinos and integrating with the wide mix of entertainment and tourist offerings in the area, Mohegan will help ensure the long-term competitiveness of the Niagara gaming market—particularly in relation to markets across the border.”

Canadian Niagara Hotels President Dino DiCienzo said the casinos couldn’t have picked a better service provider:

“OLG has selected an internationally recognized gaming destination operator which will take Niagara’s casinos to the next level. I am confident (Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment) will work collaboratively with the community.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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23-Year-Old Ali Imsirovic Wins Poker Masters Purple Jacket

Poker Masters assembled some of the best players the High Roller community has to offer and dropped them all inside ARIA in Las Vegas, NV for a week of high stakes events. Many of the biggest names in poker were in attendance, including Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth. But even with all of pedigree in attendance, it was a 23-year-old newcomer who beat them all to win the Purple Jacket.

New champion crowned

Ali Imsirovic is a name poker fans will be hearing a lot more of going forward. The Bosnian-born, American-raised player came from relative obscurity to win one of poker’s toughest prizes. Imsirovic won two events at Poker Masters on consecutive days and finished 10 points ahead of David Peters in the collective standings.

The series started innocently for Imsirovic. A cash but no final table result in the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em opener gave Imsirovic some wings but he picked up steam soon after. The $25,000 Event 5 is where Imsirovic found his stride. Against the likes of Jason Koon, Jake Schindler, and Brian Rast, Imsirovic beat them all to claim the $462,000 first-place prize.

A day later, Imsirovic all but locked up the title for his performance in the $50,000 No Limi Hold’em event. Imsirovic entered the $50,000 final table with four times the chips of any opponent and rode the wave to victory and $799,000.

The two wins and min-cash equaled out to 660 points with wins worth 300 and a cash just 60.

Imsirovic played all standard Hold’em events on the schedule. The only tournaments he did not play were the $10,000 Short Deck and $25,000 Pot Limit Omaha.

Peters earned 350 for the $100,000 Poker Masters Main Event title won at a final table of Dan Smith and Bryn Kenney.

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Short Deck arrives

Event 4 on the schedule was the most anticipated. The $10,000 Short Deck had players buzzing about the potential for both the game and overall numbers. 55 entrants turned out and Isaac Haxton won the event to claim $176,000. Circuit grinder Maurice Hawkins took second for his first career Poker Masters cash.

Also at the Short Deck final table were Andrew Robl, WPT Five Diamond Champion Ryan Tosoc, and Cary Katz.

Peters wins Main Event

The only players eligible to catch Imsirovic heading into Day 2 of the $100,000 Main Event were Haxton and Brandon Adams. Both busted in the early going leaving Imsirovic to bask in the purple glow of the jacket.

Peters took charge on Day 2 and led heading into the final table. $1.15 million went to Peters for the win and he just missed out on matching Imsirovic for the points lead.

Overall, Peters cashed for over $1.35 million between his two wins, just ahead of Imsirovic’s records.

Image from Poker Central/Twitter

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PokerStars NJ Makes Sports Betting Easy for Poker Players

Players jumping into those big Sunday tournaments on PokerStars in New Jersey now can seamlessly line up a little more action. The company announced on Thursday that its BetStars mobile app is now live in the state and that also includes more ease of use for poker players look to wager on a game.

The Stars Group also already offers online poker and casino play in New Jersey through PokerStarsNJ.com and PokerStarsCasinoNJ.com. One interesting feature from a poker standpoint is the ability of players to make sports wagers within the poker or casino clients.

A player battling it out on the virtual poker felt can now easily drop $50 on the Jets (-3) to cover against the Dolphins, or bet the under (43.5) on the Cowboys-Giants game. Or maybe that “can’t miss” parlay is looking pretty nice; the poker client now allows those bets to be made.

Through its proprietary technology and player account management platform, customers in New Jersey can operate on its three platforms with a single account, common wallet, and a seamless online betting experience among BetStars and its poker and casino products. This aspect include a single account balance and also makes dealing with support easier when it comes to the betting platforms.

The site also offers several online and mobile depositing and withdrawal methods. Players looking to wager while at the tables will have plenty of options including football, basketball, baseball, golf, hockey, soccer, tennis, and others. BetStars will also feature in-game betting and enhanced bonuses.

Expanding market

Along with offering poker and sports betting in New Jersey through its partnership with Resorts Casino Hotel, the site is looking for a similar launch in Pennsylvania. The state has already cleared the way for legal online gaming, including mobile sports betting, and wagering is expected to get underway by the end of the year.

Other states outside Nevada that have legalized sports wagering include:

  • Delaware – Online poker and sports betting are now legal and underway
  • Mississippi – Sports wagering is legal at casinos. Mobile wagering is expected to be considered by the state at a later date.
  • Pennsylvania – Online poker and gambling, and sports wagering are expected to come online by the end of the year.
  • Rhode Island – Sports betting has been approved by Gov. Gina Raimondo at only two locations in Lincoln and Tiverton, but only in-person wagering is allowed. These two properties are expected to launch sports betting this fall.
  • West Virginia – Sports betting, including mobile, is now legal.

Several other states have introduced legislation allowing sports wagering, but nothing has been officially approved. A few that appear more likely include Kentucky, Michigan, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Ohio.

Bonanza of bonuses

For poker players (and sports wagerers), PokerStars and BetStars are offering several bonuses for those looking to get in on the action. That includes up to a $500 sign-up bonus for new BetStars players in New Jersey.

The site is also offering“odds boosts”, which multiply the odds and potential payouts, as well as free weekly $5 bets for those who wager at least $25 a week.

Another interesting promotion is the “100/1 Super Bowl Winner” offering. The site is offering minimum odds of 100/1 on any team (one bet) in the NFL to win the Super Bowl, including favorites like the Patriots, Packers, and Eagles. Maximum bets are $5 and even raised the odds the local favorite New York Jets. BetStars has them at 300/1, while they are getting around 80/1 at other books. The promotion is available until  Sept. 30.

A few other sports betting promotions include:

  • Saturday Super Boost – Each Saturday, BetStars will Super Boost the odds of a three-bet college football parlay.
  • Sunday Super Boost – Every Sunday, the odds of a three-bet NFL parlay will get a Super Boost.
  • Stars Stacks – Every Sunday, Monday and Thursday night, BetStars will boost odds on bets for a team’s star quarterback, running back, and wide receiver to all score a touchdown.

For poker players, there is a first deposit bonus of up to $600. Those making their first deposit of $20 or more can also earn $30 worth of free play – $20 as a cash bonus and $10 in tickets to play Spin & Go tournaments.

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PokerStars Wants Gordon Vayo VPN Lawsuit Thrown Out Of California

PokerStars is asking a California judge to throw out a lawsuit against it filed by 2016 World Series of Poker Main Event runner-up Gordon Vayo, because it believes the Golden State isn’t the right place for it.

A motion to dismiss Vayo’s suit was scheduled to be heard Sept. 25 in front of US District Court Central District of California Western Division Judge Frederick Mumm. However, it has now been moved to Nov. 6.

Vayo earned more than $4.6 million finishing second to 2016 WSOP Main Event Champion Qui Nguyen. He claims PokerStars refused to pay him almost $700,000 he won in a Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) event last year.

Was Vayo in Canada?

Vayo filed the lawsuit this past May alleging the site falsely accused him of breaching its terms of service by surreptitiously playing the event from inside the United States. Vayo claims to have been in Canada throughout the May 2017 tournament.

However, PokerStars claims Vayo was connected to the internet through a mobile device in Los Angeles using a Canadian mobile internet provider to make it look like he was in Canada.

Vayo has admitted to using a virtual private network (VPN) to access video streaming services while in Canada as an explanation for why PokerStars may have red flagged his account in the first place.

However, Vayo’s lawyers also allege PokerStars froze his account and spent nearly a year harassing him. All under the guise that it was investigating his whereabouts during the tournament.

The lawsuit claims PokerStars pried into every aspect of Vayo’s record and demanded he produce detailed retroactive proof of his location. Plus, the site even opened investigations into his friends’ accounts.

Vayo claims he submitted the evidence he was in Canada that PokerStars asked for. However, they essentially turned around and said it wasn’t enough.

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Is PokerStars freerolling players?

The suit goes on to allege PokerStars has been freerolling relocating US players for years:

“Since approximately 2011, (PokerStars) has engaged in a practice of approving U.S. citizens and residents for play on the PokerStars.com site, allowing and encouraging them to play on the site, happily taking their money – in many cases for years. Then, after a U.S. citizen or resident wins a significant amount of money on the PokerStars.com site, (PokerStars) conducts a sham investigation into the user’s activities and the location of the user’s access of the site, placing the onus on the player to retroactively prove that it is ‘inconceivable’ that his or her play could have originated from within the United States, in order to gin up a pretext to deny payment.

“In this way (PokerStars) takes the money of (Vayo) and other users of the PokerStars.com site with impunity, while depriving the same users of their largest winnings if and when they occur.”

In its motion to dismiss filed in July, PokerStars claims California is not the right venue to hear the case. Mostly because its online gaming license is in the Isle of Man, UK.

Lawyers for the site are also arguing it would be too costly to hold the case in California.

Can Vayo get a fair shake in the Isle of Man?

However, Vayo’s legal team says the same about moving it to the Isle of Man. In fact, Vayo claims he won’t be able to secure competent counsel on the Isle of Man. Plus, the courts there are likely biased because the gaming industry is such a large part of the local economy.

The suit stems from the first event on the 2017 PokerStars SCOOP schedule. The final five players chopped, leaving an additional $100,000 for the winner. Vayo went on to capture the title and earn a total of $692,460.

PokerStars was forced out of the US market and charged under various money laundering and illegal gambling laws in 2011. It settled the case and came back in 2016 after obtaining a license to operate in New Jersey. The site has since is now looking to move into the Pennsylvania online gambling market when it opens as well.

Image courtesy of WPT/Flickr

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