NEW YORK, N.Y. New York lawmakers are hell bent on legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

They want to wrap it inside the state budget so that reluctant lawmakers can approve a weed program without actually standing up and voting in favor of it as a stand-alone bill. This even though poll after poll show state residents widely supporting legal weed.

The fact that lawmakers are looking for cover on the issue tells you theres still a powerful stigma about weed out there. Not every area of New York State is as liberal as New York City.

So why take on such a thorny issue? Simple: Money. Legal weed could pour millions upon millions of dollars into state coffers.

Just think of all that we could do with that cash. Improve education. Build more parks. Save the subways!

At least thats what were told.

But if lawmakers want to generate revenue, why arent they pushing just as hard for legalized sports gambling here? In fact, they should shelve their weed dreams and devote their energies to legalizing sports gambling.

According to a new study, New York residents bet $837 million in New Jersey on sporting events last year, as reported by CBS New York.

New Yorkers got in their cars in order to do it. They took mass transit. They placed bets through family members and friends in the Garden State.

Clearly the demand is already there. Can we say the same about weed?

Think of the tax revenue that New York could generate on that kind of betting action. You could slap a tax on every transaction. Why should we lose all that money to New Jersey? Legalizing sports gambling, including online gambling, might be controversial, but shouldnt we take for a real test drive?

Could legalized sports betting could cause people to develop gambling problems or could it make an existing addiction worse? Sure. Safeguards can be built in for that, just like the state plans to build a governing infrastructure for weed.

Will legal sports betting drive organized crime and the corner bookie out of business? No, but legal weed hasnt eliminated the marijuana black market in the various states that have legalized. And weed hasnt provided the predicted revenue windfall everywhere its been legalized either. Everything is a crapshoot.

Cities like Las Vegas, Atlantic City and others around the world have managed lucrative legalized gambling for years upon years. It can be done.

It wouldnt solve all of New Yorks problems, because simply throwing more money at our problems isnt always the solution.

Frankly, I could live without legal weed and legal sports gambling. Im not convinced that the state couldnt spend its money more wisely. But if youre giving me a choice, Id take gambling. At least wed be spared the smell of weed everywhere.

Its still mind-boggling to me that after we spent decades getting people to quit smoking, New York lawmakers want to encourage people to smoke weed. And that includes underage kids who will no doubt get their hands on weed just as easily as they can buy alcohol or cigarettes today.

And does the state really have to legalize weed anyway? Its already been decriminalized to the point where you can smoke weed without fear, at least in New York City. If social justice is truly the goal, that should suffice. Fewer people of color are being arrested for weed. Let each city or country decide for itself if it wants to decriminalize.

But then again, the state doesnt make money off mere decriminalization. And thats the bottom line. Its a big reason why the state wants to legalize. That and the creation of a weed bureaucracy that would generate more jobs, including patronage slots and those benefitting public employee unions.

Lets see where sports betting takes us. Maybe then New York can turn back to weed if we still need money.

Original post:

Forget legal weed. Sports gambling is a better bet for New York (opinion) - SILive.com

The Las Vegas center is the VA's second inpatient treatment facility for veterans, who are at higher risk of gambling addiction.

Steve Walsh reports on the VA's second inpatient clinic for problem gamblers.

Army veteran Ronnie Reyes said the time he spent in the military is a big part of the reason why he became a gambling addict.

Reyes spent twelve years in the Army. Though he didn't see combat, he was a victim of military sexual trauma. After he left the service in 1991, he became a frequent gambler in Las Vegas casinos.

"I think it has a numbing effect," Reyes said. "When I'm in the heat of the moment, at the tables or a slot machine, I just get tunnel vision. And nothing else seems to matter."

Reyes got a job in a casino as a blackjack dealer, even as his gambling addiction worsened. He said it was hard for him to admit he had a problem until he was thousands of dollars in debt.

"There is not a substance attached to it," Reyes said. "There is no drug, there is no bottle. It's a behavior that can be easily hid."

Reyes now is seeking treatment through the Department of Veteran Affairs Southern Nevada Healthcare System. Late last year, the system opened an inpatient gambling treatment program - only the second such program in the VA. The first opened at a VA center in Ohio in 1974.

In the Las Vegas program, veterans spend up to 45 days in therapy and group activities that attempt to treat their addiction.

Roxanne Untal, who runs the 20-bed Las Vegas clinic, said she has patients with more than $100,000 in debt. Researchers say that's one reason veterans with gambling addiction have a higher suicide rate.

"You can treat the gambling, and once you treat the gambling, you're still facing that debt," Untal said. "And how do you go about living a life that is meaningful with that? I think it's just very different consequences and very different pathways."

VA research concluded that among people who have tried gambling, about five percent are addicted. But the number among veterans is eight percent. Vets with PTSD have a 60 percent higher rate of gambling addiction than the general population.

And the VA statistics may be low, because the agency doesn't screen for gambling addiction the way it does for drugs and alcohol, Untal said.

Gambling also hasn't attracted nearly as much funding as drug and alcohol addiction.

"Drugs and alcohol have public voices, public faces, and a much longer history of those voices advocating in this field," said Bo Bernhard, executive director of the International Gaming Institute at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "Gambling addiction is really a newer field."

For the VA, Las Vegas was an obvious choice

The history of seeing gambling as an addiction actually starts with one pioneering VA doctor - Robert Custer in Ohio.

Custer opened the first inpatient treatment center for problem gambling in 1974 near Cleveland, after he saw symptoms among his drug and alcohol patients.

"Many of them were 'swapping seats on the Titanic,' as he used to put it," Bernhard said. "We're switching from a drug and alcohol addiction to what he thought of, first, as a gambling addiction."

Custer left the VA shortly after creating the first treatment program. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association formally recognized gambling as an addiction, largely because of Custer's work.

There are outpatient gambling programs throughout the VA system. But for decades, Custer's Cleveland-area VA remained the only inpatient treatment clinic. With its high concentration of gambling and a growing veteran population, Las Vegas seemed the obvious choice for a second.

One thing that makes gambling addiction different from drugs or alcohol is "the chase." The feeling that no matter how deep the hole, a gambler can somehow win everything back.

"I get paid one day, the next day I'm broke," said Las Vegas patient Jim Romero, who was a mechanic in the Air Force in the early 2000s.

Romero was homeless by the time he entered the VA program. He's been battling one addiction or another for 20 years.

"I thought I had it under control, but I'll never have this disease under control," he said. "It's something I'll have to fight every single day."

This story was produced by the American Homefront Project, a public media collaboration that reports on American military life and veterans. Funding comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Continued here:

In Las Vegas, The VA Has Opened A New Center To Treat Veterans With Gambling Addiction - WUSF News

Negative attitudes towards gambling in Great Britain are increasingly prevalent, according to the Gambling Commission's Behaviour, Awareness and Attitudes Report, with 29% of those surveyed now calling for a total ban.

The report, which also found that the number of total gamblers remains steady despite growing online and mobile participation, was based on a telephone survey of4,003 people conducted in December 2019.

This found that 29% of people agreed that it would be better if gambling was banned altogether, up from 25% in December 2018. Respondents were also overwhelmingly of the opinion that there are too many opportunities to gamble today, with 82% saying this was the case.

A variety of other questions further highlighted the negative perception of the industry. The survey found that 73% believe gambling is dangerous for family life - up from 71% in 2018 - while 62% said that gambling should be discouraged.

Support for the industry appeared to be falling away, with respondents that said people should have the right to gamble whenever they want, falling from 62% to 60%. Those said that gambling "livens up life" fell to 26%, while those that felt gambling is good for society declined to 13%.

Only 29% agreed with the statement "gambling is fair and can be trusted", though this was higher among gamblers - 32% of players claimed it was fair, compared to 25% of non-players.

Despite the increasingly negative attitudes, participation rates appear to be holding steady. Respondents were quizzed on whether they gambled in the past four weeks, with 47% saying they did so, a slight increase from December last year. However, this figure includes National Lottery participation. When this is taken out, it falls to 32%.

Gambling is still a male-dominated pursuit, with men making up 51% of participants, compared to 43% of females surveyed.

There was evidence that gambling participation was growing among younger demographics. Among 16-24 year-olds surveyed, 40% said they gambled, up from 36% in the prior year, while among 25-34 year-olds this figure grew to 49%, and to 50% among 35-44 year-olds.

Older generations, meanwhile, appear to be gambling less. Of 45-54 year olds, participation fell one percentage point to 52%, and to 48% among 55-64 year-olds, down from 55%. For over 65s, it remained steady at 42%.

The proportion of people who gambled online, however, increased from 18% to 21%, of which half gambled using a mobile phone, up from 44% in 2018. Those using desktop PCs and laptops to gamble declined to 26% and 38% respectively.

Among online gamblers, 95% gambled at home, 15% did so at work and 12% on their commute. A total of 7% of online gamblers did so at pubs or clubs, and 4% at sports venues.

In-play betting declined in popularity as the number of online gamblers taking part declined from 23% to 21%, after reaching a high of 26% in 2016. The decline was strongest among younger people, with the proportion of 18-24 year-olds falling from 40% to 37% and 25-34 year-olds falling from 38% to 30%. The average number of accounts per online gambler remained steady at 2.7.

The proportion of problem gamblers remained steady at 0.5% of adults, but this was slightly below 2016s figure of 0.7%. A further 0.8% were found to be at moderate risk of developing a gambling problem and 2.7% at low risk.

Those who said they had registered for self-exclusion schemes declined slightly to 5%, while those who were unaware the schemes existed remained steady at 53%. This figure may rise going forward after the Gambling Commission mandated all UK-licenced operators sign up for the Gamstop self-exclusion schemefrom 31 March.

The proportion of gamblers who gambled twice or more per week remained steady at 20%. Those who gambled once a week fell slightly to 31%, while those gambling less than once a week increased from 47% to 49%.

Those who said they had received or seen gambling information from operators such as advice on how to seek help or the chances of winning at a certain game remained steady at 60%.

The National Lottery was by far the most popular form of gambling, with 30% playing, up from 2018 but still below 2015. The number playing other lotteries also increased to 12% and those playing scratchcards declined slightly to 10%.

Sports betting (excluding horse racing) was the next most popular form of betting, with the number of players increasing slightly to 6.7%. Private bets declined from 6.1% to 5.6%, fruit and slot machine participation increased from 3.7% to 4.2% and horse racing from 3.8% to 4.0%. Those playing casino games declined slightly to 1.5%.

Of those who bet on sports, 81% placed bets online and 27% in person. In the national lottery, 36% played online and 73% by retail. For casino games, 74% of players played online and 47% in person.

Esports betting increased in popularity, as 6% bet either money or in-game items on esports, up from 4% in 2018.

The amount of people who had seen or heard gambling advertising or sponsorship also remained steady, at 87%. Of this group, 51% said they saw these ads on television, 31% on non-gambling websites, 30% on social media, 18% on radio and 23% in newspapers.

Those taking part in social gaming declined slightly to 20%. Most of these played slot machine-type games, at 64%. Those playing social poker declined to 29% of social gamers while the proportion playing social casino games fell from 42% to 32%.

When asked about nine different areas of gambling policy, more than 60% said they don't know anything about each policy area. The two policy issues that the general public were most aware of were the controls in place to ensure that children and young people are not exposed to gambling, with 38% stating that they knew something about the topic; and the maximum amount that can be bet on machines in bookmakers, with 35% saying that they knew something about this.

A total of 32% of respondents said the most important gambling policy issue is having controls in place to ensure that children and young people are not exposed to gambling, the highest figure for any issue. Setting a stake limit on machines in bookmakers was second with 13% and 10% cited increased regulation of non-UK based online gambling operators.

Television news was the most popular source of information about gambling, informing 40% of respondents. Personal experience was next at 31%, followed by newspapers at 26% and online news at 25%.

Excerpt from:

GC survey confirms worsening public perception of gambling - iGaming Business

ST LOUIS, MO - FEBRUARY 23: Matthew McCrane #16 of the NY Guardians kicks off during the second half ... [+] of an XFL game against the St. Louis Battlehawks at The Dome at America Center on February 23, 2020 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)

The annual football hibernation has been suspended this year, as the XFL has stepped in to fill the seven month void with what they feel is a new and improved take on American football.

Backed by the WWE CEO and mastermind Vince McMahon, the league looks to offer a more progressive and engaging product in comparison to the somewhat conservative and traditional product put out by the NFL.

A fresh take on the rules, faster game play, and accessible ticket prices all cater to a more fan friendly product, but one area where the XFL differs most from its big brother is the leagues overall stance when it comes to sports betting.

Where the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell have spent years fighting the inevitable spread of regulated sports betting, McMahon and the XFL are embracing the action.

While this may come as a shock to many, people like to watch games that they have money on sarcastically stated BetOnline sportsbook manager Adam Burns.

There exist a small number of sports bettors who can consider themselves to be full-time professional gamblers, but for most, sports betting is merely another form of entertainment.

Having a little bit of skin in the game can turn a seemingly boring matchup into a dopamine rollercoaster ride for the casual bettor, and many of the emerging sports betting brands are targeting the average Joe looking to add some excitement to the game.

Slogans like DraftKings Lifes More Fun With Skin in the Game and the Action Networks Embrace the Sweat center around the concept of bringing a viewer into the game as a participant rather than a sideline viewer. Entering the 4th week of the season, the XFL is employing similar tactics to focus on fan engagement in all areas of the game, with sports betting playing an integral part in the leagues growth potential.

In an interview with ESPNs David Purdum, XFL president Jeffrey Pollack discussed the leagues desire to embrace the spread.

"This notion of embracing the spread means that our mission, our design and our business infrastructure are all geared to the sports betting future that's coming fast.

Pollack further added that he sees "a lot of pros to leaning into the sports betting world. It's what our fans want. We don't see cons, we see opportunity."

NFL Placing A Losing Wager?

By embracing this opportunity, the XFL takes a divergent approach to the growing industry in comparison to most American sports leagues who see royalty fees and a share of any action driven up from their products.

These stiff demands from leagues come across as a mere cash grab in attempts to pad their wallets amid the sports betting gold rush taking place across the country. With no federal regulations in place, states have been granted the authority to devise their own legislation when it comes to who can operate and at what costs.

Sports leagues attempts to stiff-arm their way into the profit margins of operators and state legislators comes across as greedy given that an active sports betting market would already see their products benefit greatly in terms of viewership and advertisement dollars.

The rise in popularity of fantasy football undoubtedly boosted the NFLs ratings and overall interest in the players on the field. Numerous publications and countless hours of on-air content has been dedicated to discussing players who were once seemingly obsolete to the average fan.

Truth be told, both betting and fantasy sports keeps the league relevant in ways the commissioners simply cannot do themselves.

Putting Bettors First

From its inception, the XFL always knew that their popularity at the betting counter would be an integral part to their growth. Consulting with sportsbook operators, many of the XFLs rules are actually centered around keeping betting options alive longer.

Extra points have been replaced with a format that creates the opportunity for a team to add between 1 and 3 points to their total in a move that increases the chances for comebacks and close games.

We currently see about as much combined action on Saturdays four XFL games as we would see on a single prime-time NFL matchup, shared BetOnlines Burns, who added that this is a much more promising start to that seen by last years AAF.

One interesting difference is that most XFL wagers are coming in on the game totals. Most major American sports we cover see the majority of the action on the point spread.

Leagues are always looking for ways to establish themselves as forward thinking and evolutionary. With the sports betting boom continuing its spread across the country, the XFLs mission to become the most betting friendly league in the United States is one wager that could pay off big time in the long run.

See the original post:

XFL Embraces Gambling In Quest To Become Most Sports Betting Friendly League In The Country - Forbes

Cryptocurrencies are gradually finding their way into our everyday lives. Not so long ago, the idea of a digital currency that you cannot touch or feel seemed strange to many. For so long money has been tangible a tactile material that had a sense of value in its palpability.

We accept the value of coins and cash because we trust the system. After all, money has existed in a physical format for close to three thousand years. But to truly embrace cryptocurrencies we have to let go of the concept that money has to be palpable.

We already do this on a daily basis without realizing it. We get paid wages directly into our bank accounts. Then we go shopping with our debit and credit cards and perform digital transactions from our phones and PCs. We go and buy clothes online at the press of a button.

When we place a sports bet, play video slots or enjoy daily jackpot bingo games such as Dynamite Riches at our favorite casino site, we do it all without handling cash, even when we are winners of such a jackpot. We see the money leave our bank accounts and arrive in our casino wallet. Then we see our casino or bingo winnings paid back in and we accept the whole process without the need to see any physical evidence whatsoever.

But every now and then, we go to an ATM machine and withdraw cash. And we feel comfortable knowing we have money in our pocket. We are just that one small step away from discarding cash for good. So, in theory, walking into a caf a buying a coffee with a bitcoin-linked card or wallet should not feel unusual but for many, it still does.

Those who are already using bitcoin or other cryptos understand the benefits. They feel safe in the knowledge that their money is protected from fraud, theft and other crimes associated with cash. And they feel safe that they can carry out transactions anonymously.

Many of the traditional transactions mentioned above can already be performed using digital currencies. We can shop online with bitcoins and many online casinos and sports betting websites, as well as payment providers such as Skrill, already accept cryptocurrency transactions.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle is making digital currencies easy to understand. If people are going to accept cryptocurrencies as an integrated part of their everyday lives, they need to be able to participate easily and not feel left out.

Right now, bitcoin ownership feels like some exclusive club for tech-savvy people under a certain age, and looking into other cryptos, the market is even more niche. This can only change through better education about the benefits of these currencies and how and where they can be used on a daily basis.

With a global market, it is a slow process. But once people understand how cryptocurrencies can eliminate exchange rates and high transaction fees and provide a faster and safer service, we could see them start to replace existing forms of payment. We could even eventually arrive at a scenario where traditional banking systems are no longer relevant.

Instant crypto credit lines from only 5.9% APR - unlock your crypto-weatlh tax-efficiently, without selling it. Earn up to 8%interest per year on your stablecoins, USD, EUR & GBP. $100 million custodial insurance.Get started now..

The rest is here:

From Shopping to Gambling How Cryptocurrencies Can Transform Our Everyday Lives - TWJ News

The guys hit the Falcons report.

With the likely departure of Austin Hooper at the tight end position, can Jaeden Graham step up and fill his shoes?Mike said he hasnt seen enough of Graham to know. I didnt see enough of him last year. Bell said Statistically he did get on the field he had 9 receptions for 149 yards and 1 touchdown, certainly he will get a shot to win the tight end job.Will talked about Graham needing to be a dual threat tight end to win the job. He had the one game, the Tampa Bay game where he had that big long 53 yard catch to set up a touchdown. Palaszczuk said Hes somebody who has some speed, but the biggest question is can he be an every down tight end blocker. You want somebody who can block like Stocker and catch like Hooper, you dont really have somebody who can do both.

It was time for the Strong Arm Story

Steve Koonin joined Dukes & Bell.

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D&B Hour 4: Will Georgia Join The Gambling Community? - Talk Radio 1210 WPHT

CHIPPENHAM Town footballer Karnell Chambers has been sacked after he placed bets on matches including 300 involving his own club.

This week club chairman Neil Blackmore spoke of his sadness at finding out that the striker had been investigated by the Football Association and found to have placed illegal bets.

He said: It is against FA rules for a player to bet on any football matches but it was far worse that Karnell placed bets on matches he played in and as a forward could have an influence on the game.

Once we were told the facts we had no choice but to terminate his contract. We called him in for an interview but he did not say very much or explain why he was doing it.

I was surprised as he is a nice lad and no trouble.

On Twitter Chambers said: Been a great two years at Chippenham. Had many great memories thanks to all the support from everyone at the club and to the fans who believed in me every week.

Mr Blackmore said that after Chambers was originally suspended while he was investigated manager Mike Cook spoke to all the players in the dressing room before last Tuesday evenings game.

Mr Blackmore said: He told them what had happened and said that if anyone else had been gambling now was the time to own up. No-one came forward. We wanted the players to know the facts as otherwise they would have wondered where he was as they knew he wasnt injured.

Advice and support for players tempted by gambling is available through the FA and Mr Blackmore urged anyone tempted to get in touch.

He said that Chambers had three different on-line betting accounts and after the FA had become suspicious about his actions full details of all his betting habits were handed over.

A spokesman for Chippenham Town said on Friday: Karnells contract with the club has been terminated with immediate effect.

After consideration of the facts provided by the FA and interviewing Karnell, the board decided that placing bets on Chippenham Town games in which he participated, left the Board and Management Team with a complete lack of trust and confidence in the player and as such amounted to gross misconduct.

Whilst the FA are yet to make their decision on the matter, the club fully upholds the FA stance on not permitting players or club officials to place bets on football games, especially ones where they could influence the result of the game.

Chambers joined Chippenham in March 2018 and has been a regular in the starting line-up.

The sacking of Chambers highlights the problem of gambling in football. In a study of almost 350 footballers and cricketers conducted by the Professional Players Federation results suggested sportspeople were three times more likely than the general public to be problem gamblers.

High profile cases of footballers who have struggled with gambling problems include Joey Barton, John Hartson, Keith Gillespie, and Dietmar Hamann.

One in 10 sportsmen interviewed by the PPF said they gambled to fit in, one in four said they were encouraged by team-mates to do it, and nearly one in three thought their teams links with the gambling industry encouraged them to bet.

Originally posted here:

Chippenham Town player caught gambling on own matches is fired - The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald

The Gambling Commissions Young People and Gambling Report (2019)found that 11 per centof 11- to 16-year-olds had spent their own money on gambling in the week prior to being surveyed a higher percentage than had consumed alcohol or cigarettes.

Children also have unprecedented access to online gambling opportunities and advertising with half of UK 10-year-olds now owning a smartphone, according to Ofcom data.

Read more:Why we should never say just ignore it in schools

From the magazine:PSHE teaching: which approach works best?

Listen:Could Bananarama be the answer to social mobility?

It is therefore welcome that secondary schools will be required to "teach about the risks related to online gambling including the accumulation of debt"in secondary schools from September as part of statutory health education.

Learning on self-agency, managing peer influence, emotion regulation and risk management lay the foundations for topic-specific teaching.

However, given the complexity of the issue for example, the increasingly blurred lines between gaming and gambling primary schools should lay the groundwork, and new lessons and guidance from the PSHE Association and GambleAware and will support them to do so.

To help do this as effectively as possible teachers should be aware of some key PSHE principles that willinform their teaching.

1. Avoid one-offs: Consistent PSHE education that includes gambling prevention work is more effective than brief, one-off interventions delivered in isolation.

2. Build protective factors as well as teaching about risk factors: Lessons should deliver key knowledge, but also help pupils develop strategies and attributes to be able to apply this knowledge in real-life situations.

3. Promote positive social norms: Learning should aim to reduce the perception that gambling is something that everyone does yet should avoid stigmatising gambling.

4. Create a safe learning environment: Negotiate ground rules with pupils, make sure activities are distanced, questions are handled safely and suitable support is signposted.

5. Start where young people are: Lessons should be adapted to meet the needs of different school contexts and year groups, in line with pupils maturity and learning needs.

6. Dont set out to shock, shame or scare: Shock tactics dont work and can do more harm than good never try to make pupils feel afraid or ashamed about their own or others behaviour.

7. Dont provide a "how to"manual or inspire risky behaviour: Use personal stories and resources with caution input should never glamourise gambling or give pupils details about how to access, engage in or hide such behaviours.

8. Assess and evaluate learning: Its important to know if work has been effective build in activities that demonstrate or assess what has been learned to inform future planning.

9. Base learning on evidence of what works: Learning intentions must reflect evidence of what works and of safe practice effective training can help with this.

10. Embed within wider approaches: Plan ways to link gambling work with wider PSHE provision to maximise impact.

Much of this can be applied to various potential harms and risks taught in PSHE education, not just gambling, and can therefore be partly developed through teaching on other issues such as drugs and alcohol.

More specifically, though, a growing body of gambling prevention research and wider research and theory have identified a number of promising approaches to specifically address gambling related issues.

Research suggests that teaching on the following issues may be protective:

Further information about thisresearch and related approaches is available in the PSHE Association How to address gambling through PSHE educationteacher handbookwhich is freely available on the PSHE Association site alongside primary and secondary lesson plans.This work has been commissioned by GambleAware.

Visitors orexternal speakers can also play a role when chosen wisely. Their expertise and creative resources can add interest and a fresh voice on this important health education topic.

However, it is important to be aware of safe and effective practice guidance when working with visitors on any PSHE topic. See our guidance and podcast on working with visitors and speakers to learn more.

Anne Bell works for the PSHE Association. As a member of their subject specialist team, she develops resources and training to support schools PSHE education delivery

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10 effective ways to teach gambling prevention in PSHE - TES News

The advertising regulatory body in the UK has raised concerns that gambling companies could be using technology to make their advertising better targetted at vulnerable people. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has also urged the countrys gambling sector to make sure they target their marketing and advertising materials in a more responsible manner.

Speaking at the ISBA annual conference yesterday, the CEO of the advertising watchdog, Guy Parker, explained that one of the regulatory bodys most serious concerns is related to using special technology to better target their ads at people who may be at risk of getting addicted to gambling and may find it hard to stay away from compulsive gambling behaviour.

Mr Parker confirmed that the ASA is aimed at making sure that gambling companies are held accountable in case they are found to be using such technology to target gambling ads, especially when it comes to vulnerable people and underage individuals.

In fact, the ASA has already been involved in protecting British children from possible gambling-related harm. The advertising watchdog has recently been probing the targeting of gambling ads to children as part of its strategy to use technology in order to make sure a more proactive approach is used when it comes to gambling advertising regulation. Special avatars have been created in order to simulate childrens behaviour online, with the investigation finding that gambling adverts were shown to children 151 times and five gambling companies have violated the rules under which targeting underage individuals with gambling ads is prohibited.

According to the ASA CEO, such behaviour is common among a small number of gambling companies but, unfortunately, boosts mistrust in advertising in general. The fact that British customers have been literally bombarded with gambling adverts has raised the concern across all sectors that are advertising in the country, which could eventually cause problems for the advertising industry as a whole.

As Mr Parker reminded when it comes to gambling advertising, it is not just adverts in commercial spots aired on TV, such advertising also involves sponsorship agreements in professional sports, football shirt sponsorship deals, as well as football championships being sponsored by gambling operators.

Lately, some anti-gambling campaigners have been calling for the British Government to be more proactive and make sure areas such as gambling advertising are better regulated. The ASA has also been hoping to see more support from the Government for the work it already does to regulate the sector, along with the UK Gambling Commission. Furthermore, the advertising watchdog has revealed that it has no desire to be provided with more statutory powers to regulate the sector.

In any case, funding has been an area where the Advertising Standards Authority has been insisting for change, as it believes larger money investments are needed to regulate the sector.

Olivia Cole has worked as a journalist for several years now. Over the last couple of years she has been engaged in writing about a number of industries and has developed an interest for the gambling market in the UK.

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The ASA Insists on Better Regulation of Gambling Advertising to Provide Better Protection for Customers - Casino Guardian

Many traders do not like to be accused of gambling. Butgamblers are exactly what we are:

-We place capital at risk onuncertain events.

-We have no control over theoutcome.

-There is no guarantee that wewill make money in the long run.

Clearly, we are gambling. So why the negativity?

One reason is because of the negative connotations of agambler.

We think of drunk, unkept and unshaven old men, sittingaround the bookmakers betting on horses, or feeding the FOBT machines and losingtheir cash.

But unlike gamblers, we are not losers.

Whereas in gambling, the odds are set for you (by the house which does always win in the long run), in trading the odds are set by us.

Think about it: we have control of our entry. We have controlof our exit. We have control of our emotions, control of our discipline,control of our position size.

Yet all anybody focuses on the one thing we cannot controlthe outcome!

Why the outcome is not important

The outcome is not important. It is in the long run do notget me wrong if in the long run you are not making money then that is aserious problem.

But if you have three bad trades, does that mean somethingis wrong?

Definitely not.

One reason many traders struggle to make money is becausethey consistently system hop. They try a few things, and tinker around, andthen when it stops working for a few trades they run somewhere else and trythat.

I am convinced you could give people an exact step-by-stepguide to making money and out of 100 people, ten might listen, five mightgive it a go, and one person might stick to it after a few losing trades (infact, I have you can download mystep-by-step guides here). This is why 90%+ of traders do not make anymoney.

It is not the competition from elsewhere that beats them. Itis the competition within themselves.

The struggle to control emotions, and the struggle to remain consistent, is astruggle for many traders. If you cannot get comfortable with a few losingtrades, then you are probably trading too big.

Position sizing

You need to manage your positions to a point where lossesare not outcome dependent. If you put 20% of your capital into a single trade then you can bet you are going to be very heavily invested in the outcome. Butif this was 2% would you be so bothered?

Position sizing is the key to trading success.

I have never heard of anyone going bust from trading toosmall. In every instance, the factors were either trading too large, or leverage,and huge unexpected volatility. Put them all together and you have the veryserious potential for a blown-up account.

Trading is gambling

This is something all traders need to accept. This is notinvesting where we are analysing the fundamentals and taking a position basedon sound research methods. This is pure gambling where we believe our tradingsystem will deliver an edge in the long run.

Backtest your methods, and if it does not generate an edgeand provide alpha then ditch it.

Because that really would be gambling.

Author Michael Taylors website http://www.shiftingshares.comcontains a number of tutorials on how to trade and invest as well as his freebook How to Make Six Figures in Stocks.

Originally posted here:

The Shifting Shares View: Is trading gambling? - Value The Markets

If youve spent any time at all researching gambling on the internet, youve noticed that theres a seemingly endless number of websites offering gambling information.

Youve probably also noticed that most of them offer aggressive, colorful advertising for online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks.

What should you expect from a gambling information site? What makes one gambling info website better than another? How do you know whether you can trust a sites recommendations or reviews?

After all, it doesnt take a rocket surgeon to realize that real money online gambling webmasters have a lot of incentive to refer players to certain gambling companies.

This post offers some things to look for when youre deciding whether a gambling information site is legitimate or not. Not every site will feature all of these aspects, and just because a site is missing something on this list doesnt mean its not reputable.

Use this as a rough guide for comparing one portal to another.

I have a friend who used to edit a couple of volunteer-staffed website directories. Before search engines became so robust, humans had to list websites in various categories, and users would surf through those categories to find information.

Yahoo got its start as a directory. One of the directories where my friend worked refused to list any site that didnt include two ways to contact the site owner.

I think that might be a lot to ask of a gambling information portal, but I think an About Us page is a minimum expectation anyone should have from a site.

Anyone operating a website offering information to gamblers should publish a page that gives you at least a general idea of who runs the website and what the sites goals are.

How-to pages include guides on how to play the games the information site is about. For example, if youre visiting a site that purports to offer blackjack information, it should have a prominent page about how to play blackjack.

It should also include pages about how to play blackjack variations of the game, like Spanish 21 or Super Fun 21.

Some sites specialize in casino games of all kinds. In that case, you should be able to find a page about how to play any of the major casino games like blackjack, craps, roulette, slot machines, and video poker.

These sites should also offer how-to information around strategy, odds, and tactics. The idea behind a gambling information site should be to aid the customer in getting the most for his money.

You cant do that if you dont explain the details behind the games odds and the best strategies for trying to win. All of the above also applies to sites focused on poker and sports betting, too.

Some websites are intentionally designed to be static sites. They publish information thats meant to be evergreen, and their pages are never updated.

I think you should expect more from a gambling information site than that. You should have an idea of how often a site gets updated.

Most legitimate sites have a blog section somewhere on the site. Or theyll have a page devoted to updates where theyll explain which pages theyve updated and what theyve done to them.

Imagine a site that offers reviews of online casinos, for example. Suppose that this site never updates its content. How do you know that the reviews of the casinos are still valid?

Gambling companies change hands all the time. Even blackjack strategy changes over time to account for changes in game conditions.

Anyone reading a website is looking for answers to their questions. I think any page worth reading, especially a static page that purports to be a comprehensive look at a subject, should have a question-and-answer section.

Honestly, this is the easiest way for an online gambling webmaster to get ideas for content to update their site with. If you spend a little time in some gambling forums or just searching a major search engine, youll find lists of questions on specific subjects.

Not every site should be penalized with your disdain if it doesnt include questions and answers, but if youre trying to decide between a site that has a frequently asked questions page and one that doesnt, go with the site that does, all other things being equal, anyway.

Youll have no problem finding a gambling information site that offers recommended places to spend your money. Youll occasionally find a webmaster whos so sold on a specific property that he only promotes it and nothing else.

But a webmaster should participate in the web. And its called a web because its a web of links.

What Im getting at is that webmasters should link to other useful resources, not just to the businesses theyre taking advertising dollars from. Its usually easy to spot the difference in these kinds of recommendations, too.

i

Keep in mind, though, that some sites only offer recommendations to other information sites owned by the same company.

Thats a bummer, but thats the nature of the business. Since most search engines recommend sites in part by how much link popularity they have, aggressive marketers in some industries will be stingy when linking to other resources.

I dont believe surfers should reward that kind of behavior on the part of a webmaster when they realize thats whats happening. You might feel differently.

Every gambling information site Ive ever visited offered at least one review of an online casino, an internet cardroom, or an offshore sportsbook. Some sites consist of nothing but reviews of these sites.

The problem with most of these sites is that theyre not offering real reviews. These so-called reviews are just thinly-disguised advertisement pages. Theyre sales letters, not reviews.

How can you tell the difference? For the most part, you should assume that any review of an online casino is biased toward that casino. Thats the nature of the internet today. The question is HOW biased the review is.

Does the review use a lot of marketing language to describe the casino and its games? If it does, then its just an advertising piece, and you should move on.

On the other hand, sites that list the various pros and cons of a site has more integrity. If the negatives on a casino seem serious, then you might be reading one of the most legitimate reviews on the internet.

If you can find an online casino review that uses the first person singular instead of the royal we, you might have found a real person with a real opinion writing about a property.

But once a review starts saying stuff like, We thought the bonuses were amazing, youre starting to slip into advertising territory. These are all just rough guidelines to think about.

Theres no perfect way to differentiate legitimate online casino reviews from pure advertising.

The best information sites have a means of finding information you want on a site. Often, this is a search box where you can type in a phrase and find the appropriate pages on the site covering that topic.

Thats unusual, though, especially for online gambling information sites. A good solution is for a site to offer a site map. A site map is just an organized list of the pages on that site.

A good website has a good, simple, useful navigation structure, but a site map provides a broader overview of a websites pages than the navigation usually does.

When it comes to gambling information websites, buyer beware.

Of course, most of these sites dont offer anything for sale directly from their sites other than advertising. Theyre not selling the advertising to their readers, though, theyre selling that advertising to the casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks who want to sign up their users.

This tends to color the editorial policy for such sites. The degree to which this happens depends on the integrity of the operator of the information site. Ive met webmasters in the industry who cared about nothing but getting the most money from the highest bidder.

Ive also met webmasters who refused to promote any site that didnt live up to a strict code of ethics.

Use your own best judgment when deciding which gambling information sites to trust, but be aware of what to look for.

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What Every Gambling Information Site Should Offer - Online Gambling - BestUSCasinos.org

Fitzgibbon has his eye on Labors leadership should the chance arise. Joyce is in the process of undermining Michael McCormack with a view to replacing him as leader of the Nationals.

Why not stage a blue for the audience? Show a bit of fire and lip for the judges - Joyce going at Labors target of net zero emissions by 2050; Fitzgibbon repositioning himself as the man to defend his partys modern policies.

At least this charade was mildly entertaining.

Less so has been the over-familiar nonsense concerning Budget forecasts.

Every year we are subjected to the deception that political leaders can predict where the economy will find itself in a years time - or, for that matter, in the next several years.

Its called the Budget. This forecasting becomes even more skew-whiff when an election is in the offing, which is precisely where we all found ourselves last May.

Even by the standards of modern politics, last years effort was risible.

The jig's up: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and PM Scott Morrison in Question Time on Wednesday.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The Morrison governments big bang in the weeks before Australians cast their votes at the federal election was an assurance that the Budget had delivered a surplus.

It wasnt true. The Budget was in deficit.

All Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg had done was take a deep breath and predict that they could deliver a surplus ... a year ahead.

They had to do something. They were facing an election without any policies to speak of and a recent history of leadership madness.

History shows they won the election, of course. Or Labor threw it away, take your pick.

Nevertheless the surplus was, if not an outright falsehood, at least premature.

Back in Black, screamed the Liberal marketing material next to a picture of a tremendously self-satisfied Scott Morrison. The first Budget surplus in over a decade.

The closest Morrison got to an admission that he had made up the claim was during a so-called debate in the lead-up to the election, when he strangled his tenses almost out of existence after he was tackled on the idea that the Budget had actually delivered a surplus.

I said we brought the budget back to surplus next year, he offered, acting surprised at the guffaws that ensued.

Is it much of a step from such blithe trickery with the language to the corruption of a sports grant program for political purposes or the $10 million handout to the North Sydney Olympic Pool, even though that money was from a program established for regional and remote areas?

It was barely a blink of the eye before the Liberal Party was selling coffee mugs emblazoned with the Back in Black artwork. A snip at $35.

The 2019 Budget delivers the first surplus in more than a decade. Mark this event with the official Back in Black mug, the Liberal Party shop blares.

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Ten months later the Prime Minister, having gambled, is in danger of becoming the mug.

Settle down, he ordered journalists this week who insisted on asking about the future of the increasingly shaky surplus hed promised.

Hands up those who thought there was going to be a coronavirus epidemic when the Budget was released last May, he pleaded.

Quite. As William Shakespeare pondered in Macbeth about the business of predicting the future: "If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then unto me."

We might sympathise with a Prime Minister grappling with the economic fallout of Australias bushfire disaster and now the prospect of a pandemic.

But desperate pre-election forecasts have a history of backfiring.

Remember Wayne Swan? His 2010 Budget for the Rudd government was a sensation.

He was going to bring in a surplus within three years, a mighty three years earlier than forecast. Come hell or high water, he trumpeted.

This was courageous, as Sir Humphrey of Yes Minister fame might have said. There hadnt been a Labor government surplus since the Hawke-Keating effort in 1989-90.

Perhaps Swan was suffering a surfeit of self-confidence, having overseen Australias books when it survived the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2008.

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But here two years later in May 2010 was Swan, like Morrison last year, going the whole 10 yards and claiming he had actually delivered a surplus.

He hadnt. And never would. Falling revenues and the failure of the Resource Super Profits tax forced him to abandon his promise in December 2012.

The Coalition opposition was merciless. It was proof Labor couldnt be trusted to tell the truth or run an economy, hollered opposition leader Tony Abbott, promising to "pursue the government every single day until the next election on its failure to deliver the surplus".

Ten months later, the Rudd-Gillard government Swan had served was swept away.

Then, as now, there was less to political theatre - and Budget promises - than meets the eye.

Tony Wright is the associate editor and special writer for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.

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Predictions and promises: gambling on a surplus is for mugs - The Sydney Morning Herald

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Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG) and PokerStars have signed an agreement where GiG will supply its proprietary affiliate monitoring and compliance software, GiG Comply, to PokerStars affiliate operations worldwide.

In a continuation of PokerStars efforts to stay at the forefront of responsible gaming, GiG Comply will become a key component in ensuring that members of Stars Affiliate Club, the affiliate programme for PokerStars, meet heightened advertising criteria across regulated markets.

GiG Complys proprietary self-service technology scans and analyses thousands of web pages to ensure affiliates continue to meet advertising regulations, as well as the standards set out by the operator. The technology also provides detailed reports, including links, brand mentions and images, keeping the operators affiliate department continuously up to date on the content delivered to their affiliates audiences.

We work closely with our affiliates to ensure that the content delivered to their audiences is compliant and responsible, and meets the same high standards expected of the PokerStars brand, said Rebecca McAdam Willetts, Associate Director, Group Public Relations at The Stars Group. GiG Comply adds a new dimension to those relationships and controls, and we look forward to seeing the technology in action.

Richard Brown, chief executive officer at GiG, says: We are very pleased to have signed PokerStars to our portfolio for GiG Comply. Assisting them in compliance efforts ensures they remain at the forefront of responsible gaming.

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European Court of Justice Rejects Challenge to Italian Gambling Taxes - European Gaming Industry News

Lotto New Zealand's biggest ever jackpot must be won this Saturday, but the hype and allure of riches will hurt problem gamblers, advocates say.

The first division powerball prize has reached $50 million, sparking a flurry of ticket sales and endless conversations and dreams about what could be done with that much cash.

But the prize has also lead to concern, as the Problem Gambling Foundation knows the extra excitment will encourage people to spend more.

Pesio Ah-Honi, the director of Pacific Services at the Foundation, says that although Lotto is less harmful to the community than pokie machines or other online games, it does take money from families who can't afford it.

She predicts the $50 million jackpot will encourage people to gamble money they can't afford to lose.

"We do see an increase in spending with the jackpot increases, we see an almost addicition-like behaviour that people don't normally display," she says.

Ah-Honisays powerball is less addictive than other forms of gambling, as it delays gratification.

But in recent years, the Problem Gambling Foundation has seen an increase in people worried about their Lotto use, she says.

SCOTT HAMMOND/STUFF

Gambling harm experts are worried about the $50 million Lotto jackpot.

"When a jackpot is so high, it tends to get people thinking they need to buy more to be in to win. There's potential risk of people spending more than what they can afford," she says.

There's a $150 weekly limit for spending on the My Lotto website, with a $500 monthly limit.

ButAh-Honisays that is too much for some families. "For a lot of people,$150 a week on Lotto is $150 more than they can afford."

"We are always concerned that people who can not afford it will buy a ticket. Their families are going withoutbecauseof money being put on powerball this week."

Lotto offers services to help addicted gamblers, including a 'self-exclusion' form to ban yourself from Lotto stores.

On the site, users can block themselves from playing certain games.

In statements, Lotto encourages people to play only for fun. "This isallabout having fun, being informed and knowing your limits," it says.

University of Auckland professor of biostatistics Thomas Lumley said the chance of getting the winning numbers - all six Lotto numbers plus the Powerball - was 1 in 38 million per line.

GAMBLING ADDICTION HELP:Gambling Helpline - 0800 654 655 or text 8006.Problem Gambling Foundation - 0800 664 262 or help@pgfnz.org.nz

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'Families are going without': Problem gambling advocate's concern for $50 million Lotto jackpot - Stuff.co.nz

Medically reviewed: 06/22/2018 Last updated: 05/15/2019 Author: Addictions.com Medical Review

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Gambling addiction or gambling disorder is defined as persistent and recurring problematic gambling behavior that causes distress and impairs your overall livelihood. Gambling addiction affects roughly 0.2% to 0.3% of the general U.S. population, and tends to affects males more than females, though this gender gap has narrowed in recent years. Gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction that can be effectively treated using a range of cognitive and behavioral therapies.

The desire to buy scratch tickets, play slot machines, and visit casinos arent necessarily signs of gambling addiction. But when the desire to gamble becomes overwhelming to the point you cant stop thinking about it until you gamble on something, may be a sign you need help. Those who suffer from gambling addiction will continue to gamble despite negative financial, legal, and social consequences.

Gambling disorder is a brain disease that can cause you to do things you wouldnt normally do if you werent suffering from addiction. Behavioral addictions like gambling disorder are often difficult to manage and control without getting professional help. Addiction treatment centers can help you overcome gambling addiction and teach you important skills aimed at helping you repair problems in your life caused by your disorder.

There are no physical health symptoms associated with gambling disorder. Familiarizing yourself with common gambling addiction behaviors can clue you into whether you or a loved one may need professional help.

Chasing after losses is the most common tell-tale sign of gambling disorder. This particular symptom is marked by the urgent need to continue gambling to earn back a loss or series of losses. Individuals diagnosed with gambling disorder may abandon their usual gambling strategies to win back all losses at once and may lie to family, friends, and therapists to hide the severity of their addiction.

Those with a mild gambling addiction may exhibit between four and five of these behaviors, while those with a moderately severe gambling addiction may exhibit six to seven of these behaviors. People who suffer from severe gambling addiction will usually exhibit all nine behaviors. Moderate to severe cases of gambling disorder tend to be more common than mild cases.

Gambling addiction can produce many more negative effects than just financial hardship. Gambling disorder can affect your physical health, mental health, and social functioning, and lead to the loss of important relationships with friends and loved ones. You may also suffer a decline in work or school performance, and feel more restless and bored with all other areas of life that dont involve gambling.

Those who suffer from gambling addiction tend to suffer from higher rates of poor general health than those who dont gamble. Tachycardia and angina are common health problems among those diagnosed with gambling addiction. Many who suffer from gambling disorder also tend to experience distortions in thinking surrounding their addiction, such as superstitions, overconfidence, and a sense of power over the outcome of chance events. Nearly 50% of those receiving treatment for gambling disorder experience suicidal ideation, while an estimated 17% have tried to commit suicide.

Alcohol and cocaine are the two most common substances associated with gambling and binge gambling, respectively. Alcohol is legally available in most gambling settings such as bars and casinos and is often rewarded to gamblers for free at many of these establishments. Roughly 44% of people with gambling disorder in the U.S. also suffer from an alcohol use disorder.

Binge gambling is defined as intermittent episodes of uncontrolled gambling after long periods of abstinence. For instance, a person who practices binge gambling may only visit the casino five times per year but gamble non-stop for long periods during their stay. Cocaine use tends to be common among these gamblers since it produces stimulating effects of increased energy, alertness, focus, concentration, and confidence.

Individuals with gambling disorders tend to suffer higher rates of co-occurring alcohol and drug use disorders compared to their peers. Gambling often takes place in environments that enable and encourage alcohol and drug use. Gambling can also trigger mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which many may self-treat using alcohol and drugs like marijuana, painkillers, and other addictive substances.

Gambling addiction is commonly treated using cognitive and behavioral therapies that treat the root psychological causes of your addiction. These therapies also help you identify and change negative, unhealthy thoughts and behaviors that may have led to your gambling addiction. Treatments for gambling addiction can be tailored especially for you or your loved one based on the factors surrounding your disorder.

Gambling addiction can also be treated using community reinforcement, group therapy, and 12-step support groups like Gamblers Anonymous.These treatments help you identify your triggers that can lead to gambling and teach you ways to overcome and manage those triggers. For instance, if a stressful day at work usually makes you feel like gambling, you may learn yoga, deep breathing, or other healthy methods that relieve stress without putting your health and well-being at risk.

If you or someone you love needstreatment for gambling addiction, its important that you use a treatment approach that best suits your recovery needs.Gambling addiction treatment is available in many different settings, including inpatient and outpatient treatment settings.

Inpatient gambling addiction treatment can greatly benefit those who suffer from severe gambling disorder, and who have suffered severe financial, legal, or social problems.Inpatient treatment includes around-the-clock supervision in a hospital-like setting where you can live for the duration of your treatment program. The intense level of therapy, counseling, and supervision provided by inpatient treatment centers can help significantly reduce the risk of relapse while in recovery.

Compulsive gamblers often need support from friends, family members, and peers to help them stop gambling.Gamblers Anonymous groups can provide peer and social support for those in recovery or for those who wish they can stop gambling.These groups can provide a solid, healthy foundation for a successful and long-term recovery from gambling addiction.

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Gambling Addiction - Signs, Symptoms & Treatment for Problem ...

Three men were arrested, four businesses were searched and more than $27,000 in alleged gambling proceeds were seized following a Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad sting.

The MANS unit used undercover officers to gather evidence before the searches and arrests Feb. 7.

Lt. Don Scalia said the search warrants were served simultaneously at businesses owned and operated by the three men arrested.

At Cafe Amigo on Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville, Scalia said officers found nine video gambling machines, more than $4,700 in gambling proceeds, receipts and other evidence of the crimes charged.

Three video gambling machines and more than $6,100 in proceeds were found at Mercado El Sol on Atlanta Highway in Gainesville, Scalia said.

Scalia said officers also found four video gambling machines and more than $6,200 in proceeds at Little Giant Grocery on Atlanta Highway in Gainesville.

The largest amount of alleged gambling proceeds was discovered at Coin Laundry Lavanderia on Atlanta Highway in Gainesville, where Scalia said they found four video gambling machines and $10,100 in proceeds.

Scalia said there are arrests pending further investigation regarding Coin Laundry Lavanderia.

Jung Yop Choo, 44, Jose Ulloa-Gonzalez, 51, and Navshadalia Momin, 62, were charged with commercial gambling.

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More than $27000 in alleged gambling proceeds seized in Hall investigation - Gainesville Times

Fourteen Michigan businesses were issued cease-and-desist orders to stop offering illegal gambling games during 2019 through a joint enforcement effort by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels office and the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

The 14 businesses claimed to operate redemption games, which are legal in Michigan. Investigators determined the locations instead were offering casino-style video slot machines based on chance and rather than skill.

Each location chose to close rather than face potential criminal charges, according to a press release from the Michigan Gaming Control Board. An unlicensed gambling business operator can face a 10-year felony charge.

At least two of the businesses have since reopened.

Illegal gambling can lead to money laundering and other crimes that impact the safety and security of Michigan communities, Richard S. Kalm, MGCB executive director, said in the press release. Legal gambling is taxed and regulated, and taxes go back into the community as funding for K-12 education. An illegal gambling operation doesnt support the community but instead siphons funds away from it.

The locations ordered in 2019 to cease offering illegal gambling games by county are:

Kent County

Lapeer County

Genesee County

Macomb County

Oakland County

Washtenaw County

The MGCB offers a guide on internet cafes and cyber cafes on its website, http://www.michigan.gov/mgcb.

Michigan residents can report illegal or suspicious gambling activity anonymously by calling 888-314-2682.

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State halts 14 illegal gambling operations in 6 Michigan counties - MLive.com

The XFL is embracing sports betting more than any other U.S. professional or collegiate league ever has.

While the NFL and other leagues spent years fighting in court to stop the spread of sports betting, the XFL kicked off its reboot by consulting with bookmakers on new rules and encouraging media partners to infuse gambling into broadcasts. The XFL may be just starting, but it appears it is already ahead of the gambling game. Now, we'll see if it pays off.

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For decades, the traditional leagues in the U.S. kept their distance from sports betting, concerned gambling would tarnish the integrity of the games. At the same time, even though commissioners and owners may have been reluctant to admit it, they benefited from fantasy sports and bettors participating in the massive underground and offshore sports betting industries. Former baseball commissioner Bud Selig once testified that sports betting is "evil, creates doubt and destroys your sport."

Times have changed. Legal bookmakers now operate in more than a dozen states, and, at least to this point, sports have survived. The NBA, the NHL and MLB each have official betting partners, and the NFL is moving in that direction. None of them, however, are as all-in on betting as the newest league on the block, the XFL, which, instead of shying away from the gambling industry, is determined to "embrace the spread."

"This notion of embracing the spread," XFL president Jeffrey Pollack said, "means that our mission, our design and our business infrastructure are all geared to the sports betting future that's coming fast.

"We see a lot of pros to leaning into the sports betting world," he added. "It's what our fans want. We don't see cons, we see opportunity."

When creating its rules and scoring system, the XFL kept the bettor in mind and even bounced ideas off Las Vegas sportsbook operators to see what worked and what didn't.

"I thought it was very interesting," John Murray, executive director of the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, said of the informal calls with the XFL. "It was cool just to talk to the guys who were starting a new football league and see what kind of ideas they had."

The XFL landed on rules aimed at condensing the game. They wanted to increase the pace of play, eliminate virtually automatic plays like kicking extra points and enhance timing rules to improve comeback opportunities and keep the spread in play longer.

The XFL's play clock is 25 seconds (it's 40 seconds in the NFL), and the game clock stops only briefly, except for the final two minutes of each half, called "comeback periods." The goal was to deliver a similar number of plays per game as the NFL but in less than three hours. NFL games during the 2019 regular season averaged 126.8 offensive snaps and 45.6 points per game. The first four XFL games averaged 124 offensive plays and 38.5 points.

After touchdowns, teams choose between going for one point from the 2-yard line, two points from the 5-yard line or three points from the 10-yard line. "This enhances a team's ability to make a comeback," XFL senior vice president strategy and business development John Scheler said. "Your bet's in play longer because the team potentially has the ability to come back and cover the spread."

Overtime is decided by a pseudo-shootout, with teams alternating single plays from the 5-yard line. Each score is worth two points.

The rule tweaks to timing and scoring were a challenge for oddsmakers. Not knowing how coaches would handle the new options after touchdowns and their success rate on those attempts reduced the value of the traditional key numbers -- most notably three and seven -- that bettors are accustomed to in the NFL and college football. Out of the 19 touchdowns scored in the four games over the weekend, coaches elected for the 1-point option 11 times and the 2-point option eight times. They were successful on four 1-point chances and three 2-point chances.

Creating a point spread, though, was not the toughest task for oddmakers in Week 1. Setting the over/under was.

Circa Sports, a new bookmaking operation in downtown Las Vegas, was the first sportsbook to put up totals on the four Week 1 games. They admitted the process of setting the totals was not sophisticated.

"For me, it was a huge guess," Circa sportsbook manager Chris Bennett said with a chuckle.

Last Thursday, Circa opened at 40.5 for each game. The first wave of bets came in, all on the over in each game. In less than three hours, the totals on each game climbed into the 50s.

Three of the four Week 1 games went under the total.

For years, play-by-play announcers like Brent Musburger and Al Michaels slyly worked gambling references into broadcasts. "Some baskets are more meaningful than others," Musburger might say in regards to a basket that affected the spread. Michaels is known to describe a late score that pushes the game over the total as "overwhelming."

There were no veiled references, though, in the weekend's XFL games. Instead, announcers were overt, and the odds were front and center.

Point spreads and over/unders were displayed alongside the scores on the XFL broadcasts on ESPN and Fox, and advertisements for the sponsoring sportsbooks like Caesars and FoxBet popped up from time to time.

In the fourth quarter of the Seattle Dragons-D.C. Defenders game Saturday, ESPN color man Greg McElroy joked about the disappointment fans who bet the over must have felt when the Dragons elected to take points off the board after a running into the kicker penalty, only to squander the ensuing scoring opportunity by fumbling deep inside D.C. territory.

For many sports betting proponents, the odds-infused broadcasts were what they envisioned when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal statute in 2018, allowing states to decide whether to regulate gambling.

Joe Favorito, a longtime sports marketing consultant in New Jersey, was watching the St. Louis-Dallas game Sunday with his 21-year-old son, who asked what the "O/U 52.5" meant on the scoreboard on the bottom of the screen.

"[He] was casually following XFL and had no idea of the floating betting lines," Favorito told ESPN. "He assumed it was another deep dive into stats, not gambling. He figured it was similar to when 'SOG' appeared on a hockey scoreboard for shots on goal or when MLB suddenly added 'MV' for mound visits and 'PC' for pitch count to scoreboards. ... He became more engaged immediately."

At Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada, less than $10,000 total was bet on the point spread for the opening game between the Dragons and Defenders. It might not sound like a lot -- and compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars normally bet on NFL games, it's not -- but it was notable and was more than the amount bet on many of Saturday's college basketball games and even some NBA games.

"I think there's an interest, but it's just not something I think people have confidence to bet on yet, on the public side of things," Caesars senior oddsmaker Alan Berg said.

In New Jersey, sportsbook FanDuel said "20 times" as much money was bet on the first XFL game as was bet on the first game of the now defunct Alliance of American Football League. XFL betting increased from Saturday to Sunday by 55%, according to FanDuel.

The XFL believes it's only the beginning of the league's relationship to the sports betting industry, which unlike its predecessors, it has decided to embrace from the opening kickoff. The XFL has announced multiple betting partners, launched a new free-play gaming app (PlayXFL) and hired sports data company Genius Sports to provide integrity services.

"The XFL should be applauded for its proactive stance in engaging with the sports betting industry," Chris Dougan, spokesman for Genius Sports, said. "From its inception, the league has embraced best practices with operators and built strong relationships with the state regulators. By requiring all XFL players, coaches and officials to participate in our online integrity program, the league has made education a key pillar in preventing threats of betting corruption."

The two XFL games broadcast on ABC and ESPN averaged to 2.9 viewers. There was buzz on social media and at sportsbooks. The XFL is determined to make it last by, in part, being the most betting-friendly league in the U.S.

"For a lot of our fans," Pollack, the XFL's president said, "free-to-play gaming, fantasy and legal sports betting have become [as] essential to the football experience as the helmet, ball and jersey."

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All-in on gambling - XFL embracing betting from the get-go - ESPN

HALL COUNTY, Ga. - A Hall County investigation into illegal gambling has ended with the arrest of three suspectsat multiple stores around the county.

The three suspects were arrested during an undercover investigation into gambling in Hall County. (MANS Gang Task Force)

Officials say on Feb. 7, officers with the MANS Task Force, the Hall County Sheriff's Office, and the Georgia Lottery Corp. searched four businesses simultaneously looking for illegal video gambling machines.

The search operations were part of a multi-week undercover operation into gambling, officials said.

During the operation, police say they arrested three suspects at the businesses allegedly owned and operated by the men.

At the first location, Cafe Amigo on the 1500 block of Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville, officers say they arrested Jung Yop Choo and found nine video gambling machines, receipts, and other $4,700 in gambling proceeds.

Hall County deputies bust three business owners and charged them in connection to a gambling sting

The second location, Mercado El Sol on the 1800 block of Atlanta Highway in Gainesville, ended with the arrest of Jose Ulloa-Gonzalez and the seizure of over $6,000 in gaming proceeds. Officials also found three video gambling machines.

Officials arrested Navshadalia Momin at the third location, Little Giant Grocery on the 1900 block of Atlanta Highway. At this location, officers found four video gambling machines, receipts and over $6,200 in gambling proceeds.

Arrests are still pending at afourth location, Coin Laundry Lavanderia, at which officers found over $10,000 in gambling proceeds and four video gambling machines.

The three suspects are now booked into the Hall County Jail charged with commercial gambling and keeping a gambling place.

Read more from the original source:

Officers: 3 arrested in undercover Hall County gambling operation - FOX 5 Atlanta

Last month, former Biglaw partner Kym Cushing was suspended from the practice of law by the Supreme Court of Nevada for nine months. The courts suspension comes after serious concerns about Cushings addiction issues and honesty.

According tothe courts opinion, Cushing, who worked at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker from 2005 to 2018, wrote three checks to himself from the firms operating account. When confronted about the checks, Cushing first told the firm they were to reimburse expert witness outlays, naming a friend (and pro bono client) as the expert. However, Cushing later told the firm the checks were to cover gambling losses. As a result, the firm asked him to resign.

After being forced out at Wilson Elser, he rebounded with a position at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith. However, during the lateral move, Cushing failed to disclose why he left his old firm. This was rectified by Wilson Elser, who reportedly shared with Lewis Brisbois the circumstances surrounding Cushings departure. Cushing no longer works at Lewis Brisbois.

Cushing later rescinded his gambling losses explanation for his behavior, saying in a demand letter to the law firm seeking $5 million in compensation for alleged age and disability discrimination and retaliation that he claimed a gambling problem to save his job. He now claims he actually wrote the checks in a drunken stupor. Additionally, he claimed he turned to alcohol to deal with the stress of the go-to attorney for difficult cases.

In 2018, Cushings behavior was first brought to the Supreme Court of Nevada. Then Cushing agreed to treatment with the Nevada Lawyers Assistance Program to avoid suspension. Unfortunately, Cushing did not follow through with the program and lied about his reasons for doing so.

All of which brings us to the instant case. Asreported by Bloomberg Law, the court felt this history was enough to warrant the nine-month suspension:

Substantial evidence supports the disciplinary panels findings that Cushings mental state was intentional and that his misconduct harmed the public and the legal profession and potentially harmed his pro bono client, the court said in determining the sanction. It conceded, however, that there were mitigating factors including his emotional problems and lack of prior discipline.

Cushing, who says he is extremely disappointed with the decision, can apply for reinstatement, provided he completes the Nevada Lawyers Assistance Program, an anger management program, and an additional 10 hours of CLE credits, five hours of which must be on the subject of substance abuse.

Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email herwith any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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Writing Yourself Checks From A Firm Account And Lying About Gambling Addiction Isn't Okay, Even For Biglaw Partners - Above the Law