The pandemic has altered the behavior patterns of many Americans. It has also forced states to reexamine their thinking in several areas, especially in taxation and spending. One of the biggest winners in this process appears to be gambling.

Clearly, with most of the nations leisure activities shut down, more and more Americans are looking for something to occupy their time. At the same time, thanks to massive losses in tax revenues, states are scrambling for ways to make ends meet. Sports and other forms of online gambling are an easy answer to shoring up state budgets while satisfying the consumers demand for more action in this burgeoning leisure market.

The trend toward legalizing gambling both on and off the internet has been around for the last several years, but the pandemic has added momentum to that process. Back in 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states have the right to decide the status of sports betting for themselves. As a result, more than 24 states have legalized betting either online or at casinos or both.

Sports betting is only the latest offering in a field crowded with other gambling pastimes. Whatever your poison poker, slots, sports betting, or live casino games you can increasingly access it online. More and more Americans are doing just that.

For those veteran gamblers who enjoyed the excitement of the bricks-and-mortar atmosphere of established gambling casinos, it took the pandemic to lure them onto the internet side of things. They found that online sites offered their own brand of adrenaline rush. Slot machines, for example, tend to be much more fun than the traditional, one-armed bandits of yesteryear. If that is not your cup of tea, you can access live studios where the game and dealers are in real time and the light shows are often dazzling.

Another benefit of online sites is safety. Gamblers can feel safe because there are plenty of reliable websites that have been licensed by the state. They offer a transparent and fair game with high-security protocols. They are also open 24 hours a day, and you dont need to wear makeup or comb your hair to gamble. In addition, there are no lines, social distancing requirements, expensive dinners, hotels, or worries about costly transportation to the casino.

The nations attention was drawn to sports betting last weekend, thanks to the Super Bowl. Wagers on the game were expected to break all records in legal sports betting. The American Gaming Association predicted that as many as 23.2 million people would be wagering bets on the outcome of the game. That would be a 62 percent increase from last years wagers, totaling $4.3 million.

The nations media featured a Texas businessman and owner of a furniture store, Mattress Mack (Jim) McIngvale, who placed a $3.46 million bet on the game and won $6.18 million. It was thought to be the largest bet made at the game.

Mattress Mack placed the bet on his smartphone through DraftKings (DKNG), a public company that is one of the top betting platforms in the nation. The publicity has been good both for the furniture store, as well as for the price of DraftKings. The companys stock price has climbed substantially over the last few months, as investors became aware of just how large the betting public has become.

Worldwide, the online gambling market is valued at $59 billon, according to Statista, a data research firm, and is expected to reach $92.9 billion by next year. That has investors excited. And like so many other areas affected by the pandemic, gambling could become even bigger in the future, with online betting leading the way.

Bill Schmick is registered as an investment adviser representative of Onota Partners Inc. in the Berkshires. He can be reached at 413-347-2401, or email him at billiams1948@gmail.com.

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Bill Schmick | The Retired Investor: Gambling the vice we love - Berkshire Eagle

Last December, a Connecticut lawmaker said that You can bet on sports betting becoming a legal activity in 2021. On Wednesday, the states governor echoed those sentiments and made it seem like all forms of online gambling would be legal as well.

Gov. Ned Lamont released his two-year state budget Wednesday and he allotted $47.3 million in tax revenue from the second year of expanded gambling, according to a report from the Hartford Courant.

Based on comments made by Lamont at the time of the release of his budget proposal, it appears expanded gambling includes both retail and online sports betting, as well as online casino gaming.

Our neighboring states are moving forward with sports betting and iGaming, and Connecticut should not leave these opportunities for other states to benefit from our inaction, said Lamont. My administration has been in active negotiations with our tribal partners to bring the states gaming economy into the digital age. And I am submitting legislation which reflects what I believe to be the best bet in ending this stalemate of inaction in a way which is in the best interest of the entire state.

Both Rhode Island and New Hampshire already offer online and brick-and-mortar sports betting, and New York seems set to expand its sports betting market after recent comments made by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Pennsylvania has also seen increased revenues after legalizing all forms of online gambling.

The tribal partners Lamont was referring to is the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, which runs Foxwoods Resort Casino and the Mohegan Tribe, which is in charge of Mohegan Sun. Currently, nearly all forms of gambling, outside of the lottery and off-track betting, runs through those two tribes.

The pandemic has hurt the brick-and-mortar revenue of those two tribes casinos, which in turn has put a dent in the state coffers. Connecticut is facing a $1 billion deficit at the time of Lamonts budget proposal.

Lamont made comments in December that seemed like he was ready for Connecticut to mirror the models in place in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

If we found out anything in the course of this horrible COVID cycle, more and more of the world is going virtual, said Lamont at the end of last year. More and more of the world is going online. Thats tele-health and tele-learning, but its also iGaming and sports betting. And I dont think you want Connecticut left behind.

With any proposed gambling expansion, those two entities will be at the center of the negotiations. The Courants report says that the governor and the tribes have been in long-running talks about whether the tribes will have exclusive rights, like they currently do, for any form of gambling expansion.

Foxwoods announced a partnership with daily fantasy sports giant DraftKings at the end of 2020, which gives the Boston-based online sportsbook a track to the Connecticut market regardless of any pending agreements.

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Connecticut Governor Has Tax Revenue From Online Gambling In Budget Proposal - CardPlayer.com

This is part ofa series of articles inspired by questions from our readers. So thank you to Charlie B for prompting this piece by asking about the hidden struggle football players have with gambling/addiction.

Scott Davies was 16 years old, earning 50 a week as a scholar at Readings youth academy, when it started. Living in digs, away from friends and family, he often found himself at a loose end after training, wandering through the town centre, looking for somewhere to go or something to do. Anything to pass the time.

He wandered into a bookmaker. Legally he wasnt old enough to place a bet, but nobody batted an eyelid as he sat at one of the fixed-odds terminals. He doesnt recall how much money if any he walked out with a couple of hours later. What sticks with him is the rush of excitement he felt with each spin of the virtual roulette wheel. The machine gave me a hit, he tells The Athletic. For...

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Inspired by You: Footballers and gambling - The Athletic

Gamblers play slot machines during the reopening of The D hotel-casino, closed by the state since March 18, 2020, as part of steps to slow the spread of COVID-19, in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 4, 2020.Credit: REUTERS/Steve Marcus

Supporters of expanding gaming options in Texas say they are playing a long game this legislative session and remain convinced that the GOP-led Legislature could come around on the issues they are pushing at the Capitol.

The gambling empire Las Vegas Sands, which has mounted an ambitious campaign this year to bring casinos to the state, has acknowledged the challenge in getting lawmakers on board with such a massive policy change especially after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick raised questions this week about whether the issue has enough support to make it far in the legislative process.

But Andy Abboud, Sands senior vice president of government affairs, told reporters Thursday that such skepticism does not impact how the company proceeds this session, and that he is confident the companys nearly 60-member team of lobbyists can change enough minds at the Legislature to at least make meaningful progress.

Well see how things feel toward the end of the session, later this spring, Abboud said, noting that gambling legislation could be filed sometime within the next month. I believe that we can change anybodys mind if we do it effectively.

Sands was founded by Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson, who died last month.

A broader gaming conversation has played out over the past few months and as the 2021 legislative session has gotten underway. Aside from casinos, a push to legalize sports betting in the state has gained attention, with several Dallas-area professional sports teams, including the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Cowboys, mounting an effort to push the issue at the Legislature, as first reported Monday by The Dallas Morning News.

Both gambling and sports betting already faced uphill climbs at the Legislature past efforts have not made it far, and since both would require a constitutional amendment, they would need two-thirds support from the 31-member Senate and 150-member House to pass before going to the voters in the state to decide.

Other wrinkles have also surfaced over the past week. Patrick, the head of the Senate, said Tuesday he did not think sports betting had enough support to make it far in the upper chamber this session. Later that day, a report that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had decided to stop playing the national anthem at home games this season sparked immediate backlash among Republicans, and soon after prompted Patrick to announce one of his top priorities this session: a bill to require the national anthem be played at all events which receive public funding.

[Cuban] just pulled the rug out from every other sports team in Texas with this stunt, Patrick told Dallas radio host Mark Davis on Wednesday. There were already people saying, Well, why would I approve sports betting, these are people who dont even make people stand for the flag, why would I do this? Again, because it doesnt generate much money for Texas, it generates a lot of money for them.

Patrick has argued that the potentially new tax revenue streams from expanding gaming would only help a fraction of the states budget, and that if casinos want to push their issue, they should sell it on tourism sell it on jobs a point Abboud agreed with Thursday.

For [Patrick] to be cautious about it makes sense, Abboud said. Because unlike other industries, we need legislative approval and we need voter approval Thats why were building a big coalition and [doing] everything we can to communicate the benefits of the jobs.

Patrick also told Davis that if the casino issue is taken to GOP voters in the state, theyre going to do it for big casinos, theyre going to go for the full monty not just sports betting.

Abboud said Sands talks with groups pushing the sports betting issue all the time sports betting is its part of the casino experience, he said and that the two will continue working together and hopefully join forces.

None of this really works if this is a pain in the neck for legislators, Abboud said. So weve worked very hard to get as many of the existing interests here in Texas in the same boat, rowing in the same direction. And we continue to do that, and I think were about there.

Abboud on Thursday said the company has also had productive meetings with other state leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott and new House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont.

If they told us to skip town, we would, Abboud said. But they havent, so were here.

Abbott, for his part, said in an interview last week he wants to get a feel for where members are on the issue. And Phelan has said casinos must be treated as a long-term commitment instead of a short-term fix for the states fiscal forecast. In a statement for this story, Phelan spokesperson Enrique Marquez reiterated that position, saying the speaker has stated consistently that gambling will not plug the current budget hole.

Each Member of the Texas House will bring a distinct perspective informed by their communities when considering proposals to expand gaming and sports betting, Marquez said. Members should judge the merits of each proposal based on whether it has long-term value to the state and their districts.

Still, Abboud is bullish about the companys chances or at least progress this session.

Does it happen this legislative session? We will see, he said Thursday. Does it happen in the near future? It is inevitable.

Continued here:

GOP leaders have expressed skepticism about expanding gambling in Texas. But supporters see hope in the long run. - 550 KTSA

Denver Broncos (4-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)

Money line: Broncos +695 (BetMGM), Chiefs -900 (FanDuel)

Spread: Chiefs - 13.5

Total: 51

The NFL didnt do the Denver Broncos any favors last week, and now the schedule isnt on their side as they have to travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. At least theyre expected to have Drew Lock back under center as he missed last week after failing to follow proper COVID-19 mask protocols.

The Broncos were forced to play practice-squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton at quarterback in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints, and he was only able to complete one of his nine passes. He finished with two interceptions and 13 passing yards in the 31-3 loss. It was Denvers third loss in its past four games, putting a huge dent in its playoff hopes when you consider the matchup this week against the Chiefs, who have won six straight games.

The weather for the rematch wont be as bad as the Week 7 matchup in Denver, which saw the Broncos fall 43-16 to the Chiefs. Nonetheless, its a very tough task for the defense as Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce are two and three respectively in receiving yards, and theyve combined to score 20 touchdowns. Hill leads the NFL with 13 touchdowns as hes racked up nine over a five-game TD streak. He has a ridiculous 582 yards in his past four games (269 last week).

All Patrick Mahomes has done over his last four games is throw for 14 touchdowns. He has at least 348 yards in each of those four games and he leads the NFL with 3,497 passing yards. Hes third in touchdowns with 30 and hes only been picked off twice.

The backdoor cover is always in play with big spreads like this, but Denver will need Locks best effort. The Broncos QB has thrown 11 interceptions over his past six games and he has three in two games against the Chiefs, with zero passing touchdowns.

KC enters Week 13 with the highest implied team total (32.5), while the Broncos have the fourth-lowest at 18.5. Kansas City ranks first in time of possession and theyre the No. 1 team on third down. The Broncos, on the other hand, rank 26th in time of possession and third-to-last in third-down rate.

Prediction: 34-14, Kansas City

Tyreek Hill OVER 73.5 Receiving Yards -110 (FanDuel) and OVER 5.5 Receptions -120 (BetMGM)

Hill is on too big of a roll to not take a shot on his yardage prop. As mentioned, hes second in the NFL in receiving yards and hes averaging 145.5 per game over his last four contests. The Chiefs havent had a lot of success running the football lately, which has resulted in 42-plus pass attempts for Mahomes in each of his past four games.

Tim Patrick OVER 3.5 Receptions, +100 (DraftKings)

Forget last week, as Patrick only received two targets from Hinton. The Broncos wideout had 23 targets and 13 catches in his three games prior to last week. Hes the big-threat play in Denvers offense and Lock will have to throw the ball to keep pace. All we need is four grabs from Patrick and the return is pretty solid. Its a number hes had in six of his past seven games (not counting last week).

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Gambling: Take the over on the Chiefs winning vs. the Broncos and receivers faring well - Colorado Springs Gazette

The United States continues to present, implement, and overturn gambling laws as the industry grows. The relationship between gambling and society has been influenced by perception, history, religion, and economic principles. Since these aspects vary from one state to the next, law, especially those determined by the living conditions and the demographics in a particular state, you will find different laws.

Thus, while one state is legalizing gaming and creating bodies to oversee their operations, others like Hawaii do not welcome any form of betting. The latter is extreme because if you have a social activity, you need to ensure that none of the participants is gaining from it; otherwise, your action is illegal.

While all these states have different perspectives on gambling and what it means for the community, the regulatory laws focus on several aspects. Whether it is legal or illegal in a state has multiple answers, depending on where you are. Some do not condone any form of betting, while others that state gaming is illegal will allow lottery and bingo games. Since these are also forms of gaming, the question begs what defines legality.

In such cases, the morality of gambling comes to play, and it is more a matter of why people gamble and who benefits. This is reflective of a historical period when the colonizers allowed gambling to facilitate the building of towns. People in strict parts of the country that dont have these alternative options have to travel out of state to get a little excitement.

With the growing online betting industry, some people in states that term gambling illegal can access online casinos. However, this is also frowned upon. Very few have legalized online gambling. There have been attempts to establish a gambling enforcement act for online gambling. While it is easy to keep track of land-based casinos, the online world proves a little more problematic.

This is because of the unlimited access to casinos. Numerous reviews make it easy for players to find an ideal platform. You will need to define your gambling needs, and this will help you find the right casino. There are numerous options for a $10 deposit casino, so make sure you look at all aspects. Then, all you need to do is register and create an account. Once you have made your first deposit, you can start playing. Casinos offer a different number on the minimum you can start playing with $10.

Some states have legalized online gambling, while others have not. However, players from all can access games from international casinos with licensing from others. Nevada is one of the most famous gambling states. With Las Vegas, one of the biggest gambling cities in the world, this state is a little more liberal with games of chance than many others.

Although Nevada has been a gambling state for a long time in history, it was mostly run by organized crime members. As such, to reclaim the gambling industry and separate the activity from the criminals, the state established the Nevada Gaming Board. This body was tasked with regulating and breaking all ties with organized crime.

The governments established the rule that it was illegal to send money across state lines for the purpose of gambling. This law is foundational in implementing rules on online gambling.

Another aspect of gambling that varies from one state to the next is that of age. While the overall idea is that only people over the age of 21 should gamble. Some states are more flexible with the implementation. In some, you can play bingo and participate in the lottery from the age of 18.

The US has several conversations that will never receive a one-size-fits-all solution. As such, it is impossible to conclude what is next for all. However, with the growing online industry, the regulatory laws in place will not be as effective as possible. Like the sports protection act that had banned all sports betting, time might prove the need to overturn the regulation. This is mostly informed by the fact that it is impossible to control access to online casinos.

Another major motivator for legalizing casino gambling is the revenue. In 2018, the US earned more than 10.5 billion in revenue from gambling online and in brick and motor casinos. This is the same year that the district of Columbia made sports gambling legal. This financial motivation has been part of history for many states that eventually overturned laws banning gambling, which led to the establishment of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

Some states that dont have a definite stance on legal online gambling or illegal gambling often have loopholes. For instance, states that have casinos on tribal land have other establishments that offer these services. Although the US has liberal laws on betting, not all states are that liberated.

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Features of Gambling Regulation in the Different States of America - South Florida Reporter

Celebrations look different this year as we make changes to keep our families and communities safe.

In addition to preventing illness, there are ways to help prevent loved ones from developing a gambling problem. Similar to substance use, gambling carries risk. Breaks from school and work provide opportunities to check in on your loved ones about their gambling activities and to talk with youth about the risks of gambling. A change in someones behavior or an increase in their gambling are both warning signs of problem gambling.

Gambling in youth is linked with other risks factors for youth. Oregon 11th graders that reported participating in gambling activities also had higher rates of skipping school, being in a physical fight, being sad for two or more weeks, and using alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs. Parents or caretakers talking about the risk of gambling with teens can increase their perception of risk and can reduce their risky behaviors.

For adults that choose to gamble, you can reduce your risk of developing a gambling problem by using the following guidelines:

Dont gamble on credit or borrowed money

Dont gamble to win back lost money (also known as chasing losses)

Dont gamble to cope with negative feeling or to escape

Dont let gambling be your only social or recreational activity

Dont let youth gamble

Seek help if gambling becomes a problem for you or a loved one

In Oregon, problem gambling treatment is free and confidential. Treatment and support are available to anyone with a gambling disorder and anyone affected by someones gambling. For support and resources call or visit:

The Lincoln County Problem Gambling Treatment Program (541) 265-4196 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Oregon Problem Gambling Resource at 1-877-My-Limit or OPGR.org (available 24 hours a day)

Lincoln County Public Health, in collaboration with our community partners, provides leadership to assure the conditions for healthy communities.

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Preventing problem gambling this holiday season | Community - The News Guard

Nebraskans have the chance to gamble in casinos. It is now legal to gamble in little ole Nebraska.

Before you haul yourself off to the nearest casino, there are some very important questions to be answered. Specifically, the big question everyone first thinks of when thinking about gambling; is gambling a good idea, or a bad one?

I myself wondered what the answer to this question was when the recent law was passed, so I decided to research it. While I originally thought that the answer was clear, it turns out, the answer, like life, isnt just black and white.

In the article Gambling: a Controlled Substance, William Thompson discusses how gambling, while good in some aspects, is also bad in other aspects, especially unregulated. Thompson explains that in governments that dont oversee gambling, most people dont have issues with gambling. He then, however, states But another 20% overindulge. They incur debts. Four percent cannot stop without the intervention of others. Then there are the 0.5-1% (and these are conservative estimates) who fall into destructive behaviors.

Families are destroyed, friendships broken, employment disrupted. Cycles of deception and crime lead to ruined lives and in many cases, suicide. He describes gambling as a drug and shows that gambling can be very destructive and unregulated.

While the states how gambling can be harmful, he also shows how gambling can be positive, saying that he does not oppose all gambling. He lives in Las Vegas, a city notorious for economic benefits from gambling. He said his community has the fastest growing economy in the country thanks to gambling, and states Gambling provides most of the tax revenues that support our public services. Gambling is responsible for over 60% of our jobs. With William Thompsons article Gambling: a Controlled Substance, it is easy to see how gambling has two sides, much like a coin.

What I learned from my research is that there is no 100% right answer; gambling is harmful and beneficial. In short, while gambling is beneficial to the economy, it can be harmful to people when unregulated. I believe that if gambling is well regulated, then it will be a positive thing. The concern is the people who become addicted to it, which is where I think regulations will help out. Gambling is fun and good for the economy. As long as it is regulated in a way where people who have trouble stopping get help and/or are stopped, I believe that this will be a good thing for Nebraska. Who knows? Maybe when I am old enough to gamble, Ill be the next big jackpot winner. I can only dream.

The rest is here:

There is good and bad to states allowing gambling - Norfolk Daily News

Johanesburg - Online sports betting has seen the gambling industry growing steadily across Africa, and governments are scrambling to catch up on the regulatory front.

Head of Statistics the University of Venda in South Africa, Dr Alphonce Bere, tells The Southern Times that the proliferation of smartphones and aggressive marketing by betting companies has seen increasingly more people gambling online, with wagers on sporting events the firm favourite of punters.

Sports betting is more popular today in the continent than it was two years ago. Most African punters have user accounts on international online betting platforms that have operations in numerous jurisdictions.

Currently, sports betting in Africa mainly features bets on football and horse racing. There is a lot of interest in horse racing in North Africa that dates back to the 15th century. Africans have been betting on football for more than 70 years now, Dr Bere says.

He adds that in 2018, the gambling and gaming industry in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa reached US$40 billion. His research shows that around 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 and 40 in a country of around 150 million people - participate in different forms of sports betting, with the average wager per person at US$15 daily.

Unlike other African countries, South Africa has properly regulated gambling. The gambling laws are not very tough but tolerant for South Africans. The lenient laws have allowed international online sports betting companies to offer their services.

Unemployment has also contributed immensely to the rise of betting as people take on the odds to make a living.

The unemployment rate is very high in Africa. With the entry of foreign and local betting companies, youths engage in online sports betting for an opportunity to win big money. Unlike in developed countries, here you can make wagers with as little as US$1, or even less. That makes the playground more suitable for unemployed people.

According to studies by the South African government, over 50 percent of adults place sports bets online frequently.

Dr Bere said that the convenience of mobile money had advanced the march of gambling.

And with so many Africans keen on sports on TV, thanks to satellite television and growing Internet penetration, it is no great wonder that a lot bets are placed on football.

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Ladies, place your bets Online gambling on the rise across Africa - The Southern Times

As the UK government puts betting advertising under the microscope, the English Football League has leaped to the defence of the bookies, highlighting the importance of their sponsorships to clubs in the wake of ongoing financial troubles. Ged Colleypriest, founder of Underdog Sports Marketing, examines if football can cope with having the punting pound removed from its economy.

Much has been spoken about the responsible gambling messaging that has become more prominent since scrutiny was stepped up. SkyBet, which sponsors the EFL for example, displays messages such as Set a Deposit Limit on the sleeve badges of players in its leagues. This is, of course, a positive step, but can it really work? One need only look at Formula 1 for a word of warning. Footballs relationship with the bookies is akin to that of F1 and tobacco. While F1 banned smoking sponsors logos in 2006, the presence of big tobacco firms lingers like the smell of cigarettes on a favourite smoking jacket.

Firms like Phillip Morris replaces the Marlboro logo on the Ferraris they sponsor with slogans such as Mission Winnow. McClaren and British American Tobacco have a similar arrangement with Building a Better Tomorrow. This being their movement to create a smoke-free world, or, to put it plainly, to sell vaping products. This circumvents the F1 ban because it is not a smoked product, it still however, keeps the company at the front of mind. Of course, the tobacco firms still make huge profits through traditional products.

If football allows gambling to stay by pedalling its gamble responsibly mottos, it is in danger of making the same mistake.

Never waste a good crisis or words to that effect have been attributed to Winston Churchill. Well, its safe to say that football, specifically many of the EFL clubs, have been trying to navigate a financial crisis for some time. Bailout talks remain complicated but are in a better position than they were a month ago.

Throughout these talks, unsurprisingly, the EFL has been quick to defend the financial support that bookmakers bring. Describing their backing as important now as its ever been. This is not in doubt. Even if there is a bail-out, the 40m a season that bookies generate for the league and clubs is going to be required to weather the storm. But football is in need of complete reform. For all the talk of sustainability, as the Saving the Beautiful Game manifesto points out, too many clubs and owners have been guilty of spending hard and gambling (for want of a better word) on short term success to get the pot of gold that the Premier League brings. There is a huge danger that if the game doesnt cease this opportunity to sever its ties with bookmaking firms, then it never will.

Just because bookmaking money is there, doesnt mean its the only option. Clubs like Luton Town have a policy of not working with gambling firms because of the potential harm that could cause their fans.

The plight of Bury, Wigan, Macclesfield and numerous others have been heartbreaking for their fans. Pulling the rug from the carpet and banning betting sponsorship immediately would increase the risk of this happening to more teams. But a phased approach that allows a period of grace for clubs and governing bodies to get their house in order, is something that could work. Premier League clubs have the least reliance on bookmakers with the vast majority of their income coming from broadcast rights. Plus, it commands the most viewers, so provides bookie sponsors with the most exposure. Therefore, starting with the top-flight would be the most logical approach. The EFL could follow but be allowed more time in order to secure sponsors from other sectors.

Putting aside the moral issue, something else Covid-19 has demonstrated is the reliance on bookmaking as a category. There are more bookies than you can even imagine and nearly all of them are prepared to buy sponsorships from clubs. Many clubs are happy to take the bookie money, because its easier than looking outside the category. Which is understandable when you have a sales target over your head.

But what it doesnt do is future-proof your club as a business. If you continue to do the same style of sponsorship, largely badging exercises, just alternating which bookmaker is on your shirt, you leave yourself massively exposed when that sector dries up or is taken away. There arent many categories that are prepared to hand over money as easily as the bookies, so its going to be a much harder fix.

But this is where the good news comes in. There are some wonderful examples out there of small football teams showing outstanding creative thinking to attract sponsors that are in theory out of their league. Take Stevenage, for example. Its sponsorship with Burger King has attracted a huge amount of adulation. The team was the lowest ranked team in FIFA 20, so the club and sponsor launched the Stevenage Challenge encouraging gamers to play as The Boro. The results were outstanding as the club became the most chosen team in Career Mode resulting in loads of exposure and genuine engagement for Burger King.

Likewise, Forest Green Rovers is hardly a household name in world football. But its profile is constantly rising because of the story it tells off the pitch. The team became the worlds first vegan club in 2015 and the first to be certified carbon neutral in 2018. So, while it may still be in the bottom tier of the EFL, the team attracted investment from Arsenal star Hector Bellerin and secured a naming rights deal with Innocent.

These arent easy fixes, but more inspiration for how smaller teams can and must move away from the traditional model of sponsorship, that largely involves placing a brands logo (usually a bookies) on a shirt and hoping for the best.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport review is expected to be revealed in early 2021 and changes in regulation could be in place for the 2021/2022 season. So clubs and governing bodies dont have long to wait or to plan for the future. The changes could have a seismic impact on the sport for fans, clubs and financial directors alike. All of which means its essential that clubs start planning for a future that is different from what weve known since regulations were relaxed in 2007. But as the likes of Luton, Forest Green, Stevenage and others have shown, there is a life outside of bookmaking sponsorship but it requires a different way of thinking.

Ged Colleypriest is founder of Underdog Sports Marketing.

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Football can't take the easy route and ignore its gambling problem - The Drum

NFL Best Bets for Week 13

Please note: These are our FREE picks, not our PREMIUM picks which are reserved for MEMBERS only at SI Fantasy PRO. Members receive alert notifications immediately upon pick release.

YTD: 191-131-2 | MLB: 79-60 | NFL: 55-42-1 | CFB: 19-17 | January-March: 38-12-2 | Casey Olson's MMA PICKS: 192-80-5 (71% on all released betting plays)

Please note: These are our FREE picks, not our PREMIUM picks which are reserved for MEMBERS only at SI Fantasy PRO. Members receive alert notifications immediately upon pick release.

Check out the breakdowns for each of our analyst's picks below!

Ben Heisler (@bennyheis)

New England Patriots at Los Angeles Chargers (-1) | TOTAL: 47.5

I was flabbergasted when the line opened at Chargers -1.5 for this game. HOW?

L.A. cant get out of its own way with abysmal clock management and no regard for situational play calling late in games. They willfully find ways to lose, highlighted by this gem from ProFootballTalk.

The Chargers have had 20 games decided by one score since the start of the 2019 season, and they are 4-16 in those games. That is the most one-score losses in the NFL in that span.

Im not saying this years Patriots are world-beaters, but if youre going to gift a Bill Belichick coached team points vs a Chargers squad with a 25% winning percentage in one-score games over the last two years, I think youve made my decision fairly easy.

This line will move towards the Patriots the closer we get, so Id hop on early.

BEST BET: Patriots +1 (this line has since moved to Patriots -1 at DraftKings Sportsbook).

Frankie Taddeo (@Frankie_Fantasy)

Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans (-5.5) | TOTAL: 54

Normally, when you have two 8-3 teams likely headed for the playoffs, the line should only be around a field goal. Despite only moderate support in the early wagering, the oddsmakers have made a huge move to the Titans who have gone both 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four games. In addition, how could you not be impressed with Tennessees last two quality road wins over the Colts and Ravens?

On the flip side, Baker Mayfield and the Browns (8-3 SU; 4-7 ATS) have covered just one of their last six games ATS. Talk about burning money. Finally, are you willing to get in front of the Derrick Henry train right now? Im not.

Look for the Titans to extend their winning streak to three straight overall over a Browns team that simply is overrated.

BEST BET: Titans -5.5

Corey Parson (@TheFantasyExec)

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Minnesota Vikings (-10 ) | TOTAL: 51

The Jacksonville Jaguars may only have one win on the season but they are 5-6 ATS on the year, Jacksonville has also covered the number in three of their last four games. Minnesota is 6-5 ATS on the season but only 2-4 ATS in home games, that says that they are overvalued at home.

Minnesota has won four of their last five games but only one of those victories was convincing, not only do I think Jacksonville will cover I think they have a chance to pull off the upset.

BEST BET: Jaguars +10

Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano)

Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans (-5.5) | TOTAL: 54

Its Derrick Henry season for the Titans! The big, bruising back is set to lead the Titans to the playoffs with the first of several favorable matchups, the first of which comes against the Browns. Their defense has been bad on the road, and it would be ranked lower in the league overall if not for a few bad weather games in Cleveland that shrunk their point and yardage allowed totals.

I expect the Titans to win this game easily, so Ill eat the 5.5 points and take Tennessee this weekend.

BEST BET: Titans -5.5

Bill Enright (@BillEnright)

Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-13.5) | TOTAL: 50.5

We all saw Denver play without a quarterback in Week 12 and muster up just three points, but Drew Lock is expected to return for this AFC West matchup. But this number is all about the Chiefs.

The Over/Under opened at 48.5, actually came down half a point and then took off and is now at 50.5. The over has hit in 3 out of 4 games when the Chiefs play an AFC West opponent, including the last time these two teams met earlier in the season and the over covered by 13 points.

BEST BET: OVER 50.5

Roy Larking (@StatsGuru6)

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (+2.5) | TOTAL: 45

Taysom Hill and the Saints (9-3) are playing back-to-back road games following a 31-3 win in Denver last week. New Orleans is riding an eight game winning streak that includes a 24-9 win at home against Atlanta two weeks ago. Matt Ryan and the Falcons (4-7) are playing a second straight home game after they crushed Las Vegas 43-6 last week. The lopsided win is surprising on a few levels including Atlanta gaining just 304 total yards on offense. The Falcons have posted a 4-2 record under interim head coach Raheem Morris.

Its difficult to get a handle on why the point spread is so low on this NFC South rivalry rematch. The Falcons have played better recently, and they have tape on Saints starter Taysom Hill, but Julio Jones and Todd Gurley are both expected to be inactive for this contest. The Saints are playing lights out on defense and have outscored their last four opponents by a 120-28 margin. New Orleans is looking to maintain their lead in the race for the top seed in the NFC playoffs. Not overthinking the low point spread - I am siding with the Saints here.

New Orleans is a -2.5 point favorite at DraftKings. Lay the line and bet on the Saints.

BEST BET: Saints -2.5 (this line has since moved to -3 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Steve Renner (@Steve_Renner)

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans (+3.5) | TOTAL: 51

I personally think the Colts are going to win by double digits running away. Houston losing Will Fuller for the season will make it even more difficult for them to move the ball consistently down the field against a good Colts defense who will be looking to bounce back after a couple down weeks. The Colts announced early Friday morning that DeForest Buckner was activated from the COVID-19 list, a huge boost for their defense against a depleted Texans offense. I love Indianapolis as the better team to cover on the road and expect them to win by double digits.

BEST BET: Colts -3.5

Ian Ritchie (@SIGambling)

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (+2.5) | TOTAL: 45

Taysom Hill, meet Tim Tebow! Sean Payton knows how to win and has limited the playbook to exploit what Hill does best, pound the football. He is averaging 10 carries per game since getting the starting job and with that limited playbook they are using, they will continue to win. I am assuming Julio Jones and Todd Gurley will be inactive and in those situations, Matt Ryan has really struggled in the past. The Saints defense has been lights out and with a Falcons team without two top weapons, it will set up exactly how Sean Payton wants it too. The Saints are chasing the top seed in the NFC and would love nothing more than a first round bye in the playoffs. The motivation for the Saints is HIGH and they will take care of business in this NFC South rivalry and cover this spread that still sits under a FG.

BEST BET: Saints -2.5 (this line has since moved to -3 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Scott Atkins (@ScottFantasy)

Buffalo Bills @ San Francisco 49ers (PK) | TOTAL: 47.5

BEST BET: 49ers (PK)

Casey Olson (@Y2CASEY)

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs -13.5 |TOTAL: 50.5

Oddsmakers have the Chiefs winning by a couple touchdowns or so, and that shouldn't be an issue here. They've won 19 of 20 dating back into last season, and Patrick Mahomes will put on a show in the primetime spot this week, showing the masses just why he leads all players in Pro Bowl votes as announced this week.

On the other side, lets just forget about last week's 31-3 loss Denver had against the Saints, where they were stuck with literally no quarterback, and consider the fact that the Broncos actually average 19 points per game, and will be motivated to bounce back. Drew Lock is slated to be ready to go, so break out the rapping memes and let's see Lock and the Broncos score enough to force KC to put up 40+ to cover the spread, as they did in week 6, where the total flew past the number and hit 59.

Primetime unders are 22-14 this season, though the last two Sunday nights we've seen 66 points put up.

BEST BET: DEN @ KC OVER 50.5

Gary Gramling, The MMQB (@GGramling_SI)

New Orleans Saints (-2.5) at Atlanta Falcons | TOTAL: 45

I know youre nervous about the Falcons getting to see Taysom Hill for the second time in three weeksI am toobut there are a couple of trends working in the Saints favor. The Falcons are coming off a blowout win over the Raiders, but theyve failed to cover the last four times they played at home following a double digit-point win.

Meanwhile, New Orleans has covered in each of their seven games against an opponent with a sub-.400 winning percentage since the start of 2018. Even if you throw out last weeks win over the QB-less Broncos, the Saints defense has dominated the past three weeks. When they met in Week 11, Atlantas receivers couldnt separate (and theyll likely be without Julio Jones for this one) and their offensive line couldnt protect Matt Ryan.

BEST BET: Saints -2.5 (this line has since moved to -3 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Mitch Goldich, The MMQB (@mitchgoldich)

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons +2.5 | TOTAL: 45

Everyone knows the story line here, with Taysom Hill starting his third game in a row and facing the Falcons for the second time in three weeks. I know that conventional wisdom points to an advantage for Atlanta herethey have film on Hill now and a full week to prepare for him after not even knowing if hed start over Jameis Winston until deep into the week last time.

I think Sean Payton also has an advantage after seeing two weeks of Hill on the field full-time. None of us really knew what a Taysom Hill-led offense would look like or what he was capable of as a 60-minute player until Payton officially gave him the keys. I think the Saints also have a better idea of what works and what doesnt, and that can help them game plan with Hill, despite Atlanta having seen him.

The Falcons are on an impressive run since Raheem Morris took over for Dan Quinn, but I think the Saints are still the better team. I expect them to win this game, so with the spread under a field goal I was happy to make it a best bet.

BEST BET: Saints -2.5 (this line has since moved to -3 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Here is the original post:

2020 NFL Week 13 - Best Bets Against the Spread From the SI Gambling Team - Sports Illustrated

Three events on consecutive mid-November days show farmers, ranchers and all Americans where U.S. agriculture is now.

On Nov. 18, the Iowa Capital Dispatch, a not-for-profit news website, detailed allegations on how managers at Tyson Foods hog-killing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, literally gambled on employee lives as the coronavirus took root last April.

In mid-April, related the Dispatch from information contained in a recently disclosed lawsuit, Waterloos plant manager Tom Hart organized a cash-buy-in, winner-take-all betting pool for supervisors and managers to wager how many plant employees would test positive for COVID-19 as he continued its 19,500-hog, daily kill.

What empowers a plant manager to, allegedly, run a betting pool on how many of his employees will become infected with a sickening, sometimes fatal, virus during the rise of a global pandemic? Equally important, what do you call a company that harbors such an employee?

A day after the news broke, The Associated Press called Tyson Foods a coronavirus super spreader.

The betting pool, it explained, operated as the virus spread through the Waterloo plant, ultimately infecting more than 1,000 of its 2,900 workers, killing at least six and sending many others to the hospital. The outbreak eventually tore through the broader Waterloo community.

On Nov. 19, one of Tysons key competitors, Smithfield Foods, settled several federal lawsuits filed by plaintiffs who had sued the company over the stench, flies, buzzards and truck traffic coming from its industrial swine farms in North Carolina, noted the Food & Environment Reporting Network, or FERN.

In the opinion that led to the settlements, one of the appellate judges who denied Smithfield a retrial, asked a simple question: How did it come to this?

Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson IIIs answer, based on the facts he had heard in the case, was as succinct as his question: The decades-long transition to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) lays bare this connection (between) animal welfare and human welfare .

In short, The dangers endemic to such appalling conditions [are] always manifested first in animal suffering and, afterwards the ripples of dysfunction would reach farm workers and, at last, members of the surrounding community.

Every farmer and rancher knows what the judge meant; its a small step from mistreating your animals or land to mistreating your employees, neighbors or, worse, family.

Thats the slippery slope seen both in the Tyson allegations and the Smithfield settlement: The more power given to corporations by lax government or local communities desperate for jobs, the more power the corporations take.

This power underlies the dysfunction that Judge Wilkinson warns will, soon or later, reach members of the surrounding community you, me and Smithfields long-suffering neighbors and, allegedly, Tysons Waterloo employees.

New research proves it.

According to research made public Nov. 19, the day of the Smithfield settlement, corporate ags increasing power has resulted in numerous negative impacts on farmers, workers and their communities as well as consumers, who have experienced higher prices and less innovation.

The study, completed by Mary Hendrickson, of the University of Missouri, Philip Howard, of Michigan State University, Emily Miller, of Family Farm Action Alliance, and Douglas Constance, of Sam Houston State University, has a singular, inescapable point: Todays concentration of ownership, wealth and power (is) directly related to who make(s) decisions in food and agriculture .

And, We observe that these decisions have increasingly migrated from a more community or public arena into the realm of those within the biggest firms (who) have their eye on increasing their power and although this may increase their profits, it does not usually align with enhancing the public good.

In short, the more power we give corporate ag, the more it takes and the more it takes, the more it gambles on the people and communities who grow and deliver everyones food. And, as recent events have shown again, thats a bad bet for rural America.

Up-to-date agriculture news in your inbox!

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Gambling on the future of food - Farm and Dairy

In the fast-moving world of gambling, sometimes you might miss news that could be important to you. To make sure youre all caught up on gaming industry news, be it online or brick and mortar, were rounding up the some of the announcements and partnerships from the last week that you might have missed.

Dont miss out on all of the latest announcements. Our Press Release section is updated constantly.

Red Rake Gaming partners with Rivalo in Colombia

The industrys well-known games development company, Red Rake Gaming, has agreed a new content deal with Rivalo for the Colombian market which will see it broaden its presence in the growing Latin American online gaming market.

Rivalo will launch a broad selection of Red Rake Gamings localized top performing games in the Colombian market, including its record breaking Super15Stars the non-stop, action-packed slot which combines feature games and bonus rounds from all its predecessors in the Super series of games, all of which have been very well received in Latin America. Additional titles from the Red Rake diverse suite of games includes Million 777; giving players a million ways to win, The Asp of Cleopatra, 1st of the Irish, and Secrets of the Temple, all of which continue to hold top spots across the Red Rake Gaming portfolio.

Skywind Group Announce Partnership with Avento

Skywind Group and Avento have signed a new deal, granting Avento access to all of Skywinds inventive games, acquisition and retention tools.

Avento and Skywind share a passion for innovation, player engagement and finding the best ways to both stand out while providing quality entertainment players can trust. This, in combination with a focus on understanding multiple unique markets, compliance and sustainable markets are a few of the elements that drew Avento and Skywind together.

IMG ARENA signs long term extension with Ekstraklasa

IMG ARENA, a leading sports betting service and content hub, has secured an extension to its global* live streaming partnership with Polands premier football league, the Ekstraklasa.

The multi-year renewal will see IMG ARENA package live footage from the competition for betting and gaming operators to offer to their customers.

Following a period of commercial growth, Ekstraklasa paid record revenues to its clubs in 2019-20, and the league is set to grow from 16 to 18 teams from 2021-22, providing a greater volume of matches and further increasing the live streaming coverage.

GrooveGaming mint a deal with the Coingaming Groups integration platform Hub88.

This latest agreement sees aggregator GrooveGaming hit the headlines again with a deal to supply content to the Hub88 platform, following a whirlwind of announcements over the past 6 months, as GrooveGaming continues to expand rapidly on the back of some of the most robust technology in the iGaming industry.

Earlier this year, GrooveGaming was recognised as one of the 10 Best Innovative Technology Solution Providers of 2020 by IndustryEra, firmly demonstrating that the aggregators technology development is being acknowledged not only in the iGaming industry, but also from outside it.

Becoming the latest in a raft of new agreements entered into so far this year, the new partnership will see GrooveGamings content integrated with the Hub88 platform.

Pragmatic Play Seals Live Casino Direct Integration With Kindred

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the gaming industry, has finalised the direct integration of its Live Casino portfolio with leading operator group, Kindred. This new deal enhances an already robust partnership between the two, with the Nordic operator previously integrating Pragmatic Plays slots.

Kindred will now have direct access to the suppliers acclaimed Live Casino portfolio which has seen amazing success after the launch of the new Blackjack and Roulette Azure tables, the ever-popular Baccarat and Speed Baccarat, as well as the companys first game show, Mega Wheel.

Paysafes Income Access Unveils Upgrades to Affiliate Marketing Platform

Income Access, Paysafes marketing technology and services provider, has announced the release of multiple key upgrades to its award-winning affiliate marketing platform. The enhancements are designed to improve the user experience of iGaming operators and affiliates by focusing on core functionality such as navigation, mobile responsiveness and report display.

The upgrades, which primarily concern the platforms dashboard and reporting interface, have been released across all Income Access-powered affiliate programmes and reflect the Paysafe companys ongoing efforts to gather and respond to constructive feedback from partners. With changes that address the need for a more streamlined and responsive design, Income Access can now equip operators and their affiliate marketing partners with an interface that supports an intuitive user experience and facilitates their assessment of actionable data.

Aimed at maintaining a competitive advantage across both traditional and emerging iGaming markets, these enhancements come in a year when Income Access has also announced major partnerships with brands such as High 5 Casino, Tipico U.S., and ZenSports. In addition, the company expanded its footprint in the global retail foreign exchange (forex) trading space through a partnership with leading online broker FXCM Group.

BTOBET Announces Strategic Partnership with Yellowbet

Cameroon-based betting site to be powered by Neuron 3 platform

BtoBet will be strengthening its presence in Africa announcing a strategic partnership with iGaming group Yellowbet to power its Yellowbet Cameroon brand with the Neuron 3 platform. The deal encompasses the operators digital channels. The partnership also allows Yellowbet to migrate its other brands in Africa to BtoBets advanced betting and gaming platform.

Seeking to deliver a tailored user experience to its players, Yellowbet will be delivering a wide range of content including local and international sports betting which includes live sports events, online and live casino, jackpots and a wide range of virtual sports.

Playtech integrates Affordability UK solution

Playtech partner TruNarrative powers market-leading solution

Playtech, the worlds leading gambling technology company, has announced the integration of Affordability UK into its award-winning IMS platform as its latest move to support operators in meeting regulatory requirements.

Affordability UK is provided by eKYC and fraud detection specialists TruNarrative, extending the companys partnership with Playtech to deliver a leading range of player onboarding and verification services.

Affordability UK can accurately and reliably identify customers whose gambling spend may be unsustainable. The combination of Affordability UK insight and the capabilities of the TruNarrative platform will allow operators to:

Greentube expands Neccton Responsible Gaming solution to Spanish brand

Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Interactive division, is set to implement Necctons Responsible Gaming solution across its Spanish online gaming offering, following a successful rollout in the UK.

The mentor tool, which was first launched with ADMIRAL Casino and has more real-money gaming brands set to follow, helps Greentube identify potentially problematic gambling behaviour in real-time and automatically interacts with players showing harmful behaviour.

The implementation of mentor with the StarVegas brand in Spain reinforces the companys commitment to safer play for its customers and cements its position as a responsible global games supplier and operator.

To ensure the highest level of social responsibility and player protection across the board, Greentube will look to roll-out mentor in more markets in the very near future.

Necctons new AI-based Responsible Gaming (RG) solution, mentor, tracks specific metrics which could indicate that somebody is spending more than they can afford, such as chasing losses, in-session deposits, failed deposits and cancelled withdrawals, and alerts operators instantly if certain markers of harm are surfacing.

The solution also communicates directly with players via customised messages detailing changes in play or overspending, and includes information that allows them to analyse their own behaviour and compare it to the player base.

Original post:

Gambling Industry Announcement and Partnership Roundup December 3, 2020 - CalvinAyre.com

Let our journalists help you make sense of the noise: Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily newsletter and get a recap of news that matters.

With college football season underway and upended by the pandemic, college basketball season has now also begun in a relative state of chaos. As players, coaches, and other personnel contract Covid-19, colleges and universities large and small have begun to suspend activities, reschedule or postpone games, and bail out of tournaments.

The NCAA and university leaders have moved ahead with their eyes on an obvious prize: college basketballs canonical event, March Madness, which was canceled in spring 2020 as the pandemic set in. That was a painful setback, with the tournament accounting for up to 75 percent of the NCAAs entire revenue stream. Now, the league hopes to restore the event in spring 2021 for 68 teams at a single site, reportedly in Indianapolis, where the NCAA headquarters are located. The NCAA has laid out guidelines for frequent testing, social distancing, and two-week pauses for any programs where a player, coach, or staffer contracts the virus. Yet, teams are still allowed to traveleven as travel has been discouraged by health authorities and the nation faces a surge superimposed upon the surge were already inand it has been left up to the schools themselves whether to create their own on-campus bubbles.

Who will face the greatest risk? Teams and the viewing public undoubtedly are eager for play to continue and for the beloved tournament to take place next March. But in some sense the ongoing scenario mirrors the patchwork and sometimes reckless approach to the pandemic by the nation as a wholedone foremost on the backs of laborers. It is the frontline workersthe unpaid players, in this casewho may be most imperiled by this effort to return to sports normalcy in the teeth of a raging pandemic. Coaches including Syracuses Jim Boeheim, University of Tennessees Rick Barnes, and Michigan States Tom Izzo have already tested positive. But the greatest risk in numbers will likely be to the predominantly Black athletes whose communities have been disproportionately afflicted by the pandemic.

The once-exiled head coach Rick Pitino, who now leads Iona Colleges basketball program, told the New York Times that it made more sense to postpone the tournament at least until May. Hospitals are being overrun, were at 200,000 cases a day, Pitino said. Were not the N.B.A.we dont have $150 million to protect us in a bubble; were not college football and can play in an open-air facility. Interruptions are going to be quite substantial. There are 15 or 20 coaches that have tested positive, and were just entering winter. Its going to be very difficult to manage a good product and keep everybody safe. Within the last week, Gonzaga University went ahead with playing against Auburn University in a Florida tournament, even as they sidelined a player who tested positive and another player sat in quarantine. The entire Ivy League canceled their basketball seasons out of COVID concerns, as did Bethune-Cookman University. At least 40 mens basketball programs have paused activities in recent weeks as a result of positive Covid-19 tests.

As with the broader American economy, it may be the smaller schools with fewer resources whose players and staff are most at risk. I dont understand why were playing or why were opening up when were trying to do away with the virus, Cal State Fullerton head coach Dedrique Taylor, whose program canceled its first three games after a player tested positive, told the Times. Were almost encouraging the virus by bringing people together. Id rather be fatigued than freaking dead.

See more here:

Is NCAA Basketball Gambling With the Lives of Its Players? Mother Jones - Mother Jones

Every NFL Thursday, I will attempt, using tools and stats from FTNBets.com, to slay the sportsbooks, scribbling my favorite side, total or prop picks for the weeks upcoming NFL slate. Some will win. Many will lose. Fade or follow? That, of course, is up to you. Sans Thursday football this week, heres a look ahead to the Sunday main slate:

Pick 1: OVER 44 Chicago/Detroit (DraftKings, -110) In the battle for NFC North inferiority, the holiday lights could burn brightly. Both teams are mentally checked out. One team pink slipped its coach and GM; the other may soon follow. And both teams have visible and exploitable defensive flaws. Sure, putting your faith in Mitchell Trubisky is akin to trusting your porker brother to avoid the last Christmas cookie, but the data says take the leap. Detroit has allowed 7.9 pass yards per attempt to QBs and 4.62 yards per carry to opposing rushers. Its forgiving defense combined with Chicagos suddenly gashable front seven (4.14 ypc yielded to RBs) arrows to a likely repeat of the 27-23 shootout between these two squads way back in Week 1. Throw in the return of DAndre Swift to spark the Lions' ground game and a final tally in the 50s is palpable. Keep in mind seven of 11 Detroit games have hit the over this season.

Pick 2: Las Vegas/New York Jets Jets +8 (Draftkings, -110) Yes, Im a masochist. Wagering real money on the Jets is, generally speaking, a winless proposition. This season, theyre a lousy 3-8 ATS. Vegas, meanwhile, is a far more fruitful 7-4 in the category. Still, Sam Darnold, for only the second time this season, will have his full battery of weapons Breshad Perriman, Jamison Crowder and Denzel Mims. Its an arsenal featuring prominent and proven field stretchers. Against a leaky Vegas defense, Darnold and Co. should move the ball with considerable success. The Raiders have yielded 7.1 pass yards per attempt and 270.8 pass yards per game. Most importantly for Darnold, they also bring the blitz just 19.2 percent of the time. In the end, a final score within seven points is the most logical outcome. Bet on the Jets? Really? Ok, maybe the tequila is talking.

Pick 3: David Montgomery rushes for 75+ yards (PointsBet, -134) For the unfamiliar readers in attendance, #MandatoryMontgomery is a weekly passion play. My adoration for the average-talented running back strangely runs deep. Hes a solid player trapped in a quagmire. This season hes experienced a major uptick in YAC production (3.02 YAC/attempt) and missed tackle rate (25.4%), still naysayers continuously lambaste him. He can dance too much, but Chicagos woeful offensive line and QB execution are the primary reasons why his surface numbers lack consistency. However, coming off a monster showing against Green Bay, he should blast his way over the proposed threshold. The Hello Kitties (Detroit) are abysmal defensively allowing 4.62 yards per carry and 116.3 rush yards per game to RBs. Back Monty and score all the monies.

Last weeks record: 2-0 ATS

Read the rest here:

Gambling: A look ahead in the NFL with no Thursday game this week - Colorado Springs Gazette

FuboTV set out to be the go-to sports streaming channel when it was launched and has found a significant following in the past five years. After getting its feet wet with soccer, it began offering all types of sports coverage in 2017 and has continued to expand ever since. The platform is ready to take its services to the next level, though, and, in a trend that only promises to grow larger, wants to become part of the sports gambling scene in the U.S. The company announced Monday that it is in the process of purchasing Balto Sports as a stepping stone toward greater sports betting integration.

Balto Sports was co-founded in 2018 by Nick Montana, son of former NFL quarterback Joe Montana, as a platform to allow users to set up fantasy sports contests. It has received significant financial support over the years, which has allowed it to build up its software development, automation and marketing. FuboTV plans on leveraging that innovation to launch free-to-play games and to, eventually, maybe even become a full-blown sportsbook.

According to a statement, FuboTV co-founder and CEO David Gandler explains that the launch of a real-money sportsbook would ultimately be the natural progression for the company, adding, As we said in our third quarter earnings announcement last month, FuboTV sees the online wagering space as complementary to our sports-first live TV streaming platform. We believe there are significant synergies between consumers who enjoy wagering and our subscribers who enjoy streaming live sports, creating a flywheel opportunity.

He expects FuboTV to take a methodic and pragmatic approach to development, saying, We will be strategic in our approach to wagering as we consider and evaluate different opportunities and will adjust our plans accordingly. Were excited to launch sports wagering, integrate it into our core offerings and deliver what we believe will be a truly groundbreaking live TV streaming platform to consumers.

This isnt the first time FuboTV has explored hookups with the sports gambling industry. It has been a partner with FanDuel since last year when it started carrying that sportsbooks betting data. It also carries VSiN and other sports gambling-related programming.

Baltos team wont be completely disappearing after the acquisition is finalized. It will be added to FuboTVs roster and is expected to be instrumental in the companys introduction of free-to-play games. The new offering will find a lot of attention, as the broadcaster has over 455,000 paid subscribers regularly tuning in to tens of thousands of live sporting events each year.

Read more:

FuboTV wants to get in on sports gambling, buys Balto Sports - CalvinAyre.com

The coronavirus shut down of pubs and clubs has led to a small drop in gambling frequency for the average person, but no improvement among problem gamblers, a new study has revealed.

The University of Sydney study has found that in the six months since gambling venues were shut down due to pandemic and subsequently re-opened, the average person reduced the number of times they gambled.

Researchers from the universitys Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic and Technology Addiction Team conducted a series of online surveys in May, August and November to measure the impacts of changes in the availability of gambling in pubs, clubs, and casinos on Australians gambling habits.

On average, survey respondents reduced the number of times they engaged in different land-based and online gambling activities from 34 times per month pre-COVID to 31 times per month in November.

Participants who were already experiencing gambling problems did not change how frequently they gambled compared to pre-COVID levels.

The preliminary results indicate that most people are gambling less frequently, even as venues re-open and we start to get back to normal life, University of Sydney technology addiction researcher Nicola Black said.

However, more efforts are needed to help people experiencing gambling problems to get the support they need, Dr Black said.

Our findings highlight how hard it can be for people experiencing gambling problems to change their gambling behaviour, she said.

Asking for help takes a lot of courage, but effective treatments are available and recovery is possible.

The researchers surveyed 462 adults who had gambled in the past year, mostly based on the east coast of Australia but excluding Victorians due to the states second hard lockdown.

The average age of those surveyed was 45 years, and 87 per cent were male.

Some respondents said that their gambling habits had changed since venues reopened, and that the shutdown had helped them address their gambling habits.

Have made decision to restrict my playing the pokies to shorter amounts of time, one respondent said.

Another respondent said it would be hard to stay away from gambling as venues reopened.

I know that now the venues are opening I will go back, they said.

Hopefully lesser but in any event, I wished the venues stayed shut!

Study lead and Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic director Sally Gainsbury said the preliminary results showed that many people require more help to tackle problem gambling.

Our findings from the first survey in May indicated many people found the venue closures were helping them to break their gambling problem; but these latest findings suggest that in many cases, their problems may have persisted, Associate Professor Gainsbury said.

However, without professional support, overcoming entrenched gambling problems can be very hard.

The Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic offers free, confidential services for individuals and families impacted by gambling with no referral needed.To make an appointment phone 1800 482 482 or email psychology.gtc@sydney.edu.au.

For referral to services across Australia call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au

Link:

I wished the venues stayed shut: Coronavirus shutdown leads to drop in gambling - The New Daily

Over the past years, European League of Legends has gone through impressive growth. And no, this isnt particularly about the EU LCS successful rebrand to the LEC or the two times a European team made it to the finals of the World Championship. Rather, Europe has seen impressive growth of the European Regional Leagues the ERLs. All across the region, local leagues have steadily been established, becoming a greenhouse for the LEC. Its here that young talent is spotted and asked by teams for tryouts, with the lucky ones being given a shot at the big stage.

However, Europes talent farm comes with downsides for players already in the LEC, as the 2020 offseason has shown us. Teams that failed to achieve what they aimed for last season are incentivized to roll a die on upcoming talent, and players who debuted, but failed to impress, are shoved aside. Instead of trying to cultivate players who they did see potential in, teams speed-roll through European talent with uncomfortable carelessness.

Lets first take a step back and take a look at the players who debuted in 2020. The specific number of rookies depends on how strict you want to be with the term. For example: Andrei Orome Popa, the MAD Lions top laner, had subbed in for one match before being promoted to a main LEC roster. What about Janik Jenax Bartels, SK Gamings top laner, who played a handful of matches in 2019? Players being imported from smaller regions are seen as LEC rookies too by Riot, even if theyve played at large scale international events (take Origens/Astralis Mitchell Destiny Shaw for example, who played at Worlds 2019).

The exact number of rookies also depends on your own criteria, but the number of players who made their debut in the LEC in 2020 hovers around twenty. So, how many of those will last and stick around in the league, and how many faces wont we see anymore? Based on the announcements so far, and relying on the accurate roster swap reporting done by the likes of Jacob Wolf and Pablo Bloop Surez, around half of the class of 2020 seems to have graduated and is allowed another year on the highest stage. Half of the hopeful debutants, however, will not make a return to the league.

MAD Lions, who initially said theyd be committing to growing their players for at least two years, are parting ways with Orome and Shadow. (Photo courtesy MAD Lions)

Orome and Zhiqiang Shadow Zhao are being let go by MAD Lions after playing two full Splits. Misfits Gaming is thanking Petr denyk Haramach and Mads Doss Schwartz for their services, but wont be on the starting roster anymore. Schalke 04, who heavily cycled through their roster in 2020, has waved goodbye to Lukas Lurox Thoma. SK Gaming also saw Dirk ZaZee Mallner leave the organization. Destiny has already been confirmed to join the LCS after leaving Origen (now Astralis). Lastly there is Vitality, who heavily invested in new talent in 2020. While there are few things known about the team for the next season, the contract of jungler Duncan Skeanz Marquet was extended, indicating that Cantoursna Nji An wont be on the main roster.

Whats particularly striking is how few of these players got the chance to try and grow throughout the year. Only Shadow and Orome played two full Splits for their team. Doss, who was substituted in for just one week in the 2019 Summer Split, played six weeks in the Summer Split this year before his team swapped him back for denyk. Destiny enjoyed one-and-a-half Splits of action until Origen replaced him. Combining his weeks of play during Spring and Summer, Lurox played roughly one full regular Split in the LEC in total. ZaZee was a one-Split mid laner, and jungler Nji played just four weeks in the Summer Split before Vitality promoted Skeanz over him again.

Alright, you might think, but perhaps this talent can be reintroduced at a later point? And yes, they could in theory. However, it tends to be a bad horse to bet on for players who got a brief taste of the big stage. Of the players who were reintroduced to the LEC this yeara small number to begin withnone were to be considered in their rookie year when they left the league originally, but already had gained fame (or notoriety) before.

But even more disappointing is how rookies are funneled into the LEC and how theyre being handled afterwards. All LEC teams, with the exception of Astralis, have active rosters competing in the European Regional Leagues. Fnatic Rising and BT Excel compete in the Northern League Championship, for example, while AGO Rogue competes in the Ultraliga. How often, though, do you hear of teams rising star hailing from their own academy roster? The answer is a sad rarely. Unlike in regular sports, where young debutants are often homegrown, the LEC teams overall dont tend to work as closely with their academy rosters. Instead, teams hire far more rookie players from other teams than they promote from their own academy rosters.

Whats even stranger is how the rookies that didnt live up to expectations tend to be treated. Youd think that, if a player got hired, teams saw genuine potential in that rookie. That it was a gem that needed to be polished in order to carry the team far. Yet, after a failed year, Split, or even just a few weeks, rookies part ways with their organization, and its hard to imagine that the players are the ones who desired the departure. Rather than committing to helping a player live up to their highest potential with a long-term training investment, the rookies are tossed aside, left to be picked up by other teams. The most recent and obvious example of an LEC team actually committing to the growth of a talented player was when Vitality publicly announced that Skeanz would play in Vitality.Bee for a bit to regain his confidence.

We wont be seeing LIDER in the LEC Spring Split next year. (Photo courtesy Riot Games)

Instead of refining the minerals theyve dug up, teams prefer to just keep digging until they find a player that, by luck of the draw, happens to just need one Split to shine. Its an unrealistic expectation for teams to have and it begs the question how high some players tossed aside could have flown had they been granted more than a few weeks to prove themselves.

The most glaring example of this blindly digging behavior is Adam LIDER Ilyasov. The mid laner was very successful with his Misfits Premier roster in the LFL, and was somewhat abruptly promoted to the LEC in 2020 alongside his teammates. They failed to save Misfits bad Split, however, and LIDER was let go by Misfits to the surprise of many. Misfits received a lot of criticism for throwing an Academy roster in the deep only to let the players go, ending their careers. Throughout 2020, LIDER proved that he was an incredible player by stealing the show on mousesports in the Prime League. Hopefuls even listed him as the potential new mid laner for Fnatic. He has been praised by pros and analysts alike. Still, he wont play in the LEC in 2021.

While it may be easy to point at teams and say that their talent development is ruining players careersand dont get me wrong, some teams do need to step up their game drasticallythere is room for nuance. In the still vastly underdeveloped talent ecosystem of European League of Legends esports, its hard to blame teams for this practice entirely. With a World Championship each year and not many matches to prove themselves in, teams are incentivized by the system to keep rolling the dice. The turnover rate is naturally going to be higher.

Nevertheless, the aspiration of teams competing should be to become the best team in the region and in the world. They can try and re-roll until they stumble across the next Caps. Spoiler: you wont. But you dont need to have generational talent thats as mind-blowingly good as Caps is to become the best team. There is far more value in building an actual team, unlocking players full potential and investing in growing the next generation than there is in cycling through rookies and hoping something sticks.

Europe is in an incredibly luxurious position. The regional leagues are the perfect soil for local talent to sprout in and rise to the top. But for rookies who make it to the LEC, this soil becomes a curse. They have extremely little time to prove themselves and before they are ripe they are tossed back into the dirt they worked their way out of. As they look up, they see the next round of plucking commence.

So far, ten rookies coming from the ERL system have been confirmed to join the LEC in 2021. Two players join from another region, and two players make a reappearance after playing outside of the LEC for a bit. Hopefully, even if these rookies do not live up to their teams hopes in one Split, it wont be the last we see of them. The potential the teams see in them now can be polished, it can be refined. LEC teams have to cultivate their talent if they want European League of Legends to advance. And who wouldnt want that?

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The Luxury Problem of Talent Gambling in the LEC - Hotspawn

Estonias Minister of Social Affairs, Tanel Kiik, has signed a directive offering 200,000 to the non-governmental organisation, MT Gambling Addiction Counselling Centre, to monitor of problem gambling and provide a centre for gambling addicts and their relatives.

The Ministry of Social Affairs announced a strategic partnership application round in October, in order to find a partner through which it could support people with gambling addictions.

The partnership allows the government department to cooperate with and empower NGOs, supporting their organisational development and operational capacity.

More than 200 people in need currently receive free psychological counselling from the centre, and in addition it has planned to offer debt counselling to over 100 people.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Social Affairs, the risk of pathological gambling in the Estonian population is 7%, and it is important to offer those affected comprehensive assistance, including psychological and financial counselling.

The ministry also said it wished to better understand the exposure of minors to gambling in the jurisdiction, and therefore considers it very important to conduct a thorough study and support gambling addicts for a longer period of time.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the growth of gaming behaviour among both young people and adults, Pille-Riin Indermitte, head of MT Gambling Addiction Counselling Centre, said. On the one hand, gambling behaviour has increased initially, primarily as a way to spend time, but as it deepens, other interests disappear and it is difficult to return to school and work responsibilities.

On the other hand, the increase in gambling is due to the hope to improve our financial situation when employment opportunities have decreased. We are pleased to pilot a support group service and, for the first time, to carry out a study on the spread of gambling and digital addiction problems among minors in Estonia.

The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has led to an increased focus on problem gambling in several jurisdictions. The British Gambling Commission has repeatedly urged its licensees to act responsibly during periods of lockdown, while tough restrictions on licensee behaviour, such as advertising bans in Spain and online casino restrictions in Sweden, have also come into effect.

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Estonian government to fund problem gambling services and study - iGaming Business

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Global Online Gambling Market To Witness Huge Gains Over 2020-2026 - The Courier