The use of celebrities such as sports personalities and reality TV stars in betting and gambling ads is expected to be banned under new rules designed to crack down on marketing targeting under-18s.

The rules, which are being proposed by the body responsible for setting the UK code for advertising, would result in recent gambling ads featuring personalities such as Jos Mourinho, Michael Owen and Harry Redknapp being banned.

Under the current rules an advert is banned only if it likely to appeal more to an under-18 than to an adult. Under the new rules an ad will be banned if it appeals to children, regardless of how it may be viewed by adults.

The Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP), which has launched a public consultation on the new measures, said the new rules would have a significant effect on adverts that use prominent sportspeople and celebrities, including reality TV stars from shows such as Love Island and social media influencers.

For example, featuring the England football captain in a gambling ad would be prohibited under this new rule, said the CAP.

Ads featuring some celebrities not significantly resonant with younger audiences, such as Ray Winstone who has fronted numerous ads for Bet365, would not be affected by the new rules.

The CAP said it was tightening betting and gambling advertising restrictions as a result of recent research commissioned by GambleAware. It said the findings showed that the creative content of gambling adverts that currently abide by the UK code has more potential to affect under-18s than was previously thought.

Many campaigning groups would like to see a complete ban on gambling advertising. However, the CAP said the available evidence did not justify a total ban.

The CAP did not put forward a GambleAware recommendation to further restrict the range of media where gambling ads can appear. Gambling and betting ads are not currently allowed to appear in any media where more than a quarter of the audience is under 18 years old.

The CAP said it considered the 25% test to be appropriate.

Last summer, the gambling industry introduced a voluntary ban on betting adverts during sports programmes, a so-called whistle-to-whistle blackout, under mounting pressure to protect children from excessive exposure to gambling.

See the article here:

Crackdown on UK gambling ads expected to ban use of celebrities - The Guardian

FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) A former deputy with the Florence County Sheriffs Office (FCSO), who was named in a new indictment related to an illegal gambling operation, had a history of conduct unbecoming of an officer and was fired by the department twice, according to new records obtained by News13.

Timothy Dane Keefe is among nine people named in the indictment that was filed Tuesday, as is fired FCSO Lt. & Special Response Team supervisor Mark Fuleihan. News13 has also learned that Fuleihan used to be Keefes immediate supervisor at the FCSO. Fuleihan even helped Keefe get a job with another law enforcement agency after Keefes firing, according to a typed letter from longtime Hemingway Police Chief H. Bryan Todd.

The latest indictment indicates that Keefe, Fuleihan and Dale Smith would communicate before and after various law enforcement operations. In February, weeks after Fuleihan allegedly called Keefe about upcoming gambling enforcement operations, Keefe allegedly removed & destroyed evidence before law enforcement arrived.

The indictment says a total of at least about $1,249,000 was obtained, directly or indirectly, by the nine named as a result of the allegations.

On Thursday, News13 obtained the training history report, certification documents, misconduct report forms, reports from FCSO members and personnel change in status reports surrounding former Deputy Keefe.

Keefe began working for the Florence County Sheriffs Office on Oct. 23, 2004.

On Aug. 24, 2009, alleged misconduct from Keefe was reported to the department. On a misconduct report form obtained by News13, Keefe was accused of Conduct unbecoming of an officer, public drunkenness, belligerence, rowdiness and fighting. Capt. D.L. Huggins with the FCSO wrote in a report that this was an off-duty altercation involving Deputy Keefe. The comments section on a separation supplement form indicated that Keefe had several incidents involving conduct unbecoming of an officer.

The following is a typed report sent from Sgt. Donnie McCain. Profane language has been redacted:

On August the 26th, 2009 I was contacted by Captain D.L. Huggins to come to his office. Capt. Huggins had Deputy Dane Keefe in his office. I was instructed by the Captain to ride with Deputy Keefe back to his residence and bring his patrol vehicle back to the office. On the way to the location, Deputy Keefe was very agitated and aggravated with the Captain. He immediately called his supervisor, Lt. Mark Fuleihan, and begins to cuss about Captain Huggins and the Sheriffs Office. He said f*** Donny Huggins; he wasnt going to take the three days off. He stated that if he could not go back to his team that he would quit and that he wasnt going to bring his s*** back and that we would have to come get it. He also stated that when he saw that fat f****** Brumbles he was going to beat his a**. All the way to the location he repeatedly kept saying f*** Donny Huggins and the Sheriffs Office and that he was tired of being treated unfairly. When we arrived at the location in Scranton and he got his stuff out of his vehicle, I got ready to leave and he said we would see him in booking because he was going to the hospital to beat somebodys a**. I told him not to do anything foolish. Lt. Fuleihan also heard what Deputy Keefe was saying. I came back to the office and immediately reported this information to Captain Huggins.

After this was reported to Capt. Huggins, Capt. Huggins met with then-Sheriff Kenney Boone. Then-Sheriff Boone and Capt. Huggins both felt that suspension was no longer an option, according to a report from Capt. Huggins, and that Deputy Keefe needed to either be fired or asked to resign from the department. He then called a meeting with Deputy Keefe, Keefes immediate supervisor Lt. Fuleihan and Lt. Clint Caldwell of the FCSO.

Lt. Caldwell typed up this report, which includes several mentions of Fuleihan. Profane language has been redacted:

On August 28, 2009, I, Lt. Caldwell, Capt. Huggins and Lt. Fuleihan were in Capt. Hugginss office and Deputy Dane Keefe was called to the office. Capt. Huggins began to explain to Deputy Keefe that his actions prior to this meeting were not becoming of the Sheriffs Office conduct and was not the way a Florence County Sheriffs Office deputy should behave in public. Deputy Keefe started to behave in an angry manner and began to get disorderly, stating to Capt. Huggins that he was not going to sign any f****** papers and he was not going to give him s*** and if he wanted his d*** gun and other items belonging to the Sheriffs Office he could come and get the s*** himself because he was not bringing him a d*** thing. He then stood up and reached towards Lt. Fuleihan and gave him his I.D. card. Capt. Huggins asked Deputy Keefe was he going to sign his disciplinary sheet. Deputy Keefe replied again that he was not signing a f****** thing because he didnt do anything wrong. Capt. Huggins asked Deputy Keefe to calm down. At that time, Deputy Keefe would not calm down and Capt. Huggins asked him again to calm down. Deputy Keefe would not, stating that he was f****** being treated wrong. Capt. Huggins then asked me to escort Deputy Keefe out of his office and off Sheriffs Office property. I then told Deputy Keefe that it was time to go and the meeting was over. Deputy Keefe turned to walk out the door and said, f*** it, Im going. As I, Lt. Caldwell was walking Deputy Keefe out the door, Deputy Keefe began to curse and stated that ****** f***** aint s***, that Huggins was a nasty f*****. I told Deputy Keefe to calm down and walked him to his vehicle where he gave me his Glock and a 45 caliber gun. Deputy Keefe stated he wanted to stay on property and wait for Lt. Fuleihan but I told him that he had to leave the property and I would tell Lt. Fuleihan that he wanted to see him. Deputy Keefe then got into his truck and left.

Deputy Keefe was fired from the FCSO on Aug. 28, 2009.

On Sept. 22, 2009, former director of the SC Criminal Justice Academy Hubert Harrell wrote a letter to then-Sheriff Boone. He indicated that the FCSO did not specifically indicate in previous reports what Deputy Keefe did that constituted misconduct. The letter asked Sheriff Boone to provide additional information and necessary documentation in order for the Academy to move forward in the process. There is no indication from the documents we obtained suggesting that then-Sheriff Boone sent additional documentation to the Academy about this.

News13 has not been able to get in contact with Boone. At last check, Boone was expected to undergo inpatient treatment after serving time in jail following a probation revocation from a domestic violence incident.

On Sept. 29, 2009, Keefe wrote a letter to the Academy. This was a rebuttal in response to the FCSO stating that he was terminated for misconduct. He indicates that he requested an investigation into the reason for his firing. Keefe said in the letter that Capt. Huggins had said in a previous meeting that Keefe was being demoted to patrol. Keefe said he asked for written statements or complaints related to this matter but says Capt. Huggins told him he couldnt provide that documentation at the time. Keefe indicated in his letter that he was not fired because of conduct unbecoming of an officer, but rather because of a personal conflict with him and Capt. Huggins.

On Oct. 19, 2009, Hemingway Police Chief H. Bryan Todd wrote a letter to the Academy, after Keefe applied for a position with the Hemingway Police Department. In it, he indicates that Lt. Fuleihan had very positive things to say about Keefes time with the FCSO.

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is in reference to Timothy Dane Keefe which has applied for a officer position with the Hemingway Police Department, and Per our telephone conversation of October 16, 2009 I have checked Keefes references which included contacting Lt. Mark Fuleihan of the Florence County Sheriffs Office.

Lt. Fuleihan stated Mr. Keefe was one of the most outstanding officers he ever had the pleasure of training. It is my understanding Mr. Keefe was not involved in any misconduct.

Im requesting that Mr. Keefes certification be reviewed by the Academy, and a decision made in reference to his employment with my agency. If you have any questions or concerns, please dont hesitate to contact me.

Upon obtaining that letter, News13 contacted Chief Todd on Thursday for his reaction to the news that both individuals mentioned in his letter have been named in a new indictment. Chief Todd said he was surprised to hear about the allegations.

According to Keefes training history report, Keefe began working for the Hemingway Police Department on Oct. 19, 2009, the same day his letter was sent to the SC Criminal Justice Academy.

On a document dated Oct. 20, 2009 and signed Oct. 21, 2009, the Academy provided training and/or certification documents to Chief Todd. The comments section indicated that the FCSO was requested to provide additional documentation about Keefes alleged misconduct but has refused to do so, according to the document. As a result, Academy Director Harrell rendered Keefe eligible for certification. This letter went on to say, Mr. Keefes separation from the Florence County Sheriffs Office will be amended to reflect that he was not terminated for misconduct.

Less than two months after his hiring at the Hemingway Police Department, Keefe resigned, on Dec. 10, 2009. For the first time, Chief Todd is explaining why.

Eleven years after Keefes departure from his department, Chief Todd said Thursday that its because Keefe did not want to participate in putting up Christmas lights prior to the holiday. Chief Todd says putting up the Christmas lights is a normal practice for his department, in a small town. Chief Todd said Thursday that Keefe didnt work out in his department based on the way the department operates.

According to a training history report, Keefe then worked with the Lake City Police Department from Dec. 29, 2009 to April 13, 2010. It is not clear what led to his exit from the department.

On April 24, 2010, Keefe was re-hired by the FCSO. On Thursday morning, News13 sent a Freedom Of Information Act request to longtime FCSO Major Mike Nunn, the spokesperson for the department, to ask why Keefe was re-hired. We are awaiting a response. If we get additional information, we will add to this article.

The illegal gambling operation indictment filed this week says, From on or about Jan. 2012, and continuously thereafter up to and including the date of this Indictment, the exact dates being unknown to the Grand Jury, Timothy Dane Keefe, Dale Smith, and others ran an illegal gambling business in the District of South Carolina as alleged in Count I. This would indicate that Keefe was allegedly involved in this activity while he and Fuleihan were part of the FCSO.

On April 5, 2013, Keefe was fired once again by the FCSO, this time for violation of agency policy, according to a personnel change in status report from the Academy. It is not clear what the violation was or if it was related to the illegal gambling operation. News13 also asked Major Nunn about this violation of agency policy and we are waiting to hear back. If we get additional information about this violation, we will add to this article.

News13 will continue to stay on top of developments in this criminal investigation involving former, local law enforcement officers and others.

In April, News13 obtained Fuleihans law enforcement training history report. You can take a look at that by clicking here.

Fuleihan is expected in court for a hearing on Nov. 4. Count on News13 for updates.

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NEWS13 INVESTIGATES: 2nd former Florence Co. deputy named in gambling indictment was allegedly fired twice - WBTW

Every NFL Thursday, I will attempt, using the tools and stats from FTNBets.com, to slay the sportsbooks, scribbling my favorite side, total or prop picks for the weeks Thursday night game. Some will win. Many will lose. Fade or follow? That, of course, is up to you. Heres where Im stacking greenbacks on Giants/Eagles:

Side: NYG +4 (DraftKings -110) In a division Boston College would have a reasonable shot at winning, this storied rivalry doesnt have the same meaning it once possessed. Both teams are sapped by injuries. Both teams are largely dreadful. Both teams feature visible warts. Still, if there is a silver lining, its the Giants overachieving defense. Thought to be one of the flimsiest units in the league before the season, New York has played admirably whether defending the run (3.89 YPC allowed to RBs) or the pass (233.2 air yards/game; fewest in the NFL). Weighing the shortcomings Philadelphia is suffering from almost universally, the G-Men keep this one snug. Keep in mind 69% of early public spread tickets sided with the Eagles. Fading the majority is usually a sound strategy.

Prop 1: Devonta Freeman UNDER 77.5 total yards (William Hill -118) Undoubtedly mispriced, this is an aggressive line, even if Saquon Barkley miraculously trotted out on the field. Freeman, whos dominated the opportunity share the past two weeks, is New Yorks unrivaled bell-cow back. Still, his secondary profile (2.04 YAC/att; 12.1% missed tackle percentage) is equivalent to taking multiple shots of bottom-shelf Montezuma tequila upchuck-worthy. Fletcher Cox and Co. excel at shooting the gap and wrapping up running backs. This season, theyve surrendered just 3.21 yards per carry and 110.3 total yards per game to rushers. Darrell Henderson and Jerick McKinnon are the only RBs to cross the proposed threshold. Behind an offensive line dead last in adjusted line yards, Freeman wont be the third.

Prop 2: Travis Fulgham OVER 4.5 receptions (William Hill -118) A true diamond in the rough, Fulgham has emerged from the darkest recesses of the depth chart to seize the No. 1 gig. His story is one for a Disney production, a globetrotter whos exemplary of carpe diem. Over the past three weeks, he piled up 18 receptions (on 24 targets) for 284 yards and three TDs. Equally outstanding, hes notched a 13.1 average depth of target and ranks WR16 in yards per catch (17.4) and WR38 in contested catch rate on the year. Drawing the Giants on short rest, hes a strong candidate to haul in five-plus receptions for the third-straight week. His primary matchup, James Bradberry (69.9 passer rating allowed), has balled. Still, the underdog will continue to bark, loudly.

Last week: 2-1 ATS

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Gambling: It's your money, but here are some places to put it on Thursday's NFL game - Colorado Springs Gazette

Researchers from Penn State University are looking into the effects on online gambling in the Keystone State.

Glenn Sterner, an assistant professor of criminal justice at the university, will team up with Penn States Social Science Research Institute and the Survey Research Center to conduct the study, according to Penn State News.

The study will be conducted as a telephone survey that will allow those involved to share their online gambling experience. Those that participate will likely be used again in future studies as it will look to compile data and publish an annual report.

The report is one of the first of its kind and is aimed at helping lawmakers shape the rules surrounding the market in the coming years. Sterners research will dig into the costs of problem gambling compared to the tax revenue the industry generates.

While working in conjunction with SSRI, we plan to pull on expertise and present results of reports and assessments to policymakers in Harrisburg, said Sterner to Penn State News. We have the ability to utilize the strengths across Penn State, integrating resources from an interdisciplinary perspective, to provide needed knowledge to DDAP [Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs] for ways to target prevention and intervention initiatives to address any issue we may find.

The study comes as online gambling is exploding and more states are legalizing online gambling and sports betting. And those states that have historically been against legalizing gambling activities, are starting

Last year, Alabama introduced a bill that would legalize sports betting in the state. There was also a push to bring brick-and-mortar gaming from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, but Gov. Kay Ivey said that she wouldnt consider signing anything until a study was conducted that showed the effects of gambling on the citizens.

Pennsylvania legalized online gambling, including sports betting and poker, in 2017. The online poker market didnt launch until two years later. Between the brick-and-mortar casinos and its booming online market, Pennsylvania has become one of the biggest gaming markets in the country.

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Penn State University To Conduct Study On The Effects Of Online Gambling - CardPlayer.com

FLORENCE CO, SC (WBTW) Former Florence County Sheriffs Office Lt. Mark Fuleihan is set to appear in court in two weeks after being indicted on charges of running an illegal gambling business.

Eight other people also are listed on the federal indictment: Timothy Keefe, Dale Smith, Thyrone Eaddy, Cliff Contey, Kenneth Moore, George Dollard, Sheryl Kirby and Leroy Barbour. Their arraignment is scheduled for 3:20 p.m. at the McMillan Federal Building in Florence on Nov. 4.

The new indictment claims Fuleihan and the others together did conduct, finance, manage, supervise, direct, and own an illegal gambling business with video gaming machines since at least January 2012. The business had a gross revenue of about $2,000 on any single day, according to the claims.

Fuleihan also faces federal obstruction charges and an ethics bribery charge. The former Lieutenant was fired from the Florence County Sheriffs Office on April 2, the same day as his arrest.

According to the criminal complaint, Fuleihan had three illegal gambling machines in his garage in 2015 and also took an illegal gambling machine from the Florence County Sheriffs Office (FCSO) evidence building and delivered it to a co-conspirator, according to the criminal complaint.

The complaint states on several occasions, Fuleihan would seize illegal gambling machines from this source and give them to a co-conspirator.

The source said at one point, Fuleihan seized machines from him/her in Lake City, and then a couple of weeks later the source saw the same machines in a location in Johnsonville, being operated by the co-conspirator.

Fuleihan was given a $25,000 bond in his first court appearance in July.

Read more:

Former Florence County Lt. Fuleihan, others to appear in court on gambling business charges - WBTW

Figures released Thursday by the Stockholm-listed Evolution (formerly Evolution Gaming, until a corporate rebrand dumped the Gaming earlier this month) show the company generated revenue of 140m in the three months ending September 30, up 48% from Q3 2019. Earnings rose 87% to 90.7m while profit doubled to 79.4m.

Evolution CEO Martin Carlesund hailed Q3 as a period of exceptionally high activity thanks to the pandemic suspension of major sports creating a boost in online casino activity across the globe. Evolution customers reported their players making 12.9b individual bets in Q3, up from just 5.8b in Q3 2019.

The pandemic did result in limits on Evolutions live casino studio operations but this also kept expenses down and the company is slowly coming back towards pre-COVID levels in number of tables. Since the quarter ended, Evolution has launched its first live tables in Pennsylvania and a new medium sized studio in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Carlesund said Evolutions new game show product Crazy Time, which launched July 1, has proven to be its most successful game launch to date. Evolution also launched an Instant Roulette product and Instant Craps is set to follow in the current quarter.

Evolutions geographic revenue split underwent some significant changes in Q3, as Europe (excluding UK and Nordic markets) shot up 41% year-on-year to 65.6m, while Asia more than doubled to 34.8m and North America rose 50% to 9.2m. The Asian surge pushed Evolutions share of revenue from regulated markets down 10 points to 32%.

Carlesund noted that Germanys transition to a strictly regulated online casino market will have a negative but limited effect on short-term operations, as German players currently account for 5-10% of total revenue. But Carlesund claims the long-term regulatory picture will prove a positive for the company.

Evolution has extended the deadline for shareholders to accept its proposed takeover of rival NetEnt from October 30 to November 20 to account for the expected November 16 decision by the UK competition watchdog as to whether the merger is anti-competitive.

NETENT HEARTS AMERICA

Speaking of the Stockholm-listed NetEnt, the companys interim Q3 report shows revenue up 17.6% from Q3 2019 to SEK521m (50.3m) while earnings gained 58% to SEK310m and after-tax earnings more than doubled to SEK167m.

It should be noted that these outsized gains were largely due to last Septembers acquisition of rival Red Tiger Gaming and its subsequent integration into NetEnts operations. Absent Red Tigers contributions, revenue would have risen a more modest 9% year-on-year.

NetEnt CEO Therese Hillman noted that her companys growing US presence pushed that markets revenue up 313%, accounting for 10% of overall Q3 revenue. In just the past few months, NetEnt has signed US-facing deals with BetMGM, DraftKings, Scientific Games, Tipico and William Hill US. Last week, NetEnt became the first independent game supplier to launch in West Virginias new online gambling market.

Mirroring Evolutions Crazy Time success, Q3 saw NetEnt celebrate what its calling by far the best performing new game ever launched in terms of revenue generation (Gonzos Quest Megaways). In December, NetEnt will roll out Roulette Max, a new high-volatility live casino product, which could bring the company some unwanted regulatory scrutiny in this uncertain pandemic environment.

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Evolution, NetEnt living their best lives ahead of online gambling merger - CalvinAyre.com

Rachel Berry|The Courier-Tribune

Ten people were indicted by a grand jury on chargesconnectedtoa two-day investigation into illegal gambling in Randolph County.

On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, authorities conducted an investigation into illegal casinos in Randolph County. The investigation was a collaboration between N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement, theRandolph County Sheriffs Office, the Randleman Police Department, the Liberty Police Department and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.

"Special agents seized illegal gaming boards, illegal gaming machine hard drives, computers, documents, cash, methamphetamines, marijuana and numerous firearms throughout the operation," according to a press release.

In North Carolina, gambling machines that give out cash are illegal.

Unlike the States lottery system, these illegal gaming machines provide no customer protection or regulation," saidChris Poole,ALE Special Agent in Charge."In many cases, the amount of money patrons will win has already been determined, which gives them a false hope of winning large sums of money.

More: 6 Randolph County casinos raided for illegal activity

The Sheriff's Office said the locations raided were:

A grand jury indicted the following people in connection with the investigation, according to information provided by the Sheriff's Office:

David Wayne Hatcher, 54, of Greensboro, N.C.

Hatcher wasthe owner of Winner's Circle in Archdale, the press release said.

He is being charged with:

Hatcher was given a $3,000 secured bond. He's scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court onOct. 26.

David Anthony Powell, 52, of Randleman, N.C.

David Powell was the co-owner ofBig Black Dog Entertainment, LLC in Randleman, the press release said.

He is being charged with:

David Powell was given a$25,000 unsecured bond and is scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Oct. 26.

Denise Saunders Powell, 56, of Randleman, N.C.

Denise Powell was the co-owner ofBig Black Dog Entertainment, LLC in Randleman, the press release said.

She is being charged with:

Denise Powell was arrested in Randolph County and given a$25,000 unsecured bond. She is scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Oct. 26.

Luv Alkesh Amin, 22, of Asheboro, N.C.

Amin was the owner ofBonus Spins in Liberty, N.C, the press release said.

He is being charged with:

Amin was arrested in Durham County on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Heis scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Oct. 26.

Cynthia Dawn Duncan, 45, of Clarkton, N.C.

Duncan was an employee at64 Skillz in Asheboro, the press release said.

She is being charged with:

Duncan was arrested in Durham County on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Sheis scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Oct. 26.

Samantha Kelly Gouldman, 34, of Ramseur, N.C.

Gouldman was an employee at64 Skillz in Asheboro, the press release said.

She is being charged with:

Gouldman was arrested in Durham County on a $20,000 unsecured bond. Sheis scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Nov. 2.

Christa Nichole Taylor, 26, of Ramseur, N.C.

Taylor was an employee at64 Skillz in Asheboro, the press release said.

She is being charged with:

Taylor was arrested in Durham County on a $20,000 unsecured bond. Sheis scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Nov. 2.

Nicholas Joseph Cama, 31, of Asheboro, N.C.

Cama was an employee at311 Biz Center in Archdale, the press release said.

He is being charged with:

Cama was arrested in Randolph County on a $25,000 unsecured bond. He's scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Oct. 26.

Bernice Ingram Earnhardt, 53, of Lexington, N.C.

Bernice Earnhardt was the co-owner of the Franklinville Business Center in Ramseur, the press release said.

She is being charged with:

Bernice Earnhardt was arrested in Guilford County on a $100,000 unsecured bond. She's scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Nov. 2.

Jeffrey Dwayne Earnhardt, 56, of Lexington, N.C.

Jeffrey Earnhardt was the co-owner of the Franklinville Business Center in Ramseur, the press release said.

He is being charged with:

Jeffrey Earnhardt was arrested in Guilford County on a $100,000 unsecured bond. He's scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Nov. 2.

The press release listed the following pre-trial release conditions that were imposed by the judge:

"1) Defendant shall not operate or keep illegal gaming machines, illegal gambling devices or violate any of Article 37, 1 and 2 of the North Carolina General Statues in the State of North Carolina.

"2) Defendant shall not allow or permit any employees or agents to operate or keep illegal gaming machines, illegal gambling devices or commit any violations of Article 37, parts 1 and 2 of the North Carolina General Statutes in the State of North Carolina. This includes not to/or allow or permit any employee or agent to make cash payouts or cash equivalent for credits won from play of a video gaming machine, or keep or operate a video gaming machine which allows the user more than eight credits to be played in a single play as defined in N.C.G.S. 14-306, anywhere in the State of North Carolina.

"3) Defendant shall not themself, or allow or permit any employee or agent to operate or keep gambling themed games such as video slot games, video keno games or video poker machines in violation of NCGS 14-306.1A, anywhere in the State of North Carolina.

"4) Defendant shall not themselves or allow or permit any employee or agent to conduct or promote a sweepstakes that is conducted through the use of an entertaining display, including the entry or reveal of a prize in violation of N.C.G.S. 14-306.4, anywhere in the State of North Carolina."

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10 arrested in Randolph County investigation into illegal gambling - Asheboro Courier Tribune

This is a breaking story. It will be updated as new information is available.

UPDATE: Around 11:30 p.m. ET, all online poker sites in New Jersey went back online. While Partypoker went ahead and canceled tournaments in the wake of the difficulties, WSOP.com and PokerStars events are playing out despite the disruption.

Online betting sites and apps across New Jersey and in other locations with online gambling went down on Thursday night due to issues with geolocation.

PlayNJ is still trying to determine the cause of the outage. A company called GeoComply works with nearly every regulated online gambling operator in the United States for geoloaction services. States require their gambling apps to be only accessible within state borders and rely on geolocation.

Any potential issue likely stems from the integration of GeoComply services with the apps and sites.

Poker players were one of the first people to take to Twitter noting the problem.

While glitches within an individual client are not unheard of in online poker, the issues across multiple platforms suggested something else, such as geolocation, might be causing the outages.

It initially seemed as though Nevada was unaffected, but multiple players in Nevada, including Jordan Cristos and Matt Affleck, reported location issues on WSOP.com as well. The issue is a coast-to-coast one with confirmed outages in New Jersey, Indiana, and Oregon.

The problem extended to sports betting as well, as noted as by one gambling in New Jersey:

Operators were quick to take to Twitter to address there was an issue, but did not offer much in the way of an explanation or a timeline until things would be back online:

After pausing tournament action, Partypoker elected to cancel tournaments disrupted by the outage. There is no word from PokerStars NJ and WSOP.com on social media regarding how these outages will affect tournaments in process. WSOP.com was in the middle of hosting its latest online Circuit series.

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Betting Apps Go Down In New Jersey, Beyond With Geolocation Issues - Play NJ

One investing thesis that has performed very well in 2020 has been U.S. online and sports gambling. On Tuesday, Bank of America analyst Shaun Kelley took a close look at the type of margins sports gambling investors can expect from the business in the long-term.

The Numbers: At this point, early market movers are reporting large losses as they fight for initial market share on a state-by-state basis. However, Kelleybelieves these businesses will eventually be able to achieve 30% EBITDA margins at scale.

Between sports and iGaming, we expect iGaming will be the higher-margin business owing to lower platform, content and ongoing promotional costs but current gaps should narrow as marketing spend for sports betting rationalizes, Kelley wrote in a note.

Kelley said DraftKings Inc (NASDAQ: DKNG), FanDuel and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) have each already spent more than $100 million in 2020 on sports betting and iGaming marketing.

At the same time, Penn National Gaming, Inc (NASDAQ: PENN) and its Barstool app have achieved 15% market share in Pennsylvania with virtually zero external marketing spend, but Kelley said that's only one state in a very short period of time.

Finally, Kelley said Caesars Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ: CZR) could choose to take a more conservative, profit first approach to its marketing efforts.

Related Link: Fox Is An Under-The-Radar Play On US Sports Gambling

How To Play It: Bank of America has the following ratings and price targets for the sports betting and iGaming stocks mentioned:

Benzingas Take: Theres no question U.S. iGaming and sports betting will be a huge market as it expands throughout the country on a state-by-state basis. However, stocks like Penn and DraftKings have already priced in a significant amount of growth after gaining 159% and 300% year-to-date, respectively.

2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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A Look At The Type Of Margins Sports Gambling Investors Can Expect From The Business - Benzinga

Nicolas Cage has told Marilyn Manson in a new interview about the time he made $20,000 gambling before giving it to charity.

The actor opened up to the musician, who he has been friends with for years, in a new feature for Interview magazine in which the pair reflected on Cages life and career.

Manson asked Cage about his gambling habits, considering the actor currently lives in Las Vegas.

The last time I gambled was about 30 years ago, Cage replied. I was in the Bahamas, and I walked into a casino and felt like I had my mojo with me, like nothing could go wrong.

He went on to explain: My game was roulette. I went in with $200, and I didnt miss a number, so much so that even the lady spinning the wheel said, Nothing sweeter than a repeater.

In 20 minutes I turned $200 into $20,000, so I went and found an orphanage in the Bahamas, met all the kids and the headmistress, and said, This is for you. I put the 20 grand in her hand, walked away, and never gambled again, because if I did, it would ruin the power of that moment.

Earlier this year, Nicolas Cage reflected on his career to date in a Reel Talk interview with NME, acknowledging how nostalgia might play a big part in fans supporting his career.

There seems to be something happening on the Internet with people who have followed my career, Cage began. Some of the movies are returning in a way that I think is making them more interesting, which Im thankful for.

Its truly something that I see as good news. But Im not nostalgic about my early work and Im always trying to feel where I can go and how I can go forward.

Cage will next be starring inThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, playing a version of himself.

Originally posted here:

Nicolas Cage tells Marilyn Manson that he turned $200 into $20,000 gambling and gave it to charity - NME

Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) chief Michael Dugher says the standards body will not sit back and wait for a review before coordinating new social responsibility measures across the British gambling sector, in iGBs new Gambling Review Podcast.

The former Labour MP made a point of highlighting the efforts taken by the industry to introduce new safeguards to players, such as the BGCs ten-point player protection plan, announced as the UK went into lockdown in March.

He also cited the whistle-to-whistle adverting ban, which was introduced just as the BGC was being formed, which research by Enders Analysis claims has cut the number of gambling ads seen by minors by 97%.

Its important that the gambling industry takes action itself, he told anchor Daniel Bliss and co-host Robin Harrison. Were not going to just sit back and wait for a review.

Dugher added that this was part of the BGCs wider effort to be responsible for promoting high standards within the industry, rather than simply representing it.

The BGC is not merely a representative trade body. It absolutely will be a standards body. It will work round the clock to drive higher standards across this industry.

At a time when the sectors public image has taken a battering, he argued that rather than engaging only with its critics, the BGC had a duty to communicate with all stakeholders, including those in parliament.

Dugher suggested there was something of a silent majority in the Commons, who were less engaged in the debate over gambling reform. He said that although the industry has also co-operated with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling-Related Harm, other, less vocal, MPs could play a crucial role in legislative review too.

I think theres a difference between mainstream members of parliament who have genuine concerns about aspects of the industry and those, more of a minority, who frankly are the prohibitionists, who dont like online betting full stop, Dugher said.

I think its important that we engage with every MP. Most MPs dont have particularly strong views on this but they may, from time to time, have issues their constituents have raised or concerns they want to discuss with us. Its absolutely right and proper that the BGC engages with these MPs.

In Dughers view, the upcoming review is a necessary one and offers a great opportunity to help develop greater levels of protection to limit problem play, though stressed that it was equally important to cater to those less at risk of gambling harms.

Weve got to get the balance right between protecting the vulnerable and also protecting the millions who do enjoy the occasional bet and protecting those players safely, he explained. We do have to make this review have a really big focus on problem gambling. It may only be a tiny minority of people who are problem gamblers but any person is one person too many. Its a chance to tackle problem gambling and from the industrys point of view we want to see some big changes.

But we have to listen to everyone and that includes the customers who enjoy the occasional bet but are not problem gamblers. Theyre an important voice in our industry and they have their views on the industry that need to be heard.

This summer has sen input from a variety of other groups on potential targets of a Gambling Act review, many of which have included aspects that the BGC has voiced its opposition to.

However, despite noting he disagreed with its approach on stake limits, Dugher praised many aspects of the Social Market Foundations report on gambling reform, even if it leads to a regime with fewer licensees.

I thought it was a very thoughtful report, He talked about raising standards for licensees and thats very important. If that means fewer licensees then thats something were prepared to accept.

We should demand higher standards and if theres operators who cant meet those higher standards then they shouldnt be in the business. I think I speak for all BGC members when I say that.

The full podcast is available for download now. Remember, next weeks second episode sees Carolyn Harris MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Related Harm (APPG-GRH) join Bliss and Harrison.

The series will continue with a range of high-profile industry figures, with the first five guests including Lord Foster of Bath, John White of Bacta and Flutter Entertainment director Richard Flint.

Listen to the first episode now.

Link:

Dugher: Industry will change regardless of Gambling Act review - iGaming Business

Over the course of this year's 2020 NFL season, the SI Gambling team, along with a few of our friends from the SI MMQB NFL team are putting our collective heads together to pick our top game of the week against the spread. We'll keep track over the course of the year for bragging rights as well as transparency. It was a stellar Week 5, as our crew had a second consecutive winning week at 9-4-0 ATS, and putting the team at 37-26-1 ATS overall!

Over at SI PRO, the "Vegas Whispers" NFL betting playsand information from SI Gambling insider Frankie Taddeo have gone 31-22-0 ATS as well as 7-0 on Thursday Night Football.

Before checking out the team's selections and "best bets," here are the latest Week 6 NFL lines at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Editor's Note - Odds are subject to change.

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.

For even more betting and daily fantasy content, become an SI PRO member today!

Ben Heisler (@bennyheis)

Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers (+3) | TOTAL: 52

For the third week in a row, the Sunday Night Football hammer happens to be my best bet for the slate.

Ill admit, its not easy to want to run to the ticket window to bet a team that got smoked by the Miami Dolphins at home a week ago, but I can also recognize a massive overreaction to a previous weeks game from a mile away. Weve seen the line initially open at 49ers -3 fall all the way down to 49ers +3 at DraftKings Sportsbook, and even 49ers +3.5 at a few other books.

Last week, Jimmy Garoppolo was nowhere close to healthy and having another full week to get back on track should help the 49ers offense re-stabilize. With all of their weapons back on offense, including RB Raheem Mostert, look for the 49ers to go back to their bread and butter in the running game, leading to play action and shots down the field with George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. The Rams rank 8th-worst in the NFL at stopping the run, so look for San Francisco to make a concerted effort to wear out Aaron Donald; giving Garoppolo better protection when they look to take some chances through the air.

I was able to grab 49ers at +3.5 at one point, but even with the line back to +3, I still think the live dog is in play.

BEST BET: San Francisco 49ers +3

Frankie Taddeo (@Frankie_Fantasy)

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-9) | TOTAL: 47

I will not be making the same mistake I made last week. I got away from the auto-fade of Adam Gase and suffered my first loss (4-1) ATS. It's time to right the ship and there's no better way than with a sure-to-be fired up Dolphins team coming off a 43-17 dismantling of the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5.

We know the Miami players will have the added motivation to humiliate their former head coach who was hated after his three seasons in South Beach. Add in Ryan Fitzpatrick revenge spot and we have the recipe for a blowout in Week 6 against a Jets team that now has zero game-changers on the offensive side of the ball following the sudden release of RB LeVeon Bell. Lay the wood and back up the truck. Easily the BEST bet on the board.

BEST BET: Miami Dolphins -9 (has since moved to -9.5)

Corey Parson (@TheFantasyExec)

Washington Football Team at New York Giants (-2.5 ) | TOTAL: 43

The once proud NFC East is now the worst division in professional sports. I feel sorry for the people who have to watch this game in their local market. If you like offense and points scored, this will not be the game for you, Washington has scored over 20 points once this season, and that was Week 1.

Meanwhile, the New York Giants are not much better when it comes to scoring points. They were able to score 34 points last week vs the Cowboys horrible defense, but outside of that the Giants highest point output this season was 16. I do not think either New York or Washington will get 20 points this week, so naturally, I will take the under

BEST BET: Washington & New York UNDER 43

Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano)

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-9) | TOTAL: 47

The Jets will be without their starting quarterback, and the team just released one of the two REAL offensive playmakers it had in LeVeon Bell. This team is now devoid of talent, and head coach Adam Gase cant possibly have the confidence of the players in the locker room.I interviewed Jets insider Manish Mehta on my SiriusXM show this week, and he agreed.

On the flip side, the Dolphins are feeling pretty good about themselves one week after whipping the Niners in San Francisco. Dont think the players in the Miami locker room won't remember the disaster that was Gase when he was the head man for the 'Fins. I think the Dolphins take this game with relative ease, so Ill lay the nine points.

BEST BET: Miami Dolphins -9 (has since moved to -9.5)

Dr. Roto (@DrRoto)

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) TOTAL: 51

I was this close to picking the Dolphins over the Adam Gase-led Jets, but instead, I will go to the AFC North for my best bet. The Steelers are 4-0 thus far and the crazy thing is that I think we havent seen them play at their best.

This week they take on their division rival, Cleveland, who comes in on a four game winning streak. The big problem is that the Browns are banged up all across their roster. QB Baker Mayfield could get pulled with one shot to the ribs, WR Odell Beckham, Jr. was sent home by the team on Thursday with an illness, and they have two other injuries to starters on their offensive line.

The bottom line is that the Browns are a running team and the Steelers are one of the top teams against the run in the NFL. When the Browns go out of their comfort zone and are forced to pass, they are in big trouble - especially on the road. Give the points.

BEST BET: Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5 (has since moved to Steelers -4)

Bill Enright (@BillEnright)

Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys (+1.5) | TOTAL: 55

The Cowboys are 0-5 against the spread and burned my pick last week resulting in my worst record to start the season ever. So why am I going back to the Dallas Dumpster Fire? Maybe Im masochist, or maybe, just maybe... Im not as worried about the Dallas offense with Andy Dalton under-center instead of Dak Prescott. Maybe Im more concerned about the Cardinals inability to get after the passer without Chandler Jones. Maybe I think the Cowboys will win outright but since they are getting the points Ill take 'em while I got 'em.

BEST BET: Dallas Cowboys +1.5(has since moved to Cowboys +1)

Roy Larking (@StatsGuru6)

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) | TOTAL: 51

Baker Mayfield and the Browns (4-1) are on the road following a 32-23 win at home against Indianapolis last week. Cleveland has won four straight after getting crushed 38-6 by the Ravens in Baltimore back in Week 1. Closer than the final score indicates, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers (4-0) defeated Philadelphia 38-29 at home last week. During a weird year, with lots of strange scenarios, Pittsburgh is playing a fourth straight home game. While Cleveland is performing at a higher level this year the Browns are 0-16 SU and 10-5-1 ATS in Pittsburgh dating back to the 2004 NFL season.

Cleveland rolls into the Steel City with injury concerns on both sides of the ball. Mayfield (chest) Odell Beckham Jr. (illness), Jarvis Landry (hip, ribs) and Pro Bowl guard Wyatt Teller (calf) are questionable. Injuries have also left the Browns thin in their secondary on defense. Pittsburgh is the healthiest team in the league as OG David DeCastro (abdomen) is their lone injury concern. The Steelers lackluster effort on defense last week is something they should be focused on during practice this week.

Lay the -3.5 points at the DraftKings Sportsbookand back Pittsburgh over AFC North rival Cleveland.

BEST BET: Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5(has since moved to Steelers -4)

Steve Renner (@Steve_Renner)

Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (-4) | TOTAL: 54.5

The total on this game opened at 56.5 and has already dropped down to 54.5. While I still like the UNDER here, the strong play for me remains on laying the points with the Vikings (-4). This is a classic matchup problem for Atlanta who is going to have a hard time on both sides of the ball at the line of scrimmage, and when you are in a negative spot in the trenches on both sides on the road, it spells disaster.

Both teams have underachieved but the Vikings have remained competitive and with similar rosters from a season ago, they dominated Atlanta 28-12 in Week 1. I expect a similar stout performance from the Vikings defense today and an easy victory for the Vikings sending Atlanta to another loss.

BEST BET: Minnesota Vikings -4

Ian Ritchie (@SIGambling)

Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys (+1.5) | TOTAL: 55

I know the Cowboys have been terrible against the spread so far but Mr. Ginger (Andy Dalton, in case you're wondering) is now running the show and getting some points. Nobody believes in Dalton as much as I do this week and I love getting the points in an emotional game for the Cowboys. Make no mistake, they are playing for Dak and will leave everything on the field and Mr. Ginger will be up to the task, do his part and look for Zeke to finally break the 100 yard barrier.

The wrong team is favored in this matchup. I look for the Cowboys to make a statement in this game that Andy Dalton can win and can get this team positioned to win the division and make a playoff run. Nick Foles part two? Time will tell.

BEST BET: Cowboys +1.5

Scott Atkins (@ScottFantasy)

Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (-4) | TOTAL: 54.5

No Dalvin Cook? No problem.

The Vikings may be 1-4 but they're not this bad. They had the Seahawks beaten and while they let it slip away, they're still fighting. The Falcons at 0-5, however they have serious issues on both sides of the ball and are repeatedly proving they are not ready to win a game any time soon. It all starts with their defense which ranks 31st in passing yards allowed and 30th in total points allowed, and their offense has struggled to put up 16 in each of the last two weeks.

The Vikings have won 12 straight at home ATS after a loss and I look for them to put it on the Falcons and win by double digits.

BEST BET: Minnesota Vikings -4

Casey Olson (@Y2CASEY)

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins -9 | Total: 47

This has to be it for Gase, right? His decision quality is just mysteries. He puts Darnold back in the game visibly hurt in week 4, resulting in losing his QB not only for week 5, but this week as well. Now three-time pro bowler Le'Veon Bell has been released? Not only are they 0-5 SU, but now also 0-5 ATS and losing by 20 at home against AZ last week. The Dolphins on the other side have some "Fitzmagic" going. Fitzpatrick now has three 300-yard games and is completing over 70% of his passes, and the Dolphins are high off last week's dominant 43-17 victory over the defending NFC champion 49ers. The Jets have averaged 31.25 points per game in their last four, while the Jets have averaged 14. This should be a rout.

BEST BET: Dolphins -9 (has since moved to -9.5)

Gary Gramling, The MMQB (@GGramling_SI)

Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers (+3) | TOTAL: 52

Im never crazy about division rivals giving points on the road, and I love me some Kyle Shanahan, but I dont think the lines have caught up to the fact that the 49ers pass rushand therefore defense as a wholeis nowhere near what it was a year ago due to the Nick Bosa and Dee Ford injuries (and the departure of DeForest Buckner). The return of Emmanuel Moseley steadies the secondary, but offensively the Rams have done whatever they wanted against opponents this year and theres little reason to think a team with a middling pass rush is going to knock Sean McVay off-track. (Also, keep in mind that after getting dominated in their first matchup last year, the Rams dropped 31 on a full-strength Niners defense in the rematch last December.) With the issues Jimmy Garoppolo is havingphysically and mentally and the lack of true home-field advantage in Santa Clara, I like a touchdown-plus win for L.A.

BEST BET: Rams -3

Mitch Goldich, The MMQB (@mitchgoldich)

Packers at Buccaneers +1 | TOTAL: 55

I like the Packers here, and Ive been surprised watching this number shrink throughout the week. I understand the optimism around the Bucs if and when Tom Brady finally gets both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans on the field and healthy together. But Aaron Rodgers also gets Davante Adams back, and even without him I think the Packers have clearly been the better team. Is that a little simplistic? Yes, but when the line is a single point Im just picking a winner here. The Packers are undefeated this season, both straight up and against the spread, and now coming off a bye week. Theyve already won in Minnesota (comfortably) and in New Orleans (by a touchdown), and I have no qualms about picking them to win on the road again. I have every reason to believe the Packers will keep it rolling.

BEST BET: Green Bay Packers -1

Ben Heisler

49ERS +3

3-2 (W)

Frankie Taddeo

DOLPHINS -9

4-1 (L)

Corey Parson

WSH/NYG U43

2-2 (W)

Michael Fabiano

DOLPHINS -9

3-2 (W)

Dr. Roto

STEELERS -3.5

4-1 (W)

Bill Enright

COWBOYS +1.5

1-4 (L)

Roy Larking

STEELERS -3.5

4-1 (W)

Steve Renner

VIKINGS -4

2-3 (L)

Ian Ritchie

COWBOYS +1.5

3-2 (W)

Scott Atkins

See original here:

NFL Week 6 - Best Bets From the SI Gambling Team - Sports Illustrated

You never know whats going to happen when pals get together for a chat. I mean, I guess that can be said about life, but its even more applicable when you get Nicolas Cage and Marilyn Manson.

In their chat forInterview, Cage told Manson about the last time he gambled, and well, let the iconicCon Airstarexplain.

The last time I gambled was about 30 years ago, Cage said. I was in the Bahamas, and I walked into a casino and felt like I had my mojo with me, like nothing could go wrong. My game was roulette. I went in with $200, and I didnt miss a number, so much so that even the lady spinning the wheel said, Nothing sweeter than a repeater. In 20 minutes I turned $200 into $20,000, so I went and found an orphanage in the Bahamas, met all the kids and the headmistress, and said, This is for you. I put the 20 grand in her hand, walked away, and never gambled again, because if I did, it would ruin the power of that moment.

Yes, you read correctly: Nicolas Cage, gambling genius and a humanitarian. Is it true? Who knows, but it definitely is wild enough to be.

Follow this link:

Nicolas Cage Told Marilyn Manson That He Turned $200 Into $20,000 Gambling and Gave It to Charity - SPIN

As the campaign for president enters the final stretch, former Vice President Joe Biden makes a big ad buy in Texas- and betters are wagering on who will win.

President Trump is leading in recent polls in Texas, but it has been close.

So, the Joe Biden campaign-- hoping to pull off the first win by a Democrat at the top of the ticket in Texas since 1976--is planning to spend $6.2 million in TV ads in the final weeks of the campaign, USA Today reports. Their biggest spend in the state: $2.6 Million in D-FW.

In contrast, USA Today reports that President Trump isn't planning to buy any commercials here right now, because his campaign says this is "Trump country."

Politico has also published this document on advertising analytics, which expects about $25 million total to be spent on election spots in Texas this year.

Thats a decent chunk of money, but pales in comparison to what is being laid out in big battlegrounds like Florida ($339 million) and Pennsylvania ($288 million).

Betting money says Trump wins Texas, but Biden wins the election

People placing wagers on the political gambling site PredictIt firmly believe Trump takes Texas.

But overall, the betting money right now says that Biden wins the presidency. In fact, right now the money is also on a Democratic sweep of the White House, the Senate and the House as well.

Visit link:

Gamblers are betting on Trump and Biden's chances as Biden pours more money into Texas - WFAA.com

If you have been watching the CJ Cup on the PGA Tour this weekend, you have witnessed something you have never seen before.

No, not Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas. That ultra-, ultra-, ultra-exclusive golf course has been on television before as the site of The Match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

What you are seeing for the first time in a PGA Tour event is live betting odds. And not just running on a crawl at the bottom of the screen or quietly tucked along the side of the picture. These are odds that are being promoted and talked about and updated on a live basis.

As the PGA Tour and other sports begin understanding that there might be a revenue source with accepting gambling as part of the sports fans experience, the organizations have started forming partnerships with gambling companies. ESPN and other sports outlets have also begun airing shows devoted entirely to gambling.

But this is the first time that an official PGA Tour event is talking upfront about odds and gambling on air. Yes, The Match in 2018 did have a lot of talk about which player would win this hole or that hole or the match entirely. But that was not an official tour event like the limited-field CJ Cup.

It is appropriate, of course, that the first open talk of gambling on a PGA Tour event is at a tournament in Las Vegas on a course built by casino owner Steve Wynn. You can walk into pretty much any casino in Las Vegas, find the sportsbook and put down a bet on who will win a PGA Tour event that week or even some proposition bets pitting one player against another for the day or the week.

None of this is possible in California, of course, as the state continues to drag its feet badly on legalizing sports gaming in the state. Yes, there are a few ways around that for California residents, but you cant walk into a sportsbook or in a tribal casino and place a sports bet.

The PGA Tour is all in on the sports gambling trend. The tour has deals with Draft Kings, Fan Duel, PointsBet and BetMGM as partners. The tour has said that it may provide an area at tournaments in states where gaming is legal so fans can make a bet on site. And now comes the official talk of odds on the golf course, either to win the tournament outright or to be the low player in a pairing on the day.

It will only be a matter of time before different players on the tour are sponsored by different gambling companies. You can see big billboards springing up the week of a tournament, saying, Hi, bet on me at BetMGM!

Should there be a concern about making betting on the PGA Tour or any sports so open and above board? The sports clearly dont think so. There was a time when sports organizations avoided talk of betting and Las Vegas like the plague. Now the NFL has a team in Las Vegas, as does the WNBA. More and more sports are approving sports gambling in some form seemingly by the month.

And the sports have worked hard to ensure there are protections against the issues that caused them to run away from gambling before, issues like point shaving and crooked players or officials.

You may never place a bet on a sports event in your life, other than perhaps an annual lunch on who is going to win the big college rivalry game. But golfers are a different breed. A golfer can probably think of a dozen better games in any aspect of the sport. If might be fascinating to get four top pros together and have them play a televised game of Wolf. That might drive the books in Las Vegas crazy.

So look at the odds this week and do with them what you will. Ignore them or find a way to put them into action. But dont think this will be the last time the PGA Tour talks about odds on a broadcast. This might just be the beginning.

Larry Bohannan is The Desert Sun golf writer. He can be reached at (760) 778-4633 or larry.bohannan@desertsun.com. Follow him on Facebook or on Twitter at Sun.@Larry_Bohannan. Support local journalism: Subscribe to the Desert Sun.

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Gambling's place in golf is being cemented this week in Vegas in real time - usatoday.com

Is a leading sportsbook in the U.S., a dominant player in the Nevada market, creating an unfair advantage against some customers? Some gamblers say the book is cheating, while others say the problem might not reach that threshold. Its a complex situation that impacts the sports betting industry broadly.

William Hill US has been accused by at least two prominent sports bettors of intentionally delaying the acceptance of in-game wagers in the Silver State, depending on if the wager is good or bad for the book. In other words, theyre saying its allegedly not a technology shortcoming, but a deliberate attempt by the book to boost its winning percentage against gamblers.

But some in the industry say the problem is the result of an unintentional bias in a less than ideal product, with it possibly impacting bettors evenly. Most people do agree there is an issue.

In a statement to Sports Handle, William Hill flatly denied the claims, and indicated it may seek legal action against one of the accusers.

Prominent sports bettors Bill Krackomberger and Rufus Peabody, who both host popular sports gambling podcasts, brought up the William Hill issue earlier this month, in Week 5 of the NFL season, and it received a fair amount of attention on social media. Both gamblers have 28,000 or more followers on Twitter, which resulted in a significant amount of feedback on the claims. Its unclear what the catalyst was that reignited the debate on social media on Oct. 11.

This wasnt the first time William Hill has been accused of cheating on social media by declining a wager before changing the line. One gambler reported an instance of that in late 2019.

I have not experienced it personally (they wont let me bet), but I have experienced a lot of other shenanigans over the years when they did, and I do know many people who have experienced it directly, Peabody, who makes his living through sports betting, told Sports Handle.

Krackomberger said William Hill is the only offender in Las Vegas with regards to in-game betting.

William Hill is the only book in Las Vegas that uses the spin/hold in queue delay process, Krackomberger told Sports Handle. What that does is it gives them a chance to look at your bet then check to see if they are in line with the market. Whereas other sportsbooks have to remain on top of their game by constantly changing lines, William Hill doesnt have to do this. Basically, the customers can play bookmaker for them since they dont have instant approval software.

He added that William Hill can and will sometimes delay the customer and not accept a bet after watching the next play if its in the players favor. Conversely, if the next play works against the player they will accept it.

Furthermore, William Hill already has a 7-10-second TV [broadcasting] delay working in their favor, he said. This spin delay is on top of that.

Krackomberger said he doesnt have any confidence that the Nevada Gaming Control Board would step in to address this situation. Gaming wouldnt even understand the situation, he said.

William Hill responded to Krackomberger specifically in its statement to Sports Handle.

Its an absolutely outrageous allegation, a William Hill spokesperson said. Mr. Krackomberger long has been a critic of William Hill. To criticize us is fine, but to accuse us of cheating is not. We believe this constitutes defamation and are consulting with counsel regarding next steps.

Ed Miller, co-author of the 2019 book The Logic of Sports Betting and a longtime industry observer, chalked up the issue to the bet delay and rejection mechanic.

Operators often place bets in a queue and intentionally sit on them for a specified period of time, Miller told Sports Handle. I noticed that period on William Hills old in-play product was sometimes up to eight seconds. Then any time the operators traders (or the traders at the third party line providers in many cases) make a line change, all the bets sitting in the queue (on any side or proposition) get rejected. The problem is that traders tend to move lines when they are offering their customers better bets.

According to Miller, William Hill isnt necessarily up to anything scandalous.

There may not be bad intent, but the result of the delay/reject policy is that it tends to be biased toward canceling the better bets that customers make, he explained. The longer the delay period, the stronger this bias is. I think its fair to think of this mechanic as offering the operator a button they can press at any time at their sole discretion that amounts to oops we made a mistake, undo the last X seconds. I noticed that this season William Hill both seems to have shortened their delay period substantially in football, and they make fewer small line changes during breaks in play (i.e. they are also choosing to press the button less frequently).

William Hill is improving, according to Miller, who is also co-founder of Deck Prism Sports, an in-game betting odds technology that he hopes will improve the vertical for the nascent U.S. sports gambling industry. William Hills in-play betting is becoming a fairer product for the customer, according to Miller.

However, I believe a truly fair product would have zero delay at all, zero bet rejections, and William Hills product hasnt gotten there yet, Miller said. In some sports (perhaps basketball for instance), this goal is tricky and may take time to attain. But I think in football because the ball is dead during 90% of the time elapsed that this zero delay goal is more than achievable, and I believe sports bettors should be demanding it of their books.

Another prominent professional sports bettor who wished to remain anonymous offered this explanation:

I also dont think its cheatingthey have an inefficient process for approving live bets, he told Sports Handle. I think it affects all patrons evenly. When I live bet at William Hill, I bet $100 segments because I know they wont be manually reviewed and will go through quicker.

Typically, a sportsbook holds between 5-7% of its entire handle in the form of revenue. Its unclear what hold percentage sportsbooks have for in-game wagering specifically, but the vig is often a bit higher than on pregame selections. In the U.S., total betting volume from pre-game wagering still trumps in-game betting, in terms of handle. But that is expected to change in the years ahead as sports wagering evolves, and so books are looking to beef up their in-app sports streaming capabilities.

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Pro Gamblers Accuse NV Bookmaker Of Cheating On In-Game Bets - Sports Handle

One of the greatest aspects of working in the Las Vegas market was the direct exposure to the sports gambling world. Prior to my time there, I had a limited sports gambling resume that consisted of watching Casino hundreds of times.

Following two years of working and living in the sports gaming capital of the world, I learned the industry firsthand and met the key players. When thinking of who to follow, who to book and who to invest in, my shortlist below includes highlights of my Q&A with each.

So, as the NFL season kicks off with the NHL, NBA and MLB all in play, I present which sharps Id bet on. These are the names that will help give you a competitive advantage, keep your audience entertained and, in my opinion, could give Lefty Rosenthal a run for his money.

1. Dave Cokin, professional sports handicapper

A fixture of the sports gambling community for decades, who radiates character, experience and a wealth knowledge. His ability to transcend to a national, regional or local audience in an effortless manner comes with decades of experience on the media and gambling scenes in Las Vegas. Looking for an authentic Old Vegas sharp with a phenomenal record? Look no further.

Follow Dave Cokin on Twitter @davecokin.

2. Chad Millman, The Action Network

Former editorial director and editor-in-chief of ESPN: The Magazine and editorial director for ESPN digital, Chad Millman, left ESPN in September of 2017 to help launch The Action Network, where he is the Chief Content Officer.

Weve been really thoughtful about who we bring in, and what their reputation is and what people cover and your audiences. Information from Jason Sobel, who is probably the premiere golf writer of his generation, who also happens to be an incredibly knowledgeable bettor and daily fantasy player. Thats really valuable because it speaks to a sport that we believe a lot in as far as potential, and he brings an audience that otherwise might not have known who we were or thought about betting.

And we have guys like Chris Raybon, who established himself as a very smart analytics driven fantasy analyst, who also was a very big bettor and knew the betting space really well, but didnt really have any place to express himself with that. And some of the ideas that he has are so contrarian to what everyone else is putting out there, and consistently proven to be successful.

Then, two of our college football experts Colin Wilson and Stuckey, who are honestly, to me, the best examples of old-school Vegas guys, who do a ton of research and know the numbers really well and also know personnel incredibly well. They watch so many games and they are long time betters, and theyre as easy to connect to as anybody you will ever meet when it comes to betting. Theyre the guys you can talk to about betting in the bar, who are not going to make you feel silly if you dont know anything about betting. You can ask them anything and theyre only going to want to share what they know, theyre not going to judge you.

With a 4.8 rating in the App Store, The Action Network has won the best betting content award, a huge accomplishment in and of itself.

Follow Chad Millman on Twitter at @chadmillman.

3. Marco DAngelo, Wager Talk

Sports betting experience: over 40 years.

Age at the time he placed his first bet: 10 years old

One of the best in the business, known for his thoughtful analysis and authenticity, DAngelo has had immense success and overwhelmingly positive reputation as a professional sports handicapper and bettor.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on sports, the sports betting world has been impacted and the long term effects and continual adaptations are far reaching in scope.

Theres a difference of playing in a bubble, like the hockey and basketball, where everything is, you know, super controlled as to whats going to happen with football where the teams are going to travel like baseball, you know, theyre keeping the teams, you know, under wraps when theyre on the road and so forth.

Now, whats going to happen with the football season is youre going to have an injury report, like you always do. But as the week goes on, the players are going to call the test and all the time youre going to theres going to be cases. Its going to happen. Somebodys going to test and then its going to depend on how many tests and what players youre losing for that particular game. And until its a big key player, you know, its not gonna make any news. That could throw so many things off.

When youre dealing with the statistics, if a quarterback goes down, a quarterback tests positive and he has to be a scratch for that game that week, thats going to be big! Then, you know, do you play the game? At the beginning of the week, when youre trying to get the best number possible, you know, thats the cat and mouse game about sports wagering is you want to lock in the best price. You want to get the dog at the highest peak, and you want to get the favorite at the lowest value. As far as what the line is, you could take a team that you bet on Monday or Tuesday at minus seven, something happens to a team player you know, it is rolled out Friday or Saturday, and all of a sudden, that ticket that youre holding is minus seven. The line went down to minus three and a half and youre screwed. Youre stuck with minus seven.

So, theres going to be instances where there will be problems and its going to be just something that were going to have to adapt to on the fly. And as we see this go along, you know, theres only one or two isolated cases where you know, a COVID case really affected a lot.

Theyre the people setting the lines, everybody else is betting and handicapping has that same information. Stats are the stats. They dont lie, they dont change numbers or numbers, but for my element I add situational lines. Just like, you know with work, lets face it, were all the same. We come to work every day and we put forth the good we bring, we try to bring our best every day. But there are certain daysyou just dont bring your A game. Professional athletes are the same way. Theyre still human beings at the end of the day, and I try to find those peaks and valleys because if everybody else has all the same information as far as stats go, I need to find something thats going to give me the value to be the numbers that are based on those stats.

The expertise Wager Talk offers ranges in scope, specialty, age and has an incredibly diverse, deep bench of talent.

Our content is designed to educate people. The bottom line is we want to try to make people a better bettor, by education.

Follow Marco DAngelo on Twitter at @marcoinvegas. Follow Wager Talk at @WagerTalk and online at WagerTalk.com.

4. John Murray, Kelly Stewart, Kelly & Murray Podcast

A unique vantage point and concept for a podcast, The Westgate Superbook USA bookmaker and sports betting expert come together to provide great content about sports gambling.

We were like minded in a lot of ways, on a lot of things, so we get along well, John Murray says. We know how to push each others buttons. She knows exactly what to say when she wants to get under my skin. We have a lot of fun.

Murray, who started working out in Vegas as a ticket writer under Superbook Director Jay Kornegay in 2007, has an eye on what game youre looking to get the best value on and consistently delivers winners.

One game that Ill be watching is Dallas and the Rams. The book is going to need the Rams really big, so all the parlays are going to go in Dallas. Well be keeping a really close eye on that game, for sure.

Follow John Murray on Twitter at @vegasmurray. Follow Kelly Stewart on Twitter at @kellyinvegas. Follow the show at @kellymurrayshow.

Bonus free picks: Mitch Moss & Pauly Howard, VSiN

These two guys are as entertaining as they are informative and know the world of sports betting inside and out.

Follow @MitchMossRadio & @PaulyHoward on Twitter.

https://barrettsportsmedia.com

Chrissy Paradis is a veteran sports radio producer. Shes worked in Las Vegas, Washington DC, Raleigh and Hartford helping personalities such as Rob Dibble, Tim Brando, Steve Cofield, Adam Gold and Joe Ovies. You can contact her on Twitter @ChrissyParadis or by email at Chrissy.Paradis@gmail.com.

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Who To Bet On For Gambling Content This Football Season - Barrett Sports Media

A panel of experts discussing safer gambling as part of day four of the SBC Summit Barcelona Digital agreed that while legislation and even harmonisation are key to addressing the issue, the obligation remains firmly with operators to take action.

Discussing the merits of harmonisation, a distinguished panel agreed that EU-wide standards remained unlikely but that regulators should also resist one-size-fits-all legislation that might be perceived as relieving some obligation from the operators.

Sponsored by W2, the panel was part of the events Safer Gambling track, itself sponsored by Epic Risk Management.

Yanica Sant, gead of EU affairs and policy at the Malta Gaming Authority, told delegates: Maltese legislation is all objective based in these areas. It is not very specific as to the limits, for example it obliges operators only to offer players the possibility to set limits.

Theres no one-size-fits-all solution. Operators are obliged to identify the risk to their players. What we need to see is that operator handling the risks it has identified in a proportionate way.

If there was an incident when an operator could have noticed something or if they chose to look the other way, we are in a position to say that operator is not fulfilling its duty of care to customers. Leaving the obligation as non-specific puts the onus onto the operator.

Sandhya Singh, head of risk and fraud, payment and customer service at Napoleon Sports & Casino, offered an operator perspective. Its important to make our platform safe for customers, she told the panel. Operators have perhaps not been as active in the past but they are now catching up quickly to ensure platforms are safe to play.

Concurring with Sant, Singh added that a one-size-fits-all solution is not appropriate.

Peter-Paul De Goeij, managing director of the Netherlands Online Gambling Association, said that the Dutch market was coming from a different place compared to many, and that NOGA was helping to introduce safer gambling protocols. The industry here doesnt have a strong track record when it comes to this, he told the panel, which was being moderated by Peter Murray of W2.

In the regulated industry, theres no place for operators that do not take this issue to heart and as a starting point for their operations, said De Goeij.

In the Netherlands, we dont have a clear picture of how the current gambling operators are doing in terms of duty of care, the prevention of addiction or underage gambling. We simply dont have the data.

Asked about fraud-detection tools that could be deployed or re-purposed to detect behaviours linked to gambling-related harm, Napoleons Singh said the operator was already using this avenue. The risk of problem gambling has been added to the tools that we traditionally use for fraud detection, she said.

They have not necessarily been repurposed but increased in scope to ensure we have measures in place [for safer gambling].,

Matthew Hickey, CEO of the Gordon Moody Association, incorporating Gambling Therapy, said: We feel operators are trying to do their best to do more and to provide the right support for those people that need it.

However, the people we support are those most in crisis. They have got to this point predominantly because they have underlying mental health issues. For the majority these [safer gambling] measures will have a big positive impact but those we treat can be highly manipulative in order to get their fix.

The industry is getting much better at identifying these instances but the people we work with will always go further and further, said Hickey.

As such we are able to provide operators with the full loop of information, to help ensure that those that need help can be identified early on.

View original post here:

Safer Gambling: Responsibility must remain with operators - Casino Beats

Dear Penny,

My husband became obsessed with the stock market during quarantine. His company stopped its 401(k) match in March, so he stopped contributing. He also stopped making his Roth IRA contribution, which he used to max out.

Instead, hes putting all that money into his Robinhood account and hes always trading on the app.

I left my job in the medical field earlier this year because of worries about COVID-19 and because our kids school had closed. Weve decided not to send the kids back to school at least through the end of 2020, so Im at home getting our three kids through virtual school. Since Im not working, I cant contribute to a retirement account of my own.

I dont know much about the stock market and I have zero interest. My husband has a finance degree, though thats not his profession, so I lack his expertise in this respect. Some of his friends are equally obsessed with Robinhood. Im alarmed because Ive heard them joke about the risky bets theyve made.

He hasnt taken money out of retirement accounts or our savings. He says I shouldnt worry because hes made way more than he would have with his 401(k) and also because were still current on all our bills even without my income.

Is it OK that hes stopped contributing to his 401(k) so he can trade stocks? How do I ask him what hes actually investing in? Im worried that hes gambling money that we need for our retirement.

-K.

Dear K.,

Maybe your husband does know more about the stock market than you do. But it sounds like youre the smarter investor.

If your husband is using the fact that hes gotten superior returns since March compared to what hes averaged in his 401(k) over the years, hes giving himself WAY too much credit. Please dont buy in.

As of Sept. 1, the S&P 500 was up 57 percent since its historic crash in March. Those returns simply arent sustainable. Historically, stocks deliver average annual returns of about 10 percent before you account for inflation. Investments in 401(k) plans skew conservative, so youd expect slightly lower returns.

You dont build wealth through huge short-term stock market fluctuations. You build it by consistently investing and staying put over the long haul. Your concern implies that, unlike your husband, you grasp that.

But this question is about so much more than money.

Youre not earning a paycheck right now, but youre very much working. Youve put your career on pause and taken on the difficult work of getting your family through the pandemic.

But has your husband sacrificed? It doesnt sound like it. Instead, hes turning your couch into a casino.

Heres whats even more worrisome, though: Hes unilaterally making decisions that affect your entire family without your consent, despite knowing youre worried. This is not a partnership.

You obviously know that its time for a long-overdue talk with your husband about his decisions. And while Im being hard on him, Id suggest taking a different approach.

Dont lead with Im worried that youre gambling away our future. Its a 100 percent legitimate concern. I just dont think it will start a productive dialogue.

Tell him instead that you want to set aside a couple hours to go over all of your investment and savings accounts. Its harder for him to get defensive if youre simply seeking to understand where your family finances stand. If he resists having an open conversation, consider it a huge red flag.

Focus the discussion on your broader goals, like when you want to retire or whether you want to pay for your kids college. Dont let yourself get sucked into an argument about the returns hes gotten. Those returns are unattainable in the long run. Aim to figure out what you should contribute for retirement based on the modest 6 percent to 7 percent returns financial planners estimate youll average.

One thing Id insist on here is that he prioritize your retirement as well. Youre right that you cant contribute to a retirement account without earned income, but earning spouses can fund an IRA for a non-earning spouse. The regular IRA contribution limits of $6,000 if youre under 50 or $7,000 if youre 50 or older apply.

Once youve resumed funding your retirement accounts sufficiently and youre saving for any other goals, you can split any extra money between the two of you for your individual wants. If he chooses to trade stocks on Robinhood, he can bet to his hearts content.

Dont let him sway you with his stock market expertise. Your future is at stake. Personally, Id trust you to manage my money over your husband any day.

Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior editor at the Penny Hoarder. Send your tricky money questions to AskPenny@thepennyhoarder.com.

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Dear Penny: I think my husband is gambling away our future on Robinhood - Tampa Bay Times

Barclays is implementing a cooling off period for its customers who elect to switch off their gambling-related transactions. The new feature that will make customers wait for at least 72 hours before they can resume with gambling payments will be introduced in the coming weeks.

In December 2018, Barclays introduced a protective option for its clients to allow them to self-exclude from gambling by turning off gambling transactions, and the feature has been used more than 570,000 times ever since. During the coronavirus-induced lockdown only, the banks gambling block has been activated 187,000 times.

The ability to block gambling transactions through your bank card or app is incredibly helpful to those struggling to control their gambling, and is ideally used together with other practical tools such as self-exclusion, blocking software, and specialist support and treatment around the issue.

The new 72-hour time delay that Barclays will be adding to the feature will further improve the ability of its customers to control their gambling behavior as it comes after careful consideration of clients feedback. Any attempts to make a transaction on gambling websites, apps or venues before this periods expiration will be automatically declined by the bank.

Customer feedback on our gambling control showed us there was more we could do to help and weve worked closely with them to design the solution. Our customers have told us this 72-hour time delay gives them a real pause for thought and helps when they are tempted to return to gambling.

Whenever customers decide to switch gambling back on after activating the feature, a pop-up window will show on the screen reminding them that they will need to wait for the cooling period to expire before making any payments to gambling operators.

Weve long campaigned for banks to offer customers gambling blocks with a cooling off period, as this can make a huge difference in helping people stay in control of gambling and avoid serious financial problems. Were delighted that Barclays has taken this step and hope that other banks will follow suit.

Barclays is one of the banks which take gambling harm prevention seriously, as there are other control tools at the disposal of its customers, among which setting a spending limit for a single transaction, cash withdrawal limits as well as complete temporary freeze of cards when clients feel they are losing the grip on their spending entirely.

Barclays also has a gambling support page where it provides guidelines for its customers how to realize they are getting out of control. Feeling stressed or worried, getting into debt or struggling to pay for food and bills due to money being spent on gambling are among the signs mentioned on the banks support page.

Continued here:

Barclays Is Beefing Gambling Block Feature with Cooling off Period - GamblingNews.com