Monthly Archives: January 2021

Seychelles welcoming back travelers with the COVID-19 vaccine – Business Insider – Business Insider

Posted: January 31, 2021 at 7:18 am

Seychelles is reopening its borders to visitors who have received the COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to jumpstart tourism this year.

Seychelles' updated travel guidelines were announced shortly after the archipelagic country unveiled its "immunization campaign," which includes vaccinating almost 70% of local adults by mid-March. It's the first country in Africa to roll out a vaccination program and hopes to become the first country in the world to vaccinate the majority of its adult population, according to a news release from January 11.

On the heels of this mass vaccination announcement, Seychelles' updated its travel protocols to now welcome travelers who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. In order to visit, the vaccinated travelers must wait two weeks after receiving the last dose and are required to provide proof of the vaccination from their home country's health authorities.

However, visitors with the vaccine are still required to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken within 72 hours of boarding the flight.

For those who aren't yet vaccinated, visitors flying in from Seychelles' list of permitted category one and two countries or travelers taking a private jet will have to show a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before traveling.

If you're a visitor who isn't taking a private jet or coming in from one of the approved countries, you'll have to wait a bit longer until the majority of adults in Seychelles are vaccinated. By then, mid-March as projected, the country will allow all travelers to enter, so long as they've tested negative within 72 hours.

Read more: The CEO of Dubai Duty Free, the largest airport retail operation in the world, expects business to return to normal by 2023

On November 23, the US issued a Level Two advisory for Seychelles, telling travelers to "exercise increased caution." However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified the Seychelle under its highest Level Four category for COVID-19 and recommends avoiding travel to the country.

Inversely, the US is not mentioned under Seychelles' category one or two lists of approved countries, which means the country is not currently accepting US visitors.

Presently, many countries officially including the US on Tuesday are allowing international travelers from select countries to enter so long as they've presented a negative COVID-19 test result. Looking ahead, Seychelles' decision to allow vaccinated travelers could be one of many as talks of "vaccine passports" for global travelers continue around the world.

Several countries around the world have been looking for innovative ways to safely bring back tourists in 2021 after international travel was put on hold throughout 2020. Bermuda, for example, is asking travelers to present a negative PCR coronavirus test within five days of arriving on the island.

Other countries have taken a different approach by enticing business and work-related travelers. For example, tropical hotspots like Aruba have set up programs intended reel in the "work from anywhere" crowd, while Singapore is currently creating a luxury "four-star" bubble hotelspecifically for business travel.

Are you a travel industry employee or have a travel industry story to share? Contact this reporter at bchang@insider.com.

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A University Is Using a Dead Professor to Teach an Online Class – Futurism

Posted: at 7:17 am

Beyond the Grave

Aaron Ansuini, a student at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada made a shocking discovery: He found that his art history professor wasnt alive anymore.

HI EXCUSE ME, Ansuini wrote in a tweet, I just found out the the prof for this online course Im taking *died in 2019* and hes technically still giving classes since hes *literally my prof for this course* and Im learning from lectures recorded before his passing.

I mean, I guess I technically read texts written by people whove passed all the time, he continued, but its the fact that I looked up his email to send him a question and PULLED UP HIS MEMORIAM INSTEAD that just THREW ME OFF A LITTLE.

Concordia University confirmed to Slate that professor Franois-Marc Gagnon, a lecturer in the universitys art history department, did indeed pass in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

His lectures, however, live on in Concordias online course catalog and are used for a dedicated online course. The class is technically being led by a different professor and two teaching assistants, with Gagnons recordings being used as a teaching tool, according to Slate.

Musicians recordings are frequently released after they die. Social media data often outlives its account holders as well. But the phenomenon is less common in higher education.

The incident also sheds light on the difficulties of learning online during COVID a phenomenon thats upending all sorts of social norms.

READ MORE: How a Dead Professor Is Teaching a University Art History Class [Slate]

More on online learning: Scientists Predict the Pandemic Will Set Students Back for Years

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Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city project in talks over cloud computing deal – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 7:17 am

InvestorPlace

A few months ago, I began prodding around the idea of, What are the future FAANG stocks? Weve seen Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and other tech stocks swell from modest winners to worldwide behemoths. These stocks went from $100 billion to $1 trillion in market capitalization. So many people talk about what it would be like if we had bought Apple in the 1980s or Amazon in 1999. While anyone who did and was able to hold on until now is ridiculously rich, they also sat through a ton of volatility. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Further, investors could have waited until after Apples iPhone moment or Amazons clear dominance of e-commerce and still made a 10x or more return on their investment. Dont believe me? Apple is up over 1,000% over the past decade, while Amazon is up 1,760%. Over just the last five years when it was absurdly clear these two were established leaders Apple and Amazon are up 463% and 442%, respectively. That led me to ponder, what are the next tech stocks that could become new FAANG leaders? Specifically, I am looking for companies in the $50 billion to $300 billion market cap range that can go to $400 billion to $1 trillion or more. Its an admittedly wide range, but who cares these winners are right under our noses. Lets look at seven tech stocks: 7 Safe Stocks to Buy for Solid Returns in Tumultuous Times PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU) Shopify (NYSE:SHOP) Adobe Systems (NASDAQ:ADBE) Tech Stocks to Buy for Future Gains: PayPal (PYPL) Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com Current Market Cap: $295 billion Many investors have continued to underestimate PayPal. When it comes to FAANG tech stocks in their younger years, that seems to be a staple observation of them as well. However, PayPal has found a way to become a payment juggernaut. While sending money to friends and family is free and convenient, thats simply one part of the ecosystem. The company also makes a sliver of sales when involving another business or merchant. Its become a safe, trusted and convenient way for businesses to sell online or to make subscriptions a piece of cake. PayPals acquisition of Venmo and Honey have only added to those layers of engagement, while e-commerce will continue to be the main catalyst behind its growth. For those looking at tech stocks, the power and trend of e-commerce doesnt need to be explained. Lastly, PayPals now in the cryptocurrency game, allowing customers to buy and sell Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Etherium and Litecoin. Maybe PayPal wont be able to collect its current fee read: commission on these transactions forever, based on how stock commissions vanished almost overnight in the brokerage industry. However, for now it should act as an additional growth catalyst. Bonus: At a $100 billion market cap, Square (NYSE:SQ) could also be a consideration as a member of new FAANG tech stocks in this respect. Salesforce (CRM) Source: Bjorn Bakstad / Shutterstock.com Current Market Cap: $206 billion. It should go without saying that given the massive gains the stock market has registered over the past nine months, the ideal scenario would be a sizable correction for several of the stocks on this list. However, that doesnt apply to all of them. Take Salesforce for example. This company keeps on printing money as revenue continues to chug higher. For all the doubt that Salesforce has endured over the years, it has done quite well. It doesnt seem like management plans on stopping, either. For instance, management is looking to generate $60 billion in revenue by 2034. Most recently, it aims to scoop up Slack (NYSE:WORK), growing its workstation presence and scaling up its fight against Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT). 8 Cheap Stocks to Buy With Your Next Stimulus Check As we are talking about pullbacks, Salesforce is a great example. At the recent low, shares were 25% off the highs. That seems like a great opportunity for a company that continually sports 20%-plus revenue growth. Nvidia (NVDA) Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com Current Market Cap: $335 billion Admittedly a bit larger than what we were looking for, Nvidia needs to be included on this list. Almost every major technological trend is growing in demand. More internet traffic is creating strain in the cloud, increasing demand for edge-cloud computing. More data is creating more need for datacenters. Increasing self-driving vehicle capabilities demand more computing power. Better computers demand better graphics. The list goes on and on and Nvidia is there at every turn. The companys products cater to multiple end markets with impressive secular growth. Thats why, despite the pandemic, Nvidia saw such an extreme acceleration in both earnings and revenue. Its savvy M&A strategy has allowed it to add high-quality names like Mellanox at reasonable valuations. Now Nvidia is going after Arm, a massive $40 billion deal. Nvidia is already nearing an unstoppable state, but with Arm it would be a juggernaut. From a pure antitrust perspective, Nvidia should be fine. However, this juggernaut position might cause some hiccups. Either way, this is a high-quality name that will only grow in size over time. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com Current Market Cap: $111.5 billion For Nvidias smaller sibling, we have Advanced Micro Devices. At about one-third the size, AMD has quickly climbed the ladder while drastically improving its financials. CEO Lisa Su has orchestrated one of the most impressive comeback stories in the stock market. Once left for dead, AMD was trading firmly below the $2 mark in 2016. Now sporting a 52-week high of $99-and-change, the leadership has been stellar. Like Nvidia, AMD is situated in multiple secular growth themes as rising demand in technology results in rising demand for AMD. Also like Nvidia, AMD saw a massive rise in revenue and profit during the pandemic. In one last final comparison to Nvidia, AMD is also working to close a large acquisition. In October, the company agreed to acquire Xilinx for $35 billion. 9 Stocks Selling at a Discount Right Now While it would require years worth of more growth, its not hard to imagine AMD growing to the size of Nvidia ($300 billion). Eventually clearing this level could put it on the lower end of the FAANG status in terms of its size. Roku (ROKU) Source: jejim / Shutterstock.com Current Market Cap: $53 billion Roku is a tough one, because its certainly the smallest name on this list (by a lot) and it just went on a massive rally. Shares are up 90% over the past three months, as Roku has climbed from a market cap of just $28 billion to where it is today. Additionally, investors just dont understand this company. They still think its going head-to-head with Amazon with its stick players. While thats kind of true, the story behind Roku isnt the hardware its the platform. Roku doesnt care if its making money on the hardware. Instead, its focus is on the platform, where it collects fees from content providers and on ad revenue from its free Roku channel. In that respect, growth continues to explode. Analysts expect roughly 50% revenue growth this year, followed by 40% growth in 2021 and 36% growth in 2022. Respectfully, I believe that may be conservative. Bulls will acknowledge that a pullback may be in order (and a potentially large one at that). However, I dont think the top is in for Roku. For AMD I mentioned the lower end of the FAANG status, which would be Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX). Currently, thats a $250 billion market cap and remember, NFLX is at a new high. I could see a scenario where Roku pulls back 20% to 25% giving it a roughly $40 billion market cap and ultimately roaring on to a $200-plus billion entity. Shopify (SHOP) Source: justplay1412 / Shutterstock.com Current Market Cap: $145 billion There is one problem with Shopify and several other names on this list: The rallies. While the massive rallies great for long-term investors, it makes the stocks susceptible to large pullbacks as well. If and when we get those declines, thats investors opportunity to pounce. For Shopify, the bullish reasoning is multifold. First, Shopify is riding a much large trend e-commerce and therefore will continue to benefit from robust growth. When the coronavirus hit, sales were not negatively impacted. Instead, merchants flocked to its platform, driving Shopifys revenue higher. Second, its building out the anti-Amazon business platform giving merchants big and small power and control of the customer experience. Now the reward here is massive, as Shopify builds out multiple business segments likes shipping, credit, Shopify Pay and others. However, the risk is present as well. That is, can these companies that crave independence from Amazon delivery quality experiences for the customer? In the end, businesses and merchants are at least willing to try. In December 2019 I said investors could buy Shopify despite its lofty valuation. My argument centered on its valuation, saying this name could go from a $40 billion market cap to a $100 to $120 billion market cap in a decade. 7 Safe Stocks to Buy for Solid Returns in Tumultuous Times It was not obvious that the more than tripling in its value would take place in just a few months. In the long, long run, its not hard to imagine this name being significantly higher. Adobe Systems (ADBE) Source: r.classen / Shutterstock.com Current market cap: $228 billion Last but not certainly not least is Adobe. This company does a lot more than just Flash or Photoshop. Its become a mainstay in e-commerce while also becoming a beacon in the graphics, digital and creative landscape. Find me a freelance graphic designer whos not using Adobe. The stock has quietly racked up enormous gains as well. Adobe is up 140% over the past three years and 430% over the past five years. Over the last decade, the stock has rallied more than 1,300%, as its market cap was around $16 billion just 10 years ago. Thats some impressive action and Adobe doesnt show many signs of letting up. Analysts expect double-digit earnings and revenue growth this year and next year, while the company gross margins remain solidly above 85%. While its top-line margins have been steady, its bottom-line profit margins have been soaring. Adobe is quickly yet quietly becoming a technology juggernaut right in front of us. Like some others on this list, the stock has been consolidating nicely over the past six months or so. Lets see if this name can resolve to the upside. On the date of publication, Bret Kenwell held a long position in AAPL, ROKU, CRM and NVDA. Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. More From InvestorPlace Why Everyone Is Investing in 5G All WRONG Top Stock Picker Reveals His Next 1,000% Winner It doesnt matter if you have $500 in savings or $5 million. Do this now. The post 7 Tech Stocks That Could Be the Future FAANG appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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BADG’s Obsidian is a futuristic concept house powered by Black creativity – Business of Home

Posted: at 7:17 am

A little over two years ago, artist Malene Barnett started the Black Artists + Designers Guild with the goal of combating the lack of representation of Black creatives in design. Since an early meeting of 12 at the Fabricut showroom in New York, the group has grown to more than 200 from all across the world; its work has been celebrated at industry events ranging from High Point to NY Now; and its members have graced magazine covers and earned spots on the AD100. Now, BADG has its first house projectbut its not the typical 15 rooms in an unoccupied townhouse experience.

I realized early on that we needed to have our own projecta space where we get to explore not only our creativity but thinking about What does space look like and what could it feel like knowing that Black bodies will occupy it? Barnett tells host Dennis Scully on the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast. We took a different approach, not necessarily starting with, Lets find a pretty fabric and a couch and all the accessories and items. It was more about, How do we connect to the community so we can build a space that supports our well-being and health and also think about our lifestyle and culture?

Malene BarnettAlaric Campbell Photography

Leyden LewisCourtesy of BADG

Left: Malene Barnett Alaric Campbell Photography | Right: Leyden Lewis Courtesy of BADG

The resulting project, a virtual concept home called Obsidian, debuts online next week. The home, set in a hypothetical future of 2025 and rendered digitally on an imagined site in Oakland, California, showcases the work of 22 BADG members, ranging from interior designers to architects to artists. Beyond presenting beautiful rooms, the goal, say Barnett and designer Leyden Lewis, was to use the project as a testing ground for technology and design concepts crafted with the Black family in mind.

[Architect] Nina Cooke John puts it really well: Its more along the lines of a car show. Mercedes-Benz shows you what theyre envisioning 10 years from now, says Lewis, who, along with Cooke John, designed the architecture of the Obsidian Virtual Concept House. We wanted to say, Lets use that model to put together ideas that not only grab our story now but project that story into whats being referred to as our ancestral future.

The homes digital setting allowed its creators to explore concepts that would either be cost-prohibitive or technologically challenging in a real-life setting. Theres Barnetts Sankofa: Legacy Wall installation, which combines terracotta tiles with an enormous digital screen, all backed by a computer that collects and displays the inhabitants family and medical history on voice command. Then theres Lewiss Room of Requirement, a multipurpose space that acts as both a virtual doctors office and a venue for sexual exploration.

These high-concept explorations sit alongside more day-to-day investigations of Black domesticity. The home, says Barnett, is designed to be an anchor house, a place where extended family can come and staya necessity that the artist says she and her BADG co-creators identified both from their own experience and through interviews with Black families at the outset of the project. A more disturbing practicality? Safety measures that the designers added as a response to the police killings of Black men and women that gripped the nation last springnotably that of Breonna Taylor, who was shot in her own home.

Safety is luxury, says Lewis. Can you imagine that wed actually be thinking about an individual demographic group in America thinking about security as luxury? Its pretty astounding.

Listen to the episode and check out some takeaways below. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This episode was sponsored by Chairish and Universal Furniture.

Something NewObsidian is not a typical showhouse, by design. Its an idea that opened up a lot of new possibilities, says Barnett, but it presented a challenge to sponsors who are used to the typical we loan you product, we get exposure arrangement. For some sponsors or corporations, they couldnt understand. Because this is all brand-new. Its brand-new for us, its brand-new for them, she says. We got a lot of opportunity for vendors to give us product, but we turned that down. We had to teach the vendors: No, this is how were doing it. We want you to be a part of it, but you have to understand this is our house, we have our own set of standards and rules. Its not about giving us product, because that doesnt position us as creative thinkers if we just keep taking [and placing] product.

Diversity vs. EquityWhen we talk about racial injustice in the design industry, the words we use matter. A focus on diversity, says Barnett, leads to initiatives that showcase Black creatives without backing up that attention with economic investment in their businesses. Real change? It comes from equity. There has been a confusion between what diversity is and equity is. Equity comes with a compensation that our members, our creators, have been lacking in this industry, she says. The companies who want to partner with us have to understand that yes, the exposure is great, but we want to grow our businesses.

Open your rolodexIt can be daunting for even the most well-intentioned peopleand companiesto commit to a more equitable industry. Theres no one way to make progress, say Barnett and Lewis. The first step is generally a personal engagement with the reality of injustice. From there, sustained financial contributions to organizations like BADG dont hurt. Another way to spread equity, they say, is to widen your own circle and spread opportunity. The money is one part, but opening up that Rolodex and making connections is another part, and I think they go hand in hand, says Barnett. When those opportunities do come in, why not think of somebody else thats outside of your circle? Why not start to build a new circle of people that you can connect with and help grow their businesses, as well? If you keep going to lunch with the same people, theyre going to get all the opportunities.

Homepage photo: A rendering of the Obsidian Virtual Concept House | Courtesy of BADG

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Casino gambling legislation introduced in General Assembly | News | henryherald.com – Henry Herald

Posted: at 7:15 am

ATLANTA Georgia lawmakers again are considering whether to legalize casino gambling in the Peach State.

A constitutional amendment introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives Tuesday calls for a statewide referendum to authorize a limited number of casino resorts across the state.

A portion of the proceeds would go toward the HOPE Scholarship and other tuition and grant programs at both public and private colleges and universities as well as Technical College System of Georgia campuses. The money also would help cover the casinos operating expenses and fund programs for prevention and treatment of addictive gambling.

The legislation is sponsored by several longtime supporters of legalizing casinos, including Republican state Reps. Ron Stephens of Savannah, and Alan Powell of Hartwell, and Democratic Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus.

Stephens argued Georgia voters should have the right to decide whether to legalize casino gambling, which has drawn strong public support in numerous polls.

Georgians support the economic opportunities presented by casino resorts, especially jobs and revenue that they would bring to local communities, he said.

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Legalizing casino gambling has long enjoyed the backing of the private sector. Officials at Atlanta Motor Speedway floated a plan last year to build a $1 billion casino resort adjacent to the racetrack in Hampton.

But interest in casinos goes far beyond the metro region. The developers who built The Battery, a mixed-use development that includes the Atlanta Braves Truist Park in Cobb County, have released renderings of proposed casino resorts on the Chattahoochee River near Columbus, on Lake Hartwell in Lavonia and in Midway south of Savannah.

While it may seem that metro Atlanta would be an obvious location, rural Georgia may very well have better locations, said Rick Lackey, founder of Atlanta-based City Commercial Real Estate, which recently announced it has more than 5,000 acres of potential casino resort sites under leasing agreements.

Generally, successful destination resorts with casinos draw customers that can easily travel by car and are within 2-to-5-hour drive times of major population centers, Lackey said.

Passing casino legislation will be a heavy lift for Georgia lawmakers. Constitutional amendments require two-thirds majorities in the state House and Senate, a hurdle that has been impossible to clear in past sessions amid opposition to legalized gambling mounted by religious conservatives.

The casino legislation is the second legalized gambling proposal to hit the General Assembly during the early days of the 2021 legislative session. Stephens introduced a bill earlier this month that would legalize online sports betting in Georgia.

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Virginia sports betting is live, adding to the states list of gambling opportunities – WJHL-TV News Channel 11

Posted: at 7:15 am

RICHMOND, Va (WRIC) In a state where decades-long debates raged over legalizing varying forms of gambling, sports betting has added itself to Virginias ranks of risk opportunities.

After FanDuel went live last week, advertisements have been pushed to consumers as additional competitive sports books launched.

BetMGM, Draft Kings, Caesars and Rivers Casino Portsmouth all have approved permits according to the Virginia Lottery.

The General Assembly passed a measure legalizing sports betting during the 2020 session, and less than one year later sports fanatics can get in on the action.

The move is the latest green light for gambling in the Commonwealth over the last three decades.

The Virginia Lottery went live in the late 1980s, Colonial Downs off-track betting first happened in the late 90s, and was later revived in gaming hubs like Rosies Gaming Emporium.

Like other modes of gambling operations, sports books have guidelines to follow, as Mike Raffensburger with Fan Duel explained.

We have requirements, much like a bank does to know our customers. So in order to actually sign up and deposit to play on FanDuel, we require certain information like your address, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and we use other databases to sort of confirm your identity and that you are of age and legally allowed to place a gambling wager in the state of Virginia, Raffensburger said.

In Virginia, bets on in-state teams cannot be wagered ona provision similar to several other states who have legalized sports betting.

Many may be interested in placing bets, but Brenda Hurt in Richmond said she will keep her money close.

I mean, they [sports fans] might want to [wager], but I cant tell you who because I know I dont want to. I just watch the game, Hurt said.

I need my money. Ive got to pay bills, I cant do nothing with gambling and giving away my money free, she said.

Full-fledged casino projects are also in the works across Virginia, including the potential one may pop up in Richmond, which is still under consideration.

For those with gambling addictions, resources are available to you, including the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling.

The VCPG toll free hotline is 1-888-532-3500.

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OPINION: Right now is the time to stand up against gambling – Kentucky Today

Posted: at 7:15 am

By ANDREW T. WALKER

According to Kentucky Today, the Republican-led state Senate is set to introduce a new bill next week that would expand gambling in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The expected legislation would attempt to resolve the ongoing debate over the Historical Horse Racing slot machines that the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled against. Because the Supreme Court ruled against their illegal implementation, the legislature is hoping to pass enabling legislation that would allow these machines to get up and running again.

Why would the legislature take time out of their short session during a pandemic to see such legislation pass? So that the state can continue to generate the tax revenue from Kentuckians gambling losses. Thats right, some legislators think Kentucky wins when Kentuckians lose. The Kentucky legislature is so preoccupied with Kentuckians losing their money to a predatory industry that it is prioritizing it over and against a myriad of other issues facing Kentucky.

The first rule of public policy is to do no harm. By that standard, what the legislature is embarking upon upends the first principle of governments purpose according to Scripture: to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good (1 Pet. 2:14). To pass a gambling bill is to get this biblical formula exactly backwards: It is to praise a vice by allowing it to prosper with government approval and to punish the good by incentivizing financial mismanagement. Talk about a mix-up of priorities.

To get a sense of why gambling is wrong and counterproductive, lets take a look at the idea of Kentucky being a Commonwealth. Commonwealth is derived from the idea of the Commonweal which is an archaic term referring to the idea of the general welfare, or what we might call the common good. The common good is the idea that we all have a stake in promoting the types of conditions that cause everyone to thrive in society. To focus on the common good means to maximize the ability for people to flourish. The common good is only common insofar as it serves everyone equally. Gambling does exactly the opposite. It serves the interest of a few to the detriment of the many by catering to powerful financial interests.

Some may make the libertarian argument that increased tax revenue serves the interest of all. But to focus on the interests of the state through increased tax revenue is at odds with looking out for the interests of those who would be most likely to gamblethose on the lower socioeconomic ladder. We as Christians and Kentuckians cannot love our neighbor and seek the financial interests of the state while simultaneously fleecing our neighbor.

What are some other reasons to oppose gambling? There are reasons too numerous to count, but lets name just a few.

There is more at stake in this debate than just personal entertainment preferences. Gambling is one of the few forms of entertainment that results in the proliferation of human misery. A hands off libertarian approach to gambling may relieve someone of their own personal dislike of gambling, but it only feeds the wrongheaded assumption that individual behavior has no bearing on the rest of society. Where someone suffers from gambling, others have to be present to pick up the broken pieces. We all have a stake in caring for one another by resisting an industry that seeks no higher interest than its own profit margins.

Kentucky Baptists should stand united against this legislation and should contact their legislator to voice their opposition. You can call the legislative message line at 1-800-372-7181. Operators will help you identify your legislator and take your message. You can also email your legislator directly to let them know you are opposed to expanded gambling sinking its teeth into Kentucky.

Kentucky Baptists, right now is the time to have our message heard. If were looking for a way to love our neighbor and be salt and light in our culture, doing so is only a phone call or email away.

Andrew T. Walker is Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Public Affairs Advisor to the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

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Letters: Hawaii Tourism Authority not needed to draw visitors here; Gambling would harm communities; Diversify economy with TMT project – Honolulu…

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Gambling would harm communities

State lawmakers reportedly are prepared to have serious discussions about whether to allow some form of legalized gambling (Hawaii gambling bills under serious review, Star-Advertiser, Jan. 27). Let there be no mistake: Legalizing gambling would be grave.

Hawaii must stay the course with its conviction of sustaining and enriching communities. It must be strongly opposed to all forms of gambling. Gambling exploits those who can least afford it and undermines community values. Millions of Americans are problem or pathological gamblers, with many between 12 and 18 years of age.

Social and economic costs include unemployment benefits, welfare benefits, physical and mental health problems, theft, embezzlement, bankruptcy, suicide, child abuse and neglect, domestic abuse, divorce, incarceration, work absences and homelessness.

Hawaii must hold steadfast against legalized gambling; the costs far outweigh the benefits.

Ron Bode

Kaneohe

HTA not needed to draw visitors here

Defunding the Hawaii Tourism Authority probably would be a great money saver (Hawaii Tourism Authority readies for defunding, Star-Advertiser, Jan. 25).

People know Hawaiis here. Theyd like to come. And many dont want anything to do with a resort area, in which they are fleeced for resort fees and parking.

While weve never been privy to the amount of TAT (transient accommodations tax) monies received from vacation rentals, I know most hosts were paying them. I had a vacation rental, but not now. Many former guests have called and will not come back until they can stay in vacation rentals.

Move forward with many fewer, and only hosted, vacation rentals and people will come back. Meanwhile, spend the TAT on our Third World roads.

Debbie Aldrich

Haleiwa

Diversify economy with TMT project

Gov. David Ige called for a robust digital economy in order to compete globally while earning higher wages and reverse the brain drain (Gov. David Ige calls for economy to pivot to technology, Star-Advertiser, Jan. 26).

In March 2020, Gordon Squires, Thirty Meter Telescope vice president, said the latest estimate for the cost of the TMT is $2.4 billion. The construction and maintenance of the facility all translate into good local jobs. This brings money into Hawaii.

We have a shovel-ready project with all the legal hurdles having been scaled. All we need is leadership.

Build the telescope and bring scientific prestige to Hawaii. Show the world that we are business-friendly. Let the world news be our travel industry advertisement. Diversify the economy with technology.

Jim Wolfe

Nuuanu

Owners should clean up ocean barriers

Regarding recent articles blaming beachfront property owners for beach loss and erosion due to walls, sand bags and sand burritos in front of their properties, I find the reporting confusing (Hawaiis Land Board cracks down on illegal seawalls, Star-Advertiser, Jan. 23).

I happen to use a beach with all three of these defensive measures being used for many years at great cost and effort for the property owners. Its a bummer when the sand is gone and we can no longer walk along the beach due to these various structures blocking the way, but the sand comes and goes regularly due to swells, tides, currents and rising sea levels.

The thing that my beach-using neighbors and myself are most upset about is when these owners do not take responsibility for their sand bags and black cloth burritos and broken cement that wash onto the beach and into the ocean. Beachgoers often remove them while the owners plan more barriers.

The state should require the owners to clean up the mess, because the ocean will win its battle to reclaim some of the worlds coastlines.

Chip Hartman

Sunset Beach

Put guardrails along scenic Kaiwi byway

Many people have commented favorably on the recently installed boulders at the Wawamalu Beach section of Sandy Beach Park on the Kaiwi coast.

They demarcate generously sized access areas for the many recreation activities at Wawamalu Beach and were sought from the citys Parks Department by the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board.

The next step is the installation of highway guardrails that will preclude vehicles from departing Kalanianaole Highway to and within the natural features (dunes, native vegetation, burial sites and white-sand beach). The guardrails, also sought by the neighborhood board from the state Department of Transportation, would improve driving safety on the Maunalua-Makapuu State Scenic Byway, while contributing to a safer park for wildlife and recreation such as surfing, fishing, beaching, tide-pooling and relaxation on this treasured, undeveloped coast the closest such coast to Oahus population center.

William Reese Liggett

Kaimuki

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Different types of gambling, media converging for growth – Nevada Appeal

Posted: at 7:15 am

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. The many different types of gambling are quickly coming together with each other and with media outlets and Wall Street is taking notice.

Casino gambling, internet gambling, sports betting and daily fantasy sports are no longer separate silos with unique audiences: Gambling companies are increasingly combining them and partnering with media companies to expand the reach of gambling.

This expansion is leading Wall Street analysts to predict fast-growing revenue in the U.S. over the next five to 10 years. Morgan Stanley sees a $15 billion sports betting and internet gambling market by 2025, and Macquarie Research says that same market could be $30 billion by 2030.

The once disparate categories of online gaming, media and sports are joining teams to create powerful partnerships that we believe will grow viewership, increase overall fan engagement, and drive significantly higher market values for all those connected, Macquarie wrote in a report issued Tuesday.

It cited numerous examples of deals between sports betting and media companies last year, including Ballys and Sinclair Broadcasting; Flutter Entertainment and FOX; PointsBet and NBC; William Hill and CBS; DraftKings and Caesars Entertainment partnering with ESPN; Penn National and Barstool Sports; BetMGM and Yahoo; and Turner Sports deals with FanDuel and DraftKings.

David Schwartz, a gambling historian with the University of Nevada Las Vegas, said combinations like these seem to be the wave of the future.

With geographic expansion nearly complete in the U.S. Texas is the biggest unserved market still out there casino companies are looking to grow their revenues by expanding into new forms of gambling, (and) online and sports betting are the most prominent, he said. Even daily fantasy sports is seen as a viable route, as seen by recent moves by Ballys and Caesars. The media partners get more content and more eyes on their product.

Bill Miller, president of the American Gaming Association, the gambling industrys national trade association, said deals like these are a logical extension of the industrys desire to keep pace with customer expectations.

Responsibly growing these verticals will be essential to the industrys continued success, he said.

In a report last week, Morgan Stanley forecast a $15 billion market for sports betting and internet gambling by 2025, an increase of 27% over current levels. As much as $10 billion of that is likely to come from sports betting, the company said.

Most analysts expect at least half the country will have legal sports betting by the end of 2021, with continued expansion after that.

Morgan Stanley said sports betting and internet gambling revenue reached $3.1 billion in the U.S. last year, well outpacing its forecast of $2 billion. While some of the growth in online wagering was undoubtedly helped by months of casino closures during the coronavirus pandemic, Morgan Stanley says theres a durable market taking shape in these industries.

We see legalized U.S. sports betting and iGaming as a once-in-a-generation shift for what was a mature gaming industry, Morgan Stanley wrote. It is clear to us that Americans interest in sports and gambling should lead to higher revenue (per) adult than we previously expected.

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Different types of gambling, media converging for growth - Nevada Appeal

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DraftKings and Penn National Stock Will Rise Because Online Gambling Is in Early Innings, Goldman Says – Barron’s

Posted: at 7:15 am

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Digital sports betting may be the perfect hobby for the bored and the stuck-at-home, and DraftKings and Penn National Gaming are looking to cash in on the trend.

Goldman Sachs says the two stocks have a high likelihood of sustained outperformance, especially as states like New York, Florida, and Texas consider allowing online betting, in part to close budget gaps with the tax revenue.

Goldman upgraded DraftKings (ticker: DKNG) to Buy, saying its national contracts and brand name recognition will allow them to grow faster than smaller rivals. And it reiterated its Buy rating on Penn National (PENN), reflecting the contribution of Barstool Sports to the bottom line, an estimated $4 per share.

Consumers enjoy betting on live events as they stream them on their phones or mobile devices.

We see room for continued development given operators relationships with major traditional media arms (such as ESPN) and the success in-house content at Barstool has had by intertwining its media arm with the sportsbook, Goldman analyst Stephen Grambling said in a note.

Shares of DraftKings jumped 7% and are up 281% over one year compared with the 17% one-year gain in the S&P 500 index. Shares of Penn National fell 1.2% on Tuesday but are up 298% over one year.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo raised online sports betting as a possibility during his state of the state address earlier this month.

PlayNY.com, which covers news and analysis of New Yorks gaming market, says New York could become the largest state for online sportsbooks, generating as much as $20 billion in bets a year and $100 million in tax revenue. That is, however, if the market is open to multiple private operators and not forced to run through the state-run gaming commission.

Some states, like New Hampshire, use existing commercial sportsbooks to run their online betting operations. DraftKings manages it there, PlayNY said. Montana, Oregon, and Rhode Island manage it themselves.

Online betting has gained in popularity globally as traditional casino operators look for new business. MGM (MGM) recently dropped an $11 billion bid to buy the U.K. parent of online gambling company Ladbrokes, citing resistance. But it continues to operate a joint venture with them.

Legislation to allow online gambling have been introduced in Florida and Texas, Goldman said in the note. States where casinos are allowed to operate in person are more likely to allow multiple operators because it encourages adoption and investment in brick and mortar locations.

Goldman put a $65 price target on DraftKings over the next year, implying a 19% increase from the current price. The analyst estimates $244 million in revenue for the fourth quarter and $880 million for 2021, both slightly ahead of consensus.

Write to Liz Moyer at Liz.Moyer@barrons.com

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DraftKings and Penn National Stock Will Rise Because Online Gambling Is in Early Innings, Goldman Says - Barron's

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