Daily Archives: November 15, 2021

On 7 July, the Conservative MP for Blackpool South, Scott Benton, took his seat at Wembley to watch England take on Denmark in the semi-final of Euro 2020, courtesy of the Ladbrokes Coral owner, Entain a freebie worth 3,457.

Less than four hours earlier, Benton had warned parliament that a review of betting laws, widely expected to result in tougher regulation, must not be driven by anti-gambling ideology.

He called for casinos to be allowed more slot machines, adding that many people would be concerned about the Gambling Commissions plans for affordability checks on people betting online and in person, a measure intended to prevent ruinous losses.

Days earlier he had enjoyed another day out, at Ascot, courtesy of the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) trade body. In total, he accepted hospitality worth 7,495 during a gambling-funded summer of sport.

All in all, according to a Guardian audit, 28s MPs 19 Conservative and the rest Labour have taken almost 225,000 in wages and freebies from the gambling industry since August 2020.

During the same debate at which Benton spoke one of his two speeches favourable to the gambling industry that month Labours John Spellar interceded. He referred to the urgent need to improve and continue Britains attractiveness as a casino destination.

He had recently been a guest of the Paddy Power owner, Flutter, at Englands match against Germany, and was due to attend the cricket at Lords the following month, at a cost of 874.80 to the BGC, whose members include major casino companies.

For the gambling industry, it was a busy month for both hospitality and political fulmination about the future of regulation.

On 13 July, the Conservative MP Mark Jenkinson expressed grave concerns about the prospect of the government imposing betting limits, in an article, sponsored by the BGC, for the Conservative Home website. The article appeared six days after he watched England play Denmark, courtesy of Entain, and less than a month after the BGC took him to Ascot, visits worth a combined 4,857.

There is no suggestion that any of the trio broke parliamentary rules. But their actions have raised concerns about the gambling industrys apparent attempts to curry favour with politicians and the system that allows it.

The gambling sectors charm offensive comes in the run-up to the publication of a white paper on gambling reform, expected early next year, that could significantly curb the profitability of bookmakers and online casinos.

One peer described the industrys charm offensive as a pretty obvious attempt to influence the outcome of the reforms.

By far the biggest beneficiary of the gambling industrys largesse over the past year was Philip Davies, the Conservative MP for Shipley. The Guardian revealed last year that he had accepted almost 50,000 to advise the Ladbrokes owner, Entain, on safer gambling and customer service.

Davies has previously said that his work outside parliament is a matter for me, although in 2010 he did not extend the same forbearance towards firefighters with second jobs, who were resisting changes to their shift pattern. The firefighters, he said, ought to start to live in the real world at a time when many people are grateful to hang on to their one job.

On top of his work for Entain, which employed two of his former political aides in senior roles at the time he took the job, Davies accepted hospitality worth a combined 8,695 from the company, fellow betting firms Flutter and Gamesys, and the Betting & Gaming Council.

In addition to what it paid Davies, Entain spent almost 41,000 on hospitality for 13 MPs over the summer.

The BGC spent half that sum, 20,405, escorting lawmakers to events including three England matches at Euro 2020, horse racing at Ascot, cricket at Lords and the Ivor Novello awards.

Of the 13 MPs who enjoyed the trade bodys hospitality, three spoke out in support of the industry within days of being entertained, two of them Benton and Spellar in the House of Commons.

During that same debate, Laurence Robertson a longtime advocate for the gambling industry warned of the great danger of tighter regulation, backing the BGCs view that it would drive people towards the black market.

As he has pointed out, he correctly declared his interest, a 24,000-a-year role with the BGC, advising on sport and safer gambling. He also took 9,307 worth of tickets and hospitality at Ascot, York and Sandown racecourses, Lords and Englands match against Denmark. The gifts came from the BGC, SkyBet, Entain and Coral.

In total, 28 MPs are either paid by the gambling industry or have accepted hospitality from the industry, with a total value of 224,281 since August 2020. All of the hospitality and salaries were declared to the register of members interests, in line with parliamentary rules.

Beneficiaries include the Conservative MPs Caroline Dinenage, who is a minister within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which is overseeing the gambling review, and Aaron Bell, who used to work for Bet365.

The BGC is led by Michael Dugher, a former Labour MP.

Lord Foster of Bath, the chair of Peers for Gambling Reform, said it was pretty obvious why the industry is giving largesse to parliamentarians, calling the flurry of consultancy roles and hospitality freebies an attempt to try and influence the outcome to the advantage of gambling companies. With millions of people impacted by problem gambling and more than one gambling-related suicide every day, I suspect [they] will find themselves on the wrong side of public opinion.

Matt Zarb-Cousin, a former aide to Jeremy Corbyn and director Clean Up Gambling, said: Far too many MPs have had their snouts in the gambling trough. This is a sector that derives most of its profits from the harm it causes their constituents. The government has an opportunity in its gambling review to demonstrate our democracy is not for sale.

An Entain spokesperson said: Any political engagement we conduct is always in line with the registers of members interest. As a sports betting and interactive entertainment company, we are proud of the role we play in supporting grassroots and elite sports both in the UK and internationally.

A BGC spokesperson said: Any hospitality is consistent with the parliamentary rules and is fully declared and transparent.

Aaron Bell said: I have declared all hospitality promptly and transparently in the register of members interests, and have always abided by the parliamentary code of conduct.

The other MPs did not respond to requests for comment.

Philip Davies (Con): 58,675 (8,695 hospitality, 49,980 wages)

Laurence Robertson (Con): 33,306.60 (9,306.60 hospitality, 24,000 wages)

Scott Benton (Con): 7,495 (hospitality)

Nigel Adams (Con): 7,417.14 (hospitality)

Aaron Bell (Con): 6,955.60 (hospitality)

Esther McVey (Con): 6,094.60 (hospitality)

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Almost 225,000 in wages and freebies taken from gambling industry by 28 MPs - The Guardian

John Denton| Special to FLORIDA TODAY

With more and more states legalizing sports gambling and it seemingly getting closer to a reality in Florida, Nigel Wheatstone created the Brevard-based Vegas Lit Games to serve as a safe space where novice gamblers could learn the tricks of the trade without risking gobs of cash.

At the same time, Wheatstone also had part of his focus affixed on starting an operation that could someday soon be a leader in the future of sports gaming.

Vegas Lit Games, which is based in Satellite Beach, is astartup company that hopes to capture a sizable market share of a sports gambling industry that is expected to grow immensely in the coming years.

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Currently, there are 15 states where sports gambling is legal and there are another six including Florida where proposed legislation to enact sports gambling is in place.

On Nov. 5, a federal judge delayed a decision over whether to temporarily halt the gaming compact that authorizes the Seminole Tribe of Florida to operate a sports betting business, allowing legalized sports gaming in Florida to open for the time being. That all could change, however, this week when the federal judge is scheduled to render a decision about the pact between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State.

Regardless of what happens, Wheatstone already has a free 2 play app (Vegas Lit Sportsbook) in a place where people interested in sports gambling can learn strategies and play for points rather than money.

We wanted to create an ecosystem where new players could come and they could experiment with the whole process of sports betting, they could learn all of the fundamentals of it, understand the process, and do it in a safe environment where they're not going to lose any money, said Wheatstone, a native of England, who has worked in the U.S. for more than two decades with corporations such as Intel and Mastercard.

So, its more of a playground for new gamblers, Wheatstone added. We created an environment where there wasnt one before, and there is now. That goes back to my old trading days of giving people that environment to learn and experiment.

Wheatstone has other experiments in mind, such as a National Sports Bar League, where bar or restaurant patrons wager on sports (for points) against other establishments in the area. Plans are already underway to potentially bring the concept to sports bars and restaurants in Brevard County in the coming months.

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That general idea peer-to-peer gambling will eventually become the wave of the future, Wheatstone predicts. Rather than always having to bet against the house and its favorable odds, Wheatstone believes sports gamblers will migrate toward options where they can wager against friends and other fans in years to come.

Combine peer-to-peer wagering with significantly more in-game sports gambling and Wheatstone is confident that the Brevard-based Vegas Lit Games will be perfectly positioned to grab a share of the market where the sports betting landscape has never been more fertile in the U.S.

We believe this kind of wagering will be the future based on todays metrics of mobile and in-game wagering, Wheatstone said. With mobile wagering capturing more than 80 percent of all sportsbook traffic, and 85 percent of that traffic being in-game wagering, you can see the desire. Plug in our pool and prop wagers, and you have an event that can be wagered on throughout its run time. Players can be paid out, and then they can re-bet before the game has ended. Imagine betting on the first quarter of a football game, and being paid out so you can pick up some props and bet on the second half of the game.

Our company owns a patent that covers this kind of wagering, Wheatstone added. When we bring this to market, we will be a major disruptor to the industry. With the general consensus that people want to bet against each other rather than the house, we are perfectly positioned to capture a patent-protected portion of the market.

Vegas Lit games is currently seeking Brevard County sports bar and beverage-related partnerships for promotion and marketing of their sports bar league events. Please make any inquiries to info@vegaslit.com.

Denton is a publicist for Otter Public Relations and a former Sports Reporter for FLORIDA TODAY

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Brevard-based Vegas Lit Games positioning itself to be a player in Florida's sports gaming - Florida Today

Problem gambling and gambling addiction are not the same things. While problem gamblers may overspend or strain relationships, gambling addicts spiral out of control. This can lead to bankruptcy, job loss, and divorce. Bettors and their friends and loved ones can catch early warning signs of problem gambling and prevent them from escalating into something worse.

Dr. Kevin Alderson, Alberta psychologist, professor emeritus of counseling psychology for the University of Calgary, and author of the textbook, Addiction Counseling Today: Substances and Addictive Behaviors, identified six cognitive biases that problem gamblers and gambling addicts share:

These beliefs can be caught and corrected early to minimize the risk of an at-risk gambler becoming a gambling addict. Bettors can also learn responsible gaming habits from professional sports bettors, who approach sports betting with cold rationality.

The gamblers fallacy is the belief that random events will correct into a pattern a bettor expects or wants.

In other words, (the belief is) a big win is bound to (happen) after a losing streak, Dr. Alderson said.

Its a fallacy because the first event has nothing to do with whether the next event is a win or a loss.

You could just keep losing, losing, losing, and never have a big win, Dr. Alderson continued.

Even the best sports bettors have small edges. Their picks are no more likely to be winners after a losing streak. The pros know that and budget accordingly.

Problem gamblers and misinformed gamblers alike believe winning streaks are likely to continue. Bettors may believe that if theyre hot on a particular day or weekend, then theyll stay on their hot streak.

Gambling doesnt work on the basis of your beliefs, Dr. Alderson said. It works on the basis that the favor is always with the house.

If a coin is tossed 1,000 times, it will likely land heads close to 500 times and tails 500 times. There may be streaks of 10 heads or 15 tails in a row, but over many flips, the pattern will even out to roughly a 50/50 split.

Professional gamblers stick to systems knowing randomness results in winning and losing streaks. Over the long term, though, their small edges turn into profit. However, since recreational bettors do not have such edges, it is far more difficult to recover from losing streaks.

Some people appear to be lucky, while others seem unlucky. The reality is everyone has the same chance of hitting the jackpot or going on a losing streak. Believing otherwise can lead at-risk gamblers to become problem gamblers or gambling addicts.

If you think youre a lucky individual, youre more likely to get into gambling and to keep gambling, Dr. Alderson said.

Professionals dont rely on luck to beat the house. They develop skills and systems that work over many bets.

Problem gamblers often believe in locks, or bets that have virtually no chance of losing. Professional gamblers understand thats nonsense, thats there no such thing as a lock in gambling.

Even though you can become better at gambling, Dr. Alderson said. Theres certainly no guarantees when it comes to what the outcome of it is going to be. But generally most of the time, youre going to lose more than you win.

Professional gamblers understand their edge is small, which means theyll lose plenty of bets but will come out ahead over the long term.

Many gamblers think theyre better at gambling than they really are. Professionals approach their craft more realistically. If their edge begins to erode, their meticulous recordkeeping will indicate their system should be tweaked. The game of blackjack provides an example.

It used to be that if you were a professional blackjack player and you used the counting technique, that your odds were actually slightly better than chance and you could come out on top over the bank, said Dr. Alderson. However, larger decks and frequent reshuffles have mitigated some of the edge gained by card counting,

To be profitable over the long term betting on sports, you must win more than 52.4% of your wagers against the standard -110 vig. Professional sports bettors have the expertise that allows them to do that.

Predicting games against the spread at a 53% clip may seem easy to some casual gamblers. However, it takes years of hard work and a great amount of intelligence to achieve this level of success.

A common thread runs through the previous five cognitive biases. At-risk and problem gamblers overestimate the odds of a win and underestimate the odds of a loss.

Going out and thinking theyre going to pay for their rent and instead losing the money that would be used toward their rent, Dr. Alderson said.

Viewing the world through rose-colored glasses distorts bettors perspective and gives them unrealistic expectations about profitability.Professional sports bettors use sophisticated quantitative models to decide whether to place a bet and know exactly what their edge is when wagering on individual events,

Professional gamblers approach gambling in the opposite way that at-risk and problem gamblers do. The pros are experts in their chosen games. But theyre also experts in bankroll management, willing towalk away from a bet that doesnt have a positive expected value, and constantly tweaking their models to stay ahead of the market.

All gamblers should learn how to set budgets, track their performances, and recognize when theyre losing. At-risk gamblers can also set bet limits and time limits on sportsbook apps. They can even self-exclude and lock themselves out of their accounts for months at a time.

But when problem gambling becomes a gambling addiction, these self-imposed restrictions often arent enough. State and local governments must invest in problem gambling interventions. They must encourage enough gambling addiction counselors to become certified to treat gambling disorders. Friends, family, and loved ones must learn to recognize the signs of at-risk and problem gambling.

Everyone in the sports betting ecosystem is responsible for responsible gaming, and everyone has a part to play in keeping sports betting fun.

Continued here:

Six Cognitive Biases That Problem Gamblers And Gambling Addicts Share - GamingTodaySlotsToday

Fourteen gamblers are taking legal action against an online gambling company for allegedly refusing to pay them their full jackpot payouts, according to New Jersey regulators.

In one federal lawsuit, filed by Lisa Piluso of Pennsylvania, the gambler claims the company did not pay a $100,000 jackpot she says she had won while playing a slots game on her phone. The company allegedly maintained there was a bug in the product.

Thirteen other gamblers have claimed they were not given their correct earnings from the gambling company either, regulators said.

The Capital Gains slot game, played by Piluso on Oct. 2 in 2020, was run on an online platform by Caesars Interactive New Jersey, and the game is manufactured by American Gaming Systems, based in Las Vegas.

In a statement released by her lawyer, Paul DAmato, Piluso states, Im an experienced online player, and I was shocked when AGS (American Gaming Systems) officials, including the company president, told me they werent going to pay, even when I showed them the screenshot that I made of the $100,000 jackpot.

According to Piluso, they said I actually won about $300, but they then offered me $1,000, saying we were nice people. How many other players have been in the same situation but agreed to settle for a fraction of their winnings after being told they, too, were nice people?

An investigation into the matter was launched by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. In late August, the division wrote Piluso stating that the AGS had discovered an issue/bug within the game that failed to clear bonus symbols that had appeared on players screens during previous rounds.

On Friday, in response to questions from the Associated Press, the attorney generals office disclosed that it has fined AGS $1,000 for failing to ensure that the game was functioning properly. It is unclear if the company is going to challenge the fine or pay it.

Pilusos lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Camden, accuses the gaming company of consumer fraud and other wrongful actions related to the jackpot prize. Neither Caesars casino nor its online division were named as defendants in the suit.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com.

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Gambling company sued by customers who claim they were cheated out of big payouts - NJ.com

Dave Yeager, a veteran who fought gambling addiction, created a podcast to help other veterans overcome their challenges.

CLEVELAND Gambling is about twice as likely in the veteran population than the general population, according to a top expert at the Cleveland VA Medical Center. One veteran - who received help at the facility - created a podcast to connect with and support others.

"I'm an 11-year veteran of the Army who actually fell into my gambling addiction while I was on active duty, in the Republic of Korea right after 9/11," podcaster, counselor and father Dave Yeager said.

Things were tense right after the terror attacks, and he said he was having arguments with his wife. One night, he couldn't sleep. To keep busy, he visited the casino-style slot room on the base.

"The next thing I realized, all the stress I was under - all of the fear I was having, just melted," he said. "I immediately knew I wanted more."

The addiction took hold. He found himself in the hospital, fearing he would harm himself and lose his family.

"It actually got me kicked out of the Army and then post-Army to the point where I needed to seek help," he said.

He found the Cleveland VA - once in 2007 and again in 2020, when he said he relapsed.

"It was an intensive psychotherapy five-week program and I left there with a much better understanding of myself, better understanding of gambling addiction and a much better understanding of how to keep myself in recovery," he said. "Once they started to get to the deeper issue that was underneath the manifestation of the addiction itself, then the addiction itself becomes less of the beast."

In the early 1970s, the Cleveland VA became the first to develop a problem gambling treatment program in the world. The director of the program is Dr. Heather Chapman.

"It actually started when a few guys from the gamblers anonymous program came to the head of the hospital and said, 'You need to help us. We have people coming to the program and we don't know what to do because they're very desperate. They're in debt, they're considering suicide, they're considering an illegal activity, their marriages are falling apart,'" Dr. Chapman said. "So he took a chance and said let's take a look at this. And because of that program and because of his work ... it started this field even before it was a recognized diagnosis."

Dr. Chapman said veterans face somewhat of a perfect storm.

"One of the difficulties of the military right now is there is on overseas bases very easily accessible gambling, so you're giving new military members access to gambling at a young age and so it primes them early," she said. "Veterans organizations like VFWs do have gambling readily available right in their building, and so I think those fraternal organizations continue to create or be there when people felt the need to create a connection."

Dr. Chapman said the warning signs of gambling addiction can be challenging to spot, unlike some other addictions.

"Sometimes people think there's an affair going on or something else happening," she said. "Gambling is unfortunately very easy to hide."

But the tell-tale sign might not be surprising.

"The biggest is money ... money is missing, money problems despite adequate income," she said. "Having difficulty keeping up with school or work and just generally keeping up with life. Definitely the biggest difference between other addictions and gambling is significant financial issues. It's unfortunately something that care provider and I think us as a population we don't talk about money and we don't want to have those discussions about money. Frequently we'll find people who have gambling issues are in charge of money in the household. People even very close to them frequently no idea this was happening because the finances were run by that person who has the gambling problem."

Legalized sports betting also poses concern for experts like Dr. Chapman.

"Ohio is still trying to figure that out - the sports betting piece - but we're surrounded by sports betting states so you literally just have to just cross over the state line and say go to West Virginia, Michigan or Pennsylvania and you'll be able to make a bet in some places just on your cell phone," she said.

Dr. Chapman said a key part of recovery is for those struggling to connect with those who've been through it - a topic she spoke about on Yeager's podcast.

"Dave worked with us - in one way getting grounded in his own recovery and then has been working with other people, giving back. He's been a real strong advocate working with us," she said.

But Yeagers efforts extend far beyond the microphone.

"He's even become a gambling counselor, he's gotten certifications, he's on the road to becoming a certified social worker - a Master's degree in social work - he really wants to work in the field, so it's a lovely thing," she said. "The help that somebody like he can give is beyond anything that I could do because he's walked in those shoes. I think it's the combination of that plus the science that I can help deliver that is the perfect combination."

For Yeager, it's not just about helping others; it's about helping himself.

"The more I pay it forward, the more I stay strong in my own recovery because it's the more I stay connected with how important this really is," he said.

You can listen to the podcast here.

For more information about problem gambling and how to help someone you love, you can visit beforeyoubet.org or the Ohio Problem Betting Helpline at 1-800-589-9966. Also, veterans can call the Veterans' Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.

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After getting help with gambling addiction, veteran creates podcast to support others - 10TV

I peruse reader comments with a morsel of Morton's (grain of salt), mostly because I find them agenda-based, veering off point, guilty of turning exceptions into rules and then taking the false premises and embarking on soliloquies about them.

Occasionally, though, there is one worth pondering.

Last week, Tom Moriarty, a faithful reader of The Day and theday.com who is measured and fair, wrote the following in response to this gambling column:

"Maybe this time next year you can write a column on the many lives and marriages that have been ruined by addiction to gambling. Gambling is as addictive as alcohol and drugs and is a lot more expensive."

We started this gambling column because sports betting has become legalized in Connecticut. I'm not necessarily sure gambling will become more prevalent because of it (millions and millions have gambled since even before Al Capone), but it's now legal. Gambling is part of our DNA here with two major casinos. It's news, regardless of whether we agree with it.

Still, I respect Moriarty's words. DraftKings and FanDuel have made gambling easier than ever. Not just on the games, but everything down to the coin toss before the football game. Gambling addictions are very likely to increase.

And before we start discussing point spreads again, I want Moriarty and everyone else to know that nobody else is more aware of gambling addiction. I've seen it and its tentacles. And it's sure not reflective of the fun we're trying to have here every week with futures and best bets.

But I also hope that we can approach the state's new forays with DraftKings and FanDuel with senses of proportion and balance. Gambling can also be fun and provide rooting interests that previously didn't exist. The overwhelming majority of gamblers are not going to develop addictions and will dabble in it appropriately.

The intention of this column and the entire gambling page are rooted in reader enjoyment and participation in the gambling process. As with everything else, perils exist. Just know that we understand what gambling has done to people and families.

Here are the week's football best bets:

Vickie Fulkerson: Buccaneers (-9.5 over Washington Football Team).

"A quarterback duel between Tom Brady (coming off a bye week) and, wait for it, Washington's Taylor Heinicke. Brady leads in career starts 307-8."

Ned Griffen: Clemson (41 over UConn). "I may go 0-for on my best bets this year but, dammit, I'm going to keep swinging away until I finally hit on the week's most obscene line."

Chuck Banning: Titans (-3 over New Orleans). "Just call me Captain Obvious ... which in a way scares me."

Dave Davis: UConn (+41 vs. Clemson). "The Huskies won't win this game. It won't be competitive. But I might never get 40.5 points again so I'm taking them. I mean, they could lose by 40 and I still win."

Gavin Keefe: Cardinals (-10.5 over Carolina). "Given my losing streak, let's call this my worst bet."

Mikey D: Saints (+3 vs. Titans). I try to make my best bets about lines, not games. This line is absurd. Think about it: Tennessee, without Derrick Henry, goes on the road last week and throws the Rams down a flight of stairs. It comes home this week and plays battered New Orleans and its quarterback problems, potential injury to Alvin Kamara and home loss last week to Atlanta.

So why are the Saints only a three-point underdog? This line should be six or seven. They are begging you to bet Tennessee. And when the public all bets one way, the opposite outcome usually happens. It did last week when bettors threw it in on Wake Forest and Michigan State. They both lost.

So bet the Saints with both hands. It doesn't have to make sense. It's gambling.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro

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We get the tentacles of gambling ... but we're just having a little fun - theday.com