Daily Archives: May 7, 2022

Christina Cook had never heard of gambling addiction. But she was already on her way to being hooked eventually losing nearly half a million dollars and, almost, her own life.

In 2007, at 28, the Tulsa, Okla., native was separated from her first husband, grieving the death of her beloved grandmother and living at home with her mother.

Then her mom, with whom she is very close, had a heart attack.

After rushing her to the hospital, I went home to get her pajamas and stuff to make her comfy recalled Cook, now 43. On her way back, feeling emotionally taxed, Cook took a detour to Osage Nation Casino in Sand Springs, outside Tulsa. The flashing lights, friendly faces and anticipation of a jackpot gave her a jolt of relief from stress.

I sat down at a slot machine and won a $1,201 jackpot, Cook recalled. My sister was calling me saying, Wheres Moms stuff? But it was such a high.

Feeling shame mingled with euphoria, Cook returned to the hospital with her mothers things. They were all mad, asking me, Where have you been? she recalled.

That is when it all started to be a secret.

Gambling would become Cooks escape from her struggles with cervical cancer, a hysterectomy and grief that came from knowing she would never be a biological mother.

My friends all had babies, she remembered. I didnt want to listen to talk about showers and feedings, so I started going gambling Friday nights.

During years of intensifying addiction from 2008 to 2015, Cook, a lifelong people pleaser, became romantically involved with her boss, whom she describes as a narcissist.

He would tell me we were going out and then ghost me, she recalled. He always wanted to meet late at night. He was all about control, and he kept me feeling low, like I couldnt look good enough or get anything right.

She remembers being at a work auction where they were selling slices of strawberry cake, her favorite kind. It happened to be her birthday and she told her boyfriend she was going to get a piece.

He said, You dont need that, she remembered. But I got a slice anyway. Her boyfriend looked at her with disgust, refusing to sit with her for the rest of the night.

He did everything in his power to isolate me which, looking back, made it easier for the addiction to do the same, Cook said. Those machines had no expectations of me. I just had to feed them to feel good.

Her gambling addiction worsened in the years she was with her toxic lover, who refused to meet her family.

In the early years of her gambling addiction, Cook would often sit down at a slot machine (her game of choice) and hit.

She would bet a significant portion of her paycheck, about $300, on paydays.

At first, she had luck. Some nights it seemed like I was absolutely on fire, she recalled. Every machine I sat at, I won. People were screaming, Youre so lucky! and I started thinking, Maybe I am.

But she wound up pouring her winnings and then some back into the slots. The last few years it didnt matter what I won, I wouldnt leave with it.

The most she ever lost in one day was about $17,000.

I had started out with $300, she said. At one point, she had won $16,000 and $5,000 jackpots. I remember a casino worker saying, Youre going home with this, right?

She played it back in.

I walked out with $4,000 of the $21,000 I had won. I took the $4,000 back the next day and lost it plus $2,000 of my own money.

In all, from 2008 to 2021, Cook estimates that she lost half a million dollars gambling.

She borrowed from her mother and her sister in those years money she has yet to fully repay.

Her relationship with her twin, Michelle, became strained because Michelle co-signed a car loan for her and Cook fell behind on the payments. We had always helped each other and then I did that, she said. She couldnt trust me. Though she never once made me feel like she wouldnt be there for me.

The last tally of what I borrowed from my mom was $8,000 and from Michelle, $5,000, she said. The real numbers are probably higher. I would say, My cars broken down for the fifth time or Someone stole my wallet. Once, my mom said, You should win an Oscar because these lies are getting more outrageous.

She also owed $35,000 in back taxes, $15,000 in credit card debt, $7,000 in medical debt, and $3,000 in miscellaneous debt.

Her mother tried to persuade her to get help. She told me she wanted to be there for me when I hit rock bottom, Cook recalled.

But Cook was in denial, characterizing her gambling addiction as financial problems.

She ended her toxic relationship and met a nice easygoing guy on PlentyofFish.com in 2015. He got along with her friends and family. They got married. His acceptance, and kindness, were especially attractive qualities after her previous relationship; however, she was still an addict leading a double life.

He didnt question why we never hung out on Friday nights, she said.

In January 2021, crippled by debt and anxiety, Cook quit gambling cold turkey.

She didnt hit bottom, however, until March 6.

I had a bad day at work, she said. I blew my whole paycheck, my husbands paycheck, and everything we had saved in the bank. I placed my last bet just after midnight.

After I left the casino the morning of March 6, I couldnt see a way out and I was thinking of ways I could end my life so I wouldnt be such a burden to the people in my life, said Cook. Theres a big bridge that goes from the casino to my home. I was thinking, Can I drive off it?

I didnt really want to end my life, I wanted to end the addiction that had become my life.

I felt, Ill never be cured, Ill keep ruining my life, my familys life, she said.

She went to see her mother the next day, handing her the 1099s shed received from the casino for $5,000 she had won, then lost. (In the U.S., gamblers receive a 1099 for any winnings over $1200 even if they subsequently lose it).

My mother was happy because she thought I was there to pay her back, Cook remembered. I broke down when I saw the disappointed look on her face.

At her mothers suggestion, she contacted Gamblers Anonymous (GA). One of the volunteers took time to give me hope, she said.

She placed [her] last bet on March 6, 2021 and regularly been attending GA meetings, as well as weekly therapy sessions, and joined support groups on social media. Finding few resources for women with gambling addiction, she decided to recover out loud by sharing [her] journey and other womens stories on her podcast, The Broke Girl Society and starting a Broke Girl Society support group.

Cook also broadcasts a YouTube show with fellow recovered addict Brian Hatch, The Bet Free Life. She has come clean to her husband.

In her search for resources to help others, she reached out to Gamban.com, a company providing software to block online gambling sites. Its a resource she recommends as a good tool for people struggling with online gambling addiction, which is on the rise.

She wants compulsive gamblers, including women, to know that help and recovery are available.

Once youre honest, theres no guarantee people wont abandon you, but there is help, she said. Its about building a life you dont need to escape from.

Resources for help with gambling addiction: National Council on Problem Gambling hotline (1-800-522-4700);Gamblers In Recovery;RecoveryRoadOnline.com;GamblersAnonymous.organd, for online gamblers,Gamban.com.

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How this casino addict came back from the brink after nearly losing it all - New York Post

Some of Britains betting giants are revealed to have quietly lobbied Treasury officials against a proposed industry crackdown, claiming it will cost millions of pounds in lost tax receipts.

Executives representing Bet365, Paddy Power and Ladbrokes met officials from the Treasury and Revenue and Customs, warning a radical overhaul of the industry could drive gamblers to the black market. The meeting was with tax officials rather than ministers and was therefore not required to be automatically disclosed.

The betting industry claims there is a very real risk that the taxes of about 3.2bn a year it hands to the Treasury could be hit by tougher rules for the sector. A government white paper on gambling reforms is due to be published shortly.

Matt Zarb-Cousin, director of campaign group Clean Up Gambling, said: The industry is trying to water down the proposed reforms in the gambling review by lobbying tax officials under the radar. This is massive propaganda from an industry that has engaged in tax avoidance for years. I hope the Treasury isnt buying it. There needs to be full transparency over this lobbying campaign.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced a review of the gambling laws in December 2020 amid concerns that too many people are suffering significant harm. An NHS survey in 2018 showed there were about 245,000 problem gamblers in England. A Public Health England study last year estimated there are 409 suicides a year associated with problem gambling.

Campaigners want a new levy on the industry to fund research and treatment for problem gamblers. They also want to see stricter checks on what gamblers can afford to pay, new stake limits on online slot games, a ban on gambling advertising in sport and a ban on VIP schemes.

Documents released under freedom of information laws reveal that executives from Bet365, Flutter, which operates the Paddy Power and Betfair brands, and Entain, which operates the Ladbrokes, Coral and PartyCasino brands, held an online meeting with the Treasury and Revenue and Custom tax specialists on 7 October last year and warned against what they feared may be excessive proposed regulations in the review.

The betting firms submitted a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, commissioned by the industry, which found an increase in unlicensed online gambling in the UK. The betting firms warned the black market could be fuelled by a wide-ranging overhaul of gambling laws.

A two-page document presented to officials warned: It is vital that the government takes a holistic view of tax and regulatory changes over the coming months or there is the very real risk that the UKs remote gambling sector is hit in a way that not only reduces its economic and fiscal contribution, but also increases levels of gambling-related harm by incentivising a shift to unlicensed gambling operators that pay no UK tax.

It added that executives would be keen to engage in further dialogue with tax officials to discuss developments as DCMS prepares its white paper for publication. The betting industry opposes proposals for a statutory levy and what it claims would be overzealous checks on what customers can afford to bet.

The details of the lobbying by the industry have angered relatives of those who have lost their lives while in the grip of gambling addiction. The charity Gambling with Lives, a community of families bereaved by gambling-related suicides, has spearheaded the campaign for reform. Judith Bruney, 62, from Sheffield, whose 25-year-old son Chris killed himself in April 2017 after he gambled 119,395 in five days without spending checks, said: The industry wants to get away with the minimum change that they can. Surely they must know what damage it causes.

Charles Ritchie, co-founder with his wife Liz of Gambling with Lives, said there needed to be a package of new reforms, including redesigning the most addictive games, and tougher sanctions against the industry when it failed to implement player safeguards. He said: You have a highly profitable industry and the fines can be viewed as a cost of business. There needs to be a more effective punishment regime.

Matt Gaskell, clinical lead of the NHS Northern Gambling Service, supports a statutory levy for the industry to fund research and treatment.

He said: Many of the operators havent fulfilled their obligations under the voluntary system. A statutory levy would ensure a system of stable and sustained funding.

The Betting and Gaming Council, which represents the gambling industry, says it supports the gambling review, but that it also needs to strike the right balance between protecting vulnerable people and not spoiling the enjoyment of those who bet safely. It says the industry is taking a package of measures to protect gamblers who may be at risk of harm, and that Gambling Commission figures show the number of problem gamblers is falling.

Betting firms have faced criticism over the years for basing their operations overseas including in Gibraltar and Malta which can reduce their tax bills. Bet365 has its headquarters in Britain and says it is one of the countrys biggest taxpayers.

A spokesperson said: It is absolutely normal and appropriate for the government generally to engage with us and others in our industry in the context of its ongoing review of the Gambling Act, as would be the case across all sectors undergoing potentially significant regulatory changes.

An Entain spokesperson said: Entain is proud to be among the top 20 corporate taxpayers to the UK Treasury. As such, and in common with thousands of other UK companies, we are of course in regular contact with HMT and HMRC officials.

A Flutter spokesperson said: Flutter paid 1.6bn in tax globally last year, including more than 600m in the UK where we are one of the largest corporate taxpayers. We engage with a range of stakeholders, including HMT, and we are proud of the significant contribution we make to the UK economy.

Treasury officials said they regularly meet stakeholders from across industry to hear their views.

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Revealed: betting giants lobbied UK government over proposed crackdown - The Guardian

Caesars Entertainment (CZR)'s CEO is banking on online sports gaming to boost company profits.

According to chief executive Tom Reeg's predictions, the company will see positive profit in its digital gaming by the end of fiscal year 2023.

Obviously, the couple of quarters before football season in '23 tend to be lower volume sports quarters, so lower loss anyway, Reeg told analysts on an investors call Tuesday night. So is it possible? It sneaks a little bit earlier? I'd say that's possible. But I'd be banking on inflection in the fourth quarter (of 2023) as we sit here today.

Caesars combines iGaming and mobile sports gambling in its digital portion of the business which reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $554 million in the first quarter of 2022. Reeg noted on Tuesday nights earnings call that cutting back on marketing as well as contributions from the iGaming sector will be key factors toward driving profitability in the digital business by the end of 2023.

The company cut its marketing spend on mobile sports gaming by more than $250 million in the first quarter, he said on the call, striking a clear tone that Caesars will be shifting that strategy moving forward.

The Caesars Palace Hotel is shown behind some of the fountains of the Bellagio Hotel (not shown) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Caesars spent significantly in Q1, offering up to a $2,000 deposit match for new mobile sports gamblers in New York.

That spending appears to have paid off the betting platform reported a $110.69 million gross gaming revenue in New York from the first week of January through the week ending April 24, which accounted for roughly 27% of market share of the countrys largest sports gambling market. FanDuel (PDYPY) currently leads the state with 40% of the markets overall gross gaming revenue while DraftKings (DKNG) comes in slightly behind Caesars at 24%.

"We're going to target our promotional spending at our profitable customers, which is going to be a much smaller subset of that larger group," Reeg said. "And that's going to have two significant changes, two significant impacts, you're going to build loyalty among that that group that is targeted, and you're going to increase profitability as you increase share of wallet, you're still going to have activity from those that are not targeted to the same degree, but your profitability on those customers is going to change dramatically, because they're not getting the marketing offers."

Story continues

As each company scales back its promotional spending, all eyes will be on the numbers (Caesars is no longer offering that $2,000 match). And while sports gambling will be on an increasing number of ballots during the 2022 midterm elections, Reeg doesnt foresee a plethora of customer acquisition spending in the near future which would help the company drive profits.

We have got an Ohio launch in front of us, that would be the only launch that I can think of that would have significant costs surrounding it, Reeg said. And so how we come out of the box in Ohio will be a governing factor in terms of where we would be, but that's the rights weve got.

Here's how Caesars Entertainment performed compared to Wall Street estimates for the first quarter:

Josh is a producer for Yahoo Finance.

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Caesars CEO predicts when online sports gambling will be profitable - Yahoo Finance

Each of these experiments used a behavior called the Rodent Gambling Task, which distinguishes between optimal, suboptimal, and risky decision-making, said lead author Cole Vonder Haar, assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Ohio State. We found that rather than purely increasing riskiness, brain injury reduced sensitivity or understanding of the consequences of decisions.

The Rodent Gambling Task is based off a classic human neuropsychological assessment, the Iowa Gambling Task. In the Iowa Gambling Task, participants choose from four decks of cards to earn money and learn over time that two decks are risky (that is, high rewards, but large losses) and that two decks are safe and better overall (that is, low rewards, but small losses).

While rats wont work for money, they enjoy sugar pellets. Researchers set up a computer-controlled chamber to allow rats to choose among four ports, each of which had a probability of reward (from 1 to 4 sugar pellets) and punishment (5 to 40 seconds time out). By only allowing 30 minutes per day to earn pellets, rats should maximize pellets and minimize time outs.

Like the Iowa Gambling Task, some options are riskier than others. Specifically, there is one optimal choice, one suboptimal choice, and two risky choices (many pellets, big time outs). Rats were tested daily on this for many weeks, eventually generating 660,000 interactions discrete events across almost 160 rats (which was pared down to 109 for the current publication).

Vonder Haar began this research at West Virginia University during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

This project was initiated during lab closures due to COVID-19. We had students doing lab work for credit, but no ability to get into lab. So, we decided we could pool all of the data we had collected to that point and ask broader questions that go beyond just one experiment, Vonder Haar said.

Based on these experiments, researchers identified two key findings that may have implications for humans who have suffered TBI. First is the finding that, brain injury may not increase riskiness, but rather result in insensitivity to outcomes. These findings suggest that merely providing more salient information to patients may help guide and improve decision-making.

Second is the finding that, not all rats responded to TBI in the same way, which highlights this issue in the human population. Some individuals may suffer a single concussion and have long-term consequences, while others may be fine.

While this is inherently difficult because we still do not understand why this occurs, having a rat model which mimics the human condition allows us to probe biological variables that may confer vulnerability or resilience to brain injury, and treatments targeting these, which may confer vulnerability or resilience, Vonder Haar said.

More than 2.8 million people suffer a brain injury every year in the United States, which is 0.85% of the population annually, Vonder Haar said.

We found that TBI strongly affected a subgroup of rats. Not only does this map onto the human condition, where some individuals suffer greater consequences, but it allows us to begin asking why and determine the biological variables that may confer vulnerability or resilience to brain injury, Vonder Haar said.

Funding for this project was provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; West Virginia University and Ohio State University.

# # #

Media Contact: Eileen Scahill,Wexner Medical Center Media Relations, 614-293-3737, Eileen.Scahill@osumc.edu

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'Gambling rats' shed light on how traumatic brain injury affects decision-making - Wexner Medical Center - The Ohio State University

The UFC returns this weekend with another pay-per-view offering, UFC 274, which goes down at the Footprint Center in Phoenix on Saturday. As is customary with pay-per-view events, the UFC has stacked the card with two title fights and a bevy of other high-profile matchups. In the co-main event, Rose Namajunas will defend her strawweight title in a rematch with inaugural champion Carla Esparza. Then in the main event, lightweight champion Charles Oliveira looks to silence the last of his doubters when he defends his belt against former interim champion Justin Gaethje. Weve got 15 fights this weekend, and plenty of opportunity to get some action down, so lets get to it.

As always, all odds are courtesy of our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Mauricio Rua, +195

In all honesty, this is probably a dumb bet. Shogun is 40 years old and has been washed for at least five years but I cant help it, because for as washed as Shogun may be, so is Ovince Saint Preux! In his most recent fight, OSP lost to Tanner Boser because he simply didnt do anything. He landed nine total strikes in over seven minutes of fighting. Thats, well ... its not good. Saint Preux is clearly on the decline, and while he may have more juice left than Shogun, OSPs style is one that will fall off drastically as his athleticism wanes. Add in that Shogun still hits like a drunken moose and probably has a cardio advantage and with this sort of line, Im willing to take a flier on one final moment of glory for the old guard. Pride Never Die.

Randy Brown, +105

This is a sweaty-palm play, but one I still feel OK about. Randy Brown is longer, faster, and a better striker than Khaos Williams, and in a fight that is likely to take place primarily on the feet, that all should serve him well. The main concerns here are that Williams has a great chin, hits like an angry elephant, and has good low kicks (a weakness of Browns). But he also gets reckless a lot of times, and I believe Brown can capitalize on that, especially given his natural physical advantages. At plus-money, there is value here.

Marcos Rogerio de Lima, +120

Another sweaty-palm fight. Betting on bad heavyweight MMA is never the easiest thing in the world to do, but there are enough things working in RDLs favor here that I believe this is a value play. This is Blagoy Ivanovs first fight in two years, and in his last time out, he didnt look great. Hes lumbering and not an especially big hitter for the weight class. De Lima, meanwhile, is coming off the best performance of his career and looks to be finally putting things together. The ground game is always a concern, but the speed advantage should be so prominent for him that I think RDL can avoid getting taken down and get the hands going early, even against an iron-headed guy like Ivanov.

Justin Gaethje by KO/TKO, +200

Justin Gaethje vs. Charles Oliveira is a two-outcome fight: Either Oliveira can submit Gaethje, or he gets knocked out. What will determine which of those outcomes prevails is the wrestling, and while Oliveira is a solid takedown artist, Gaethje is a better takedown defender. Oliveira is not the wrestler Khabib Nurmagomedov is, and I see this fight ultimately looking like Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler, only with Gaethje finishing the job.

Rose Namajunas by KO/TKO, +300

Simply put, I think Rose is going to run over Carla Esparza in this rematch. Esparzas current winning streak is a little bit of smoke and mirrors as she shouldve lost at least one of those fights, and arguably lost three of them. Rose, meanwhile, has been fighting and beating more physically imposing and, frankly, difficult competition, and shes still developing. Esparza is not anywhere near good enough to strike with Rose for extended periods, and though Namajunas isnt the best defensive wrestler in the world, shes good enough to keep things upright for the most part. From there, Esparza is a sitting duck.

Michael Chandler/Tony Ferguson Over 1.5 Rounds, -160

Tony Ferguson certainly appears to be on the crispier side of cooked, but for all his recent struggles, Fergusons chin has not been the problem. Hes slower and his reflexes have dropped off, but he remains a supremely conditioned athlete and exceedingly durable. Chandler is not going to be able to haymaker El Cucuy out of there early, and so this one should make it past the halfway mark.

Joe Lauzon to win in Round 1, +800

For his entire career, Joe Lauzon has been a barnstormer. The man starts fights with guns blazing, and as a result, 18 of his 28 career victories have come in the first round. Conversely, Donald Cerrone has long been known as a slow starter in MMA, with seven of his 16 career losses coming in the first round. This is a fight between two guys who are well beyond their primes, but Lauzon certainly looked better than Cerrone did their last times out, and given how their careers have gone, theres value in a play on this juiced line.

Rose Namajunas, -200

As mentioned above, I think Namajunas is going to roll over Esparza this week. Honestly, shes my most confident bet, and I think the safest, smartest course of action is to simply bet her straight at these odds. But the people love parlays, and this is as solid of a parlay piece as I think you will find. I just dont see Rose losing this one.

Chiasson/Dumont Fight To Go To Decision, -200

Chiasson and Dumont have each only been stopped once in their careers, and I dont see either woman adding a second one on Saturday. This is probably going to be a lot of Dumont jabbing Chiasson for 15 minutes.

Parlay these two bets together for +125 odds.

Tony Ferguson by Submission, +1400

Tony Ferguson is probably going to lose this fight. He hasnt won a round in nearly three years, and at 38 years old, hes clearly past his peak. That being said, Michael Chandler is not the same sort of fighter nor is he as good as the men Ferguson has been losing to. Its entirely possible that Chandler just repeatedly takes Ferguson down and holds him there. But I have a feeling that Chandler is going to try and blow through Ferguson, which will create some chances for El Cucuy to sink in his famous DArce choke and become the first man to submit Chandler.

In case you were unaware, The MMA Hours Conner Burks and I have a new gambling podcast on the MMA Fighting podcast network called No Bets Barred! Every week we will be breaking down our plays on the event and just generally chopping it up about the fight cards before and behind us. Give it a listen and lets do the damn thing this weekend.

Good luck yall, and gamble responsibly!

All information in this article is provided to readers of MMA Fighting for entertainment, news, and amusement purposes only. It is the responsibility of the reader to learn and abide by online gambling laws in their region before placing any online sports betting wagers.

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UFC 274 gambling preview: Best bets, parlays, and long shot of the week - MMA Fighting

Wayne Gretzky takes a break during the pregame show on Oct. 13, 2021 in Atlanta.Jeremy Freeman/The Associated Press

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Re If An Existential Threat To Roe V. Wade Cant Galvanize Progressives, Nothing Will (May 5): It should should go without saying that Americans should react to reactionaries now. But this American, who has been hanging warning lanterns and sounding alarms since Donald Trump took his escalator descent in 2015, isnt sure enough of us will do so.

Unfortunately, I fear most of us wont act until soldiers threaten to tear down our doors. Or government officials outlaw beer sales and arrest anyone engaging in premarital sex or sports betting.

We are a people who have achieved much that is worthy. But we also are a people who too often have not done enough, in enough time, to see wrong and do what is necessary to try and right it.

Mary Stanik Tucson, Ariz.

Re We Should Rethink Defence Spending (Opinion, April 30): Dictators have a sixth sense for weakness. Often the only trait they respect is strength. If for decades NATO had been stronger rather than complacent, Vladimir Putin likely never would have attacked Ukraine. Tens of thousands of lives would have been saved.

Ukraine has been at war for eight years in the Donbas and the expanded war could continue for years more, an absolutely horrible outcome for the country. It is too early to know who or what might be next.

Columnist Doug Saunders argues that Mr. Putin is showing us that the world is, in fact, slightly less dangerous than we thought. I believe he would not be making that argument if Canada was the country being destroyed.

Apparently all is well and good when someone else is doing the dying.

Rob Ogrodnick Toronto

Re Westerns Weekend Of Fear (April 30): After almost one year, a police investigation involving more than 600 interviews, a university investigation and, now, an investigation by The Globe and Mail, we find that the horrendous and disturbing claims that up to 30 women were drugged and sexually assaulted on campus likely did not occur.

As a father, university teacher and former faculty member at Western University, I find this to be incredibly good news. Im relieved that the social-media-driven rumours have not been confirmed by evidence.

Yet today, Westerns reputation is in tatters, applications are down and students continue to live in fear, insisting that an alleged mass drugging and assault did occur. Any violence, particularly sexual violence, on campus is unacceptable and should be eradicated. But continuing to claim that this event happened should be seen as illogical, irresponsible and dangerous.

Paul Benedetti Hamilton

Re A Risky Bet (Opinion, April 30): If provincial governments are going to sanction sports betting, they should up their game when it comes to gambling addiction services.

In British Columbia, despite having created a Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, the government continues to house gambling addiction services within its Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, which reports to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor-General.

A culture built around enforcement and public safety cannot comprehend the complexity of gambling addiction, let alone deliver proper diagnosis and treatment. GPEBs mandate is to protect the integrity of the gambling industry. In reality, I find it is to shape public perceptions of gambling as a wholesome pastime, by downplaying the severity and extent of gambling addiction.

Gambling addiction is a significant mental-health issue. The onus should be on governments to provide treatment programs that are focused, compassionate and non-judgmental, and engage the requisite expertise.

P. J. McCormick Kelowna, B.C.

How is it possible that we as a society have recognized the addictive qualities of alcohol and cigarettes, yet are rushing headlong into an embrace of online gambling, which has the same capacity to destroy lives? My heart breaks for gambling addicts, who are trying desperately to avoid temptation, not to mention those who love them.

What could governments motive possibly be? Oh, wait. Right. I guess the millions of dollars that casinos and lotteries already bring in arent quite doing the job.

Shame on us all for pretending this is okay.

Alison Vanderkop Brantford, Ont.

When a family watches sports on television now, I cant help but wonder about the subliminal message being sent. If a child sees Wayne Gretzky promoting betting and gambling, the child will likely look at it as a good thing to do.

Even the vernacular in broadcasts has changed. Sportscasters talk about -300 or +600 on a certain team. Are we accepting this as a new norm in society?

I am afraid of what it can do to the minds of our children, who will become future leaders.

Gillie Santos Toronto

Re Laid-off Ottawa Bank Teller Keeps Spending (April 30): It seems that Ben never learned the fundamentals of saving money for a rainy day.

Luckily (or maybe not), Bens relations, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and employment insurance, are taking care of him while he goes on exotic vacations, dines out and parties, living beyond his means. But even at 27, it is not too late for Ben to learn fiscal responsibility.

He should realize that he will not immediately be offered his dream job. He should gain practical experience through paid or volunteer work. He should work harder and save harder.

Put a realistic savings plan on paper. He should revisit and revise it regularly. Next time a pandemic or personal crisis comes along, he would have a nest egg to fall back on.

The government cannot afford to keep helping the Bens of the world. Ben should figure out how to stand on his own two feet.

Mike Gauci Toronto

Re Is The Metaverse The Future Of The Internet? A Globe Journalist Steps Inside To Find Out (Report on Business, April 30): What I really want to know is: Will my metaverse avatar be able to buy a VR headset and immerse himself in his own metaverse? And if so, could my avatars avatar not buy a VR headset and immerse himself in a meta-meta-metaverse?

After all, if there is a business opportunity for a single-level metaverse, it would seem that the business potential of metaverses of metaverses (metaversa?) would be exponentially limitless. A worthy challenge, Im sure, for someone like Elon Musk as soon as he fixes his latest acquisition, of course.

Bob Rafuse Beaconsfield, Que.

Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Try to keep letters to fewer than 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com

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Letters to the editor: May 7: 'If a child sees Wayne Gretzky promoting betting and gambling, the child will likely look at it as a good thing to do.'...

Flutter's logo is pictured on a smartphone in this illustration taken, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

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DUBLIN, May 4 (Reuters) - Paddy Power, Betfair and FanDuel owner Flutter said the cost of living crisis in its main UK and Ireland market is not putting customers off gambling as further rapid growth in the United States pushed first-quarter revenues up 6%.

Shares in the world's largest online betting firm jumped by over 5% on Tuesday after it reported that its U.S. revenues rose 45% year-on-year. More than half of the amount staked across its brands came from U.S. unit FanDuel for the first time.

While revenues in the UK and Ireland fell by 8%, Flutter said this was due to a winning streak enjoyed by punters and increased spending on initiatives to curb gambling addiction, rather than the worsening squeeze on household incomes.

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"At this stage we're not seeing anything that we would point to specifically around cost of living, and in fact we're seeing reasonably consistent levels of engagement from customers between Q4 and Q1 compared to previous years, which reassures us to some extent," Chief Executive Peter Jackson told reporters.

Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Hill said the number of days customers bet a month and the amount they spent was not much different from the corresponding period in 2019, before COVID-19 lockdowns temporarily changed consumer behaviour.

The average number of people gambling on Flutter brands in the UK and Ireland, which include Sky Bet and recently acquired bingo operator Tombola, rose by 15% year-on-year.

Online betting is taking off in the United States after a ban was lifted there in 2018. Flutter kept its No.1 position with a 37% share, down from 40% at the end of 2021.

Average monthly users rose by 43% year-on-year as revenues in the U.S. of 429 million pounds almost passed the 519 million pounds generated in the UK and Ireland for the first time.

After launching in New York in January, Jackson said he hoped FanDuel could clear the required regulatory hurdles to go live in California by the start of the 2023 American Football season, a move that would "clearly be very material."

(This story corrects final paragraph to show Flutter hopes to enter Californian market in 2023 (not 2022))

Register

Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Hugh Lawson

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Read the rest here:

Flutter says UK inflation not hitting gambling as U.S. booms - Reuters

Technology is changing the gambling industry in many exciting ways. One of the biggest trends in the gambling industry is the use of AI to improve player experience and efficiency. Casinos are using AI to identify loyal players and reward them with targeted promotions. Meanwhile, gamblers are using AI to improve their odds by analyzing past data and predicting future outcomes. Further, gamblers want a personalized experience: they want games that can respond to their unique playing style and provide tailored rewards based on their specific preferences.

Additionally, hosting relationships between casino operators and game providers are changing because of technology innovation. A competitive edge is achieved through unique games that keep players engaged for longer periodsand developers who focus on creating fast-paced, dynamic games with enticing graphics have a leg up over those who dont.

Youve probably noticed that some betting platforms like Vwin are getting smarter. Theyre using data to improve their operations and customer experience and minimize theft. Using data to improve marketing strategies, which in turn improves revenue and profit margins. And theyre using data to maximize the productivity of their employees while minimizing turnover rates. If you want an example of how innovation can transform a business, look no further than the casino industry.

Casino owners are beginning to understand that for their businesses to thrive in todays competitive environment, they need to utilize cutting-edge technology solutions that leverage big data analytics and machine learning capabilitiesand theyre not afraid of investing heavily in these technologies either.

Casinos are now able to track customers gambling habits by analyzing their play histories on slot machines or through RFID (radio frequency identification) chips embedded inside cards used at table games like blackjack; this allows them not only to offer better incentives but also to develop new games based on what players like best (and what will generate more revenue). This is just one example of how casinos are getting smarter every day with technology innovations that help them run more efficiently as well as provide an enhanced customer experience overall.

An evolving landscape means that todays gamblers are not the same as those of the past. A few key differences separate modern-day players from those of yesteryear:

When gambling, you probably have some expectations for your experience at the casino. You might expect to have a cocktail or two, enjoy a few rounds of Blackjack, and then maybe cap off the night with dinner before heading home. The casino has many expectations for your experience as well.

With the vast amounts of data at their disposal, casinos cannot only anticipate what customers want but also create personalized experiencesconsidering gamblers VIP status. Knowing whether you are a high roller or not may seem like an obvious distinction, but casinos also need to know who their VIPs are before they become VIPs so they can provide them with personal touches along the way that will make them feel special long before reaching millionaire status.

Its undeniable that internet-based casino games have been a boon to the gambling industry. However, its important to know how hosting these games has changed in recent years, and the role it will play in the future of gaming providers and casino operators.

Read more:

Technology Innovation is Reshaping the Gambling Industry - TechSpective

Competitive Analysis

The online gambling market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. To make the most of the opportunities and recover from post COVID-19 impact, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

The report includes the competitive analysis, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their industry position score and market performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.

Company Profiles

The online gambling market report includes information on the product launches, sustainability, and prospects of leading vendors including 888 Holdings Plc, Bet365 Group Ltd., BetOnline, Betsson AB, Camelot UK Lotteries Ltd., Entain Plc, Flutter Entertainment Plc, Fortuna Entertainment Group a.s., Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd., INTRALOT SA, Kindred Group Plc, LeoVegas AB, MGM Resorts International, New York State Gaming Commission, Scientific Games Corp., Sportech Plc, The Betway Group, The Stars Group Inc., William Hill Plc, and Winamax. Companies are engaging in launching innovative products and solutions to cater the evolving end-user requirements. For instance, corporate.888.com offersonline gambling that includes online gaming services such as casino and games, poker, bingo and sport. The company also focuses on developing its business to customer business across all four product verticals in the gambling industry namely Casino, Sport, Poker and Bingo.

Download Sample Report Copy Right hereto ensure you have access to all industry-focused vendor strategies and their product offerings.

Market Segmentation Highlights

Get Report Sample to know more about each segment

Related Reports:

Casinos and Gambling Market by Platform and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Gambling Market in UK by Platform and Type - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Online Gambling Market Scope

Report Coverage

Details

Page number

120

Base year

2021

Forecast period

2022-2026

Growth momentum & CAGR

Decelerate at a CAGR of 11.05%

Market growth 2022-2026

$ 142.38 billion

Market structure

Fragmented

YoY growth (%)

11.82

Regional analysis

North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa

Performing market contribution

APAC at 37%

Key consumer countries

US, Canada, China, UK, and Germany

Competitive landscape

Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope

Companies profiled

888 Holdings Plc, Bet365 Group Ltd., BetOnline, Betsson AB, Camelot UK Lotteries Ltd., Entain Plc, Flutter Entertainment Plc, Fortuna Entertainment Group a.s., Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd., INTRALOT SA, Kindred Group Plc, LeoVegas AB, MGM Resorts International, New York State Gaming Commission, Scientific Games Corp., Sportech Plc, The Betway Group, The Stars Group Inc., William Hill Plc, and Winamax

Market Dynamics

Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for forecast period,

Customization purview

If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Content

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Five Forces Analysis

5 Market Segmentation by Device

6 Market Segmentation by Product

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Vendor Landscape

11 Vendor Analysis

12 Appendix

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio ResearchJesse MaidaMedia & Marketing ExecutiveUS: +1 844 364 1100UK: +44 203 893 3200Email: [emailprotected]Website: http://www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio

Read more:

Online Gambling Market Size to Grow by USD 142.38 Billion | 37% of the growth will originate from APAC | 17,000+ Technavio Reports - PR Newswire