Daily Archives: June 20, 2022

CLEVELAND, Ohio The downtown JACK Cleveland Casino ushered in Ohios modern gambling era in 2012, and since its inception, the urban casino has been a learning experience for the people running it.

Cleveland was new, said Jack Clevelands General Manager Scott Lokke. No one really understood the urban gaming market. Learning came very fast and very quick and forced us to run audibles very quickly.

Originally called the Horseshoe, Clevelands casino was the first to open in Ohio after a constitutional amendment in 2009 made them legal. Its doors opened on May 12, 2012, and was followed by three more casinos, with one in Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.

The casinos together have funneled billions of dollars of tax revenue to the state, even though they didnt live up to some early projections.

When Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, the original owner of Clevelands and Cincinnatis casinos, introduced the Horseshoe, he promised the casino would be a source of two-way traffic, attracting and sharing visitors with the rest of downtown.

Lokke said a lot has changed in the casino and downtown, but the mantra stays the same.

Were such a part of the fabric of Cleveland, Lokke said.

Ohio welcomed legal gambling at the ballot box in 2009 after four failed attempts. Gilbert was one of the main figures pushing for legalization, and at the time Caesars Entertainment had an ownership stake in Clevelands casino.

Lokke worked for Caesars at the time and worked on the development side for both the JACK Cleveland Casino and what is now the Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati.

Clevelands Casino was much different, he said. It was Caesars first urban casino outside of Vegas. Most casinos were built as destinations, with resorts, hotels and other amenities built to encourage days or weeklong stays.

The JACK Cleveland didnt even have its own hotel and was attracting a customer that may pop in for a few hours. Most visitors live 15 to 20 miles from the casino, Lokke said.

Lokke said the Horseshoe debuted with 2,500 slot machines and just 60 table games, since slots were the revenue drivers in most suburban casinos.

Patrons quickly showed they wanted something different. They skewed younger, and wanted more bars, music and entertainment, fewer slots and more table games.

Lokke said 1,500 slot machines were cut from the casinos lineup and the number of table games was raised to 100. He said the model for the JACK has been a more fun, entertaining atmosphere that fits in with downtown nightlife, and changes since the beginning have skewed towards that direction.

The trend towards more interactive gaming has spread to more urban casinos and even Las Vegas in the last decade, Lokke said. Slot machines used to be three rolling columns. Now video gaming machines look more like video games.

More recently JACK Cleveland has added an outdoor gaming space, a second parking garage (casino-goers park for free) and a new poker room. Now its in the middle of adding a 5,000 square-foot sportsbook in anticipation of legal sports betting in Ohio.

When the casino moved into the Higbee Building, a phase 2 was always envisioned, but never panned out. Soon after casinos were legalized, horse-racing tracks in Ohio won the right to have slot machines. This added seven competitors across the state and two in Northeast Ohio, though unlike the casinos, the racinos cannot offer table games, poker rooms or even games of skill at the slots.

In 2016 Rock Gambling separated from Caesars and become JACK Entertainment, which came with a rebranding of the downtown casino. Matt Cullen, the casinos first CEO, later led a team of investors that bought JACK Entertainment from Gilbert, turning it into an Ohio-based gaming company with two locations.

In 10 years of existence, JACK Cleveland Casino has brought in $2.19 billion in gambling revenue, which is money it makes on people placing bets.

Its paid one-third, or about $731 million of that revenue, in taxes. Its sent $373 million to Ohios 88 counties, $248 million to school districts and $37 million to its host city, not counting Clevelands split of the taxes sent to Cuyahoga County.

Those pushing for legalization were careful not to predict how much revenue would be made, but Ohios gambling industry hasnt lived up to estimates from the state.

In October 2009, before legal gambling hit the ballot box, Ohios Department of Budget and Management and Department of Taxation analyzed the impact of opening casinos on the states budget.

Even considering the possibility of racinos also opening for business, that analysis predicted $1.42 billion in yearly gambling revenues from Ohios four casinos. The casinos combined brought in $984 million in 2021 during a record year.

JACK Cleveland had a record year in 2021 with $257 million in gambling revenue, but the 2009 analysis predicted $473 million of annual revenue. The same analysis over-predicted how much revenue the Columbus and Cincinnati casinos would pull in by wide margins as well. Only Toledos prediction was close.

Since 2013 the casinos gambling revenue has grown from $821 to $984 million a year. The seven racinos now bring in upwards of $1.2 billion every year.

Ohio was late to gambling compared to its neighbors, with Indiana, Pennsylvania and Michigan all having casinos first. The analysis didnt expect gamblers to flock from outside Ohio. It did predict, though, that Ohio would recapture its in-state gamblers.

Detroit was an early adopter and became an established market before any Ohio casinos opened. The citys three casinos brought in $1.3 billion of gambling revenue in 2021, dwarfing Ohios four casinos.

Clevelands casino has been outperforming the one in Pittsburgh. From January to April, Pittsburghs Rivers Casino has brought in $74 million in slots and table games revenue, compared to $86 million at JACK Cleveland.

Its not like gambling revenue in Ohio isnt growing. Ohios casinos and racinos have broken the record nine out of the last 10 years. The only year they didnt was in 2020, when COVID-19 related shutdowns and curfews disrupted the industry.

Over 10 years, Ohios casinos have brought in $8.15 billion in revenue, paying about $2.72 billion in taxes on gambling earnings alone.

Lokke would later become JACK Casinos general manager in 2015. Since then, downtown Cleveland has seen major change, as well as a pandemic.

Since the casinos inception, both Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and Public Square have been renovated. The residential population, even after being deterred by COVID-19, reached the Downtown Cleveland Alliances goal of 20,000 people living downtown by 2020.

From the beginning Lokke said the casino was developed with minimal food and beverage to help push people out of the venue into downtown. Gamblers are still rewarded with vouchers for restaurants and tickets to shows or games through JACKs reward platform.

Lokke said the casino has welcomed 35 million visitors since May 2012, and as of late averages 10,000 people through a 24-hour day. While casinos set revenue records since the COVID-19 pandemic began, attendance is still down compared to two years ago.

As workers return downtown and Sherwin-Williams builds its new headquarters on Public Square, Lokke said hes expecting even more change.

A rising tide raises all boats, Lokke said.

The JACK casino isnt done changing either. Lokke said there was many capital improvements made in the first half of the casinos life. In the past 18 to 24 months, he said JACK has invested tens of millions of dollars into the property.

Lokke said he expects several more years of growth for the casino.

Ten years really isnt that long for an entirely new industry that really didnt exist before in Ohio, Lokke said.

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Part of the fabric of Cleveland JACK Casino, Ohios gambling industry now 10 years old - cleveland.com

Monday, 20 June 2022, 12:06 pmPress Release: Problem Gambling Foundation

An impressive line-up of international and local speakerswill feature at the 8th International Gambling Conference(IGC2022), being held at the Sir Paul Reeves Building atAuckland University of Technology (or virtually for thoseunable to attend), from 29 June 1 July 2022.

Theprogramme includes inspiring presentations from four keynotespeakers: Psychiatrist Dr Diana Kopua and herhusband Mark Kopua - a tohunga and T Mokopractitioner, Professor Amanda Roberts fromthe School of Psychology at the University of Lincoln, UK,and Dr Aaron Drummond, a cognitivecyberpsychologist from Massey Universitys School ofPsychology, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

TheConference, themed He haerenga A journey from harm towellbeing, will provide a platform for all to sharetheir unique journey in the area of gambling related harmand wellbeing.

Prior to the Conference anInternational Think Tank on Gambling Research, Policy andPractice is being held at the AUT City Campus, 27-28 June.The Think Tank will bring together experts in their field toensure progress on current collaborative projects andidentify new initiatives to expand knowledge and advancegambling policy and practice.

IGC2022 will open onWednesday 29 June with a mihi whakatau and an address todelegates from Hon. Jan Tinetti, Minister of InternalAffairs.

The International Gambling Conference is awell-established biennial event and one of the leadinginternational conferences on preventing and minimisingharmful gambling, attracting delegates from New Zealand andaround the world. It is hosted by the Gambling andAddictions Research Centre at AUT University, and theProblem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand.

For moreinformation on the conference and to view the completeprogramme please visit http://www.internationalgamblingconference.com.

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Impressive Line-up Of Speakers At The 8th International Gambling Conference | Scoop News - Scoop

Theres one key difference in Oklahomas lineup that sets the team apart from the rest of the field at the Mens College World Series.

The Sooners have youth, and plenty of it.

While the Sooners lack of experience could be seen as a negative as they chase their first national championship in 1994, it certainly hasnt limited them so far. It was youth that helped propel the Sooners on their late-season run, particularly when OU coach Skip Johnson inserted true freshmen Jackson Nicklaus, Wallace Clark and John Spikerman into the lineup.

Picking those guys up and putting them in the lineup in the middle of the year was big for us because they stepped up in a big way, OU redshirt sophomore Jimmy Crooks said Wednesday. Theyve been doing their job and hopefully they can continue to be successful.

The Sooners youth kept it going in their MCWS opener against Texas A&M Friday in Omaha, Nebraska.

Seven of the Sooners nine starters were underclassmen, accounting for eight of the teams 11 hits and 11 of their runs in a 13-8 win over the Aggies. No hit was bigger than Nicklaus grand slam in the fourth inning, which marked just the third grand slam ever recorded at Charles Schwab Field during the MCWS.

In comparison, three of the Aggies starters were underclassmen and they accounted for just two of the their eight runs.

It wasnt just Nicklaus that came through offensively. Spikerman tied for the team lead with two runs and had two hits. Redshirt sophomore Blake Robertson led the team with three RBIs. Crooks three-run homer in the second inning capped off the Sooners seven-run performance in the frame.

On the mound, redshirt sophomore Jake Bennett recorded the win after throwing three strikeouts and surrendering five hits in six innings pitched. Johnson confirmed that Norman native Cade Horton, a redshirt freshman, will start for the Sooners second-round game against Notre Dame at 6 p.m. Sunday, per Josh Callaway of SI Sooners.

That reliance on youth has been successful for the Sooners all season, and it doesnt look like that will change much as the team continues in Omaha.

It just shows you the sign of our development program and what we try to do to develop those guys as young men and baseball players, Johnson said. I think thats whats special about our program.

We always knew how dynamic [Spikerman] was I think Wallace Clark at times has been one of our team MVPs. [Hes] grinded at-bats out, just trying to win pitches. Its been fun to watch.

The Sooners young players have grown together through this postseason run, and Nicklaus said the goal remains just focusing on one pitch at a time.

Im really close with John Spikerman. [Hes] probably my best friend on my team, Nicklaus said. We hang out a lot We chat about whats going on, how were feeling, how to stay loose, how to experiment, how to take everything head on and stay under control, because its easy to get under control at this stage, being this young.

But, like we said earlier, [we have to] ride the wave. We know well struggle and have highs and lows. [Were] just trying to maintain a steady pace.

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OU baseball: Sooners are gambling on youth, and it's paying off - Norman Transcript

DraftKings has collaborated with UK-based BetBlocker to bring more awareness to responsible gambling.

BetBlocker is a free software that enables users to set restrictions on their gaming activity. It also restricts access to thousands of both regulated and unregulated gaming sites.

As detailed by the news release:

BetBlocker technology allows users to download the software anonymously without having any of their personal data stored. Consumers are empowered to use BetBlocker to manage how long or in what capacity they choose to play, including choosing a range of restriction lengths (1-5 days, 1-3 weeks, 1-6 months, 1-5 years) or using the calendar blocking functionality (e.g. blocking Saturdays, Sundays every week).

We think this partnership is a tremendous step forward in providing players with access to a wide variety of responsible gambling tools, Keith Whyte, executive director for the National Council on Problem Gambling, told PlayNY via email.

Blocking software is one important line of defense, particularly for people who are in recovery from a gambling problem. We know that preventing and treating gambling addiction requires a multi-layered approach and that tools like BetBlocker are most effective when combined with the use of limit setting and self-exclusion features on a gambling site, community-based prevention and education, therapy from a certified counselor and of course participation in self help groups to promote behavior change and sustain recovery.

Chrissy Thurmond, senior director of responsible gaming at DraftKings, praised BetBlockers contributions to safer play for customers. All while advancing responsible gaming in a comprehensive and consumer friendly way, according to the news release.

We share BetBlockers vision that technology and innovation are critical to promoting safer play, and we extend a warm welcome to BetBlocker as they build their footprint in North America, following widespread success across the pond.

There has been an increase in calls to the HOPEline since the Jan. 8 launch of legal online sports betting in New York. But state agencies like the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), New York Council on Problem Gambling(NYCPG) and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) continue to promote responsible gaming.

Signage featuring thefirst-ever Quick Response (QR) coderecently debuted at Resorts World Catskills, MGM Empire City and several other gaming facilities. The QR code enables problem gamblers to connect with locally trained professionals in real time. You simply need to point your phone camera at the code. The phone will ask if you would like to open a link to the website NYProblemGamblingHelp.org.

On May 16,Sen. Joe AddabboandAssemb. Gary Pretlowhad a roundtable discussion with OASAS and NYCPG to discuss how to properly allocate the additional$6 million in addiction fundingfrom online sports betting. That $6 million representsless than 1% ofstate tax revenuefrom NY online sports betting. NYCPG had called for 3% or about $20 million to provide proper resources for problem gamblers.

AsNYCPG Executive Director Jim Maneypreviously toldPlayNY: Were going to have to deliver services 24/7 now.

Addabbo agreed, tellingPlayNY that New York needs to reach a point where were offering 24/7 services for problem gambling.

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DraftKings Partners With BetBlocker To Support Responsible Gambling - Play NY

Bookmakers and bettors took sides ahead of the U.S. Open, overwhelmingly backing PGA Tour golfers over those who joined the new Saudi-backed LIV Golf league.

And they were vindicated after the first round concluded Thursday at Brookline Country Club in Massachusetts.

The 15 LIV Golf entrants, including Phil Mickelson, combined to shoot 53-over par. Only one of those players, Dustin Johnson, finished the day ranked within the top 14.

Tipico Sportsbook opened Johnson as a 30/1 longshot to win before the tournament began. Following his 2-under-par 68, hes become a 20/1 sixth choice. He sits behind favored vocal LIV Golf critic Rory McIlroy (+550), PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas (+900), defending U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm (+1000), Masters champion Scottie Scheffler (+1300) and another 2-under player, Matthew Fitzpatrick (+1500).

McIlroy, 33, said earlier this week some of his peers who pursued the lavish LIV Golf compensation backed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who, according to the U.S. government, authorized the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 likely did so because their best days are behind them.

McIlroy talked the talk and then walked the walk during Thursdays opening round, shooting a 3-under 67 to stand in a five-way tie for second place behind leader Adam Hadwin (21/1) of Canada at -4.

McIlroys knock was aimed mostly at six-time major winner Mickelson, who started as a staggering 200/1 longshot to win this weekend and finds himself in danger of being cut Friday after his opening-round 8-over 78. Mickelson, 52, also finished distantly in last weeks inaugural LIV Golf event, behind fellow Masters winner Charl Schwartzel, 37.

As for the other LIV Golf members near their peak, including Johnson and big-driving Bryson DeChambeau, McIlroy said: Thats where it feels like youre taking the easy way out.

DeChambeau was +1 and is cast as an 85/1 longshot.

The LIV Golf backlash and slumping performances from many of the golfers participating in that tour led bookmakers to establish McIlroy, Thomas and Scheffler as favorites to win the U.S. Open. Bettors embraced that decision by making those three players the leaders in total tickets and dollars wagered at Caesars Sportsbook.

Story continues

Rahm generated five wagers of at least $1,000 before posting his 1-under 69 Thursday, and PGA players Will Zalatoris, Cameron Smith and Sam Burns were top-five plays at Caesars. A Nevada bettor placed a $3,000 wager on Burns with potential winnings of $54,000.

Oddsmakers certainly accounted for the feuding between PGA and LIV Golf players. Still, Caesars Sportsbook lead golf trader Anthony Sallerori said he was stunned watching Johnson fall from an opening 25/1 to 40/1 at Caesars before he teed off Thursday.

He is out of public favor at the moment, thats just how it stands, Sallerori said.

Unrelenting criticism of LIV Golf moved two-time U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, whose brother, Chase, played in last weeks LIV stop, to criticize journalists for asking hard questions that he said formed a black cloud over the event.

Im tired of the conversations. Im tired of all this stuff, Koepka said.

Thus, the PGA-LIV rivalry opened earnestly, with the PGA loyalists headed by McIlroy yearning to flex their superiority over those who fled.

MORE: How LIV Golf players fared during the first round of the U.S. Open

Oddsmakers were quick to identify LIV players uphill battle in the U.S. Open by first making Johnson the ninth favorite to win and attaching a slew of longshot 80/1-and-beyond tags on others, including Talor Gooch, Sergio Garcia, Kevin Na and Patrick Reed, who each finished over par Thursday.

At one point late Thursday afternoon, the 15 LIV Golf players were a combined +54 an uncanny occurrence tied to the 54 entrants who play in LIVs 54-hole tournaments.

Golf, by its nature, is tense. Adding in personal beefs fanned by widespread criticism and a new rivalry transforms this U.S. Open Fathers Day tradition into an unprecedented, must-see event.

Despite the distaste for Johnsons LIV Golf defection, veteran golf journalist Thomas Bonk saw him as a viable contender even before his first round justified the opinion.

Dustin is uniquely suited to play in an Open at Brookline, Bonk said. He can hit the ball straight and putt.

As Mickelson played to muted support from Thursdays crowd, Bonk said he didnt expect the pressure and criticism to crack the LIV Golf players because golfers are pretty insular in their thinking.

But with the stiffness of the course and the hard feelings palpable, Bonk surmised, Being nerveless here will help.

Golfweeks Adam Schupak said the dynamic of the players friction is less of an issue than the shoddy results Johnson, Mickelson and Reed displayed prior to Brookline.

Most of the LIV golfers havent shown much form on the PGA Tour of late, Schupak said. Johnson, other than a stellar performance at last years Ryder Cup, has been a shadow of the player who won the 2020 Masters.

But nothing rattles D.J. Same goes for Patrick Reed, who seems to thrive when hes the center of controversy.

Patrick Cantlay plays his shot from the third tee during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Respected golf handicapper Rufus Peabody ran all of the entrants through a battery of more than 100,000 simulations and said Johnson is a 43/1 underdog.

Whether you can find a good bet depends on the price you can find, Peabody said cryptically because he likes to keep his picks to himself.

Schupak named 30/1 choice Burns (+1), reigning PGA player of the year and FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay (+2) and 39/1 Max Homa (-1) as his three pre-tournament favorites to win. Burns has won three PGA events this season, including two weeks ago. Homa has won twice.

My top choice is the under-appreciated Burns he currently ranks No. 9 in the world, possesses a complete game and is just starting to come into his own, Schupak said. He watched his best friend, Scottie Scheffler, win the Masters in April and hes thinking: Why not me?

Homa is another player who is riding a hot hand. He has the iron play and putting ability to be a factor in a major. When he gets in the hunt, hes shown he knows how to find the winners circle. Cantlay has been an enigma at majors with just two top-10 finishes in 21 starts in majors, but Im still convinced its a matter of when, not if, hes going to win a major.

Bonk sided with Collin Morikawa (-1), whos now 20/1 at Tipico.

Following the U.S. Open, the LIV Golf players will part from their former brethren again to next play in Portland, Oregon June 30.

U.S. betting shops, including Tipico, have yet to receive approval from multiple state gambling regulators to offer betting on the LIV Golf tour, although it is allowed in Nevada and Arizona.

Being a new league is part of it, but with the Saudi impact, I dont think (regulators) like the look of it, either, Tipico spokesman Sunny Gupta said. It seems like theres the potential for (states) to take an arbitrary stance on this because of the Saudis.

Gupta said the only thing Tipicos New Jersey and Colorado regulators have said is LIV Golf betting is still under review.

I understand why they wouldnt be ready for the first stop (last week in London), but Id be shocked if it wont go through for the next time, Gupta said.

In lieu of that, Tipico and other shops are offering head-to-head and four-versus-four proposition betting matchups pitting PGA players against the LIV Golf entrants. At BetMGM, for instance, Johnson was an even-money underdog versus -120 favorite Hideki Matsuyama.

Johnson birdied No. 17 Thursday to edge Matsuyama by two strokes, creeping within the lead.

As for the staying power of the PGA-LIV rivalry, Bonk said he isnt sure how long the fire, and verbal strife, will burn.

Unless Dustin Johnson wins, he said.

U.S. Open: 5 things we learned on Thursday, from The Country Club to Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm

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Golf gambling: LIV Golf players have been unappetizing to bettors this U.S. Open - Yahoo Sports