Monthly Archives: June 2022

China’s "dirty tricks campaign" speaks volumes about the bullish outlook for vital rare earths – Livewire Markets

Posted: June 30, 2022 at 9:16 pm

Revelations by US cybersecurity firm Mandiant that China had resorted to cyberwar tactics in an effort to protect its stranglehold on the strategically-important rare earths industry comes as no surprise.

The dirty tricks campaign has been loading up chatrooms and websites with disinformation about competitor western world projects, with the clear implication being China is out to protect its dominance of the industry, as it would.

It was a smiling Deng Xiaoping who said back in 1987 that the Middle East has its oil and China has its rare earths. Later in 1992, he commented that the rare earths industry was of extremely important strategic influence and that China had to make the fullest use of the countrys advantage in rare earths.

Come 2010, Beijing did just that by imposing a ban on rare earth exports to Japan over an East China Sea dispute. And later on, Beijing introduced a moving feast of export quotas to keep the west on edge, and to ensure Chinas needs were foremost.

So here we are decades later and China is now said to be choking up TikTok and Instagram with disinformation designed to undercut the western worlds efforts to wean itself off dependence on China for its rare earths needs.

Long considered critical, rare earths have become even more so because of the mega trend of decarbonisation. Electric vehicles and wind turbines are big components of the push, and both happen to be big end-users of rare earths.

None of that has been lost on the western world.

It is why Australian taxpayers are providing soft financing for Ilukas (ASX: ILU) $1.2 billion Eneabba rare earths refinery in WA and why US taxpayers recently stumped up $US120m for a rare earths separation plant to be built by Lynas (ASX: LYC) somewhere on the Gulf coast.

But there is so much more to do, not just from a geopolitical standpoint, but also from a sheer demand standpoint. Slice and dice the forecasts out there and there is consensus that Lynas-scale capacity (its the biggest outside of China) will need to be built every 1.5 years for at least the next 20 years.

Lynas is an $8 billion company.

Despite the pressure for more and more rare earths, particularly non-Chinese rare earths, Lynas and the rest of the ASX rare earths space have been beaten up in the last three months along with the rest of the market.

Lynas is down 20% while the explorers/developers are down 50% or more. Rare earth prices have come off a touch in the same period on general recession fears but remain elevated.

And given the non-China supply imperative and the emerging deficit in the supply of the particular EV and wind turbine rare earths, it is hard to see the bullish outlook changing anytime soon. It suggests that the ASX rare earths space has moved into oversold territory.

That came through in a $12.50 price target Macquarie put on Lynas last week. Lynas closed on Thursday at $8.73.

Rare earth explorers with strong newsflow ahead of them offer leverage to the thematic that the sectors best years are ahead. There are 15 rare earth explorers and would-be developers worth their salt on the ASX.

But here are three with newsflow ahead of them:

It has just gone into a trading halt pending a resource update for its Koppamurra ionic clay-hosted rare earths discovery in southeast South Australia, straddling the border with Victoria.

AR3 joined the ASX lists in June last year, raising $12m at 30c a share. It traded up to $1.35 but is now back at a more sedate 37.5c.

The resource update could well trigger a re-rate. It is the nature of clay-hosted deposits (like those mined in China) that the mineralisation can be shallow, consistent and laterally extensive.

As it is, Koppamurra already ranks as a large-scale discovery based on its maiden resource estimate. The upgrade could take it to another level still.

In a neat piece of timing, PVW got in ahead of the general market sell-off to pull in $9.5 million from a placement at 40c a share to chase down the idea that its Tanami (heavy) rare earths project in WAs Kimberley region could be something special.

It closed on Thursday at 24c notwithstanding the news that it has just kicked off a 35,000m drilling program.

The drilling campaign follows on from rock chip sampling which returned up to 12.45% in total rare earth oxides in October last year, which is more encouragement than anyone needs to roll in the drill rigs.

The bigger picture is that there could be some real scale to the discovery as the project area covers an 18km stretch of prospective unconformity.

RareX was a 14c stock earlier in the year but is now back at 5.3c. It too got in ahead of the broad market sell-off by raising $10m at 9c a share.

It means it is funded for a drilling program to grow the resource base at its Cummins Range project near Halls Creek in the East Kimberley region of WA.

It is the same style of mineralisation as Lynas Mt Weld operation and would currently be categorised as being of moderate size.

But success in confirming primary mineralisation to a depth of 500m, compared with the 100m limit of the current (oxide) resource estimate, means the scale of the resource could comfortably double, if not more. It is what the drilling program is all about.

A resource update is likely before the end of the year and would lead into early development studies.

Volts (VRC) $2 million placement at 1.6c a share wasnt the biggest fundraising exercise of the week but it was certainly the most interesting.

The funds are earmarked for a restart of its Zavalievsky graphite mine in Ukraine, in the west of the country, well away from the invading Russians.

Investors in juniors of any description are generally derring-do types. But hats off to them for supporting the type of project that Ukraine wants and needs to be restarted to repair its economy.

Investors (and the companys chairman) who took up the stock are also backing the idea that Zavalievsky can be a key link in Volts bigger ambitions to become a significant integrated graphite producer from its projects in Ukraine and Tanzania.

Graphite is the forgotten anode side of the batteries powering the EV revolution. But as the revolution gathers pace, it too is enjoying price strength on growing demand from the battery sector, with Europe in particular needing new non-China supply options.

If you're not an existing Livewire subscriber you can sign up to get free access to investment ideas and strategies from Australia's leading investors.

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Gambling.com Group (GAMB) vs. The Competition Head-To-Head Comparison – Defense World

Posted: at 9:16 pm

Gambling.com Group (NASDAQ:GAMB Get Rating) is one of 28 public companies in the Miscellaneous amusement & recreation services industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Gambling.com Group to related companies based on the strength of its profitability, dividends, valuation, risk, earnings, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Gambling.com Group and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Gambling.com Group and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Gambling.com Group presently has a consensus price target of $12.00, indicating a potential upside of 51.13%. As a group, Miscellaneous amusement & recreation services companies have a potential upside of 63.90%. Given Gambling.com Groups rivals higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Gambling.com Group has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

25.8% of Gambling.com Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 48.0% of shares of all Miscellaneous amusement & recreation services companies are owned by institutional investors. 24.9% of shares of all Miscellaneous amusement & recreation services companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Gambling.com Group and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

About Gambling.com Group (Get Rating)

Gambling.com Group Limited operates as a performance marketing company for the online gambling industry worldwide. The company provides digital marketing services for the iGaming and sports betting. It publishes various branded websites, including Gambling.com and Bookies.com. Gambling.com Group Limited was incorporated in 2006 and is based in St. Helier, Jersey.

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Gambling.com Group (GAMB) vs. The Competition Head-To-Head Comparison - Defense World

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Australian Gambling Boozehound Scams Client Out of $230,000, Heads to Jail – Casino.Org News

Posted: at 9:16 pm

Posted on: June 29, 2022, 08:45h.

Last updated on: June 29, 2022, 10:00h.

A financial advisor in Australia who was supposed to be helping a client turn her income into life-saving earnings used it instead to feed his alcohol and gambling lifestyle. Hell go to jail for his crimes, according to The Guardian. But that wont help the client recuperate the AU$363,000 (US$230,000) she lost.

In 2010, Scott Hines was working at the Mildura branch of advisory firm ANZ as a financial advisor when he met the soon-to-be victim. After learning that the unidentified woman had property and an inheritance of AU$1 million (US$687,600), Hines agreed to help.

He laid out a financial plan to help the single mother, who was struggling to care for her disabled daughter. However, Hines had different plans that would ultimately impact the young girl, suffering from cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

Hines took $100,000 (US$68,730) from the victims account and converted it into cash that he could spend at will. Next, he borrowed AU$230,000 (US$158,217) more from her account later that same year. He used this money as a loan to another customer, even charging the individual AU$37,000 (US$25,452) in interest.

ANZ fired Hines in 2012 for serious misconduct following a separate customer incident. However, he continued to run his scam on his client, using her money to pay for his lifestyle and to settle the other case.

He had complete control of her bank accounts by April of that year. Hines convinced the woman to begin using his new financial planning firm, although he told her to keep it secret from ANZ.

He used his debit card at an Australian hardware store chain to open a trade account called Department of Defence. There, he spent more than $10,000. In addition, Hines also stole Centrelink pension money from his victim to go on shopping sprees and cover his debts.

Eventually, the 41-year-old con man took control of all of his victims bank accounts. When the final tally of the theft was revealed, the victim was stunned by the amount she lost.

When the victim realized what was going on, she contacted authorities. Police arrested Hines, who pleaded guilty last year to three counts of financial advantage by deception from 2011 to 2018.

The victim claimed she was emotionally fragile because of the fraud. In addition, she is still out the money, which she will probably never see. Since 2018, Hines, who admitted to having gambling and alcohol problems in court, has been a landscape gardener. This is not the type of job that would allow him to come up with hundreds of thousands of dollars quickly.

As he was running his ruse, Hines tried to give off an appearance of being a Boy Scout. In 2011, he worked with the Australian Air Force Cadets as a volunteer. He was promoted to Commanding Officer at one point, but the scandal brought that to an end. The group demoted him and then discharged him last year.

Judge Trevor Wraight, who presided over Hines sentencing, ruled that the scammers actions were disgusting. He took advantage of two people, one disabled and one vulnerable. As a result, Wraight sentenced him to three years and five months in prison. However, after two years, he can request parole.

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Australian Gambling Boozehound Scams Client Out of $230,000, Heads to Jail - Casino.Org News

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JMP Analyst Names 5 Gambling Stocks To Buy On The Dip – Benzinga – Benzinga

Posted: at 9:16 pm

It's been a rough year so far for casino and online gambling stocks, but one firm has identified a handful of gambling stocks that investors should consider buying on the dip.

The Analyst: JMP Securities analyst Jordan Bender has initiated coverage of the following five stocks:

Related Link: Final Draft Of Macau Gaming Law: What Investors Need To Know

The Thesis: Bender broke down his bullish stance on iGaming, online sports betting and the Nevada casino market.

U.S. iGaming legislation could be a major catalyst for Rush Street, Bender said.

"As NA online sports betting (OSB) and iGaming markets ramp, we believe gross gaming revenue (GGR) of ~$8.1B in 2021 will reach $39B by 2030E (23% CAGR), $3.9B in Canada (30% CAGR), and >$800M in Colombia/Mexico," he wrote.

Related Link: MGM Resorts Analysts React To Q1 Earnings Beat, LeoVegas Acquisition, Macau Weakness

Bender said Penn's Barstool brand differentiates it from competitors.

"Barstool complements PENNs casino database to create customizable content and product for a younger, more football-focused audience, a similar demographic to the OSB player," he said.

Bender values BetMGM at $15 billion and says MGM is the market leader in iGaming.

"We believe a combination of BetMGMs omni-channel, with 37m database members, along with Entains market-leading technology positions it ahead of the competition," he wrote.

Golden Entertainment is focused primarily on Nevada, but Bender said it is diversified within the state.

"Nevada is one of the healthiest U.S. gaming markets, and despite volatility in the broader macro environment, our recent visit points to no slowdown for the core casino customer or the size of the wallet," he said.

Finally, Bender said DraftKings is a high-growth, vertically integrated online sports betting and daily fantasy sports market leader.

"While we are in [the] early innings of the online gaming sector, we think DKNG can maintain top share in NA online gaming, driven through cross-sell and its superior technology capabilities in SBTech, leading to profitable growth," he said.

Benzinga's Take: There are several different dynamics playing out in the gambling space these days that make stock selection critical. Ongoing lockdowns in China has made Macau an albatross for casino stocks, while Las Vegas has recovered nicely from the pandemic. In addition, online sports betting and iGaming have been tremendous growth sources, but some of the early market leaders are struggling with heavy losses associated with aggressive marketing and advertising spending.

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JMP Analyst Names 5 Gambling Stocks To Buy On The Dip - Benzinga - Benzinga

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Casino Guru Teams up with Scott Thomas to Raise Awareness for Problem Gambling – GamblingNews.com

Posted: at 9:16 pm

Casino Guru continues on its mission to create the safest possible environment for casino players globally with the company teaming with Scott Thomas, a TV personality known for his work on The Social PR and Food4Thoughts. Thomas is no stranger to gambling addiction and what it can do to consumers, and he talked about this during the Mancs on the Mic along with his brothers, Ryan and Adam Thomas.

Scott recounted his own struggles with gambling and called it a dark time He told a story where a young man was gambling away his student loans and continuing to borrow money just to keep playing. Picketing the casino until it opened the next day and worst. But speaking during his podcast appearance, Scott quickly realized that he was not alone and received an overwhelming amount of feedback.

This is where Casino Guru decided to join and work with Scott on ensuring that more people can hear his story and be supported in their gambling addiction struggles. The new awareness campaign hosted by the worlds premier database of casinos and Scotts inspiring story is designed to ensure that gambling is safer and better in the next decades. The campaign will appeal to younger adults as well as it is presented in a number of videos.

Casino Guru itself has embarked on several projects that reflect that commitment. The company recently revealed its Global Self-Exclusion Initiative and the Casino Guru Academy, both designed to improve the gambling environment and make it safer, sustainable, and reliable. Casino Guru is also coming out of a place of deep understanding.

Reading content on responsible gambling just doesnt cut it and anyone who wishes to help younger generations must find an alternative. The team-up with Scott comes at an equally important time as 39% of Britons aged between 25 and 34 were said to be gamblers in 2020. Scotts prominence with younger generations and his experience with gambling first-hand makes him a natural ally in trying to address the proliferation of unsafe gambling.

The campaign launched with Scott had a huge pull on social media already, as the influencers Instagram account has close to 1 million followers. Both participants in the campaign hope that it may lead to some good examples and serve as an inspirational story to others who are willing to change their ways or seek adequate help if given a light but firm push. Scott welcomed his participation in the campaign and offered a few words:

Ive teamed up with Casino Guru to try and raise some awareness around this subject because clearly theres a lot of people out there who are still struggling.

He remained optimistic. Even if the campaign helped only one person, he would consider this a success. But through this new campaign, which features a series of videos, the pair are addressing other important issues of the overall gambling experience, such as how to recognize if someone has a gambling problem and how to approach them, and understandably how to gamble responsibly.

Casino Guru public & external relations lead Daniela Kianicov welcomed the opportunity and said that this is a first-of-a-kind campaign with a company operating in the gambling industry using the power of an influencer to communicate the risks of problem gambling to young adults. We are very proud to have the honors, Kianicov added.

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Online casinos trends in Ireland: the future of gambling – Cryptopolitan

Posted: at 9:16 pm

The modern variety of online clubs and casinos is fascinating. They provide their visitors with lots of exciting games and profitable loyalty programs such as theSlotClub. Moreover, the developers are constantly working on new trends and technologies in order to make gambling more and more attractive.

So, what is waiting for us in the nearest future? What are the probable unique features of online clubs? Let us discover the most modern technologies and solutions that we are going to enjoy really soon.

Nowadays slots belong to one of the most popular games because of their easiness. However, the disadvantage of this phenomenon is the vast majority of the available options. Their quality can be also very different. Therefore, the newcomers are often confused, because they do not know what to choose and how to do it properly.

The owners of the online clubs have found the solution for this issue. As people always tend to select familiar things, the thematic slots are known to be very popular. The well-known movies, people, or events can be used as a basis for their creation. Of course, the owner must pay for the licensed images, but they provide the profit and attract new clients. So, many clubs have already utilized this brilliant idea.

All the good and reliable online platforms have a wide range of unique slots. Slotbox Online Casino Ireland is working on developing special features and interesting gaming options. The thematic slots are among them.

Another way that developers of the online slot use to enhance the interest in their production is by offering jackpots on a daily basis. Some kinds of slots can guarantee such a payout every day. Generally, at the same time a running total is used and a timer that shows how soon the winning will occur.

Of course, such jackpots are usually not very big, but the payout frequency is increased. This fact improves the chances of winning and also attracts more and more people to the online platform.

Different live games are welcomed by clients and the developers pay them a lot of attention. This trend appeared in 2020 when the pandemic restrictions made us all stay at home. Still, many gamers missed the communication, and here live poker and blackjack rescued the situation.

Nowadays live slot games are the next step in this direction. That is the thing for which so many gamers were looking for. And its reality at last becomes obvious.

The live game immerses the client into the almost real world of gaming. It provides all the senses, sounds and emotions and makes the gambling process very exciting.

As a logical continuation of the previous issue, we can name the total live versions of the land-based casino Ireland. If twenty years ago digital games seemed to be the perfect solution for online clubs, today that is not enough.

Live clubs provide the opportunity to speak to the live dealer, ask for advice or for useful tips during the game, check the rules in real time mode, or just chat with someone. That is a great advantage for many gamers who are in deep love with land-based casinos. Thanks to the modern fast Internet speed and advanced video technologies, instant communication becomes possible. So, the client is fully immersed in the atmosphere and can feel himself or herself sitting near the real table and enjoying the game with the same emotions as in real life.

Live casinos were the first step towards the new reality of moving from land-based organizations. Due to the appearance of VR gambling the online world was brought to life. Such clubs are helping the visitor to stay in the center of the game and be a part of it.

The developers of the software digitally recreate the land-based clubs and allow the gamer to walk between the tables and even interact with other people. That is the totally new world in gaming and still, the client stays at home, but his or her feeling is quite as in the reality.

This modern tool is still not widespread, but we are sure that many owners of online clubs are now thinking about this possibility. For sure, virtual reality is going to attract more and more people to gaming via the World Wide Web.

Do not forget, that many people use mobile phones or other gadgets to access online clubs or to install and play different gambling apps. Nowadays their percentage reaches the point of 80% from all the users.

This rise in popularity was driven by the faster speed of browsing and modern swift processors. Therefore, the providers of online clubs are making their games mobile-friendly. This is the future of gaming because such an approach makes online gambling even more comfortable. The gamer can have access to the favorite game from anyplace anytime, make deposits and payments via the smartphone, and enjoy the platform as a mobile version.

Together with the popularity of online gambling the popularity of video games is rising too. No wonder, that their elements are used by the developers of the casino industry. The so-called gamified club has:

For example, the Slotbox is actively using this kind of mainstream entertainment. We have created our unique loyalty program Sloctlcub. Every visitor who has made the first deposit and started to play effectively has already joined this club. After each bet, the clients get points and coins to the account.

Points are needed to reach the next level. After leveling up the special reward is waiting for you. As for the coins they can be exchanged on the website for other useful bonuses including free spins and cash.

Moreover, inside this system, we offer a variety of rewards depending on the level of the client and some bonuses for special occasions. Thus, we would like to make the gaming process profitable and exciting and do our best in order to achieve this aim.

Cryptocurrency has been recently used in many other industries, but at first, it was not considered as a tool that can be used in the entertainment area. The reason was the very tech-savvy people who understand how to utilize it. However, modern clubs are often created as crypto casinos and many visitors appreciate them and are interested in this new type of gaming platform.

Cryptocurrency guarantees safety and anonymity, making its usage the ideal tool for gambling operations. Therefore, many online platforms have been recently started their utilization and are totally satisfied with the obtained results.

Of course, different forecasts cannot be true with a 100% guarantee. However, all the above-mentioned trends are developing now and are going to become our reality in the nearest future. When we look at what is possible nowadays due to modern technologies and combine it with the demands of the users, anything that makes online clubs more accessible seems to be the source of great success. Do not hesitate to enjoy all the preferences of online gambling, but always pay attention to the security of your funds and personal data. Carefully read the terms and conditions of the chosen club and enjoy your favorite games while staying at home.

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Online casinos trends in Ireland: the future of gambling - Cryptopolitan

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Im an ex-gambling addict I lost hundreds of thousands of pounds and thought I might die… – The Sun

Posted: at 9:16 pm

WAITING nervously for the clock to tick past midnight, Stacey Goodwin needs just one more minute to pass so she can get her latest gambling fix.

As soon as her salary hits her bank account she transfers it into her online gambling account and starts on the slot machines.

1

Flash back to 2011, and the 18-year-old had just taken her first job in a bookies to earn some part-time cash.

Surrounded by people betting their money, she decided to have a go on a slot machine one day, and from then on was "hooked".

Stacey spent the next eight years battling her gambling addiction, losing hundreds of thousands of pounds, friends and partners and jobs in the process.

The gambling started in bookies, but as Stacey's addiction grew, she turned to online gambling.

It became too much in 2017, when she lost 50,000 and tried to take her own life twice.

It was because she had reached a point of "absolute despair", Stacey said was prepared to end her own life.

"I had zero hope that anything would get any better.

"Gambling was all I had known, so I honestly didn't think there was a life outside of it.

"But there was also shame, unbearable shame.

"I was hurting other people and I genuinely thought they would be better off without me.

"The hardest part was that nobody knew. It upsets them to know how I masked it.

"Thats the scary thing - that I laid in that bath not expecting to get out and nobody had any idea.

"My friend sent me texts the other day that I sent during my addiction and she was crying, she didnt know how bad it was."

After her two suicide attempts, Stacey said she reached a point where she would either "go to prison, or go to rehab," and decided to get help.

She added: "Luckily for me I found Gordon Moody, the gambling addiction charity, and went onto their retreat programme.

"There was a room full of other women and I felt relieved that this was the first time I had seen people who had been through the same.

"And there were people who could understand.

Now Stacey, 29, and living in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, is three years clear of her addiction and working as an associate for charity The EPIC Restart Foundation.

She has helped over 1,000 women struggling with their gambling addictions through social media by talking through their issues.

She also published a book: 'The Girl Gambler: A young woman's story of her escape from gambling addiction' last April on her battle with gambling addiction, which has five star ratings on Amazon.

Despite her life turnaround, Stacey said still struggled to feel proud of herself.

"I still struggle to feel those things.

"But the thing Im most proud of is showing others theres hope.

"I think thats what I needed more than anything in the world was hope.

"I remember thinking to myself, 'why did I go through all this?' and I genuinely believe its because its now people can say to me, 'I have a problem with gambling' and know that theres help out there.

Stacey's story comes ahead of new rules, which come in in September, to help protect those with addictions.

Gambling firms will have to follow guidance, from the Gambling Commission, that helps them spot customers who may be struggling.

The rules include flagging when someone shows signs of addiction, and preventing from marketing at people who may be at risk.

Analysis released earlier this year by GambleAware revealed almost 40% of women experiencing high levels of gambling harm may not seek out help due to stigma or shame.

It came alongside data showing one million women in Great Britain were at risk of gambling harms.

In response to the statistics, the charity launched a harms prevention campaign specifically aimed at women to shed light on the critical warning signs for them and show them where to get support.

And government ministers look set to publish a review of the 17-year-old gambling legislation due to concerns over the surge in popularity of online gambling, The Times reports.

The curbs will include maximum stakes of between 2 and 5 for online casinos and a ban on free bets and VIP packages for those who suffer heavy losses.

There are a number of steps you can take if you believe someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction.

Be Gamble Aware's website suggests a number of steps you can take to help someone who might need help.

Some of the steps include: understanding what an addict is going through, knowing how to talk to someone with a gambling addiction, and avoiding rewarding gambling behaviour.

If you personally are struggling with an addiction, the NHS has a useful webpage which offers a range of helpful tips.

Some include trying cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a talking therapy that can help change the way you think and behave.

There are also treatment and support groups available for people wanting to stop gambling.

GamCareoffers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK.

It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and also offers face-to-face counselling.

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Im an ex-gambling addict I lost hundreds of thousands of pounds and thought I might die... - The Sun

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Gambling reform: Free bets ban could push a third of Brits to the black market – City A.M.

Posted: at 9:16 pm

Tuesday 28 June 2022 12:23 pm

A ban on free bets would push almost a third of punters to the black market while sucking millions out of horse racing, new data released today suggests.

Anti-gambling campaigners have demanded the Government introduce a complete ban of punter promotions in its upcoming reforms of the Gambling Act despite a staggering 69 per cent of customers saying they should be allowed.

New research conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Betting and Gaming Council found as well as 69 per cent of punters saying free bets should be allowed, 63 per cent said they found promotions a valuable part of their hobby.

Almost one in three punters (28 per cent) said they would consider black market betting if ministers ignored popularity and forced through draconian bans.

As well as driving punters away from the regulated industry, analysis conducted by the BGC found the move would hit the horse racing Levy for approximately 5m a year, in a double blow on the industry.

Punters must request promotional offers when opening an account with a regulated betting and gaming operator in the UK and can stop receiving them at any point they choose.

Black Market gambling has more than doubled in just two years, from 220,000 users to 460,000.

Banning free bets is the latest proposal suggested by the anti-gambling lobby that could hit horse racing revenues after blanket affordability checks.

These means tests, which would compel punters to produce personal financial records like bank statements before they are allowed to bet as little as 100 a month, could suck up to 100m a year out of horse racing, according to industry experts.

In total, the regulated betting and gaming industry contributes around 350m annually to horse racing in the UK through the levy, media rights and sponsorship. This funding was vital during the pandemic.

But there are growing concerns new measures being considered by the Government could jeopardise this vital funding

Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, Michael Dugher, said:Promotions and offers are part of the customer experience for any vibrant industry, including our intensely competitive sector, which supports 119,000 jobs and brings in 4.4bn in taxes to the Treasury.

Blanket bans on offers would be anti-punter and would severely degrade that customer experience, punishing the overwhelming majority of punters who bet safely. Problem gambling is 0.2 per cent. Imagine the outcry if supermarkets were forced to ban offers and promotions for beer and wine? We see no difference to our industry.

While Dugher said he supported the governments evidence-led approach to gambling reform, he said ministers should shouldnt be sticking their nose into how people choose to spend their own money.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Caribbean Tour Flights Cost the UK Public 226000 – Town & Country

Posted: at 9:15 pm

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Prince William and Kates March tour to the Caribbean was meant to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee but ended up becoming notable for the controversy and criticism it attracted. And today, royal accounts have shown that the eight-day visit to Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas cost the UK public 226,383 (approximately $274,ooo) in charter and scheduled flights for the couple and their entourage.

The figure was revealed as part of the royal households annual financial review which sees them outline how the lump sum it receives from the UK Treasury has been spent in the previous financial year. A total of 4.5 million was spent on travel from April 2021 to March 2022 and individual trips costing more than 15,000 each have been itemized by the Palace. The Cambridges trip to the Caribbean was the most expensive itemized bill but other large costs included; 138,457 for Prince Charles visit to Barbados last November to take part in the ceremony to mark the country becoming a republic; 123,541 to fly Prince Charles and Camilla to Jordan and Egypt earlier the same month for an official visit, and 42,601 for a charter flight for them to go to the G20 Leaders conference in Rome followed by COP26 in Glasgow along with staff trips ahead of time.

The royal train was also responsible for some hefty costs, with the Queens visit to Edinburgh via Croy, north Lanarkshire last July costing 46,442. Her trip to Cardiff last October on the train cost 28,934.

While the cost of the Cambridges flights to the Caribbean may seem substantial, it does not represent the total bill for the whole trip. Ahead of the visit, Kensington Palace said that it would be paid for by a combination of the host countries, the Sovereign Grant, and Britains Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. In May, the Independent reported that a freedom of information request revealed that 41,000 of Jamaican taxpayers money was spent on hosting the couple at events including a state dinner.

The annual Sovereign Grant report primarily outlines how the royal household has spent the lump sum it receives from UKs public purse for the previous financial year. The money is used for royal travel and the running and maintenance of official royal residences and work. This latest report covers the period from April 2021 to March 2022, during which time the royals received 86.3 million, 34.5 million of which dedicated to the ongoing 10-year refurbishment of Buckingham Palace.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton's Caribbean Tour Flights Cost the UK Public 226000 - Town & Country

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Talking the Tropics With Mike: Caribbean tropical wave continues rolling west – ActionNewsJax.com

Posted: at 9:15 pm

Jacksonville, Fl. The Buresh Bottom Line: Always be prepared!.....First Alert Hurricane Survival Guide... City of Jacksonville Preparedness Guide... Georgia Hurricane Guide.

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***** ALWAYS CHECK & RE-CHECK THE LATEST FORECAST & UPDATES! *****

REMEMBER WHEN A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE IS APPROACHING: Taping windows is *NOT* helpful & will not keep glass from breaking.

Realize the forecast cone (cone of uncertainty) is the average forecast error over a given time - out to 5 days - & *does not* indicate the width of the storm &/or damage that might occur.

None of the Atlantic tropical activity - right now - will have a direct impact on Jacksonville/NE Fl./SE Ga. through at least Independence Day...

* The active tropical wave - 94-L (Potential Tropical Cyclone #2) which came off the coast of Africa a week ago - a week ago Wed. - continues swiftly westbound. The wave still will likely develop, but the low latitude track + rather rapid forward speed makes the intensity/organization forecast uncertain & - so far - slow. The recent persistent upper level high will remain intact across the Atlantic & U.S. (Lower 48) which means a rather straight forward forecast track (due west).

So the question then becomes one about shear & land interaction as it relates to intensity. The fast movement & close proximity to South America has been a speed bump of sorts, but the wave will soon be in the more favorable zone of the Western Caribbean. The system will still be moving rather quickly to the west & its time over warm water & in that favorable zone will be rather limited. In any case, it looks like a tropical storm or possibly a hurricane will impact Central America - centered on Nicaragua, but even as far south as Costa Rica - Fri. into early Saturday. Once to the Pacific, the system is likely to re-organize & strengthen again while turning more northwest to the south of the Mexican coast.

On this forecast track there will be no impacts on NE Fl./SE Ga. ... or any of Florida... as well as not any of the Gulf Coast. It is worth noting early season African waves like this one are often a harbinger of an overall active Atlantic hurricane season.

A second wave is over the Central Atlantic & is steadily moving W/NW. Conditions (shear + dry air) appear rather marginal at this time for much strengthening/organization.

* A trough of low pressure continues across the Northwest Gulf of Mexico. Weak low pressure was found my hurricane hunter aircraft Wed. but tstorm activity remains poorly organized. Some development is still possible while the low slowly moves northward into Southeast Texas producing heavy rain.

Wind shear:

The location of development of tropical systems in June since 1851 generally favors the NW Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico & far Western Atlantic:

Saharan dust is spread west each year from Africa by the prevailing winds (from east to west over the Atlantic). Dry air - yellow/orange/red/pink. Widespread dust is indicative of dry air that can impede the development of tropical cyclones. However, sometimes wanna be waves will just wait until they get to the other side of - or away from - the plume then try to develop if other conditions are favorable. In my personal opinion, way too much is made about the presence of Saharan dust & how it relates to tropical cyclones. In any case, weve already has a couple of dust plumes spread west to the Caribbean & Gulf with the peak of Saharan dust typically in June & July.

2022 names..... Alex was the first name on the Atlantic list (names are picked at random by the World Meteorological Organization... repeat every 6 years... Bonnie is next. Historic storms are retired [Florence & Michael in 18... Dorian in 19 & Laura, Eta & Iota in 20 & Ida in 21]). The WMO decided - beginning last year - that the Greek alphabet will be no longer used & instead there will be a supplemental list of names if the first list is exhausted (has only happened three times - 2005, 2020 & 2021). The naming of tropical cyclones began on a consistent basis in 1953. More on the history of naming tropical cyclones * here *.

East Atlantic:

Mid & upper level wind shear (enemy of tropical cyclones) analysis (CIMMS). The red lines indicate strong shear:

Water vapor imagery (dark blue indicates dry air):

Deep oceanic heat content over the Gulf, Caribbean & deep tropical Atlantic:

Sea surface temp. anomalies:

SE U.S. surface map:

Surface analysis centered on the tropical Atlantic:

Surface analysis of the Gulf:

Caribbean:

GFS wave forecast at 48 & 72 hours (2 & 3 days):

Atlantic Basin wave period forecast for 24, 48 & 72 hours respectively:

The East Pacific:

West Pacific IR satellite:

Global tropical activity:

Chaba is forecast to become a typhoon while moving toward China staying west of Hong Kong:

Cox Media Group

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Talking the Tropics With Mike: Caribbean tropical wave continues rolling west - ActionNewsJax.com

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