Daily Archives: July 9, 2022

Windfall tax on crude goes against incentive of more pricing freedom – The Financial Express

Posted: July 9, 2022 at 7:57 am

By N Chandra Mohan

For India, which imports 85% of its requirements, costlier oil implies a higher import bill and inflation, besides straining the current account, the broadest measure of Indias goods and services transactions with the rest of the world. Indications are that the crude import bill this fiscal is likely to substantially exceed last years level of 212 million metric tonne worth $120 billion. To incentivise higher domestic output, the cabinet committee on economic affairs has decided to provide greater pricing power to domestic oil producers to enable market-determined price discovery. However, they would continue to be barred from exporting their produce. Conflicting with this is the decision to slap a windfall gains tax on domestic crude producers.

Deregulation of crude sales and the waiver from allocating domestically produced oil only to government-owned refineries is effective from October 1. The largest state-owned producer, ONGC, thus can auction its output from Mumbai High to any refinery in the public and private sector. CCEAs decision thus could result in ONGC gaining by 7-8% from its crude and spur more investments in exploration and drilling, resulting in higher output. But these realisations would be hit by the windfall gains tax of as much as $40 a barrel. The development cess and royalty on domestic crude is 31% or $35 a barrel at current import-parity prices to refineries, which means that the effective tax is now higher at a substantial 65%, as reported byFE.

To be sure, taxation of windfall gains handsomely benefits the exchequer by as much as `65, 000 crore annually. But it also erodes the incentive to prospect for oil. This has been forcefully underscored by global oil companies operating in the North Sea in response to UKs energy profits levy imposed in May to fund a support package for households struggling with higher energy bills. ONGC, no doubt, benefited from the uptrend in global oil prices in supplying to state-owned refineries at import parity prices, registering a 31.5% increase in net profits in Q4 FY22. The oil giant needs these resources for its planned capex spend of `31, 000 crore till FY25. If the bulk of revenue generation goes as levies while costs of running operations take up 20-25%, this would make it difficult for it to invest more in exploration. However, the government has said the cess will not be levied on crude produced in excess of last years output.

Unfortunately, this exemption from cess may not mean much as the challenge of stepping up domestic output is daunting. Domestic crude production has been steadily declining from 38.1 mmt in FY12 to 29.7 mmt in FY22. Till May this fiscal, production at 5 mmt is virtually unchanged from the levels during the corresponding period in FY 22 according to the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell. Domestic production is falling for various reasons, including declining output from old and marginal fields. India lacks the technological capability for deep water exploration. There have also been no major hydrocarbon discoveries of late either. The country is currently increasing expenditure on seismic surveys of domestic hydrocarbon assets.

India has around 26 sedimentary basins covering an area of 3.3 million square km, of which only seven Category 1 basins have established commercial production of oil. The policy challenge is to incentivise prospecting the remaining areas, which entails a huge amount of resources and technology. Over the years, the sedimentary basin exploited has remained stagnant at 6 to 7%. In Parliament, Union petroleum minister Hardeep Puri said this has gone up to 10% since 2016 and the expectation is that it will rise to 15% very shortly and go on to 30% after that. This is the frontier that must be tapped if the drive to step up domestic production is to bear fruition. Domestic producers need a free run from burdensome levies to invest in exploration.

Towards this end, it is also absolutely essential that state-owned producers like ONGC are strengthened. Not so long ago, there were reports that ONGC might have to give away a 60% stake plus operating control in Indias largest oil and gas producing fields of Mumbai High to foreign companies and divest its drilling and services arm to become asset-light, among others. This prompted former Union secretary EAS Sarma to write to the Prime Minister that instead of weakening ONGC, the government should adopt a conscious strategy to strengthen its ability. So, if the policy thrust is to shift from revenue to production maximisation, domestic oil producers must be incentivised to produce more to reduce Indias import-dependence. Giving greater pricing freedom while hitting their realisations through windfall gains taxation may not be efficacious to address the imperative of stepping up relatively greater self-sufficiency in domestic oil production over the medium-term.

The writer is an economics and business commentator based in New Delhi. Views expressed are personal.

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Memes: What are They and Why They Are Important

Posted: at 7:56 am

Today, we talk about memes.

Meme (pronounced /mim/, me-mm) describes a basic unit of cultural idea or symbol that can be transmitted from one mind to another and, inherently, everyone knows what memes are. In our everyday lives we live with memes; for example, catchphrases and clichs often serve the purpose translating non-literal, cultural ideas, while similes and metaphors hint at what words portray. Those are all memes.

So why devote an entirely new word, and even a study, to something that has existed for eons?

LOLCATs, a popular Internet meme, cat pictures with grammatical inconsistencies. Photo courtesy of icanhazcheezburger.com

The reason is: we live in a different time, where culture and international exchange is pervasive, especially with technology closing that gap. And, precisely because of this, as well as the emergence of the Internet society, multifaceted, non-standardized memes emerge to take the role for cultural and sub-cultural descriptors.

Whats fascinating about the present meme culture is its dependency on virality. If it lacks the audience and their appreciation (either on the positive or negative spectrum), then it will simply fade into obscurity. Presently, although an Internet meme is often correlated with pictures with offensive or funny taglines, it has proliferated for a much longer time. The intricacies of a meme lies in what the masses find appropriate to express an idea, regardless how simple or pointless it may be.

Rick Astley, English singer-song writer, at Macys 2008 Thanksgiving Parade. Photo courtesy of Ben W.

But, precisely because of this Internet culture, we find a convergence in meanings and creative output, even away from the Internet. For example, in 2007 an Internet phenomenon known as Rickrolling became a meme, where users are tricked, via bait and switch, into watching the music video for Rick Astleys 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up. Within a year, this practice has merged into mainstream media, and Rick Astley made an appearance at the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2008, effectively pushing him back into the spotlight as a popular cultural icon since his retirement in 1993. It can be very much argued that such memes (like Rickrolling) brought together a cultural concept, across the digital and international boundaries, to further tell us the story the advent of viral ideas on social media, as well as global change and connectivity.

For more resources regarding the study of memetics and memes visit the meme tag in the librarys catalogue.

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How to know when gambling becomes a problem and where to seek help – Kingsport Times News

Posted: at 7:54 am

Gambling can be a lot of fun for most people, according the the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services.

They set a budget, and enjoy the time that passes while they spend it. Theres more to gambling than the money, the departments website states. For many, gambling is seen as a form of entertainment where any money they happen to win is a bonus.

However, for some, according to the Mayo Clinic, Gambling can stimulate the brains reward system much like drugs or alcohol can, leading to addiction.

Problem Gambling Faces from Virginia Lottery on Vimeo.

The Virginia Lottery and the Tennessee Lottery each offer Play Responsibly programs aimed at helping players avoid addiction, how to recognize problem gambling, and where to find help if you think you have a problem.

From the Virginia Lotterys website:

Q: What is problem gambling?

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A: Problem gambling includes all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits. The essential features are increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, chasing losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences. In extreme cases, problem gambling can result in financial ruin, legal problems, loss of career and family, or even suicide.

Q: What causes problem gambling?

A: The cause of a gambling problem is the individuals inability to control the gambling. This may be due in part to a genetic tendency to develop addiction, ones ability to cope with normal life stress and even ones social upbringing and moral attitudes about gambling. The casino or lottery provides the opportunity for the person to gamble. It does not, in and of itself, create the problem any more than a liquor store would create an alcoholic.

Q: How much money do you have to lose to have a gambling problem?

A: The amount of money lost or won does not determine when gambling becomes a problem. Gambling becomes a problem when it causes a negative impact on any area of the individuals life.

Q: How widespread is problem gambling in the U.S.?

A: Two million U.S. adults (1% of the population) are estimated to meet the criteria for pathological gambling in a given year. Another 4 million to 8 million (2% to 3%) would be considered problem gamblers: They do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling, but they meet one or more of the criteria and are experiencing problems due to their gambling behavior. Research also indicates that most adults who choose to gamble are able to do so responsibly.

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Ohios gambling revenue down for third month in a row – cleveland.com

Posted: at 7:54 am

CLEVELAND, Ohio Gambling revenue in Ohio is down for the third month in a row, signaling that the record pace for casinos and racinos could be over.

Ohios casinos and racinos brought in $196.8 million in gambling revenue in June, $7.6 million shy of the revenue brought in during June 2021, according to reports Thursday from the Ohio Casino Control and Lottery commissions. This is the money kept by the gambling houses, after paying out winnings, but before state taxes and fees.

The states four casinos brought in $3.2 million less in gambling revenue in June compared to June 2021, but they were still $11.3 million ahead of 2019.

It was a similar story for the states seven racinos. They brought in $4.5 million less this June than in June 2021 but made $16.5 million more than they did in 2019.

Casino revenue was stable in April and May, within a quarter million dollars of 2021s numbers. But the racinos were down $7.5 million in May and $2 million in April.

Even with three slower months, gambling revenue in Ohio is still higher midway through 2022 than it was halfway through 2021, which was a record year with $2.3 billion in gambling revenue despite an overnight curfew put in place because of COVID-19 for part of the year.

Through June 2022, $1.17 billion in gambling revenue has been brought in by Ohios 11 casinos and racinos, compared to $1.15 billion in 2021 and $970.0 million in 2019, before the pandemic.

Gambling in the Cleveland-Akron area is seeing a similar slowdown, although one of three gambling establishments posted gains.

* MGM Northfield Park had $23.5 million in revenue, up from $23.1 million last June.

* JACK Cleveland Casino had $21.7 million, down from $22.8 million.

* JACK Thistledown Racino had $15.2 million, down from $17.4 million.

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Optimize Your Gambling Experience With These Tips – Geek Vibes Nation

Posted: at 7:54 am

Gambling is a timeless phenomenon, but it has also evolved and had a new breakthrough since the advent of the internet. Recently, more and more gamblers are interested in improving their gambling experience in various ways, which should be a matter of course.

So, being the nerds that we are, we are of course interested in how to optimize your gambling experience at an online casino. Therefore we have done enough research to say that we are pretty sure you will improve your gambling experience in the following ways:

Using casino bonuses is by far the best strategy for players who want to increase their chances of winning, but for the ignorant, a casino bonus can be more negative than beneficial. As a casino player, you obviously want to increase your chances of winning as much as possible, and one way to do so is by claiming a bonus. A bonus with reasonable terms and conditions gives you more money to gamble with and therefore more money to potentially win.

The downside of bonuses is that they almost come with wagering requirements that must be met before the winnings can be paid out, so for the uninformed, this can be a negative experience if you have won a small amount of money and want to cash that out.

In short, casino bonuses are used for chasing big wins and jackpots but if you want to be able to withdraw your small winnings at your convenience, you should skip the bonus.

What if there was a software that helped casino players identify the best slot machines based on information like RTP, bonus value and hit rate? Well, we can make you happy by telling you that such a software actually exists: Slot Tracker (read more about and download it here: https://slottracker.com/.

Slot Tracker is a chrome extension that monitors the traffic sent back from the casino to the players browser. The traffic in turn contains all the details about the players bet, winnings and bonus information and takes a copy of the data and stores it inside the players account.

With that said, Slot Tracker allows players to keep track of their own wins and losses to gamble more effectively. With the extension, the player also gets the opportunity to identify the best games with the best payout rates and RTP by comparing the data generated for different slots!

The hobby of gambling is exciting and can offer some high class entertainment. However, there is no denying that some people gamble more than they intended. Excessive gambling can lead to gambling addiction and financial problems. By making sure you gamble responsibly you thus optimize your gambling experience. If you have a high-risk behavior, we suggest that you play games that do not involve real money instead.

When it comes to gambling, there are some basic rules you should follow to make sure you do so responsibly:

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US Gambling Top 10 States As Ranked By PlayUSA – PlayUSA

Posted: at 7:54 am

In the United States of America, we love sports, we love betting, and we love rankings.

There are rankings for the best hot dog, best pizza topping, and the best type of hot dog as a pizza topping (gross), so PlayUSA decided to do a current ranking of the key states in the US gambling and US online gambling industry.

Its like each state was a football team and gambling was the game. Whos winning? Whos hot? What state is overachieving, and which ones arent?

Were talking US online casinos and brick and mortar. Different states have different offerings and dont get me started on just what each states governing body shows regarding revenue and profits and what they dont.

Our PlayUSA Top 10 Money Makers rankings (working title) will be a blend of objective matters, like, real dollars and cents, but also subjective.

Ohio isnt legalizing sports betting until Jan. 1, 2023, but are they going to be a big player when they do? Do they deserve to be on the list? The answer is yes.

But where would they rank?

I think the thing Americans love most these days is arguing. Lets spark some debate with the PlayUSA Top 10.

Arizona mobile sportsbook operators: 18

Population: 7.1 million

Casinos: 36

Money matters: First, props to Arizona for having one of the cleanest and easiest to understand revenue reports, but for purposes of our rankings, we dont want to focus so much on revenue, adjusted gross revenue, and tax rates.

Do you know why? Because every state has different metrics and different tax rates. Show PlayUSA the money. Show us the handles, how much money was bet. Period.

The latest numbers for Arizona show wagers for April were $512 million. It was down from March, but every states numbers were basically down from March. Arizona has a good infrastructure but doesnt get the same love as its Nevada neighbor.

Indiana mobile sportsbook operators: 13

Population: 6.7 million

Casinos: 13

Money matters: Indiana is that state that you didnt know was doing so well but has become a beacon of smart casino management. Whether that holds up long-term with the growth of state No. 8 remains to be seen.

Indiana also does an amazing job breaking down its revenue reports (hey, thats a plus for the guy doing the rankings). For May, it showed a total handle for sports betting of $308 million, which was down from $360 in April.

We also know that sports betting handle isnt the perfect indicator of a states overall casino industry health, but it is a huge clue, and Indiana is healthy and strong. When you look at the states population and the total handle, Indiana is a winner.

Illinois mobile sportsbook operators: 7

Population: 12.8 million

Casinos: 11

Money matters: We ding Illinois for not showing the handle, just the adjusted gross revenue for its 11 casino locations. That number (AGR) has held steady at over $110 million for the last three months.

Illinois makes this list, though, because of its potential mixed with what it currently offers. When the big casino opens on Chicagos North Side, it will be a game-changer.

Virginia mobile sportsbook operators: 14

Population: 8.6 million

Casino: 1, temporary casino opening Friday in Bristol

Money matters: The sports wagering handle for April was just short of $400 million. Virginia is still tapping its potential as a major gambling market.

With the District of Columbia having all kinds of weird restrictions that arent going away any time soon, Virginia is poised to grow. Four cities, starting with Bristol, will have brick-and-mortar casinos in the coming years. But those unregulated gray gambling machines have got to go.

Ohio mobile sportsbook operators: TBA

Population: 11.8 million

Casinos: 11

Money matters: Ohio took a different track from other states regarding sports betting, setting one universal launch date of Jan. 1, 2023. Its in the process of soliciting operators and handing out licenses.

All that stuff is boring for people in Ohio. They like their football in Ohio, and its a bummer they will miss out on betting on the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, the Ohio Casino Control Commission reported revenue of $81 million for June. Thats the fourth straight month it has dropped since a peak of $93 million in March. Wed still rather see the handle numbers.

Michigan mobile sportsbook operators: 15

Population: 10 million

Casinos: 25

Money matters: Here we go. Michigan isnt afraid to show its big numbers. The three Detroit casinos reported $108.7 million in May revenue, but thats down from the numbers in March and April.

Lets note two things about all the revenue numbers: 1. Inflation is a factor, and 2. summer means fewer sports to bet on and different summer vacation plans.

Michigan showed $333 sports betting handle in May. Thats the lowest its been all year. The Ohio/Michigan rivalry will be fun to watch.

Pennsylvania mobile sportsbook operators: 14

Population: 13 million

Casinos: 16

Money matters: There have been huge numbers coming out of Pennsylvania. For May, the total handle was $493 million for sports wagering, but thats way off of the $714 million for March.

Casino revenue has also tapered off. LIVE Casino Philadelphias gross wagers were down for the second straight month, so Pennsylvania gets penalized a bit here, but its overall numbers are still huge.

New Jersey mobile sportsbook operators: 21

Population: 9.3 million

Casinos: 20

Money matters: Bettors put down $766.4 million on sports in May. In May. When there is nothing really to bet on. Just wait until football season. The revenue numbers for New Jerseys land-based casinos were relatively flat at $233 million.

But the best news in New Jersey in the last week was the fact that the operators negotiated a deal with workers in Atlantic City and avoided a strike. No one was buying the argument that the casinos were sharing too much revenue with their partners. Some of that money had to go back to the workforce.

New York mobile sportsbook operators: 8

Population: 20.2 million

Casinos: 24

Money matters: The state with the biggest population on this list has to rank high. It has systemic advantages. Think of it like Ohio State in college football. Its big and getting better all the time.

New York does its industry reports by the week, which makes it a bit of an outlier. It reported a $1.3 billion handle in May for online sportsbooks, and for the week ending on June 26, it had $218 million. You cant ignore the numbers.

Now, whats going to happen with a land-based casino in New York City? Is it a dream? A reality?

Nevada mobile sportsbook operators: Over a dozen, many linked to casinos.

Population: 3.1 million

Casinos: 334

Money matters: If New York is the Ohio State, then Nevada is Alabama, always the favorite, even though it can be beaten from time to time. Nevada reported its best May ever with a $1.3 billion gaming win for the casinos.

Nevada/Las Vegas is still the leader of American gambling and are No. 1, but there are lots of challenges and even more competition coming.

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If CA legalizes sports betting, will gambling addiction boom? – KCRW

Posted: at 7:54 am

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a ban on sports betting in most states in the country, and since then, more than two dozen states have legalzied some form of gambling on athletic competitions.

But if you want to wager legally on sports in California, you still basically have one choice: horse racing, at places like the historic Santa Anita Park Racetrack in Arcadia.

Santa Anita opened in 1934 and still attracts devoted fans of racing and betting like Stanley Duran, who comes as often as he can. For him, the track is a home away from home.

I mean I like to gamble. Its entertainment for me. More gambling, more fun, says Duran.

But sports betting in California could soon explode far beyond the racetrack, with legal wagering allowed on pretty much all professional and college competitions.

A ballot measure backed by Native American gaming tribes would allow sports betting in reservation casinos and horse racing tracks. It has qualified for the November ballot.

Meanwhile, a competing measure is also on the ballot. It would allow online gambling that you could do from a smartphone or other digital device, anywhere and anytime. Its backed by online sports betting companies like FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM, which say theyre ready to spend more than $100 million to pass the ballot measure.

At Santa Anita, gambler and sports fan Daniel Chavez loves the idea of being able to bet on something other than horses.

I think its awesome that we could bet on any kind of sport, says Chavez. Its not hurting nobody. If you want to make your money, you should be able to spend it in the way you want.

Gambling addicts stand to lose

But theres a group of Californians who deeply fear the prospect of sports betting becoming legal in the state and the damage it could do to their lives. Theyre recovering gambling addicts, likeHarold A., who didnt want to use his last name to protect his privacy.

Harold says an addiction to gambling is as powerful as an addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Well, it's a disease, okay? says Harold. It's compulsive addictive behavior. And it's no different than other compulsive, addictive behaviors. This is something that can be arrested, but can never be cured.

Harold, whos been in recovery for decades with the help of Gamblers Anonymous, says his addiction nearly destroyed his life, as debts mounted and family ties broke.

I was the hamster on the wheel. I was running from the card room to the racetrack to the cocaine dealer, says Harold. I mean, I had every seat on the Titanic, as they say in recovery, and no seats were any good.

Harold fears legal sports betting could tempt him and others in addiction recovery back to reckless gambling. My reaction personally? I'm worried, I'm worried, Harold says.

Harolds also worried a new generation of gambling addicts will be created, lured into sports betting by the ease of mobile wagering combined with glossy marketing campaigns the gambling industry has already unveiled in other states.

The campaigns feature a whos who of Hollywood and sports celebrities, like Ben Affleck, Kevin Garnett, Drew Brees, and Jamie Foxx, all hawking the rush of sports betting.

Dr. Timothy Fong, co-director of UCLAs Gambling Studies Program, says about 1% of California residents have a gambling problem. Now, one out of 100 people, it doesn't sound like a lot, says Fong, but that's about the same percentage of men and women with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia or severe psychosis in the state of California.

Fong anticipates that if sports gambling becomes legal in California, especially mobile betting, addiction rates could double, potentially wrecking the lives of millions of people.

Fong says those most vulnerable to gambling addiction are the people who can least afford to lose money, like the poor and those with untreated psychiatric conditions and personal trauma.

Is the state prepared?

The California Department of Public Health has an Office of Problem Gambling that connects people falling into addiction with counseling services. When asked for this story about what the state is doing to prepare for a possible future where sports gambling is legal and fueling higher addiction rates, office director Robin Christensen and a Department of Public Health spokesperson demurred.

Later, the agency said by email that its consulting with other states that have legalized sports gambling about their experiences with addiction, but no details were provided.

Californias $4 million a year gambling addiction budget is underwritten by the gambling industry.

Recovering gambling addict Harold A. thinks that creates a conflict of interest and that the $4 million is peanuts.

That's a drop in the bucket, says Harold. We're talking about billions of dollars. This is a billion dollar industry.

The political push for more gambling

Meanwhile, with sports betting measures on the November ballot, the gambling industry is trying to build wider political and public support for the idea of wagering on athletic competitions.

The backers of the ballot measure that would legalize mobile betting promise that taxation of gambling revenue plus money earned from licensing fees will go to fund housing and mental health programs for the states homeless.

That earned legal sports gambling the support of some big city California mayors, like Robert Garcia of Long Beach.

For us, its all about homelesness dollars, says Garcia. When we heard that this initiative was looking into putting dollars into ongoing services, and cities would get substantial revenue, I think a lot of the mayors were very interested in this.

Mayor Robert Garcia of Long Beach is a proponent of legalizing sports gambling in the state if some of the betting revenue can be used to fund homeless services. Photo by Saul Gonzalez.

Gambling industry critics say whatever betting revenue is spent on fighting homelessness isnt a good trade if it leads to more addiction. Critics also say the money would just be a tiny fraction of what the industry could earn in the state.

If sports gambling does become legal in California, one study predicts $30 billion in bets could be wagered annually.

Thats why the gambling industry calls California the holy grail of sports betting.

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Editorial: Short takes on evasion, persuasion, gambling and goring – St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Posted: at 7:54 am

By the Editorial Board

Ghosting her competitors

Trudy Busch Valentine may be new to politics, but the Democratic candidate for Missouris open Senate seat apparently has already learned one strategic lesson and not an admirable one. Valentine has been dodging efforts to get her on a debate stage with her top primary opponent, Lucas Kunce. Her campaign hasnt responded to repeated invitations.

This is a standard maneuver for candidates who appear to be leading, as Valentine is, because it allows them to avoid direct questioning in forums they dont control while denying their opponents the chance to engage them. But its unfair to the voters and bad for democracy.

Valentine is an heir to the Busch beer fortune, a factor that has some Democrats excited about her prospects for putting up a realistic financial fight against the eventual Republican nominee in a red state. She has already garnered some big endorsements but that doesnt justify political cowardice.

People are also reading

The debate was to air this Tuesday on KMOV (Channel 4) and partner stations in Jefferson City and Joplin. Organizers still hope to stage a debate before the Aug. 2 primary.

Scales finally fall from Joe Rogans eyes

Podcaster Joe Rogan gained notoriety for spreading outright wrong information about the coronavirus and vaccines. His right-wing messaging so rankled musicians like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell that they delivered an ultimatum to Spotify: either drop Rogan, or well pull our music from the platform. Spotify opted to keep Rogan, its biggest seller, but did urge him to down down the rhetoric.

Boy, did Rogan tone it down.

He stated this week that he would no longer accept offers by ex-President Donald Trump to appear on the show. Hes such a polarizing figure that so many people felt like they could abandon their own ethics and morals and principles just to attack him and anybody who supports him because he is an existential threat to democracy itself, Rogan said.

It was enough to rankle other pro-Trump personalities like former adviser Steve Bannon, who labeled Rogans listeners as low information voters. Funny, but Rogans audience doesnt seem terribly different from the listeners Trump used to love to talk to.

Tasty for all eternity

The newest trend in gravestones is a delicious one: Some families are honoring loved ones by having their favorite family recipes engraved on their stones. The New York Times reports that in cemeteries across the U.S. and in other countries, family recipes mostly desserts are being immortalized alongside birth and death dates. The trend is driven in part by technology that allows more intricate and detailed engraving on the stones than was possible in the past.

Recipes are such a beautiful way of remembering people, one enthusiast of the practice, Allison C. Meier, of Brooklyn, told the newspaper. Youre still following in their footsteps and putting ingredients together the way they did.

There are some hazards to it, though. One monument containing a family fudge recipe called for too much vanilla due to a mistake by the engraver in 2000. A generation of cemetery visitors presumably made the too-runny fudge before the mistake was corrected almost 20 years later, the Times reported.

Phillips 66 gas and illegal gambling dont mix

Its sad when a global corporation does a better job of supporting Missouri law than Missouri lawmakers do. As legislators continue to allow an unlicensed gaming-machine industry to thumb its nose at state gambling statutes, Phillips 66 has publicly condemned the machines and has declared that its gas stations arent allowed to host them.

The thousands of electronic gaming machines at gas stations and bars around the state take in money from players and pay some of it back to lucky winners. This is the dictionary definition of gambling, but the machines owners refuse to submit to state licensing and oversight. They dont pay anything to the state, while drawing gambling dollars away from legitimate casinos that do.

The owners political muscle has thwarted legislative efforts to crack down. But as the Post-Dispatchs Kurt Erickson reports, Phillips 66 isnt playing their game. We expect the operators of these branded stations to abide by local and state laws, a spokesman said in an email. We do not condone illegal gambling or any other illegal activities. What a novel idea.

Next time, bring a zoom lens

The score so far this summer: sharks-4, bison-3, humans-0. Somethings seriously wrong with Team Human. In the last few weeks, according to various reports, there have been multiple interactions between humans and animals to the detriment of the former. Climate change is warming the waters, bringing sharks closer to the shore, believed to be a factor in many attacks. Human vigilance is the only short-term solution there.

But in the case of bison-versus-human attacks, chalk the casualties up to pure stupidity by humans, who frequently ignore signage and warnings from park rangers to keep respectable distances from the animals.

According to the National Park Service, bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Their thrashing tails can be a forewarning of a pending attack. Too many people ignore the signs, thinking they can pose up close for that perfect photo for everyone to admire online.

Additionally, bison can run up to 35 miles per hour, making escape unlikely. The bison are defending their homes, just as humans would do if an intruder tried to come inside their abode. Bison are not a part of some outdoor photo-op petting zoo.

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Netherlands to heavily limit gambling adverts from 2023; Shirt sponsorship ban starts in 2025 – NL Times

Posted: at 7:54 am

It will be more difficult for online gambling companies to advertise their games of chance starting in 2023. The Netherlands will then ban several forms of advertisement, including sponsoring the shirts of sports teams, starting in 2025, Legal Protection Minister Franc Weerwind said on Friday.

The associated bill will be introduced in phases. A ban on untargeted advertising will come into effect in 2023. This concerns advertising that people have not actively shown an interest in, such as by using search engines online to find gambling websites. From 2024, online gambling companies will no longer be allowed to sponsor programs and events. A year later, there will be a ban on sponsoring sports facilities and shirts.

That means that sports clubs that are currently sponsored by online gambling companies have two and a half years to find other sponsors, according to the plan.

Online gambling became legalized and licensed in the Netherlands on October 1. This also made it possible for gaming platforms to advertise. The "deluge" of advertisements, which included famous Dutch people, led to great irritation among members of parliament in the Tweede Kamer.

Last week, Weerwind announced an immediate ban on the use of celebrities and role models in gambling advertisements. Famous people in gambling commercials were setting the wrong example as far as he is concerned.

However, the Tweede Kamer is pushing for a total ban. Weerwind believes he is fulfilling the wishes of MPs with the bill. "The Cabinet and I think sports are very important. But at the same time I want to suppress gambling and gambling addiction."

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Netherlands to heavily limit gambling adverts from 2023; Shirt sponsorship ban starts in 2025 - NL Times

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Gambling Movies and its Impact on the Virtual Bettors – Live for Films

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Watching movies is another type of entertainment most people love because it is relaxing and keeps their minds off from day-to-day life. On the other hand, movies are also a big influencer. The characters, the genre, themovie theme, the plot, and how the story goes are determined on how the writer and the director wanted the actors to deliver the scene and what the story wanted to convey.

Gambling is a favorite genre in films may it be on television series or the movie itself. Writers and film industries are most likely attracted to the variety of stories inside the house of gambling, especially on the table itself. Cheating, greed, the act of fraud, and vengeance are prevalent in casino movies and crime as well. The lifestyle of the High rollers is emphasized in films. The outcome of gambling addiction, losing everything, and becoming a criminal is typical in gambling movies which gives a stigma to the moviegoers that gambling is wrong and is the work of the devil.

On the lighter side, gambling also has some good effects on people and is also portrayed in some movies The Card Counter, and animation like Hotel Transylvania and many others.

The online casino on the other hand is a type of iGaming which is very popular nowadays among virtual punters. Players who are not so into gambling became fascinated in gambling online because their games can be interactive (depending on the player), exciting, aid in memory retention and strategy, and the best part is winning. Casino sites like https://www.casinovibez.com/ introduce betting sites that are safe to play and offer casino games and loads of bonuses. A bonus is a gift from any casino from land-based to online for signing up to their site or establishment or it can be granted to the players for being loyal.

At present, there are no films related to online gambling but there are a lot of movies related to casinos and gambling. Here are the following.

It is a story of an aspiring writer who accepted a job as a croupier in a big-time casino to make ends meet. A 1998 film starred by Clive Owen it tells the story of the typical incidents happening in the house of gambling where trickery and cheating seemed inevitable.

A 1995 crime-drama movie about Ace who is a gambling expert who entangled a gambling syndicate who asked him to oversee the Tanglers Casino in Las Vegas. Problems arise when people put his life in danger and he has to find a way to get out from it.

One of the best gambling dramas in the 21st century, this is a remake film of the 1973 classic about the flamboyance, extravagance, dirty tricks, and money laundering of the High rollers and the VIPs in the world of gambling.

A highly acclaimed movie in 2001 and a blockbuster gambling film at the start of the new millennium. It tells the story of Danny Ocean and his eleven expert con-artist recruits who agreed with him to steal from the three big-time casinos in Las Vegas which are owned by a billionaire and Dannys love rival Terry Benedict.

A 2003 movie about an ordinary and respectable bank employee in Toronto who has an insatiable thirst for gambling. His uncontrollable vice got worse and eventually led him to steal money from the banks accounts to pay his gambling debt.

Not all gambling movies are about violence, dirty tricks, and everything negative. The animation Hotel Transylvania in 2012 proved to the moviegoers that gambling like playing Bingo can be fun too. In the story, Count Dracula had to go on a journey which gave his carefree daughter Mavis to play Bingo with the so-called people in the castle.

A classic 1961 film about a pool shark named Eddie Fast Felson. Fast has a self-destructive attitude and was challenged by the legendary Minnesota Fats in a High Stakes match and eventually loses to them. He lost confidence which led him to agree to join up with the ruthless manager Burt Gordon and take him on the road to learn the ropes. This is one of the classic gambling films which would definitely swoop you off your feet.

Watching movies and gambling are different but somehow share the common denominator and that is to entertain. All forms of entertainment is essential to our heart, mind, and soul. However, if we lose our control there is a possibility that it could destroy us.

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Gambling Movies and its Impact on the Virtual Bettors - Live for Films

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