Monthly Archives: April 2024

2024’s Best Online Casinos in Europe Top EU Casino Sites – The Hudson Reporter

Posted: April 27, 2024 at 12:11 pm

European casinos are popping left and right, leaving players with a huge question mark over their heads which one should you choose?

Luckily for you, we have a list of the 10 best European online casinos that will answer all of your questions.

After months of spinning the reels and collecting chips, weve discovered that the top online casino for European players is Freshbet.

We have plenty of other options in store for you, though, so lets dive in and review them.

Below, you can find detailed reviews of the top 5 European casino sites and decide for yourself which ones are worth giving a go.

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Freshbet is a top destination for gambling in Europe. It has thousands of awesome games, generous offers, and so much more. Lets see what makes it the best online casino in Europe.

Accepted European Countries:

Game Selection: 4.9/5

FreshBet teams up with over 40 awesome game makers, giving you over 5,000 games. Youll see famous names like NetEnt, Play N Go, and BetSoft here.

For those chasing big wins, this casino has more than 170 jackpot games, including the much-loved Wolf Gold, plus cool games like Pirate Gold Deluxe.

Youve got over 200 live casino games, ranging from favourites like live blackjack to unique finds like game shows and dice games.

Bonuses & Promotions: 5/5

The best casino in Europe knows how to welcome new players. You can get up to 1,500 extra cash over your first three deposits.

The first and third times you add money, theyll double it, and the second time, you get half more. Make sure each deposit is at least 20 to snag this bonus.

And for the crypto gambling crowd, theres a sweet 155% bonus just for using digital coins, topping out at 500.

Payment Methods: 4.8/5

Freshbet is on the ball, with payouts happening in just a day. Youve got options like Visa cards and AstroPay, or if youre into crypto, Bitcoin, Litecoin, and XRP are all good to go.

The monthly cash-out max is 15,000. Thats plenty for most folks, but big spenders might want to note that. And for crypto withdrawals? Theyre usually sorted out by the next day.

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Goldenbet is a fairly new name on the block, welcoming players since 2022.

In such a short period in the industry, this online casino has already partnered with over 60 software companies and is now offering the widest selection of live dealer games as well as sports betting options in Europe.

Accepted European Countries:

Game Selection: 4.9/5

Goldenbet is home to over 3,000 games provided by 62 software developers. Youll find all the reputable provider names here, including Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and Microgaming.

We were especially blown away by the live casino section, which features 205 titles and offers 41 roulette variants, 70 blackjack options, seven poker rooms, 35 baccarat games, and many game shows for the ultimate gambling experience.

If you prefer spinning the reels, you have thousands of video slots at your disposal, plus 145 jackpot titles.

Bonuses & Promotions: 4.7/5

New players at Goldenbet can claim a 100% deposit bonus of up to 500, applicable only on slot games.

The minimum amount you need to deposit to qualify is 20.

Deposit and bonus amounts have to be wagered 35 times in 30 days before requesting a withdrawal; otherwise, all your winnings, bonus amount, and any wagered amount will be deducted from your balance.

Payment Methods: 4.8/5

Goldenbet went all out with its payment section. European online casino players can choose from no less than 22 deposit methods bank transfers, Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, Jeton, MiFinity, and 13 supported cryptocurrencies.

The downside is that you cant pay out your winnings on a payment card, but you can opt for a SEPA transfer, e-wallets, or crypto coins. All transactions are processed with no additional charges and range anywhere from 20 to 7,500, depending on the chosen method.

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MyStake is a fiat and crypto-friendly casino catering to different types of European players. Whether youre just starting and have a more modest budget or you love the excitement and adrenaline of high-roller games, MyStake has you covered.

It is recognized as one of the best non-UK casinos accepting UK players.

Accepted European Countries:

Game Selection: 4.8/5

Options. Options everywhere!

MyStake has a vast game library just shy of 6,500 titles. Ninety-eight providers power this fantastic library, which wont leave you overwhelmed despite its size since the categorization and filtering options are done very well.

An upgrade wed like to see is a separate category of table games, so hopefully, it will be an option in the future.

If youre looking for a big win, the brand hosts 192 jackpot games with additional options and Bonus Buys. You will also find exclusive games available only at this online European casino for UK players, including several slots, roulette, and blackjack.

Besides casino games, MyStake is also a sports betting site that offers odds for well over 30 sports.

Bonuses & Promotions: 4.6/5

Online gaming is much more fun with casino bonuses. Thats why this online casino Europe prepared a welcome bonus for all players who are opening their accounts for the first time.

Deposits between 20 and 200 are eligible for a 150% match bonus, while deposits between 201 and 1,000 get a 100% match.

The bonus is valid only on your first-ever deposit and can be used exclusively on online slots. You have 30 days to meet the wagering requirements, which are set to 30 times (deposit + bonus amounts).

Crypto players can instead get an increased 170% match bonus up to $1,000.

Payment Methods: 4.6/5

MyStake has a great selection of payment methods, but depending on where you live, not all deposit options may be available. This is standard among the best European online casinos.

Those who prefer more traditional means of payment can use Visa, Diners, or MasterCard payment cards, e-wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, and AstroPay, or pre-paid vouchers.

At the same time, blockchain enthusiasts can choose between 13 accepted coins.

All transactions are free, with a maximum payout amount of 7,500 weekly. Withdrawal times range from 1-3 working days to be visible on your real money account.

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Donbet is up next as our top pick for European casino players seeking bonuses. The journey starts with up to 750 in welcome bonus money at a generous 150% match rate.

Accepted European Countries:

Game Selection: 4.7/5

This European casino online offers a great selection of over 6,000 slots and games, but if youre looking for something extra special, check out the live casino. With over 150 live games, you can enjoy the excitement of real dealers and live cards, all streamed directly to you.

We were impressed with the selection: over 40 roulette wheels, about 70 blackjack tables, six poker games, and more than 30 baccarat tables.

Looking for something different? Theyve also got over 15 game shows like Monopoly, the fast-paced XXXTreme Lightning Roulette, and One Blackjack to keep things spicy.

Bonuses & Promotions: 4.5/5

Pop in the code WELCOME when you drop your first 20 or more to get a sweet 150% bonus up to 750 and snag 50 free spins too.

For the crypto gambling fans, use DONBET on your very first Bitcoin drop to grab a cool 170% bonus up to 1,000, with 100 free spins thrown in. Just make sure your deposit hits that 50 mark or its crypto match to qualify.

Payment Methods: 4.5/5

At Donbet, youve got a bunch of ways to put money in and take it out, covering everything from Bitcoin to the usual e-wallets and cards like Maestro, VISA, and MasterCard.

Taking your cash out is easy too. You can start with as little as 20, just like at Freshbet, and if youre in the mood to cash out big, you can go up to 7,500 a week or 15,000 a month.

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Active since 2013, Platin Casino has over a decade of experience in the online gambling industry.

Although rebranded, the operator stayed true to itself with a no-nonsense approach, a modern and clean website, and a game portfolio that will knock your socks off.

Accepted European Countries:

Game Selection: 4.6/5

Youll never get bored at this EU online casino. There are so many options that you can spend months not playing the same game twice, especially if youre a slot fan.

The mobile collection is equally as impressive, with just a few titles limited to desktop.

Some Megaways games have up to 117,649 ways to win, which makes them a very popular option among European casino players.

You can also engage in over 200 live casino games. Baccarat, blackjack, roulette, game shows, poker, and other card games work without a glitch, waiting for you to take a seat at the virtual table.

Please keep in mind that some NetEnt titles arent available in certain EU countries (more info on the Platin Casino website).

Bonuses & Promotions: 4.5/5

The welcome package at Platin Casino consists of four matched deposit bonuses 100% up to 500 + 200 FS in Big Bass Bonanza for your first deposit of at least 20, 100% up to 500 on your second deposit, and 50% up to 500 on your third and fourth deposits.

All deposit bonuses and winnings made with free spins come with a 40 times wagering requirement which only applies to the bonus funds.

Free spins will be credited to your account for four consecutive days, 50 spins per day.

Payment Methods: 4.5/5

This casino EU site works under the Curacao license, which enables the brand to accept cryptocurrencies.

In addition to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Dogecoin, you can also pick a more traditional deposit method such as payment cards, Paysafecard, Skrill, Neteller, Jeton, MiFinity, or Neosurf.

If youre unsure how to use crypto to play, check out this Ethereum gambling guide.

There are no fees for transaction processing, and the most you can withdraw in a month is 40,000.

The best online casinos in Europe have a lot to offer, so picking the best ones isnt as easy as it may sound.

Check how we approached the testing process and what we consider the most important elements of any online casino.

Real-money casino games come in different forms, and our job is to ensure you have enough variety to enjoy yourself without getting bored.

Even though not all online casino sites on our list have thousands of titles in their collections, quality and diversity are what count the most.

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Best Real Money Online Slots to Play in 2024 – The Hudson Reporter

Posted: at 12:11 pm

No question about it the best real money online slots are the real deal when it comes to online gambling.

How do we know? Well, because weve gone through dozens of online casinos to find the games that offer the biggest wins, immersive themes, and thrilling bonus features.

Ignition Casino is an easy favorite, with its awesome selection of online slots and sweet bonuses. But stick around because weve got more real money slot sites lined up.

Lets dive in and check them out.

So, which slot games should you play in the first place? Here are brief reviews of the top picks you shouldnt miss out on.

A Night With Cleo is a captivating real money slot game from WooHoo Games. This visually appealing slot features an alluring Egyptian theme, medium to high volatility for thrilling spins, and a chance to trigger Cleos Double-Up bonus round.

This visually stunning real money online slot game features the majestic buffalo, eagles, and other iconic American wildlife. Watch out for the Golden Buffalo symbol as it can trigger exciting bonus rounds with free spins.

This is a high-volatility online slot machine from Betsoft, so its perfect for those whore feeling a bit risky. You can randomly trigger Prize Reels in this game which could give you access to the games progressive jackpot.

This medium-volatility slot machine features beautiful Native American-inspired graphics and an exciting Lunar Phase bonus round. Land three or more moon symbols to trigger up to 50 free spins. Just imagine what those many free spins could give you.

This Irish luck-themed high-volatility slot features exciting bonus rounds. In this casino game, if you land pots of gold, you can trigger the free spins bonus round with the top prize of up to 7,500x your bet.

Best for progressive jackpots

Best for crypto players

Generous cashback bonus

We want to make sure you also know what to expect on the platforms where you can play the best online slot games today. Heres a closer look at the best online casino slots for real money slots.

Pros

Cons

Ignition Casino is our top pick for serious real money slots players, and for good reason. They offer a great variety of slot machines and generous bonuses to boost your bankroll

Ignition pulls its best online slot machines from top-notch providers like Realtime Gaming, Rival Gaming, Makitone Gaming, and Spinomenal. They have classic online slots with fruit symbols, as well as modern Hot Drop Jackpot slot games like A Night With Cleo.

Want an extra boost to those online slot gaming sessions? Ignition is also generous enough to cater to that. New players, get ready to snag a massive welcome bonus of up to $3,000 to use on slots and other real money casino games.

If you deposit with crypto, youll enjoy a 150% casino bonus of up to $1,500 as well as another 150% poker bonus of up to $1,500.

You can use popular payment methods, including credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) alongside cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum. Deposits and withdrawals start at $20.

Pros

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Slots.lv has been in the online casino industry since 2013, and theyve built a loyal following for a reason. If youre searching for a real money slots casino where your spins count, this could be the best casino site for you.

This online casinos name alone should tell you its a great online gambling spot for playing online slots. Slot.lvs gaming library is powered by respected providers like Realtime Gaming, Rival Gaming, and Betsoft.

If your first deposit is made with crypto, youll get a generous welcome bonus of up to $3,000 with 30 free spins on Golden Buffalo. Meanwhile, a fiat deposit will still give you up to $2,000 bonus plus 20 free spins on the same game.

Slots.lv supports a good mix of traditional payment methods (credit/debit cards) and a decent selection of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Tether. Deposits and payouts should be at least $20 to be processed.

Pros

Cons

Super Slots has been online since 2020. It is our top pick for players with a diverse crypto portfolio whod like to enjoy playing slots online.

Super Slots offers online casino games from top providers like Betsoft, Nucleus Gaming, Dragon Gaming, Arrows Edge, and Rival Gaming. Popular casino games here are Rags to Witches, Jungle Stripes, and Leprechaun Frenzy.

Aside from slots, you can also enjoy table games like online craps for real money.

Super Slots greets new players with a welcome offer of up to $6,000. Use the bonus code SS250 for a 250% bonus up to $1,000, then keep the fun going on your next five deposits using code SS100 (100% match up to $1,000 each).

Theyre also throwing in 100 free spins on their featured game of the month if you deposit with crypto.

If luck isnt on your side, Super Slots offers a 10% weekly rebate to keep you back in the game.

Super Slots accept standard options like wire transfers, but the real highlight is their crypto support. Choose from 15 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and even options like Cardano and Dogecoin. The minimum deposit and payout is $20.

Pros

Cons

Avantgarde Casino has a solid foundation with games powered by Rival Gaming. But what really caught our eye? Their generous cashback offer for first time players.

Youll find real money slot games like Mythic Wolf, Gold Rush, and Big Cash Win, alongside other exciting online slots from Rival Gaming.

Avantgarde Casino greets new players with a 400% deposit bonus. Theres also the 100% cashback insurance. Contact live chat once youve played through your initial deposit, and theyll credit the cashback to your account.

They accept credit/debit cards like Visa and Mastercard, along with e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill. Crypto enthusiasts take note: currently, only Bitcoin is supported. Theres a $15 minimum deposit, while payouts should be $50.

Pros

Cons

If you crave variety in your online slot adventures, Wild Casino is our top pick. They offer a great selection of real money slots for new and seasoned casino players.

Wild Casino boasts over 660 slot machines from reputable providers like Betsoft and Nucleus Gaming. Popular casino games here include Leprechaun Frenzy, Spin it Vegas, and Pho Sho.

New to Wild Casino? Use the bonus code WILD250 for a 250% bonus up to $1,000 on your first deposit, and WILD100 for a 100% bonus (up to $1,000) on your next four deposits. Thats $5,000 worth of bonuses.

Youll also get 125 free spins on their featured game of the month. Be sure to check out their promos page because they usually have lots of ongoing offers and fun slot tourneys.

Wild Casino accepts credit/debit cards, Money Orders, and cashiers checks. If you play with crypto, you can choose from over 10 digital coins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more. The minimum amount you can deposit and withdraw is only $20.

Weve gone beyond the flashy banners and bonuses the best online casinos have to ensure they deserve a spot on this best list. Heres how we ranked them:

Its usually the best online slots casinos that offer good gaming variety since these are the platforms that trusted software providers work with. No one wants to keep playing the same game again and again.

While eye-catching casino bonuses are a must, we prioritize online casinos with various ongoing promotions tailored to slot machines. Think free spins, bonus rounds, and loyalty programs that truly make your playtime pay off.

Prefer to play slots at Amex casinos? The best online slots sites for real money offer a good mix of traditional banking methods and a decent selection of cryptocurrencies. We paid close attention to those minimums and processing times as well because nobody wants to wait forever for their real money slot winnings.

Playing from Jersey? Check our list of the best slot sites in NJ, along with top bonuses to claim.

We love online casinos that are generous enough to boost your bankroll. Here are the bonuses our top online casinos for real money slots have for you:

Ready to play exciting online real money slots at the best casinos? Heres how to get started with our top pick, Ignition Casino:

Not sure what type of slot game you should be playing? Here are the most popular options youll find at real money online casinos for slots machines:

These classic slots hark back to the early days of Vegas. They feature three reels and a limited number of symbols. Simple gameplay and a touch of nostalgia make them a favorite for beginners and fans of classic slot play

Five-reel slots are the most common type of online slots today. They offer more paylines, elaborate bonus features, and greater potential for complex winning combinations.

These slots break free from the traditional single payline format. Multi-payline slots offer numerous ways to form winning combinations across the reels that significantly increase your chances of a good payout.

Video slots go beyond basic spinning reels with immersive graphics, soundtracks, and animated sequences. Their themes can range from ancient Egypt to modern pop culture, which creates a true mini-game experience within your slot session.

3D slots take immersion to the next level with breathtaking graphics and animations. These cutting-edge slot games often feature elaborate storylines and interactive elements. Theyre usually for players who enjoy playing real money slots with video game features.

Progressive jackpot slots offer the chance to snag truly massive payouts. A small portion of every bet placed on these slots contributes to a jackpot that keeps growing until its won. But remember that these jackpots can be harder to hit due to their massive potential payouts.

Ever wanted to spin reels featuring your favorite movie or TV show? Branded slots let you do just that. Their familiar characters, licensed soundtracks, and unique bonuses make them a hit with fans of pop culture.

No, online slots arent rigged if you choose a reputable online casino. They use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to ensure fair outcomes in their real money games, including slots. These are regularly audited by independent organizations to guarantee fair play.

Yes, you can play slots online on your mobile devices. Most real money online slot sites offer mobile-optimized websites or dedicated apps that allow you to play your favorite online slots directly on your smartphone or tablet.

Yes, you can play free slots online. Numerous online casinos offer demo mode versions of their slots, allowing you to try out the gameplay and special features without risking actual money.

Yes, you can win real money by playing online slot games. Just make sure youre not playing free slots and are placing real money online bets.

Ignition: This slots online casino balances a fantastic gaming selection with generous bonuses and fast payouts. New players can claim a bonus of up to $3,000 for casino and poker games.

Slots.lv: Their MySlots rewards program keeps getting better the more you play. You can snag a welcome offer of up to $3,000 if you deposit with cryptos (or $2,000 if they use fiat currency).

Super Slots: This online gambling site is great for those with a diverse crypto portfolio. If youre new here, you can get a match bonus of up to $6,000 on your first six deposits.

Avantgarde: This real money online casino minimizes the risk on your first deposit with a 100% cashback insurance offer alongside a 400% welcome bonus.

Wild Casino: With 660+ online slots, Wild Casino is the ultimate destination for adventurous slot players. Plus, a welcome offer of up to $5,000 and 125 spins makes it worth checking out.

While online slots are ultimately games of chance, a few savvy tips can improve your experience and maybe even give you an edge. Lets go beyond relying on luck alone and dive into these great tips:

Its no secret that slot machines hold a special place in the hearts of casino enthusiasts. If youre looking for a thrilling and potentially rewarding slots experience, give A Night With Cleo a spin.

You can enjoy this slot game at Ignition Casino, where youll also enjoy a great collection of other online slots for real money with generous bonuses and convenient transactions.

Whatever you pick, always bet responsibly. Now, start the fun and get those reels spinning.

We wish you the best of luck in your online slot adventures!

DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for entertainment purposes only. Online gambling comes with risks. Theres no guarantee of financial gain, so you should only gamble with what you can afford to lose.

While gambling can be fun, it can also be addictive. If you or anyone you know suffers from a gambling addiction problem, we recommend you call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 to speak with an advisor. Please remember that our guides and all gambling sites are 21+. Also, check with local laws if online gambling is legal in your area.

For free online gambling addiction resources, visit these organizations:

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Casino requests regulator approve Arkansas online gambling – iGaming Business

Posted: at 12:11 pm

While online gambling is proving to be one of 2024's biggest obstacles, Arkansas is trying a wholly different tactic.

Six years ago voters legalised an expansion of gaming in the state of Arkansas. This included up to four brick-and-mortar casinos, in-person and online wagering and online poker. The law does not explicitly prohibit Arkansans from online gambling. It also does not explicitly allow it.

The law itself governs casino gaming, defined as dealing, operating, carrying on, conducting, maintaining, or exposing for play any game played with cards, dice, equipment. It can also include any mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic device or machine for money, property, checks, credit, or any representative value. Casino gaming shall also be defined to include accepting wagers on sporting events.

When regulators interpreted this law, they included statewide online sports betting and online poker. No operators are currently offering digital poker. Saracen Casinos Carlton Saffa, the chief marketing officer, last month wrote to the Arkansas Racing Commission asking for a rule change. This was reported by initially by Gambling.com.

A solution exists by amending ARC Rule 5, which already authorises online poker, to include other types of table games and slots, Saffa told Gambling.com. Doing so would provide significant tax revenue to government. And, just as important, ensure that operators be held accountable by the government.

The racing commissions Rule 1 defines casino gaming the same way the law does. The regulations do not address Arkansas online casino. Instead, they refer to interactive gaming and explicitly define online poker as legal. Rule 5.060 also says that an operator cannot offer a new interactive gaming system. This is unless it has been approved by the commission.

But Rule 5.140 Acceptance of Wagers says that operators cannot accept wagers on any game other than poker and its derivatives as approved by the Commission and published on the Commissions website.

A key difference between online poker and other online casino games is that poker is peer-to-peer, and casino games like blackjack or roulette are played against the house. In every US jurisdiction, the two are defined and regulated separately.

Saffas idea is a workaround that would bypass legislative action, another constitutional amendment, or gubernatorial approval. Governor Kay Ivey supported the last expansion of gambling, but earlier this year said she wont sign just any bill.

Should the racing commission grant Saffa his request, Arkansas online gambling would be regulated and could likely go live sooner than later. But it could be stopped by a lawsuit or legislative action. Saffa told Gambling.com that he hopes his request will be on the 6 May Arkansas Racing Commission meeting agenda. That agenda is not yet available.

In Minnesota, lawmakers have been struggling to legalise sports betting for several years. This year, the racing commission voted to allow historic horse racing machines at local racetracks. So far, one state legislator has called the action illegal and has filed a bill banning the machines; the tracks have sued the states tribes and one tribe has sued the racing commission. All of which illustrates that even if Arkansas racing commission does legalise it may not stick.

So far, neither of the other two racetracks Oaklawn or Southland have participated in the conversation. iGB calls to Saracen Casino and the Arkansas Racing Commission on Tuesday (23 April) were not returned.

Across the US, seven states Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia have legal online casino. Rhode Island is the the latest to launch. Online casino has been legal in the state for several years, but only went live in March.

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Up to $2500 bonus funds with Caesars Palace Online Casino – PennLive

Posted: at 12:11 pm

When new users sign up to Caesars Palace Online Casino using our exclusive code: SLPENN2500, they can claim a 100% matched deposit bonus of up to $2500. We know an excellent welcome bonus when we see one, and youll be hard-pushed to find a more compelling offer than this.

When you read our Caesars Palace Online Casino review, you will quickly understand why we hold them in such high regard. Once you have an account, youll be experiencing Caesars magic for life. The famous casino excels in many areas, including customer service, which, in our opinion, is second to none. They also have a fantastic game selection that we will delve into below.

Caesars Palace Online Casino offers diverse games, boasting top-tier slots, table games, and live dealer options. Players can indulge in various online slots, from progressive jackpots and timeless classics to five-reel video slots and Megaways titles. Our favorites include Catch of the Day, Charmstones, and Cleopatra.

Aside from the extensive selection of slot games, Caesars Palace Online Casino provides a diverse range of table games similar to those found in traditional casinos. Players have ample choices, from classics like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat to more distinctive options such as Three-Card Poker and Casino Holdem.

Different online casino games contribute differently to fulfilling the wagering requirements, and these rates vary for each bonus segment. Online casinos do this because some casino games have a very high RTP, which players can use to ensure they make a profit from said bonus.

For the deposit match Caesars Palace Online Casino bonus, players must contribute 15x for slots, 30x for video poker, and 75x for all other games.

For instance, if you exclusively play online slots at Caesars Palace Online Casino, youll need to wager 15 times your deposit to unlock the bonus. With a maximum deposit of $2,500, youd have to play through $37,500. Its worth noting that the game craps is not eligible for meeting the wagering requirements of this bonus.

Sidelines Group provides PennLive with original sports betting, lottery and casino content including odds, analysis, predictions and reviews to educate bettors. Please bet responsibly.

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Up to $2500 bonus funds with Caesars Palace Online Casino - PennLive

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Solana (SOL) Back Above $150 But Can It Get Back to $250? Rollblock (RBLK) Launches Online Casino – Hottest New … – Crypto Reporter

Posted: at 12:11 pm

Solana (SOL) recently took a major hit in its value as within the span of a month, it declined 31.6%. However, it has since then begun to initiate a recovery period, spiking back above the $150 range. Many are now speculating if it can reach the $250 level and potentially hit a new all-time high.

In the meantime, Rollblock (RBLK) has launched and introduces an online casino which features transparency, trustworthiness, speed and cost-effectiveness, and accessibility. We will go over both of these projects, and their altcoins to determine which one can spike in value the most during 2024 and beyond. By the end of this article, we will see which is the best cryptocurrency to invest in.

Solana (SOL) has seen a substantial level of growth during the past year, as the total year-to-date (YTD) climb was by 452.2%. However, within the past month, the Solana price dipped by 31.6%, initially sparking some level of pessimism surrounding its future.

Within the span of the past week, the Solana crypto did manage to climb from a low point of $124.69 to a maximum value of $175.05, increasing its overall appeal, and the optimism traders and investors have on its future. A SOL crypto analyst since 2020, @unrealuncrit, recently took to X (Twitter) and went over the similarities between SOLs current performance and what it did in 2021.

Specifically, the SOL crypto price accumulated itself between $20 and $50 from April to August of 2021. Now, it is experiencing a similar accumulation process between the $120 and $190 range. This could result in a massive upswing by Q4 of 2024, and according to the Solana price prediction, the crypto can end the year at $303.23.

Rollblock (RBLK) has launched as an online casino and has become the hottest new presales in the industry, fueled by its unique merge of digital casinos and cryptocurrencies. The platform offers an advanced feature-set with high security, quick communication and an unparalleled gaming experience that seamlessly integrates crypto payments.

At the core of the platform is the native cryptocurrency Rollblock tokens, which transforms the traditional casino structures, as it features vast utility. Through this crypto, anyone can get access to rewards and advantages. In addition, the included blockchain technology ensures that each transaction is permanent and immutable.

Compared to traditional financial systems, cryptos offer much quicker transactions and lower fees, allowing for better deposits and withdrawals with the lowest expenses. Anyone can access the casino with only an internet connection, making the platform accessible on a global scale and with ease. The platform is designed for easy access, without the need for any additional downloads or installations.

The initial price for RBLK was at $0.01 per token, with incremental increases at each subsequent stage. Moreover, the platform is based on Ethereum and follows the ERC-20 token standard. The Global Gaming Market was valued at $245.9 billion in 2022, and can reach $682 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 13.6%. If Rollblock gets even a small percentage of this market, it can become a dominant force in Web3 and beyond, making Rollblock the best cryptocurrency to buy currently.

Its clear that Solana has initiated a phase for recovery, and could soon not only break above $150 again, but reach a new all-time high point of value. In the meantime, all eyes are on the Rollblock crypto, as its online casino introduces various elements, a high level of security, transparency and accessibility, all of which make it the hottest presale for 2024. These aspects place Rollblock as the best cryptocurrency to invest in.

Discover the Exciting Opportunities of the Rollblock (RBLK) Presale Today! Website: https://presale.rollblock.io/ Socials: https://linktr.ee/rollblockcasino

Disclaimer: The statements, views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily represent those of Crypto Reporter. Crypto Reporter is not responsible for the trustworthiness, quality, accuracy of any materials in this article. This article is provided for educational purposes only. Crypto Reporter is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article. Do your research and invest at your own risk.

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Solana (SOL) Back Above $150 But Can It Get Back to $250? Rollblock (RBLK) Launches Online Casino - Hottest New ... - Crypto Reporter

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How AI Is Changing the Online Gambling Industry – Blockchain.News

Posted: at 12:11 pm

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is leaving its mark on many industries. It has raised the bar in computing, created new possibilities in healthcare, and caused more than a few headaches in the art world. But one of the sectors that could benefit the most and see only positive changes is the online gambling sector. In fact, AI has existed here for several years already, and as the technology improves, there is no end to the possibilities it could create.

Here are some of the ways that AI is revolutionizing the online gambling sector.

A More Personalized Experience

While we cant say that online gambling is the easiest way to earn coins for players, it certainly can be for casinos, and the more of a personalized experience they provide for their players, the more likely they are to generate the sort of traffic and revenue that they need.

Traditionally, online gambling was a one-sizes-fits-all service. The casinos created offers that they thought would appeal to most players, and that usually meant small deposit offers, free spin promotions, and no-deposit offers. These are the sort of promotions that casual gamblers love. However, they leave a lot to be desired for higher-stake players, and free spin promotions are useless to someone who only plays table games.

Using AI, casino operators can track player activity across their site and build a profile that maps out what that player likes. In doing so, they will know what kind of promotions to offer them, which games to highlight, and how the player is most likely to respond to marketing.

You might not realize it, but many major online companies already have profiles on you and people like you, and they use these to make life easier for themselves and their partners. Its how you can use Google Ads and tell it to focus on shoppers most likely to place small orders vs big orders, as well as shoppers in specific demographics.

They dont always need detailed personal information to build these profiles, but if you keep skipping terms and conditions and clicking checkboxes, you may be providing them with that info anyway. As we recently learned with the Google Incognito scandal, sometimes they collect data even when youre absolutely sure youre browsing in private.

Improved Player Detection Methods

The gambling industry still has a problem with underage gambling and problem gambling. Regulators are doing their best to enforce new laws that protect players while also punishing those who fail. But they are still slipping through the net. Current systems arent perfect.

AI could change that. Machine learning can detect the patterns of problem gambling and raise red flags when it sees anything suspicious. It can also run checks on everyone who signs up for a casino, scanning everything from official documents to social media profiles and looking for keywords that indicate the person has a gambling addiction or is under the legal gambling age.

Such systems are already in use around the world, but they need to reach a much more advanced stage before the industry can rely on them 100% and omit human checks.

Fraud and Anti-Money Laundering Detection

Its thought that billions of dollars are laundered through the gambling industry every year, and while anti-money laundering (AML) regulations are improving, the criminals are also using more advanced weapons. Its a cat and mouse game that will never truly end, but AI could be the veritable ace up the sleeve for operators and regulators.

As with problem gambling and underage gambling, these systems work by tracking behavior and scanning available resources to look for unusual patterns. That could mean using multiple payment methods registered to different addresses or making lots of high-value deposits that are eventually withdrawn to different cards/bank accounts. And thats just the obvious stuffadvanced AI can check names, addresses, and even associates against existing sanctions lists.

It goes a long way to stopping fraud and makes sure that heavily sanctioned individuals cant use the gambling industry as their own personal banking system.

Better Casino Games

Once you have player data and understand what they like, why they like it, and how much they like it, you can start creating games that are perfectly tailored toward player preferences. You can also make games that balance the importance of player preferences with high returnssomething that is obviously central to the objectives of every online casino.

Either way, the end result is higher quality games, and that will benefit everyone involved, from the developers skipping focus groups and testing to the casinos getting more bang for their buck, and the players having more fun.

Summary: The AI Revolution is Here

We are in the midst of a seismic change, and industries heavily reliant on technology are the ones who will feel it the most. That includes the online gambling sector, one that is incredibly lucrative for operators, casino brands, licensors, and tax collectors, and one that is growing at a pheromonal rate in the United States.

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Fox News Anchor Comes Unglued, Berates ‘Dumb’ Liberal Colleague – The Daily Beast

Posted: at 12:10 pm

Fox Business Network anchor Charles Payne blew a gasket on Wednesday when a liberal pundit attempted to defend President Joe Bidens gaffes, calling his on-air colleagues comments dumb and insulting.

During the Fox News midday panel show Outnumbered, Payne blasted the president for repeating his oft-told false claim that he had previously driven an 18-wheel big rig.

Its interesting. I saw someone complaining about Donald Trump exaggerating, Payne groused. Theres a big difference between exaggerating and just lying. Maybe its his memory, but its one after another.

After Payne characterized the situation as surreal and akin to a comedy plot in a sitcom, liberal radio host Leslie Marshall interjected that Trump has also been known to lie. She also noted that its actually the ex-president who often gets a pass for misspeaking or flubbing a line.

From my perspective, when Joe Biden messes up a word, I hear about it across the board. I dont hear about it with former President Trump, Marshall said.

Attempting to contrast her own occasional verbal miscues with the president, Marshall recounted a recent instance of her mixing up Pakistan and Palestine on-air.

This did not sit well with Payne, who immediately cut the veteran radio host off and began berating her. It always offends me when people talk to me and us like were dumb! What youre making is such a dumb example! Were not talking about you or me or her making an occasional gaffe, the Making Money host growled.

While Marshall tried telling her colleague she didnt think he was dumb, an animated Payne continued his outburst. Were talking about gaffe after gaffe after gaffe after gaffe, the Fox Business star yelled while waving his arm up and down.

I dont appreciate you calling me dumb! Marshall retorted.

No, youre not dumb! Youre insulting! Payne fired back before repeating the word gaffe over and over and over. Its ridiculous!

After Payne was finished with his performative rant, the rest of the pro-Trump hosts on the panel also began lecturing Marshall for offering up a mild defense of the presidents verbal miscues and tall tales.

He does it each and every speech, former Trump flack-turned-Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany huffed. This is why, Leslie, each and every poll shows the American voters, a majority, dont think he has the mental acuity!

Marshall, meanwhile, attempted to calmly respond to the over-the-top histrionics displayed by Payne in yet another of an endless series of Fox News segments on Biden's cognitive ability.

I never said it was a one-off," she noted. What Im saying is, I think its normal for people to make gaffes. I use notes when I give speeches. Im not running for president.

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Mathew Chandy ’24, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences – UConn Today – University of Connecticut

Posted: at 12:10 pm

Mathew Chandy 24 (CLAS) will be the first student to graduate as a statistical data science major in May thats on top of completing a major in statistics and minors in computer science, economics, and mathematics. And he was able to do it all in three years.

Why did you choose to go to UConn? Im from Storrs, so my hometown is right next to UConn. A lot of my friends from high school were going here too, so it just made the most sense.

What drew you to your field of study? I was originally just a statistics major, and I chose that because Ive always been a math-oriented person. Statistics allows you to apply math to very tangible problems. I also started coding early on, so data science allowed me to integrate my coding ability to statistics.

Did you have a favorite professor or class? My favorite professor was the one Im currently doing research with, Jun Yan in the Department of Statistics. Ive been doing research with him for the past three years. My favorite class was probably Introduction to Data Science, which was also with Yan. I liked that class because it allowed you to learn things by yourself and become accustomed to new software very quickly. That helped me grow in my ability to use different technology in data science. What activities were you involved in as a student? Research has been my main focus, but when I was a freshman, I was in Model United Nations as a volunteer for the UConn competition. This year, with a few other students, I helped found the Joint Statistical Club (JSC) and served as vice president. The objective of JSC was to create a community for statistics students and help connect undergrads with graduates as well. What was it like being in college during the pandemic? So, Im going to graduate in three years, meaning I actually started in 2021. But it is kind of weird to remember that when I started college everyone had to wear a mask, or your class might get cancelled if cases were high.

What are your plans for after graduation? Ill be pursuing a Ph.D. in Statistics at UCLA in the fall.

How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life? I think being really research-focused during my time at UConn will help my ability to be successful in my Ph.D. program. Also, UConn provides a lot of resources to help students be successful, like the STEM Scholars program and the Honors program. The Department of Statistics also encourages students to participate in conferences and competitions to build up experiences.

Any advice for incoming students? Take your time and explore different things.

Whats one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn? Go to basketball games! Hopefully we 3-peat, but in general, students should go.

What will always make you think of UConn? Well, Ill always come back here because I live here, but when I watch UConn basketball in the future, Ill look back very fondly on my time attending UConn.

How has being a student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences impacted your UConn experience? I enjoyed the fact that CLAS was very diverse in its course offerings. I had to take biology and chemistry classes, which are pretty distant from my major. At the time, I mightve thought, Why do I have to take this? but now I realize its good because it widens your scope.

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Will No One Rid Me Of These Meddlesome -Isms: Thinking and Rethinking Liberalism – Front Porch Republic

Posted: at 12:10 pm

When both Jeff Bilbro and a Catholic priest recommend an article to you, youd best pay attention. It just might be God telling you something. This happened to me recently. I would not give myself the extravagant title of Gods messenger, yet perhaps there is something providential in two thoughtful people sending me the same article independent of each other. The article in question is Bryan Garstens The Liberalism of Refuge, published recently in the Journal of Democracy as the lead essay in a symposium asking Can Liberalism Be Saved? The article gives me an opportunity to do something Ive been meaning to do for some time, namely sort through some inchoate ideas regarding liberalism.

The article is in some sense Garstens contribution to what we might call the liberalism wars. Perhaps instigated by Patrick Deneens Why Liberalism Failed, first published six years ago, a robust scholarly and online debate has emerged regarding the relative value of liberalism as a vital political philosophy. We have critics of liberalism such as Catholic integralists, national conservatives, and those generically called post-liberals. These schools of thought in one manner or another criticize liberalism for eroding community, placing too much emphasis on commerce, warping religion, subjecting the world to a heartless and homogenizing globalization, and more sins beyond that. There has been a reaction against liberalisms critics, mostly (but not exclusively) from those on the libertarian right who wish to defend classical liberalism that they argue undergirds the progress of the modern West. The first piece I ever wrote for Front Porch Republic was a review of Jonah Goldbergs Suicide of the West, a book which reads like a love letter to John Locke and the glories of free market individualism. Released the same year as Deneens book, the two works form a kind of point/counterpoint in the liberalism wars. Garsten has authored an ingenious if ultimately unconvincing entry into this debate.

It might help to define our terms. What do we mean by liberalism? As noted, this is a question that has launched a thousand scholarly ships, so far be it from me, in a mere review essay, to give a comprehensive definition of the term. Still, I think we can lay out some basics. Liberalism, as I see it, starts with the individual. The individual is a complete human being before the formation of any political or social structure. Such an individual is recognizable to anyone familiar with the state of nature thinking of, say, Hobbes and Locke. Liberalism holds that this individual has certain natural rights that he or she bears equally with all other humans. We now have the foundational liberal ideas of natural rights and natural equality. Because these rights are natural, endowed by our Creator rather than by government, it suggests some limitation on government. Natural rights serve as a kind of check on authority. Liberals, then, tend to believe in some form of limited government. Serving the ends of limited government are such institutional commitments as separation of powers, equality before the law, and due process of law. Natural equality suggests the justness of a basically democratic regime; the average person should have some say in how and by whom he is governed. Liberal politics often shares a commitment to liberal economics, meaning restricted intrusion of government in economic activity and a general commitment to free markets and free trade. Liberal economics stems from one of our natural rights, namely the right to property.

I do not mean to suggest that this is a comprehensive definition of liberalism. Nor do I claim that one can get to one or more of these principles only through liberalism. But I think this is a fine summary of basic liberal commitments.

To this Garsten adds another liberal ideal, that of refuge. Garsten professes Liberal societiesare those that offer refuge from the very people they empower. Even a monarchy might earn the moniker liberal if a citizen who fell out of the kings good graces could take refuge under the protection of this or that aristocrat or constituency. We might ask if the good of refuge is foundational or whether it relies on other deeper commitments. For example, basic belief in human equality and liberty leads to a notion of human dignity. Because humans have dignity, when a government or fellow citizens become oppressive to a person or definable group, such individual or group needs to be able to seek refuge in the law or in notions of liberal toleration that might mitigate the damage. We could conclude, then, that it is not refuge that sets liberalism apart but deeper commitments that are more foundational. Garsten implicitly concedes this point when, in his response to other symposium contributors, he argues that Southern slaveholders/segregationists should not have been granted liberal refuge. The Southerners violated a liberal principle deeper than refuge, namely that of equality. There is a particular concept of the human person that underlies any defense of a politics of refuge. Garsten leaves that anthropology assumed rather than articulated.

Garsten accuses skeptics of liberalism of practicing a demonology, turning liberalism into a kind of boogeyman. (Garsten seems to take it for granted that there are no actual demons, thus demonology is a kind of delusion). He readily acknowledges, however, that liberalisms commitment to openness and mobility may undermine dedication to religion, place, or tradition. Here he accuses what he uncharitably calls antiliberals of having a politics of temptation. These antiliberals (such as Deneen) exaggerate any questioning of authority, thinking the slightest concession to openness tempts us toward unlimited freedom, weakening the authority of parent, teacher, or minister, responsibility to spouse, children, or neighbor.

Garsten seems blind to the actual erosion of social capital under liberal individualism run amok. Cue here the mandatory reference to Bowling Alone. One need not resort to chimerical apparitions to see actual damage caused by liberal commitments. Lets turn to religion as one example.

Garsten ignores the fact that liberalism arose hand in hand with centralization of state power. The nation replaced the church as an object of religious devotion. As William Cavanaugh has noted, the post-Reformation era was an age of political centralization. The wars of religion were to a significant degree really wars of centralization, as there was a migration of the holy from the church to the state.

The atomization that is a result of liberal individualism empowers the state at the expense of other obligations such as church or family. Garsten says a religion is liberal if it also offers refuge from its leaders. It allows the individual deference to ones own conscience. This is all well and good as far as it goes, but as John Henry Newman pointed out, conscience has to be properly understood. Conscience is the divine voice that tells us right from wrong. When we substitute our own judgment for that of religious authority, it must be after serious thought and study. It is far too easy for I am following my conscience to mask I am doing what I want, not what God wants. This is why Newman opposed religious liberalism, because it all too easily moves from seeking and doing Gods will to simply doing what the individual wants, honoring the self instead of honoring God.

One sees the rejection of Gods will in Lockes very intolerant Letter Concerning Toleration. Locke maintains, in what might be the fundamental doctrine of theological liberalism, that every man is orthodox to himself and care of the soul belongs to himself. Locke turns religion from a belief that is acted out in community to a private, interior disposition. Whats more, Locke defines the ends of society as life, liberty, and indolency of the body; and the possession of outward things, such as money, lands, houses, furniture, and the like. A crude acquisitiveness becomes the foundation of society. Locke then argues that a religion that undermines the foundations of society cannot be tolerated. It turns out any religion that gets in the way of self-indulgence is suspect. Locke denies the transcendent in the name of economic productivity.

Garsten implicitly accepts Lockes intolerant toleration. In his response essay, he approvingly cites Benjamin Constants nineteenth-century warning about the Catholic churchs threat to liberty. One recalls that Locke explicitly exempts Catholics from religious toleration. Garsten does, however, support the Supreme Courts offering of refuge to the Amish in the Wisconsin v. Yoder case. Garsten perhaps unwittingly proves the critics point: hes willing to tolerate religions as long as they are cute, cuddly, and harmless. Any church that represents a threat to the liberal order is not to be tolerated. This is similar to Americans who, in the wake of Employment Division of Oregon v. Smith, were supportive of religious liberty legislation when they thought it was Native Americans who would benefit. As soon as evangelical Christians sought support under the same laws, the tolerant became decidedly intolerant. Religious liberty for Garsten and many liberals is a limited good, only offered to those religions that accept their subservient place.

One could also point to Lockes low estimation of marriage and his description of the family in largely transactional terms. Or one might mention John Stuart Mills condemnation of the despotism of custom. It seems like undercutting religion, family, and tradition are not just the work of illusory demons, but actual agendas of foundational liberals. In liberalism, all commitments are provisional except the commitment to oneself.

Garsten also addresses Tocquevilles famous concern regarding the tyranny of the majority. Tocqueville, argues Garsten, sought a guarantee against such a tyranny. By guarantee he meant some institution or authority with the power to protect against the sovereign majority. Garsten cites here Tocquevilles defense of association. But association is not a formal institution; its a habit of the people. Tocquevilles central concern is that the love of equality which is the dominant ethos of democracy will give rise to individualism and a lack of concern for public things. Tocqueville may have been a liberal, but he was a moderate liberal. He recognized that democracy taken unalloyed would succumb to despotism. The alteration of family and religion that Tocqueville feared democracy might bring about would leave the individual adrift in the world. The art of association that Tocqueville praises in Americans is derivative of their religious and familial commitments. Without such commitments the centralized state would have to step in as the only recognized instrument of collective action, reducing the people to a herd of timid, individuated sheep.

Its a bit unfair to conflate Tocquevilles critique of democracy with a critique of liberalism. Still, while the two are not synonymous, in the modern world they are close cousins. The point here is that liberal democracy relies on habits and mores (Tocquevilles word) that it itself struggles to maintain. Count me as all in favor of liberal institutionalism. I happen to think that Madisonian democracy, heavily indebted to liberal assumptions, is about as fine an institutional order as mankind has developed. Still, liberalism cannot rely on mere institutionalism. It must appeal to non-liberal authorities such as religion and family to sustain the liberal regime. Further note Tocquevilles commitment to local government as a bulwark against centralization. It is hard to imagine a sustained commitment to local government amongst a people who have no loyalty to a particular place. An unreflective devotion to individual mobility weakens such a loyalty.

Garsten is convinced, however, that those defending non-liberal politics in a liberal era are merely tilting at windmills. Indeed, he goes so far as to suggest that it is the liberals who believe in the natural sociability of man, while it is liberalisms critics who are the true individualists. After all, it is the liberals, Garsten says, who think that left to their own devices people will naturally form a vibrant civil society. It is the critics of liberalism, he claims, who must be the individualists because they think there must be some active participation by cultural authorities, including government, in order for humans to engage in communal activity.

Here Garsten claims too much. There are natural processes that nevertheless need cultivation. It is natural for the cilantro to rise every spring in my garden, but if I do nothing it can get pushed out by weeds. If not picked regularly cilantro goes to seed, now becoming coriander. Cultures, almost by definition, need cultivation. There needs to be positive activity on the part of the citizenry and social institutions to maintain the vibrancy of associational life. Garsten seems to overlook the laws pedagogical function.

One can look to college campuses as an example. I suspect that my campus is not unlike other campuses across the United States. As I noted in passing here at FPR in my review of Jonathan Haidts new book, my campus has seen many clubs wither and die over the last decade or so as students are more likely to stay in their dorm rooms staring at screens rather than joining History Club, hanging out with other business majors in the Business Club, or attending the weekly Intervarsity praise and worship. Tocqueville noted that democracy contains many preconditions that pull people apart, encouraging them to withdraw from public life. Governments role here might simply to be to get out of the way. Anyone who tries to run a private social service organization, for example, knows the myriad levels of paperwork it takes to operate such a charitable service, to say nothing of the constant threat of lawsuit in our litigious age. Also, as government steps in and does many of the jobs once done by fraternal organizations, it isnt surprising that such organizations have dwindled. In order for communities to remain vital they have to have work to do. The more the government says, No, thats our job, the less vigorous are the Tocquevillian associations. Witness jurisdictions in which Catholic Charities has been driven out of adoption facilitation because it is being forced to choose between its deeply held convictions on marriage or facilitating adoptions for same-sex couples. Similarly, locales vary as to how friendly they are to private education or homeschooling. Government can set conditions in which associations are more likely to thrive.

Richard Rorty once said that he was a freeloading atheist. Given four thousand years of Judeo-Christian morality, Rorty felt we could indulge his atheism without fear of return to the brutal morality of pagan Greece and Rome. History might be proving him wrong. Garsten, it seems, may be a freeloading liberal. Because there is such a strong tradition, at least in the United States, of associational activity, much of it religiously driven, we no longer need to actively cultivate communal virtues. Once again, history may be proving this assumption wrong. And as Ross Douthat quips, if you dislike the religious right, wait until you meet the post-religious right.

I feel I am being too hard on Garsten. His article is an intriguing attempt to articulate a novel grounding for liberal commitments. Most provocative is his recognition that we may need refuge from private economic power along with public power. Garsten explicitly acknowledges that progress always comes with loss, and that loss is not equally shared. Such is the case with globalization, for example. There are winners in the era of open trade that began in earnest in the early 1990s. But there are also losers. Garsten implies that the disruption caused by economic globalization may be the source of some of the illiberalism of our era, and these victims need some space of refuge. In this sense Garsten avoids the idealism that sometimes infects liberalisms most ardent defenders, the notion that more openness and free markets are the solution to every problem. Liberalism must take into account and leave some space for non-liberalism.

The older I get the more I find political labels a bit tiresome. I do not wish to associate myself with those who are principled no labels folks. Labels do carry some useful information. We cannot entirely escape them. Still, younger me was very concerned about which camp this or that thinker was in. I had the same attitude toward myself. Am I with the West Coast Straussians or the East Coast Straussians? Am I a natural rights thinker or do I share Burkes and MacIntyres skepticism toward natural rights in favor of a more narrative approach to politics? Am I a realist, a neo-conservative, or a liberal internationalist? Am I a free-market capitalist or a communitarian skeptic toward untrammeled capitalism? I no longer think in such terms. Am I a liberal? I dont think so, but I share many liberal commitments. As noted above, I do think that Madisonian constitutionalism is about as fine a governmental arrangement as we can realistically devise. Like Madison, I think we must take self-interest into account when framing a government. I am a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln, sharing Lincolns devotion to the Declaration of Independence and the natural rights and natural equality it professes. In my book on Lincoln I approvingly describe him as a liberal statesman. I also have a basic commitment to the free market on both practical and principled grounds. I often wish that liberalisms contemporary critics would recognize the truths and considerable successes of liberal ideas and liberal regimes.

At the same time, as the above discussion of those like Locke and Mill indicates, I essentially reject liberalisms anthropology. Part of that rejection is religious. I am with Newman that liberal theology inaccurately describes man, God, and the relationship between the two, including their relationship with Gods Church here on Earth. I am with Irving Kristol in giving two cheers to capitalism, but not three. The tendency of liberal capitalism is to value all things only by their economic value. Despite its good fruits, liberalisms dedication to individualism and acquisition does tend to erode necessary pre-political institutions such as family and church, both ordained by God for mans good. There are goods worth defending, such as the family or Gods creation, that might necessitate mandating economic inefficiencies. Unlike some who favor such pro-family or pro-creation (Im with Wendell Berry in eschewing the term environmental) policies, I forthrightly acknowledge that such policies might make us poorer with all the attendant costs. But just like in our individual lives, sometimes we must make economic sacrifices for higher goals. I do wish liberalisms most ardent contemporary defenders would recognize the ill effects of an undiluted liberalism.

Thus I think Patrick Deneen, whatever his faults, is correct that liberalism is at its worst when it is most itself. Tocquevilles wisdom is that liberal democracy needs to be ameliorated with remnants of pre-liberal, pre-democratic ideals. For example, democracies would benefit from maintaining the aristocratic dedication to beauty and building things of lasting value rather than simply valuing efficiency and economic use. A good liberalism is a humble, chastened liberalism.

Part of my rejection of labels is a rejection of formula. I distrust any preordained checklist that tells us what is in and what is out. When precisely should we adopt a liberal outlook and when should we reject it? I confess that I dont know. As I outline in my Lincoln book, one of Lincolns chief virtues is his prudence. Flannery OConner once stated that readers should not study literature like they are studying algebra; you are not solving for x. There isnt one right answer as to what a story or poem means. Much the same with politics. Politics is done by people, and thus it is messy and unpredictable. There is no political or philosophical quadratic formula. In this sense, I find value in Russell Kirks politics of prudence (see principle #4 or read this book) helpful on this account. When should equality give way to liberty, and vice versa? When is it socially beneficial for government to support religious life and when does such support slip into establishment, to the detriment both of church and state? When are appeals to popular opinion expressions of a healthy democratic spirit and when do they slide into demagoguery? These kinds of questions defy easy, fixed answers.

Those who are not liberals would be well served to prudentially consider those aspects of political life that liberalism gets right. If it is not a comprehensively sound doctrine, surely it gets some aspects of the human condition right. Such critics should avoid blaming every pathology of contemporary life on liberalism.

And when liberals critique their intellectual opponents, they can surely do better than accusing them of demonology. Reflexively branding any criticism of liberalism as authoritarianism or fascism is as lazy as it is incorrect.

Garstens piece succeeds in getting us to think about what liberalism is and what it is not, what liberalism does well and what it does poorly. It is important that people have some refuge from power. Human liberty is indeed a good. But liberty is the freedom to choose well, not just freedom from restraints. Liberalism provides some guidance as to what choose well means, but it is insufficient in that regard. Some recourse to non-liberal thought is needed to temper liberalisms individualism and excessive skepticism toward authority. If liberalism is at its worst when it is most itself, it is at its best when it gladly embraces guidance from other, stronger philosophies.

Image Credit: Thomas Seddon, Lhon visto desde Mont Parnasse, Britania (1853) via Picryl

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Why market demand doesn’t capture the value of the liberal arts | Letters – Tampa Bay Times

Posted: at 12:10 pm

The aims of education

Markets at play | Letter, April 24

Some continually agitate for market demand to be the chief consideration in higher curriculum. They have been at it for years now, pushing bean counters notions of the classical western liberal arts education that Gov. Ron DeSantis and others say they want, but really dont. Through history, adept and eager students would travel to distant universities to study with the widely known, best minds in their fields. Generally, those werent accounting or marketing classes. Some recent letters to the editor reminded me of University of South Florida professors I had 40 years ago. One, an English lit professor, was a frail old Englishman, white as an egg, with a brutalized, ratty, gamey cardigan sweater, the elbows worn through. He had a brown stain in his white beard from his pipe, which had an ever-present and long thread of drool swinging from its bowl. He began every class with some verse from one of the Romantic poets, or Kipling. Im sure he held forth just as readily with no audience at all. He was a treasure, but bean counters would not have approved. At 22, I realized Id learned nothing of Africa or its colonization by Europe by that age, so I took two courses on the subject from a wonderful professor, a small Igbo man from Nigeria, educated in English schools there. He spoke with a beautiful clipped accent, had a wonderful mind, was bemused by the United States, and he opened a new and wonderful part of the world to me. Again, bean counters wouldnt have approved.

Steve Douglas, St. Petersburg

Famous Tampa Bay trees | April 24

If old growth trees are valuable to a home sale, why are developers razing old growth trees? This is in context to an old home on a double lot bought a few months ago by a developer just a block from my home in Childs Park. They tore down the house (expected) and took out every single tree on that property. It was quite shocking to see the latter happen. That experience inspired me to wonder how we can get developers to value old growth trees. I never like to look to the government or more regulation to save us. I love to look at the market (that is, ourselves) to save us. So how do we (the markets demand) express that we value old growth trees? How do we make it so developers (the markets supply) start preserving and valuing these old growth trees? After musing over these questions the past months, I was so shocked to see a listing for the new house a block from my home pop up on Zillow. The house now sits on a sandy, concrete lot, but for sales purposes, its imagined in a rendering as surrounded by lush old growth trees that the developer cut down to build this very home.

Tara Hubbard, St. Petersburg

To tip or not to tip | Column, April 25

I had the privilege of a visit to several European countries a while back and was mildly shocked and pleasantly surprised when a waiter told me that tips are appreciated, but not expected since servers are paid a salary. This is something our country has generally resisted vehemently, claiming it would raise prices for customers. Well, seems to me it would balance out. The diner would save by not tipping, but pay more for the meal. I was a server, in my younger days. I know what it is to hope customers will come in, hope the cooks make an enjoyable meal and hope the customers like you. Our eateries need to treat their wait staff with the respect of a living wage and not like a dog begging for a bone.

Leslie Phillips, Brooksville

Biden speaks on abortion | April 24

I write to express deep concern regarding President Joe Bidens public support for abortion, which starkly contradicts the Catholic Churchs teachings on the sanctity of life. Notably, the president made the sign of the cross in Tampa this week where he gave a speech in favor of abortion rights. This occurred within the Diocese of St. Petersburg, headed by Bishop Gregory Parkes, and was a gesture that has profound implications given the setting and his influential position.

The church teaches that abortion is a grave moral wrong. Canon law reserves excommunication for severe acts that threaten the churchs integrity and mislead the faithful. The presidents actions, particularly within the Diocese of St. Petersburg, arguably warrant such a response, not as a punitive measure but as a call to repentance and realignment with church doctrine. The bishop has the authority and the duty to address this significant pastoral challenge. The faithful look to him for guidance when prominent Catholics publicly challenge our core beliefs. This is a moment for decisive action that reaffirms the churchs stance on life and aids the presidents spiritual journey through the stark reminder of his obligations as a Catholic.

William E. Mills III, Sanford

Schools to revise cellphone rules | April 22

Why is it so taboo to bring up the delicate subject of extracting a phone from a student while in school? Cellphones and smartphones are primarily used as a social communication tool to share opinions, photos (mostly different profiles of the same individual), and to text and check on ones real time tracking of how well they are liked at any particular moment.

With all of the tasks required to monitor, share and respond, its unlikely that full focus on anything can realistically happen. Multitasking is a myth, and its disproven daily by contributing to auto and pedestrian accidents, bumping into someone or something while walking, or responding with the proverbial what did you say? when making an attempt to be human while passing one another.

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When cellphones started in the marketplace and became affordable for many, parents typically supported them as a tool for safety. As time went on and the Blackberry trended as the status symbol for students, it was to save the child from social embarrassment, no longer just a tool for safety.

Today, its boiled down to Android and Apple, with pretty much all the ability of a laptop computer with a primary function of keeping the user socially connected full time. With proof that no one has the ability to focus on two tasks concurrently, keeping phones locked up while a student is in school is a no brainer. If its imperative that a parent contact their child while in class, just call the school.

Darryl David, St. Petersburg

Schools to revise cellphone rules | April 22

Compare the cellphone to a laptop or tablet. All three are tools of our modern era. Proper training on how to use each appropriately is needed. Parental and school guidance and oversight is also needed to properly guide youth in the proper use of the device. Lets face it, there are a lot of questionable apps out there, and proper use of the device in school should contribute to learning or be there for emergencies. We need to accept that this technology is here to stay and proper use of it is more important training than trying to restrict it.

Daniel Reiniger, Safety Harbor

He adored Trump, and then rejected him. How? | April 24

Assuming Rich Logis transformation is for real, there are many of us who did not need to go through such a transformation in the first place.

Peter Throdahl, Clearwater Beach

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Why market demand doesn't capture the value of the liberal arts | Letters - Tampa Bay Times

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