Daily Archives: May 13, 2024

L.L. Bean has just added a third shift at its factory in Brunswick, Maine, in an attempt to keep up with demand for its iconic boot.

Orders have quadrupled in the past few years as the boots have become more popular among a younger, more urban crowd.

The company says it saw the trend coming and tried to prepare, but orders outpaced projections. They expect to sell 450,000 pairs of boots in 2014.

People hoping to have the boots in time for Christmas are likely going to be disappointed. The bootsare back ordered through February and even March.

"I've been told it's a good problem to have but I"m disappointed that customers not getting what they want as quickly as they want," said Senior Manufacturing Manager Royce Haines.

Customers like, Mary Clifford, tried to order boots on line, but they were back ordered until January.

"I was very surprised this is what they are known for and at Christmas time you can't get them when you need them," said Clifford.

People who do have boots are trying to capitalize on the shortage and are selling them on Ebay at a much higher cost.

L.L. Bean says it has hired dozens of new boot makers, but it takes up to six months to train someone to make a boot.

The company has also spent a million dollars on new equipment to try and keep pace with demand.

Some customers are having luck at the retail stores. They have a separate inventory, and while sizes are limited, those stores have boots on the shelves.

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Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter agrees to plead guilty in $17M sports gambling scandal - NBC Los Angeles

The most talked-about baseball player in the modern era. The largest contract in sporting history. And a relatively well-known interpreter stealing millions from said baseball star, while also impersonating him over the phone to banks more than 20 times; the whole Shohei Ohtani-Ippei Mizuhara affair always seemed like it had the potential to be made into a TV drama series. And it looks like that is exactly what is going to happen. Lionsgate Television is already developing a script to tell the story of Ohtanis rise to the top and the recent gambling scandal involving his interpreter, which has sent shock waves through the world of Major League Baseball.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scott Delman and Albert Chen are set to produce the as yet unnamed show. The former is most well-known for adapting the TV series Station Eleven. He also produced many Broadway hits, including Death of a Salesman and The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time. Chen, meanwhile, wrote the book, Billion Dollar Fantasy, about the rise and fall of online betting sites, FanDuel and DraftKings. He previously covered baseball as a senior editor at Sports Illustrated and has written for Time and Fortune magazines.

With a strong track record of creating daring, boundary-pushing series, Lionsgate Television is the perfect partner to bring this unbelievable story to the screen, said Delman in a statement. In addition, Alberts extensive sports journalism background will enable us to connect the dots to make sense of the startling turn of events weve seen play out on the world stage.

Chen added: This is Major League Baseballs biggest sports gambling scandal since Pete Rose and at its center is its biggest star, one that MLB has hitched its wagon on. Well get to the heart of the story a story of trust, betrayal and the trappings of wealth and fame.

The news about Mizuharas gambling debts first broke in March, a day after the opening MLB game of the season. Last week, it was announced the former interpreter had agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. The two crimes are punishable by up to 33 years in jail. As part of the deal, prosecutors will recommend a reduced sentence. In addition to his prison term, Mizuhara will also be asked to pay $16,975,010 as restitution to Ohtani.

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Gambling Scandal of Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter to Receive TV Series - Tokyo Weekender

The evolving technology of the digital age has pushed digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum to a notable demand in online gambling.

Cryptocurrencies regulate more than finance. These digital currencies transform standard gameplay and cash-out procedures while providing safe and secure transactions that are transferred immediately and anonymously. This change not only acknowledges the wish for more privacy and efficiency, but it also provides a wider market for online casinos, including across borders.

Having said that, a company specializing in the Finnish gambling industry, Uusimmatkasinot.com, concluded, "That crypto is here to stay." It looks like all new online casinos are moving into a more innovative and inclusive experience for online gamblers.

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are revolutionizing online gambling by providing speed, privacy, and cost reduction. The daily $3 million volume of bets placed in cryptocurrencies worldwide signifies that digital currencies are accepted more widely in gambling.

Similarly to traditional banking methods such as bank transfers and credit cards, cryptocurrencies are much cheaper for players and operators. "Their flexibility and speed are the main game changers in casino payment systems," says Roni Jokisalo, an expert in online casino payment methods from uusimmatkasinot.com.

Cryptocurrencies offer online casinos:

Industry insights project significant growth in crypto gambling. In fact, the crypto segment is expected to capture $250 million of Finland's $1.31 billion gambling market in 2024.

The integration of cryptocurrency payments in the online gambling business poses special challenges in regulatory and security areas. Because of their anonymity, illicit activities such as money laundering are a concern.

The European Union is tightening crypto currency regulations in an attempt to eliminate money laundering and funding of terrorism. The pieces of legislation like the Directive (EU) 2018/843 and the 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD5) are at the forefront.

Advanced security means like SSL and TLS encryption are deployed progressively to eradicate this issue. Transaction monitoring systems, blockchain analytic tools such as Chainalysis and Elliptic, mandatory KYC procedures, and geolocation restrictions are providing access to the issues.

As a result, fraudulent activities related to cryptocurrencies have considerably droppedfrom 35% in 2012 to 1% and below today.

The unstable nature of cryptocurrencies is also extremely dangerous to the financial stability of both the players and casinos. Casino operators are starting to use stablecoins like USDT in their operations to counter price volatility.

Even though the regulations are strict, Finnish crypto adoption is increasing. The adoption of the number of coinowners in Finland has reached 300K in 2024, and it is likely to go up to over 1M in 2034. Cryptocurrencies can be treated as goods by the government from the point of view of the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA). This is a look that is affecting, in a great way, the local gambling culture.

Only verified casino licenses and strong KYC measures can assure safe gambling. Platforms like Bitkingz and CryptoLeo feature a high level of protection and provide users with different opportunities for crypto transactions. These first movers are now modernizing and lifting standards in the online casino business.

Underground licenses let online casinos function without terms of use or regulation. An eCOGRA license defines an extra level of trust. Effective implementation of KYC is a key aspect that helps stop the abuse of the gaming platform for criminal activities like money laundering. Casinos with robust identity verification prohibit fake objectives and make the process more secure overall.

Key Considerations Include:

Digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are widely accepted now and on the rise. By 2028 approximately 34.26% of all players might switch to crypto, being security and simplicity measures. By 2028, nearly34.26% of all gamblers could be using cryptocurrencies because of their security and ease of use.

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are gradually changing the sphere of the internet for online wagering. They offer security, reliability, and convenience. In line with that, online casinos now hold the capability of going beyond the traditional ways of transaction. Using digital currencies, online casino players gain the ability to postpone or even diminish service fees and speed up the gaming process.

This article was written in cooperation withuusimmatkasinot.com

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The rise of cryptocurrencies in online gambling - The Jerusalem Post

A stalled gambling package in the Senate could be dead unless a member flips their vote or theres some real fancy jumping through hoops, Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, said Monday.

Albritton, who handled the package in the Senate but ultimately ended up voting against it, said that unless the Senate can get unanimous consent to suspend the rules for a new conference report, the upper chamber is stuck procedurally.

I dont think [unanimous consent] would happen. Were stuck. We either have to vote the [constitutional amendment] up or down or just leave it in the basket, Albritton said.

But he said the bill could still come up for a vote in the last days of the session, and any one of the nay votes could change.

That sounds easy enough, but the other problem that comes in is how many of the yes votes have already turned back to no. Every time we bring this up, we lose votes, Albritton said.

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And Albritton said his no vote wont change this year. He said he might change it next year if he gets a more palatable bill that [he] can vote for.

Albritton said the compromise would constrict the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI) involvement in the industry while allowing other entities to grow. The Poarch Band, a federally recognized tribe that operates casinos in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka, had sought to submit a final bid on any casino licenses issued.

In the compromise, Albritton said, there is no mechanism for PCI, based in Atmore in the senators district, to enter into a compact with the state because the state isnt offering something of value, such as another site off tribal land.

He said that while PCIs opposition was part of the reason for his nay vote, he voted in support of the bill before going to the conference committee, when he said PCI had been lobbying against it.

Gambling bills stalled in Senate as Alabama Legislature nears adjournment

Two other aspects of the bill kept him from voting for the compromise from the conference committee. There was no authorization for sports betting, which he said is a growing industry; there was no regulation for online gaming, whether it be slots, poker or roulette.

We have not done anything to control, restrict, oversee or tax that. Those are two growing portions of the industry that we just ignore with this bill, he said.

Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, one of the lawmakers assigned to the conference committee, said in a phone interview Monday that the Senate thought expanding casino gaming, especially with an open bid process, and legalizing sports betting was too much for right now. Gudger said addiction is a concern when it comes with electronic sports betting, especially for young people.

It changes the whole course of, really, their life, just based on something they really didnt know that much about except were having fun or were trying to get out of some other debt or just make some easy money, Gudger said.

But he said that from their estimates, over $1.2 billion is being spent on sports betting in-state currently. He sees the need for lawmakers to have that discussion, but he said that it came on too quickly.

We felt like in the Senate, from the House version, that we werent ready for that, but I do think there is an appetite to look into that as time goes on, Gudger said.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said last week that hes not in the mood to work on another piece of legislation, saying its one of those things you cant win.

Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, sponsored the original gambling proposal in the House. When asked about the chances of working on another piece gambling legislation in next years session, he had a definite, one-word response.

ZERO! Blackshear responded in a text.

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Key no vote on Alabama gambling bill suggests looking to next year Alabama Reflector - Alabama Reflector

According to a comprehensive report from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Chinas stringent laws against gambling, both offline and online, have inadvertently driven organized crime groups into Southeast Asia. This movement allows them to exploit the regions thriving gambling market while maintaining a safe distance from Chinese law enforcement.

Exploiting regulatory gaps:

The USIP report highlights how theproliferation of scamming operationsin Southeast Asia can be traced back to a network of loosely regulated casinos and online gambling platforms. These establishments, encouraged by some governments in the 1990s and 2000s as drivers of economic development, have now become breeding grounds fortransnational crime.

The report underscores the global threat posed bytransnational syndicatesoperating from Southeast Asia, impacting consumers worldwide, including those in the United States. It estimates that these syndicates steal funds amounting to nearlyUS$64 billionannually, underscoring the scale of the problem.

Chinese nationals emerge asprimary targetsof the overseas gambling industry due to Chinas strict prohibition on gambling within its borders. With an estimated annual gaming market ofUS$40 billion to US$80 billion, Chinese citizens become lucrative targets for criminal networks operating in Southeast Asia.

Growing concerns for Chinese citizens:

As criminal networks gain strength, the Chinese government faces mounting concerns about thesafety of its citizensabroad. As GGRAsia reports, Chinese nationals fall victim to various scams, including forced labor through fraudulent trafficking, prompting increased scrutiny from Chinese authorities.

In Southeast Asia, illegal activities often hide behind a veneer of legitimacy, leveraging casinos, resorts, hotels, and special economic zones toevade law enforcement. The dispersion of these networks correlates strongly with areas of weak governance in the region, further complicating efforts to combat transnational crime.

While China has achieved some success in curbing online gambling and fraudulent activities in collaboration with other countries, there remain challenges. Criminal networks adapt swiftly to enforcement measures, relocating scamming operations across borders to evade crackdowns, as witnessed in the closure of scam compounds onMyanmars borderwith China.

Despite efforts to tackle transnational crime, the closure of scam compounds in Myanmar merely displaced criminal activities to neighboring regions such as the Karen Stateand border areas ofThailand,Cambodia, andLaos. This pattern highlights the complex and dynamic nature of combating organized crime in Southeast Asia.

Chinas stringent stance on gambling has inadvertently fueled the expansion of transnational crime in Southeast Asia, posing significant challenges for regional security and law enforcement efforts.Addressing this issuerequires enhanced international cooperation and targeted strategies to dismantle criminal networks operating across borders.

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Transnational Crime and Southeast Asia's Gambling Underworld - World Casino Directory

The Senate did not take the bill on the sessions final day.

US.- Alabama lawmakers have ended the legislative session without approving a bill that would have put gaming to a public vote. The Senate did not take the bill up on the sessions final day. It had failed by one vote earlier in the session.

The bill approved by the House would have allowed a lottery, sports betting and up to 10 casinos with slot machines and table games. The Senate favoured a stricter version that only included a lottery and historical horse racing.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who expressed support for the bill, told reporters she was disappointed in the outcome. Republican represenative Chris Blackshear, the sponsor of the legislation, said gambling would have provided more money for education, roads and other needs.

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Alabama legislative session adjourns with no final vote on gambling bill - Alabama legislative session adjourns with no ... - Focus Gaming News

The Bank of England has revealed figures showing a post-pandemic spike in desperate first-time buyers in their 30s signing "ultra-long" mortgages that they will still be paying off in retirement. This has raised fears that many will be left with less to live on in their later years.

The data was revealed following a Freedom of Information request by LCP pension consultant Steve Webb, who said the ever-worsening housing market for younger home buyers is forcing them to "gamble" their retirement. Since 2021, there has been a 30 per cent increase in people signing onto these extra-long mortgage terms.

Overall, 42 per cent of mortgages signed in the last part of 2023 will continue to be paid off after the homeowner retires and quits the workforce, either forcing them to take money out of their pension to pay off the remainder or take a large hit to their living standards. This rise has been fastest among young first-time buyers, who might otherwise not meet the affordability criteria for a mortgage.

READ MORE: Date when DWP will send letter telling 1.7 million claimants payments will stop

Steve Webb said: The huge number of mortgages which run past state pension age is shocking. The challenge of getting on the housing ladder is forcing large numbers of young home buyers to gamble with their retirement prospects by taking on ultra-long mortgages.

"We already know that millions of people are not saving enough for their retirement and if some of that limited retirement saving has to be used to clear a mortgage balance at retirement they will be at even greater risk of poverty in old age. Serious questions need to be asked of mortgage lenders as to whether this lending is really in the borrowers best interests.

The long-term effects of this shift in the market could change how people behave in their pre-retirement years, with more workers trying to pay off their house before they retire, rather than adding to their pension pots. It could also result in people defaulting on their mortgages, as a bank cannot accurately assess what someone's pension income will be thirty years before they claim it.

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Huge increase in young people 'gambling' on mortgages that expire in retirement - Yahoo News UK

Finally, the location of my best bet isnt in Boston on Monday. However, it still involves a Boston-based team. For my best bet for Monday (May 13th): NBA Predictions, Ive got a player prop for Game 4 of the Boston Celtics vs the Cleveland Cavaliers series.

Regardless of the sports, the Sports Gambling Podcast Network has you covered. Weve got shows and winning picks for every sport under the sun. No one around is delivering free picks for the entire year and working with you to battle Corporate Gambling. Today and every day, we are delivering best bets, free picks, and stone-cold locks. Sean and Kramer also are ready to Let it Ride, check out their best bet video below.

CHECK OUT THE SPORTS GAMBLING PODCASTS DAILY BEST BETS

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I dont know why the sportsbooks keep expecting Cleveland Cavalier guard Darius Garland to have big scoring games these playoffs hes shown no evidence that hes about to break out. So well keep taking advantage of it with our best bets.

Garland is set at 15.5 points for Mondays Game 4 against the Boston Celtics. Hes only averaging 14.7 ppg for the playoffs and had his best game in Game 3 when he shot 6-15 for 15 points. He hasnt scored higher than 15 in four straight games and has only topped it twice in 10 playoff games this season.

Best Bet: Darius Garland Under 15.5 Points (-118)

Overall Record: 44-25 (64%) Profit (based on $100/bet):$1,586.94 Return on Investment: 23%

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Best Bet For Monday (May 13th): NBA Predictions - SGPN

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) predicts an increase in illegal gambling after the Alabama Legislature failed to pass so-called comprehensive gaming legislation during this year's session.

Ledbetter, a supporter of the gambling package that included a constitutional amendment that came up one vote shy during a test vote in the Alabama Senate, appeared on Friday's broadcast of Alabama Public Television's "Capitol Journal" and was asked about the possibility of considering measures to crack down on illegal gaming.

The DeKalb County Republican acknowledged the possibility but said he expects more illegal gambling in the interim because of the legality questions and lack of enforcement.

"Would there be any consideration for, OK, before we go again on, you know, proliferating of gambling, right, deciding what kind of gambling we want or don't want, I would like beefing up those laws to give the attorney general and other prosecutors maybe more legal resources to crack down on.

"I certainly think that would be a possibility," Ledbetter replied. "I do think that, and I think it's probably something that should be done. But again, you know, you can beef it up as much as you want to. But you don't have the enforcement. It's not going to, anything's going to change. And probably after this, we're going to see probably an expansion of more illegal gambling. And the problem we had, you know, you get a lot of people that's making money off of it illegally, and some of it, I think, is organized crime. And you can tell just by how the facility's set up. They've showed me those pictures."

"So I think it's just giving them a runway, to be honest with you. And so I don't know if we upped it. I mean, who's going to enforce it? And you know, you say, well, the local "local people will. Well, a lot of them may have people that are involved or engaged, and not always, they think it's legal. I know the attorney general said everything's illegal. Well, I guess it depends on who you talk to. You know, there's different opinions of that."

Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.

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Speaker Ledbetter: 'We're going to see probably an expansion of more - 1819 News

In the end, plain-spoken Larry Tillery made no bones about it.

Whatever the relative profits of Daylight Motors, the used-car lot he owned in Beaumont, Texas, it was nothing compared to the millions his illegal bookmaking operation had generated during the previous three decades. By June 2019 when he stipulated to his crimes in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas, he was more than ready to plead guilty to illegal gambling and tax violation charges.

At the height of his action, Tillerys clients numbered in the hundreds in a network that stretched throughout Texas and into Louisiana. From 2011 to 2016, his group accepted at least $52 million in sports bet wagers. He used the auto dealership and its Lamar Capital holding company as fronts to launder the books proceeds and disguise their illegal origin from federal authorities. Tillerys wife and son also acted on behalf of the bookmaking business and would pay their own price.

Although nearly forgotten in the frenzy of legal sports betting expansion across the nation, authorities in 2019 called the Tillery network one of the largest illegal gambling operations in the U.S.

I was reminded of Tillerys case this week. His name was floated through the chaotic and overheated social media feed associated with the ongoing federal investigation of the Wayne Nix illegal bookmaking operation that has exposed a poorly kept secret about the Las Vegas casino industry. Namely, that it doesnt much mind catering to illegal gamblers as long as everyone maintains a thin wall of plausible deniability. You know: Dont ask, dont tell.

The Nix investigation has netted a guilty plea from former MGM Grand President Scott Sibella for a single violation of the Bank Secrecy Act after he knowingly allowed the high-rolling illegal bookmaker to gamble at the casino several years ago. Sibella was sentenced Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom to a one-year probation and a $9,500 fine. In short, he failed to file a Suspicious Activity Report.

Nix, who is cooperating with authorities, has yet to be sentenced in a case being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agents.

The Nix investigation has also resulted in MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan paying a combined $7.45 million as part of a non-prosecution agreement in their settlement of a related Department of Justice money laundering probe.

On Wednesday, Sibella had plenty of moral support from family and friends, including Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill. After one of the shortest sentencing hearings at least one observer could recall, Sibella expressed his regrets in a statement.

It read in part, I was charged from the very beginning for not filing a SAR, accepted a plea, and have taken full and complete responsibility for what I did. I want to reiterate that by, anything alleged, I gained no benefit neither personal, professional or financial. He also made it clear through his attorneys that he never used a betting account or made illegal wagers.

Brought by the El Camino Real Task Force, and spearheaded by IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations agents, the expanding investigation has been punctuated by a high-profile fraud and theft case. Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani, is accused of stealing $16 million from the professional baseball stars bank account to feed a voracious gambling habit, including paying millions to illegal bookmaker Matt Bowyer. Like Nix, Bowyer gambled high in Strip casinos, including Resorts World Las Vegas.

Sibellas defense team made a particular point Wednesday of noting that their client was in no way associated with the Mizuhara-Bowyer case.

Although Sibella is walking away, other arrests are anticipated. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has started its own investigation and continues to interview persons associated with at least three Strip properties.

In recent weeks, Ive been able to identify five gamblers and suspected illegal bookmakers who were sent packing from MGM and Cosmo properties in the wake of the Sibella investigation, and informed sources say Sibella wasnt the only company official who was aware of the players with shadowy backgrounds. To date, none of the suddenly suspicious players has been charged with a crime outside of the court of social media.

Defendants come and go, but the illegal bookmaking beat goes on and on. As long as there are willing customers, someone will step up to book their bets. And chances are good the investigative road will lead from the Caribbean and, at one point or another, make at least a cameo appearance in Las Vegas.

Larry Tillerys Texas operation directed customers to place their bets through a Costa Rica-registered website called luckyducksports.com, which now comes back to an apparel company. Like the Nix affair, the Tillery case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and IRS agents.

For years Costa Rica has been a popular official address for offshore illegal sports books. Its also where Nix directed his many monied customers to Sandislandsports.com. Those familiar with island sports books will recall that after being chased out of Los Angeles, legendary bookmaker Ron Sacco landed in the Dominican Republic and then hopped to Costa Rica. (For his part, the late casino Black Book member and bookmaker Frank Masterana was fond of Jamaica.)

Of course, illegal bookmakers make their living tanning in the Caribbean. They get rich collecting sports bettors of means or access to it.

Beyond the Costa Rican host, according to court documents Tillerys operation wasnt exactly state-of-the-art stuff. He settled up with luckducksports.coms agents via snail mail and electronic bank transfers. His wife, Judy Tillery, structured cash deposits in amounts less than $10,000 in an attempt to evade federal currency transaction reporting requirements at the direction of her husband. Son Brian Tillery was a pay-and-take agent for the family and monitored luckyducksports.coms site for gambling updates.

They lived a high-rolling lifestyle as long as it lasted with palatial homes and gambling forays to Las Vegas and Gulf Coast casinos. Federal agents had a field day clawing back millions in profits generated by the business. The Tillerys agreed to a money judgment of more than $32.7 million and a forfeiture of $1.7 million.

In the end, Larry Tillery lamented the turn of events in his life and blamed his gambling for his troubles. He was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. He must feel like a sucker.

Nix has been cooperating and is unlikely to see the inside of a prison cell. Sibella plans to repair his career. Other illegal bookies associated with the investigation have scattered like quail.

And the beat goes on and on.

John L. Smith is an author and longtime columnist. He was born in Henderson and his familys Nevada roots go back to 1881. His stories have appeared in Time, Readers Digest, The Daily Beast, Reuters, Ruralite and Desert Companion, among others. He also offers weekly commentary on Nevada Public Radio station KNPR.

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OPINION: When it comes to illegal gamblers in casinos, dont ask, dont tell - The Nevada Independent