Category Archives: Gambling

With the return of the Euros, football has dominated public attention and conversation.

The highly-anticipated event is not without controversy, due to the close relationship between the sport and betting.

For those who have struggled with a gambling addiction, the return of the highly-publicised event is a concerning trigger.

READ MORE: Londoner started walking to help his mental health - now 50 men join him

Despite ITV announcing that gambling adverts would be reduced during the games, they have faced heavy criticism suggesting that this is not enough.

With an estimated 250-650 gambling-related suicides each year in the UK, according to Gambling With Lives, during the time of the Euros competition at least 30 people will likely lose their lives in this way.

GamCare, which operates the National Gambling Helpline, has revealed that during and post major sporting events there is an increase in calls to the helpline.

For recovered gambling addicts like 39-year-old Chris Bilham, the event is a stark reminder of the serious consequences that can grow from football betting.

GamCare

GamCare offers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK. It runs the National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 and also offers face-to-face counselling.

http://www.gamcare.org.uk

Gamblers Anonymous UK

Gamblers Anonymous UK runs local support groups that use the same 12-step approach to recovery from addiction as Alcoholics Anonymous.

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk

GamAnon

A support group for family and friends, run by the people behind Gamblers Anonymous.

http://www.gamanon.org.uk

BeGambleAware

A website that gives advice on gambling responsibly.

http://www.begambleaware.org

Samaritans

A 24-hour service for those feeling suicidal. Call 116 123.

http://www.samaritans.org

Chris addiction began when he was 30, when he was enticed to start placing bets on football games.

In just five years Chris would rack up debts of 100,000 and face suicidal thoughts as he contemplated taking his own life.

He said: For me it went from that app I downloaded, to five years later sitting in my sister-in-laws house one night, having spent every penny I had, having taken loans out from the bank, to wanting to take my life.

What started as seemingly innocent fun, heavily advertised as a normal and enjoyable pastime, quickly led Chris down a path of addiction.

No longer just placing bets on football games he followed closely here in the UK, Chris even placed bets on sports he had no knowledge of, such as an Australian womens league game.

The addiction quickly spread in a matter of weeks to online casinos where he began to wager higher sums on live roulette, blackjack and slots, often causing him to miss work and family time to gamble.

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I accidentally stumbled upon gambling, he said. At first there were a few people doing the odd sweepstake at work and I started to take part, and got involved with EuroMillions and the lottery.

Ive always been a big sports fan, and I was watching it on TV and I noticed the advertising, and there were so many adverts at the time, of people having fun with their friends, and it made gambling look so very normal.

Chris, who works as a commercial manager for Transport for London, said the tone of these adverts that he was seeing made him feel like he had to gamble more or would miss out on the opportunity.

It feels like if you dont do it youre going to miss an opportunity, and that got into my mind, he said.

After downloading betting apps to bet on sports games, Chris quickly was exposed to the more dangerous product of online casino gambling through cross-selling on the apps.

It doesnt take much, from my experience, to move from that first initial bet, to being consumed 24 hours a day thinking how am I going to get money, he explained.

Within weeks, as somebody whod never watched a horse race, I was at work locking myself in a meeting room and Id have the horse racing betting on horses I knew nothing about.

Once I was in I couldnt get out.

Chris now speaks out about the harm caused by betting adverts within sports such as football, and is trying to raise awareness of the serious consequences.

He said: It's so normalised within the world we live in nowadays. You see it all day everyday on the TV, and now you see gambling ads throughout the football.

Adverts tell you its fun, it isnt. Its terrible. Its a massive public health issue.

He has called the whistle-to-whistle ban shallow, saying its not enough at all.

He said: The industry tries to push all the responsibility onto the gambler, but they dont take into account that they are the one providing a hugely addictive product, which theyre marketing really strongly at people. They say you could set a limit or have a time out, but no I couldnt I was addicted."

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There should be responsibility on the operator's side to look after people who are very obviously addicted, he added.

Chris eventually was able to get help following a particularly bad period where he spent 22,500 in just over two hours, after taking out a 25,000 loan.

He has not gambled in over three years and now co-hosts a gambling addiction recovery podcast called All Bets Are Off , as well as co-founding the non-profit organisation TalkGen .

Chris important work shines light on the serious negative impacts that gambling can have on people's lives, and shows that the high profile of betting within football can have real harmful consequences on the people watching.

I dont want anyone to have to go through what I went through, Chris added.

Originally posted here:

'I spent 22,500 in two hours': Gambling addict racked up 100k debt betting on sports he 'knew nothing about' - My London

A rating of 100 puts Scientific Games Corp (SGMS) near the top of the Gambling industry according to InvestorsObserver. Scientific Games Corp's score of 100 means it scores higher than 100% of stocks in the industry. Scientific Games Corp also received an overall rating of 63, putting it above 63% of all stocks. Gambling is ranked 86 out of the 148 industries.

Searching for the best stocks to invest in can be difficult. There are thousands of options and it can be confusing on what actually constitutes a great value. Investors Observer allows you to choose from eight unique metrics to view the top industries and the best performing stocks in that industry. A score of 63 would rank higher than 63 percent of all stocks.

These scores are not only easy to understand, but it is easy to compare stocks to each other. You can find the best stock in an industry, or look for the sector that has the highest average score. The overall score is a combination of technical and fundamental factors that serves as a good starting point when analyzing a stock. Traders and investors with different goals may have different goals and will want to consider other factors than just the headline number before making any investment decisions.

Scientific Games Corp (SGMS) stock has fallen -1.61% while the S&P 500 has gained 0.07% as of 11:52 AM on Wednesday, Jun 30. SGMS has fallen -$1.25 from the previous closing price of $77.68 on volume of 282,917 shares. Over the past year the S&P 500 has risen 38.52% while SGMS has gained 394.37%. SGMS lost -$4.47 per share the over the last 12 months.

Click Here to get the full Stock Score Report on Scientific Games Corp (SGMS) Stock.

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Where Does Scientific Games Corp (SGMS) Stock Fall in the Gambling Field After It Has Fallen -2.19% This Week? - InvestorsObserver

Resorts World Las Vegas (Resorts World) is the first casino built from the ground up on the Vegas Strip in more than a decade. The massive property is built on 88 acres of land. The casino floor alone is 110,000 square feet. Theres additional gambling in the 17,000 square foot Dawghouse Saloon & Sportsbook thats being called an entertainment zone, plus the high limit rooms.

Las Vegas has seen a few casinos open in the past year. All three properties are in different parts of Las Vegas. Last year, Circa opened in downtown Las Vegas. The casino opened in October and the hotel opened in December. This year the Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas opened just off the Vegas Strip at the property that was once Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Resorts World is the last of the three new casinos opening in the past eight months. The sheer size and scope of Resorts World exceeds both properties. This feels like its the mega-casino/resort style that so many have come to love over the years.

The size of the entire property compares more to Aria and The Venetian than the Cosmopolitan. The main casino floor is slightly smaller than both but the additional entertainment zone and sportsbook occupy enough space to make the technical measurements closer to even.

The main casino floor at Resorts World is 110,000 square feet. The actual gambling space is closer to 130,000 with the entertainment zone/sportsbook. Theres even more gambling available in the unmarked poker room, high limit room and private gaming salons.

All blackjack gameson the main casino floor are dealt from a continuous shuffle machine (CSM). Like most lower-limits blackjack on the Vegas Strip, these games pay 6:5 when a player is dealt a natural blackjack instead of the traditional 3:2 payout.

The craps game has 3x-4x-5x odds. Roulette on the main casino floor has both double zero and triple zero games that are popping up around the Vegas Strip. The game with more zeros has a larger house edge and is generally a worse bet for the player.

Resorts Worlds casino offers the variety of table games most people expect to see in Las Vegas:

There are electronic table games located throughout the casino floor. Theres a 44-player Stadium Gaming installation in the center of the main casino floor. This offers a variety of games. There are also smaller electronic table games.

Resorts World offers those cute individual craps and roulette games. There are also larger electronic blackjack and roulette games available. It was a bit surprising to see Resorts World also opening with a Fortune Cup horse racing game. But the casino floor is huge, so why not offer as many games as possible.

In the eyes of casino rewards programs, electronic table games are considered slot machines. These hybrid games receive points the same way a slot machine player receives points.

The majority of the main gaming floor is made up of slot machines. The new casino also has the newest slot machine games. Upon opening, Resorts World had some slot games not available elsewhere on the Vegas Strip.

Theres also a huge Buffalo Link installation that occupies a large space on the gaming floor. During the opening weekend, there was a wait just to sit and play one of the games in the large circle of machines.

Resorts World has a 30-table poker room that might be difficult to find for someone who isnt specifically looking for it. The poker room is unmarked in a hallway off the main casino floor.

Anyone looking specifically for the poker room should be able to find it by following directional signs around the property. However, its unlikely anyone will wander into a poker game while walking around the casino since its off to the side and doesnt have a big sign saying poker here or something.

Image courtesy of Resorts World Las Vegas

The sportsbook at Resorts World is part of the Dawghouse Saloon entertainment zone. The main space has two bars, high-top tables for dining and a stage for performers. The sportsbook is tucked in a corner.

Similar to the poker room, the sportsbook may not be easy to find. While guests may see the screens through faux mesh wiring, walking outside of the sportsbook it isnt directly open to the public. Guests will have to walk into the bar and to the end to find the sports betting area.

The sportsbook screens are large for the space but theres seating for about 100 people. There are screens throughout the main dining space that should be great for eating, drinking and watching popular events like football games.

Crockfords Casino is the main high-limit table game and slot room. The space is absolutely beautiful and had quite the vibe on opening weekend.

The lounge to Crockfords Casino is open to the casino floor and anyone can visit the lounge for a drink. The lounge environment was louder than expected for a high limit gaming space. That could have been new casino exuberance.

The high limits room had a good variety of slot machines from $5 to $1,000 per credit. Blackjack here pays 3:2 for $100 minimum wagers. The room also offers single zero roulette and baccarat.

High rollers can also go up to the Sky Casino on the 66th floor for a more private gaming environment.

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Follow along closely here. There are two different rewards programs available at Resorts World. The hotel rooms are three different Hilton brands Crockfords, Conrad, and of course, Hilton. Crockfords is the premium hotel room while Hilton is the entry-level room. Conrad is somewhere in the middle. Guests can use Hilton Honors points to book complimentary rooms at Resorts World.

Genting Rewards is the Resorts World casino loyalty program. Guests will find perks for hotel rooms but the focus on Genting Rewards is the gaming. There are seven tiers to Genting Rewards:

This is entry level and the perks are essentially the same as other casinos. All players will receive the following benefits and more:

This is the first upper-tier that most players will reach fairly quickly. This level gives players the Genting Rewards tier benefits and more:

The benefits for this tier are mostly another small step up from the previous level. The Icon includes all of the previous benefits plus the following:

The big perk here is complimentary self-parking. Most of the benefits here are another step ahead of the previous tier:

This level is where the tier benefits start to change. There are even more benefits and boosts the previous offers. Complimentary valet parking and passes to the clubs are the standout benefits of The Champion level.

The incremental benefit increase continues with The Ace tier:

The highest tier of Genting Rewards is also the highest level of hotel rooms at Resorts World. While this level increases some of the earlier benefits, most players at this level will receive tailored rewards.

The specific upgrades from the previous levels are:

Unfortunately, points from other Resort World properties cannot be transferred to Resorts World Las Vegas. Guests must enroll for Genting Rewards to accrue points in Las Vegas.

More:

Everything To Know About Gambling & Player Rewards At Resorts World Las Vegas - PlayUSA

Gambling regulation differs from country to country, but almost everywhere, the license is the first question that operators ask when deciding to open an online casino. Someone is trying to avoid the process of obtaining a license and the costs associated with it, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. Obtaining an online gambling license is a necessary step when launching an online casino or sportsbook. Some operators are intimidated by this complex process, but in the long run, it is worth the investment and time. Read the Play Fortuna Review Casino to see how good casinos with gambling licenses are doing.

The license is the first thing that players will look at before they sign up. Users who have been playing for a while no longer consider bonuses and free spins a must. They are more likely to pay attention to the reviews of other players, deciding in favour of one or another casino. Well, the license is the first thing you can do to make these reviews with a plus sign.

Licensed operators often advertise their platforms strictly taking into account the regulation of the jurisdiction where they operate. And of course, the most valuable resource of a casino is its reputation. It is hardly possible for a non-licensed casino to win a flawless reputation and lots of customers from around the globe.

While regulators in many states ask operators to have a local license, many jurisdictions around the world issue licenses that are internationally recognized. Operators often start with obtaining a doc from one of the following jurisdictions:

Almost all types of gambling businesses are subject to licensing. Among the most popular of them are bookmakers, sports betting, casinos, poker rooms, slot machines, roulette, bingo, lotteries, blackjack, etc. Depending on the jurisdiction of obtaining a license and the type of business, one or more licenses will be required. It is good if any of the above licenses are picked.

Photo byAidan HoweonUnsplash

Read more:

Everything You Need to Know About Gambling Licenses in 2021 - UrbanMatter

As video games become a more and more mature pastime, its inevitable that adult activities keep showing up in them over time. Can you gamble in video games? The answer, surprisingly enough, is yes in many cases of AAA productions.

As you can play in a real money casino, you can now have a complete gambling experience in video games should that be something of interest to you.

Video Games Where You Can Gamble

Pokmon Blue

By far the most surprising inclusion on this list, but Nintendos actually featured slot machines in many of the games in the Pokmon franchise from FireRed to HeartGold and SoulSilver until the ESRB severely limited what they could get away with in E-rated (for everyone) titles. The same holds true for the anime, the manga and the TCG as well, which features a T-type card called Arcade Game.

Some of the games machines offer better odds than others, in a nod to a real-life phenomenon in Japanese game parlors. Perhaps this is the reason why the mechanic was sometimes omitted from international releases, like the missing Game Corner in Pokmon Platinums European version.

Getting back to the subject of Pokmon Blue, it turns out that the Celadon Game Counter, which doubles as Team Rockets hideout, features a coin case and corresponding coins which you can use in a slot machine the next house over. Does Pokmon Blue belong in the pantheon of video games with casinos based on this? Your mileage may vary.

GTA San Andreas

Well duh, of course the franchise revolving around exploring the seedy underbelly of city life has a detailed take on video games with casinos, especially as the later, more technologically impressive entries came around.

San Andreas is unique in this sense as the gambling portion of the experience is uniquely tied into the storyline of CJ, with more money available to you in the casinos the more you play over time. It also offers arguably the most robust gambling options in the franchise and its a part of why the game is remembered so fondly to this day.

Red Dead Redemption 2

No Wild West setting would be complete without a casino, and just like its predecessor, RDR2 is one of the many video games with gambling elements incorporated into its setting. Of course you can play poker as an outlaw in the Wild West, but with it being the Wild West and all, cheating is also very much an option however, sometimes it will lead to a good old-fashioned gunslinging duel should it be discovered.

It also has to be said that the sequel hasnt brought back Liars Dice, the dice-based gambling minigame from the original title. You can also spend your time and virtual money on activities like Five Finger Fillet and Blackjack in any of Red Dead Redemption 2s many saloons as you explore its rich quests and exquisite storylines.

The Sims 3

The devs have always tried to cram literally every aspect of the human life experience into The Sims games so it should come as no surprise that gambling options are also present via The Lucky Simoleon content pack.

Sims 4 also offers video games gambling via TS3 store conversion mods. It really is the modding scene where the majority of such options lie for enterprising fans as quite literally anything is possible in Sims if someone somewhere put a bit of effort into the proper modifications of the title.

Fallout: New Vegas

Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? It Turns out this saying still holds even after a nuclear apocalypse, at least in Obsidians take on the world of the Fallout franchise. The critically acclaimed spin-off of the series offers many stellar examples of gambling in video games alongside its pristine RPG experience and arguably the best storyline out of any of the Fallout games made to date.

Fun fact: the role-playing aspect of the title heavily factors into your video game gambling experience as the Luck stat directly impacts how your attempts work out at the tables, which you can upgrade directly or by wearing stat-increasing items.

Though you can initially only spend time and resources on the proprietary card game Caravan, you will eventually make it to the other side of the Mojave Desert where Las Vegas used to be and find that the Strip is very much still standing, offering all the classic casino games youd expect from the place in present-day real life.

Final Thoughts

It turns out there is quite a lot of video game betting and other gambling opportunities built into AAA titles all across the industry, regardless of the genre in question. Those interested in this activity should have no problem finding a game that indulges their curiosity about the world of gambling alongside their main questline and mechanics.

Visit link:

5 video games that include gambling - Animation Xpress

A bill passed by the Ohio Senate would open the door to legal betting on professional, college, Olympic and other sports.

The legislation still needs to win approval in the Ohio House and the signature of Gov. Mike DeWine before it can become law.

But DeWine has been reported as saying that he believes sports betting in Ohio is inevitable.

The question is whether its the right thing to do.

The legislation would authorize the Ohio Casino Control Commission to set up a three-tier licensing system:

The bill would impose a 10% tax on the net revenue from sports gambling received by license holders. After deductions for tax refunds and administrative costs, 98% of the money would be transferred to a fund to be used for K-12 public and private education. Two percent would go to the Problem Sports Gaming and Addiction Fund.

The legislation, despite overwhelming support in the Senate (it passed 30-2), is not without detractors.

The Fair Gaming Coalition of Ohio, a coalition of bars, taverns, restaurants, bowling alleys and other businesses that sell Ohio Lottery products, says 10,700 businesses across the state could handle this through the lottery kiosks set up through Keno.

The group doesnt like that the proposal would limit enhanced products to Ohios existing casinos and greatly restrict who can offer sports betting.

Public education advocates in the coalition worry that marketing and promotion costs run up by online apps and casinos could ultimately lead to less money going to schools.

Should Ohio, which was slow to allow casino gambling, expand to allow sports betting as many of its neighbors have? Should pro sports get preferential treatment for licenses? What will this mean for integrity of athletics? And is it proper for the state to raise money from an activity that could lead to other societal woes, such as gambling addiction?

Our Editorial Board Roundtable offers its rulings.

Victor Ruiz

Victor A. Ruiz, editorial board member:

Gambling is already legal in Ohio (lottery, casinos, skill-based games, etc.) so the argument that it can lead to addiction and other woes makes no sense. We need more funding for our schools, which this may provide. We need to ensure that the funding is equitably distributed, so that the communities that need it the most benefit.

Ted Diadiun

Ted Diadiun, columnist:

Gambling on sporting events, particularly on college and other amateur sports, is a scourge on the athletic scene. There is nothing positive about it, and it encourages all kinds of unsavory and illegal mischief. I know its here to stay but giving it official governmental imprimatur can only encourage its spread and further invite criminal behavior. Terrible idea.

Leila Atassi is the managing producer for the public interest and advocacy team at The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.

Leila Atassi, managing producer, public interest and advocacy:

While I dont see the allure of gambling, I appreciate that legalizing sports betting would lead to a lucrative revenue stream for Ohio schools. That said, I agree with the Fair Gaming Coalition that licenses should be distributed fairly for the thousands of businesses that are eligible to participate.

Lisa Garvin

Lisa Garvin, editorial board member:

A gamblers going to gamble, so the state should benefit from that. However, I dont want to see betting kiosks at every bar and restaurant, so licenses for those should be limited. Its unfair and borderline unethical if the MLB, NBA and NFL teams control the only retail sportsbook locations. What about college teams and other sports?

Mary Cay Doherty is a teacher at Magnificat High School in Rocky River.

Mary Cay Doherty, editorial board member:

Its a sure thing. Sports betting is coming to Ohio. So, it is better that the General Assembly set the rules than special interest groups via citizen-initiated statutes or constitutional amendments. And ethically, gambling tax revenues are no different than those from tobacco and alcohol sales. But isnt the fox guarding the henhouse if pro teams facilitate betting on games they play?

Eric Foster is a columnist for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.

Eric Foster, columnist:

Legalizing sports betting and spending revenue on education is a great idea. This will not cause some downward spiral of corruption in athletics. Widespread corruption already exists. However, the devil is in the details. Why limit the number of licenses? Such limitations encourage backroom deals and business monopolies. They should limit marketing and promotion costs reimbursement. More money for kids.

Thomas Suddes

Thomas Suddes, editorial writer:

Gamblings reality: In the end, the provider (casino; online betting or game systems; states) is always the one sure winner. But given that neighboring states have begun to offer sports betting, theres probably no good reason why Ohio shouldnt.

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial board roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.

Read the original post:

Should Ohio approve sports betting and expand gambling in the state? Editorial Board Roundtable - cleveland.com

Jirkov issues ban on gambling to reduce crime

It is hoped that the new decree will make the Czech city a safer place

On 25 June, the Czech City of Jirkov announced that a majority of city officials have agreed to make gambling illegal. The only exceptions to this new decree are small card games with a limit of CZK 500 (EUR 20). With this reform, Jirkov hopes to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in the city.

Mayor of Jirkov Darina Kovov expressed her satisfaction with this new law which restricts the operation of gambling establishments, noting: We are glad that the coalition and the opposition have found common ground in such a crucial matter.

In a press release, the City of Jirkov reported that several establishments halted their activities during the state of emergency brought about by COVID. Now, these centres will not be permitted to resume operating. In addition to the closure of these businesses, the number of pawnshops in the city is also expected to decrease.

The reason behind this is the fact that pawnshops are often located next to casinos and other such establishments which are frequented by individuals with gambling addictions. Unsurprisingly, the presence of these shops only further fuels dependence.

Admittedly, the new decree will initially have a negative impact on the citys economy. Nevertheless, it will reduce the number of indebted citizens and the negative repercussions of gambling addictions. On its website, the City of Jirkov further explained that one of the main reasons why it has issued this ban is to reduce crime.

It is important to note that the decree will further improve public health by ensuring that individuals do not suffer the negative psychological, physical, and social consequences of addiction. In this way, the Czech city seeks to become safer and more secure for all citizens.

Continue reading here:

Jirkov imposes ban on gambling to improve quality of life - TheMayor.EU

by Kerry Dougherty

For more than 30 years Virginias been breathlessly legalizing vices.

It began when voters approved a state-run numbers racket the lottery in 1987. Since then, all manner of wagering has been approved for our gambling pleasure.

Virginia now has horse racing, off-track betting, sports betting and soon, casinos.

But in their wisdom, members of the General Assembly the same ones who battled tirelessly to bring slot machines and blackjack to the Old Dominion decided to 86 electronic skill games that reside mostly in truck stops, convenience stores and restaurants.

Make no mistake, theyre doing the bidding of the greedy big boys of gambling by cracking down on the little guys.

The casinos dont want competition for those Virginia betting dollars.

Never mind that these skill games kept numerous small businesses afloat during the pandemic when there were precious few outlets open for entertainment.

Take the case of Hermie Sadler of Emporia, for instance.

Throughout the Covid-19 shutdowns, this former NASCAR driver and Fox Sports pit reporter was able to keep employees at his convenience stores, restaurants and truck stops on the payroll, despite business being down 30 to 35 percent.

Sadler was even able to provide free lunches to first responders during the month of April 2020.

How did he do it? Two words: Skill games.

Youve seen them, those electronic gambling machines in the corners of convenience stores. They cost anywhere from a nickel to five bucks to play and pay out $25, $50 or the occasional $100 or $500 jackpot.

Revenue from those machines kept Sadler profitable when few people were traveling and patronizing his businesses.

But pressure from the newly legalized casino industry plus whining from the lottery folks that skill games cut into ticket sales convinced the General Assembly to outlaw the games that have been legal for decades.

Yep, on July 1, the same day pot is legalized the harmless little arcade games are gone.

Earlier this week Sadler and his attorney, State Sen. Bill Stanley, filed a two-count civil suit in Greenville County Circuit Court against Gov. Ralph Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring and the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, alleging that the new law is unconstitutional.

Theyre seeking an injunction to allow the machines to stay operational after July 1 until the case can be heard.

What we did in the General Assembly was wrong,Stanley said at a press conferenceoutside the courthouse. We decided that skill games are unseemly and theyre not.

If youre going to legalize gambling in the commonwealth of Virginia youve got to rip the Band-Aid off and legalize all gambling.

Picking and choosing winners and losers is un-American and un-Virginian.

He added that Sadler was standing up for the little guy.

Asimilar suit was filed this week in Norfolkby five business owners in Tidewater.

Running small businesses in rural areas of Virginia is difficult, Sadler said. Its been way more challenging this past year with Covid-19.

Skill games were a lifeline he said.

Weve been legally operating skill games for more than 20 years, Sadler told me yesterday. Truck drivers have to be down for 12 to 24 hours. Not only do they play the skill games for entertainment, they eat in our restaurants, they buy things. They bring in a lot of revenue for us and the state.

Truck drivers are not going to head to casinos if the skill games are banned, Sadler added.

I believe in the free markets. Let people decide where they want to spend their money.

In a state hellbent on legalizing all manner of gambling, the ban on skill games is punitive and unfair.

The General Assembly needs to fix its mistake when they meet in August.

This column is republished with permission from Kerry: Unemployed & Unedited.

Related

Continued here:

Same Politicians Who Legalized Weed and Casino Gambling Killed Skill Games - Bacon's Rebellion

Weve officially hit the doldrums, a time when any coachspeak quote or offseason beach workout is repeatedly dissected. With all teams on siesta until training camps commence, its the perfect time to start diving into futures markets, especially player props. Brad Evans from FTN Bets offers up two of his favorites before the line values evaporate under the sizzling summer sun. Fade or follow? That, of course, is up to you.

Trevor Lawrence OVER 22.5 passing touchdowns (-130, BetMGM) Possibly as or more exquisite than his brothers rather eccentric wardrobe taste, the proposed line is an extraordinary value. Compared to other books, BetMGMs line is a full two TDs lower. Advantage, bettor. This is a gift from the gambling gods. Lawerences entrance into the league should be quite memorable. As displayed during his storied days at Clemson, he possesses the all-fields arm strength and accuracy to pay an instant dividend. Evidenced by the hardware collected, the man soared. Last season with the Tigers, he notched a 111.0 passer rating or higher on every possible throw and finished top-12 nationally in adjusted completion percentage. His pro arsenal isnt too shabby. D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones, Travis Etienne and CU product Laviska Shenault are a formidable bunch. The Jags projected bendable defense, too, will only assist. In the end, 25-plus passing TDs are likely for the new Blonde Bomber.

Travis Etienne OVER 44.5 receptions (-105, PointsBet) Sticking with the Duval County theme, the rushers reteaming with Lawrence should bang the box score. At the collegiate level, the pair connected 48 times last season. Etiennes explosivity and elusiveness combination is top-flight. With Clemson in 2020, he forced the 12th-most missed tackles (43) among all Division I running backs and tallied a laudable 3.84 yards after contact per attempt. His bubbling chemistry with Lawrence cannot be overstated. Under OC Darrell Bevell, whos passing offenses between Seattle and Detroit ranked inside the top-10 in four of the last five years, the youngster will carve out a sizable pass-catching role, similar to what DAndre Swift did with the Lions last year (46 catches in 13 games). Yes, James Robinsons presence muddies the Saint Johns already murky waters, but with multiple scoreboard-chasing scenarios likely to unfold, 55-65 receptions are achievable for Etienne in Year 1. No doubt, this is one of the best early player props available.

See the original post here:

Gambling: Clemson products set to shine in NFL during first year with Jags - Colorado Springs Gazette

In a nutshell, gambling can be very mesmerizing to watch. Not only is there the thrill of the moment; the roll of a dice, the spin of a roulette wheel, but theres also the pageantry of lights and sounds. Put it all together and you get an experience that is a huge joy to watch.

Of course, the truth is that there arent that pieces of gambling entertainment out there. In fact, most gambling takes place in films, including some famous ones like the Oceans franchise which is a part-gambling, part-robbery flick.

Fortunately, though, there are some great TV shows in the genre. Since the world has largely moved from physical casinos to online casinos due to the pandemic, that means well have to get our fill of old-school gambling through our screen.

If youre a big fan of Poker, then Poker After Dark is definitely your show, especially if you like No-Limit Texas Hold em. Hour-long episodes show the progress of a specific table over the course of a week, with blinds starting at $100/$200. The top prize was $120k, with a $20k buy-in, so the stakes are pretty high, and it can certainly get pretty dicey (pun intended).

In between each round, thered be commentary from the hosts, as well as the players themselves. The show also started trying to introduce some new elements in the fourth season in the form of different types of games.

Interestingly enough, the show had a bit of a sordid history: it was canceled in its 7th season due to a criminal case, colloquially called the Black Friday Case, which involved one of the shows sponsors. Thankfully, after a 6-year hiatus, the show was rebooted and is now streamed on PokerGo.

Just keep in mind that this isnt a fictionalized gambling show like some of the others on the list (or a gambling movie like 21). Even so, its great fun if you want to see how real-world poker works.

If youre looking for something a bit more fictionalized and a little bit wider, then Las Vegas will do it for you. Its a comedy-drama covering a group of employees working in a fictionalized casino and hotel. As you can imagine, it covers everything from security to sleazy hotel guests, and things of that nature.

The show also has a pretty big star lineup, with celebrities like Tom Selleck and James Caan, and focuses on the character played by the latter: An ex-CIA officer who is president of operations at the fictional casino, before being replaced by another character played by Josh Duhamel.

Unfortunately, while the first two seasons did pretty well, the show started seeing lower and lower ratings starting from the third season, finally being canceled after the fifth. Even so, the show was received pretty well and its a great gambling-related TV show.

Looking at the slightly seedier side of gambling, Breaking Vegas focuses on some of the well-known illegal acts that have happened in vegas. In the same vein as some of the best movie heists, this show covers the cheaters, the liars, and the tricksters who tried to get one over on casinos.

The 14 episodes mostly cover things like the story of Ken Uston, who was one of the first people to perfect blackjack card-counting techniques and even sued several casinos over being blacklisted and won. There are also a few episodes that cover legal gambling strategies, such as throwing dice at a certain angle or with certain numbers on top.

Overall, its an interesting TV docu-series to check out if youve ever wondered how some of the most notorious cheating at gambling was done.

Centered around the world of race-track gambling, and horse racing in general, Luck tells the story of a man driven to gain revenge on those who wronged them. It very much lives up to the reputation HBO has for telling dark and gritty stories such as Game of Thrones and is captivating in its methodical purpose.

Interestingly enough, the main character is played by Dusting Hoffman, who if youll remember played Raymond Babbit in Rainman, one of the best film gamblers of all time.

Unfortunately, though, the show was canceled in its second season. It wasnt due to reception either (which was really good), but instead because there were a couple of horse deaths during the production. Since the show primarily revolves around that, and there was already bad press around their deaths (even though an investigation cleared HBO), they ultimately decided to cancel it.

Another show that revolves around real-life gambling, King of Vegas is a bit different in that it doesnt only focus on one game, such as blackjack or poker, but instead has a variety of them in each episode. The games played, along with the ones mentioned above, including Red Dog, Craps, Mini-Baccarat, and Horse Racing, to name a few.

Something else that makes King of Vegas stand out is that it has a mix of sex professional gamblers, and six amateur gamblers, all vying for the ultimate title of King of Vegas, and a $1mill prize. Each week there would be a set of four new games and one person would be kicked out.

If youve done the math so far, that means there are 12 players in total and 12 episodes to go on, with the final episode crowning the King of Vegas.

Its a shame the show only had one season since it has an interesting premise and a ton of potential.

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5 Gambling Related TV Shows You Need To Watch in 2021 - Film Threat