Category Archives: Gambling

Illinois online sports betting may not require new bettors to register online sports betting accounts in-person much longer, as legislators may be looking to make a change with the controversial measure in the state.

News Channel 20 ABC journalist Matt Roy reported that Governor J.B. Pritzkers decision to not renew an executive order that waives on-premise registration in the state has left several Illinois lawmakers confused with his reasoning.

Roy spoke with State Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield) who expressed his confusion at Pritzkers decision to require in-person registration when COVID-19 remains a troublesome issue for Illinois residents.

We still arent out of the pandemic, State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, said. So, it just kind of leaves me scratching my head as to why you would let the executive order expire.

Gov. Pritzker has lifted the in-person requirement several times before the executive orders expiration date, citing social distancing measures as well as logistical and operational concerns causes by COVID-19, but chose not to do so before this deadline.

His latest decision was just the latest twist in what has been an ongoing saga since the state first formally launched online sports betting last spirng.

Despite schools and businesses opening back up with increased access to vaccines available, COVID-19 cases had been steadily on the rise in Illinois prior to Pritzkers announcement. Since the news broke of his decision on April 2, COVID-19 cases have risen every single day in Illinois, according to data supplied by the The New York Times.

Roy spoke with State Sen. Steve Stadelman, (D-Rockford), who said a discussion will eventually take place to decide on the latest fate of the in-person requirement. The bill likely would not have passed in 2019 without the in-person registration requirement, he noted, but online registration has become immensely popular and is likely the wave of the future.

Its worth having another discussion, Stadelman said. In light of what has happened this year during the pandemic and the fact that online registration has been in place already, I think it is worth having another discussion in Springfield.

Roy did note new legislation may not be possible to reverse the in-person registration requirement this late in states legislative session.

New users looking to create an account will have to do so in-person atone of five brick-and-mortar casinos in the state. In the case of DraftKings Sportsbook Illinois app, DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook. DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook, bettors would need to drive to East St. Louis to activate an account. For those located in and around Chicago, that drive would potentially require a round trip of 8-10 hours.

The lack of an in-person requirement spurred the rapid growth of the sports betting market in Illinois. In September 2020, over 230,000 new mobile sports betting accounts were created, according to the Illinois Gaming Board.

DraftKings Sportsbook, William Hill, PointsBet, FanDuel and BetRivers all currently operate online sportsbooks in Illinois.

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Illinois May Revisit In-Person Registration For Online Sports Gambling - bleachernation.com

By Jonathan C. with Blexr Limited

The Sunshine State is one of the more popular in the United States. While it may be a leading location for vacations, and even small businesses with 20 Floridian cities making the list, including Apopka the states online gambling leaves many scratching their heads. What does online gambling legislation in Florida look like?

Land-based gambling became permitted in Florida back in 2004. Casinos are permitted, but sports betting cannot occur except horse racing. Greyhound racing effectively joined the list of banned sports in 2020 due to concerns about the treatment of the dogs and a general decline in those wanting to engage. It was voted that betting on dog sports would become illegal. Greyhound racing represented an America that no longer exists, so it made sense to phase it out officially.

But, when it comes to online gambling, the states legislation doesnt account for online casinos. Many states and countries with even the most stringent gambling rules are discovering that the rise in online casino is throwing into question their legislation. Indeed, many laws were cemented before online casinos even existed, let alone were something that could be so widely engaged with.

Part of Floridas strictness for gambling goes back to Governor Rick Scott, who was rigorously anti-gambling. His back-and-forth with various Native American tribes, such as the Seminole tribe, who want to continue gambling (and are permitted due to the autonomy of their reservations) has been well documented. The argument from Scott, and now Governor DeSantis, could be that Florida is already a hotspot for tourists and has plenty going for it, so it doesnt need to relax any gambling laws.

In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the PAPSA Act (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) which enabled sports betting options to flourish around the country. Previously, only the gambling mecca Nevada allowed sports betting and wagering. But the act reflects the growth of the industry around the world as well as the options to engage with it in the USA. To keep the act in situ seemed counterintuitive.

Globally, the gambling industry is growing in size and gaining more customers than before. One of the primary reasons for this is due to the consistently lowered barriers to entry in the industry. The accessibility for the sector has improved as most things can be accessed online so more people can get involved. Previously, gambling options may have been relegated to physical events. As the industry has continued to attract more customers, those operating sites have had to become better at attracting these customers away from potential competitors.

As the list of sports betting at sbo.net shows, there are many sites in the industry vying for the same target audience. The aggregate site shows that each platform offers a welcome bonus, and many are pushing their best aspects to the fore to attract customers from a range of sports to bet on to the payment methods permitted to do so. The competitiveness of the industry shows its promise for the future. The more competitive an industry, the better it is doing. With such a limited customer pool, each site must go above and beyond to show that it will provide the experience that customers want and expect.

Florida remains in a gray area with its gambling legislation, but could there be any moves to change this in the future? A 2018 amendment meant that gambling bills couldnt even be proposed for a while, which also stalled the process going forwards. Events in 2020 have redirected officials and lawmakers away from gambling, so any movement on that front wont occur in the near future.

There are still many options for those who wish to engage with the industry. As the latest season of Ozark showed, gambling riverboats are still popular due to the gray area they represent. Famously around the tributaries off the Gulf Coast, gambling on water evades certain land-based legislation. The law prohibits the construction of land-based casinos, so floating ones were made. These riverboats almost never left their moorings as fiction would have you believe. They floated next to boardwalks and docks to slide past the land-based construction rule.

Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 destroyed many riverboats, laws were changed to allow casinos to be built in certain areas in Mississippi, for instance. This is an example of legislation being changed to adapt to changing circumstances. It also showed that the original legislation was somewhat arbitrary anyway.

Florida is one of the top vacation destinations in the world. But it still trails behind in other areas. While many have found ways to enjoy gambling within the legislation, others argue that it would be better if there were fewer in place. Regardless, Florida cant continue to hide from the future of online gambling, especially as the rest of the world is reaping the benefits of it.

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What is the Online Gambling Legislation in Florida? - The Apopka Voice

Kiwibank has consulted with the Problem Gambling Foundation to let people put a block on payments to casinos and gaming websites from their debit and credit cards.

According to the New Zealand firm, it is the first bank to offer the scheme, where customers can ask for payment blocks to be put on their cards via phone banking.

It comes amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the banks subsequent offering of interest-free, fee-free overdrafts to help people who are struggling. But Kiwibank found that many of the recipients of such overdrafts were spending the money on gambling.

Kiwibanks Hayley Beattie (pictured) said: We did see people who were desperate enough to provide something for their family turn to online gambling.

Some of them told us they thought they could look at being able to win some money.

The firm ran a pilot of the payment blocking scheme in late 2020, with 75% of customers successfully keeping the block in place for more than three months. Moreover, the bank estimates that the average customer in the pilot avoided AU$10,000 (US$7,600) in losses over that period.

The bank is now able to block merchant codes for known gambling websites if a customer requests it, said Kiwibank head of sustainability Julia Jackson.

When our customers trust us enough to discuss their gambling addiction, were able to really help them. We work with them to develop a solution that restores their mana and retains their dignity; without any judgment.

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Kiwibank launches gambling blocker with help of Problem Gambling Foundation - Gambling Insider - In-depth Analysis for the Gaming Industry

It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. When it comes to casino gaming, Alabama is reaching new heights of this type of insanity.

Governor Ivey has stated most recently that gambling is here. Therefore, we should bring it out in the light of day, give them everything they want, and tax it. Gambling is here solely because it has been openly ignored despite being illegal. If someone continually breaks the law, they should not be rewarded. Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature should not reward the gambling industrys pattern of continually defying Alabama law by passing pro-gambling legislation and rewarding a history of bad behavior.

Gambling has long been illegal in this state. An exception exists for charitable bingo, which gambling establishments like Greenetrack, VictoryLand, and the Birmingham Race Course have tried to

use over the last 15 years to keep themselves in business. You dont need to be a lawyer to know that charitable bingo doesnt apply to electronic slot machines.

If you need a formal legal opinion to persuade you, the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled on the matter many times. For instance, in 2006 the court held that the Birmingham Race Courses machines were slot machines, which are illegal under Alabama law, as to those who pay to play them. From 2013 to 2016, the court repeatedly heard cases arising from the seizure of VictoryLands machines, ultimately concluding the machines were illegal. And finally, the court ruled again in 2016 that Greenetracks machines were not bingo machines, but were instead more like slot machines and therefore illegal.

How many times did the gambling industry need to be told the same thing before they got the message? The Alabama Supreme Court asked the same question at the end of the VictoryLand and Greenetrack cases, stating,

There is no longer any room for uncertainty, nor justification for continuing dispute, as to the meaning of [the term bingo]. And certainly the need for any further expenditure of judicial resources, including the resources of this Court, to examine this issue is at an end. All that is left is for the law of this State to be enforced.

But like a pouting child that keeps throwing a temper tantrum, the gambling lobby has continued to defy the Alabama Supreme Courts rulings. For instance, immediately after the Alabama Supreme Court issued its final decision in the VictoryLand case, VictoryLand reopened with the same kinds of electronic slot machines that Alabama Supreme Court had just declared illegal. How could it get away with this? The answer is simple: the state and local governments refused to enforce the courts decisions. As Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist 78, the judicial branch is the least dangerous branch of government, partially because it has neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment; and must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm even for the efficacy of its judgments.

Having a law that criminalizes gambling and a court that orders them to stop wont do anything if the executive branch doesnt enforce it. That is exactly what happened in Alabama when former Governor Bentley stripped the State of its power to enforce gambling laws. Consequently, the gambling industry has continued to break the law and taunt the State as it does nothing to stop them.

After repeatedly being ordered by the Alabama Supreme Court to stop, the gambling industry has not only ignored the court, but it has continually pushed for gambling to be legalized on a broader scale. Last month the Alabama Senate rejected Senator Del Marshs gambling bill. However, this week the gambling interests were successful in rekindling their cause in the Senate. Part of Senator Marshs bill included allowing VictoryLand, the Birmingham Race Course, and Greenetrackthe same entities that kept breaking the lawthe right to operate. Governor Ivey appears to be in support of such legislation, stating recently through her spokesperson that gambling is already happening in our state. In fact, it is rampant, and much of it is illegal. The governor feels strongly that we need to shine a bright light on these activities, control and regulate them, and make sure the people of Alabama are the beneficiaries.

Policy considerations aside, doesnt something seem wrong about that? Even if the gambling industry has a point, it should not be rewarded for continually breaking the law for years. Instead of rewarding the gambling industrys bad behavior, it is well past time for the State to enforce the laws already in existence. Failing to do so undermines the States authority and perpetuates the delusion that the same gambling institutions that have continually broken the law will stop breaking the law once they get what they want.

Matt Clark serves as the Alabama Center for Law & Libertys Executive Director. ACLL is the non-profit litigation arm of the Alabama Policy Institute. For more information, visit alabamalawandliberty.org.

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Guest Op-ed: Alabama Should Not Cave to the Gambling Lobby - courierjournal

The online gambling business has gotten a lot of attention from investors over the past year as betting has opened up in new markets and companies like DraftKings (NASDAQ:DKNG), Rush Street Interactive (NYSE:RSI), and Golden Nugget Online Gaming (NASDAQ:GNOG) have come public. The biggest is DraftKings, whose market cap is almost $25 billion, bigger than the more established MGM Resorts' (NYSE:MGM) $21 billion cap.

Legacy gambling companies are trying to keep up, but in many cases it's the nimble technology upstart that ends up dominating the brick-and-mortar incumbent. MGM Resorts is trying to buck that trend with some large and lucrative partnerships. And the strategy might just be successful.

Image source: Getty Images.

The strategy MGM Resorts is deploying is pretty simple. The BetMGM app, which is a partnership with British firm Entain, applies for an online sports betting or iGaming license in as many states as possible, and BetMGM partners with as many high-profile businesses and celebrities as it can.

The latest deal came in the form of a multiyear deal with Audacy, which recently changed its name from Entercom Communications, putting the app front and center for millions of sports radio listeners across the country.

MGM has also partnered with the NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NASCAR, and many more sports organizations in order to attract enough users to make the business viable. The strategy is to pay up front for big-name partners and apply that marketing to as many state markets as possible in order to grow the business. DraftKings has partnered with the NFL, UFC, individual sports teams, and even Turner Sports, but MGM has a wider partnership reach. And its bet is that will translate to more long-term growth.

On the flip side of the argument is that DraftKings is a pure play in online gambling and owns 100% of the business. MGM owns only 50% of BetMGM, limiting its upside in the long term.

If MGM doesn't stay focused on online gambling, it could lose out to smaller, more focused operators. But right now it's betting that the name recognition of MGM and the sheer amount of money and marketing that it's putting into the business will make it successful. But DraftKings' more focused strategy could prove to be better if customers choose its platform.

In a recent presentation to investors, management said that customer retention is over 80% and one-year revenue retention is over 100% (meaning users who stay end up making up for the lost revenue from users who leave). And the company has a highly recognizable brand, operates in more states than competitors do, and generates more revenue from online gambling than competitors. So far, the strategy is working and pure-play could end up winning out over bigger brands like MGM Resorts.

In 2020, BetMGM generated $178 million in revenue, and management expects that to grow more than 100% in 2021, which would put it over $356 million in annual revenue. DraftKings is still larger at $643.5 million in revenue last year, but management expects only 48% growth at the midpoint of its $900 million to $1 billion in revenue guidance. Within a few years, it's possible the two online gambling operations will generate similar revenue each year.

From an investment standpoint, it's BetMGM's higher growth rate and MGM's lower market cap that make me think MGM Resorts is the better buy. Let's assume that BetMGM's operations are worth the same as DraftKings' today, based on the growth rates and partnerships I highlighted above. MGM's 50% stake in BetMGM would then be worth $12.3 billion. Investors are getting all of MGM's other operations for just $6.5 billion, which is a steal given that in 2019 the company's resorts generated $3.0 billion in adjusted EBITDAR, which is a proxy for cash flow from resorts. I think that makes MGM Resorts an absolute steal compared to DraftKings.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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Why MGM Resorts Is a Better Bet Than DraftKings in Online Gambling - The Motley Fool

By: Nick Piastowski April 7, 2021

Jordan Spieth hits out of the sand on the 10th hole during his Tuesday practice round at Augusta National.

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Who does the journalist, betting analyst or data guru like? Or the caddie or former player? Or the old-school gambler? Gimme the facts, storylines and trends. Gimme that inside-the-ropes look. Gimme your gut feeling.

You bet, bettor.

Welcome to GOLF.coms new gambling advice column, where weve assembled a panel of those aforementioned experts to make three best bets through odds from DraftKings (along with a to-win and sleeper pick during major weeks). A real-life professional bettor here will then heed that advice, add his acumen and wager his own cash. Its not unlike what you do through texts and Google searches except now its all in one place.

Our hope is to help you with your own weekly picks, whether those are for a low-stakes office fantasy league, (legal!) big-bucks bets with a sportsbook or through free-to-play Chirp Golf, an app from our parent company that is available in the App Store and at Google Play.

Now, on to some facts, the expert picks, the bettors best bets and info on how to bet for free.

This weeks tournament: Masters, at Augusta National Golf Club

TV: Thursday, 3-7:30 p.m., ESPN; Friday, 3-7:30 p.m., ESPN; Saturday, 3-7 p.m., CBS; Sunday, 2-7 p.m., CBS

Weather (weather.com): Thursday, mostly cloudy, 84 degrees, 11 mph SSW wind; Friday, isolated thunderstorms (34 percent chance of rain), 83 degrees, 8 mph S wind; Saturday, PM thunderstorms (54 percent chance of rain), 84 degrees, 13 mph S wind; Sunday, isolated thunderstorms (33 percent chance of rain), 81 degrees, 12 mph WSW wind.

Defending champion: Dustin Johnson

Top 10 in odds: Dustin Johnson, +950; Bryson DeChambeau, +1,100; Jordan Spieth, +1,150; Justin Thomas, +1,150; Jon Rahm, +1,200; Rory McIlroy, +1,900; Patrick Cantlay, +2,050; Xander Schauffele, +2,300; Brooks Koepka, +2,800; Collin Morikawa, +3,150

Nick Piastowski, GOLF.com, @nickpia

Bet 1: Kevin Kisner, top 20, +400. At whats expected to be a fire-breathing Augusta, I want someone whos probably been around here a hundred times, and thats Kis.

Bet 2: Justin Thomas over Jon Rahm, best finishing position, +105. Ill happily take an underdog JT. I know theres been some love for the new father angle, but Im not buying it, especially with Rahm not reportedly seeing the course until Wednesday.

Bet 3: Tony Finau, best 18 hole round score of the tournament, +3,300. Its either going to be him or Rory, right? And will be either a round to move into contention or a meaningless Sunday 64.

To-win: Sungjae Im, +4,150. I know, I know. I just wrote an entire story above detailing that last years results dont mean much this year. But Im looking at more than Ims runner-up finish last year (though Im not completely ignoring it, either). It takes iron excellence to win at Augusta, and Im has it. And those odds are so very lovely. (Put me down for thinking that Patrick Reed may make a run, too.)

Sleeper: Brian Harman, +12,500. Do I expect him to win? Not really. But at those odds, its worth a flier, considering he tied for third at the Players and made a nice run at the Match Play. (And if youre really feeling frisky Phils at +17,500!)

Jessica Marksbury, GOLF.com, @Jess_Marksbury

Bet 1: Rory McIlroy, top 10, +175. This just seems like a lock, doesnt it? Even if Rory doesnt contend on Sunday, he always has at least one super-low round that vaults him into a good finishing position. To wit, hes finished in the top 10 in six of the past seven years.

Bet 2: Bryson DeChambeau to make eagle in Round 1, yes, +400. Have you seen that video of BDC smashing drives on the range? I have to believe that an eagle on Thursday is not only very possible, but extremely likely.

Bet 3: Will Zalatoris, top debutant, +110. For an Augusta newbie, Will is a seriously seasoned player. No. 45 in the OWGR, five top 10s on the PGA Tour since September. Hes legit. This should be a slam dunk.

To-win: Dustin Johnson, +950. Yeah, hes the favorite but for good reason! Not only is DJ the world No. 1, but his record at Augusta is top-notch: Hes finished in the top 10 in all five of his most-recent starts at the Masters. Theres no reason to think this year will be any different.

Sleeper: Abraham Ancer, +8,000. Loved his inspired debut at Augusta in November when he finished T13, and hes been playing well since, with seven T23 finishes in his past nine events. He seems ripe for a breakthrough.

Brady Kannon, host, Vegas Stats and Information Network (VSiN), @lasvegasgolfer

Bet 1: Daniel Berger, top 20, +100. Daniel Berger has been one of the best players on Tour over the past year, winning at Colonial and at Pebble Beach. He is normally thought of as a Bermuda grass putting specialist, but he has learned how to be one of the best now on all surfaces. Hes never missed a cut at the Masters, and I think that holds up and then some.

Bet 2: Joaquin Niemann, top 20, +164. Niemann rolled into 2021 on fire in Hawaii, finishing second twice with a combined score of 46-under par. Kapalua is a correlated course to Augusta, in my opinion, and Niemanns iron play will hold up anywhere. He avoids three-putting and scores on the par-5s. I think hell hang around the top 15 or better this week.

Bet 3: Louis Oosthuizen, top 20, +188. Louis is one of the most consistent players at Augusta in the field. He gains strokes off the tee, and this year, unlike many of the past, he is playing extremely well around the greens and with the putter. Louis could win the whole thing if his game clicks for four days.

To-win: Justin Thomas, +1,200. Thomas has been getting better in every Masters appearance since his debut in 2016, finishing 39th, 22nd, 17th, 12th and fourth, in 2020. A win is the next natural step. Hes in good form, having just won the Players Championship, and hes seen success at Riviera Country Club in the Genesis Invitational, a course that shows a great deal of crossover success with Augusta National.

Sleeper: Matthew Fitzpatrick, +4,000. Fitzpatrick has made five straight cuts at the Masters and has been in great recent form, finishing fifth, 10th, 11th, and ninth in his past four stroke play starts. His iron play and magnificent short game ought to take him a long way once again.

Wes Reynolds, host, Vegas Stats and Information Network (VSiN), @WesReynolds1

Bet 1: Joaquin Niemann, top 20, +164. His game has very few weaknesses as he can bomb it off the tee (ninth in driving distance), hit plenty of greens (10th in greens In regulation) and make plenty of birdies (sixth in birdie average). He missed last years event due to Covid-19 so he should be eager to show out on the biggest stage.

Bet 2: Mackenzie Hughes, top Canadian player, +200. 12th on the PGA Tour for SG: Putting. Conners finished top 10 here last year and has been in better form; however, he can still be shaky with the putter at any time.

Bet 3: Jimmy Walker, to make the cut, yes, +200. Walker is 7 for 7 in making cuts at the Masters. This is likely his last Masters appearance for the foreseeable future, as his major exemption from winning the 2016 PGA Championship expires this season.

To-win: Jon Rahm, +1,200. The putter has been slow to get going in 2021, but showed some signs of life at the WGC-Dell Match Play, as he was the only top-seeded player to advance to the round of 16. Baby boy Kepa was born over the weekend, and while Rahm is certainly not free from distractions, his game looks to be peaking at the right time and he certainly comes in the right frame of mind. Hey, it worked for Danny Willett five years ago here.

Sleeper: Sungjae Im, +4,150: Granted last falls conditions made Augusta National play as easy as it ever has; however, Sungjae Ims T2 in his debut does not have the look of a one-hit wonder. Only Bryson DeChambeau has gained more strokes off the tee over the past 24 rounds. Im also has the short game to go along with his terrific driving. It should be no surprise to see Sunday Sungjae be in the mix again.

Martin de Knijff, Metric Gaming, @mdkentrepreneur

Bet 1: Viktor Perez, leader after Round 1, +8,000. The 28-year-old Frenchman is turning into a very solid player and plays tough courses very well. T-46 at the Masters in 2020.

Bet 2: Henrik Stenson, to make the cut, no -250 (couldve hoped for a better price). Completely out of form, and feels like a total steal.

Bet 3: Corey Conners over Adam Scott, best finishing position, -120. CC played really well at Augusta in November, finishing T-10. Great ball striker and in superb form.

To-win: Jon Rahm, +1,200. Rahm just became a dad, and in his case, I think thats a positive. The expected firm conditions are a big plus.

Sleeper: Patrick Reed, +3,500. Past winners should never be slept on. Worked a lot on his driving, and if its consistent, watch out.

Colt Knost, former PGA Tour player and co-host of GOLFs Subpar and Sirius XMs Gravy and the Sleaze, @ColtKnost

Bet 1: Justin Thomas, top 5, +275. This is a ball strikers golf course. More importantly, a second shot golf course, and not many hit their irons better than Justin Thomas.

Bet 2: Patrick Cantlay, top 10, +200. Another great iron player and a man who has no weaknesses. I love him to be a factor and doubling up your money on a top 10 at +200.

Bet 3: Will Zalatoris, top 10, +500. I know first-timers dont have a ton of success around here, but Will Zalatoris is not your typical rookie! Hes one of the best ball strikers on the planet. Wouldnt surprise me at all if he finished in the top 10.

To-win: Jordan Spieth, +1,150. Jordan Spieth has been trending! I loved him this week even before winning in San Antonio! His iron game is back to the Jordan Spieth of old! I look for him to collect his second green jacket!

Sleeper: Paul Casey, +3,500. Paul Casey has been in incredible form! Absolute ball striking machine and loves Augusta National. Wouldnt be surprised to see him pick up his first major!

John Rathouz, PGA Tour caddie and Caddie Network contributor, @rathouz

Bet 1: Shane Lowry, top 10, +800. Lowry has been playing solid as of late and determined to impress Captain Harrington in a Ryder Cup year. Possesses an elite short game that will come in handy on a much firmer National. His record here is not impressive, but opened the comparative 16 Masters with a 68 and sandwiched rounds of 69 and 68 in November.

Bet 2: Two or more holes in one in the tournament, no, -250. If the course plays firmer as advertised, itll be that much more difficult to get at pins. There have been 29 aces in Masters history dating back to 1934, and only on six occasions, two or more. Must dodge bullets to the front left pin on No. 6 and back left pin on No. 16. You can still root for one!

Bet 3: Lee Westwood over Collin Morikawa, best finishing position, +130. This is purely a play on experience. Westwood is in good form, with a fresh outlook, and will know how to navigate this Masters. Hes made 16 of 19 cuts and finished T2 in 16. Morikawa is maybe the best iron player in the game, but this Masters will play completely different than his first in November (even with an experienced caddie), and its unlikely he replicates his putting performance at Concession.

To-win: Justin Thomas, +1,100. Only once has a player won The Players and Masters in the same year Tiger Woods (20 years ago). It has already been a crazy year for Thomas, who now counts Tiger as one of his best friends. Making his sixth appearance at Augusta, JT has made the cut and improved his finish every year, highlighted by a fourth in November. A Sunday for the ages alongside another best friend Jordan Spieth wouldnt surprise.

Sleeper: Lee Westwood, +4,000. Its clear Westwoods recent form is no fluke, and hes returning to his best major championship (16 of 19 cuts made, six T10s, including two seconds) with a fresh mindset. At 47, hed be the oldest Masters champ and second-oldest major winner. Sure, hes never crossed the finish line ahead in a big one, and the Masters consistently proves it owes nothing to anybody, but it also writes dream storylines.

The old-school gambler, an old-school gambler, @notthefakeW

Bet 1: Jordan Spieth, top 5, +275. Hes baaaack! Usually, crusty old grumps like me dont toss around touchy feely words like fate and destiny. But if ever there were a case of a man and the moment meeting up at the Masters, well, lets just say Spieth in the hunt seems pretty much preordained.

Bet 2: Patrick Reed, to win, +3,500. Glassy conditions place a premium on the short game. And if theres been a better clutch putter in recent decades outside of Tiger, I havent seen him. Reed will be in this one. Bank on it.

Bet 3: Lee Westwood over Collin Morikawa, best finishing position, +130. No disrespect to the steely California kid, but theres no course where experience matters more. And no legitimate contender with more experience here. That were getting odds here makes this an especially appealing play.

To-win: Bryson DeChambeau, +1,150. Last November, all the distance-intoxicated pundits practically handed the green jacket to DeChambeau before the tournament even began. Which is how I knew NOT to bet him then. This year, theres much less distracting hype around him, so hes got that going for him, along with a game that is built on much more than just raw power. Also, I guarantee you he will not make another lost-ball triple bogey on the 3rd hole again. There may be a universe in which DeChambeau does not contend this week, but it would take a theoretical physicist much smarter than Bryson to locate it.

Sleeper: Matt Kuchar, +10,000. Kuchar was missing in action for quite a while there. But he looked back to his old steady self two weeks ago in Austin, and played well again last week at the Valero. Combine that with his solid history at Augusta, a course where history matters more than it does at many other venues, and youve got a pretty good long shot play at 100-1.

Erick Lindgren. Lindgren, the 2008 World Series of Poker Player of the Year, has won more than $10.5 million in poker tournament earnings and is an avid sports bettor. @EdogPoker

Bet 1: Scottie Scheffler, +5,500. Not many people can take Jon Rahms best shot in match play and respond. He is a killer.

Bet 2: Scottie Scheffler, top 10, +400. For the same reasons as above.

Bet 3: Max Homa, top 10, +600. Flushers gonna flush. That win at Riviera was no fluke, and theres a history of crossover success between that course and Augusta.

To-win: Jordan Spieth, +1,150. I actually bet him a few months ago at 30-1, but I still like him at this price. Lets go!

Sleeper: Viktor Hovland, +3,500. OK, so maybe not a true sleeper. But a good play given the odds. Hits it great, and his putting has been steadily improving. He will be the best of the young 20-somethings.

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Masters picks to win: A professional gambler risks his money on these bets - Golf.com

April 9, 2021 By Michael Jones Leave a Comment

The reigning, defending American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays open up their home schedule against division rival, New York Yankees on Friday afternoon in St. Petersburg. New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays Friday, April 09, 2021 03:10 PM EDT atTropicana Field Can The Rays Stop The Bleeding? The Tampa Bay Rays [...]

April 8, 2021 By Craig Brown Leave a Comment

Minnesota is coming off their finest offensive performance of the season while the Blues saw their lengthy losing streak come to a merciful end with a victory over Vegas on Wednesday night. Lets analyze this matchup and determine which side is the sharp side in our NHL picks on Friday night. Minnesota Wild vs. [...]

April 8, 2021 By Willie Miller Leave a Comment

Rivals from the American League West Division collide on Thursdays MLB betting card, and the Oakland Athletics will be looking for some revenge in Houston against the Astros. Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Thursday, April 8, 2021 8:10 PM ET at Minute Maid Park Oakland and Houston were co-favorites for the [...]

April 8, 2021 By Jason Robinson Leave a Comment

With two strong teams about to collide, the Under is the smart NBA pick for Thursdays matchup between the Phoenix Suns and L.A. Clippers. Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers Thursday, April 8, 2021 10:00 PM ET at Staples Center Theres a lot to like about both the Phoenix Suns [...]

April 7, 2021 By Dave Harris Leave a Comment

The UFC on ABC UFC Odds are available. Read on for our complete betting guide and preview on this weekends stacked UFC event, including our favourite contests, updated odds and our free expert betting predictions. Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Kyle Daukaus UFC Middleweight Main Card Bout Saturday, April 10, 2021 10:05 PM EDTat Apex Centre

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After a volatile first quarter, Q2 has kicked off in style, and the major indexes sit at or hover near all-time highs. The government bond market has also been steadying as yields have pulled back after rising higher earlier in the year, soothing investor fears that inflation could get out of hand. Moreover, the economic recovery seems to be gathering steam at a faster pace than anticipated. We had been expecting the data to improve about this time, and early signals are that the recovery is absolutely on track, said Hugh Gimber, J.P. Morgans global market strategist. This is the period where the forecast of a strong recovery in growth is starting to look more like the fact of a strong recovery in growth. Against this backdrop, the analysts at J.P. Morgan have pinpointed 2 names which they believe are set for strong growth in the year ahead; both are expected to handsomely reward investors with at least 80% of gains over the coming months. We ran them through TipRanks database to see what other Wall Street's analysts have to say about them. Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) Well start in China, where Tencent Music Entertainment is the offspring of Chinas giant online venture company, Tencent, and Spotify, the Swedish streaming company that makes music and playlists easy. Tencent Music has seen consistently strong sales and earnings for the past year, with the top line growing year-over-year in each quarter of 2020. The Q4 report showed $1.26 billion in the top line, the highest in the last two years, along with 12 cents per share in earnings, up 33% year-over-year. Strong streaming revenue, which showed 29% growth, helped drive the results. And, Tencent Music, through its variety of apps, is the top music streaming service in the Chinese online market as shown by the 40.4% yoy increase in paid subscribers during Q4. In its quarterly results, the company reported 4.3 million net new users in Q4, to reach 56 million active premium accounts across its apps. That said, the stock has pulled back sharply recently, as like many other high-flying growth names, worries regarding an overheated valuation have come to the fore. But pullbacks often spell opportunity, and covering the stock for JPM, Alex Yao notes the strong subscription growth, as well as the potential in the companys other businesses, online ads and long-form audio, for monetization. We believe TME is entering a healthy development cycle with successive growth engines: 1) music subscription remains the core revenue driver with consistent paying ratio improvement, 2) ads revenue ramps up quickly, and 3) active investments in long-form audio initiative, which could become a new growth driver in 2022 and afterwards," Yao noted. To this end, Yao puts a $36 price target on TME, suggesting a one-year upside of 84%, to back his Overweight (i.e. Buy) rating on the stock. (To watch Yaos track record, click here) Overall, TME has a thumbs up from Wall Street. Of the 11 reviews on record, 7 are to Buy, 3 are to Hold, and 1 says Sell, making the analyst consensus a Moderate Buy. The shares are priced at $19.50, and their $30.19 average price target implies an upside of 55% for the months ahead. (See TME stock analysis on TipRanks) Y-mAbs Therapeutics (YMAB) The next JPM pick were looking at is Y-mAbs, a late-stage clinical biopharma company with a focus on pediatric oncology. The company is working on the development and commercialization of new antibody-based cancer therapeutics. Y-mAbs has one medication Danyelza approved for use to treat neuroblastoma in children age 1 and over, and a broad and advanced pipeline of drug candidates in various stages of the clinical process, as well as five additional products in pre-clinical research stages. Having an approved drug is a holy grail for clinical biopharmaceutical companies, and in 4Q20 Y-mAbs saw considerable income from Danyelza. The company announced at the end of December that it had agreed to sell the Priority Review Voucher for the drug to United Therapeutics for $105 million. Y-mAbs will retain the rights to 60% of the net proceeds from the sale, under an agreement with Memorial Sloan Kettering. Also in December, the company announced a license agreement with SciClone. The partnership gives Y-mAbs and Danyelza an opening for treating pediatric patients in China. The agreement includes Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, and is worth up to $120 million for Y-mAbs. The company has entered other agreements making Danyelza available in Eastern Europe and Russia. Danyelza is Y-mAbs flagship product, but the company also has omburtamab in advanced stages of the pipeline. This drug candidate saw a setback in October last year, when the FDA refused to file the company's Biologics License Application, proposed for the treatment of pediatric patients with CNS/leptomeningeal metastasis. Y-mAbs has been in steady communication with the FDA since then, with a new target date for the BLA at the end of 2Q21 or early in 3Q21. These two drugs one approved and one not yet form the basis of the JPM outlook on this stock. Analyst Tessa Romero writes, Our thesis revolves around the de-risked nature of the pediatric oncology pipeline. Our recent KOL feedback is enthusiastic about use of lead asset Danyelza in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (NB). For second lead asset omburtamab in NB metastatic to the central nervous system (CNS/LM from NB), while the Refuse to File last year and subsequent regulatory delays were certainly disappointing, we still see a high probability of approval for the product in the 2Q/3Q22 timeframe Looking ahead, Romero sees an upbeat outlook for the company: Coupling our anticipation of a healthy launch for Danyelza, with regulatory/clinical momentum expected in the near- to mid-term, we see shares poised to rebound and see an attractive buying opportunity at current levels. The analyst puts a $52 price target on YMAB shares, implying an upside of 86% for the year ahead, and supporting an Overweight (i.e. Buy) rating. (To watch Romeros track record, click here) Overall, the Wall Street reviews break down 3 to 1 in favor of Buys versus Holds on Y-mAbs, giving the stock a Strong Buy consensus rating. The shares have an average price target of $61.25, suggestive of a 121% upside potential this year. (See YMAB stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Here, we take a look at three professional, very successful athletes who have struggled for some time with gambling addictions. Unfortunately, gambling addiction is not uncommon among professional athletes. While many athletes enjoy such activities from time to time, this hobby may turn into an issue before it becomes a full-blown gambling addiction. This leads to other issues primarily financial problems that stem from an urge to invest money in gambling activities despite being aware of the risks.

Professional athletes are not immune to such issues and this is especially true for John Daly, Michael Jordan, and Pete Rose. Before we discuss this further, consider turning to CrushingCasinos New Zealand that brings you expert guides on various types of online casino games, reviews on online casinos, and even great tips and tricks for staying on the right track and taking care of your bankroll. Now, lets see how and when great John Daly, Michael Jordan, and Pete Rose gambled thousands on gambling.

John Daly

Many professional athletes struggle or have struggled with a gambling addiction and one of them is John Daly. Born in 1966, John Daly is a professional golfer with eighteen professional wins, one PGA Championship title won in 1991, and numerous other successes. In addition to winning the PGA Championship 1991, Daly is also known for winning pro events in Canada, Turkey, South Korea, Germany, and Scotland.

After retiring from playing golf professionally, the legendary golfer focused on writing and recording music. Back in 2006, John Daly revealed to the public that he has struggled with a notorious gambling addiction. In his autobiography, he revealed that he has lost between $50 and $60 million over a period of fifteen years between 1991 and 2007. Daly also revealed that he lost over $1.6 million in several hours back in 2006. When compared to other pro athletes with the same gambling issues, Daly has lost the most.

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan or great MJ is another highly successful professional athlete born in 1963. Today, he is the owner of the NBA Charlotte Hornets while back in the day, he won six championships with his team Chicago Bulls. Dubbed as the greatest basketball player, Michael Jordans amazing game has helped with the popularization of the biggest basketball league in the world and inspired thousands of people beyond basketball to great success.

However, after his retirement, Air Jordan turned to gambling. He revealed that one night back in 1993 he gambled $165,000 at a casino in Atlantic City. He also admitted that he used to gamble on everything including golf matches, card games, and classic table games. It is also not uncommon for MJ to participate in high-stakes gambling activities with other pro athletes including Charles Barkley.

Pete Rose

We can complete this article without mentioning Pete Rose. Born in 1941, the legendary Pete Rose is a professional baseball player who played in MLB (Major League Baseball) from 1963 up to 1986. He is also known as one of the Cincinnati Reds managers. During his fruitful career, Pete Rose won three batting titles, three World Series Rings, two Gold Gloves, among many other titles. Several years after retiring, Pete Rose was included on the permanently ineligible list after it was revealed that he had wagered on baseball while actively playing and leading the Cincinnati Reds.

It was also revealed that Rose gambled around $10,000 daily back in 1987 and many believed that he wagered against the Cincinnati Reds even though no evidence was ever found. As a result of his gambling addiction, one of the greatest baseball players of all time was banned from the Baseball Hall of Fame and he is the only player on the ineligible list.

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Three Pro Athletes That Had Horrible Gambling Addictions - The Sports Bank

Gambling legislation in the US is all over the place. States regulations on what is legal and what is not are so different that one would probably need an entire life to learn them. For the most part, gambling laws are as dull but some gambling laws are so absurd and bizarre it is actually fascinating.

#1 Alabama: No Sunday Gambling

Alabama is arguably among the most religious states in the country, so it is not surprising that Sundays are sacred there. Spending time with ones family is a nice tradition, except for people whose idea of fun family time is a poker or bingo night. There is an old law in Alabama (which has not been repealed or amended so far) that bans all forms of gambling on Sundays. The fines for breaking it are not too high, but you may still be expected to pay up to $100.

#2 Florida: Horse Races Are Fine, but No NFL Betting

Gambling laws across the US are nothing if not inconsistent. For example, in Florida, it is legal to bet on horse racing and several other obscure sports, while the NFL is off-limits.

#3 Michigan: No Better Place to Gamble than a Retirement Home

This one is more of a fun trend than a law. Most Americans have to use foreign-owned online casinos to play legally on the territory of the US. Luckily, both traditional and online gambling is legal in Michigan (not for the opponents lack of trying). Understandingly, gambling providers are going out of their way to promote what they do. One of the most common types of gambling marketing is advertising in retirement homes, a stronghold of bingo lovers.

#4 Oklahoma: Women Cannot Gamble Half-Naked

The entire US is notorious for the harsh indecent exposure laws, but this bizarre legislation in Oklahoma is more about gender inequality. It is illegal for a woman to walk into a gambling institution of any kind if she is in lingerie or a towel. The regulation specifically concerns women. Apparently, the state of Oklahoma is okay with men in a towel but not women. By the way, it is not said if women are banned from playing when wearing only a towel or if a dress with a towel thrown over the shoulders is still a no-go.

#5 West Virginia: No Outhouse Gambling for Taverns

This law probably dates back to the times when it was common for tavern and hotel owners to host illegal gambling events. According to the state government of West Virginia, hotels and taverns cannot allow poker matches or any other gambling activities in their outhouses. Looks like West Virginian gamblers of the past did not have it easy. Otherwise, why would the government have to ban outhouse gambling specifically?

#6 Kentucky: Feel Free to Sue the Winner

No one likes a sore loser, except maybe the state of Kentucky. According to the law, anyone who has gambled away $5 or more and claims to have been wronged can take the winner to court. What is more, if the loser does not do so within six months, anyone else can demand the money from the winner instead. You would still have to prove that wrongdoing took place, though.

#7 Texas: Anything but Poker

The state government of Texas has something against poker. It is legal to operate bingo events, lotteries, and basically everything else. But if you want to open a poker room, you are in for trouble. This looks like one of those laws that should have been amended decades and decades ago, but no one bothered. In any case, it would be nice to find out what the story is behind Texass hatred for poker.

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7 of the Weirdest Gambling Laws in the US - South Florida Reporter