Category Archives: Gambling

Judge Cheryl Moss witnessed stories of devastation while overseeing the Nevada Gambling Treatment Diversion Court, beginning with her first case, a grandmother who stole more than $500,000 from a Las Vegas plumbing business to fuel an addiction to video poker and slot machines.

In 2013, Jerry Nann Meador, who had never even had a speeding ticket, pleaded guilty to felony theft and was sentenced to four to 10 years in prison. She spent 2 years in a women's correctional center before being released and accepted into the state's gambling treatment court. Diversion treatment courts are an alternative to traditional incarceration. They are designed for non-violent criminals whose offenses were caused, in part, by an addiction to drugs, alcohol or gambling.

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Meador's story attracted national attention. There were eye-catching headlines about the "gambling grandma." The public's reaction to her release was not empathetic.

"What a joke!" a reader wrote on the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Facebook page. "Are we not responsible for our own action?"

"This is really BS, as a responsible gambler for 50 years," another wrote.

Moss doesn't see it that way. The 54-year-old New Jersey native views problem gamblers as people struggling with a disease, not morally bankrupt degenerates. She tries to be the judge who doesn't judge them on their crimes, yet holds them accountable and helps to get their lives back in order.

"Sometimes you have to show a little tough love," Moss says. "I try to get people out of chaos."

Hundreds of millions of dollars will be risked on sporting events during March, most of it on the NCAA tournament, either through bracket pools or bets on individual games. Alongside the Madness, March is also Problem Gambling Awareness Month. It's an opportunity for advocates, like Moss, to spotlight what they fear will be a growing issue during the current sports betting boom.

Moss retired on Jan. 4 but says her work is just beginning. With regulated sports betting and online casino gambling spreading around the United States, she is aiming to bring gambling treatment courts to other states and, along the way, change the long-held stigma associated with problem gamblers.

"The biggest problem is how the public perceives them," Moss says. "They've got a disease, just like alcohol, that is beyond their control."

Experts on problem gambling hope she's successful -- and soon. They fear an increase in problem gambling is imminent, and there's no definitive way to stop it.

As long as there have been competitions, there have been people to bet on them. A percentage of those bettors develop gambling disorders, leading to personal and societal harm. The larger the pool of gamblers, the more people there will be who develop gambling addictions. It is inevitable.

Three years ago, Nevada was the only state with a comprehensive legal sports betting market. Today, licensed bookmakers are operating in 20 states and the District of Columbia, with more jurisdictions poised to get into the game as soon as this year.

Problem gambling rates have remained steady over the past decade at approximately 2-3% of Americans, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling. Indiana, which authorized sports betting in 2019, has not experienced an uptick in calls to problem gambling hotlines. Tennessee, however, has, including an increase in the number of callers who identify sports betting as their primary form of gambling. Overall, though, it's likely too early to draw conclusions from the expansion of regulated sports betting in the U.S.

Sportsbook operators should -- and are -- implementing responsible gambling messaging and tools, like the ability for customers to self-exclude themselves from placing bets. Limiting instant-gratification betting options that have shown to be conducive to compulsive behaviors also could be a step in the right direction, although bookmakers -- and sports leagues -- are pushing in-game wagering more than ever. Regardless, there is no vaccine for gambling disorders.

The best approach for sportsbook operators may be dedicating resources to quickly identify at-risk customers before they spiral out of control. It's then up to society to decide how to treat those who develop a gambling disorder and commit crimes to fuel their addiction. That's where diversion courts come into play.

Drug treatment courts are available in most states and have been effective:

According to a 2012 study led by the National Institute of Justice, drug court participants were significantly less likely to relapse and committed fewer crimes after participating in the program than a comparison group of similar offenders.

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals found that specialty courts reduced crime 45% more than other sentencing options, and participants in specialty courts are six times more likely to complete substance abuse treatment than those not involved in a judicial program.

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Treatment court participants are subject to mandated restrictions, including, for example, regular drug testing, counseling and restitution payments.

"This is not a get out of jail free," said Carol O'Hare, executive director for the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. "There's extensive monitoring. Literally, their entire life has to be laid open to the court: where they go, they're on GPS monitoring for that; they cannot use any substance, must disclose financials completely. The court knows where every dime goes."

Treatment courts also have proved to be more cost effective than traditional incarceration.

"We believe gambling courts are an important part of a comprehensive system of care for people with gambling problems," says Keith Whyte, the executive director for the National Council on Problem Gambling. "Gambling courts are a really important means for keeping folks who have committed nonviolent crimes out of jail; it's a really important [part] of helping them get treatment so they're able to sustain recovery and return to being productive, tax-paying members of society. The cost benefit is absolutely, massively tilted in the direction of these therapeutic courts."

While treatment courts for drug abuse are prevalent, Nevada is currently the only state with a diversion court focused on gambling, in part because too many people, from gambling operators to politicians, still believe problem gambling is a moral failing, not an addiction.

"That's the biggest dilemma in the last 20 years that I've been in this field, and it ties in with the stigma of being labeled a moral degenerate gambler," Moss says. "[Gambling disorder] is a disease, like alcohol or drugs. Some people can control it, some people can't."

In 2013, pathological gambling was reclassified as disordered gambling and included in the Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a key reference guide for mental health professionals.

Greater understanding of the parallels between substance abuse and gambling disorder led to the reclassification, says Dr. Andrew Saxon, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

"There is a lot of overlap in the signs of symptoms of a substance-abuse disorder and a gambling disorder," Saxon explains. "To the extent that we know about the neurobiology, by looking at brain imaging, it's very similar. You've got similar circuits that are being activated."

Despite the evidence, society still has a tough time grasping that an addiction to gambling is anything other than a series of bad personal choices. According to a survey by the National Council on Problem Gambling, 52% of adults believe moral weakness is more likely the cause of gambling disorders. Advocates for problem gamblers say that notion has contributed to inadequate funding for problem gambling treatment and hindered efforts for the creation of more gambling treatment courts.

Moss, the daughter of a psychiatrist who worked in the problem gambling space, is hoping to change that. She has formed an advisory group of experts and is vigorously pushing for legislation to create a gambling treatment court in New Jersey. She has also engaged policy makers in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. But for now, Nevada remains the only state with a treatment court dedicated to problem gambling.

The victims of crimes committed by problem gamblers, like Aaron and Rhonda Hawley, the owners of the Las Vegas plumbing company that Meador embezzled more than a half a million dollars from, understandably have grievances and struggle to accept that treatment courts, instead of incarceration, equal justice.

"Her going to prison wasn't going to change anything," Rhonda Hawley told the Las Vegas Review-Journal after Meador was released and accepted into the treatment court, "but it was the right thing to do."

Meador, out of respect for the victims, declined to comment for this story. She now works at the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and will likely never be able to pay her full restitution. She served approximately four years in prison before being accepted into the state's gambling treatment program, where for the past two years she has been required to maintain restitution payments to her victims, undergo addiction counseling and other stipulations mandated by Moss and the court.

In December, in Moss' last hearing before her retirement, Meador broke into tears.

"I just want to say thank you," Meador told Moss. "You have always treated us as people first, and that was huge. It was a long time coming getting to your courtroom, and I was nervous, but you eased those fears on the first day. And the commitment you've held us to, the accountability, what you've given us, the road to recovery, I'll always be grateful. Thank you for being that wonderful judge that didn't judge us."

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Judge aims to get gambling addicts 'out of chaos' rather than send them to prison - ESPN

They're No. 1: Gonzaga enters March Madness as the top seedbut is the smart money betting on them to win?

Bob, a 34-year-old gambler from Illinois who works in logistics, has bet in his office March Madness pool for the last five years. With about 75 colleagues and a $25 buy-in, the pot will be just under $2,000 for this years NCAA mens basketball tournamentbut hes not filling out a bracket.

For gamblers, the office pool has lost its luster. Its boringId rather gamble other ways, says Bob, who did not want to give his last name. For Betty Sue, who runs the front desk, does she like the office bracket? Of course, she does; shes not a gambler.

March Madness is always big action for Bob, who says he lays out about 25% of his annual $20,000 bankroll during the three-week long, a single-elimination, seven-round college basketball tournament. This year, hes placing bets on mobile betting services like DraftKings and Barstool Sports. Bob will also wager with his go-to bookie, a longstanding relationship he has decided to keep despite his access to legal options.

He is not alone. According to a study published by the American Gaming Association this week, the number of Americans36.7 millionfilling out a bracket is down 8% compared to the last NCAA Tournament in 2019. (March Madness was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak.) About 31 million Americans are placing more traditional bets on this years tournament, up from nearly 18 million in 2019.

Brackets bring in about $2 million, says DraftKings Johnny Avello. I cant tell you what March Madness will bring, but it will beexponentiallybigger.

Bill Miller, the president and CEO of the American Gaming Association says that the number of people betting online this year is up more than 200% from 2019. About 18 million people will bet online while 8 million will bet in-person at a sportsbook. Miller says the dramatic increase in online betting is thanks to the fact that 13 new legal sports betting markets have opened up since the 2019 tournament, bringing the total to 25 states (and Washington, D.C. ) that have legalized sports betting, with 21 markets operational. By population, 45% of American adults now live in a state with legalized sports betting.

We have seen a massive increase in legal sports betting, says Miller. States recognized that people have been betting on sports since theres been sports to bet on.

There is a migration from the illegal market to the legal market, he continues, and there is excitement and pent up demand for March Madness and the opportunity for people to bet legally and safely has never been better.

While the number of Americans placing bets this year47 millionis expected to stay flat from 2019, wagers are expected to break the 2019 record of $8.5 billion.

Hoop Dreaming: The crowd at the Wesgate casino in Nevada may not be back to 2019 levels, but the handle is higher thanks to mobile gambling.

At DraftKings, the proliferation of online sports gamblingmade company cofounder and CEO Jason Robins a billionaireearlier this year. DraftKings, which was founded in 2012, has been on a tear since the company went public through a reverse merger last Aprilits stock price jumped has 260%. The company recently reported impressive $322 million in revenue, a 146% increase from $131 million in the prior year, and also reported that monthly users have risen by 500,000 to 1.5 million from the previous quarter.

March Madness should only add to that winning streak.

It will be the biggest ever, says Johnny Avello, DraftKings head of race and sportsbook. We sorely missed the tournament last year. We saw intense action when we put the lines up on Sunday. But forget the fact that we missed the tournament last year, the growth from 2019 to 2021 in sports betting across the U.S. has increased dramatically. There are more users, more states on board, and more offerings.

To keep with tradition, DraftKings is offering brackets. About 20,000 people will pay $100 to enter and the winner will get $1 million. DraftKings is also hosting free-to-play survivor pools in all states, including jurisdictions where sports betting is not legal, with a $1 million first prize.

But Avello says these contests are peanuts compared with more traditional betting, player proposition bets, and in-game wagering. Brackets bring in about $2 million. I cant tell you what March Madness will bring, but it will beexponentiallybigger, says Avello. Its the biggest event of the year, bigger than the Super Bowl.

John Murray, director of the Westgate sports book in Las Vegas, is equally optimistic. He says all signs point to the fact that sports betting, and March Madness, has roared back to life this year.

We set a handle record in January and in Februarythe highest handles weve ever had twice just this year, says Murray. I see no reason at all that we wont have a huge March Madness.

Murray says the spike in business is due to mobile betting. About 80% of the Westgates business is from wagers made on a smartphone. The mobile phone is the answer, says Murray.

The crowd at the Westgate is not back to pre-pandemic levels, mostly due to Covid-related capacity restrictions, but the sportsbooks volume has already surpassed 2019. Handle-wise, weve already exceeded pre-pandemic levels, says Murray. Were already thereIm confident this weekend will be huge.

Miller of the American Gaming Association also sees the rebound in the number of people betting on sports as a lucky sign. I think March Madness is an important indicator that the post-pandemic world is coming back to a good place, he says. March Madness, the opening of spring training in baseball, Opening Day around the corner, these are indicators that the economy and the American psyche are moving forward. March Madness is a signal that life is returning to normal.

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March Madness Gamblers Expected To Break $8.5 Billion Record Thanks To Mobile Sports Betting - Forbes

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Online gambling is the present and future of gaming in the world; the online gambling market is valued at $46 billion and is projected to reach $94 billion by 2024.

For most casual gambling fans, Finland may not be a big draw like the United States. However, the Nordic country holds its own fairly well in the global market. Finns are known to enjoy gambling a lot and find themselves near the top in several gambling metrics, and this has transferred into online gambling. Online gambling in Finland has seen a 10% year-on-year rise. The lack of casinos in Finland (it only has 16 casinos) makes online gambling a very attractive alternative for Finns.

Find out more information about online casinos in Suomi here.

64% of American adults gamble at least once a year but that figure is overshadowed by the 74% in Finland. The drop off in American participation is to be expected though considering gambling regulation is different among American states.

In both countries, higher percentages of men gamble than women but the difference is not as wide as people would expect. 65% of male gamblers gamble online more than once a month, almost double the rate of women in America.

Both countries share a similar age range for gambling with the average gambling age being in the low 40s. For gambling addiction, 1.1% of Finnish people were identified as problem gamblers while in America it is a much bigger problem at 1.6%

Online gambling laws in Finland are generally less suffocating than in the U.S. despite the government maintaining a monopoly. It is the only country to do so in Europe despite several attempts from the EU to privatize gambling. The industry has been regulated by three bodies under one umbrella body named Veikkaus. In the U.S., gambling is legal at the national level but the nitty-gritty of gambling regulation is decentralized. States are allowed to decide what games are legalized in their area. Illegal gambling is seen as a serious crime in the United States and attracts a prison sentence of almost 5 years and a monetary fine.

Offshore gambling is one of the perks that followed the coming of iGaming. It allows people to place bets on foreign betting sites unregistered in their home country. Both countries differ in their legislation on offshore sites. It is treated as a serious crime in the United States. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 makes it illegal for financial institutions to process or accept payments for unlawful gambling. In Finland, offshore sites are not allowed to offer their services to citizens, but citizens can patronize them if they wish. This makes offshore gambling thrive in the country. In 2020, 16.4% of Finlands online gambling revenue, equivalent to 105 million in taxable revenue, was spent by Finns on international sites.

Both countries are heavily invested in sports betting, Finland to a larger extent. There are a wide variety of sports to choose from like soccer, basketball and racing. So it was no surprise that the resumption of several sports leagues across the globe contributed a lot to online gambling recovering some of its losses in the second half of 2020. In the United States, sports betting is more of a work in progress, having only been recently legalized nationally. Eleven states have already legalized it with more to follow and the industry is growing at an exponential rate.

In Finland, the game with the highest activity is the lottery. Over 70% of the Finnish population play Veikkaus Lotto regularly. In America, lotteries are played by 57%. Public participation is again affected by legal issues and regulations. Slots are very popular in both countries.

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Online Gambling Habits: The US vs. Finland - Study Breaks

SPRINGFIELD Gross gambling revenues at MGM Springfield rose in February to $16.89 million, up from $14.5 million in January.

But gross gambling revenue at the downtown casino still lags pre-pandemic figures in a pattern that holds true elsewhere and reflects the hospitality industrys continued efforts to rebound from COVID-19 and the shutdowns necessary to prevent its spread.

MGM Springfields $16.9 million in tables and slots revenue is the highest total since $17.5 million in October 2020. Gross Gambling revenue at the $1-billion resort casino were $20.6 million a year ago in February 2020, the last full month of operations before the state shut down MGM and the states other two casinos until the middle of July.

In total, gross gaming revenue that is from slots and table games was $67 million total for Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor in February 2021, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported Monday.

Thats up from $58 million in January, but trails the $86 million collected in February 2020.

Encore Boston Harbor reported gross gambling revenue of $40.9 million in February 2021, up from $33.3 million ini January 2021 but down from $52.5 million in February 2020.

Plainridge reported $9.5 million in gross gambling revenue in February , down from $9.8 million in January 2021. The take was $11.7 million in February 2020.

Last week, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved a loosening COVID restrictions and allowing the return of craps games, and an additional seat at blackjack tables.

The casinos continue to operate with occupancy limited to 40% of capacity. But the Gaming Commission reports that so few people are going to casinos hat they have yet to bump up against the 40% ceiling.

February was also the first full months since November MGM and the other two casinos were able to return to 24-hour-a-day operations. The curfew was lifted Jan. 29.

January and February -- February being a short month -- are historically slow because of winter weather and the lingering influence of the holidays.

At MGM Springfield, the biggest one-month total in gross gambling revenue was $26.9 million in September 2018, its first full month of operation. The lowest was $10.5 million in November 2020.

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MGM Springfield monthly gambling revenue up more than $2M, still lags pre-pandemic take - MassLive.com

The people of the State of Alabama may not get the chance to vote on a lottery, casino gaming or sports betting.

Earlier this week, Sen. Del Marshs comprehensive gambling bill made it to the floor of the Senate, but it fell two votes shy of passing by a narrow 19-13 margin. Because the bill would require an amendment to the Alabama Constitution of 1901, a 3/5th majority vote is needed instead of the normal majority vote. The bill needed 21 votes to pass.

He only needed two votes, political analyst Steve Flowers said. I think there are a lot of reasons it didnt pass. I think it would have had a hard time in the House. The bill also had a lottery, casino gambling and sports betting. He may have gotten a lottery, but not all three. I think the House was his biggest problem. I think for this to pass, Gov. Kay Ivey is going to have to have to be out in front and call a special session.

Flowers said, the possibility exists that Marsh may retool the bill and bring it back to the floor. But, he said, most likely the bill is dead for the session.

Flowers also said there was strong opposition to the bill from north Alabama senators. He said out of the six senators in the area, only one, Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, voted for the bill.

When you look at the vote, you have to remember Alabama is in the Bible Belt, Flowers said. North of Birmingham is the most religious part of the state maybe in the entire nation. There may have been some social pressure on those senators to vote against it.

Marshs bill called for legalized gambling at the locations of the states four dog racing tracks, plus an additional site in north Alabama that would be run by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The bill would have also authorized a gambling compact at all Porch Creek bingo casinos. In addition, Lowndes and Houston counties were added to the bill as sites for casinos at the request of the respective county legislative delegations.

The estimated money generated would have been $194-$279 million for a lottery and $260-$393 million from a 20 percent tax on gaming revenue from casinos.

Flowers said the states budgets remain a strong priority for early in the session. Flowers said the House passed the General Fund budget this week, and that budget now moves to the Senate for debate.

The state is in much better shape than many other states, Flowers said. We had good, conservative [2020] budgets put together by Rep. Steve Clouse , R-Ozark, and Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, last year. Were in good shape coming out of the pandemic. Theyve got plenty of time to pass the budgets, but Id expect it to be within the next two weeks.

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Gambling bill cut down in Senate - The Troy Messenger - Troy Messenger

The newly elected president of the Tourism Commission delivered a speech in favor of the legalization of Brazils gambling and betting industry before the Chamber of Deputies, and insisted on reopening the debate this year.

On March 12, Joo Carlos Bacelar was appointed president of the Tourism Commission of the Chamber of Deputies for a one-year term. He pointed out three key priorities during his term as a president the approval of the Regulatory Framework for Gambling in Brazil, the resumption of tourism in the country, as well as transforming the commission into a large tourist body able to rebuild the bases of Brazilian tourism in the post-pandemic period.

Tourism in Brazil had losses of R$290 billion in the pandemic, and 397 thousand jobs were closed. Today, it has only 42% of the revenues it had and it also needs help in the very short term.

Carlos Bacelar has been a vocal supporter of gambling regulation for years. His position is now shared by the new Minister of Tourism, Marcelo lvaro Antnio, who hopes to reactivate the economy of the country during the pandemic with the launch of casino resorts.

The new head of the Tourism Commission said in his speech that gambling exists in either legal or illegal forms. He also expressed his discontent that a government that presents itself as liberal decides what people can do in their spare time.

Bacelar presented financial reports that estimate that Brazil could collect R$20 billion (about US$3.5 billion) in annual taxes, and that some 400,000 jobs would be created if gambling is regulated. The country is on the way to legalizing sports betting, as a new regulatory framework is expected to enter in force in July.

Bacelar insisted that the Chamber of Deputies resume the debate related to House Bill No. 442/1991, which awaits a vote in the Plenary. Under this proposal, video bingo, slots, the lottery-type animal game and casinos would be regulated. In addition, a national gambling authority would be created to supervise, control and regulate the industry.

According to Bacelar, the betting market has a higher potential than casino resorts that would need three or four years before becoming beneficial to the public coffers. Bacelar says that electronic games and online betting might be a substitute for the lack of large events during the pandemic. The new president adds that the current law forces the gambling industry to act in an unregulated manner, which could be avoided with the adoption of a new law.

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Deputy Bacelar to Push for Gambling Regulation in Brazil - GamblingNews.com

William Hill has asserted that its committed to responsible gaming year-round, as the sportsbook operator rolls-out a campaign, during the US Problem Gambling Awareness Month, which aims to showcase tools available and empower customers to make informed and responsible decisions.

The National Council on Problem Gambling led campaign, now in its nineteenth year, aims to leverage the backdrop of March Madness to help raise awareness and create action for those suffering from gambling problems.

Among its efforts throughout the month, William Hill has created new training tools for all employees and has strived to greatly increased the visibility of its responsible gaming messaging at all sportsbooks and online.

Responsible gaming messages are appearing on all betting kiosks nationwide throughout March, and all betting tickets at William Hill sportsbooks include the companys Always Bet Responsibly. Play By the Book logo, accompanied by a local gambling helpline.

March is a great time of year to bring awareness to the issue of problem gambling, said Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill US. Our goal is to educate new and existing customers about how to identify problem gambling and the resources that are available to help them and their families.

Sports betting should always be about fun and entertainment, and were taking the extra steps in our communications and our products to ensure that we always put protecting our customers first.

William Hill has also worked with the states of New Jersey and Mississippi to create and fund public service announcements bringing awareness to the issue of problem gambling and provides resources for people to get help.

The videos, titled Through a Childs Eye, aired across multiple television networks in the two states, providing a different and important perspective to the issue of problem gambling.

This video is through a childs eye; we felt it was important to help viewers understand how a child is affected from a parent gambling, said Neva Pryor, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

We would like to thank William Hill for allowing the Council to produce such a compelling video. Many people said that they hugged their child immediately after watching.

Such a powerful message helps the Council to heighten awareness of problem gambling, as well as the effects on the family.

Angi Wilson, deputy director of the Mississippi Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling, added: We want to thank William Hill for helping us publicize our helpline number and in turn helping problem gamblers and their families in Mississippi. We really appreciate their support.

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William Hill debuts US responsible gambling campaign - Casino Beats

The head of the Gambling Commission is to step down, leaving Great Britains gambling regulator without a chief executive in the middle of a government review into laws governing the sector.

Neil McArthur resigned with immediate effect, with a search for an interim chief executive due to begin shortly.

His departure comes at a critical juncture for the regulator, which has faced criticism for being underpowered and failing to adapt to the rise of online and mobile gaming, in part because it receives too little funding from government.

The regulator has come under fire for a perceived failure to provide proper oversight of Football Index, although McArthurs departure is understood to be unrelated to this.

McArthur presided over the commission during a period marked by growing unease about the behaviour of the gambling industry, notably its use of so-called VIP schemes, as well as concern about the impact on young and vulnerable people of gambling advertising and its links to football.

He led efforts to rein in the VIP schemes, ban gambling on credit cards and impose tighter controls on both advertising and online casino game design.

But the commission has also found itself at the centre of mounting criticism, amid stories about industry exploitation of vulnerable people and a highly critical report by the government spending watchdog the National Audit Office.

The regulators deputy chief executive, Sarah Gardner, and its chief operating officer, Sally Jones, will jointly become acting chief executives.

However, a permanent chief executive will not be hired until a new chair is appointed. The term of office of the chairman, Bill Moyes, ends later this year.

McArthur spent nearly 15 years at the regulator, serving as both general counsel and as chief executive from 2018.

He said: I am proud of everything the Gambling Commission has achieved during my 15 years with the organisation. We have taken significant steps forward to make gambling fairer and safer, and I know that I leave the organisation in a strong position to meet its future challenges.

With a review of the Gambling Act under way, now feels the right time to step away and allow a new chief executive to lead the commission on the next stage in its journey.

This article was amended on 16 March 2021. The commissions main jurisdiction is over Great Britain, not the UK as stated in an earlier version.

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Head of Great Britain's Gambling Commission resigns - The Guardian

Payne Porter and his sister, Piper, jumped on the GameStop stock frenzy in late January. Mr. Porter, a 23-year-old clothing designer in Los Angeles, invested $5,000, while his 26-year-old sibling, who works at an L.A. marketing agency, put in $3,000, both using the Robinhood trading app.

The wild ride they experienced during the two weeks they owned the stock was both thrilling and terrifying, they said.

I remember texting my dad when I was up $40,000 and he told me to pull out and I didnt, Mr. Porter said. It was definitely an emotional rollercoaster.

When they finally quit, they were still ahead by about $10,000 each. It was their first time buying stock on their own, and while they timed their exit well, they said next time they will proceed with more caution.

It felt more like gambling than investing, Ms. Porter said.

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Investing, Not Gambling: These Apps and Services Help Young Stock Buyers Think Long Term - The Wall Street Journal

One of the no votes that was thought to be a possible yes vote on State Sen. Del Marshs (R-Anniston) comprehensive gambling package, which included a constitutional amendment that fell just two votes shy of meeting the three-fifths majority required, was State Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road).

Barfoot, similar to his Montgomery-area colleague State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville), took issue with the possibility of passing a constitutional amendment on gambling without having a full understanding of enabling legislation, which would have laid the groundwork for the expanded gaming the amendment would legalize.

The Montgomery County legislator told Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5s The Jeff Poor Show that while he wasnt an advocate of gambling, he was not against it, either. However, he likened a yes vote on Marshs legislation to House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-CA) 2010 proclamation of having to pass a bill to know what is in it during the Affordable Care Act debate.

Let me say this you wont see me on the State House steps advocating for gaming, he said. Im not the guy that says weve got to have it under any circumstances. But, you know, I was not a no from the beginning, from the standpoint I do think that, you know, if you have a palatable piece of legislation it will never be perfect but a palatable piece of legislation to give the folks an opportunity to vote on, I think that is certainly something I could do. So, my opposition this past Tuesday was, you know, more procedurally than it was on the merits. I wasnt a no vote based on the merits. Although I think myself, like many other of the senators even some of the yes had concerns understanding and knowing the if it had gotten that 21 votes, three-fifths of the Senate, it would have moved to the House, where they would continue to shape it, mold it, modify it, maybe cut out some things or add to it. But my no vote on Tuesday was, you know, the constitutional amendment, as you know the Constitution of Alabama, the 1901 Constitution, says there is a prohibition against games of chance. And that has been amended some 18, 19 or so times local legislation that allows bingo facilities around the state, other local county organization to conduct certain types of gaming.

But that constitutional amendment referenced many times multiple places general law, Barfoot continued. That is not existing general law that it referenced. It was general law pertaining to legislation that had just been filed on Tuesday and, you know, in my opinion, a yes vote on that on Tuesday a constitutional amendment that referenced law that we had not discussed, debated, or even passed in the Senate would be akin to, you know, we throw bombs at Democrats in Washington on account of, Well, lets pass it and then well know whats in there. I think its a proverbial cart before the horse. Thats what happened last Tuesday. And had that enabling legislation that required a simple majority had that been up for debate first, the finer points of how that would be lottery, sports wagering, casino-style gaming had that been debated, decided and passed first in the Senate, you might have seen a different vote on the constitutional amendment.

Barfoot speculated the legislation could return, either later in the regular session or a special session possibly called by Gov. Kay Ivey.

I dont think its dead, he added. Mark Twain, you know, said, The rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated. I think thats probably true with the gaming legislation, whether it be later this session or maybe in a special. I think youll see it again, and you know I think theyll be an opportunity. Ultimately, if it were in a special, you can kind of isolate that and have everyone focused on how to make that potential legislation better something to send to people maybe to vote on. I think thats probably the way to go about it. But again, voting on a constitutional amendment with references to general law that we havent discussed, debated, or even passed I think that is a faulty error.

@Jeff_Pooris a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor ofBreitbart TV, a columnist for MobilesLagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobiles The Jeff Poor Show from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.on FM Talk 106.5.

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State Sen. Barfoot on gambling 'no' vote: Constitutional amendment referencing 'general law' that hasn't been passed is putting 'cart before the...