Category Archives: Gambling

DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, Oct. 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rivalry.com, an esports focused sportsbook licensed by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission announced today that it is tripling the number of esports titles it currently offers wagering on. Since launching in early 2018 Rivalry has focused on the following seven marquee titles:

As esports viewership continues to grow at an accelerating rate across a range of titles Rivalry is pleased to announce the following additional titles it will now be offering markets on:

As is consistent with Rivalrys current offering, all new titles will have the full range of markets from pre-match, proposition bets, handicaps, to live betting. Head of Sportsbook Evan Van Luven notes, At Rivalry we are constantly listening to our customers and the esports community at large. Since launching last year it became clear to us that our user base has a huge diversity of interests beyond our current offering and expected more from us. We are always striving to live up to those expectations and pleased to announce today that we are tripling our title offering, and will continue to rapidly add where we see demand.

Esports betting continues to be one of the fastest growing categories in online gambling. That said, with the average age of an esports fans being much younger than traditional sports audiences there is a heightened need for sportsbooks to address these demographics in an innovative way. A cornerstone of the Rivalry offering is providing increased fan engagement through a variety of unique offerings. In addition to sportsbook, Rivalry produces significant amounts of original written and video content, deep team & event information, betting education, highly engaging social media activations, a platform for watching esports streams directly while betting, and more.

Evan added, We are thrilled to be serving a community that we are also part of and deeply passionate about. Growing our esports titles is just the beginning of a massive increase in product offerings you can expect to see from us over the next couple months. We cant wait to share with everyone the many projects we have been working on.

About RivalryRivalry is an esports focused sportsbook licensed by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. With an initial launch in early 2018, Rivalrys goal is to cater primarily to the burgeoning esports market by providing an engaging wagering experience, original content, betting education, free to play games, and much more in development to be released. For more information go to https://www.rivalry.com.

Rivalry Limitedinfo@rivalry.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a1e6409-3f2d-48c7-9ae0-64d966f0d020

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Esports Gambling Website Rivalry Proud to Announce 300% Increase of Betting Offering - Yahoo Finance

Flat water rafting

Last week I asked: What nature-related things are there to do in Vegas?

Several great choices!

Mention Las Vegas and most people think of gambling.

But, Vegas it an excellent hub for enjoying nature.

Vegas may be located in a desert, but besides exploring the colorful rocky terrain there are lakes and rivers to explore.

Most of the natural areas are part of a national or state park.

1. Flat water rafting:

Put into the Colorado River at the foot of the massive Hoover Dam at a place where only the rafters are allowed. Head down the Colorado as it twist and turns through 12 miles of Black Canyon on a motorized-assisted raft surrounded between the majestic 2,000-foot rocky walls while on the lookout for desert wildlife as the guide shares historic vignettes.

The rafting trip offered by Black Canyon/Willow Beach River Adventures is suitable for all ages and even those with physical limitations can be accommodated.

2. Houseboating:

Be your own captain and chart your own course with all the comforts of home on fully equipped houseboat.

Experience the quiet desert mornings, the brilliant sunsets, and the star-filled sky from your rooftop hot tub. Explore the shore, venture into a canyon, go fishing or swimming.

Forever Resorts rents houseboat on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave.

3. Kayaking canoeing:

Experience the quiet of the desert and the majesty of Black Canyon on a guided kayaking trip. Explore caves, soak in natural hot springs and learn the history of the area.

Most people consider the Colorado River below Hoover Dam more scenic than any other part of the river.

4. Death Valley:

Only 120 miles from Vegas Death Valley always surprises people.

Even with its extreme temperature there are more than 1,000 plant and animal species within the National Park.

Visit Furnace Creek Ranch, the Borax Museum, take a guided tour of Scottys Castle and play golf on the worlds lowest golf course.

5. Red Rock:

Only 30 minutes from the Strip the escarpment rises three thousand feet from the Spring Mountains.

The Visitor Center provides for an overview of the geological formation. A brochure outlines the many hiking trails.

Especially unique is Ice Box Canyon where it offers relief on a hot day.

There is a driving loop for those who do not want to hike.

6. Valley of Fire:

As the name suggests the rocks in this state park are brilliant. The Visitor Center should be the first stop.

There are self-guided trails and petroglyphs left by some of the earliest settlers.

7. Spring Mountain Ranch:

The center of this state park is the ranch owned by Vera Krupp of Germanys munitions dynasty.

later, it was owned by Howard Hughes.

Besides guided tours of the ranch there are a number of activities including outdoor musical productions during the summer presented by a local theater group.

8. Mount Charleston:

Only 45 miles from the Strip Mount Charleston is visible from most places in Vegas.

Many visitors are surprised that it is usually snow covered in the winter and has a ski center.

During the summer it is a cool respite from Vegas.

The drive goes through several micro climatic zones so the vegetation changes with the altitude.

9. Bonnie Springs and Old Nevada:

Located in the Red Rock area, Old Nevada is a recreated Old West town with staged gun fights, stagecoach rides and other activities.

There is a petting zoo nearby.

10. Off-roading:

Several companies offer desert tours for thrill seekers. Choose your vehicle dune buggy, 4 x 4, Hummer or a pink jeep.

Explore canyons and visit ghost towns.

Travel Trivia Tease: What European capital is known as the City of Spas?

Look for the answer next week.

Sandra and her husband, John, have been exploring the world for decades, always on the lookout for something new and unique to experience. We have sailed down the Nile for a week on a felucca, stayed with the Pesch Indians in La Mosquitia, visited schools in a variety of countries, and to add balance to our life stayed at some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. Let the fun continue!

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Sandra Scott Travels: There's Much More To Do In Vegas Than Gambling - Oswego Daily News

Tether, the notoriously famous crypto coin, is, unfortunately, paving its way into the depths of the digital currency niche by evolving as a strong medium for the trading of goods and services. The virtual currency has been at the center of focus for all the bad reasons in recent times. Many researchers accused Tether of being employed as a tool for manipulation of prices of many reputed digital coins.

Despite all these allegations, the position of Tether in the crypto domain appears to be quite strong in comparison to many other digital coins. The coin accounts for nearly 30% of trading volume at one of the largest crypto payment processors, CoinPayments.net. At B2BinPay, the controversial coin, Tether, has shown a surge of about 20% in the transaction volume involving both customers and merchants.

The primary reason for the success of Tether can be attributed to the fact that it is a stablecoin. The primary aim of stablecoins is that they help in avoiding price variations while keeping intact a one-to-one ratio with the native dollar by maintaining a reserve for it. Cryptwerk, which works as a store directory, has listed 265 firms that accept Tether as a mode of payment for transactions.

Sean Mackay, operations chief at CoinPayments.net stated that

Merchants used to accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and convert it into Tether in order to hedge against the volatility. Now we are seeing the payments just being done directly in Tether.

As per the recent stats, the success of Tether is being held responsible for the plummeting figures of leading crypto coins, Bitcoin and Ether. At CoinPayments.net, Bitcoin has seen a drastic fall of nearly 60% in the payment settlement volume. Interestingly, Tether stands a place ahead of Ether in the ranking, which grabs the third spot on the platform.

The popularity of Tether can also be attributed to its widescale acceptance in the marketspace. The merchants who face issues in credit-card processing services or have to pay heavy processing charges often resolve to Tether as a medium of exchange. According to Michael Chrzan, the co-owner of Green Earth Robotics Inc. has revealed that Bitcoin, Ether, and Tether are the most widely used crypto payment coins on the platform.

Tether, its started catching up. Since their community is growing, we believe it will expand in time. When the community is growing, they start using the coin,

said Chrzan.

CoinMarketCap.com has revealed that the market capitalization of Tether has risen to $4.12 billion from $2 billion in a years span.

Recently, Tethers parent companies were being sued by the Ney York Attorney General for concealing the loss of more than $850 million in corporate funds. Though, Tether has refuted the allegations. Also, it was clarified through a court filing this year that only 74% and not 100%, as it was earlier claimed by the firm, of the Tether assets are secured by cash and short-term securities.

John Griffin, a renowned finance professor at the University of Texas, blamed Tether-backed manipulation for Bitcoins fall in 2017.

Despite all this, Tether has managed to maintain its position in the niche. Sean Mackay concluded, saying that The fact that they have so many users just goes to show even if theres nothing backing it, people are still using it.

Original post:

Crypto Coin Tether Becomes Hot-shot Payment Method at Gambling Sites, Pot Shops - CryptoNewsZ

Chiba (Japan) (AFP) - The US PGA Tour is ready to roll the dice and unveil gambling at tournaments "from next year" to tap into new audiences, Commissioner Jay Monahan has revealed to AFP.

Gaming restrictions are being relaxed across the United States and golf has been preparing for legalised sports betting for years, Monahan said in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the inaugural Zozo Championship in Japan.

"You'll start to see product in the market place next year," he said, with the primary aims to attract new fans and to prolong interest over a tournament day, which can stretch to 12 hours or more.

The $9.75 million Zozo Championship, which began Thursday featuring Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in a star-studded field, is the middle leg of the Tour's new Asian swing, worth almost $30 million in prize money.

It began last week in South Korea at the $9.75 million CJ Cup won by Justin Thomas and concludes at the $10.25 million WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai next week.

"It's all about engagement," said Monahan of the plan to introduce gambling.

"When done right, it gives fans the opportunity to engage with your sport over a longer period of time and have more interest in what's happening across the entire player field."

Monahan is acutely aware that gambling within the sport will need rigorous monitoring, given match-fixing scandals that have dogged sports such as cricket and football.

"It's legalised in a lot of international markets and we've put the right systems in place, both in terms of an integrity programme and monitoring activity," explained Monahan, who has been in charge of the world's biggest golf tour since taking over from Tim Finchem in January 2017.

- 'We've done a ton of work' -

"As it is becoming legalised by state in the US, you can either participate or not, and we feel smarter to be participating... versus let others control it," he added.

Monahan would not be drawn on exactly what products might be unveiled but said they were being developed in an international partnership with IMG Arena -- specialists in sports and the betting industry -- with integrity the top priority.

"Once you start to participate, you can eliminate negative bets," he said. "We've done a ton of work to make certain that that's the position we're in.

"I think when we come forward, you'll see that we've taken significant steps to address that. We're going to participate in a thoughtful way and I'm really comfortable with that."

Japan is a golf-crazy country and there have been massive crowds flocking to Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) outside Tokyo, for the new $9.25 million event to see the likes of Woods, McIlroy and home-grown hero Hideki Matsuyama.

It is whetting the appetite for next year's Olympics in Tokyo, said Monahan.

"I'm excited to come back here and see golf in Tokyo at an Olympic Games, I think it's going to be as passionate a following as any sport's going to have," said Monahan.

"There was so much positive energy around the 2016 Games.

"The players that competed loved it. We're not going to be playing opposite the week of the Olympics like we were in 2016," he added, underscoring the importance of the Games now in golf's global calendar.

And he had good news for golf fans in Japan -- the US PGA Tour is here to stay, beyond the initial six-year deal for the Zozo Championship.

"When we make a commitment to bring a new event to a market, that's a commitment that is permanent," Monahan said

"Our intention is to never leave Japan, to always have a PGA Tour event in Japan from this day forward."

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Golf gambling to be rolled out 'next year': US PGA Tour boss - Yahoo Sports

Today's not just any Tuesday. It's perhaps the most important Tuesday of the year. It's the Tuesday that turns around the very idea of Tuesdays, from "bah humbug" to Friday 2.0.

It's the start of the NBA basketball season, which coincides perfectly with the start of you getting your life on track. Do the laundry you're behind on, maybe make dinner instead of ordering out and follow these NBA gambling tips, because it's time to become the best you. Forget about when you doubled down on the New York Yankees sneaking into the World Series or all of that hope (and cash) you gave to the Cleveland Browns.

Because it's a joyous day, the start of entertaining basketball and whatever the Washington Wizards are doing, and we've decided to just hand you free money. Not literally, because we've never met most of you, but with these longterm projections and some of our favorite prop bets, you'll be Scrooge McDuck hugging your doubloons in no time.

Let's start with the biggest award.

1. Joel Embiid to win MVP +1200

This is the year of the 76ers. At least for the regular season. In a reduced Eastern Conference that has seen the returning champion lose its best player to greener pasturesKawhi to LAthere's no dominant force that can match up with Philly. The Bucks, last year's only 60-win team, let critical role player Malcolm Brogdon walk. The squad added Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez, and Kyle Korver, but those are more fringe moves than anything else.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, drastically changed their roster despite being a few bounces away from the Conference Finals. It's a risk, but I do think they've upgraded in a seismic way with Al Horford and Josh Richardson. Embiid is the big beneficiary of all of this. He won't have Jimmy Butler hogging the ball in critical possessions and the addition of another great defensive big will allow Embiid to expend more energy with the ball in the post. As long as he stays healthy, I see the Sixers leading the charge in the East and possibly finishing the season with the most wins. Embiid will be the center of that, along with the constant praying that Ben Simmons can hit one three.

Longshot: Damian Lillard to win MVP +2800

Remember when Lillard ended the Oklahoma City Thunder? It happened early in the playoffs but was still a monumental play changing the course of the NBA. Paul George and Russell Westbrook are now on the Clippers and Rockets respectively while Chris Paul is stuck in NBA basketball purgatory all off because of Lillard's 30-footer.

Lillard has been consistently superb for the Blazers since his arrival and he will have the ball in his hands constantly. With Jusuf Nurkic's injury, Lillard will have even more responsibility than ever before. If he's able to continue on his climb from last year, he should be in the MVP discussion. It's worth a shot.

2. Rudy Gobert to win DPOY +145

Yes, he's the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, but he's the favorite for a reason. He's going to win. The Jazz are built to irritate every single opponent this year on the defensive side of the ball, and Gobert will be a huge part of that. Gobert has won the last two years and there's a good chance that this Utah team will be definitively better than previous seasons with Mike Conley's addition.

Longshot: Jrue Holiday to win DPOY +2500

With Anthony Davis gone and Zion Williamson already injured for at least six weeks, Holiday will have the spotlight on him once again. One of the best wing defenders in the league, Holiday may have been underrated since the bulk of the attention has always seemed to be on one of his superstar teammates. If the Pelicans are able to do what some prognosticators predict, making the playoffs with a young, unproven squad, it will surely be due to Holiday and his defensive prowess.

3. Doc Rivers to win COY +300

The general consensus on Doc Rivers has been wishy-washy, to say the least, since his Celtics days. But, it's clear that he's at his best barking instructions when his team is chockful of superstars. His Celtics championship is the quintessential example of a locked-in Rivers team and this Clippers roster has the depth and all-stars at the top that Boston had back in the late 2000s.

His team's performance in last year's playoffs was impressive, especially considering the depleted cast and opposition in Golden State. Taking two games off of a Curry-KD team is no easy feat. Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams are nice and all, but they're not Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Bold claim there. I see the Clippers atop the west at the end of the season and for coach of the year, it's usually that easy.

Longshot: Steve Kerr +3000

The 2015-16 Coach of the Year, this should be the toughest challenge that Kerr has had to face so far. He has Steph Curry and Draymond Green, sure, but Klay Thompson is likely out for the year, KD and Shaun Livingston are off the roster and the team is jam-packed with young, unproven players.

Kerr is one of the more-respected leaders in the NBA and I can see a scenario where this Warriors team, as a fourth or fifth seed, surpasses expectations due to a Curry MVP season and a greater sense of freedom since Durant is no longer holding everyone hostage.

4. Ja Morant to win ROY +350

I know Zion is the consensus, but his injury history and playing style terrify me. It doesn't seem sustainable. He's less of a Greg Oden comparison than a Blake Griffin onea potentially great player that sometimes is too athletic for his own good. Griffin's had plenty of great years, but he has been plagued by injuries from the get-go. Morant is the definitively safer bet. He'll put up great stats on a bad team, which is ultimately the arbiter for this award. Remember when Michael Carter Williams won and immediately got traded? This award isn't always for the best player and I see that coming back into play here.

Longshot: Coby White to win ROY +1800

The Bulls may actually not be terrible this year and I see White getting a majority of touches at the PG position by season's end. He's an explosive player that will have his moments on highlight factories from SportsCenter to House of Highlights and the Bulls could be frisky enough for a playoff spot that he'll still be critical down the stretch. The hair is fantastic too.

Just fantastic hair.

Three Prop Bets We Need to Tell You About Before You Go

5. RJ Barrett to Average Over 14.5 Points Per Game -120

The Knicks are going to be atrocious. Their free agency was a disaster and they signed a bunch of eighth men instead of using their money in a wise manner. RJ Barrett will look even better than he should, playing with these scrubs. The Knicks mortgaged their future trying to get KD or Kyrie and ended up with RJ. He'll be getting a lot of reps early and often.

6. Steph Curry to Win the Scoring Title +300

As I mentioned before, the Warriors consist of a whole new cast of characters from last year with a drastic defensive drop. Golden State will be getting into shootouts time and time again and Curry will no longer be able to sit fourth quarters in blowouts. The team will be worse, but Curry may be putting up gaudy stats as he did in his MVP days.

7. Charlotte Hornets UNDER 23.5 Wins -120

Their starting lineup is Terry Rozier (already banged up), Dwayne Bacon, Miles Bridges, PJ Washington, and Cody Zeller. If they win 20 games, that's a monumental victory.

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The seven NBA bets that will save your 2019 gambling year - Golf Digest

An Illinois legislator says the states new gambling expansion bill needs to be cleaned up.

The states recent gambling expansion authorized the construction of six new casinos and legalized practices like sports gambling. Illinois State Representative Jeff Keicher says the law is vague over how legalized sports betting will work, such as how people can bet on specific sports. He hopes the General Assembly can clear that up.

Lets bring it out of the shadows. Lets put it in a place where we can watch it, we can pay attention to it. We can offer help to the people that need help recovering from gambling addictions but we also are able to keep our Illinois infrastructure strong and thriving, he said.

Keicher adds that the vagueness in the law also reduces the appeal of sports gambling.

Were missing out on a whole fall season of NFL sports and NBA sports where those are some of the largest wagered items," he said. "And those folks who participate in sports books are now seeking, you know, Indiana, Wisconsin opportunities for where they can do that.

Currently, sports betting in Illinois requires gamblers to first register with a casino before being able to make use of an operators app or in-person services. After 18 to 24 months, the law will open up the market to other operators, such as betting websites.

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Rep. Keicher Wants Cleanup Of State Gambling Bill - WNIJ and WNIU

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The Chicago Cubs wanted a new direction, at least on the dugout's top step.

They made that clear when they didn't re-up manager Joe Maddon, whosigned with the Los Angeles Angels.

Now, we know what direction they're going. As NBC Sports' David Kaplanreported Wednesday, the Cubs will hire David Ross as their next manager, with an official announcement expected soon.

Ross played 15 seasons as a big league catcher. His final two years were spent on the North Side in 2015 and 2016. In the latter campaign, the Cubs busted their infamous 108-year championship drought, and Ross was apparently an inspirational leader.

Key members of the current Cubs roster, including third baseman Kris Bryant and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, have expressed affection for Grandpa Rossy.

"The dude's a legend," Rizzo said in a 2016 Players' Tribune interview.

"I've always looked at Rossy as a coach when he played here," Bryant told reporters in September. "Yeah, it was goofy, it was fun, it was energetic, but when he needed to tell you something, he let you hear it. From the very get-go, I felt like this guy will be a manager someday."

The club's decision to hire Ross wasn't a huge surprise. But it was a gamble on youth over experience.

First, Chicago opted to part ways with Maddon, who managed for all or part of 16 seasons with the Angels, Tampa Bay Rays organization and Cubs while winning two pennants, a World Series and three Manager of the Year awards.

Then, they interviewed but ultimately rejected another seasoned manager in Joe Girardi, who grew up in Illinois and spent seven seasons as a Cubs catcher before eventually guiding the New York Yankees to several postseason appearances and a Commissioner's Trophy.

In the end, Chicago and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein chose the untested 42-year-old Ross.

"Lack of experience is always a factor. It's not a determining factor, but it's a significant factor," Epstein told reporters before Ross' hiring became public. "But, I think there's ways for that to be overcome...beliefs, skills, personal attributes.Those can outweigh lack of experience, but experience certainly helps."

That being said, Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch is a 45-year-old former catcher who had less than two full seasons of experience as a big league skipper when the 'Stros hired him in September 2014. Former outfielder/first baseman and current Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez is 55, but he had never managed at the MLB level before 2018.

At the moment, they're squaring off in the Fall Classic.

More and more, teams are hiring young managers. In today's analytically driven game, the grizzled veteran who goes with his gut is being supplanted by the youthful skipper who motivates in the clubhouse yet is largely in lockstep with the front-office stat gurus when it comes to lineup and playing-time machinations.

Perhaps that's the way of the future. On the other hand, MLB history is littered with accomplished managersfrom Connie Mack to Bruce Bochywho compiled scores of regular-season victories and piles of championship trophies despite (or because of) their age and old-school approach.

After losing the National League Wild Card Game in 2018 and missing the playoffs altogether this season, the Cubs are obviously taking the younger-is-better approach. That's sure to please Bryant, Rizzo and others who are essential to their 2020 success. And it won't be a complete departure from Maddon, who despite his experience exuded a lighthearted vibe and embraced modern metrics.

Now, it's up to Ross to prove he's as good at in-game strategy as he is at making friends and inspiring silly nicknames.

The Cubs wanted a new direction on the dugout's top step. On Wednesday, they got it.

We'll see if new equals better.

All statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference.

Celebrate Pedro Martinez's Iconic Career with B/R World Tour Merch.

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Cubs Gambling on Youth over Experience With David Ross Hire - Bleacher Report

This measure, which will be included on the statewide ballot in November, asks voters to legalize sports gambling to fund Colorado water projects.

It might not be the wisest decision to put $20 down on the Broncos given how theyve been playing recently, but if voters pass Proposition DD in November, youll be able to bet on Denver (or any other sports team) legally.

The measure, which legalizes sports gambling and taxes casinos to help fund Colorado water projects, will allow only forbets to be placed through casinos in the mountain towns of Central City, Cripple Creek, and Black Hawk. However, its likely that these businesses would create online operations, through which you could place bets from anywhere in the state. A similar scenario is already in effect in New Jersey, where online gambling accounted for 80 percent of all sports bets in the state last year.

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Many states are legalizing sports gambling or considering it after a 2018 Supreme Court decision ruled that the federal government could not make laws prohibiting states from authorizing sports betting. According to the American Gaming Association, 12 states have joined Nevada in legalizing this type of gambling, while at least five other states and Washington, D.C. have passed bills that are not yet in effect. Six other states have active legislation on the issue.

For being such a short ballot question, there are a lot of nuances to this issue. Read on for more about what this measure says and how it will affect Colorado:

What youll see on the ballotShall state taxes be increased by twenty-nine million dollars annually to fund state water projects and commitments and to pay for the regulation of sports betting through licensed casinos by authorizing a tax on sports betting of ten percent of net sports betting proceeds, and to impose the tax on persons licensed to conduct sports betting?

Didnt this already pass through the legislature?Yes, Gov. Jared Polis signed HB-1327, which set up the framework for the bill and authorized the issue to be put on the ballot, in May after it passed through the state legislature. Now its up to voters to approve the bill.

The Colorado legislature worked on a regulatory framework and had the option of not taxing casinos, but thought that would be a missed opportunity, says House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, who co-sponsored the bill. Because the bill represents a change in the tax code, it must be approved by Colorado Voters, based on the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR). Without TABORwhich will also be up for repeal via a separate proposition on the 2019 statewide ballotthis proposition would already be law.

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TABOR is also responsible for the wording of the bill. The tax will only be applied to casinos and not picked up by Colorado taxpayers. The bill written by legislators estimates that revenue from sports betting could top $29 million per year, but the blue book voters received in the mail states that the revenue will average around $16 million annually for the first five years, based on what has occurred in other states.

Who supports Proposition DD?The House bill outlining the measure sailed through both chambers of the state legislature with bipartisan support. The most vocal support group, Yes on Proposition DD, received funding from casino groups and sports gambling sites. For most people who are supporting the bill, it seemed like the right way to approve sports gambling in the state.

Here in Colorado, people are already betting online, theyre just being operated offshore. This seemed like the right opportunity to come in and regulate an opportunity thats already taking place, says Garnett. And then to refer a tax to go to one of Colorados top priorities, which is funding Colorados Water Plan.

The first-ever Colorado Water Plan was adopted in November 2015 after years of study, and provides a blueprint for how the state will meet its growing water needs. The plan has so far lacked a dedicated revenue stream, which is what Proposition DD hopes to provide.

Because the revenue from this measure will focus primarily on the Colorado Water Plan, Proposition DD has also been endorsed by a slew of environmental groups, including American Rivers, Conservation Colorado, Colorado Water Trust, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Outdoor Industry Association, among many others. James Eklund, the former director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the official who drafted the Colorado Water Plan, also supports the measure.

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(MORE: Can a Water Plan Actually Work?)

Who opposes Proposition DD?The opposition to this proposal is minimal. Ive been saying that theres no opposition to this. Its received every endorsement in every newspaper so far, but there is one person who disagrees. Garnett says.

That person is Gary Wockner, head of Coloradans for Climate Justice. And hes not necessarily opposed to legalizing sports gambling; hes opposed to the Colorado Water Plan. We need to conserve water, and we need to find a positive way to work with farmers rather than further draining and destroying Colorados already severely depleted rivers, says Wockner.

Should Coloradans be concerned about legalizing sports gambling?There hasnt been much opposition to Proposition DD on moral grounds either. J. Michael Faragher, director of addiction specialization at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, isnt surprised, given how society has shifted.

It wasnt that long ago that our parents and grandparents considered gambling a sin. Now, its a state-supported form of gambling. So its been an enormous cultural shift. Faragher says. There are still pockets of society that consider it a sin, but 48 out of 50 [states] have legalized gambling [through the lottery].

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(MORE: Why Local Therapists Are Concerned About Sports Betting in Colorado)

But Faragher is interested in how the influx of legal sports gambling will impact addiction and treatment, and says there should be more data about the effects on American society as more states roll out sports betting.

Well, the general rule of thumb is when any kind of potentially addictive behavior becomes more available to people, rates increase up to a certain point. So theres no reason to think thats not going to happen if we make sports betting legal and available, says Faragher, But sports betting already exists, it just isnt legal. Now, what might happen is, if people are gambling legally and they develop a severe problem, they may be more willing to go to a counselor and disclose that.

To offset this concern, the bill allots $130,000 a year to gambling addiction services. Garnett says he is committed to increasing that number in the Colorado legislature should the need arise.

But havent people already been betting on sports for years?Well, yes. But not like this. People have been using online betting sites (Bovada is one of the most popular) to put money on sports for a long time. The difference is that none of those sites have been based in the United States because that would be illegal, so theyre off-shore andallowed to operate. Proposition DD would create a structure in Colorado where casinos based in-state can operate sports books and the state will benefitsomething that has never existed here before.

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So, if the measure passes, when can I start betting on the Broncos?Cant say that bet will be a winner, but gambling would begin in May of 2020 if the measure passes. Failure to pass would dash hopes of legalized sports gambling in Colorado for the near future.

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Proposition DD: The Measure to Legalize Sports Gambling in Colorado - 5280 | The Denver Magazine

The less information sportsbooks have, the more you have to gain as a bettor. By the time you feel as though you have a grip on the season, Vegas is already five steps ahead of you. The beauty of the beginning of the season is that if you and Vegas starkly disagree on a team, player or storyline, you stand to gain quite a bit if you're right.

That is the logic these picks are based around. These lines, for whatever reason, are off in one direction or another. They won't be two months from now, so it's time to take advantage. These are my five best picks from the first two nights of NBA action.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and anyone who followed it last season saw massive returns. The model finished 300-252 on all its top-rated picks. On against the spread and money line picks alone, the model returned a whopping $4,280. The model's upcoming picks for every game can be found here.

For all of the talk about how well Toronto played without Kawhi Leonard last season, most of that success came on defense. The Raptors scored 115.6 points per 100 possessions with Leonard on the floor last season compared to 107.7 when he sat. The Raptors didn't exactly splurge on offensively-minded replacements this summer, as neither Rondae Hollis-Jefferson or Stanley Johnson shoot at anything close to a league-average level. The Pelicans have even less shooting. They planned to make up for that by dominating in transition. Without Zion Williamson, though, that will be far more difficult. Combine those factors with the strong defense both teams should play, and this will likely be a low-scoring affair.

Technically this is a road game for the Lakers, but no matter how Staples Center is dressed up, it is going to be filled with Lakers fans on opening night. This is, for all intents and purposes, a home game. The Lakers have both of their stars, while the Clippers are missing one of theirs in Paul George. The Christmas battle will be a far better barometer for where these two teams stand against one another than this one. Expect a comfortable enough Lakers victory.

If the Hornets really are the worst team in the NBA, as most expect, ask yourself how many opportunities you will truly get to bet against them as favorites? Games like this will be few and far between. The Chicago Bulls are hardly world-beaters, but their offseason additions of Tomas Satoransky and Thaddeus Young combined with their incumbent young core should ensure a baseline of competence. Even with this game being played in Charlotte, always take a decent team over a terrible one if the decent team is the underdog.

The six-point spread is a bit too scary to bet before seeing these teams actually play. After all, the last two games these teams played were both decided by three points exactly, and the game before that went into overtime. The Al Horford factor, however, points heavily in Philadelphia's direction. He was the one player in all of basketball who seemed to legitimately confound Joel Embiid, holding him to a field goal percentage four points lower than his career average and driving him crazy by forcing him to defend the perimeter. Now Horford is playing against Boston rather than for them, and the Celtics have no real answer for Philadelphia's MVP candidate. That should be enough to secure a win.

For whatever reason, Chris Paul thrives on opening night. He is 11-3 in his career in the first game of the season, and that speaks to his legendary basketball IQ. Paul, and by extension, his teams, are prepared. That is not to say that Utah won't be, but they are integrating a number of new players into key roles. Expecting them to roar out of the gate with a blowout win is a bit ambitious. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, is only going to get worse from here. Danilo Gallinari is both an injury and a trade candidate. Paul could easily be on the move. There will eventually be a major gap between these teams, but right now, 11.5 is just too many points.

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NBA gambling notebook: Best bets for the opening week of regular-season action - CBS Sports

According to the2019 Young People and Gambling survey published by the UK Gambling Commission, 11 per cent of 11-16 year olds havegambled in the past seven days with their own money.

The research, carried out by Ipsos MORI, found a three per cent decline in gambling participation among young persons compared to 2018. The report analysed theforms of gambling and gambling style games that young people legally take part in along with gambling on age restricted products.

The most popular form of gambling among 11-16 year olds wasprivate bets for money (usually with friends), with 5 per cent of those taking part in the survey taking part in the activity. Meanwhile a further 3 per cent wager money on card games.

Tim Miller, Executive Director of the Gambling Commission, commented on the report: This report demonstrates that children and young peoples interaction with gambling or gambling behaviours comes from three sources gambling that they are legally allowed to participate in, gambling on age restricted products and gambling style games.

Any child or young person that experiences harm from these areas is a concern to us and we are absolutely committed to doing everything we can to protect them from gambling harms.

Most of the gambling covered by this report takes place in ways which the law permits, but we must keep working to prevent children and young people from having access to age restricted products.

There operators have failed to protect children and young people we have and will continue to take firm action.This year alone, we have tightened rules and requirements around age verification to prevent children and young people from accessing age restricted products, put free-to-play games behind paywalls, and clamped down on irresponsible products.

Four per cent of respondents reported playing on fruit or slot machines in the past seven days, while three per cent saythey have played National Lottery scratchcards.

69 per cent of respondents had seen or heard gambling adverts or sponsorship deals while 83 per cent emphasised that such deals had not prompted them to gamble.

Miller continued: We have been raising awareness about where risks may arise from gambling-style games such as loot boxes and social casino games for some time. Even though we dont have regulatory control in this area we are actively engaging with the games industry and social media platforms to look at ways to protect children and young people.

Protecting children and young people from gambling harms is a collective responsibility and requires us, other regulators, the government, gambling operators, charities, teachers and parents to work together to make progress.

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UKGC reports 3% drop in gambling participation among young people - CasinoBeats