Category Archives: Gambling

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The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 82nd installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program. This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from The Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program; Volunteers in Police Service; community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

Collectively, We, everyone who works and lives in the City Antioch, can make a difference and improve the quality of life. Its our community and its our chance to make a difference.

The City of Antioch Neighborhood Clean Up program is not just for residential neighborhoods. It is a program that will change venues, on a monthly basis and it will include business and commercial areas as well. Neighborhoods that are free of trash and refuse are inviting, and a clean community instills a sense of community pride.

The 82nd Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday, July 1 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We will be cleaning the neighborhoods from 16th St. to Merrill Dr. between Marie Ave. and A Street (see map). Volunteers will meet at Kimball Elementary School on August Way.

Volunteers will receive instructions and the equipment necessary to accomplish the goal. The targeted area is within walking distance. Excluding inclement weather, future Neighborhood Cleanup events are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

Remember, cleaning up your neighborhood can make life better for your family, your neighbors and your community!

Publisher @ June 30, 2017

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By Sergeant Rick Smith, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at approximately 12:38 p.m., Antioch officers responded to a reported shooting that occurred in the 1700 block of Sycamore Drive. On arrival, a male victim was located and transported to an area hospital for treatment. Officers are currently investigating this incident and no further information will be released, at this time.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Publisher @ June 29, 2017

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Publisher @ June 29, 2017

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Classic video games are now at Kangazoom.

Adds classic video games

By Jesus Cano

With the summer coming up, Kangazoom has loaded up their business with more amenities for their customers.

After years of being vacant due to Golf N Games going out of business, the establishment was open in August of 2016, and is described by many of the residents of Antioch to be a hot spot for fun. They already have a 36-hole mini-golf course, and have added a plethora of arcade games that date back to the 80s.

Many of the games include classics such as Pacman, Donkey Kong, and Streetfighter. People have stated that these arcade game provide a unique spot for Kangazoom, as these gems are slowly starting to be left in the dust for the new era of technology

The main intention of adding these games is to bring back a blast from the past, Owner Marcus Jefferson said.

Kangazoom also has two party rooms, but with beautiful Bay Area summer weather rolling their way, they decided to open up a Barbeque area.

Jefferson also hopes to put good usage the available race track they have which is located at the end of their parking lot. He also seeks to bring friendly competition by hosting multiple mini-golf tournaments for people of all ages, along with more activities and additions this summer

Kangazoom also has a special deal going on for youth baseball and softball players, where you pay regular price for rounds and get double.

Baseball & Softball Team Specials

2 Tokens for $5

4 Tokens for $9

6 Tokens for $13

1 Hour Batting Cage Rental $25

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson and former Los ngeles Dodger Aaron Miles used these batting cages back when the place was known as Golf N Games.

Kangazoom is open every day. Monday- Thursday from 3-8pm, Friday from 12-9pm, Saturday 11am-9pm and Sunday from 11am-7pm.

To book a party or any general business inquires contact them at (925)776-4386, or visit their website at Kangazoom-Antioch.com.

Publisher @ June 29, 2017

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Publisher @ June 29, 2017

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Publisher @ June 27, 2017

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Shoppers enjoy the variety of items at Rivertown Treasure Chest.

By Allen Payton

Another new store has opened in Antiochs historic, downtown Rivertown, incorporating the area in its name: Rivertown Treasure Chest. Its a co-op thats co-owned by three ladies, Debbie Blaisure, Toni Lincks and Earlene Lanter and a portion of the sale of some items will benefit three local non-profit organizations.

Blaisure and Lincks bring their retail experience from owning Oddly Unique, just down the street. But, this store was a result of a dream.

I had a dream of mixing the new and old in a co-op, Blaisure said. Johnny Depp came to me in a dream and said to have a treasure chest theme, she joked.

The tag line says it all Something for all ages from all decades, Blaisure added.

They rent out space in their store to other retailers, who offer a wide variety of items, including clothing, candy and other sweets, plants including carnivorous types, greeting cards, and gifts.

The three non-profits that the store benefits are Celebrate Antioch Foundation which runs Antiochs July 4th Celebration and the Holiday Delites in December; An Elderly Wish Foundation which grants wishes to seniors; and Special Haven, also located on G Street, which provides a multi-sensory environment for the benefit and development of children and adults with Special Needs.

Folks can donate their used wood furniture, art, statures, vases and vinyl records and half of the proceeds from the sale of the item will be donated to the charity of the donors choice.

Two of the ladies who help manage the store, Naomi Paul and Mary Freeman said the reason they like the store, is it brings something that downtown Antioch deserves.

A little kid just bought something and an adult bought something, Mary added, supporting the slogan of something for all ages.

Stop by Rivertown Treasure Chest at 306 G St. in Antioch and browse through all the sections to see the interesting items from all decades. Learn more by calling 925-238-0090 or visiting http://www.facebook.com/RivertownTreasureChest.

Publisher @ June 27, 2017

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Jose Cansecowith a young fan during an autograph signing at Winter Chevrolet on Friday, June 23, 2017.

By Jesus Cano

Americas favorite pastime is alive and well in Eastern Contra Costa County. The Pittsburg Diamonds have played at City Park since 2014, and this week welcomed back to the Bay Area, former Major League slugger Jose Canseco, as he spent the weekend of June 23rd with the independent professional baseball team.

Canseco is best known for his tenure with the Oakland Athletics from 1982-1992, where nailed 209 homeruns and 647 RBIs. He and Athletics first baseman Mark McGwire formed the Bash Brothers. Along with that, he captured a World Series ring in the 1989 Battle of the Bay that was overshadowed by the infamous Loma Prieta Earthquake.

Canseco is no stranger to the city of Pittsburg, as this is his third year suiting up for the Diamonds. He states that his favorite part of being back in the East Bay is being able to be around the young players the Diamonds house.

I try to help them out with all aspects of the game, Canseco said. A lot of players actually recommend coming out to Pittsburg to play so Im really excited for this weekend.

The Diamonds have been part of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs since their inaugural season in 2014 when they were named the Pittsburg Mettle. In 2015 when ownership switched to hands of Khurram Shah, they commenced under the Diamonds brand paying homage to the team that played in the same area back in the 60s.

Shah wants everyone to be aware that Pittsburg is home to a minor league baseball team. Even if he brings Canseco out for a couple games, he hopes to generate life-long fans after this unique experience.

Were trying to build a fan base, Shah said. We want to see a repeat of people coming to ballpark consistently.

Pittsburg took two out of the three game series against the Vallejo Admirals during Cansecos weekend with the team, where the Diamonds improved to 11-9 on the season.

Shah highlights infielder Vinny Guglietti to be one of the top guys on the team. The Connecticut native is batting .420 with five homeruns and 27 RBIs. Wes Wallace is another player that makes a huge impact according to Shah as he is hitting .364 and five homeruns. Shah states Tyler Stirewalt is starting to showcase his pitching ability. Stirewalt has 1.92 ERA so far, this season.

The Diamondsnext home game is Tuesday night, June 27 at 6:30 p.m., to begin another three-game series also against the Admirals. To learn more about the Diamonds visit http://www.diamondsproball.com.

Publisher @ June 26, 2017

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Bodog online gambling - Antioch Herald

The calls come in when Ed Talbot is counseling clients, driving back to his Madison home or browsing the produce aisle at the grocery store.

The voices on the other end are often anxious, worried, desperate. They want help for loved ones addicted to making bets, at times the callers themselves are the ones in trouble.

Talbot, who turns 75 in August, is one of their only options. The iPhone he carries with him is the states hotline for problem gamblers, which Talbot has manned since its inception two years ago.

You want to strike while the iron is hot, if they make the call you want to be able to respond, said Talbot, executive director of the states nonprofit council on problem gambling. They win the next bet, and its see you later.

Despite being the first state to profit off legalizing the lottery, New Hampshire is one of the last to dedicate a portion of earnings to help treat compulsive gamblers.

Only this year, after Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signs a bill authorizing keno, will a small percentage of the states roughly $77.5 million annual lottery profits be funneled into treatment.

Currently, no public money is earmarked to that purpose and the state has little infrastructure to help the estimated 22,000 residents believed to have gambling problems. Unlike Massachusetts, New Hampshire has never set up a process to certify gambling addiction counselors, Talbot said.

It is very disconcerting, said Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. The state has an important role to play providing that safety net.

Compulsive gambling can be devastating and lead to bankruptcy, substance abuse, anxiety, depression and even suicide. Talbot knows all of that first hand.

Working at a dog track for more than a decade, Talbot bet on the greyhounds, a habit that slowly escalated into addiction. As he spent more and more time gambling, his home life grew worse. Talbot missed his daughters school functions and went into marriage counseling. On her deathbed in 1976, Talbots mother warned him that if he didnt stop gambling he would lose everything.

The next day she passed away and I spent the next year of my life proving her absolutely right, Talbot recalls. I lost my job, my family, I had no self esteem at all.

Using the last money he had, Talbot made his final bet in 1977. Days later, he showed up to a support group in Massachusetts. It took him the next eight years to pay off all his debts.

Now he wants to help others. A few years ago Talbot, who has had a house in the state for more than two decades, helped launch the New Hampshire Council on Problem Gambling.

I cant tell you how much better my life is, he said. All the things that I saw other people had and they loved and I couldnt understand it, I was so enraptured with gambling. Today I have those things, and I always felt I can help somebody else.

The council operates on a shoestring budget, comprised mainly of an annual $25,000 donation from the Lottery Commission. Two years ago the council submitted to the state a five-year plan to address problem gambling, but theres been no money to fund it, Talbot said.

The keno bill now requires 1 percent of the profits raised go to the states health department to help problem gamblers. Since the funding is tied to kenos popularity, its hard to tell exactly how much money will be raised.

Even then, the dollars arent necessarily a guarantee.

Almost two decades ago lawmakers decided to send 5 percent of state liquor profits into a fund for substance abuse treatment. Lawmakers then raided the fund almost every year afterward to help pay for other government functions. Amid the states ongoing opioid crisis, lawmakers two years ago slashed the funding formula to 1.7 percent. This year they raised it back up to 3.4 percent.

Its not clear how the money meant to treat compulsive gamblers will be used, but it is set to be managed by the states Department for Health and Human Services.

Few services currently exist. The National Council on Problem Gambling lists no counselors in New Hampshire. Three gamblers anonymous groups meet only in the southern tier of the state.

Though the exact number of compulsive gamblers in the state is unknown, there are signs of a problem.

Talbot estimates he gets between six and 12 calls a month. Before his phone number was publicized on the councils website, the Massachusetts helpline usually fielded between 400 and 500 calls a year from New Hampshire residents, Talbot said. Even more were directed to the National Council on Problem Gambling, which contracted with the Louisiana state helpline to cover calls from New Hampshire, according to its website.

Roughly 60 percent of adults in New Hampshire played lottery last year, according to the state Lottery Commission. In its most recent report from 2013, the National Council on Problem Gambling estimates about 2.2 percent of adults in the state had a gambling disorder.

If you think 1 percent is not that much, its a bunch of folks, said Charles McIntyre, executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery. These are problems we want to avoid.

Even though services for problem gamblers may soon become state-funded, Talbot doesnt anticipate he will stop answering the New Hampshires helpline anytime soon.

Right now the most important thing is if somebody calls they need to talk to someone, he said. That window can close.

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NH late to the game in funding treatment for problem gamblers - Concord Monitor

Were still nearly two months away from the kickoff of the 2017 college football season, but its never too early to start looking ahead to those opening games. The folks in Las Vegas seem to agree, as SEC gambling odds already have been released for Week 1, perBrett McMurphy:

Unsurprisingly, the Alabama Crimson Tide are the headliner for opening weekend, currently marked down as slightly more than a touchdown favorite over the Florida State Seminoles. Alabama typically comes out firing on all cylinders as evidenced by their 52-6 beatdown of eventual Rose Bowl champion USC to open last season. With that said, Nick Saban undoubtedly will remind his team of the last time the Seminoles faced off against a highly ranked SEC squad early in the year, as they mounted an incredible second-half comeback to beat Ole Miss 45-34 last year.

With the Tide leading the way, there are a few other interesting SEC odds: both Texas A&M and South Carolina open as underdogs. The Aggies will have a new quarterback (again) and will be traveling to Pasadena, Calif., to take on the Bruins, so perhaps that line should not come as much of a surprise.

The Gamecocks being nearly a touchdown underdog is somewhat surprising, however, considering the offensive talent they return. Will Muschamp, Jake Bentley and Co.have received a fair amount of buzz this offseason, so pulling off what could technically be considered an upset win could really get the hype train rolling for South Carolina.

NEXT 2017 Fantasy Football: Position rankings, sleepers, bargains, breakouts and potential busts (07/01/2017)

Originally posted here:

Week 1 SEC gambling odds: Alabama favored over FSU; Texas A&M, South Carolina underdogs - SECcountry.com

Las Vegas was once married to the mob, but the relationship unlike the 1988 film was anything but a comedy, a point clearly illustrated by a new exhibit at the Mob Museum.

Mob at the Movies trolls the cinematic archives to reveal how Hollywood portrayed organized crime, including the once-sinister underbelly of Sin City.

The collection includes a suit from the wardrobe department for The Sopranos as well as items from The Godfather, including a poster (in Italian) autographed by various stars. There is also an original script with notes made by the movies special effects coordinator. (Think fake blood, lots of fake blood.)

The Mob Museum

First edition of Mario Puzo's book, "The Godfather," plus the movie script and a poster can be seen through Aug. 1.

First edition of Mario Puzo's book, "The Godfather," plus the movie script and a poster can be seen through Aug. 1. (The Mob Museum)

Other films in the display are older and more obscure. For example, theres a poster from 1952s The Captive City.

The movie, which starred John Forsythe (his screen debut) and Joan Camden and was directed by Robert Wise, explored the links between gambling and corruption. Interestingly, in a poster, the movie was plugged by Sen. Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn.), who held hearings into organized crime around the country.

One of those 1951 Senate hearings was held in Las Vegas, inside whats now the Mob Museum. The courtroom used by Kefauver has been restored to its midcentury appearance.

The senator actually appeared in The Captive City. Turner Classic Movies website noted that Kefauver spoke of the evils of organized crime in a prologue and again at the end of the film.

Other oft-forgotten movies resurrected for the exhibit include Las Vegas Story starring Jane Russell, Victor Mature and Vincent Price and Las Vegas Shakedown with Dennis OKeefe and Coleen Gray.

Mob at the Movies continues through Aug. 1.

The museum in downtown Las Vegas is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Advance tickets are $20.95, a savings of $3.

travel@latimes.com

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Fade in: Gambling. Corruption. Sin. New Vegas mob exhibit goes to the movies - Los Angeles Times

A woman who witnessed teenagers tombstoning on Plymouth Hoe has said that they are 'gambling with their lives'. The tourist, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was left horrified after watching the young men leaping off a high sea wall, narrowly avoiding several rock formations on landing in the water below.

"I am not good at judging heights in metres, but it was high," she told The Plymouth Herald.

"To successfully complete the jump, they had to jump out several metres, and then make sure they had judged it just right to miss several rock formations jutting out at the bottom. Unbelievable.

"I was absolutely horrified along with everyone else who witnessed this. They are gambling with their lives, literally."

The woman also reported many of the young men apparently being pressured into jumping by their friends.

"There seemed to be a lot of goading for some of them to do it," she said.

"You could clearly see them look down, hesitate, look again, hesitate, etc. and eventually go for it after much goading. To me they are the most vulnerable because one ounce of hesitancy could be their demise in judging it wrong.

"They risk at the very least passing out on hitting the water (the thud heard on hitting the sea was very loud), disabling themselves for life and at worst death.

It comes just days after Cllr Stuart Hughes, who represents Sidmouth on the town, district and county council, took a picture of youngsters tombstoning from a pole into the sea off Sidmouth seafront on Monday evening.

The photographs shows one young boy jumping from the top of the pole with a dozen or so youngsters around the bottom of the pole - just yards from sheet piling concrete.

Cllr Hughes said: "These youngsters appear to be blind when it comes to dangers that this type of activity poses. They are unaware of all the nasties that lay on the bottom of the sea bed around this post which is there to warn sailing boats of the outfall wall.

"They have no sense of danger below the waterline and taking tombstoning to next level at Sidmouth.

This latest report of the dangerous practice follows in the wake of tombstoners spotted plunging from one of Plymouth's most cherished landmarks - The Barbican - as safety rings in their usual spot on the Hoe were left abandoned and floating in the water.

A shocked onlooker photographed the lads leaping from the historic Mayflower Steps as the weekend sun came out.

In November 2016 Vincent Wagstaff, a father of three, tragically died from multiple injuries after jumping from the popular Hoe tombstoning hotspot.

The court heard that Mr Wagstaff had asked his cousin to film him carrying out the adrenaline-filled sport so it could be uploaded to social media.

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency warn that the seemingly fun act of plunging from piers, cliffs and rocks can be 'very dangerous' and say that "shallow puddles" could see thrill-seekers come into difficulty.

The popular trend, known as tombstoning, has been around for decades and now with the increasing desire for people to share their stunts on Facebook, making the craze even more popular.

Meanwhile, a safety ring on the Hoe was left floating in the water seemingly abandoned.

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency said earlier this week: "We always urge people to have fun but stay safe when out enjoying our beautiful beaches and coastlines.

"Jumping from piers, cliffs, rocks or other structures into the sea can be very dangerous."

The agency added: "The depth of the water can dramatically change with the tide, and what was a deep pool at lunchtime might be a shallow puddle by teatime. You don't know what hazards may be lurking under the surface until you are hurt or worse.

Lewis Trotman was said to be lucky to be alive after diving head first onto rocks

"The shock of cold water may make it difficult to swim to safety and strong currents can quickly sweep people away.

In 2010 coastguards came to aid of Lewis Trotman after he suffered head injuries on the Hoe.

The 14-year-old was described as lucky to be alive after diving head-first on to rocks.

In May 2008, 25-year-old city man Steven Andrews, from Manadon, was paralysed when he fell 20ft from a cliff into three feet of water at Whitsand Bay.

His first words after the accident were: "I'm paralysed mum, I want to die."

First reported by Plymouth Herald

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Tombstoners are 'gambling with their lives' says horrified onlooker as kids dive off Plymouth Hoe - Devon Live

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court said Tuesday that it will hear a pair of New Jersey sports gambling cases with national implications.

Christie, Gov. of NJ, et al. v. NCAA, et al. and NJ Thoroughbred Horsemen v. NCAA, et al. have been consolidated, and oral arguments will be heard before the high court during its next term, which starts in October.

The question to be addressed is whether Congress is allowed to bar states from authorizing sports gambling, or whether the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) violates the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution, which protects states rights. Essentially, the powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states.

PASPA, enacted in 1992, effectively prohibits sports betting throughout the United States. Exceptions were made for Nevada, Montana, Oregon, and Delaware, which had already implemented legal forms of sports betting. An exception would have been made for New Jersey if it had decided to legalize sports gambling within a year of the law passing.

However, the state legislature stumbled to even get a vote on the floor of the states assembly. Bill Bradley, the former Knicks All-Star and U.S. senator who essentially created PASPA, lobbied against the bill in the state, according New Jersey Lawyer Magazine.

There were other rumored complications. Nevada-based interest groups attempted to prohibit the exception from going through, ostensibly to keep a sports betting monopoly in the desert. At the time, there was also uncertainty about how supporting sports gambling could affect the 1993 governors race between Christine Todd Whitman, a Republican, and James Florio, a Democrat.

Now, nearly 25 years later, New Jerseys challenge to federal law has a chance to usher in a more inclusive, multi-state approach to sports gambling where the spoils could change the financial outlook of the state.

From an economic impact standpoint, I think that the futures very bright, Geoff Freeman, the CEO and President of the American Gaming Association, said. And that futures real based on a lot of what happens in Nevada right now, and how you project that elsewhere.

The impetus for New Jerseys challenge of federal law is the money to be earned.

In the United States today, we have an estimated $150 billion being wagered on sports betting. Only $4.5 billion of that is taking place in Nevada, Freeman said before circling back. Were looking at about more than 150,000 jobs, $5 billion in tax revenue at the state and local level.

Thats an enormous financial boom to consider. The tax revenue would make up one-seventh of the budget that Jersey state lawmakers proposed this week.

New Jersey state lawmakers have twice attempted to enact legislation that would legalize sports betting in the state. The four major professional sports leagues and the NCAA filed suit to enjoin both pieces of legislation, claiming they violate PASPA.

The first piece of legislation (Christie, Gov. of NJ, et al. v. NCAA, et al.) legalized sports betting and instituted regulations for licensing. The district court ruled it violated PASPA, and the decision was upheld by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court denied the states request to hear the case at the time.

The second piece of legislation took another tact. It did not attempt to regulate sports betting, but rather simply removed its illegality. The state interpreted the courts ruling in the first case as only prohibiting the authorization of sports gambling implicit in regulating the industry, and in this instance, the state wasnt attempting to regulate the industry at all.

As these cases were prolonged, technology changed sports gamblings revenue potential. Freeman believes the industry could take advantage of the possibility of human interaction and engagement during games, and that venture capital money is laying in wait.

Were going to see a lot of innovation come to this space which has a chance to turn these economic impact projections upside down, and really grow these things quite considerably, Freeman said.

In political circles, both federal and state-oriented, news of the SCOTUS decision was met with either excitement or indifference.

State lawmakers from the New Jersey senate to the assembly to Congress have griped that change was necessary. Frank Pallone, a Democratic congressman from New Jersey, has been a leading voice on the matter.

Pallone sees the law as hypocritical and unfair. New Jerseyans have voted in large support for legalized sports betting throughout the 2010s. Their shore towns, like Atlantic City, have lived and sputtered relying on casinos and related tourism, as well as horse racing before numerous tracks closed.

Pallone believes that a positive decision could re-ignite economies in multiple communities.

Both Congress and the Supreme Court should respect these actions, Pallone said. Rather than continuing to allow criminal and offshore entities to reap the benefits of illegal gaming, there is now an opportunity for the Supreme Court to allow the democratic process in New Jersey to appropriately regulate sports gaming.

Frank LoBiondo, a conservative New Jersey representative in Congress, said he has never understood why the federal government has stood in the states way on sports gambling and the revenue that can come from it.

This would be a big benefit to New Jersey. Itll help boost economies all across (the state), he said. Its not a silver bullet, but its another component that will help us out when the weather shifts and [shore towns] dont have as much revenue.

Though many state lawmakers were encouraged by the Supreme Courts decision to hear the cases, some were cautious. Jim Whelan, a current state senator and former mayor of Atlantic City, has been fighting for legal sports betting for years now. When sports leagues said that allowing people to bet on games would alter the integrity of athletics in 2014, Whelan led an effort to alter that way of thinking. Yet he said, the financial boon of legal sports gambling in New Jersey will have caveats.

Lets recognize just the fact that they are hearing the case doesnt mean they will decide in the case of New Jersey, Whelan said. We need to be realistic about what a positive decision will mean. It wont just be New Jersey. Everyone will have it. And I dont know if it will have as much benefit as everyone is touting.

Whelan doesnt want to dismiss the economic benefit to failing cities like Atlantic City, but just like how opportunities to gamble have grown since casinos came to Atlantic City, so have the number of entities that want to cash in on sports. New Jersey and Nevada dont have a monopoly on gambling anymore. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of New Jersey, the impact wont stay local.

Apprehension or not, some state lawmakers couldnt help but guess at what the economic outcome might be. In New Jersey and elsewhere, there is significant economic growth available. Legally, the money is estimated in the single billions. Illegally, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver claimed in 2014 there was at least $400 billion being spent just in America.

Many of PASPAs detractors have called for this day for decades. Significant revenue boost, jobs, and economic prosperity may hang in the balance. Leonard Lance, a Republican congressman from New Jersey, said that the state's citizens have seen the economic impact gambling can have for New Jersey communities. They voted for sports gambling before for a reason.

And if not for that flub years ago, states like New Jersey might look much different now.

A special deal worked out three decades ago outlawed sports betting in all but four states preventing New Jersey from the benefits those four states enjoy, Lance said. New Jersey deserves its day in court."

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The Supreme Court decision in New Jersey's sports gambling case could be worth billions around the country - SB Nation

The sound of phones ringing incessantly inside the Philippine Stock Exchange drown out the gasps of traders as they watch the share price of gaming technology provider PhilWeb Corp. take a nose dive on August 3.

PhilWeb, which has been managing the eGames network of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for the past 14 years, operates a network of 268 eGames cafes with a total of 8,839 gaming terminals nationwide.

It remits PHP14billion ($298 million) to the agency for its share of the revenue from the operations, according to the company. But things came to an end on that day for PhilWeb chairman Roberto Ongpin after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte singled him as an oligarch embedded in government that must be destroyed.

Ongpin, who later stepped down as PhilWebs chair to save his flailing company, would soon be remembered as the first casualty of Dutertes war against online gambling.

A year after Duterte launched a war against online gambling, PAGCOR had shuttered hundreds of eGames parlor across the Southeast Asian island nation.

PhilWeb was the biggest loser in Dutertes hardened stance against gambling. Last April, the Philippine-based firm reported that its net income plunged 134.2 percent in 2016 due to the expiration and non-renewal of its Intellectual Property License and Management Agreement (IPLMA).

On the other hand, Philippine-listed gambling firm Leisure & Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) survived the tumultuous year, eking out a two percent rise in its profit in 2016.

The firm, however, reported that it had been badly hit by Dutertes war after its wholly-owned subsidiaries AB Leisure Exponent Inc. (ABLE) and Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc. (TGXI) received separate notices from PAGCOR to cease and desist their respective operations.

LRWC also reeled from PAGCORs decision to issue Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) licenses. LRWC owns the majority of First Cagayan Leisure and Resorts Corp., which issued licenses to online gambling operators during the previous administration.

Philippine casinos hit jackpot under Duterte Casinos in the country, however, tell a different story on Dutertes gambling policy.

The lights of integrated resorts in Manilas Entertainment City have shone brightly as tourists from mainland China starts to flock the island nation.

Manila has aspired to become the next big Asian casino hub as high-stakes Chinese gamblers increasingly abandon Macau amid their governments crackdown on corruption. Escalating territorial disputes between Manila and Beijing during the term of former Philippine President Benigno Aquino, Jr., however, drove mainland Chinese tourists away from the island nation.

Dutertes rise to power gave casino operators renewed hope due to his pivot toward China. The Philippines saw an increase in visitors from China as the president sought to improve relations between the two countries.

Philippine casino mogul Enrique Razon, who founded Bloomberry Resorts Corp., has made a huge bet that Duterte would deliver on his promises by pushing ahead with plans to build a $418 million integrated resort outside the Entertainment City. Razon also threw his support behind Dutertes campaign against loosely regulated electronic gaming.

Razons bets are starting to pay off. In March, Bloomberry reported that it has swung into profitability in 2016. It posted net income of P2.32 billion ($46.07 million) the highest annual sum since opening in 2013.

Melco Philippines, operator of City of Dreams Manila, is basking on a bull run, making it the best-performing casino stock in the world.

Like Bloomberry, analysts say that Melco Philippines is benefitting from Dutertes move to draw closer to China and from the continued anti-corruption drive that drove the rich Chinese VIPs from Macau to Manila.

The prospects for the gaming industry are improving, Richard Laneda, an analyst at COL Financial Group Inc. in Manila said in an interview with Bloomberg. The improvement in Chinese traffic is driving sentiment, for it accounts for 30 percent to 40 percent of the VIP market.

Dutertes war brings Philippine online gambling clarity If theres one good outcome from Dutertes gambling war, it brought clarity to the countrys online gambling market.

In February, Duterte signed an executive order which not only beefed up the governments fight against illegal gambling but also clarified the extent of authority for the regulation and licensing of online gambling operations.

Section 3 of the executive order provides that No duly licensed online gambling operator, or provider of activities and services related to or in support of online gambling activities, shall directly or indirectly allow persons who are physically located outside the territorial jurisdiction of the licensing authority to place bets, or in any way participate, in the games conducted by such operator, whether through an online portal or similar means. Nothing herein, however, shall prohibit the duly licensed online gambling operator from allowing the participation of persons physically located outside Philippine territory.

The section reinforces an existing rule in the Philippines, which prohibits locally licensed online gambling operators from serving local punters.

But as the old saying goes, nothing is constant except change.

Thats why gambling operators should be cautiously optimistic as the Philippine online gambling industry continues to evolve under the heat of Dutertes war.

After all, once the dust has finally settled, theres no place for the industry to go but to rebuild.

More here:

One year on: Gambling in the time of Rodrigo Duterte - CalvinAyre.com

The UK Gambling Commission has announced the introduction of a series of new measures that will allow players further tools to monitor their online gambling activity, in a bit to increase gambling awareness.

The enhanced protection tools will allow consumers to make an informed decision about their online gambling habits and ensure further protections against irresponsible gambling.

Gambling companies must now give customers access to at least three months worth of account and gambling data. Operators must also provide account history information for a minimum period of 12 months on request, with easy-to-understand totals for a defined period.

Furthermore, companies must also ensure that customers have access to information related to net deposits, in addition to setting financial limits across their gambling account and individual games.

The UKGCs Programme Director, Sharon McNair laments the point that consumers must be able to make informed decisions about their online gambling activity.

The findings of our recent consultation indicate that there are differences in approach amongst licensees in relation to the level of information available to their consumers and the ease by which that information is accessible, McNair adds.

The new requirements seek to address this and ensure greater consistency in the information available to all consumers regardless of who they choose to gamble with.

Gambling operators must see beyond the bottom line, and ensure both new and existing gambling products are effectively managing the risks to the licensing objectives, keeping gambling safe and fair for all.

We are seeing operators developing new gambling products and technologies every day something that it is vital to the further advancement of the sector.

But as the industry transforms, operators are reminded that we too will continue to adapt our regulation to raise standards across all gambling sectors and enhance the protections available for consumers.

UK operators have until 1 April 2018 to implement the new responsible gambling tools.

Read more from the original source:

UKGC introduces self-monitoring online gambling regulation - Gambling Insider - In-depth Analysis for the Gaming Industry

Editors note: This story appeared in the May 2017 issue of Golfweek Magazine.

Brent Musburger is riding a hot hand.

The sportscasting legend just chipped in for birdie on the eighth hole at Cascata, 20 miles southeast of Las Vegas

Wheres that photographer? Musburger chirps at a visiting writer. The photographer had peeled off from the group one hole earlier. Musburgers moment of glory would live on in memory, if not pictures.

The hole-out ignites a string of victories. Musburger plays his 3-wood off the tee, keeps his ball in play and never gives his opponents a chance to rally. By the middle of the back nine, he and his playing partner, Vinny Magliulo, sports book director for Gaughan Gaming, were toasting their rout with Miller Lites.

Three months after leaving ESPN, Musburger is still doing what he loves: talking sports. But now he does it for the Vegas Stats & Information Network, or VSiN, the start-up launched by his nephew Brian, one of his victims at Cascata.

When Musburger received the request to play golf, he sent back word that hed like to play at Cascata, No. 2 behind only Shadow Creek on Golfweeks Best public-access list in Nevada. Hes been coming to Las Vegas for decades but only recently settled here and hadnt yet played Cascata, an electrifying Rees Jones design chiseled out of mountainous terrain.

Musburgers usual golf partner is his wife of 55 years, Arlene. He notes with some pride that when they play in club scrambles at Stock Farm, their club near Missoula, Mont., his buddies sometimes say they wish Arlene was their playing partner.

I always tell young guys, Get your wife playing early, he says. They think Im crazy. But its a game you can play your entire life.

A day after the outing at Cascata, Musburger is sitting in the sports book at South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa. The hotel is six miles south of Mandalay Bay, on a quiet part of Las Vegas Boulevard, if such a thing exists. Nearby, Gill Alexander, a statistical whiz kid, is wrapping up his Numbers Game show in the glassed-in VSiN studio. Musburger will be going on air shortly with his My Guys in the Desert show. (VSiN pronounced V-Sin by the staff streams its shows on its website and airs on SiriusXM channel 204.)

This is a big day for VSiN adult Christmas, as Alexander tells his audience. Its the first day of the NFL Draft, and Musburger is focused on possible storylines. Will the Bengals trade A.J. McCarron? Will the Patriots move Jimmy Garoppolo? Theyre better than anybody in the draft, Musburger says. (Both quarterbacks stayed put.) The big question: How will the draft impact teams 2017 win totals? People love to bet the over-under numbers, Musburger says. You dont have to pay attention to it every day. You can bet your favorite team. He settles on this as the hook for his show, which will start in less than an hour.

Some 40 years ago, Jimmy The Greek Snyder took Musburger to the Barbary Coast casino and introduced him to the owner, Michael Gaughan, who became one of Musburgers many friends in the desert. When Brian Musburger sought advice on launching VSiN, Brent steered him toward Gaughan. Later, over lunch, Gaughan told Musburger, I like your nephew. Im going to help him out.

Then came the call from Brian: Unc, I gotta have you.

Musburger visited South Point last fall, looked at the studio, then under construction, and decided to explore an early exit from ESPN. His brother Todd, Brians father, is his agent.

If it wasnt family, I wouldnt even think about it, Musburger said. But hell, Im 77, so someday youre going to have to get off the road.

Musburger said he and Arlene had considered moving to Las Vegas several years ago. They had many friends there and loved the various entertainment options unrelated to gambling. (The previous week he and Arlene watched An American in Paris at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts as good as any theater youll find in the world, he says.) Most importantly, Las Vegas offered easy air access to his home state of Montana.

Over the years critics sometimes wondered whether Musburgers folksy on-air demeanor was genuine, but he comes by it honestly. He grew up in Billings, Mont., with the simple desire to be a sportswriter. Even as he became the face of CBS Sports, and later ABC and ESPN, he still leaned on his newspaper training. Mark Loomis, Fox Sports executive golf producer, often traveled with Musburger when he was a young production assistant at ABC. Musburger constantly pumped locals for information and opinions on their hometown teams.

Brent would pick the brains of waiters, caddies, cabbies, trainers whoever it was, he was truly interested in that persons perspective, Loomis recalls. He didnt have to go to the head coach. He wanted to talk to everybody.

When working college games, Loomis says, you were more likely to find Musburger having a beer with students in a campus hangout rather than dining at some overpriced steakhouse. Thats where the action was. Loomis recalls that The Esso Club at Clemson was a particular favorite.

Musburger is resilient, which one might expect from a man who remained atop such a competitive profession for four decades. When his 22-year career with CBS ended abruptly and badly, he didnt pout in public. Folks, Ive had the best seat in the house, he said after the 1990 Final Four, his final assignment with CBS. Thanks for sharing it. Ill see you down the road.

His new colleagues at ABC werent sure what to expect when Musburger arrived, given his tumultuous departure from CBS.

He was great from day one, says Golf Channels Jack Graham, who worked with Musburger at ABC. There was never an ego with him. I couldnt figure out what must have gone on for CBS to let him go, because he couldnt have been a better team guy.

Among his many ABC tasks, Musburger anchored the networks golf coverage, which included the regular Tour, U.S. Open and British Open. At that time there were no hole announcers, so Musburger had to call every shot. He was doing a job thats now done by four or five announcers.

We didnt put him in a position to thrive, says Graham, a member of that crew and later ABCs golf producer.

Still, his joy for the big events was evident. You can hear it in his call at the 1995 British Open at St. Andrews Yes! Yes! Rocca has done it! when Costantino Rocca holed a 65-foot birdie putt from the Valley of Sin to force a playoff.

When ESPN bumped Musburger from its featured college football games to the SEC Network in 2015, he dutifully reported to remote outposts such as Columbia, Mo., and Lexington, Ky., to call meaningless games for smaller audiences. To this day, you wont find any public comments from Musburger criticizing ESPNs decision to make the younger, robotic Chris Fowler its lead play-by-play man. ESPN could reduce his role, but it couldnt hide the fact that Big Game Brent remained the stations best play-by-play man.

Im not surprised that he worked as long as he did, because he truly loved it, Loomis says. I was surprised he was stepping away because I thought he was going to do it forever. You could hear it in his voice how much he loved doing it.

There was no farewell tour at ESPN; he left just days after word of his plans leaked out. He again thanked viewers for sharing your time with me, and suggested that they pay me a visit at my new place out in Las Vegas. Why not? We can share a cold one, and maybe a win or two. And then he was gone.

Holy George Halas! Whats going on here? Musburger exclaims in the VSiN studio on draft day when the Chicago Bears move up to pick North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky with the second pick.

Outside, curious bettors at South Point mill around the studio, staring through the glass at the broadcasting legend. Hes fired up about the Trubisky shocker. Bang on it at the top, baby! Musburger tells a young producer prior to the news update. Lean on it!

Boo! Boo! Booooo! Musburger bellows coming out of a break. I just wanted to get fans ready for the New York Jets pick.

Word of Musburgers exploits from the previous days golf outing have leaked to the crew. Gee, Brent, one chip-in sure got you pumped up, quips South Point oddsmaker Chris Andrews, a regular VSiN analyst.

Brian Musburger conceived VSiN as a means to outflank sports rights-holders. Sports gambling remains a subject the networks and the leagues dance around. Brent Musburger and CBS were decades ahead of the curve in the 1970s with weekly NFL Today segments in which Snyder picked games though they avoided talking about point spreads. Forty years later, you still wont hear Jim Nantz talking about the betting favorites for the Masters or March Madness, sports bettings biggest event.

At VSiN, anything that impacts sports gambling is fair game. Brian Musburger noted that one of the first discussions his uncle led on VSiN, on Super Bowl Sunday, concerned Atlanta Falcons center Alex Macks broken left fibula and how pain medication would impact his play.

Thats a discussion the NFL doesnt want (the networks) to have, he said. Theres still great stories to be told without that access (rights holders have). With that access almost comes an obligation to tell the story (the leagues) want to hear. Thats worthless.

Brian Musburger wants VSiN to be the CNBC or Bloomberg of sports gaming reasoned, intensely analytical, absent the histrionics that are in vogue on many sports talk shows. He reasoned that the generation of sports fans that grew up playing fantasy sports already are immersed in predictive analytics. Vegas oddsmakers such as Magliulo have made their livings studying those numbers.

What they do is a science, and its seen as some kind of shady, dark art. Its anything but that, Brian Musburger said. What they do is no different than what traders on Wall Street do in setting markets.

His uncle has believed that for decades. Far from gaming the system, Brent Musburger long ago became convinced that my friends out in the desert are a force for good in sports. All they want is an honest game. . . he said on his last night at ESPN. Its a good part of sports. I consider it healthy.

In the world of sports betting, the NFL and several other sports leagues dwarf the action on golf. It spikes during the majors and last weeks Players Championship. As with the television networks ratings, Tiger Woods drove a lot of the action when he was at his best.

He kicked our asses for 15 years, says South Point bookmaker Jimmy Vaccaro. Heres a guy who was even money in a 64-man field.

Brian Musburger

Magliulo estimated that the golf handle dropped at least 30 percent when injuries knocked Woods off Tour but has recovered thanks to interest in young stars such as Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and rookie Jon Rahm. (Folks are definitely enamored with him, Magliulo says.)

Head-to-head matchups drive a lot of the wagering on golf; last week South Point posted some 40 individual matchups at The Players.

The individual matchups are the most fun to play, Musburger says, though he finds golf and NASCAR two of the most difficult sports to bet. His advice: Hold your fire Anybody who bets before a tournament might as well just give your money to the bookmakers then ride a hot golfer on the weekend.

Musburger knows the problems the golf industry has experienced. He notes that some 800 courses have closed in recent years, that time and money hinder the games growth. He suggests that a little more action might help the game broaden its appeal.

Its a better betting game than mainstream America understands, he says. He studies a sheet with the early odds on the U.S. Open and contemplates bettors interest in a matchup between Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy. Youd have some early action on that, he says. Golf is a great betting game. Its a great betting game to play.

Then he begins making his way across South Points sports book toward the VSiN studio, pausing to talk with friends old and new. Its almost show time.

Part of VSiNs mission, he believes, is to convince doubters of that fact. He even expresses optimism that sports gambling will be legalized nationally, particularly given President Trumps history in the casino business. The biggest opponents will be the sports leagues. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been open to the idea, but he doesnt have much company from other leagues.

Im really not a fan of hypocrisy, Musburger says during the round at Cascata. The truth of the matter is that professional sports in this country would not be as big without gambling on the outcomes. A lot of people engage in this because they like the action. Dont pretend youre holier than thou when we all know better especially the National Football League. Gambling has helped tremendously, so you might as well legalize it and try to share in the profits.

More:

Brent Musburger's big, new adventure involves sports gambling - Golfweek.com

By Laura Leslie

Raleigh, N.C. In the waning hours of session Thursday, state lawmakers sent Gov. Roy Cooper measures that would expand Sunday hunting and allow "casino nights" with alcohol for charities and other groups.

Hunting is currently banned between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Sundays, and Sunday hunting is banned in Wake and Mecklenburg counties. House Bill 559 would allow hunting Sunday morning on private property and state gamelands, but not within 500 yards of a place of worship. It also mandates that Wake, Mecklenburg, and all other counties must allow Sunday hunting unless voters choose to ban it by countywide referendum.

Supporters say the change will encourage family hunting excursions on the weekends, but religious conservatives were opposed to the change.

Another bill headed to the governor's desk would allow "casino night" events despite the state's ban on gambling. Those events could be held by employers and trade groups as well as charities and nonprofits, as long as no money is paid for admission or in prizes. It would also allow alcohol to be served at the events. The games offered could include roulette and sweepstakes machines, even though the machines are otherwise banned by state law and subject to seizure.

First proposed by representatives from counties where law enforcement deems "casino night" fundraisers illegal, the bill initially sought to clarify that the events are allowed and that they can be held at locations where alcohol is served, but its scope expanded somewhat during the legislative process.

The restaurant and lodging industry supported the changes, but many religious and social conservatives said weakening the state's gambling ban and adding alcohol to the mix is a mistake.

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Lawmakers expand gambling, hunting in final hours of session - WRAL.com