Category Archives: Gambling

Picture the scene: popular footballer Paul Merson sits alone in a dark hotel room in Bolton, the only light being the flicker of an early 2000s television set. Hes set to play for Villa the next day, but he cant get one thing out of his mind - money. He needs to make a bet and he needs to make it now - will it be a couple of grand on the bowls or 20,000 on the outcome of the Miami Dolphins game? This time he might settle for ten grand on the first batter out at Lords. He shakes his head and starts to realise that this cant go on. He thinks about putting his fingers in the hinges of the hotel door and slamming repeatedly, breaking the joints to bits so he cant pick up the phone. If that doesnt work, hell order a hammer and finish off the job himself. Paul didnt want to bet that bad, but he couldnt help it. Despite the extremity of this incident it didnt change much. By 35, his 800,000 pension had already been cashed in - and Merson would blow millions on gambling. A problem he still suffers from to this very day.

Gambling addiction, my friends - is no joke. While gambling is a fun past time for many, it has become a crutch for others and has ruined many a life. Relationships dont tend to work out if they are weighted in one direction and gambling - all too often - has the power in its relationship with the punters.

The argument over gamblings influence in football restarted today after Burnleys Joey Barton was handed an 18 month ban from the game for betting on football matches. With the visibility of bookmakers, gambling and betting in the modern game - the argument has emerged that this is hypocritical of the FA. Of course, it has to be argued that the FA are not jumping into moral waters in regards to their suspension of Joey Barton - they have set the rules and they are acting on them. Joey was in the wrong here and was in the wrong on over one thousand occasions when he bet on the result or events of a football match. Joeys bets include betting on his own team to lose and betting on himself being the first scorer.

It is only when we look at the type of person that Joey Barton is and where he is from that we can see patterns emerge. The below is taken from Bartons statement in response to his ban and the charge from the FA:

I grew up in an environment where betting was and still is part of the culture. From as early as I can remember my family let me have my own pools coupon, and older members of the family would place bets for me on big races like the Grand National. To this day, I rarely compete at anything without there being something at stake. Whether thats a round of golf with friends for a few pounds, or a game of darts in the training ground for who makes the tea, I love competing. I love winning. I am also addicted to that. It is also the case that professional football has long had a betting culture, and I have been in the sport all my adult life.

Barton is a working class lad - that much is obvious from his own writing and memoir in which he describes his upbringing. Bartons career has mirrored the actions of a lot of the people I grew up around. Especially some of the violence. The Sunday League goalkeeper who was twice as big of me got jailed before a big match for glassing someone in a bar. You might remember Barton burning someone, or lashing out during a match. What is sorry to see is a number of outlets and journalists demonise Barton for actions which hinge on his background. It seems that addiction has become a stick for well-paid and well reputed members of society to batter the working class with. Barton messed up - he broke the rules. When we see his bets, they mirror a lot of the slips youll see around Villa Park before a game - 3 on this, 1 on that. The difference is, Barton was involved in what he was betting on and could afford to lose. Some people cant. And they cant stop.

We human beings have a severe problem with over indulgence. We arent temperate things, at all (and that attitude is almost never rewarded, but always mocked). We overindulge in love, community, alcohol. In fact, when we do something, we always go way too far. Its not enough to game for thirty minutes - you need all night. One glass of prosecco isnt gonna cut it tonight, you need four and more. Chicken wings? Forget having one. Its all or nothing and if youre going at full tilt, you are respected for living life. If youre not, youre a bore - arent you? Theres no middle ground where everything is fine, the house is either devoid or it is burning right the fuck down. We are creatures of habit and those habits can manifest into addictions.

There is no way to put it other than this: a gambling addiction is a serious mental health issue that requires treatment, not your judgement, nor punishment. Society desperately attempts to position itself as something that cares for and respects mental health - but it doesnt. People in the year 2017 still very much have an attitude of if it didnt happen to me, it doesnt happen. We see that attitude in everything, in every dark corner of our world. Just because you can gamble responsibly doesnt mean that everyone else can. Especially when commercialism and betting companies breed to spawn their own demonic offspring. As an Aston Villa fan following the team in the English Football League Championship, sorry, the Sky BetTM English Football League Championship, Ive been exposed to gambling more than ever before. Of course, my team isnt on TV much at all - but if yours is, youll see betting adverts around the ground. Your team will be sponsored by a betting agency, as will the opposition. It might even be on their shirt.It could sponsor a stadium, or even the television broadcast. During breaks in the programming, youll see an actor sell a betting company, while your favourite manager appears during another commercial for a betting company. In many instances, there will be no break between commercials, youll be told to do. How can this not have an effect? We know that adverts have a real effect on people, so we cannot dare say that these adverts and sponsorships are not making people bet. Ray Winstone reading out some odds live on air will affect some and not affect others. The fact that it will have an effect is worrying. In some cases, gambling is so ingrained into culture that betting will happen regardless - this can be safer as it might involve a wager with mates, but whos to say? Betting isnt just odds anymore, it has become a real tangible character in our lives, especially if you follow sport on television. In most cases it parades itself as some sort of end-of-level boss out of an Only Fools And Horses fantasy world, with a mockney accent, cigar, clutching a bunch of fivers in its fat paw. In other cases, it tries to present itself as a more sophisticated animal - using stats, suits and slicked hair to appear as your intelligent friend that has always done a bit better than you.

Has anyone reading this ever been to a betting shop? They are not happy places. That is because the people that it the industry preys on are stuck in there, hoping for a break. The others - who for whatever reason are free from the chains of betting can slip in and slip out, knowing that everything doesnt hang on the accy they just placed. My bus stop was on Bull Street in Birmingham opposite Coral bookmakers and you dont ever see someone leave with a huge smile on their face, more a look of what am I doing?. This is all thought out though, right down to their placement. In my city centre there are a chain of two betting shops placed in walking distance of two payday loan companies. That is for a reason. Right?

Football isnt the realm of the working class anymore. What started out as an aristocratic past-time that was taken over by the many has known morphed into something in-between. It costs just enough to keep people out, but it can still have a huge effect. Can betting have a healthy relationship with football? Of course it can! There are plenty of vices in the world that we can enjoy with a temperate attitude. Betting simply goes overboard when it is presented to us on each and every occasion without fail, taking advantage of us and turning us into rather needful things. Betting companies have sponsored some amazing events without becoming the event, betting companies have given platforms for amazing football writers and their content. It is when betting companies use their wealth and scope to assist football and help it grow without an ulterior motive that this relationship succeeds.

There are plenty of questions to be asked here. How can we help gambling become a positive influence in the sport? What regulations need to be bought in to safeguard gamblers on low incomes? Do laws need to be changed? We certainly need to question if the constant presence of betting firms in live sport is necessary. On the other side of the coin, football needs money. If football isnt in bed with gambling, it certainly is in bed with money. Tax evasion, golden handshakes, secret deals, bungs and dodgy transfers rule the day behind the scenes - it is only gambling that pokes its head above the parapet for people to take aim at. It isnt just football that needs money - content providers, journalists, podcasters and bloggers need money and wed all be massive hypocrites if wed say know to the dollars or pounds of a betting company that wants to give us cash to fulfil our dreams. ESPN today laid off a number of staff, someone out there needs to be pumping money into content and if not gambling firms, then who?

Will gambling become a parasite that leeches off of our sport and its fans? Or can it become something else entirely, something that is a lot more positive? At this point, I just do not know. What does football want from gambling? What does gambling want from football? We all know the answer and that wont change. What we can change is the stigma we have that surrounds gambling and encourage it to become a fun once-in-a-while pastime, not something that lives hinge on. That can be done with a few simple actions and some even simpler words. The world cannot champion mental health yet beat up on someone clearly struggling with addiction.

*If youre struggling with any gambling issues - Ive got a few links for you here and here. Gambling addiction is of course, a serious addiction and a mental health issue. Speak up.

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What type of relationship does football want with gambling? - 7500 To Holte (blog)

JUNO BEACH

The former owner and co-manager of a Juno Beach internet cafe have been arrested on gambling and other charges, two years after police raided the business and the operation shut down.

Cafe 777 on Donald Ross Road was advertised as an all-in-one computer store, providing copy, print and fax services to its customers. Its owner, Edmund John Salata, reportedly compared the business to Kinkos, the now-closed chain of photocopying centers. However, police investigators observed computer desktops that were set up as gaming terminals, according to the arrest report.

The business also had postings advertising cash payouts to customers, the report said.

Town police took Salata, 57, and Joel Lynn Matthews, 44, into custody Monday on charges of unlawfully keeping a gambling house, promoting a lottery and possessing a slot machine. Matthews was Salatas co-manager, according to court records.

Records show that Salata and Matthews both have homes in the Abacoa section of Jupiter. Salata also has a home in Treasure Island, a beachfront city in Pinellas County. Both were released on their own recognizance Monday.

Their arrests stem from an investigation that began in 2013. Authorities raided the business in April 2015, hauling away more than 60 computers.

Investigators examined a bank account belonging to Salata and Matthews. The account showed a total of nearly $300,000 in deposits from March 2014 to April 2015. All of the deposits for less than $10,000, appearing to evade the banks reporting requirements to federal regulators, authorities said.

The propertys owner filed an eviction against the business shortly after it was raided.

Staff researcher Melanie Mena contributed to this report.

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NEW: Two face gambling charges after 2015 raid on Juno 'computer' store - Palm Beach Post

The company that runs the Jacks Or Better casino boat in Galveston posted on Facebook looking for opinions to help the company. The request went awry as people posted threats to employees and their families.

Scroll through the gallery to see some of the bigger business blunders through the years

Photo: CU in the NT Facebook

Photo: CU in the NT Facebook

The University of North Texas has become the Internet's punchline for a "uniquely" designed mug involving the "C" shaped handle and UNT's abbreviation. The design, that spells out a derogatory term, has since been removed, but the mistake has already been made. Take a look through the gallery to see more business blunders through the years.

Photo: Facebook Screen Shot

The University of North Texas has become the Internet's punchline for a "uniquely" designed mug involving the "C" shaped handle and UNT's abbreviation. The design, that spells out a derogatory term, has since

In Austin, Texas, a Reddit user spotted the same "domestic violence-beer" joke on a bar sign. After bar management caught wind of what happened, they fired the employee responsible and quickly apologized.

In Austin, Texas, a Reddit user spotted the same "domestic violence-beer" joke on a bar sign. After bar management caught wind of what happened, they fired the employee responsible and quickly apologized.

We don't really need to explain why this tweet from Home Depot was considered offensive. For their part in posting a racist tweet, Home Depot fired the social media agency responsible and apologized.

We don't really need to explain why this tweet from Home Depot was considered offensive. For their part in posting a racist tweet, Home Depot fired the social media agency responsible and apologized.

Gambling ship's Facebook post draws harsh language, threats

GALVESTON What was apparently intended as a harmless Facebook post by the management of a gambling ship unleashed a storm of negative comments, foul language and threats, the company's general manager said Tuesday.

The company posted a request Monday for opinions on whether the Galveston-based Jacks or Better Casino yacht should fire its ship captain, David Kendrick, who was in command when the vessel struck a buoy April 15 and suffered damage.

"HIRE OR FIRE?" the post read. "Jacks or Better Casino must make a decision before we reopen on April 28. Should we reinstate Captain David Kendrick or should we fire him?"

General Manager Rocky Herrin said Kendricks was consulted about the post before it went up.

"We posted it with his approval, but the verbiage was not right," Herrin said. "It backfired being social media the backfire being that people thought we've hung him out to dry."

The owners on Wednesday decided to keep Kendricks on the job.

GROUNDED: Casino crashed into buoy two weeks after opening in Galveston

After the ship collision, the posts on the Jacks or Better Facebook page were overwhelmingly in support of the captain, and management had hoped to capitalize on the support by giving his backers a voice in the decision on whether to retain him, Herrin said.

"It wasn't going to sway myself or the owners one way or the other," he said. "It was just to show that everybody is behind the captain."

The original Facebook post was replaced by a second post explaining why the first was taken down: "The thread received hundreds of comments in less than 30 minutes, many of them denigrating the writer and management of JOB for posting it. Condemnation was aimed personally at our employees who received telephonic hate threats against themselves and families.

"Dog poop was actually thrown on the GM's front door. Further, there is talk of a boycott against JOB when we sail again on April 28th. JOB made the decision to delete the thread because of the vitriolic criticism and the animosity that followed."

DISPUTED JACKPOT: Gambler lost big winnings because friend pushed button

Some of the posts threatened family members of employees and were filled with vulgarities, Herrin said.

"We did not anticipate the misunderstanding that the thread would cause. For that, JOB offers its sincere apology; not for content, but for verbiage," the company said in its post.

Herrin said that he checked names of those making the negative posts against names of passengers and found that none of the vitriolic critics had ever been aboard the Jacks or Better yacht.

FREE ADVICE: Tilman Fertitta's best money tip is both brilliant, counter intuitive

He said the controversy has not hurt business. The ship is fully booked, but bad weather could interfere with a cruise scheduled for Friday, the first since the collision.

Repairs to the 6-foot gash on the port side and some minor structural damage are expected to be completed Wednesday, Herrin said.

Casino gambling is illegal in Texas, but Jacks or Better cruises outside the 9-mile limit into federal waters where it becomes legal.

Scroll through the gallery above to see some of the bigger business blunders through the years

Excerpt from:

Gambling ship's Facebook post draws harsh language, threats ... - Chron.com

By Jim Saunders / The News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE In a pair of high-profile issues that could go on the ballot next year, the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday approved proposed constitutional amendments that would restore felons' voting rights and restrict the expansion of gambling in the state.

The court's approval of the measures is a critical initial step, but supporters still face the task of collecting hundreds of thousands of petition signatures to get the proposals on the November 2018 ballot.

Groups backing both initiatives quickly said they will move forward with collecting and submitting the required 766,200 signatures to reach the ballot. Supporters of the gambling measure had submitted 74,626 signatures as of Thursday, while backers of the felon-voting initiative had submitted 71,209, according to the state Division of Elections.

"We are pleased that the Supreme Court has approved the language of this amendment and we can move forward with our efforts to ensure that Florida voters not gambling industry influence and deal making are the ultimate authority when it comes to deciding whether or not to expand gambling in our state," said John Sowinski, chairman of Voters In Charge, a group spearheading the gambling measure.

The Supreme Court does not rule on the merits of proposed constitutional amendments but looks at issues such as whether ballot titles and summaries would be clear to voters and whether initiatives comply with a single-subject requirement.

The court unanimously signed off on the proposal that would automatically restore the voting rights of many felons after they have completed the terms of their sentences. The amendment would not apply to people convicted of murder and felony sexual offenses.

The issue of restoring felon rights has long been controversial in Florida, with critics of the state's process comparing it to post-Civil War Jim Crow policies designed to keep blacks from casting ballots. A system approved in 2011 by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet required felons convicted of nonviolent crimes to wait a minimum of five years to have their rights restored, while others could wait up to 10 years before being eligible to apply.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and other supporters of the process have argued that the restoration of voting rights for felons should be earned and only after a sufficient waiting period.

But the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which is helping lead efforts to pass the ballot initiative next year, said the proposal would bring Florida in line with other states.

"Now the work of gathering signatures and mounting a successful campaign to change the Florida Constitution begins in earnest," Kirk Bailey, ACLU of Florida political director, said in a prepared statement Thursday. "We look forward to Florida voters being given a chance to bring our state's voting rules out of the 19th century and into the 21st."

The Supreme Court was more divided about whether the gambling-related initiative should move forward. The measure was approved in a 4-2 decision, with Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince and Charles Canady in the majority and justices Ricky Polston and R. Fred Lewis dissenting. Justice Alan Lawson, who joined the court at end of December, did not take part.

If the amendment is approved in November 2018, it would give voters the "exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling" in the state. It would require voter approval of casino-style games.

Polston, in a dissenting opinion joined by Lewis, argued the proposal is misleading and violates the single-subject requirement. He contended, in part, that the proposal would not fully inform voters about its possible effects on a constitutional amendment passed in 2004 that authorized slot machines in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Under that amendment, local voters also had to approve the slot machines.

"The initiative is placing voters in the position of deciding between a preference for controlling the expansion of full-fledged casino gambling and Florida's current legal gaming landscape," Polston wrote.

But the majority rejected arguments that it should block the measure from going on the ballot.

"The opponents primarily argue that the initiative should not be placed on the ballot because it is unclear whether, if passed, the amendment would apply retroactively and what effect, if any, the amendment would have on gambling that is currently legal in Florida including gambling that was previously authorized by general law rather than by citizens' initiative," the majority wrote. "However, as the sponsor points out, the opponents' arguments concern the ambiguous legal effect of the amendment's text rather than the clarity of the ballot title and summary."

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Justices approve felon rights, gambling initiatives - News - Daily ... - Daily Commercial

New York Times

Could Legalized Gambling Save Us From the Insufferability of Fantasy Sports? New York Times As it turned out, the country's millions of sports gamblers didn't share Bradley's concern for the sanctity of athletes like Bill Bradley or the children who might grow up to be just like him. In practical terms, the Sports Protection Act has mostly ...

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Could Legalized Gambling Save Us From the Insufferability of Fantasy Sports? - New York Times

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SANTA FE A federal appeals court has upheld an earlier ruling that requires Pojoaque Pueblo to negotiate a gambling compact with Gov. Susana Martinezs administration, not the U.S. Interior Department.

It wasnt immediately clear how the ruling would affect the pueblos casinos, north of Santa Fe.

Pojoaque has operated the Buffalo Thunder and Cities of Gold casinos since mid-2015 without a state compact outlining revenue-sharing requirements and other conditions.

But federal prosecutors said they would wait for the litigation to end before deciding how to respond.

New Mexico stands to gain about $6 million a year in shared revenue from gambling operations on Pojoaque land, though the details, of course, depend on whether the tribe agrees to the same compact that others have, according to the Martinez administration. The revenue would go into the general fund for basic state operations.

Michael Lonergan, a spokesman for the governor, said the administration hopes the latest court decision will end the dispute.

As weve said all along, were simply asking for Pojoaque to play by the same rules as other New Mexico tribes, Lonergan said in a written statement.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday issued a 58-page decision affirming an earlier ruling that blocked the Interior Department from establishing gambling rules for Pojoaque.

Pojoaques previous agreement with the state expired in June 2015 and the two sides failed to reach agreement on a new one.

Pojoaque wanted to stop sharing revenue with the state, lower the gambling age from 21 to 18 and allow alcohol in gambling areas.

The pueblo also argued that the state had failed to negotiate in good faith. Pojoaque turned to the Interior Department and asked for approval of its gambling operations.

The state government then sued the Interior Department, contending it didnt have authority to get involved.

The Journal wasnt able to reach Pojoaque Gov. Joseph Talachy for comment Monday.

More here:

Pojoaque Pueblo loses appeal on gambling - Albuquerque Journal

"Charlotte" said her husband, "Vic," died of a brain aneurysm sitting in front of a slot machine. Char said the 4-6 percent estimate of people who gamble is too low. "Farmers in particular," she said, "are prone to gamble and more are addicts than we will ever know."

Char said Vic took trips at least twice weekly to gamble, telling her only where he was headed. Usually his ventures to casinos were within a couple hours of their home, but occasionally farther away if he had won a payout there previously and felt he had a chance of winning a larger purse.

Char said her husband, who was 65 years old when he died, grew up in a family that played cards whenever they got together, and always for money. Chances of winning money made playing pitch or poker more interesting, Vic claimed.

"He would get mad at me," Char said. "If I criticized his card-playing and casino hopping, he said gambling was just entertainment. But it was more. He was addicted to gambling and I couldn't stop him."

During his stint in the U.S. Army, Vic spent much of his free time playing cards with other soldiers or visiting nearby casinos, Char said. When they visited a casino on their honeymoon, this was the last time Char stepped inside a gaming facility until after his death.

After marrying, Vic began farming with his father. Char helped with the farm operation when she could. They raised cattle, corn, cotton, and children (their four Cs), "but casinos became his fifth C, not me," Char said caustically.

When Vic tried to entice their children to join him and his buddies in card games, Char "put her foot down." Char commented that eventually the children formed their own opinions that their father would have been more successful if he didn't have a penchant for gambling; none of their four children participate in betting or card-playing now.

After cell phones became available, Char demanded that Vic carry a mobile phone everywhere with him, including when farming after he took over his parents' operation. He had problems with high blood pressure and plaque build-up in his coronary and carotid arteries.

When Vic didn't come home at the expected time, Char called him on his cell phone. Sometimes he didn't answer the phone when he was visiting a casino, but when Vic did answer his phone while gambling, she couldn't reason with him. He told her belligerently, "mind your own business."

It seemed that Vic was on a delusional slope that became more slippery as he aged, said Char. When he bragged how he won almost $10,000 on a trip to a casino in New Mexico, Char and their youngest daughter, a tax preparer, required that Vic furnish a complete win-loss statement for federal and state tax reports.

Even though Vic's report showed he had won about $18,000 and lost $44,000 during the entire year, he insisted he had forgotten some of his winnings. The bottom line did not include his travel expenses and time spent gambling.

Char began working outside the home after their last child entered high school. Her earnings as a school administration secretary covered the last dozen farm payments, she said.

Vic said he was on his way for a doctor's appointment the day he died, Char noted. When the medical clinic called to ask why Vic didn't show up for his 11:00 a.m. appointment, she began calling Vic on his cell phone to no avail and to the various casinos he liked to visit. The casino staff wouldn't look for him, claiming it "wasn't their job." Char worried.

Around 4:00 p.m., the hospital in New Mexico that examined Vic after he had arrived by ambulance informed Char that Vic had expired of a probable brain aneurysm at the local casino, which an autopsy later confirmed.

The next day Char and her youngest daughter drove to the casino to retrieve Vic's pickup truck and to consult the casino management. The manager denied knowing Vic personally. As the dismayed pair wandered through the array of slot machines they noticed a young woman dressed in casino garb and stopped to talk with her.

Char described her husband and asked the casino attendant if she knew Vic. "Oh yeah," she said, "He was here a lot."

Stay tuned for next week's follow-up. For assistance with gambling problems, contact the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Mike Rosmann is a Harlan, Iowa, psychologist and farmer. To contact Rosmann go online to: http://www.agbehavioralhealth.com.

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Gambling can harm farmers and their families - AG Week

Regular readers of Outkick know that I love to bet on the NBA once the playoffs start. Partly that's because it helps to bridge the long, awful gap between the end of football and the beginning of football when otherwise we just get the NCAA Tournament to sate us.

And y'all know I hate to brag, but I am in the middle of an epic gambling run. I gave you out tons of college football picks and we won at a 58% rate. Then I gave you out a pick for every NCAA tournament game and we won at a 64% rate, 42-24-1.

But so far that pales in comparison to the run we're on in the NBA, right now the Outkick picks are a scorching 17-6, or a winning percentage of 74%. With all the demand on Twitter for me to constantly Tweet out the picks I've decided to start posting them daily on here. By what time every day? Noon, motherfuckers.

All I ask in return for all the money I'm making you is that you go buy outkickgear.com with all the money you've made so far.

And, as always, go do your own research on the lines and check out the picks from the guys at OddsShark.com.

Okay, here we go with tonight's picks:

Bucks +6 at Raptors

Wizards at Hawks -2.5

Warriors -6 at Portland

Get rich, kids.

#dbap #shootersshoot

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NBA Gambling Picks For Tonight - Outkick the Coverage

Welcome MMA bettors, speculators, and gambling lurkers! Were back at it again for another week of comprehensive gambling analysis from your friends at MMA Fighting.

For those of you who are new, this aims to be an exhaustive preview of the fights in context with the odds, and doubles as a breakdown of where you can find betting value. The number after the odds on each fighter is the probability of victory that those odds imply (so Cub Swanson at -650 means he should win 87 percent of the time). If you think he wins more often than the odds say, you should bet it because there's value in the line.

All stats come from FightMetric and all the odds are from Best Fight Odds. Net Value means how much money you would have made if you bet $100 on that fighter in every one of his/her fights that odds could be found for. Doubly as always, I'm trying to provide the most thorough guide I can for those who want to legally bet or who just enjoy following along. If you are a person who chooses to gamble, only do so legally, responsibly, and at your own risk.

Now with all that out of the way, lets go.

Breakdown

The main event this weekend is the strangest one yet in the WME-IMG era of UFC ownership. Featherweight title hopeful Cub Swanson takes on the man best known for being Conor McGregors training partner, Artem Lobov. Swanson is on an impressive three-fight win streak, and his situation is a paradox...as in, a win does almost nothing for him while it could also earn him the next featherweight title shot. A win for Lobov would be by far the biggest of his career and get him his first UFC ranking.

Swanson is primarily a striker who relies on good footwork and angles to set up stinging punching combinations. Hes one of the better athletes in the division and you can see that in the way he explodes into punches. Hes also is a thudding kicker and a dangerous counter-puncher when hes in the pocket. Though sometimes he can be drawn into ill-advised brawls, hes fast enough and powerful enough to come out ahead in those too.

Aside from striking, Swanson is a well-established veteran who can compete in all phases. Hes an underrated offensive wrestler with a variety of finishes and on top hes a pretty solid control player. If Swanson has a semi-glaring weakness, it has been his defensive wrestling, but that doesnt figure to come into play much here.

Lobov gets a fair amount of criticism for his uninspiring record (13-12-1,) but hes actually a pretty solid fighter whose record is more reflective of the tough competition hes faced than anything else. Lobovs a striker by trade, and his style looks more and more like McGregors each time out, featuring non-standard movement and rhythm. Hes marketed as a power puncher, but thats not entirely his game nor is he what you might consider a volume striker. Rather, hes a combination boxer with some pop in his hands and an aggressive, countering style. While he has found a way to make this work for him, it also puts him in range to be hit and his defense isnt very good, as he tends to be overly reliant on his chin.

Beyond striking, there isnt much to Lobovs game. Hes an above average defender of takedowns and a competent offensive wrestler on occasion but that is about the extent of it.

Cub Swanson is just a much better fighter than Artem Lobov in every area of the game. Even if Swanson brawls with Lobov (the best chance Lobov has to emerge victorious), Swanson is still likely to win and if he fights a precise, technical fight. If Cub does that, this is all one-way traffic from the jump. The only fear here is that Swansons battle with Doo Ho Choi irrevocably altered his career (a thing that has been known to happen with post-Fight of the Year candidates). However, I dont think thats likely since the bulk of that fight was, in actuality, Swanson putting the wood to Choi.

The pick is Swanson by third-round knockout, but theres very little meat on these bones so better to pass on betting.

Breakdown

The co-main event of the evening is also a strange one. Al Iaquinta, a man who retired from MMA recently (and may or may not really want to keep fighting), faces Diego Sanchez, a stalwart from the first TUF (who seemingly wants to keep fighting past what is good for him). A win for Iaquinta puts him back in the top-15 position, while a win for Sanchez lands him in the vicinity of that conversation as well.

When last we saw him, Iaquinta had developed into one of the more technical boxers in the division. He pumped a frequent jab and had solid footwork, allowing him cut angles for his excellent counter-punching game. Assuming hes still the same guy, Iaquinta mixes his levels of attack well and works his combinations at a good pace. He also has pretty sharp defense anchored by strong head movement in the pocket. He ties everything together with stalwart takedown defense that can thwart all but the very best wrestlers.

Sanchez is one of the most well-known commodities in the UFC. Hes a high-octane southpaw who is more than happy to throw hands, but does his best work as a top position grappler. On the feet Sanchez presses forward and throws hard combinations, but hes not much of a technician, and his lack of defense means his willingness to brawl is more of a liability than a benefit. What his brawling mentality does accomplish is win rounds in the eyes of the judges, despite sometimes getting out-landed. His age and deteriorating durability make this a much more dangerous gambit than it used to be.

Sanchez really butters his beak as a wrestler and grappler though. As you can see from the stats, hes not a particularly deft finisher of takedowns, but he is tenacious. When you continually shoot shot after shot, your percentage is going to be low. Once on top, Sanchez can really start going to town, working the opponent over with punches and control and racking up damage in short order.

The biggest question in this one is this: How is Iaquinta going to look after two years away from competition? Sanchez is in his twilight, but hes still not a fighter you want to face if your heart isnt in it; there are very few men who want it more than Sanchez.

All that said, this is a dreadful style matchup for Sanchez. Ragin Al is a much better striker and Lionheart wont be able to get him to the mat. Expect Iaquinta to box Sanchez up for 15 minutes before taking a wide decision, but be mindful of putting money on a guy coming back from a two-year layoff and facing a man whos won a questionable decision or two in his time.

Breakdown

In the evenings only light heavyweight contest, former interim title challenger Ovince Saint Preux takes on the hard hitting Marcos Rogerio de Lima. Saint Preux is in desperate need of a win to stop his three-fight losing streak, while de Lima is looking to notch the biggest win of his career and announce himself as a force in the ultra-thin 205-pound division.

Saint Preux is a former University of Tennessee football player, and as you might expect, hes a phenomenal athlete. In fact, I've often felt he resembles a Jon Jones from earlier in his career. Saint Preux has similar ridiculous physical gifts that allow him to perform funky, unpredictable offensive feats. However, unlike Jones, OSP hasnt built up the fundamentals that create a cohesive and threatening fighter. The end result is that OSP might pop off and ruin anyones day, but he might just as easily lose fights he should win on paper.

As a striker, OSP is huge and rangy with an 80-inch southpaw reach. He has an awkward striking game built around power and speed and hes a good counter-puncher because of his timing. He's not a phenomenally technical wrestler, but he's explosive enough and physical enough to score takedowns and his top game includes potent striking and unorthodox submissions. His biggest weakness other than inconsistency in process is his cardio which takes the sting out of his offense after a couple of rounds.

Cardio isnt a strong suit for de Lima either because the Brazilian is an all-out fighter. De Lima throws caution to the wind from the opening bell and unloads vicious punches and kicks, breaking opponents under the ferocity of his attack. Because hes an enormous, powerful man, this strategy has proven effective, though its always a gamble. If his opponent can weather the storm, de Lima is basically dead in the water. Furthermore, as the numbers would suggest, de Lima is a horrid defender of takedowns, and that given his cardio troubles make him a dangerous, if easily exploitable, fighter.

This is basically a question of whether or not you think de Lima can bulldoze Saint Preux early. While its entirely possible that he can, de Limas defensive wrestling gives me pause that he will. OSP isnt the best wrestler in the world but hes good enough to take de Lima down. The pick is OSP by TKO, late in the first round, and if he dropped to the -150 range, I like him for a bet.

Breakdown

One of the few fights with real stakes on the card, former flyweight title contender John Dodson is looking to rebound from his controversial split decision loss to John Lineker by taking on former bantamweight title challenger Eddie Wineland in a fight that will keep the winner relevant in the divisional title picture.

Dodson is one of the best pure athletes in MMA. Among the fastest men at flyweight since moving to 135 pounds, Dodson is a blur to most of his opponents. It isnt just his blinding speed though; Dodsons also one of the pound-for-pound biggest punchers in the entire sport. With the recent retirement of Anthony Johnson, you could argue he now occupies the top spot.

But Dodson's hyper-athleticism and power are a double-edged sword. Like Yoel Romero, Dodson is often confoundingly inactive, lying in wait for the moment to go hyper-dynamic on his opponent. Dodson has the speed, technique, and skill to beat anyone at 135 pounds and below, but his suspect cardio and poor decision-making have cost him time and again. That said, in his last fight Dodson put forth a focused, intelligent game plan that should have been enough for him to get the win. If Dodson has finally learned to put some process behind his natural talents, the rest of the division better watch out.

Wineland is also a striker though far less dynamic than Dodson. Hes a sharp boxer that operates behind a stiff, punishing jab. From there he moves laterally and cuts angles to find openings for his combinations. Hes defensively solid if you can get over the fact that he carries his hands low, but like Dominick Cruz, he does this to goad opponents into head hunting where his excellent head movement and footwork allows him to slip and counter with power. Hes also a stalwart defender of takedowns which lets him operate in his preferred phase of attack. Thats mostly the extent of the 32-year old Winelands game, and though hes on a winning streak there are legitimate concerns that, after 15 years of fighting, he may be on his decline.

The last time Wineland fought a powerful striker who was faster and more athletic than him, he was marking up Renan Barao before catching a shotgun blast to the face. That is more or less how I see this fight going. Wineland is a skilled striker and his size and technique can create problems for the diminutive Dodson but eventually The Magician is gonna plunk him in the side of the head and thatll be the ball game. I like Dodson to win by second-round KO. Betting Wineland is actually justifiable but if youre going to do so, only go small.

Breakdown

Joe Lauzon meets Stevie Ray in a competitive lightweight scrap that doesnt have much divisional relevance but should be fun nonetheless.

Aggression is the name of Lauzon's game. He's a powerful puncher and wrestler who comes out of the gate like hell on wheels, leading to him being one of the all-time leaders in bonus award wins. That aggression also has the downside of meaning he tends to fade pretty hard in fights if one can weather the storm (he has two decision wins in a 39-fight career). However, he has lately been pacing himself more and remaining competitive past the 8-minute mark.

On the feet, Lauzon mostly throws big power strikes, moving forward and either shooting a takedown or grabbing the clinch. His defense is poor (look at those stats), but hes got a good chin and his pressure makes up for it. Hes a nasty clinch fighter, and on the floor, hes a fierce transitional grappler with excellent ground and pound.

Ray is a southpaw striker and a fairly deft one at that. He prefers to throw in one and two punch salvos, dictating pace and distance with one-two's and lead left hands. He also has an array of kicks but those are most thrown as a way to set the range and not as a real damaging attack. Ray is constantly moving on his feet, circling and resetting the distance to look for his preferred angle of attack. This style of attack means his volume is a little low, but when he does sit down on his punches they have some good pop. Beyond that, theres not much else to Rays game. His takedown defense is still a work in progress, and on the mat, hes a competent grappler but not really a threatening one.

This fight mostly depends on how well Ray can stay on his feet. If Lauzon can work takedowns, he should maul Ray on the mat. If Ray has improves his defensive wrestling enough, Lauzon is too hittable to win the rounds. The former seems much more like and Lauzon can at least compete on the feet until he can get his wrestling going. Also, Lauzon should own the clinch here. The only worry for Lauzon really is getting hit coming in, and while he has a lot of miles on him, Lauzons still proven to be a durable guy and Ray isnt a huge threat to finish. This pick is Lauzon to win a decision and I like him for a bet at these long of odds.

Breakdown

A potential banger of a welterweight matchup opens up the FS1 main card. Jake Ellenberger is coming off a slightly controversial loss to Jorge Masvidal whereas Mike Perry tasted defeat for the first time in his most recent outing against Alan Jouban. Both men need a win here to remain relevant in the division, and while Perry is looking to take down the first real name fighter of his career, Ellenbergers job may be on the line here.

Ellenberger is one of the more frustrating fighters in the world. Hes a great athlete with all the tools to excel in the upper echelons of MMA (and, for a time, he did just that) but the last four years have been plagued by inconsistency for the Nebraskan. When hes on point, power is the name of the game for Ellenberger. He blends some of the hardest punching in the division with an explosive wrestling game. However, more often than not it looks like Ellenberger doesnt want to be in the cage and his lack of urgency has been anathema to victory for the one-time title hopeful.

On the other side, a lack of fight enthusiasm is certainly not Perrys problem. Perry turned heads with his boisterous debut last year, knocking out Hyun Gyu Lim at UFC 202 after some antics at the weigh-ins beforehand. While his personality has made Perry a guy the UFC is keen on, his skills are not to be overlooked. Though still young in his career, Perry has many of the hallmarks of a fighter with a bright future. He's a great athlete with tremendous speed and power and he pushes a very high pace. His striking game is narrow relying mostly on a left hook and overhand right, supplemented by leg kicks and he doesn't try to get too far outside his wheelhouse but his natural timing and sense of when and where openings should be exploited makes him highly effective. There is a depth to his game that belies his young age and given some development, Perry could be a legitimate threat in the division.

As is always the case with Ellenberger, this fight isnt so much a matter of if he has the skills to win he does but does he really want to compete? Even if he does, Perry is a pretty tough style matchup for him as durability and volume have never been strong suits for The Juggernaut. Ellenberger has the wrestling chops to make Perry work but in a contest between a fighter with questionable intensity and one with multiple face tattoos, you have to go with the latter. Perry scores a knockout at the end of the first round and he should probably be in the -200 to -220 range so I like him for a bet.

Thales Leites (-115/53%) vs. Sam Alvey (-105/51%)

Leites has been in MMA long enough to have skills in all phases. On the feet, hes a good counter-puncher with legitimate power but he butters his bread as a top position grappler. He's a solid chain-wrestler from the clinch and once he's on top he has a great pass and punch game to go along with his elite submissions. Alvey is a relatively slow-paced (though he throws more than Leites) southpaw with big power and outstanding takedown defense. His biggest weakness is that he relies almost entirely on the counter which means he is prone to giving rounds away due to inactivity.

This is a pretty rough style matchup for Leites. Alveys stellar defensive wrestling mean Leites will mostly be forced into striking where his pressuring game puts him right in the wheelhouse of Alveys counters. But if Leites chin can hold up something it has been doing a good job of against stiff competition then his pressure might be able to win rounds from Alvey who is taking a pretty big leap up in competition. Still though, this is a fight between guys trending in opposite directions and in those situations, hitch your wagon to the rocket not the anchor. The pick is Alvey by third-round knockout and I like him for a bet.

Dustin Ortiz (-190/66%) vs. Brandon Moreno (+170/37%)

Ortiz is a talent flyweight who has only lost to the best in the division; it just so happens that three of his last five fights have been against Wilson Reis, Jussier Formiga, and Joseph Benavidez. Hes a scramble-based grappler who can exchange on the feet as well but hes not the best athlete or technician and thats why he has fallen short against the elite of the division. Moreno is an up-and-coming flyweight who has impressed in the UFC after getting bounced early from TUF 24. Hes dangerous in all phases with good combination boxing and a talent for sneaking to the back.

Ortiz struggles against guys who are more athletic than him and can win the scrambles, two categories under which Moreno falls. Moreno also has a five-inch reach advantage and hes more active on the feet. This will be a fun, back and forth affair but Moreno should come out ahead more often than not. The pick is Moreno by decision and I love him for a bet at these odds.

Scott Holtzman (-380/79%) vs. Michael McBride (+320/24%)

Holtzman can fight everywhere though none of it will wow you. Hes physically strong and a decent athlete, with solid wrestling and top control as well as good elbows in the clinch. McBride doesnt have a lot of tape on him other than the kicking he suffered at the hands of Nik Lentz his last time out. Hes a tall lightweight who prefers to grapple and his striking needs a good deal of work.

The athletic gulf in this contest looks to be substantial. Holtzman is hittable on the feet but he throws competent combinations with some pop on them whereas McBride leaves his head on a tee and throws from his hips. Holtzman is a good enough wrestler to keep things standing and in the clinch and at range, he should bust up McBride. The pick is Holtzman by TKO in the latter half of the fight but since I still havent seen a ton of McBride, I wouldnt bet this.

Jessica Penne (-130/57%) vs. Danielle Taylor (+110/48%)

Penne is a former title challenger whos made her way based on her grappling skills. On the feet, she has solid technique but she doesnt sit out on here punches and shes far too hittable, though she is shoe leather tough. On the mat, shes a potent combination of sweeps from the bottom and passing + control from the top. Taylor has a background in Muay Thai and shes still a striker in MMA but at 5 feet tall, shes adapted her game to a more fitting style. Taylor prefers to stay at range before leaping in for single-shot punches that are thrown with power. Shes speedy and mobile with this plan and her right hand packs a wallop, but its a low volume attack that doesnt score well with judges unless she connects with something clean.

The simple truth is, Taylor is an atomweight and she isnt just slightly undersized, shes wildly undersized at strawweight. Penne will have a 5-inch height advantage and a 7-inch reach advantage come fight night. Moreover, Taylor has been muscled around in the clinch before as a result of her diminutive stature, and Penne is likely to do the same here and on the floor. The pick is Penne by submission in the third round and shes a fine bet at these odds.

Alexis Davis (-300/75%) vs. Cindy Dandois (+250/29%)

Davis is a jack of all trades fighter who fought for the UFC bantamweight title once upon a time, getting obliterated by Ronda Rousey in 16 seconds. Despite that quick failing, Davis is a very durable fighter who works aggressive, combination boxing on the feet and a swift, lethal attack on the floor.

Dandois is basically like if a blind person with only a loose grasp of MMA tried to build Ronda Rousey in create-a-fighter mode on a UFC game. Shes a judoka of some accomplishment on the European circuit and that is the beginning and end of her game. She uses head throws and her long legs to attack while on the ground.

Once she makes her debut, Dandois will possibly be the worst striker in the modern era of the UFC. Davis isnt Sugar Ray but shes a spirited boxer and an excellent grappler in her own right and I would be shocked if she didnt put the wood to Dandois here. Then again, Dandois has managed wins over Marloes Coenen and Megan Anderson so I guess anything is possible. Still, Davis by TKO in the middle of the fight, and if you want to throw her in a parlay, go for it.

Bryan Barberena (-320/76%) vs. Joe Proctor (+265/27%)

Barberena is a rugged, durable fighter who lacks the athleticism to compete at the highest levels of the sport but is a tough out for anyone. He pressures in combination on the feet and hes good in the clinch and on top but he rarely looks to take it to the ground. Proctor hasnt competed in over a year due to injury. Hes a striker with good power and an aggressive submission game when things hit the floor or he has an opponent hurt.

This fight figures to be a good, old-fashioned dust up between two guys with no interest in taking the other down. Proctor is faster and has more power but Barberena is more durable and throws more volume as well as being the better clinch fighter. Barberenas toughness means he should walk through Proctors early offense and take control in the clinch and at range where Proctor is hittable. The pick is Barberena by decision but the odds are long on him so pass on a bet.

Hector Sandoval (-125/56%) vs. Matt Schnell (+105/49%)

Sandoval is a squat, athletic wrestle-boxer from Team Alpha Male. His offense is built around slinging heavy overhand rights and following them up with lefts to the body or explosive double-leg shots. Schnell is tall for the division at 5-foot-8 and he uses his length to his advantage, snapping off combinations that he punctuates with leg kicks on the feet and using his long legs to attack relentlessly from the bottom with armbars and triangles.

Things dont look good for Sandoval here. Hes giving up six inches of height and six inches of reach to Schnell and his tendency to stand outside of his opponents and then explode forward wont work nearly as well with that much distance to cover. Even if he does succeed with his takedowns, Schnell is too tricky off his back and will have Sandoval playing defense all night. The pick is Schnell by submission in the second round. And I like him for a bet at plus money.

That's all folks. We had a good showing last weekend, going 3-2 on our bets with two of those being underdogs for a total earning of +227. Hopefully we will do as well this week. For those of a more auditory inclination, I broke down fights with Nick Baldwin and Wes Riddle on Before The Battle, so heres that.

Otherwise, enjoy the fights everyone, good luck to those who need it, if you've got any questions, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew.

(Editor's note: All of this advice is for entertainment purposes only.)

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UFC Fight Night 108 odds, gambling guide - MMA Fighting

Roxanne Brown @DC_SLP_roxbrown

EUSTIS The City of Eustis has reason to believe that at least two businesses in town may be running illegal gambling operations.

At a city meeting Thursday, City Commissioners said they want none of that going on in the city.

To make it clear, commissioners directed staff to come up with an ordinance that would prohibit the use of simulated gambling devices.

The ordinance will be considered at a meeting on June 15.

Currently, the city code only addresses Amusements & Entertainment, but does not specifically prohibit or regulate gambling devices.

A Florida State Statute does not allow them, officials said.

Technically, based on state statute, they are operating illegally," Eustis City Manager Ron Neibert said of such facilities.

"But with a local ordinance, we can get in there, enforce the violation and shut them down easier. That is why we are trying to do this, he added.

At the meeting, Development Services Director Lori Barnes outlined some of the challenges the city is facing with illegal operations and devices, calling it a new, old topic.

Development services and the police department have observed a resurgence of amusement centers utilizing simulated gambling devices that are reminiscent of internet sweepstakes cafes of the past, said Barnes.

She said there are at least two businesses in the city suspected of actively operating illegal gambling facilities.

She also pointed out an increase in robberies at such places, including one in Eustis last month. She said neighboring cities are having similar problems.

In the last few years, inquiries to operating senior amusement facilities in our city have increased. A number have opened without review and approval of development services or under false pretenses, describing their businesses as engaging in activities such as computer repair or business centers that are for legal documents like copy, fax or western union, Barnes said.

Commissioners expressed views indicating that, for the most part, prohibiting gambling devices or facilities is the way to go.

Still, they raised questions about whether other cities in Lake County had similar ordinances.

Barnes reported that Mount Dora prohibits gambling devices, Leesburg strictly regulates gaming establishments, only allowing them in certain zoning districts and Howey-in-the-Hills, who adopted a moratorium in 2011 against them, took no action when the moratorium expired.

Barnes said they are using Seminole Countys ordinance, which prohibits them, as a guideline.

No one from the public spoke on the matter, but commissioners weighed in a little regarding their views.

Im for a total prohibition in line with Mount Dora and Seminole County, Commissioner Anthony Sabatini said.

Commissioner Linda Durham Bob simply said, This is a family town.

After the meeting, Mayor Bob Morin said he believes ridding the town of such establishments would be good for the city, but also for the people who frequent them.

"The majority of people that go to these Internet Cafes are low income or down on their luck and trying to get to the point of making some fast, easy money. But it doesnt always work that way or to their benefit, Morin said. We also dont want to have problems with robberies targeted at these types of places in our city.

Neibert said suspicions surrounding businesses in question arose when city officials in the process of conducting allowable inspections, such as fire or building inspections, noticed uses going on that seemed suspicious.

But they weren't in violation of current code.

An ordinance prohibiting the uses however, would place businesses involved in that type of activity in jeopardy.

They will immediately become illegal and would need to cease and desist, Neibert said.

Neibert also said every potential new business in town is required to fill out a business tax receipt, which includes a summary of services.

The city, he said, does as much as it can to ensure each new business sticks to the services they disclosed.

When these businesses filed their tax receipts, their classifications indicated they were legitimate businesses. We take that in good faith, but now, we have reason to believe that they are operating illegally and inconsistent with their business tax receipts, Neibert said.

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Eustis cracking down on illegal gambling - Daily Commercial