Category Archives: Gambling

SACRAMENTO

California is plagued by wildfires, drought, homelessness, unaffordable housing and the nations steepest gas prices. And there is scary inflation and devastating climate change.

So, what is our greatest concern? What keeps us awake at night? It should be all of the above.

But odds are its not the lack of gambling opportunities specifically for wagering on professional sports.

Yet sports betting whether online, in tribal casinos or remaining illegal amounts to the highest-stakes fight among propositions on the November ballot in California.

At last count, an obscene $362 million has been raised to promote or oppose two initiatives to expand legal gambling in California a gargantuan jackpot for political consultants, ad producers and TV stations. The total will probably reach a half-billion dollars by election day.

Thats the most money ever spent in a California proposition brawl. The previous record was $224 million on a 2020 referendum to repeal legislation that would have required Uber and Lyft to treat their drivers as employees rather than independent contractors. The companies far outspent the legislations union backers and won.

This year, Propositions 26 and 27 are being fought over by Native American tribes in California and out-of-state online gambling interests, including FanDuel and DraftKings. The winners pot is a multibillion-dollar stake in expanded legal wagering.

The attention-grabber is sports betting, now illegal in California but allowed in 33 other states.

The chief rationale for legalizing sports betting in California although this isnt the main campaign pitch was expressed by state Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) on Wednesday after co-chairing a legislative informational hearing on the two ballot initiatives.

The hearing underscored that illegal sports wagering is happening now without regulation, safeguards or benefits to our state, Dodd said. This illegal activity should be taken out of the shadows, generating revenue to improve our state.

He didnt state a preference between the two propositions, which are vastly different.

Proposition 26 would allow sports wagering in person at tribal casinos and at four horse racing tracks: Santa Anita, Del Mar, Los Alamitos and Golden Gate.

Thered be a 10% state tax on sports-wagering profits at the tracks. The legislative analyst projects the states take would be tens of millions of dollars annually. Tribes have committed to paying the state 15% of their casino profits.

The measure also would permit roulette and craps at the casinos, games that are now illegal.

Bettors would need to be at least 21 under both propositions. And thered be no betting on high school or college games.

Proposition 27 would legalize sports betting online when offered by an outfit partnered with a California tribe.

Thered be a 10% state tax on profits. The legislative analyst estimates that could bring in possibly in the hundreds of millions of dollars but likely not more than $500 million annually.

The proponents main pitch in TV ads is that 85% of the tax would go to homelessness programs. The remaining 15% would be shared with nonparticipating tribes.

To watch 27s TV spots, youd think the whole idea of the proposition was to solve homelessness.

Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to generate a real, permanent funding source for homelessness without raising anyones income tax, says Nathan Click, spokesman for the Proposition 27 campaign.

But lets assume the tax produced the maximum amount for homelessness projected by the legislative analyst, $425 million. Thats still small compared with the $7.6 billion the state is spending this year. And $2.6 billion already has been appropriated for next year.

Whats needed more than money to address homelessness is a workable, politically viable plan.

The big worry for many tribes is that non-tribal interests will infiltrate their California gambling monopoly if Proposition 27 passes. Voters in 1998 gave tribes the exclusive right to operate casinos in California. The tribes believe its not sports betting the online operators are really seeking, but a pathway to also offer card games and very profitable slots.

Proposition 27 breaks the promise that California voters made to California Indian nations over 20 years ago, Sara Dutschke, chairwoman of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, told the legislative committee Wednesday.

The assault on our rights is not surprising. Historically, when we have the means to be self-reliant, it is taken from us. We lost our lands. With it, the riches of water, gold, agriculture.

Theres another problem that affects all of us: When large-scale betting is brought into the home or workplace, it allows Dad to conveniently throw away a months rent or a state relief check betting on a Dodgers game. And why invite addiction by making it ultraconvenient to gamble?

Theres also a concern about kids setting up phony online accounts and getting hooked on gambling.

This would turn every cellphone, laptop and every tablet into a gambling device, says Jacob Mejia, the Pechanga Band of Indians vice president for public affairs. Hes spokesman for a Yes on 26, No on 27 coalition.

Click says thats fearmongering.

But seriously, are Californians really in need of more gambling opportunities? There are 66 tribal casinos, 84 card rooms, 29 fairs with racetracks and 23,000 stores selling state lottery tickets. Thats plenty.

Proposition 27 is a bad bet for California. And Proposition 26 needs a closer look.

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Skelton: Do we really need more gambling in California? - Los Angeles Times

We are at a generational moment, Abrams said in an interview. The cost of education is extraordinarily high, and too many of our students are falling further behind. And they have no real support from the state.

Her endorsement for legalizing gambling brings to the forefront a debate thats waged every year in the state Capitol over legislation thats perennially failed to pass despite a growing number of rank-and-file supporters from both parties and a host of lobbyists.

It also sharpens a contrast with her opponent, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who has said he opposes legalizing casino gambling but that he wouldnt take action to stop legislators from seeking a constitutional amendment that voters would have to approve.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has said he opposes legalizing casino gambling but that he wouldnt take action to stop legislators from seeking a constitutional amendment that voters would have to approve. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has said he opposes legalizing casino gambling but that he wouldnt take action to stop legislators from seeking a constitutional amendment that voters would have to approve. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Credit: TNS

Its going to take a constitutional amendment. It doesnt really matter what the governor thinks. You cant veto a constitutional amendment, Kemp said. What we have done is focus on creating greater economic opportunity regardless of whether we have a casino or not.

Kemp spokesman Tate Mitchell said the governor plans to work with legislative leaders on a measure to allow sports betting in 2023 if hes reelected. The governor opposed legalizing sports betting in 2018 but steered clear of the debate this year.

Expanding casino gambling in Georgia has been a tough bet for supporters because it requires amending the state constitution allowed only once two-thirds of each legislative chamber agrees to place it on a statewide ballot and a majority of voters approve the change.

Still, proponents have been buoyed by promises from casino magnates of multibillion-dollar investments.

The Georgia Senate passed legislation last year to ask voters whether to legalize online sports betting, but the House never adopted the final legislation that would have opened the door to several forms of gambling.

The $1.4 billion MGM National Harbor casino resort, shown in this artists rendering, will feature restaurants by celebrity chefs, luxury shops, a 3,000-seat theater and a hotel with 308 rooms and suites. The project is expected to open late this year in Maryland. MGM hopes a change in law will allow it to operate in Georgia, where opposition to casino gambling remains strong.

The $1.4 billion MGM National Harbor casino resort, shown in this artists rendering, will feature restaurants by celebrity chefs, luxury shops, a 3,000-seat theater and a hotel with 308 rooms and suites. The project is expected to open late this year in Maryland. MGM hopes a change in law will allow it to operate in Georgia, where opposition to casino gambling remains strong.

The publics sentiment about the idea has steadily changed. A watershed moment occurred in 2012 when a majority of Georgia Republicans indicated in a nonbinding ballot question that they supported casino gambling.

And a 2020 poll by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that about 58% of Georgia voters support legalizing sports betting.

Any time theres economic instability, new ways to generate more revenue usually generate more support, said Rick Dent, a veteran political strategist who served as Millers press secretary after the lottery passed. Gambling is already all around Georgia. So why shouldnt the state get a piece of that?

Millers lottery idea was once seen as unthinkable in the Deep South but is now a much-copied higher education plan thats boosted the states network of colleges and universities.

Critics thought endorsing the lottery would end Zell Millers career, Dent said. And once it got passed, any talk of expansion was almost immediately cut off because there were worries it would hurt the lottery.

The contours of Abrams plan are still being hashed out, but she said in an interview that she would support a cap of three casinos in Georgia spaced out geographically to reduce competition. The revenue should primarily fund needs-based aid and make technical college tuition-free, she said.

Her plan also calls for the lottery to transfer $300 million of its $1.6 billion in reserve funds to a needs-based aid trust fund. She would tax sports betting at 20% the same rate Republican-led Tennessee uses while also instituting licensing fees. Other key details, she said, would be left to lawmakers.

We need to start with the intention of providing need-based aid and return to a bipartisan conversation about what this will look like, she said. I dont want to set hard-and-fast rules because I know the legislative process well.

Because of the two-thirds threshold to pass a constitutional amendment, legalizing gambling requires broad bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

With a bloc of conservative legislators unwilling to embrace the idea because of moral concerns, Republicans who support gambling have unsuccessfully tried to woo Democrats with promises of incentives to help needier Georgians.

Anti-gambling advocates say Abrams position is a nonstarter. State Rep. Wes Cantrell, R-Woodstock, who is retiring from the General Assembly this year, said casinos would negatively affect our state in almost every way, especially economically, by hurting nearby businesses and spurring more crime and addiction.

Jim Murren, CEO of MGM Resorts International, speaks to members of the Rotary Club of Atlanta in October 2016. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

Credit: Branden Camp

Jim Murren, CEO of MGM Resorts International, speaks to members of the Rotary Club of Atlanta in October 2016. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

Credit: Branden Camp

Credit: Branden Camp

We have already seen repeatedly, when it comes to legalizing social moral vices, that the theoretical benefits economic and otherwise do not match the devastating negative impact, said Mike Griffin, a lobbyist with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.

For Abrams, who trails Kemp in polls, the call to legalize gambling is part of an overall revamp of her economic message. She also has vowed to pass pay raises for teachers and law enforcement officials, expand Medicaid and establish new legal protections for abortion rights.

This is a way for Stacey Abrams to draw an even bigger contrast with Kemp, Dent said. She can say: If you elect me, youll get casino gambling, Medicaid expansion and abortion rights. If you elect Kemp, you wont get any of that.

Abrams position also offers the sometimes-fractious Democrats a chance to unify on the issue. State Rep. Stacey Evans, who endorsed casino gambling in 2018 in a losing primary bid against Abrams, said it will be a game changer for education financing.

State Rep. Stacey Evans, who ran against Stacey Abrams in the 2018 Democratic primary for governor, has said that casino gambling could be a "game changer" for funding education in Georgia. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

Credit: Branden Camp

State Rep. Stacey Evans, who ran against Stacey Abrams in the 2018 Democratic primary for governor, has said that casino gambling could be a "game changer" for funding education in Georgia. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

Credit: Branden Camp

Credit: Branden Camp

Education changes everything, Evans said. I believe that to my core.

House Minority Leader James Beverly, who hasnt previously endorsed the idea, said hes had private discussions with other party leaders about a path forward since attending a recent conference in Boston focused on gambling. He said he will back allowing Georgians to vote on the initiative.

We need to get it right the first time, Beverly said. Abrams proposal falls in line with what we are now discussing in our caucus. If we have a holistic conversation, and Georgians vote for it, we will move forward.

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Abrams bets that support for casino gambling will pay off in November - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

TAMPA In the early 1900s, illegal gambling flourished in Tampa. Underground casinos operated in cafes and restaurants. Numbers were sold seemingly everywhere, from grocery stores to city hall.

By 1936, Floridas governor had grown tired of the growth of the illegal activity in Tampa, placing the blame partially on county solicitor C. Jay Hardee. He suspended the attorney for neglecting his duty to prosecute the crimes.

More than eight decades later, that action was among the those cited by Gov. Ron DeSantis office as evidence that he is within his jurisdiction to suspend Hillsborough County state attorney Andrew Warren, also for alleged neglect of duties.

The Tampa Bay Times dove into its archives to research the story of Hardee and his suspension.

It starts with a jail break and includes another suspended county solicitor who claimed he was sane and had the papers to prove it.

In January 1934, three prisoners escaped Hillsborough County jail with keys made from small strips of steel and spoon handles.

While it was not directly Sheriff Will Spencers fault, it was a final straw. Spencer had previously been accused of extortion in unrelated cases.

County solicitor Morris Givens charged the sheriff with extortion and negligence due to the escape to hold Spencer accountable under statutes which hold a sheriff responsible for acts of his deputies, the Tampa Tribune reported.

The sheriff was acquitted of extortion in his first trial. Givens then dropped the negligence charges just before the second trial. The public was outraged. Givens was accused of being incompetent and a county grand jury was convened to investigate him.

The grand jury recommended that Gov. David Sholtz suspend Givens for job incompetency and repeated episodes of public drunkenness. On one occasion at a drug store, according to the grand jury report published in newspapers, Givens declared that he liked his women and he liked his liquor, and further stated that he had been examined by some of the best psychiatrists in the country and that they had given him papers and pronounced him sane.

The governor suspended Givens and replaced him with Hardee, a former chair of the county democratic committee and an attorney of 13 years as well as being the nephew of a former governor.

In April 1934, when Hardee took office, he promised to take on the underworld. And, in December of that year, he joined a raid on the Panama Cafe in Tampa that resulted in the seizure of gambling equipment and 16 arrests.

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But, about 18 months later, none of those men had stood trial and Hardee had not charged anyone in Hillsborough with illegal gambling in 1935, despite there being arrests and the crime still flourishing.

A county grand jury was asked to investigate Hardee.

Hardee defended his record, claiming that the Panama Cafe raid evidence was inadmissible in court because it had been collected without a search warrant, but the grand jury stated that Hardee had witnessed the illegal gambling and that was enough under law to prosecute.

Whats more, the grand jury added, illegal gambling in the county had reached its peak during the years 1934 and 1935 ... was the worst in the history of the county and Hardees inaction was a culprit.

In May 1936, the grand jury recommended that the governor suspend Hardee, whom he appointed, on the grounds of neglect of duty. That recommendation is legal under the Florida constitution. The Senate then can then make the suspension permanent or vote for reinstatement.

The governor declined to act immediately. An election was a month away and he believed the voters were best qualified to pass judgment on the case, the Tampa Tribune reported.

Hardees campaign then focused on his 1936 track record, touting in newspaper advertisements that he had broken Tampas dope ring with 17 convictions.

Still, he lost the election to Joseph Williams.

Hardees term did not end until April 1937, but the governor suspended him in July 1936 and named LeRoy Allen as the replacement for the remainder of the term. It would be up to the Senate to decide if the suspension was permanent.

In October 1937, several of the grand jurors signed a new report asking for Hardees reinstatement, saying gambling increased after he was suspended, the Tampa Tribune reported.

Seeking to overturn his suspension, Hardee went to the Florida Supreme Court.

Hardees suit was filed against Allen, claiming the replacement did not have the right to hold that office because the governor had no right to suspend him.

The Supreme Court vote was 2 to 2 with one justice refusing to participate, but his reasoning was in line with those voting against Hardee. The suspension, he wrote in the opinion, was not a judicial matter and should only be decided by the senate.

A justice in favor of the suspension wrote that the power vested in the governor ... to suspend all appointed or elected officers who are not subject to impeachment, is an explicit executive power if the officer neglects their duties. But the Senate should have final say.

A dissenting justice countered that the suspension implies that the governor can select names of particular citizens who shall be indicted and use his executive powers to coerce criminal prosecutions and suspend those who do not carry out the order.

A split vote meant that Hardee lost his fight for reinstatement, the Tampa Tribune reported. The Supreme Court opinion said the decision sustained Allens motion to quash the case.

Still, the Tampa Tribunes editorial board framed the decision primarily as the governors victory. Whether or not the Governor of Florida has the right under the law to suspend a county solicitor for neglect of duty and appoint another person in his place is definitively settled in the affirmative by the State Supreme Courts decision, they wrote.

In June 1937, two months after his term would have ended, Hardee had his state Senate hearing. He claimed that his life had been threatened numerous times by crooks and racketeers in Tampa who engineered his suspension through charges by a grand jury, the Tampa Tribune reported.

The Senate ruled in Hardees favor and voted to pay him $4,200 in back salary.

I am thankful for the vindication, Hardee told the press.

Read more:

DeSantis cited this 1930s Tampa gambling case when he suspended Andrew Warren - Tampa Bay Times

Dave Robson concedes that for a team like Williams it was difficult to gamble with this years all-new regulations as the house normally wins.

Williams put a standard, if one can call it that, FW44 on the track this season, the car not sporting any stand-out features as Formula 1 embraced an all-new era of ground effect aerodynamics and simplistic wings.

But ten races into the season they changed that, opting for a Red Bull-esque design not a copy of the RB18 by any means, but just drawing from its concept.

Robson, Williams head of vehicle performance, admits it is more difficult for teams like Williams, playing at the bottom of the field, to experiment as they do actually have more to lose.

When youre behind, you cant just take risks, you cant just gamble, that rarely pays off, he said as per GPFans. The house normally wins when you go gambling, dont they?

But youve got to push things because, A, you want to understand that when you push them they work as you expect them to, which ultimately is the important bit going forward. But equally, we also wanted just to make up for the slow start.

Its important that not only do we show the progress, but its important for everyone who is working so hard that we do a better job this year.

Other teams did go radical with their designs, Mercedes putting out a zero-pod W13 while Ferrari went with the baby bath sidepods for their F1-75.

Williams have yet to score a single point in the revised FW44, their best result Albons P12 at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The driver had twice scored in the older-spec car, 10th in Australia and ninth in Miami, but with those the teams only three points, Williams are tenth and last on the log.

It would be nice to score some more points in the second half of the season and I think there is a chance to do that, Robson continued.

And the knock-on effect amongst the whole team back at the fact and the drivers is, just to see that progress, to hopefully push on and score some points, that whole morale boost is also important.

Its hard to quantify but it definitely has a material effect.

Its necessary and right to push everything hard now to keep up that momentum and make sure we continue to act like a proper race team and then behind the scenes, there is the learning to take from that which can only help next year.

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Williams wary as the 'house normally wins when you go gambling' - Planet F1

Think you know which PGA Tour pro is leaving for LIV next? Well, you might be able to make yourself some LIV-like money gambling on it. OK, so probably not LIV-like money, because those dudes are getting PAID, but some money. Although, apparently, those guys might not be getting paid quite as much as originally thought . . .

Anyway, we're getting off topic here. Point is, if you look hard enough, you can bet on which PGA Tour pro will be next to go to Greg Norman's renegade league. And the hypothetical odds, courtesy of Bookies.com, are kind of interesting.

Let's start with the site's overwhelming favorite, Cameron Smith. The recent Open Championship winner has reportedly already signed with LIV, something his fellow Aussie (and Cam), Cameron Percy spilled the beans about. This seems like it's a lock, but you can still bet it at -1000, meaning to win $100, you'd have to risk $1,000. Pretty steep, but again, this is probably a lock. And again, these aren't the actual odds you can bet, but a good starting point if you still have a bookie. Not that we're endorsing that sort of thing. But we do endorse legal golf gambling . . .

Back to these hypothetical odds, rumorsand we should emphasize these are completely unsubstantiated rumorsof another Cameron, Cameron Young, leaving have been circling thanks to a story in The Times on Wednesday. And, probably as a result, the favorite to win PGA Tour Rookie of the Year is listed at even odds.

So, too, is 2021 Masters champ Hideki Matsuyama. There are other rumors floating around that this guy has been offered an insane amount of money by LIV. Not Tiger Woods money, but up there. And it makes sense considering how much his Masters win resonated in Asia. Anyway, he's +100 (risk $100 to win $100 as well).

You can check out the full listing at Bookies.com, but a few others of note are Patrick Cantlay (+350), Xander Schauffele (+400), Viktor Hovland (+450), Collin Morikawa (+600), and Will Zalatoris (+600). Of course, none of this means anything, but sportsbooks usually always know more than anyone.

As for those players who have even less of a chance of going? Vocal LIV critics Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, and Jordan Spieth are all listed at +2000 (or 20-to-1 odds), and Rory McIlroy is +3000. Yeah, we're not taking that bet, either.

See the article here:

Which PGA Tour pro will join LIV Golf next? This gambling site's odds are pretty interesting - GolfDigest.com

William Shatner has spoken about how his recent trip to space highlighted some home truths about the climate crisis.

The 91-year-old actor, who is best known for his role as Captain James T Kirk in Star Trek, became the oldest person to travel to space last year when he departed in a rocket as part of Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin space travel scheme.

Speaking to The Sunday Times about the trip, the actor explained that he filmed part of it for a forthcoming documentary about his life.

When I went up there and I could see the curvature of the Earth and the vast blackness surrounding it, it really hit home how much we dont know and how were gambling with our planet, he said.

I couldnt help but think about the terrible burden that Clive, my two-year-old great-grandchild, is facing when he gets older.

At one point on the journey, the actor and the others on board experienced the feeling of weightlessness when they reached the outskirts of space.

They were there for roughly 10 minutes before heading back to Earth.

The actor has previously described it as the most profound experience I can imagine.

Shatner went on to discuss the process of filming the documentary.

Filming a documentary about my life recently let me reminisce about my childhood, he said.

I was part of my high-school football team and then I played freshman football at university, but I was kicked off the team because I was too small, so I started doing acting instead.

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William Shatner says trip to space highlighted how society is gambling with the planet - The Independent

Music has played a large role in our world as we know it. Theres been some incredible music from all different cultures and generations, giving us a relatable song for just about everything imaginable.

Thats prompted us to make our list of the 9 best songs about gambling. There are a lot of songs about taking risks, but we tried to make sure that they had some lyrics about gambling in them. Theres a strong chance youve heard a good amount of these, while others might be new to you as well.

Lets get right into our top songs about gambling that you can listen to while playing at the best online casino sites.

9. When Youre Hot, Youre Hot Jerry Reed

The first of our best gambling songs will be from 1971 by Jerry Reed. This was one of his most popular songs, which reached number one on the country chart for five weeks.

If youre a fan of playing craps, this is going to be one of the best gambling songs for you.

A lot of gambling is about highs and lows or being hot or not. The chorus is a perfect representation of that.

And when youre not, youre not

8. Gamblers Blues B.B. King

Going back a couple of years before our last gambling-themed songs is the single by B.B. King called Gamblers Blues. Sometimes gambling can be a rough experience, especially if you cant seem to win a single bet.

The blues could be a perfect music genre if you ever fall into that feeling.

Oh, I dont know much about the dice

Although this is one of our top gambling songs to listen to, its more of a song that you might need after a bad losing streak. Blues is not a very fast-paced genre, so you might want to look in another direction if you are looking for the best songs about gambling to listen to while actually gambling.

7. House of the Rising Sun The Animals

Our next song on our best songs about gambling list is a popular one. Not only is this a great gambling song, but its also one of the best songs in general. The Animals have the most successful version of this song from 1964, but this is actually an old folk song.

This song is often called the first folk rock hit.

You might not know the exact title of the song, but the opening guitar and vocals should be familiar to you. Hilton Valentine was on the electric guitar, Chas Chandler was on the bass, and Eric Burdons vocals tied it all together.

The songs lyrics are a story about a mans father who was a gambler in New Orleans.

Is a suitcase and a trunk

And the only time hell be satisfied

Is when hes all drunk

Gambling can be a different experience for many people. Some people just want to spend their money until they become rich or broke, so these lyrics can relate to them. Its also a bit like Gamblers Blues, where you can listen to it after a rough night of gambling.

All in all, this song is very flexible and one of the most popular gambling songs in history.

6. Life is a Gamble Big K.R.I.T

The next of our top gambling songs is going to be from the rapper Big K.R.I.T, whose single Life is a Gamble is exactly what we are looking for here. Lyrics throughout the entire song are related to gambling, which you can tell by the title and chorus.

Sports bettors are going to enjoy this lyric as well;

Cause aint no point spread, but god doing books

If you think about it, there is risk in just about everything you do. For example, something as simple as driving a car can be considered a huge risk. Car crashes are very common, so you could consider it one of lifes gambles.

This is one of the songs about risk, which can directly relate to gambling. After all, gambling is about taking chances in hopes of striking the rich. If Big K.R.I.Ts lyrics about point spreads want you to bet on some upcoming games, be sure to go to the best places to gamble for real money online.

5. Easy Money Billy Joel

On a lighter note, gambling can be an experience where you feel like youve made the easiest dollar ever. Going to work every day and making money the hard way can be tiring. Gambling is a way to make money that is not physically demanding at all.

I could get lucky, oh, things could go right

I want the easy, easy money

Maybe this one time, maybe tonight

These lyrics from the album An Innocent Man (1983) represent exactly what we are talking about here. You can win money in a matter of seconds from gambling, so its considered easy money.

Unlike some of our previous gambling-related songs, this is absolutely one to listen to while gambling. Its fast-paced and upbeat, making for a perfect song to listen to while having some fun.

In the end, Billy Joel has some wildly popular hits but also has one of the top songs about gambling.

4. The Winner Takes It All ABBA

ABBA is another group with some incredibly popular hits, but we also find them on our list of the best gambling songs. Their hit song The Winner Takes It All is from their 1980 album, Super Trooper.

And thats what youve done, too

Nothing more to say, no more ace to play

The winner takes it all

The losers standing small

This song peaked at number one in multiple different countries, including the UK, US, Netherlands, Ireland, and more. Winner takes all is a common aspect of gambling. There are also lyrics of cards, dice, and other common gambling practices.

ABBA has a lot of great music, including one of the most famous gambling songs.

3. Tumbling Dice The Rolling Stones

You could say a couple of songs by The Rolling Stones should have a couple of the top songs about gambling, but we are going to just stick to one. That would be their hit single from 1972, Tumbling Dice.

You can tell this is a song by The Rolling Stones if you were listening to it blindly. The slower pace, groovy guitar sound, and bluesy lyrics are written all over so many of their popular songs.

It never peaked at number one on the charts, but its definitely on our list of the top gambling songs. Just take a look at the lyrics in the chores:

You got to roll me and call me the tumbling

Roll me and call me the tumbling dice

Baby, oh my

There are also lyrics about being the lone craps shooter, so this is a great song to listen to while playing it.

2. The Angel and the Gambler Iron Maiden

If youre looking for the top songs about gambling that have a faster pace, it doesnt get much faster than Iron Maiden.

The Angel and the Gambler was a single released in 1998. CGI has come a long way since this video came out, but its still cool to see even now. You can see that lead vocalist Blaze Bayley is playing cards with alien-like creatures, which was pretty groundbreaking at the time.

The music video also has a shortened version of the song, which actually has two parts. Part 1 is a whopping 9 minutes and 56 seconds, while Part 2 is pretty lengthy at 6:05.

Lyrics such as Roll of the dice, take a spin of the wheel. Out of your hands now, so how do you feel? and the title makes it one of our best songs about gambling.

1. Viva Las Vegas Elvis Presley

As for the number one song on our best songs about gambling, we have the all-time 1964 Elvis hit, Viva Las Vegas.

The song is certified gold and sold over 500,000 copies. They also made a movie with the same title, regarded as one of the best Elvis films.

The films budget was $1 million, and the box office was impressive at $9,442,967. As for the song, its also the best song on our list.

A fortune won and lost on every deal

All you needs a strong heart and a nerve of steel

This is the exact type of song we are looking for here. Lots of pace, grooviness, and casino-related lyrics in this one.

Thats going to wrap up our list of the best gambling songs. If youre looking for more music to listen to while gambling, be sure to check out the best poker songs as well.

Why is poker such a dominant metaphor in music? Besides the fact that poker metaphors are predominant in the English language, the game personifies the human condition and our approach to life. All life is at risk, even for the lower orders of animals like...

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Ranking the Best Songs About Gambling - Easy Money and More - Gambling Sites

After a federal judge invalidated a gambling compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, economists released a report Wednesday that eliminated hundreds of millions of dollars a year in expected state revenue from the deal.

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Florida received $187.5 million from the deal between October 2021 and February 2022, but the tribe discontinued payments in March, according to the report by a panel of economists known as the Revenue Estimating Conference.

It is currently unknown when or if they (payments) will resume into state accounts, the report said. The conference updated the (revenue) forecast to assume that no payments will be received within the forecast horizon.

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In January, the economists had projected that the state would bring in more than $463 million from the deal in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, with the amount steadily climbing to more than $500 million in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The deal, negotiated by Gov. Ron DeSantis and approved last year by the Legislature, included allowing the tribe to operate sports betting in Florida.

But Washington, D.C.-based U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich on Nov. 22 ruled that the compact violated a federal law known as the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act because betting would occur off tribal property. Friedrichs ruling has been appealed.

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Expected Florida gambling compact cash zeroed out by federal judge - ActionNewsJax.com

A gambler friend, Al, and I were on the phone talking about something related to vitamin supplements, and then he said he had a video poker question that he was embarrassed to ask me.

Go ahead, I prompted. If its too awkward, I just wont answer.

He told me it wasnt particularly awkward; it was just about a quarter game he found in Mississippi. He normally plays for higher stakes and was embarrassed to let me know that sometimes he went slumming, to use his term.

There was a five-coin progressive that was attached to each of several games. The loosest game was pseudo NSU Deuces Wild (which he called Airport Deuces), namely the 15-9-4-4-3 version that returns 98.91% at reset. Ill refer to this game as pNSU DW. The other game was the 8-5 Bonus Poker game with the 30-for-1 payout on all quads that returns 98.48% at reset. This game Ill call 8-5-30 BP.

The royal was at $2,250, which is 9,000 coins when youre playing for quarters. The reason he was asking about it is that the Deuces Wild game has a higher royal cycle, namely 43,432 hands versus 40,169 at reset for the Bonus Poker game.

Since Al was only going to play this game for a couple of hours, to kill time really while he waited for another gambling opportunity to open up in the same casino, he wanted to know if I would ever give up EV to go for the royal with the shorter cycle?

Okay, I told him. Its not too awkward. Especially if I can get a column out of it too!

The first thing to consider is that Mississippi has a non-refundable 3% tax on W-2Gs. This tax would amount to $67.50 if he hit the royal right away. It would be larger if the progressive grew before he hit it. I realize I should use 9,000 coins to figure out the strategy and 8,730 coins to determine the return after the non-refundable tax. But for today, Im just going to use the 9,000 figure.

The second thing was that the return of the games and royal cycles at 4,000 coins is considerably different than it is at 9,000 coins. Consider the following chart:

There are several things to notice here. First, the returns on the games at the 9,000-coin level are now quite similar. When the royal increases just a little more, the 8-5-30 BP game will actually return more than the pNSU DW game.

Second, the royal cycle for 8-5-30 BP is decreased by 7,650 as the royal amount goes from 4,000 to 9,000 and the pNSU DW royal cycle over the same change in royal amounts is changed by only 5,800. The reason for this difference is that in Deuces Wild variations, you still generally hold on to all dealt deuces, no matter how high the royal gets. (The one exception is four natural cards to the royal along with one deuce.)

So, to answer Als question as to which game I would play, my first answer is, Neither of them. Depending on how fast you play, these games are only worth $10 to $15 an hour, with significant variance. I would not take the time to learn a brand-new strategy, and the adjustments necessary when the royal went up eventually to 9,500 coins or 10,000 (which it might, but probably not while he was playing if he was only going to play for an hour or two) for that little money.

Players with small bankrolls who would normally consider a $10-per-hour to $15-per-hour game quite acceptable should realize that a very large percentage of the return is in the royal flush, and if youre not the one who hits the royal (which is the most likely result in a few hours of play) youre going to be taking a big loss. Plus, in addition to the 3% state tax, youre going to be getting a regular W-2G, which has its own consequences.

But those things aside, if I HAD to pick one game or the other, Id pick the 8-5-30 BP game. Its simpler to learn well, and while it has a slightly lesser return than pNSU DW now, its return will be the best one very shortly.

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Which is the Better Game? - Gambling With An Edge - Las Vegas Advisor

Shareholders too will look for robustness as they await a White Paper which may add curbs to the sector. Both firms have shielded themselves somewhat from the shaky UK market with strong growth in the US where they benefited from looser betting laws in many states. Entain, which also owns Coral, said last month online gaming revenues dipped over the first half of 2022. Charlie Williams, equity research assistant at Hargreaves Lansdown, said focus will turn to how profits for the period have fared, when it updates the market on Thursday.

He said: The impact on profit should come to light next week. Attention will be focused on whether management believe the previous spending habits will remain intact.

If not, online revenue could continue to decline into the future.

Concerns over lower demand from punters means shares are about 30 percent lower over the past three months, despite a rebound in retail revenues following the reopening of shops after pandemic curbs were lifted.

Investors will also be hopeful that a bumper sporting calendar for 2022, including the winter World Cup in Qatar, could provide a much-needed boost to sports betting.

Entains US arm BetMGM will also provide solace, with annual growth tipped at more than 50 percent.

He said: The impact on profit should come to light next week. Attention will be focused on whether management believe the previous spending habits will remain intact.

If not, online revenue could continue to decline into the future.

Concerns over lower demand from punters means shares are about 30 percent lower over the past three months, despite a rebound in retail revenues following the reopening of shops after pandemic curbs were lifted.

Investors will also be hopeful that a bumper sporting calendar for 2022, including the winter World Cup in Qatar, could provide a much-needed boost to sports betting.

Entains US arm BetMGM will also provide solace, with annual growth tipped at more than 50 percent.

Flutter will also find reason for optimism in its Stateside operations, through its FanDuel sportsbook business.

The gambling firm is set to announce, on Friday, continued strong growth in the division which noted a 45 percent rise in the first quarter.

It has continued with its heavy investment internationally, with about one billion dollars (830million) being pumped into promotions, sales and marketing across the US business in the course of last year.

Flutter also said it has secured regulatory approval for its 1.9billion (1.6billion) takeover of Italian gaming group Sisal.

That business saw 58 percent sales growth and a 51 percent earnings increase in the first half of the year.

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Gambling giants betting US moves will maintain profits - Express