Category Archives: Gambling

Introduction

On 5 April, the Committee for Advertising Practice (CAP) released new rules designed to protect young people and vulnerable audiences from advertising for gambling products. Advertisers have until 1 October 2022 to comply with the change to the CAP Code (the New Rules). This timing is significant as it is during the build-up to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar an event which traditionally sees a heavy spend on marketing to attract gambling customers.

The New Rules

Currently, rule 16.3.12 prohibits an ad from being likely to be of particular appeal to children or young persons, especially by reflecting or being associated with youth culture (emphasis added). The New Rules strengthen the language used, stating an ad must not be likely to be of strong appeal to children or young persons, especially by reflecting or being associated with youth culture (emphasis added). Similar changes have been made to the Broadcast Advertising Code (BCAP Code).

The New Rules build on the existing rules surrounding the targeting and scheduling of ads and requirements that celebrities and anyone playing a significant role in a gambling ad must be 25 years old or over.

Expected Impact

The strong appeal test means that any content which has a strong appeal to under-18s is prohibited, regardless of how it is viewed by adults. Therefore, the New Rules will restrict the range of personalities gambling ads can feature. For example, sportspeople well-known to under-18s appearing in gambling-related ads would likely fall foul of the New Rules.

CAP admits that evaluating the appeal of a marketing communication can be subjective. Consequently, CAP has released guidance indicating what forms they consider strong appeal to take, including:

When applying this guidance, one might consider that the subject matter of the bet e.g. football or esports is likely to be popular with under-18s. However, the New Rules which expressly state that: Where appropriate steps have been taken to limit the potential for an advertisement to appeal strongly to under-18s, this rule does not prevent the advertising of gambling products associated with activities that are themselves of strong appeal to under-18s (for instance, certain sports or playing video games). The guidance gives some examples of what those appropriate steps might be.

A targeting exemption is also applicable if the advertiser is able to verify the age of an audience and exclude under-18s from seeing it. It is unlikely that self-verification will be sufficient to meet this requirement. For example, the ruling in LC International Ltd t/a Gala Spins held that self-reporting your age was insufficient to ensure under-18s did not see the ad, due to the risk of misreporting age.

Conclusion

Shahriar Coupal, Director of CAP, has heralded these changes as a new era for gambling ads. The New Rules could also have an impact on the sponsorship of sport by gambling companies. Whilst the ASAs remit does not extend to sponsorship itself, it does cover advertisements issued as a result of a sponsorship arrangement. If gambling operators who sponsor sports teams can no longer use imagery of players from the teams or competitions they are sponsoring for UK-facing advertising, then this could be a material factor for gambling sponsors who are seeking to appeal to UK audiences. The CAP Code does not, however, apply to advertising which is not visible in the UK.

Of course, as gambling operators and sports organisations will be aware, there remains a possibility that the ongoing Gambling Act Review could have a much broader impact on gambling advertising and on sports sponsorship in the UK than the New Rules.

See the article here:

CAP Code: Celebrities and Gambling - Lexology

Trent Baalke may risk it all on Travon Walker.Image: Getty Images

Perhaps fittingly for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the 2022 Draft will be held amid the backdrop of casinos on the Las Vegas strip. The NFL Drafts is always a high-stakes poker table. Even with rookie wage scale contracts, drafting the wrong guy is a multi-million dollar mistake. Theres a reason why the same losing gamblers plunge into debt and disciplined gamblers typically win. Bad gamblers make more risky bets on propositions where the house has the edge.

One glorious upside to the 2022 NFL Draft lacking a premier superstar at the top pile of prospects is that we get to watch some of the NFLs worst general managers try to discern talent. Picking prospects is as much about talent evaluation as risk assessment. Jags General Manager Trent Baalke has approximately two more weeks to decide who hell select with the first overall pick.

It appears the casino energy has activated their worst inclinations and the Jaguars might be ready to risk it all on the slim odds that Georgia defensive end Travon Walker is the defensive game-changer they need. Last week, Jaguars cornerback Shaq Griffin made a persuasive case to activate the engine drive on the Travon Walker hype. Baalke may have been listening.

The presumption for weeks has been that the Jags would address their defensive line woes by drafting Michigans Aidan Hutchinson with the first pick. However, history suggests that Baalke will reach for Walker, the combine champ. In 2011, as GM of the 49ers, Baalke drafted Aldon Smith with the seventh pick, and he took DeForest Buckner seventh in 2016 after a monstrous combine. That history ignores that Aldon Smith was a proven pass rusher at Missouri while Buckner was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Whatever Baalkes instincts are telling him, he should do the opposite.

Selecting Walker No. 1 feels like Baalke putting up the Jags mortgage on a risky futures bet. What are they thinking? Sure, theres a chance Walker can prove Baalke right, but why reach so far with the first pick when there are options with better odds available? Only nine Jacksonville first-rounders have made it to a second contract with the Jaguars, and the last player to re-up was Blake Bortles.

Last April, Baalke selected Trevor Lawrence with one of the easiest first overall picks in recent memory, then followed that by making the inexplicable decision to draft his Clemson teammate Travis Etienne with the 25th pick. Picking a first round running back is a moronic draft strategy, but even more so when you factor in the presence of 2019 undrafted free agent gem James Robinson in the backfield.

Like Jake Locker and many others before him, Walker is this years unicorn whose production pales in comparison to his exploding hype. There have been flashes, but the No.1 pick is for the cant-miss superstars. In Walkers breakout season, he totaled 37 tackles and six sacks in 15 games on national championship-winning defense. Can he be that guy on the worst team in the NFL?

Walkers chase down tackle of Alabamas Agiye Hall in the National Championship game is the clip that scouts have been salivating over. On Alabamas final possession of the first half, Bryce Young connected with Hall for a short gain. However, after Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo whiffed on the tackle, Hall sprinted up an open lane with a blocker in front. Walker, who was near the line of scrimmage after Halls catch, raced up the field to wrap up the Tides freshman receiver and saved a touchdown. Walkers measurements of 6-foot-5, 271 pounds, coupled with a 6.89 in the 3-cone drill and a 4.51 40-yard dash, is a buffet of physical skills.

However, in three seasons, hes recorded only 9.5 sacks. Last April, Pro Football Focus rated Jacksonville the 29th worst team at drafting first round picks since 2010. In drafts like this, the mystery becomes an allure.

Baalke already made this mistake before, in 2020, when the Jags selected LSU pass rusher KLavon Chaisson. Theres a bit more leeway to miss on the 20th pick in their defense. One of the few picks Jacksonville has hit on was Jalen Ramsey, whom they traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Theres no excuse here.

In a draft where Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson are the top two pass rushers, a franchise that needs to stop the bleeding shouldnt be chasing long odds. If they want to gamble, take a shot at injured Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo in the second round.

Theres more at stake for Baalke than just the season. Baalkes reputation is in tatters right now. He overpaid a slew of veterans in free agency in the largest spending spree in league history. Reportedly, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was interested in the Jags head coaching job if Baalke was removed from his post. His career is on the line. But Baalke has a gambling problemmetaphorically speaking. After the last decade of bad bets, doubling down and continuously swinging for the fences with these get-rich-quick gambles is the worst possible move for a franchise in search of stability.

Link:

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a gambling problem - Deadspin

By RJ YoungFOX Sports Writer

As the inaugural United States Football League gets under way, I am breaking down one thing I look forward to seeing from each of the four Week 1 matchups.

Here is a breakdown of Sunday's contest between Kevin Sumlin's Houston Gamblers and Jeff Fisher's Michigan Panthers, which will be played on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock.

(For the rest of the Week 1 matchups, go here.)

Houston Gamblers: How versatile and explosive are the Gamblers?

With a Mean Machine look, Kevin Sumlins Gamblers have perhaps the best uniforms in the USFL. And they appear to have the skill and talent to match.

At the end of their scrimmage at Protective Stadium last week, Michigan Panthers coach Jeff Fisher stopped to admire Gamblers players who were running gassers at the end of practice. He nodded, knowing that his Panthers open the season against them.

Among the players Im most looking forward to watching not just on the Gamblers but in the entire league is former Florida running back Mark Thompson, who was a JUCO All-American and is best compared to Derrick Henry in style, size and physicality.

Couple Thompsons traits with Sumlins offense which has a reputation for scoring and scoring quickly and the Gamblers can become dynamic in a hurry. Sumlin selected QB Clayton Thorson with Houstons first pick, and it would not shock me to see Sumlin give him as many opportunities as possible to throw the ball to Thompson and former Kansas State wide receiver Isaiah Zuber, among others.

In Sumlins evaluation, Thompsons versatility is what made him a must-have for the Gamblers.

"A lot of these guys, their versatility moved them up in our eyes from a draft perspective to be able to do things and not just be a positional player," he said. "And obviously, with a guy like him, he's got value all over the field and on special teams. So we're excited about him and another number of other guys just like that."

Clayton Thorson and Mark Thompson bring versatility to Gamblers' offense

Gamblers head coach Kevin Sumlin explains why he drafted former Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson and former Florida RB Mark Thompson, noting Thorsons mobility, leadership and experience and Thompsons versatility.

Michigan Panthers: Is Shea Patterson the best QB in the league?

Fishers Panthers might have the best quarterback room in the USFL, with former Michigan standout Shea Patterson and former NFL first-round selection Paxton Lynch. Im interested to see just when and how Lynch plays this season, though Fisher has been adamant that he needs time to acclimate and develop.

Patterson, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 USFL Draft, is likely to start for a Panthers team that many believe has a chance to win the league championship, with former college stars on both sides of the ball, including former Indiana running back Stevie Scott III and Iowa State defensive end JaQuan Bailey.

"In these situations, you do your background checks, and you call people," Fisher said. "You call coaches, and oh my gosh, Coach [Jim] Harbaugh couldn't say enough great things about [Patterson]. And what a fan favorite we've come to realize he is. You get caught up in college football, and you lose kind of track of who the quarterbacks are. But man, that reception when it was released that he was going to be a Panther was really pretty cool."

Fisher, the best known of the USFL's coaches, will toe the sideline for the first time in six years. With a younger coaching staff and players hungry to succeed, he told me he feels energized and joyful about beginning the Panthers season on Sunday against Kevin Sumlins Gamblers.

Shea Patterson and Paxton Lynch bring different sets of skills to Panthers

Jeff Fisher reveals what impresses him about the Michigan Panthers' two QBs, including Shea Patterson's dedication and passion for the game and Paxton Lynch's ability to use his legs.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast "The No. 1 Ranked Show with RJ Young." Follow him on Twitter at @RJ_Young, and subscribe to "The RJ Young Show" on YouTube. He is not on a StepMill.

Go here to read the rest:

USFL 2022: What to watch for in Gamblers vs. Panthers - FOX Sports

GamCare has reported an uptick in the number of females accessing gambling support across the UK, in addition to detailed an increase in the understanding of such harms.

An evaluation report of the charitys training sessions for professionals found that 85 per cent of participants improved their understanding of gambling harms, including how to identify women in need of support.

The review, produced by inFocus Consulting, discovered that the GamCare training programme saw 97 per cent of participants understand how problem gambling impacts women they work with after receiving training.

Furthermore, it also reports that 96 per cent of professionals reported improved confidence in their ability to signpost and refer women to gambling support services.

GamCares Womens Programme, which delivered training to 918 organisation across the UK during this past year, works toward creating systemic change across policy, research and treatment to address the under-representation of women seeking support and accessing treatment, throughout England, Scotland and Wales

Dr Damian Hatton, Managing Director and Senior Evaluator at inFocus Consulting, stated: It has been a great pleasure to work with such a dedicated group of professionals, who are clearly committed to the advancement of gambling related support and services for women, which has been historically overlooked.

We are excited to see how the insights from the evaluation can be put to best use in the coming months and years.

GamCare also says that it has witnessed a six per cent increase in the number of women accessing gambling support in the UK, with the programme intending to continue building in order to increase awareness.

The initiative will also look to raise awareness among healthcare professionals, as well as looking to build stronger relationships with departments of the NHS and other healthcare service providers.

Anna Hemmings, Chief Executive of GamCare, commented: At GamCare, we know that stigma and shame are a key barrier to women disclosing concerns, either about their own gambling or someone close to them.

The Womens Programme works to reduce stigma, which affects women at risk of experiencing gambling harms, to better understand and break down the barriers they face when seeking treatment.

Over the next year, we want to continue to raise awareness of how gambling harm affects women and to signpost the gambling support services available for women.

Originally posted here:

GamCare reports increase in the understand of gambling related harms - Casino Beats

Introduction Ethereum Gambling

Online gambling using crypto is at the cutting edge of internet gambling today. And there is a host of worldwide crypto gamblers who take a major interest in playing these crypto gambling games. Apart from bitcoin, all leading and startup crypto casino operators are now readily accepting some new types of crypto currencies, for example, Ethereum (ETH), as an up-and-coming deposit and cash-out method.

As a matter of fact, a good number of crypto online casinos are fast accepting Ethereum for players as a great option for deposit and withdrawal of funds. It is expected that is the near future a variety of improved Ethereum casinos will turn up in the market.

When it comes to converting your ETH into a preferred crypto currency, for example, bitcoin, thankfully, as a result of various exchanges such as Poloniex, ShapeShift, BitStamp, and Kraken, the process is as easy as a walk in the park. Surprisingly yet factually, a few of these exchange sources are able to convert your crypto currency into Dollar, Euro, etc.

A seemingly attractive and ideal ETH gambling site may not essentially be perfect for you in terms of your location, financial budget, and other specific reasons.

You should consider a few salient factors as mentioned below to make your experience as delightful and memorable as possible:

One of the key aspects to consider is whether the top Ethereum gambling sites you want to choose are reputable. On the other hand, if you are on the fence about the reputation of a website, make sure to read some popular ETH gambling site reviews. It will help you mightily in jumping to a prudent conclusion.

Most players, most generally beginners, often overlook the aspect of country prohibition, albeit, in any case, this is the most salient aspect you need to inevitably.

This is seriously not a mistake if you choose licensed gambling sites accepting Ethereum because most of the sites will not allow you to register, let single-handedly add funds if you hail from a country where its service is forbidden.

Considering what is said above, it easily follows that you should choose Ethereum gambling sites that allow punters to play from your country.

Search for some well-thought-of ETH gambling websites that can return your money even if they come to know you are not legally allowed to gamble.

In general, the regular online casino sites that accept Ethereum are most likely to convert ETH into fiat at the time you make a deposit.

Anytime, you want to withdraw your deposited money, your fiat is converted into Ethereum, although everything depends on the withdrawal terms of the gambling website you have chosen.

At long last, you have to defray fees for each transaction, and you are stuck with fiat currency on the website instead of Ethereum.

When it comes to the methods of depositing and withdrawing your funds, they all vary from website to website.

The wise thing you should do is to choose a website that enables you to deposit and withdraw using a variety of payment methods.

Ethereum is a digital currency that moves fast, and so are the gambling sites accepting it.

There are some online casino sites that accept Ethereum to carry out withdrawals right away; in the meantime, there are other sites that can take hours or even days.

In general, consider choosing a website that processes faster withdrawal to your satisfaction.

In general, Ethereum gambling websites provide you with tantalizing bonuses after you sign up for them.

With a view to helping maximize your funds, the word of recommendation is to find Ethereum gambling companies having a terrific VIP program and good promotions.

In fact, all leading ETH gambling websites offer high quality services; suffice to say, they also offer plenty of tantalizing promotions.

These promotions apart from adding great fun and excitement to a game also add a good amount of funds towards the end of the month.

As a playing customer at an Ethereum casino, you might have a few or many questions to ask. Moreover, there are times when existing players are on the fence and need help sporadically.

Therefore, it is worth considering choosing casino sites facilitating responsive communication by dint of various effective methods, for example, live chats, emails, and telephone.

To conclude, Ethereum casino sites are the thing for crypto gamblers, as they have everything to offer them. If you choose the right Ethereum casino, you will be able to derive great benefits from availing terrific bonus deals whilst playing different types of gambling games there.Last but not least, keep in mind to gamble responsibly and check your bonus wagering needs without fail.

Read this article:

Why Is It So Important to Select the Best Ethereum Gambling site? - NameCoinNews

Gambling is a favorite pastime that many people around the world have found much fun, joy, and excitement in. The gambling industry in India is growing at an astonishing rate despite several regulations forbidding major gambling in India. Talking about the online gambling industry in India, this area is operating low-key without running against any kind of legal action from the government. It can be considered a revolutionary phase for the online gambling industry in India.

Currently, land-based casinos are illegal in India, except in some states in the country where there are laws legalizing gambling in a physical form. It means that people who want to partake in any kind of organized gambling have to travel to these states to do it. Thus, online gambling has become a great way to play standard casino games without traveling anywhere. Besides, gambling websites in India are completely accessible.

Recent statistics show that approximately 40% of Indian people have gambled on online platforms at least once. Experts say that taking into account this fact it will still continue to increase by as much as 41% by 2024. With the increasing rate at which people in India are joining gambling platforms, India is going to surpass some European countries in terms of the number of players per capita.

In the gambling industry, the choice of software is a kind of guiding light for effective operation, which attracts regular players. Gambling software is computer software designed to organize and conduct gambling both on the Internet and embedded in slot machines. It is used by the organizer of gambling as a means to provide services in the field of gambling. High-quality software allows many players to play simultaneously, stabilizes the score, calculates the result, and calculates and credits any won money to the clients account. Choosing software, not only quality is taken into account, but also the convenience, availability, and flexibility of the software.

The most important feature of gambling software is that it ensures the fairness of online games. People who play online are often concerned that the games are somehow falsified in favor of the casino. This anxiety is pretty much unreasonable. Random number generators are used at online casinos. They are computer programs that create random strings of numbers with no apparent pattern, and the software interacts with them to get results, such as which card is dealt next or which symbols appear after a spin on a slot machine. As a result, the outcomes of the games are absolutely random, and this ensures that the games are completely fair.

Players are provided with an extensive set of opportunities, thanks to a rapidly developing world of gambling. Thus, the range of gambling software is also extensive. How you play depends on what device you have and where you play. Gambling software can be divided into three types download, instant play, and mobile all of them offer plenty of games to play using different devices.

Nowadays a download gambling software is usually only compatible with PCs running on the Microsoft Windows operating system. After downloading it, you will get full access to a wide range of games. You just need to download a program, log in and start playing.

Instant play software is extremely popular at most online casinos. In contrast to downloadable software, this type of gambling software lets players play games straight from their web browser without downloading. Adobe Flash is frequently used for this type of software. It means its compatible with a wide range of operating systems and devices. Many instant play games can be accessed from smartphones and tablets.

Additionally to instant games which people can play from a mobile device, a lot of online casinos also offer mobile apps. These apps represent a variety of games designed (or modified) intentionally for mobile devices. They can be downloaded to your phone or tablet directly from the respective casino website or from the respective app store.

One of the best betting companies that have quality gambling software is Parimatch. Its a licensed company with a 28-year history offering a great range of sports to bet on and instant games. One of the popular slots games by Parimatch is Andar Bahar game online. Playing this game you can try your luck, enjoy the excitement and get a cash prize.

Nowadays the competition in the gambling industry is constantly increasing, each operator strives to provide the best software and services to outshine the competitor. Betting companies use different types of software and propose a variety of games to attract players. It depends on personal preference which game to choose, but before immersing yourself in the world of gambling, you should find a reliable online casino. The main thing is that the online games offered by such casinos should be of adequate quality, and no one could interfere with the work of random number generators. Visit Parimatch to make sure of the quality, availability, and convenience of its software and offered games.

Read the rest here:

An introduction to gambling software - Hardware Times

By: Josh Sens April 13, 2022

Collin Morikawa is a good bet this week.

Getty Images

Scottie Schefflers Masters win doubled as a windfall for anyone who went with Erick Lindgrens wisdom. Scheffler was Lindgrens top pre-tournament pick, a 16-to 1 payout that marked the seventh time in less than 12 months that GOLF.coms expert prognosticator has correctly called a winner in this space.

Now its on the RBC Heritage, at Harbour Town Golf Links, in Hilton Head, S.C., a heralded Pete Dye design perhaps best known to fans for the landmark lighthouse behind 18. The fairways are snug, the greens are small and our terms with Lindgren are the same as ever. We give him a $1,000 gambling budget (just play money) and he provides us with his 5 favorite picks.

(Looking to play any of these bets yourself? We teamed with BetMGM and the online sports book is offering a Risk-Free Bet of up to $1,000.)

One of the games top iron players on a course that prizes accuracy from tee to green. Morikawa placed seventh here last year, and Lindgren is looking for an even stronger showing. Hes probably the guy who makes me most uneasy week to week to not have in my lineup, Lindgren says. Im happy to take the price here as I think hes the best player in the field on a course that should be good for him.

After missing the cut at the Masters for the first time in his career, Spieth might seem like a counterintuitive pick. Thats partly the point. Jordan is a feel player and I think handicapping him is the same, Lindgren says. I feel we get double the effort we would normally get from him, and that could easily be good enough to get him in the winners circle.

Its been a long dry spell for Kuchar, but, Lindgren says, hes flashed some form of late. No better place for him to catch fire than on a course where he has won before.

Another past winner at Harbour Town, Snedeker struck it beautifully in his last Tour start, at the Valero, but he struggled with the flat-stick, an off-brand performance for one of the games great putters. Im confident he addressed that during his week off, Lindgren says.

Youve heard of horses for courses. How about horses for architects? Dont let his undoing on the 17th at Sawgrass this year fool you, Lindgren says. Piercy plays well on Dye designs. He also knows its time to start racking up Fed Ex Cup points, Lindgren says, which should add spark to the motivational fire.

A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLFs platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.

Read this article:

5 picks I love at the RBC Heritage, according to a professional gambler - Golf.com

Ald. Sigcho-Lopez on why he opposes casino at The 78 mega development

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) explains why some constituents of his ward do not want Chicago's first casino to move into The 78 mega development.

CHICAGO - A clout-heavy group of casino developers on Thursday pitched South Loop residents on their plan to build a brand new "neighborhood from the ground up" that they say will create a new "epicenter of Chicago tourism."

But some of their potential neighbors argued that would be just the problem.

The proposal spearheaded by billionaire casino tycoon Neil Bluhms Rush Street Gaming and Chicago megadeveloper Related Midwest has its sights set on a rare slice of undeveloped Loop-adjacent land south of Roosevelt Road and west of Clark Street.

Known as "The 78" for its potential to become the citys 78th official community area, its 62 vacant acres have seen other grand plans surface and fail repeatedly over the years and many in the community say they want the casino proposal to meet the same fate.

DOWNLOAD THE FOX 32 NEWS APP

Dozens of South Loop residents grilled the so-called "Rivers 78" casino team during a town hall meeting held at the University of Illinois Chicagos Dorin Forum, in the citys final airing of public grievances on the three bids Mayor Lori Lightfoot is weighing to take on the citys long-sought casino project.

They raised many of the concerns that have been leveled against the other bidders, including increased traffic, the potential for more crime and the threat of gambling addiction.

"We dont need a casino in order to have a nice development at the 78 thats for the community," one resident told the 78 casino hopefuls.

"A casino in my neighborhood is not going to do anything for me," an 11-year-old South Looper said. "How can I feel safer as a kid when you build a casino as my neighbor?"

Debbie Liu, co-chair of The 78 Community Advisory Council, simply called for the city to slow down its selection process "so all stakeholders can better understand each of the proposals." Liu called the casino project "inconsistent with the original vision" of the land, citing a survey that found 78% of 400 respondents opposed the casino.

The 78 bid is up against two other finalists vying for Lightfoots seal of approval: Hard Rock Chicago, which wants to break ground across the street from Soldier Field, and Ballys Corporation, which is eying the Chicago Tribune printing plant site at Halsted Street at Chicago Avenue.

The Rivers 78 team argued their $1.6 billion bid stands out with an extension of the Chicago Riverwalk to Ping Tom Park, a 300-room hotel and a 1,078-foot observation tower that Related Midwest president Curt Bailey has dubbed "an Eiffel Tower for Chicago."

"Were creating an entire neighborhood from the ground up," Bailey said. "Were shifting the epicenter of Chicagos tourism south."

They also say theyll be good neighbors with the Discovery Partners Institute, a massive University of Illinois research center that is scheduled to break ground on the south end of the plot next year.

In a city report issued last month when Lightfoot narrowed down the field of casino finalists, officials noted that the group hadnt yet shown evidence they could finance the observation tower, which the city thinks would result in "a significantly diminished casino project."

But even if the full project comes to fruition, Rivers 78 is projected to generate the smallest amount of annual city tax revenue at $174.2 million, by the citys estimation about $17 million less than Ballys and $11 million less than Hard Rock.

The 78 bid also presents a potential problem of political optics for Lightfoot.

Bluhm who founded Illinois most lucrative existing casino, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines and his family have close ties to the mayor. Bluhms daughters donated more than $212,000 to Lightfoots first mayoral campaign. One of them, Leslie Bluhm, who went to law school with Lightfoot, co-hosted a campaign fundraiser and remains close friends with the mayor.

Additionally, part of the 78 site is still owned by Nahdmi Auchi, an arms dealer who is prohibited from entering the United States because he was convicted of taking illegal commissions in a French oil deal. Auchi was a partner with Tony Rezko the political fixer who was convicted of kickback schemes under disgraced ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The mayor has put together a City Council committee to narrow the field down to one finalist within the next few months. That bidder would then have to apply for state approval.

Follow this link:

South Loop residents push back against gambling complex inconsistent with the original vision for site - FOX 32 Chicago

The Simpsons and gambling is a match that works almost seamlessly. In many episodes of the famous cartoon family, gambling was present. But from the beginning, there have always been episodes around this theme. Some of these have even become classics, but for the most part, well leave you to watch them yourself and decide.

The first episode in the longest-running American sitcom also contains its most direct reference to gambling. In Roasting On an Open Fire, Homer takes a job as a department store Santa to make ends meet for Christmas. But after borrowing money from Mr. Burns to buy Marge a gift, hes forced to visit the dog track on Christmas Eve to win back his money. Of course, it all goes wrong, and the Simpsons family ends up with a greyhound called Santas Little Helper instead of cash.

Homers twin brother Herbert Powell comes to town and takes Homer on a trip to Las Vegas, where they visit several casinos, including the Landmark Hotel and Casino. Homer thinks he can win at roulette by betting on 32 because its his lucky number but loses everything he brought with him when they get there. He then wins by betting on all numbers, ending with 2, which was his birthday date (2/2).

Ned Flanders wins a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, and Homer tags along. They get caught up in the citys excesses and become addicted to gambling mega moolah $1 deposit among other games.

Homer joins his best friend in gambling during the Super Bowl. After losing the game, Homer wins a lot of money by betting on the coin toss that opens the game. The episode parodies Viva Las Vegass film and features Elvis Presley impersonator Tom Jones as himself.

In this episode, the father, Homer Simpson, goes to Las Vegas and meets a young girl named Mary.

Once there, he discovers that Mary is the daughter of Krusty the Clown, who had become a millionaire by investing his money in casinos. He tells Mary about his gambling addiction, and she gives him $5,000 to buy a new car. Homer then tries to win back the money he lost at the casino but loses even more.

Bart becomes a poker prodigy in The President Wore Pearls after taking an IQ-boosting medication. He participates in the World Series of Poker, and his family cheers him on from home.

The Simpsons are seen playing poker at a table while watching Bart play against some of the worlds greatest players on TV. Throughout the show, he eliminates opponents until there are just two left. Bart holds a royal flush, while the other player has four kings. But a phone call disrupts Barts concentration just before the fight. The opponent then displays a complete house of three kings and two queens (with one king being on top)

If you love gambling, The Simpsons might seem an excellent inspiration for you. The games of Caesars Palace, the Springfield Bowl, and many others are as incredible as in real life, giving you a perfect chance to have fun in your favorite series. In particular, any gambling fan is going to love this animated series.

The rest is here:

The Simpsons and Gambling - SpeedwayMedia.com

UFC 273 takes places Saturday at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.. The pay-per-view features two title fights and arguably the most intriguing non-title fight of the year. In the main event, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defends his title against The Korean Zombie, Chan Sung Jung. In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling finally settles his longtime feud with interim champion Petr Yan, and in a featured welterweight bout, one-time title challenger Gilbert Burns takes on the most exciting prospect to come to the UFC in many years, Khamzat Chimaev.

Lets take a look at some of the best bets available on the card. All odds are courtesy of our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Mackenzie Dern over Tecia Torres, -120

Part of me understands why this line is so close: Torres is on a good run right now, shes scrappy as hell, and Dern is probably overrated. But despite all that, I cant help but feel that almost everything here favors Dern substantially. Shes younger, bigger, more athletic, and arguably the best grappler in MMA. Yes, Torres is a better striker and uses more volume, but shes not a finisher and simply lacks the footwork and distance management that Marina Rodriguez used to frustrate Dern. On top of that, Torres isnt a great defensive wrestler, meaning that Dern will probably be able to score takedowns, and with her top control and grappling, one takedown may be all it takes. To win this fight, Torres will need to be close to perfect all night long, and thats asking a lot.

Mark O. Madsen over Vince Pichel, +105

Madsen is one of the dark horses in the lightweight division. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist in Grego-Roman wrestling has been perfect in his MMA career thus far, and in Pichel, he faces an aging veteran who has historically struggled with good wrestlers. In other words, this is a good matchup for Madsen. The only real concern here for Madsen is his cardio, but with Pichels porous takedown defense (25 percent), Madsen should mostly be in control of this fight.

Jared Vanderaa over Aleksei Oleinik, -110

God love him, but Aleksei Oleinik is a few months shy of his 45th birthday and hasnt won a fight in two years. Granted, in that time he has fought better fighters than Vanderaa, but the fact remains that Oleinik is just generally old and practically ancient in fight years. Hes been fighting since the first Clinton administration, for Gods sake. Vanderaa may not be great, but so long as he doesnt get Ezekiel-choked in the first four minutes, hes going to be able to simply outlast Oleinik.

Mickey Gall over Mike Malott, +180

This line is a perfect showcase of how hype plays with public perception. Mickey Gall is not an A-plus level welterweight, but he is a decent one. Similarly, Malott isnt great, but because Malott is new to the UFC and coming off a quick submission, and Galls been around a long time and has notable losses, the public is all about the shiny new object. The truth is, these guys are pretty similar fighters, but I think Gall is the better grappler and the more dangerous striker. This fight should either be a pickem, or Gall should be a slight favorite, so Im taking the underdog value.

Petr Yan over Aljamain Sterling by KO/TKO, +150

I want to believe in Aljamain Sterling, but I just cant. Sterling certainly has the tools to make this an interesting fight, but unfortunately for the champion, his game is not well-built to fight someone like Yan. We saw what happened last time. Sterling was unable to get his takedowns going against Yan and so he resorted to overly aggressive striking. He can be competitive with that for a round or two, but ultimately, that drains his card and plays into Yans snowball-rolling-downhill style of fighting. The same thing will happen this time, only Yan wont throw the fight away.

Jairzinho Rozenstruik by KO/TKO, +110

Rozenstruik has had an up-and-down run of late, alternating wins and losses over his previous six fights. But when you consider that those losses have come against Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane, and Curtis Blaydes, three of the four best heavyweights alive, then that run doesnt look so bad. Marcin Tybura is another step back in competition for Rozenstruik, and while Tybura is fairly durable and a better grappler, he gets hit a lot on the feet, and hes not a great wrestler. Rozenstruik has show solid takedown defense, and hes a much better striker, so I suspect this will look similar to Tyburas fight with Derek Lewis, which ended with Tybura in a heap.

[Ed. note: Unfortunately, Rozenstruik vs. Tybura has since been canceled.]

Aspen Ladd by Decision, +250

This is the bet I feel the least confident about (aside from the Long Shot) but I cant help but see value here. Statistically, Ladd and Raquel Pennington are extremely similar in terms of size and output, but Ladd is the better grappler of the two. Pennington is the savvier striker and a pretty good defensive wrestler, but she still gives up takedowns, and she will allow fights to come to her, which gives Ladd even more of a chance to get her own offense going. Add in that Ladd is still improving and Pennington is hitting that point where we can expect to see some regression and I think Ladd is being undervalued.

Alexander Volkanovski over Chan Sung Jung, -720

Simply put, Volkanovski is one of the best fighters in the world, and for as much as everyone loves Korean Zombie, he is not. Moreover, Volkanovski is coming off a very similar fight against Brian Ortega. Like Ortega, Zombie presents the possibility of winning with a singular moment of brilliant offense, which is the only real way to beat Volkanovski. But the champ has proven to be exceedingly durable and nearly impossible to submit. At this point in his career, Zombie is probably just a worse version of Ortega, which means Volkanovski should show his class.

Petr Yan over Aljamain Sterling, -475

Everything I said above is true, but there does exist the possibility that Sterling doesnt overexert himself early and instead, simply loses a decision. This accounts for that possibility.

Khamzat Chimaev over Gilbert Burns, -490

I wrote about this fight here, so I wont dive into this one, but the short version is: Chimaev is the next big thing and also a horrible matchup for Burns. This should be one-way traffic.

Aspen Ladd/Raquel Pennington Fight Goes To Decision, -280

Pennington is absurdly durable and also not much of a finisher. Thats a good combination for a Goes To Decision bet, especially when you factor in Ladds most recent performance and both womens propensity for slower-paced fights.

Parlay these four bets together for +125 odds.

Aljamain Sterling by Submission in Round 1, +3500

Forget everything else I said above, if Sterling is going to win, its going to be via early submission. For his many faults, Sterling remains a predatory grappler, and hes entering into this fight with a huge chip on his shoulder. Hes spent the past year catching hell from half the sport, and I suspect he will come out for this fight turbo-charged. Sterling isnt built to win a drawn out battle with Yan, but he could barnstorm him early, a la the Cory Sandhagen fight.

Obviously we had last week off, but before that we were starting to put together a good run. UFC Columbus treated us rather nicely, cashing all three of our straight bets and two of our three props. Lets keep that roll going this weekend.

Good luck yall, and gamble responsibly!

All information in this article is provided to readers of MMA Fighting for entertainment, news, and amusement purposes only. It is the responsibility of the reader to learn and abide by online gambling laws in their region before placing any online sports betting wagers.

View post:

UFC 273 gambling preview: Best bets, parlays, and long shot of the week - MMA Fighting