Category Archives: Gambling

Americans will wager an estimated $3.1 billion on this year's March Madness college basketball championship tournament, the gambling industry's national trade group predicts.

That figure includes legal bets as well as those placed with illegal bookies or offshore websites, the American Gaming Association (AGA) said in a new report. An estimated 45 million Americans 17% of U.S. adults plan to place at least one bet on the NCAA tournament.

"There's no doubt this year will generate the highest legal handle in March Madness history," said Bill Miller, the association's president and CEO, referring to the total amount wagered on the tournament.

Bettors name Gonzaga (17%) as their favorite to win the tournament, followed by Duke (12%), and Kentucky (11%)

The college championship tournament is one of sports betting's biggest events, but it still trails the level of betting seen in football's Super Bowl. While fewer Americans were expected to place bets on last month's Super Bowl won by the Los Angeles Rams (31 million), the amount expected to be wagered on the game was $7.6 billion, more than twice the amount forecast for the college basketball tournament, according to the association.

Nearly 21 million Americans say they plan to make bets that do not involve filling out brackets that predict the winner of each game up to and including the eventual champion, which has always been a popular method of betting on the tournament. But 36.5 million will bet on a bracket in a pool or similar contest; there is some overlap among the two groups

The report says more than three-quarters of the total amount bet on the tournament will not involve brackets, an increase of 55% from last year. Polling group Morning Consult conducted the online survey of 2,210 adults on behalf of the AGA.

That is due in large part to the increasing number of states offering legal sports betting. Currently, 30 states plus Washington, D.C., offer it, and there are 29 million more American adults who live in states that have adopted legal sports betting since last year's March Madness tournament.

Eilers & Krejcik Gaming forecasts that legal sports betting, which generated $1.5 billion in revenue in 2020, will reach nearly $6 billion by 2023. States began legalizing online sports betting three years ago after aU.S. Supreme Court rulingin 2018 struck down a federal law barring gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sports. As of February, 18 states have legalized online sports betting.

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Betting on March Madness tournament to top $3 billion, gambling group predicts - CBS News

Gambling can affect mental health: Here's what to do about it

Updated: 1:54 PM EDT Mar 14, 2022

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AND INTOHE T START OF NEXT WEEKEND. JENNIFER: MARCH IS GAMBLING AWARENESS NTH.MO GETTING WORD OUT ABOUT RISK FACTORS, JOININGS U MORE FROM MARYLAND PEACE OF MIND, MARY DREXLER FROM THE PROGRAM CENTER. APPRECIATE JOIN US THIS MORNING. >> THANK YOU. JENNIFER: EXPLAIN TO FOS,LK WHAT IS PROEMBL GAMBLING? >> IT'S WHEN SOMEBODY ENGAGES IN GAMBLING ACTIVITY TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO STOP THEIR GAMBLIN OGR CONTROL IT. AND THEN IT BECOMES A PROBLEM. JENNIFER: LIKE AN ADDICTION. >> IT'S AN ADDICTION LIKE ANY OTHER. NOT EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES IT AS AN ADDICTION AS OF YET, BUT IT DEFINITELY CAN TURN INTO AN ADDICTION. JENNIFER: LIKE MYAN ADDICTIONS, PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS REALIZE WHEN IT'S BECOME AN ADDICTION AND IS A PROBLEM. THAT'S SOMETHING A FILAMY MEMBER OR FRIEND WILL NOTEIC FIRST. HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT? >> IF YOU NOTICE THAT SOMEONE IS PREOCCUPIED WITH THE GAMBLING ACTIVITY, ARE BEING SECRETIVE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE AT THE MOMENT, ARE STAINRTG TO LIE ABOUTHE T GAMBLING ACTIVITY THAT THEY'VE BEEN PARTICIPATIN GIN, IT STARTS TO IMPACT THEIR RELATIONSHIPS, IT COULD IMPACT THEIR JOB, AND THEN THEY LOOK FOR BAIL-OUTS. THEY GO TO FAMILYND A FRIENDS FOR MONEY BECAUSE THEY'RE GAMBLING MORE AND MORE. >> I CANT CAUSE A LOT OF SHAME, I WOULD IMAGINE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY. WHAT OTHER WAYS DOES TSHI AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH? >> YES. DEFINITELY DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. THAT IS HUGE. WHEN IT COMES TO GAMBLI.NG IT DOESN'T OCCUR IN A VACUUM. IT OFTEN IS ACCPANIEDOM WITH OTHE RCO-OCCURRING DISORDERS LIKE SUBSTANCE USE. SOMEBODY MAY HEAV A DIAGNOSIS OF SOME MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER. SO, YOU KNOW, WE JTUS NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SOMEONE'S LIFE AND PAY SOME ATTENTION AND MAYBE ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GAMBLING THAT THEY'RE DOING. JENNIFER: WHAT SORT OF THISNG DO YOU DO AT THE CENTER TO HELP PEOPLE? >> THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING IS HERE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY AND INFORMED CHOICES REGARDING GAMBLING AND PROBLEM GAMBLING. WE'RE NEUTRAL ON THE ISSUE OF LEGALIZED GAMBLING. WE DO PREVENTNIO ACTIVITIES. WE HELP PEOPLE GET TO THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED IF THEY CALL OUR HELP LINE, WCHHI IS CRUCIAL. IT'S ONE OF OUR MAIN RESOURCES IS 800-GAMBLER HEER FOR MARYLAND RESIDENTS. THERE'S A WEBSITE, HELPMYGMBLEINGPROBLEM.ORG. PEOPLE CAN GO ONLINE, FIND CLINICIANS, GET INFORMATION, TAKE A SELF-ASSESSMENT TO SEE IF THEY THINK THEY MAY HAVE A GAMBLING PROBLEM. JENNIFER: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FITRS WAYS THAT YOU WORK WITH SOMEBODY WITH A GAMBLING ADDICTION? IT'S DIFFERENT FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT TAKING THAT -- IN A WAY, YOU'RE TAKING A SUBSTANCE AWAY FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL. HOW DOES THIS BEGIN? >> WELL, IT'S SO HARD BECAUSE GAMBLING, NUMBER ONE, IS ABOUT HIDDEN ADDICTION. YOU CAN'T SEE IT LIKEOU Y CAN SEE OTRHE ADDICTIONS. BUT BY CALL THE HELP LINE, THE WAYS WE CAN HELP IS THERE ARE, RIGHT NOW, OVER 120 TREATMENT PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE, EITHER ORGANIZATIONS OR PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS THAT CAN HELP AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DEALING WH AIT GAMBLING PROBLEM. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ASSETSS I PEER RECOVERY SUP SPORT SPECIALISTS COVERING THE ENTIRE STATE. THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH EXPERIENCE. IF YOU CALL THE HELP LINE, YOU CAN BE CONNECTED DIRECTLY, IMMEDIATELY TO A PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST. SOMEONE WHO KWSNO WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. JENNIFER: THAT IS SO CRUCIAL, SOMEONE THAT CAN RELATE. YOU MENTIONED OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE WAY YOU'RE DOING THAT IS EDUCATION WITH CASINO WORKERS. >> YES. HWEAVE DONE -- WE'VE COMPLETED ONE OF THEM RIGHT NOW. WE ARE REDOING FIVE OTHER CASINOS. WE GO TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE OF THE CASINOS AND THAT IS TO EDUCATE EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE ISSUE OF PROBLEM GAMBLING, NOT ONLY FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR PATRSON AS WELL. EMPLOYEES OF GAMBLING FACILITIES ARE AT HIGHER RISK. THEY'RE INTRODUCED TO IT ALL THE TIME. WE WKOR COLLABORATIVELY WITH CASINOS TO DO SO. JENNIFER: IF SOMEONE WANTS INFORMATION, WHERE CAN THEY FIND HELP? >>1-800-GAMBLER. IT WILL CONNECTOU Y TO HELP LINE STAFF TO GETOU Y TO TREATMENT OR A RECOVERY SUPRTPO SPECIALIS

Gambling can affect mental health: Here's what to do about it

Updated: 1:54 PM EDT Mar 14, 2022

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling is getting the word out about risk factors and where to get help. Mary Drexler, the center's program director, explains how gambling can affect mental health.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling is getting the word out about risk factors and where to get help. Mary Drexler, the center's program director, explains how gambling can affect mental health.

Excerpt from:

Gambling can affect mental health: Here's what to do about it - WBAL TV Baltimore

Gambling and betting have been ingrained within society for the entirety of recorded history. There is something magical about the thrill of chance that we as humans love to experience, and that thrill is now more accessible than ever. Gambling today is way more than just throwing dice or dealing cards; through the use ofbetting sites, you can find a plethora of different games, activities, live events, and traditional betting. There is no shortage of variety therefore, to be the most prepared, it is valuable to know what you will encounter in todays virtual gambling environment.

Like the aforementioned statement, sports betting has been around since the beginning of sports itself. However, sports betting nowadays doesnt just encompass traditional live sports such as football, horse racing, and stock car racing. Sports betting now extends virtually through means of esports.

Esports is similar to traditional sports in the sense that it is a competition where an individual or a team is fighting for the number one spot. However, this is commonly done through video games such as Dota, League of Legends, and CS:GO. In the past decade with the rise of live-streaming, these gaming events have garnered a huge audience along with a plethora of opportunities tobet via esports.

With all that being said, sports betting requires some strategy, however, it works fairly obviously. Heres an example: Team Red versus Team Blue, you bet on Team Red, and if they win you get a payout. However, what determines this payout? Its the number of bets placed on each team or individual. So, if Team Red was unfavored to win, meaning it has fewer bets placed on it; it will be a riskier bet but will provide a bigger reward if they won. The inverse also applies, if you bet on the favored team or individual, the payout will be less.

Unlike sports betting, casino games typically happen actively before you. When you mention casino games, the first things that come to peoples mind is slots, roulette, and blackjack. Online, these games operate extremely similar to how they do in-person, you buy chips to make bets. However, unlike in-person many casinos allow the use ofcryptocurrency wallets to make betswith instead of chips.

As said previously, most games like blackjack, poker, and roulette work how they do inside casinos, and if you have experience in said games you will perform well. However, when it comes to slots you may see vast differences compared to their real-life counterparts.

It would be impossible to cover all the different types of slots-like betting games that have appeared recently, but its important to keep in mind that thesegames are easily accessible to anyone. Games can include traditional slots or live-hosted games that feature a multitude of strategies and interactivity. Through the use of YouTube, live streams, or the provided guides you can develop strategies for your favorite games.

Humans have found a way to bet on just about anything. If it has an unforeseeable outcome, it likely has a betting community. Some of the miscellaneous things you could see yourself betting on include, political elections, temperatures, show ratings, weather, and marble races. Though a lot of these bets reside in niche communities if you happen to be a meteorologist or a politician you may find yourself to be quite proficient within some of these categories.

In conclusion, the virtual scene of gambling doesnt differ too much from what you would expect. The biggest differences are the sea of different slot-like games, esports, and niche betting. If you find yourself wanting more remember toplay smartto get the most out of your online experience and do some research in competitive video games to get involved in the biggest online communities.

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The Different Types of Gambling you will Encounter Online - SpeedwayMedia.com

To get the exact yearly growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Talk to our analyst.

Key Market Dynamics:

The easing of government regulations and wider reach of online gambling are some of the key market drivers. The online gambling market in US comprises different types of games, and the rewards also differ from one game to another. The rewards are given in the form of physical goods as well as monetary benefits. However, factors such as frequent changes in gambling lawswill challenge market growth.The online gambling market in US enables players to use virtual money, which has reduced the risks related to cash. Some online casinos pay the winning amount in virtual currency, which can then be used to play other games or may be redeemed for cash. This also helps vendors to keep track of the spending history of customers and create customized marketing plans.

However, the frequent changes in gambling laws will be a major challenge for the online gambling market in the US during the forecast period. Online gambling vendors in the US are wary of the sudden changes in the laws and regulations regarding online gambling since the legalization of online games in the country in 2012. With the Internet boom in the 1990s and the increased popularity of online gambling, the Department of Justice and US Congress explored and examined the existing federal laws to find how to apply them to Internet (online) gambling, which led to the introduction of new US online gambling laws as well.

To learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio.Read our FREE Sample Report!

Key Segment Highlights

By End-user

By Gender

View our sample reportfor additional insights into the contribution of all the segmentsand regional opportunities

Top Market Player Insights

The online gambling market in the US is fragmented and the vendors are deploying growth strategies such as investing in planning, designing, developing, acquiring new players, and expanding their existing facilities to compete in the market.Vendors are also investing in planning, designing, developing, acquiring new players, and expanding their existing facilities.

Some Companies Mentioned with their Offerings

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Lottery Market in US by Type and Platform - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Online Gambling Market In US Scope

Report Coverage

Details

Page number

120

Base year

2021

Forecast period

2022-2026

Growth momentum & CAGR

Decelerate at a CAGR of 12.47%

Market growth 2022-2026

$ 2.22 billion

Market structure

Fragmented

YoY growth (%)

16.00

Regional analysis

US

Performing market contribution

US at 100%

Key consumer countries

US and Rest of Americas

Competitive landscape

Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope

Companies profiled

888 Holdings plc, Ballys Corp., Betfair, Bovada, Churchill Downs Inc., Delaware Park Racetrack and Slots, DraftKings Inc., FanDuel Inc., Golden Nugget, and MGM Resorts International

Market Dynamics

Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for forecast period.

Customization purview

If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Key Topics Covered:

Market Landscape

About UsTechnavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

ContactTechnavio ResearchJesse MaidaMedia & Marketing ExecutiveUS: +1 844 364 1100UK: +44 203 893 3200Email:[emailprotected]Website:www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio

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Online Gambling Market Size in the US to grow by USD 2.22 Billion | 16.00% YOY Growth in 2022 | 17,000+ Technavio Research Reports - PR Newswire

The pandemic caused millions to lean in to good old-fashioned bad behavior. Two years later, business has never been better for cannabis, gaming and pornand the high times are here to stay.

On March 13, 2020, everything changed for Doug, a 35-year-old manager at a supply chain logistics company in Chicago. He was told his offices were closed until further notice. Then the stock market took a dive, his 401K plunged, and several family members fell ill with Covid-19. As a father of four, in a house he recently bought, he was afraid for his familys future.

For Doug, the glass of wine he usually had every night to unwind turned into a whole bottle. My alcohol consumption turned into a seven-day affair, he says. Hed usually top it off with some THC-infused gummies. And when sporting events returned, gambling helped him assuage his fear of an uncertain future.

Doug was not alone. As stay-at-home orders swept across the country in March 2020, Americans got high, got drunk, and turned to porn in order to cope with the many fears and anxieties that were symptomatic of the pandemic. Alcohol sales in 13 states surged more than 10% that first month of lockdown while wine sales jumped nearly 9%, according to a study conducted by the University of Buffalo. The number of cigarettes sold in the U.S. also increased in 2020, the first time in 20 years, according to the Federal Trade Commissions Cigarette Report.

Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a primary care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, saw more of his patients turn to drugs and alcohol to blot out reality after the start of the pandemic than the years before.

In a perfect world, when under stress, we do yoga, eat tofu, exercise, talk to our best friend, but in reality, most of us rely on some kind of substance, says Grinspoon, who has specialized in medical cannabis for more than 25 years. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that while people are home, bored and lonely they're going to drink and get high.

As the pandemic took an unimaginable toll on thousands of lives a day and brought the global economy to a standstill, it also helped legitimize the legal marijuana industry. With lockdowns rolling across the country in March 2020, many states deemed cannabis dispensaries essential businesses, meaning they could stay open along with pharmacies, grocers and liquor stores. Cannabis sales in Washington state rose 9% over the same month in 2019 to $99 million while in California, weed sales grew by 53% over March 2019 to $276 million. Several months later, on Election Day 2020, five states passed marijuana legalization laws. Overall, the legal cannabis industry had a sky-high year in 2020: legal sales surpassed $17.5 billion, a 46% increase in sales over pre-pandemic 2019.

With Covid attacking respiratory systems, many longtime pot smokers made the switch to edibles. According to Headset, the Seattle-based cannabis analytics firm, sales of edibles grew by 54% across six statesCalifornia, Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon and Washingtonduring 2020.

In a lot of ways, Covid accelerated the cannabis industry 10 years, says Aaron Morris, the co-founder of Clackamas, Oregon-based edibles manufacturer Wyld. It legitimized it in a way as a mainstream coping mechanism along with alcohol. For Wyld, one of the countrys best-selling edibles brands, the pandemic put the company into overdrive. Sales got crazy, says Morris. It was like toilet paperedibles flew off the shelves.

Morris says the pandemic spiked Wyld sales by 20%, but the uptick never slowed. Instead, sales were boosted permanently, he says. As a new normal took hold, the only fluctuations Wyld saw in sales were when stimulus checks went out. Every time the government sent out checks, sales went on steroids for 30 days, says Morris.

In 2019, Wyld generated $25 million in sales and by the end of 2020, it sold $64 million of its natural fruit gummies. By the end of last year, the company nearly topped $110 million in sales.

Morris is obviously pleased with how the company performed, but not surprised. Everyone loves cannabis, everyone's at home, you aren't socializing, so what are you going to do on a Tuesday night or a Friday night? says Morris. Everyone just got lit.

In the United States, annual cannabis sales hit $25 billion in 2021, a 43% increase over 2020. Sales in Florida, where only medical marijuana is legal, and sales in Illinois, which has both medical and adult-use, jumped 70% from 2020 to 2021. In Massachusetts, sales increased 85% during the same period.

Despite the growth of edibles, marijuana flower sales didnt slow down either. For Emily Paxhia, cofounder of cannabis investment fund Poseidon, what sticks out to her from the past two years is the rise in pre-roll sales. Joint sales shot up 47% from April 2020 to October 2021 in California, Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Paxhia believes a touch of nihilism is driving this statistic. I think the pandemic shortened the timeline of how we view and how we live our lives to be focused on today, tomorrow versus what's happening in five to 10 years, she says. Why not just live now and live well now?

The start of the pandemic hit the gaming industry hard, and as travel restrictions expanded globally, Covid looked like a losing proposition for the house. Casinos across the U.S. shuttered for months due to stay-at-home orders. In Nevada, the countrys gambling mecca, gross gaming revenue dropped from $12 billion in 2019 to $7.8 billion in 2020. But when vaccines became available and Covid restrictions eased, Americans flocked to Sin City and regional state casinos as gambling became a way for the country to let loose after the height of the pandemic. By the end of 2021, Nevada reported a 10-month winning streak of more than $1 billion in monthly gambling revenue and an annual record of $13.4 billion, an 11.6% increase over pre-pandemic levels.

People were cooped up for, depending on their risk tolerance, six months to two years, says Colin Mansfield, an analyst who covers gaming and leisure at Fitch Ratings. There was a time when there was not much to do from an entertainment perspective except go to a casino. After the shutdown people wanted to go out and have a good time and spend some money.

And as states were eager for more tax revenue, many pushed through laws to get mobile sports betting programs off the ground. In 2018, there were eight states with legal sports betting and by the end of 2021, 31 states had legal markets with 18 launching mobile sports gambling.

New York, which launched its mobile sports betting program in early January 2022, surpassed $1 billion in wagers in the first two weeks of legalization, double the amount sportsbooks took in on The Las Vegas Strip in all of December. By the last week of February, New York bettors had wagered a total of $3.1 billion since the program launched, translating into $204.6 million in gross gaming revenue and $104.3 million in tax revenue.

Mansfield says the pandemic gambling boom is far from over. The industry is growing as more states are legalizing sports betting and the broader casino market is also expanding. Were not forecasting any strong pullback in gaming revenues, he says. People like to gamble. I don't think that's really going away at all.

Over time, gambling has made the leap from a vice that cities and states wanted to hide on riverboats and away from big cities to placing it in the center of major entertainment districts. The combination of the pandemic and the expansion of mobile sports betting brought gambling to the mainstream conversation, says Mansfield. You can't watch a game anymore without hearing about gambling.

Gaming may be on a serious roll right now, but few are thinking about the long-term consequences. Bill Krackomberger, a veteran professional sports gambler, grew up in the seedier edges of the industry among loan sharks and underground bookies. Legalization of sports betting is a good thing, no doubt, but Krackomberger feels uneasy about how quickly an addictive pastime has gone mainstream.

We're going to see a fallout in about 10 years, not just among regular degenerates, says Krackomberger. I'm talking with doctors, lawyers, professionals, Wall Street guys, youll seeyou won't be able to get into a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, Maya Morena, an adult film performer and sex worker living in New York, knew she had to stop meeting clients. The respectable and polite ones disappeared, and it seemed like the only johns willing to pay for sex and risk getting Covid were the scummy ones. So, Morena, like millions of other workers in America, started doing business onlineshe began treating her OnlyFans page like a full-time job.

By the end of that first month, Morena says she made $4,800 producing and selling erotic videos on the U.K.-based streaming platform best known as the billion-dollar tech company that porn built. By January 2021, Morena, who is originally from Honduras, was making $6,000 a month on OnlyFans. As the pandemic wore on and she advertised her page and recruited new customers, she saw her business boom again. By September of last year, she hit $12,000 for the month.

Of course, the idea that anyone can launch an OnlyFans page and start reeling in money by showing a little skin is a lie, Morena says. It requires a lot of hard work. The number of paying users and content creators joining adult streaming platforms like OnlyFans, FanCentro, IsMyGirl, ManyVids, and others, is exploding but only the most dedicated creators can make a living. Its a thriving economy that's ruthlessly competitive, says Morena.

For OnlyFans, the pandemic helped it become one of the biggest social media platforms seemingly overnight with more than 180 million users and more than 2 million content creators who have earned a collective $5 billion by selling subscriptions to content. In 2019, it had 348,000 creators and 13.5 million users. In 2020, OnlyFans grew revenue by 540%, hitting $400 million.

The popularity of OnlyFans, which has attracted a diverse group of creators from a former pastor to porn stars like Sophie Dee to celebrities like Cardi B, has given birth to a whole new adult-rated streaming economy.

Evan Seinfeld, the Brooklyn-born second cousin of comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who launched the online adult content platform IsMyGirl in 2017, says the pandemic turbocharged his business. In 2019, Seinfeld had 500,000 users on his platform and 8,000 creators. By the end of 2020, 25,000 creators signed up and 1.5 million users joined. Today, the site hosts 2.5 million users and 50,000 creators, who collectively make millions of dollars a month.

Everybody's business is booming and growing, says Seinfeld. When people are alone in the house, people crave stimulus, they crave stimulation, they crave sexual excitement.

While many sex workers and performers may have first joined a site out of desperation, he says, many eventually realized that selling erotic content to lonesome people stuck at home was a sustainable business.

Adds Seinfeld: A lot of people needed a pandemic to realize that people who aren't paying your bills don't really have a right to have an opinion about how you earn your living.

Or enjoy life.

Two years into the pandemic, Doug from Chicago is doing better financiallyno other industry was in more demand than supply chain logisticsbut he held onto some of his new vices, which he describes as comforts. Before the pandemic, he was trying to live a healthier life and moderate his food, drug, and alcohol intake. But his perspective has changedhappiness, not moderation, is part of his new approach.

Im enjoying the comfortability of my life, says Doug. Does it come with a few asterisks? Yes. But were not going to live forever.

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Welcome To The Vice Age: How Sex, Drugs And Gambling Help Americans Cope With Covid - Forbes

Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images(Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Like Xan, Im glad that baseball is back, but I dont have my usual enthusiasm about it. Thats because my biggest objection in recent years has not been the extra-inning ghost-runner, the seven-inning game, the increased watering down of the worlds greatest regular-season by adding undeserving teams to the post-season, the ridiculous surge in strikeouts and concomitant reduction in small-ball skill level, etc. I can live with all of that, and even with 15 pitching-changes per game and the universal DH . . . even though that means Jacob deGrom, the Mets great pitcher, will no longer get to show off his impressive hitting skills . . . and that bunting, already a lost art, will come closer to disappearing.

What really bothers me is gambling.

This seedy, organized-crime-ridden industry is pervasive, but it was a lot less of a nuisance when it was underground. Now, the gambling commercials and programming geared to bettors are incessant. The hooking of kids is inexorable indeed, there is more MLB energy in that direction than in scheduling games at times when kids can watch them, and making them watchable by moving things along.

Gaming Today (what else?) reports on this under-covered aspect of the new collective-bargaining agreement:

Major League Baseball players have the right to negotiate promotional and endorsement deals with sports betting companies under the newly ratified collective bargaining agreement.

Previously, only the league and teams could enter into business relationships with sportsbooks and gaming companies. The new CBA allows players to enter into deals typically framed in the sports betting industry as that of brand ambassador. In those roles, athletes and former athletes lend their name and likeness to advertising campaigns, and also may make appearances at promotional events for the sportsbook.

The game may be too slow-paced for our atrophying attention spans, but longtime New York Yankee president Randy Levine is crowing that there will be more action than ever . . . for wagerers:

Its quintessential fan engagement. . . . I think baseball lends itself really unlike any other sport to mobile sports betting. You can bet on whats the next pitch: Is it a fastball? A curveball? How fast is it going to be? Is it going to be inside? Outside? Will the batter hit a single, a home run, or strike out? Will it go to right field? Left field? There are endless possibilities for somebody to be engaged.

Oh great. In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down Bush 41era federal law that banned most commercial sports betting. The New York Times then reported that this opened the door to a staggering $150 billion in what had been a black market.

More than any other team sport, baseball knows the corrupting influence of gambling money. But with all that cash sluicing around, MLB was green with envy at the profits the now-mostly-legal industry makes off the game. They wanted the money, and by whoring the game to Draft Kings, Fan Duel, Caesars Sportsbook, and the rest, they are getting an ever bigger piece of the pie. Forbes reports that Americans wagered an all-time high of $57.22 billion on sports in 2022. The industry clears well over $4 billion from that action. Baseball is taking in well over $1 billion annually, and that is on the steep rise.

Baseball used to know better. In its adolescence, the professional end of the national pastime was nearly destroyed by gambling when the Black Sox threw the World Series in 1919. If Babe Ruth hadnt come along at just the right time, who knows if the game would have survived and thrived as it did. MLB understood how close it had come to annihilation. To this day, Pete Rose, one of the greatest hitters in history, is banned from the Hall of Fame because the game grasped that his betting on baseball (which is suspected to have included, at times, betting against his own team) was a disaster. If people do not believe the competition is on the up and up, the golden goose is dead.

Im afraid disaster is inevitable. The NFL is just as hooked on the gambling revenue streams as MLB. It has just suspended Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for doing what the league encourages every young man (and woman) in America and beyond to do: betting on football games. This will be the tip of the iceberg and, for baseball, too, its a matter of when, not if.

Im glad the baseball season is starting. Im also convinced, though, that baseballs intoxication with gambling, its increasing insinuation in the games marketing and clubhouses, and its wall-to-wall messaging that will get more and more kids into online gambling, cannot end well.

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Baseball Is Back and So Is Gambling on Baseball - National Review

Whether or not it is legal to gamble in Florida is an important question

Floridas gambling laws permit several types of land-based wagering under specific situations. A common misperception about the states gambling regulations is that internet wagering is prohibited. Although Section 848 focuses on land-based gaming in Florida, it does not include or cater to the internet or mobile gambling applications.

Gaming in Florida is clearly defined under state law. All forms of gambling are authorized, but only in regulated tribal casinos, racetracks, card rooms, or bingo halls that have been approved by the state.

The bulk of Floridas authorized casinos are run by members of the Seminole Tribe of Native Americans. Slot machines and table games, including Poker, Roulette, and Blackjack, may be found at these establishments as well. Online gambling in Florida is easy and convenient because you dont have to drive across the state to play. Legal land-based casinos and racetracks are still available, but most Floridians prefer to play at online casinos and racetracks because they are more convenient and give them more money. When it comes to online gambling options in Florida, it is important to know that you are for now limited to offshore sportsbooks and casinos.

The state of Floridas online gambling industry is entering a period of transformation. For the time being, this shift mostly affects sports betting. On the other hand, if this is a success, internet gambling casinos in Florida are almost certain to follow suit.

Its not yet known when different types of online gambling will be offered by licensed operators in the state. For those who want to play slots or table games, or bet on a favorite sports team, offshore gambling sites are the ideal alternative.

The Hard Rock Sportsbook app officially debuted sports betting in Florida in November 2021; it has since been terminated. New gaming agreements between the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe that owns the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida, have been authorized by the state legislature.

It was revealed that the Seminoles will not make their yearly gambling contribution to the state of about $330 million in 2020 since an agreement could not be struck in 2019. By the year 2021, the state and the tribe would have agreed to a new agreement with a complete list of gaming goals.

Legislation authorizing sports wagering in Florida was passed and published in the Federal Register, but it is now on hold because of pending lawsuits. There are, however, two major problems that impede the introduction of Hard Rocks online sportsbooks.

Amendments to the Florida constitution were passed in 2018 by the states people, who now have control over whether any future gaming expansion may occur. It is expected that interest groups in the state would file a ballot challenge to Floridas new gaming compact, which includes the possible introduction of sportsbooks.

To begin with, legal experts are divided on whether or not it is permissible for tribes to offer mobile sports betting services outside of reserve territory. However, this matter remains open and unanswered under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) at the present time. Legal internet sports betting in Florida might be slowed or halted in the future by pending lawsuits.

The rules governing sports betting in Florida are now in place according to a 2021 tribe treaty. The Seminole Indians will split 13.75 percent of sports betting earnings with the state if the Seminole secure sports betting contracts with at least three parimutuel operators within three months of signing the agreement.

While parimutuels may launch their own skins, theyd have to use the Seminole server to do so. A 2 percent increase in revenue sharing would occur if such arrangements were not in existence. Sports betting pari-mutuels would retain 40% of all money generated by sports betting. The new gaming agreement was signed into law by virtue of Senate Bill 2-A. FL sports betting is controlled exclusively by the Seminole Indians.

There are no legal sportsbook websites in Florida that take bets from residents of the state.

If youre in the Sunshine State, you may wager on sports illegally through websites based in other countries. It is illegal for them to accept bets from US citizens because they do not have a license from any US government.

These offshore betting apps cant be trusted to pay out winnings and have been known to disappear with peoples money if they are not regulated by the state. In order to bet on sports in a secure and protected manner in the United States, you must use a licensed operator.

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Gambling Laws in Florida - What to Expect? - The Union Journal

(WKBN) The number of calls to Ohios Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-589-9966) has gone up for five straight years.

There has been lottery betting for years and more recently, horse betting and casino gambling have been added across the state.

A study found that 15 percent of people who gamble in Mahoning County are at risk for developing a problem, which is 5 percent higher than the state average.

Ohio is adding sports gambling this year, which means bettors have more availability and accessibility, which could mean more problems.

We just want to be aware of it because we want to mitigate harm as soon as we can and be able to let people know this can become a problem and that theres help out there. I do expect for those calls to the help hotline continue to increase, said Stephanie Geer, coordinator of Meridian Problem Gambling.

The state has expanded programs to help with gambling education and awareness, including one called Change the Game Ohio which targets youth gaming.

Ohios hotline is available 24/7 for people seeking help with problem gambling.

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As gambling access increases, reminder that Ohio help hotline is 24/7 - WKBN.com

The UK Gambling Commission has thrown its support behind Allwyn Entertainment as its preferred applicant for the fourth National Lottery licence.

The regulator says that its decision follows a fair, open and robust competition, with Camelot UK Lotteries subsequently being named as reserve applicant ahead of Sisal Spa and The New Lottery Company.

Elaborating on its decision, the UKGC states that Allwyn has committed to investment that is expected to deliver growth and innovation across the National Lotterys products and channels, which will result in increased contributions to good causes, subject to the protection of participants and propriety.

Furthermore, it is added that all applicants are fit and proper to operate, with the UKGC satisfied that no application is impacted by sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine.

This milestone marks the first day of a legal standstill period, lasting at least 10 days, that will be followed by a 22-month transition towards the fourth licence.

An update issued by Allwyn read: We welcome todays statement by the Gambling Commission that we have been selected as the preferred applicant for the Fourth National Lottery Licence.

Our proposal was judged to be the best way of growing returns to good causes by revitalising The National Lottery in a safe and sustainable way.

The appointment of Allwyn will breathe fresh life into The National Lottery. In Allwyn, the Gambling Commission has selected a strong team with an impressive track record of improving lotteries.

We will immediately work to deliver our comprehensive transition plan and look forward to transforming The National Lottery, making it better for everyone.

Camelot UK has operated the lottery since it was established in 1994, after winning new contracts in 2001, via an overturned high court decision disqualifying the group from the running, and 2007. The groups third, and current, ten-year licence commenced in 2009 and was subsequently extended by four years in March 2012.

Andrew Rhodes, Gambling Commission Chief Executive Officer, said: In its lifetime, the National Lottery has raised more than 45bn for good causes and is rightly seenas a great national asset.

Our priority was to run a competition that would attract a strong field of candidates. Having received the most applications since 1994, it is clear that weve achieved just that.

I am confident that the success of the competition will lead to a highly successful fourth licence one that maximises returns to good causes, promotes innovation, delivers against our statutory duties, and which ultimately protects the unique status of the National Lottery. We look forward to working with all parties to ensure a smooth handover.

Since launching in 1994, National Lottery players have collectively raised more than 45bn for 660,000 good causes across the UK, transforming lives and contributing to the arts, sport, heritage and communities.

John Tanner, Gambling Commission Executive Director and Senior Responsible Owner for the competition, said: The Commission is grateful to all four applicants for their engagement in the competition.

We were impressed by the overall standard of applications, including the range and quality of innovation proposed, and the high level of confidence and ambition demonstrated for the prospects of the National Lottery under the fourth licence.

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UK Gambling Commission opts for Allwyn in National Lottery race - Casino Beats

Gambling winnings cant be taxed in any country or location of the world; at least in the UK. Any winnings or stakes you earn here will not need to be taxed. There is no winning percentage whether you won 100 or 1 million. All gambling typesincluding bingo, slots, lotteries, as well as racing are subject to this requirement.

No matter how much you win or how small of a wager, dont have to pay betting tax on your wagers and dont have to declare your winnings to HMRC because no taxes are imposed on wagers.

Gambling In England and Wales Gambling is, technically speaking, free of tax the exception being professional gamblers who have a higher limit of deductions. In HMRCs Business Income Manual (BIM), para 2 2015, this is confirmed. To some extent, betting and gambling fall into this category, so it is not a form of trading.

A non-tax casino may have no limit on the amount you can win. Poker tournaments, kenos, and slot machines will not give you any money, as there is room for all the bet if more than 300 times your wagers are placed.

There are a couple of reasons why you do not have to treat gambling winnings as income. It is unlikely that gamblers are the most reliable workers. It isnt because theyre all good record keepers that theyre ranked among them. Gambling winnings be taxed as income even if deductions allow for gambling losses.

Legislation, including case such as the recent FTT, clearly states that winnings from sporting events are not taxable. The profits of casinos, betting sites, and remote gaming operators are taxed at a 15 per cent rate.

It is true that you will not pay taxes on your lottery winnings, as you do not need to do so. The UK does not require players to take home all of the lottery winnings, unlike most other countries where it does. Those who plan to wager on the lottery or scratch cards will have their potential winnings tax-free in many cases.

It is the responsibility of you to report your gambling winnings on your taxes. As with lotto winnings, raffle prizes, horse races, and casino winnings, gambling income includes but does not end there. The amount of cash winnings plus the fair market value of prizes, such as automobiles and trip prizes, constitute it.

Gaming levies on bookmaking profits are higher than most other industries combined. Gambling is almost completely controlled by the government, so taxing profits would seem unfair (assuming that it would offset profit losses).

However, even if you are a professional gambler, your winnings are not taxable as long as you dont win. In other words, you wont be taxed on your gambling winnings no matter where they come from.

Everytime you win online, all wagers on the site are taxable, regardless of whether they did not have to be reported as tax revenue. It might be possible to claim winnings from gambling. Make sure your ledgers keep a record of your gambling winnings and losses so you may report the numbers accurately.

as gambling winnings usually fall under miscellaneous income tax bracket, there is no self-employment tax on gambling winnings. In contrast, self-employment taxes are imposed on gamblers if they file tax returns.

Moreover, taxes on lottery winnings are no more than 8%. Professional gamblers recognize that the UK is an ideal place for them to invest their money, regardless of whether they prize in games or in real money.

As a result, money people lose more than they gain when playing gambling cannot be reasonably or rationally considered income. Furthermore, Australian casinos are prohibited from taxing gambling winnings because the category of gambler is unrelated to other professions. Those who play gambling either like it or are addicted to it.

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Do I Have To Pay Tax On Gambling Winnings Uk? ictsd.org - ICTSD Bridges News