Category Archives: Gambling

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Crash gambling is a simple game in which your bet is multiplied by a line that climbs and climbs until it crashes. If you cash out before the random crash, you keep your gains; otherwise, you lose your entire stake until the next round. Within this time frame, you are allowed to pay out whenever you like, even automatically. Before you jump into thecrash gamblingcraze, here's all you need to know about crash casinos.

Crash gambling is a fun new game that has gained much traction in recent years. After participants wager in the short period before each game begins, a graph with a multiplier increases. The multiplier could "crash" at any point throughout the game, suggesting that individuals who push the "cash-out" button win their bet.

Consider the following scenario: you place a 0.01 bitcoin bet and decide to pay out at a 10x multiplier. You will receive 0.10 bitcoin as a prize! It's easy to see why Crash is so popular: if you're patient, you could make incredibly large earnings! We remember one game with a 100x multiplier (in this scenario, if you paid out right before the crash, you would win 1000 times your starting investment). Games can go down at any time, but if you cash out at the right time, you can compensate by making a lot of money.

Crash gambling is the newest kid on the block, and it's already causing a stir in the online casino world. Crash gambling checks all the requirements for those who want to keep things simple but action-packed.

But what is it about this incredibly simple concept that has so many people so enthralled? What's more important, what is the excitement, and why is it expected to trend in 2022?

Crash gambling's basic strategy is as straightforward as it gets. It's a fast-paced, nerve-wracking style of gambling in which split-second decisions can make all the difference. It works similarly to traditional gambling, where you place bets in the hopes of multiplying them with a victory. The most significant difference with crash gambling is that it functions as a 'virtual' investment.

One of the many reasons it's such a popular choice among bitcoin casino players, the majority of whom are seasoned players. Regardless of its unique features or usage of a certain theme, every crash gambling game starts the same way. After you place your bets with other players, the multiplier begins at 1.00x and quickly rises to 100.00x.

The game's goal is for you to escape before the inevitable crash. If you win, the multiplier level at the time you cash out will be multiplied by your stake.

Investing in something and then observing what happens to its price/value is essentially what it is. You begin with a set amount of money (your wager) and watch it rise over time. Only in this situation will its value eventually go to zero.

If you cash out before then, you will be awarded a prize based on the multiplier in effect at the moment. You lose everything if you crash out.

A straightforward way to online gambling that involves no special expertise, talent, or strategy. Because everything is as random as it gets, all you have to do is decide how much risk you're willing to take.

It's incredibly simple to sign up and begin playing crash casino games. All you have to do is locate a reputable crash casino gaming website and hit the "signup" or "register" button. Follow the instructions, make a deposit, and get your bonus.

After that, you'll be able to choose from a variety of crash gambling options. As follows, all of them are generally self-explanatory:

Real money is put on the line in the hopes of winning a jackpot, and the casino usually accepts a range of international currencies.

Digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others can be utilized in place of traditional currency, making them a popular choice among crash gambling enthusiasts.

This is essentially a practice version of the real thing, in which you play with virtual currency to get a feel for how it all works.

If you're new to crash gambling, practicing with virtual currency is highly encouraged before getting started.

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How Crash Gambling is Expected to Be the Next Trend in 2022 - nativenewsonline.net

UFC Vegas 49 goes down on Saturday at UFC APEX in Las Vegas and is headlined by a short-notice replacement bout between Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green. Its a shorter event, with only 11 fights on the card, and beyond the main event, there isnt a lot to make you stand up and take notice. But hey, thats what gambling is for.

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

Misha Cirkunov over Wellington Turman, -120

Misha Cirkunov is a former light heavyweight contender who made the drop to 185 pounds in his previous bout, a split decision loss to Krzysztof Jotko. He should fare much better this time out as he settles more comfortably into the division and receives a favorable matchup. Turman is, in many respects, a smaller and less accomplished version of Cirkunov. Both are primarily grapplers who are capable of striking if need be, but they dont excel at it, and have slow hands. Given Cirkunovs size and experience advantage, plus a slightly higher work rate and increased level of comfort in his sophomore middleweight outing, I expect him to get his hand raised.

Armen Petrosyan over Gregory Rodrigues, +130

Armen Petrosyan is a solid kickboxer and athletic dude. Rodrigues, meanwhile, is a former Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and has the grappling you would expect of that accolade. This is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, and in this instance, Im backing the striker. Although Rodrigues is a decent takedown artist, hes not particularly explosive, and he has a bad habit of engaging in brawls. I think Petrosyan will use his speed and athleticism to avoid grappling exchanges and tune up Rodrigues on the feet.

Alejandro Perez over Jonathan Martinez, +210

Im having trouble figuring out why this line is as high as it is. Martinez is a good fighter, but hes far from a world-beater, and more importantly, hes not the most defensively savvy fighter alive. Perez has his own shortcomings, to be sure, but hes a hard-nosed and gritty fighter whos only lost to top-level bantamweights. When you add that in his previous fight, Perez appears to have noticeably improved at pressuring his opponents, I like him to win outright. Hes certainly worth a bet with these odds.

Islam Makhachev by Submission or Decision, -225

Like Khabib Nurmagomedov before him, Makhachev is an elite wrestler and top-position grappler; however, Makhachev is not nearly the ground-and-pound artist that Khabib is. Dont get me wrong, hes still more than effective there, but Makhachev either submits opponents or rides them out to a decision win. In his UFC career, he only has one KO/TKO, and that was from a standing punch on Gleison Tibau.

If I had to pick between a submission or decision, I would favor a decision. But Greens tendency to give up his back during scrambles is a concern. Going with a Double Chance line here mitigates that concern and essentially just knocks several hundred points off Makhachevs betting line.

Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green Over 3.5 Rounds, +155

As mentioned above, I think there is a decent chance that Makhachev and Green go the distance (which you can get at +250 if youre so inclined). But those odds dont quite match up to the probabilities for me, whereas I think there is much greater than a 50-percent chance this fight makes it past the halfway mark.

Green is a good wrestler, an excellent defensive fighter overall, and exceedingly smart. His best path to victory is surviving the early onslaught and then adjusting to take over later on, which means he should prioritize defense early. On top of all that, while most people think the short-notice nature of this fight affects Green the most, Makhachev is also hurt by the drastic change of opponent. Remember when Khabib fought Al Iaquinta on a days notice and could only manage a dominant decision? This is a lot like that.

Ramiz Brahimaj by Submission, -120

While Im normally hesitant to bet on fighters with such a small track record outside of the smaller circuits, in this instance I will make an exception. Brahimaj is a good grappler who has secured all nine of his career victories by submission. Micheal Gilmore is not a particularly good grappler, with three of his four career losses coming by way of submission. Add in Gilmores stint on The Ultimate Fighter, where he also got tapped, and there seems to be one realistic outcome for this fight.

Arman Tsarukyan over Joel Alvarez at -220 + Perez/Martinez Over 1.5 Rounds at -330 + Petrosyan/Rodrigues Does Not Go The Distance at -450: Total of +131

Joel Alvarez is an enormous lightweight, but he still is going to have a tough night. Tsarukyan is one of the best prospects in the lightweight division, incredibly well-rounded, and a substantially better wrestler and grappler than the meat-and-potatoes Alvarez.

Neither Perez nor Martinez are big finishers, and Perez in particular is pretty durable. This fight figures to be a back-and-forth affair that should certainly make it past the halfway point, if not all the way to the final scorecards.

As noted above, this is a striker vs. grappler matchup turned up to 11. I expect Petrosyan to piece Rodrigues up on the feet and take advantage of the latters tendency to brawl, but if that doesnt happen, it will only be because Rodrigues went full Demian Maia on him. Either way, this one wont make it to the judges.

Bobby Green by Decision at +1400

Everything I said above holds true, but if youre going to ride a long shot this week, this is your best bet. Green is not much of a finisher, but as noted, hes an excellent defensive fighter and good at adjusting on the fly. Most importantly, though, Green does not mentally break. Makhachev is going to win the early rounds, but Green will still be there later on, and should Makhachev tire or get frustrated, Green will be poised to take advantage.

Were coming off a very strong week this past week that saw us go 5-2 on our bets, only missing the parlay and our long shot (were gonna miss a lot of long shots, thats why they call them long shots). Lets try and keep that momentum going this week.

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.

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UFC Vegas 49 gambling preview: Best bets, parlays, and the long shot of the week - MMA Fighting

Gambling, in many forms, has been a popular pastime for thousands of years, however the concept has faced many trials and tribulations in order to become as accessible as it is today, across many countries. In the modern day, both land-based and online casino games in Canada, America and the United Kingdom all offer a huge variety of virtual games available for you to explore, right at the tip of your fingers but it hasnt always been this way.

Join us as we discover a brief history of the long journey gambling games have taken in order to become so accessible for us today.

Canada

Lets start in Canada, where in the modern day, gambling is one of the largest branches of entertainment, attracting millions of players across the country each and every year. The Lottery, in particular, is a favourite amongst Canadians, with some of the earliest examples of games of chance dating back as far back as 1497.

However, in 1892, the Canadian Criminal Code prohibited all types of gambling activities, as the games were deemed inappropriate by the government. However, the ban didnt last long, as in 1900, games of Bingo, raffles and even Lotteries returned in order to raise money for charities and communities, supporting the building of bridges and roads. In 1910, betting on horse racing was allowed, and in 1974, a Lottery was held to gather funds for the Olympics. From then on, Lotteries would be used to fund projects, and even to this day the funds raised from the games in Canada are donated to charities.

Whilst each province has its individual set of laws for gambling, Canada has now become one of the most productive gaming markets in the world, and generates billions of dollars each year.

America

The history of gambling in America is heavily influenced by the history of gambling itself. Games of chance first landed on American soil alongside the very first settlers. During the 18th and early 19th century, Lotteries were used to build or improve many universities and schools. Despite their being different opinions on the games, no large-scale restrictions on the games were in place until 1769, when the British crown placed a restriction on Lotteries, spurring on one of the many issues that fuelled tensions between the colonies and England in the lead up to the American Revolution.

As America grew, gambling games spread. The lower Mississippi River valley became a gaming hotspot. Despite this, in the mid-19th century, the games began to face backlash, so popular gaming spots moved West, into younger, less well-regulated territories, as well as onto the famous Mississippi River Boats. State Lotteries came to an end, and it wasnt until after the Civil War that Lottery games made their return albeit brief. The beginning of the 20th century then saw gambling games become outlawed once again.

The Great Depression then saw games like Bingo appear in some cities, within churches and other groups in order to raise revenue, but most gambling remained illegal. Gangsters became wealthy from underground casinos, and in 1929, the building of the Hoover Dam bought about the rise of gambling in Nevada. In the 1960s, the casino industry in Nevada boomed, with legalised gaming bringing about the birth of the one and only Las Vegas Strip.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, gambling games prior to 1960 were subject to heavy restrictions. In fact, the first law governing gambling in the UK was put in place as early as 1190 by King Richard I, in an attempt to control who could gamble and how much they could wager. Despite King Henry VIII banning all forms of gaming in 1506, by 1569, the UK saw the first state Lottery, with 5,000 as the jackpot, in celebration of Queen Elizabeths coronation.

In 1760, betting on horses had become a popular pastime amongst aristocracy, despite still being against the law. This was only enforced amongst the lower classes, however, and the government turned a blind eye to the wealthy gamblers.

On September 1st 1960 an Act of Parliament came into force, legalising betting. Despite this, gambling still faced many restrictions, with bet sizes being kept to a minimum and remaining illegal for those under the age of 18. This law still stands today.

In 2005, The Gambling Act was passed, and the UK saw the introduction of the UK Gambling Commission. This meant that all land-based and online casino games were mandated, licenced and regulated, and the first super casinos were built.

Its clear that gambling is a popular pastime around the world, and despite having a rich history, the games have survived for many generations making their way onto our screens in the form of online casinos. Casino games have never been so easy to access, and with unique laws governing gambling around the world, designed to help keep players safe, the worldwide casino scene has never flourished quite as much as it is now!

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How Gambling Became Legalised Across the World - UrbanMatter

Earlier this week, gambling legislation earned approval on the full floor of the Brazil House, with lawmakers approving Bill 442/91 by a vote of 246-202. The measure now heads to the Senate and if passed into law, would allow the country to offer casino and bingo gaming along with legalizing jogo do bicho.

The measure was actually introduced over three decades ago and focused solely on jogo do bicho, a lottery type drawing game. The measure was updated throughout the past few years to add more gambling options, including casinos, slot games, horse racing, and bingo.

Details of the Legislation

The bill seeks to allow all 26 states in Brazil the ability to create a casino venue in the form of an integrated resort. This type of option allows for more installations aside from casino gaming such as dining, hotels, and additional entertainment.

According to sources, the measure allows up to three casinos in Sao Paulo while Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, and Minas Gerais would be open to two venues each. Other Brazilian states could add one integrated resort.

License holders would have to complete a tender process with the highest bidder earning the license. Operators will not be allowed to have more than two licenses per state or five in total across the country.

The license fee is set at BRL$600,000 ($119,700) per venue. Those who want in on the online gambling sector will need to pay BRL$600,000 as well for licensing. Bingo licensing is much lower, costing only BRL$20,000 per venue. Jogo de bicho operators pay the same fee as bingo providers.

Online gambling will be allowed in Brazil, but unlicensed websites will be prohibited. Servers for the local licensed iGaming providers must be set up in the country.

Additional Details

Along with licensing fees, the legislation also dictates that gambling on credit will not be allowed. Operators will not have the option to provide a line of credit to players. Taxes on winnings will be set at 15%.

A new gambling supervisory authority will be created in Brazil if the legislation passes, known as SINAJ. The group will offer a federal registry, a supervising body, and betting agents. Brazil will also set up a service that will assist with problem gambling needs. The National Register of the Prohibited will work to identity and block problem gamblers.

For now, the measure heads to the Senate for consideration. If it is approved, President Jair Bolsonaro will need to ratify it before it can become law. The president can choose to veto the bill and has said he will, but the Senate can override the veto if they so choose.

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Gambling legislation in Brazil now moves to the Senate - World Casino Directory

A Thibodaux bookkeeper is accused of embezzling more than half a million dollars from the companies she worked for and using the funds for vacations, buying jewelry and gambling, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office said.

TPSO began the embezzlement investigation in early February when a Schriever business owner reported large discrepancies in several of his companies' bookkeeping. TPSO arrested the company's office manager on Feb. 23 after discovering a collective loss of over $500,000.

Detectives were told that Christina Percle Adams, 32, had been responsible for managing all the companies' business accounts since 2018. Detectives then discovered multiple non-business-related charges on company credit cards and money transfers for Adams' personal use. TPSO said the illegal transactions went toward "personal vacations, paying vehicle notes, utility bills, buying jewelry and gambling etc."

Adams was arrested on charges of theft of over half a million dollars and was released from jail the same day after posting bond at $120,000, the sheriff's office said.

Detectives are continuing their investigation back to 2018 when Adams began working as the companies' office manager.

TPSO requests anyone with knowledge of the case to contact them at (985) 876-2500.

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Woman embezzled $500k to pay for vacations, jewelry and gambling, Terrebonne deputies say - The Advocate

Whether you want to widen your knowledge about Gambling either for entertainment, to strengthen your skillset in gambling, or to seek out inspiration, reading some of the most well-written books giving you both entertaining and informative knowledge is the way to go! Here you will find a list of books that are a must-read when it comes to learning what goes on within the casino walls and to source inspiration for your good fortune.

Aside from people who just enjoy learning more about the industry, bettors have the potential of learning a lot from such books. They can open up a door of curiosity and make players learn more about the topics like the benefits of bonuses and how to use them to their advantage. This will ultimately allow them to better their chances at making a profit with their newly learned insight. Aside from reading books, it is also worth checking various bonus offers online casinos make. Bonus offers can be found all over the internet, and on various lists like the Basketball Insiders selection of bonuses, offering up to $1000 bonus with no deposit needed.

Now without further ado, lets get into our handpicked books that speak and teach us about gambling.

Written by Ben Mezrich and published in 2002, this story follows a blackjack crew and Kevin Lewis, a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, trying to steal massive amounts of money from Las Vegas casinos. Throughout the film, we accompany him through every choice he takes, from the instant he chooses to join the squad until the point when he thinks its time to step away. An exciting story showing us how a student managed to beat the house and make a massive amount of profit!

Written by Maria Konnikova and published in 2020, this story follows the authors own unexpected pursuit to thrive in the era of high-stakes poker. She went on to earn more than $311,000, and her winnings are continuing to grow month after month as she continues playing professional poker games and manages to one-up her competitors time and time again. As a psychologist, she keeps on researching and writing for a living, while keeping poker as one of the many pastimes she enjoys on the sidelines. This is a captivating book that tells the story of how one lady went from being a total poker beginner to being one of the most dreaded ladies in the world of poker.

Written by William Poundstone and published in 2006, this intriguing read follows the author, William Poundstone, as he investigates the impact of Claude Shannon, one of the worlds leading developers of information theory, in the fields of finance, investing, and gambling. AS the characters of the book put their beliefs to the test, from Las Vegas blackjack and roulette they began to trade on Wall Street, and they came out on top. For those who like sports betting and casino games, Fortunes Formula is unquestionably one of the best books written about gambling you can find on the market today.

Written by sports betting expert Simon Kuper and published in 2018, Soccernomics is a captivating and maybe little-known book in which he analyzed the World Cup of 2018 and attempted to design a pattern that would enable him to end up earning more money than he would lose in the long run via sports betting. In his book, Kuper argues that each sports gambling event is unique, and as a result, each one must be researched separately and a formula must be developed for the majority of them. No simple answers are provided, but rather persuasive arguments on how analyzing certain aspects of games or seasons might lead to the development of a profitable sports betting strategy.

Written by well-known mathematician Edward O. Thorpe, published in 2017, this book follows his invention of a method of card counting that allows him to prove how one can defeat the dealer in a blackjack game. As a result of his astounding success and mathematical backings, casinos changed the laws of the game in an attempt to defeat him and his followers he encouraged to follow him. Following that, Thorp turned his attention to Wall Street, where the development and use of mathematical formulae to beat the system was pioneered by Thorp himself. The tale of Thorps findings and methods, as well as the curiosity that has always led him to defy conventional wisdom and invent game-changing answers, are all told here for the first time in this book. It is an exciting and knowledge-based thrill trip, rich with practical advice that may lead us all through treacherous financial seas and give us the knowledge to fight against an irrational world.

Diving into these exciting reads, both new and old, will give you the chance to immerse yourself into the world of gambling and casinos and source both information and entertainment from those who have experienced the industry firsthand.

Markus lives in San Francisco, California and is the video game and audio expert on Good e-Reader! He has a huge interest in new e-readers and tablets, and gaming.

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The Best Books About Gambling You Will Ever Read - Good e-Reader

This morning we woke up to a new era in world politics. For the first time since World War II, two European nations are in a conventional war that is likely to affect not only European security, but also great power politics between the US, Russia, and China. Professor Peter Trubowitz writes that over the next 48 to 72 hours, the focus will be on what the West does in response to the Russian invasion, and on how the military situation unfolds in Ukraine. The stakes are high all around.

I think we are likely to see three things in the coming days: tougher Western economic sanctions; calls for increased deployments of NATO battle groups to the Baltic states; and increased domestic pressure in the US and elsewhere to supply the Ukrainians with advanced weapons.

The purpose of the sanctions, which are likely to target many Russian banks and include export restrictions on advanced technology to Russia, will be to try to raise the costs of aggression to Putin and his domestic political allies. Similar sanctions could be imposed on Belarus for allowing itself to be used as a staging ground and if news reports are correct, participating in the invasion.

Potentially deploying additional troops to the Baltic states would be a way to reassure the Baltic countries that their NATO allies have their back, and to deter any possible territorial designs Putin might be entertaining beyond Ukraine.

Supplying additional weapons to the Ukrainians would let Putin know that while the West is not willing to intervene militarily to defend Kyiv, it will do what it can to make Russia pay a price in blood and treasure for its action in Ukraine.

How much of an impact any or all of this would have on Putin is unclear. Presumably, Putin has factored much of this into his decision to invade Ukraine. Of course, he may have miscalculated.

Judging from Putins speech earlier today, the immediate goal appears to bring down the President Volodymyr Zelenskyys government, install a puppet regime, and turn Ukraine into a vassal state like Belarus. Beyond that, Putin likely sees this as a way to frighten the Baltic states and test NATOs resolve and unity.

Putin is a gambler, and he seems to be gambling that he can quickly achieve whatever his political goals in Ukraine are and withstand anything that the US and its NATO allies are prepared to do in response. Hes assuming that there will not be a direct Western military response. The point of the saber rattling toward the West in Putins speech today seems to be that Moscow is in this for the long haul. Putins bet is that the West is not.

Putin signaled in his speech this morning announcing Russias military operation that he is prepared to counter Western sanctions by escalating the conflict and inflicting economic pain on Europe and the US.

These counter moves could take multiple forms, from cyber-attacks on Western governments and businesses, to export restrictions on Russian exports of oil and gas, grains, fertilizers and other goods that the West depends on, to banning overflight rights for Western airlines traveling routes to Asia. Intentionally or not, Putins actions could spark a refugee crisis, too, by driving Ukrainians to seek safe harbor in the West. Its also worth remembering that Putin has built up a war chest of about $630 billion in foreign reserves since 2014, which could carry Russia for several months as conflict with the West escalates.

Of course, all of this assumes that Putin can quickly wrap things up militarily in Ukraine at a cost that Russians are willing to bear. Many leaders have made that kind of bet before, only to be proven wrong.

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Note: This article gives the views of the author, and not the position of USAPP American Politics and Policy, nor of the London School of Economics.

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Peter Trubowitz LSE Phelan US CentrePeter Trubowitz is Professor of International Relations, and Director of the LSEs Phelan US Centre. His main research interests are in the fields of international security and comparative foreign policy, with special focus on American grand strategy and foreign policy. He also writes and comments frequently on US party politics and elections and how they shape and are shaped by Americas changing place in the world.

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Russia is gambling that it will withstand the US and NATO's response to its invasion of Ukraine - USAPP American Politics and Policy (blog)

Most adults who bet on sports can do so without getting themselves into trouble. But according to Timothy Fong, a director of the Gambling Studies Program at the University of California, Los Angeles, about 1 percent of American adults have a gambling disorder, the core symptom of which is the continuation of gambling despite harmful consequences. (Gambling is the only addiction unrelated to substances in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.) More than 20 percent of compulsive gamblers end up filing for bankruptcy, according to Debt.org, a debt-help organization.

With sports gambling now accessible to a much larger audience, some commentators worry that the number of gambling addicts is set to surge. The easier it is to gamble, the more unhappy outcomes youll get, the Times columnist Ross Douthat argues. The more money in the industry, the stronger the incentives to come up with new ways to hook people and then bleed and ruin them. And all that damage is likely to fall disproportionately on the psychologically vulnerable and economically marginal, the strong preying on the weak.

And indeed, there appears already to be good reason for concern. In 2021, the National Problem Gambling help line (1-800-522-4700) received an average of more than 22,500 calls a month, up from 14,800 per month the year before.

Is this a natural consequence of human nature unleashed from the law, or is there something particular about Americas economic and cultural life that might make people here especially susceptible to problem gambling? In The Atlantic, Stephen Marche attributes at least some of the newfound interest in gambling of all kinds to a widely shared feeling of economic precarity, which feeds off ever more desperate attempts to escape it: Gambling expresses, through entertainment, the basic truth of the moment: Everything every little thing can be converted into a marketplace with winners and losers, and the house always wins. The only vice left is being broke.

And left broke many are. Last month, the Times sports columnist Kurt Streeter reached out to nearly a dozen people as old as 82 and as young as 17 in recovery for sports gambling addiction. I heard horror stories, Streeter wrote. They told me about shattered families, lost jobs and foreclosed homes. They spoke of arrests, convictions, jail time and suicide. I heard how dangerous this time of the year is: the end of the college football season, the N.F.L. playoffs, all the money that can be won on the Super Bowl, or, more likely, lost.

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Opinion | The Sports Gambling Gold Rush Is On. Should We Be Concerned? - The New York Times

HAMILTON TWP., N.J. - Since online sports betting was legalized in New Jersey in 2018, phones at 1-800-GAMBLER have been ringing off the hook. The confidential line that serves all of New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia-area, is expected to get even busier as March Madness approaches.

"Good morning. This is the 800-GAMBLER Helpline. Phil speaking," is how 1-800-GAMBLER peer support specialist Phil Glick answers countless calls.

Losses range from $2,000 to $500,000 among those Glick talks to about their problems with online sports betting.

"The money is part of it, but it's not the number-one issue," said Glick. "It's what's going on in their brain."

He knows, since he considers himself a gambling addict in recovery, for nearly four years.

"I was probably 30 days away from prison, insanity or death," said Glick.

But he got help and uses that first-hand knowledge to give back to others. It's been needed, especially during the pandemic.

"People are inundated with advertisements," said Felicia Grodin, the executive director at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

"Wake up in the morning and oh what teams are playing? What games are going on? During the game, they're eight to 10 ads about gambling sites," said Glick.

Everything's at the tip of your fingers, until you have nothing left.

"When people call here, they're at their lowest point," said Glick. "Often, they want to stop and can't stop."

Lots of people give fake names, which Glick doesn't mind, since he's just happy they're getting help.

When necessary, Glick connects callers with mental health professionals.

Other times, he sets them up with software to block sports betting programs, gets them into Gamblers Anonymous meetings, introduces them to counselors or gets them on the state self-exclusion list.

Then, there's conversations with family members, where he tells them you can love someone, without loving what they're doing, and to stop sending money that can fuel an addiction.

"That's a tough piece of advice to give," said Glick.

Last year, the Garden State broke records, when nearly $11 billion was wagered in sports betting, generating over $100 million in tax revenue.

The American Gaming Association reports New Jersey had the most sports wagering handled for 2021.

However, the negative impacts of online sports betting have prompted some to ask: is it worth it? Glick answered that question with more questions: "Is New Jersey debt free? Are the roads perfect? Is every school awesome?"

It's something each person can decide for themselves.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement wasn't available for an interview.

It said in a statement, "We do have many responsible gaming protocols in place. For example, there is the DGE self-exclusion list, where patrons who wish to can exclude themselves from playing at both the brick-and-mortar casinos as well as online gaming and sports wagering sites. We also offer an online-gaming-only self-exclusion option."

The state says as of the beginning of February, there were 2,009 individuals self-excluded from Atlantic City casino properties, which also includes online gaming websites. 12,646 people chose the online-gaming-only self-exclusion option.

The Division isn't who decides, whether gaming or wagering policy or law, but it focuses on compliance with existing rules and laws.

Glick acknowledges many wager small amounts as a hobby but insists there's a huge need to save those in too deep.

"We have 45 or so providers in the state that have been approved, gone through our training to deal with this addiction," said Glick.

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey says that's not enough to deal with the increasing need.

"It's a hidden addiction, and it's one that needs to be paid attention to to a much greater degree," said Grodin. "I believe that the state needs to partner with us to administer a joint public service announcement, much like those that were done for alcohol and drug addiction."

"They can't have it one way of, 'we're gonna allow all this legal gambling, and then we're not gonna have the resources to deal with it," said Glick.

The Division says the distribution of gaming-related funding is governed by the Casino Control Act. In the meantime, Glick is focused on providing support, treatment, and most importantly, hope.

"If they give it a real effort for 30 days, they're going to see some light at the end of the tunnel," said Glick.

Glick says if you know someone who has a gambling problem, try your best to slow it down.

"If it's a son or daughter, or a parent who's getting up there in years, take control of their money if you can, if they will let you do that," said Glick.

He also recommends calling companies your loved ones owe money to.

"Say, 'can you close this account? Can you put a hold on this account? We'll pay. We're going to pay you back what's owed, but we may do it over a number of weeks, months or years," said Glick.

The 1-800-GAMBLER website has links to dozens of different kinds of resources.

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A day in the busy life of a gambling help expert, as NJ's online sports betting continues to break records - WFMZ Allentown

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Feb 23 - An FBI agent with the agency's New York office has pleaded guilty to making what his lawyer called a "terrible mistake" by misusing $13,500 of government money to gamble at a casino while in Las Vegas for an investigation in 2017.

Scott Carpenter, 40, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court in Las Vegas to a misdemeanor count of conversion of government money under a plea deal that calls for the FBI agent to receive a sentence of probation.

Paul Fishman, a former U.S. attorney for New Jersey now at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer who represented Carpenter, said prosecutors recommended probation in light of his acceptance of responsibility and "otherwise exemplary service" with the FBI and U.S. Army.

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The charge carries a maximum sentence of up to a year in prison. U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro scheduled his sentencing for May 18.

Prosecutors said that from July 27 to July 31, 2017, Carpenter and three other agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation traveled to Las Vegas to conduct an undercover operation.

After the operation was completed, Carpenter went to a casino's high limit room, where he gambled on blackjack with $13,500 belonging to the government.

"Four years ago, Scott made a terrible mistake," Fishman said in a statement. "He immediately acknowledged his conduct, reported it to his superiors, sought professional help for his alcohol problem, and made arrangements to repay the FBI."

The case is United States v. Carpenter, U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, No. 22-cr-00022.

For the United States: Daniel Schiess of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada

For Carpenter: Paul Fishman and Mindy Gorin of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer

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Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Nate Raymond reports on the federal judiciary and litigation. He can be reached at nate.raymond@thomsonreuters.com.

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FBI agent pleads guilty to gambling with government money - Reuters