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ST. LOUIS Mason Shaw was out to dinner with one of his best friends, Connor Dewar, and fellow teammates Marc-Andre Fleury, Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Jake Middleton, Ryan Hartman and Alex Goligoski on Friday night when John Hynes name flashed across his caller ID.

A week before the trade deadline, you typically dont want to receive a call from the head coach or the GM of your hockey team, but Shaw figured this was going to be the call he had been waiting for since the beginning part of last month when the Minnesota Wild tore up his AHL deal and re-signed him to an NHL deal.

Get ready to go, kid, and be buzzin, the Wild coach told the 25-year-old 336 days after he tore an ACL for the fourth time in his young hockey career.

If a years worth of rehab wasnt excruciatingly long enough, Shaw had to bide his time for 16 days to make his season debut since re-signing. The Wild were winning and fighting for a playoff spot, so he didnt get to play. But with Freddy Gaudreau suddenly needing to be removed from the lineup Saturday after enduring a nagging injury for some time, Shaw was suddenly an NHL player again.

Sometimes you gotta be patient and wait for things in life, whether its hockey or away from it, Shaw said. I think last night you kind of realize that youre gonna get the chance to play in the NHL again and thats all Ive wanted from day one of this recovery process was to get a chance to play in the NHL again.

I think last night before the game, you appreciate what youve given yourself and what youve worked back to, but at the end of the day once we get to the rink its just hockey again and were in the middle of a fight right now.

That was the shame of the Wilds 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center, a third straight defeat to continue a weeklong destruction of their season after climbing to within two points of a playoff spot only seven days earlier.

What an accomplishment for Shaw on Saturday night, yet the teams biggest example of unparalleled determination couldnt even celebrate because the Wild are keenly aware of what theyve done to themselves with successive losses to the Hurricanes, Predators and Blues. Nashville won for an eighth straight time, meaning the Wild in one measly week have gone from two points back to 10 points back of the Preds for the top wild-card spot and eight back of the Kings for the bottom wild-card spot.

I think everyone in this room is doing the best to just put their head down and work, and obviously you want to be on the winning side of these games, but just let the chips fall where they may, Shaw said.

Shaw wasnt talking about wins and losses here.

He was talking about the uncomfortable feeling teammates like Dewar and Brandon Duhaime are dealing with knowing that their names are being floated in trade banter. Every game could be their last in Minnesota with the Wild only having two games before Fridays 2 p.m. trade deadline (Sunday against San Jose and Thursday at Arizona).

Dewy 1 and Dewy 2 are on expiring deals. Shaw is back in the lineup. Marat Khusnutdinov is on his way from Russia to Kazakhstan for an appointment to get his U.S. work visa finalized so he could cross the Atlantic and join the Wild next week hopefully in time for the teams trip to Arizona and Denver.

The Wild brass, even though everybodys talking a good game that theyre still in the playoff race, know the reality of this situation. They are likely ready to punt on this close to being lost season and begin a mini roster reset as long as Gaudreaus injury and an undisclosed one sustained by Marcus Johansson on Saturday night dont cause Bill Guerin to change his mind with the need to keep healthy bodies around. Remember, Pat Maroon hasnt played since before the All-Star break and isnt close to returning, and Marcus Foligno was injured during the second game after the break and isnt close to returning. He was in St. Louis on Saturday to see a specialist for his injury, and Hynes said an update should come soon.

Its obviously a stressful time of year, Shaw said of Dewar and Duhaime. Those are some of your best friends and teammates, so to see them going through it, its hard. But at the end of the day, we try to do our best to let the noise be what it is. Whoever it is, we know what we sign up for when we sign these contracts and what can come with it. Not an easy time of year, but its part of the game.

Shaw is just content to be able to play this game again.

He skated on the left side of Jake Lucchini and Vinni Lettieri, played nine shifts totaling 7 minutes, 6 seconds of ice time, had four shot attempts and two hits. He was on the ice for one goal in the first period, but that was a bad bounce when a deflected puck hit the near post, ricocheted back into Fleury and over the goal line by about an inch.

There were plays he wanted back, like when he continued a first 10-minute trend for the entire Wild team by forcing a pass to Lettieri when he was ahead a play.

Thats probably an opportunity where if I was to do that again, I would have shot that puck or taken it to the net, he said. But the game happens fast. And obviously at the NHL level, it happens even faster. So, to do that again, I definitely would have shot that one.

Shaw admitted he had trouble sleeping Friday night, but he said he was calm before the game.

It felt like I was just straight back where I was supposed to be, he said. Certainly, youd like a few things back in the game like you always would when youre on the losing side of things. But (lets) see what (Sunday) brings, I guess.

If he was thinking he may not be playing, he shouldnt worry about that.

Hynes ruled Gaudreau out for the home game against the Sharks. And if Johansson cant play he left the game after a five-second shift in the first period and never returned, the Wild will need to recall a forward or play seven defensemen by dressing Dakota Mermis or Goligoski.

Teammates were downtrodden after the loss, but it wasnt lost on them what type of achievement Shaw made by being back on an NHL ice surface for the first time since April 1.

Its spectacular, Dewar said. I cant put it into words. Everyone knows Mason and just his character, so Im lucky to be able to call him a friend.

Those friends gave Shaw knuckles after he hung up the phone with Hynes the night before.

These guys have been my biggest supporters through all this, Shaw said. Whether I was in Iowa or in the summer, theyve always been making sure theyre reaching out to me and taking the time to appreciate what Im going through.

Best yet, Shaw and his dinner dates Friday night played credit-card roulette to settle up their expensive tab.

Each players credit card went into the middle. Middleton lost, meaning he had to pay for it all.

That was maybe the cherry on top for me was I didnt have to grab the bill, Shaw said, laughing.

(Photo: Scott Rovak / NHLI via Getty Images)

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Mason Shaw wins credit-card roulette, but skidding Wild can't get win in his NHL return - The Athletic

At the Ukraine summit in Paris on Monday, President Emmanuel Macron made a startling announcement.

"We will do whatever it takes to ensure that Russia cannot win this war," he told reporters.

"Everything is possible," he said, including sending Western troops to Ukraine.

It seemed a clear escalation in the West's support for Kyiv. It has also signalled a decisive shift by President Macron.

In late 2021 he was the holdout leader exhausting every diplomatic initiative to get Vladimir Putin to change course, even warning against the west "humiliating" Russia.

Now he was presenting himself as the standard bearer of a more robust European response as the war enters its third year.

The Paris summit, at which Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Ireland had sent mine clearing units to Ukraine, came on the heels of the second anniversary of Mr Putins invasion, the death of Russian anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny, and the setback on the battlefield with Russian troops capturing the strategically important city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region.

French officials insist that an acceleration in a French-led response has been evolutionary and not an overnight conversion.

In particular, Paris believes Russia has intensified its aggressive behaviour, not just in Ukraine, but in Africa and the Caucuses, and in overt disinformation campaigns targeting EU citizens which officials say can be traced to Moscow (in particular, the spray-painting of 200 Star of David symbols on buildings in Paris).

While the EUs response in February 2022 has been largely unified, with 13 sanctions packages against Russia, some 80 billion in economic and military support and the taking in of 4.3 million Ukrainians fleeing the war, Mr Macron is said to have realised it is no longer enough, not least because Ukrainian frontline troops are at the point of physical exhaustion.

The change of gear reflects a deeper French anxiety: that a Russian victory would be catastrophic for Europe, that countries in Africa and Asia would come to the conclusion that neither the US, under a possible second Trump administration, nor Europe have the appetite to attempt to guarantee peace and stability in the world.

For France to interpret a new geopolitical role which looks to Eastern Europe is a significant departure.

"While France had long opposed the geopoliticisation of EU and NATO policies toward the Eastern neighborhood," writes David Cadier, assistant professor of international relations at Sciences Po for Carnegie Europe.

"It is now openly embracing and even promoting it. Previously, approaching the post-Soviet space as an object of hard-power competition as done by the Kremlin or the George W Bush administration was seen in Paris as detrimental to these countries security and to Europes stability and independent agency," he says.

President Macron signalled that change in a speech in Bratislava in May last year, during which he virtually apologised for not taking eastern European warnings about the Russian threat seriously, and for his over-egged overtures to Vladimir Putin on the eve of the invasion.

The speech asserted not just a need, according to the French president, to "forge a more sovereign European capacity when it comes to energy, technology and military capabilities", but also to anchor Ukraine, as well as Moldova, Georgia and the Western Balkans, in the European political and military sphere (in July last year France supported Ukraines accession to NATO and in December all 27 EU leaders, with the exception of Hungarys Viktor Orbn, agreed to open EU accession negotiations with Kyiv).

The Bratislava speech went down well in central and eastern Europe, where unhappiness about high-handed French attitudes going back to Jacques Chirac has long festered.

A survey of diplomats, academics and journalists by the Think Visegrad foundation detected "a real, concrete and significant change in Frances policies towards Ukraine, Russia, and their region".

This is not cost-free for President Macron at home or abroad.

At home his comments after Mondays meeting were attacked by the far-right and far-left, who accused him of escalating the conflict.

French voters are evenly divided between those who believe Europe should support Ukraine in recapturing Russian-occupied territories and those who believe Europe should push Ukraine towards the negotiating table, according to a poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

There was pushback too from Frances allies on the notion of NATO or EU member states sending troops.

"Everyone must do more for Ukraine," Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz said after the meeting, but "one thing is clear: There will be no ground troops from European states or NATO".

NATO officials have echoed the sentiment, while the US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said: "President [Joe] Biden has been clear that the US will not send troops to fight in Ukraine."

On Tuesday, the French foreign minister Stphane Sjourn told the Assemble Nationale that there was no question of French troops deploying to Ukraine to combat Russian soldiers.

A French presence could involve "mine clearance, cyber defence, the production of weapons on site[which] could require a presence on Ukrainian territory, without crossing the threshold of fighting. Nothing should be ruled out".

French officials insist Mr Macron is using strategic ambiguity to keep Russia off-balance.

On Wednesday, Vladimir Putin threatened European countries with nuclear attack if ground troops entered Ukraine.

"Macron wants to send a signal of strength to Russia," says Jana Puglierin, Senior Policy Fellow with ECFR Berlin.

"But for deterrence to work, it must be credible. By stating that he does not rule out the use of ground troops, he has unnecessarily introduced a potential for division into NATO, whose member states are extremely sceptical on this issue. This is no way to promote European unity and strength," she says.

However, the reference to sending troops overshadowed other highly significant moves on President Macrons part.

He appeared to drop a long-standing French demand that the European defence sector should be prioritised when sending weapons to Ukraine, including the one million artillery shells the EU promised Ukraine but which has not yet been delivered, rather than sourcing them from producers elsewhere.

At his news conference on Monday evening, President Macron told reporters that France was leading the so-called "Artillery Coalition", one of six endeavours through which western countries team up with Ukraine to meet its needs across a range of military capabilities, which also include ground-air defence, armour, air forces (led by the US and the Netherlands) and maritime security.

Ukraine is suffering from an acute shortage of artillery shells, being able to fire one tenth of what Russia can deploy, an asymmetry which has been blamed for the loss of Avdiivka and for high Ukrainian casualties.

"All of us at the table have undertaken to dig down to the bottom of the stocks that remain available," Mr Macron told reporters, "to identify third countries that can be brought on board, in the various categories of ammunition, and also reach out when it comes to all new solutions that are put forward, to solicit third countries".

Across the board, EU and NATO members are increasing defence spending to make up for the fall in investment which followed the end of the Cold War.

However, the defence sector is struggling to replenish conventional stocks which have been shipped to Ukraine and to ensure that Kyiv has the capabilities it needs to defend itself in the long run.

"Europes defence industrial base shrank after the Cold War and is fragmented along national lines," writes Luigi Scazzieri, a Senior Research Fellow, in a paper for the Centre for European Reform (CER).

He says: "It is structured to produce in relatively low volumes and has struggled to increase its output. Lack of certainty over the trajectory of defence budgets and future orders also makes many companies unwilling to make costly investments in expanding their production capacity.

"The continuing lack of coordination between member-states in investing their defence budgets is making it difficult to generate economies of scale and has given rise to competing orders."

Russias invasion has prompted the EU to deepen defence cooperation.

In a meeting at Versailles in March 2022, hosted by President Macron, EU leaders agreed to invest "more and better in defence capabilities".

The European Commission followed up by creating a Defence Joint Procurement Task Force to identify bottlenecks and shortfalls in supply chains across different capabilities.

In July 2023, the EU adopted the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), legislation that would ensure EU funding is used to help defence firms to increase ammunition production.

The EU is currently mobilising military support to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility (EPF), an existing off-budget mechanism that reimburses member states who help Ukraine build resilience and to help civilian populations targeted by Russian drones and missiles.

Between 2022-24, the EPF has mobilised 6.1 billion for Ukraines war effort.

In a Dil answer in April last year, Tnaiste Michel Martin said Irelands contribution in non-lethal assistance (medical equipment, food, personal protective clothing and fuel) amounted to 122 million.

Ireland has also contributed to the EUs Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM Ukraine), which is also aimed at enhancing the Ukrainian Armed Forces military capability by training 15,000 members within EU member states.

EUMAM Ukraine has a mandate to provide individual, collective and specialised training to up to 15,000 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel over multiple locations in the territory of EU member states, subject to the explicit consent of each host member state.

Irelands involvement in these training missions is coordinated by a senior staff officer within the EUs Military Planning and Conduct Capability department in Brussels as well as in Strausberg, Germany.

As he arrived at the Paris meeting, Mr Varadkar told reporters that Irish Defence Forces teams had been training Ukrainian personnel in Poland in the operation of so-called Mine Flail units, vehicle-mounted equipment which clears paths through minefields by literally flailing the ground in front of them to trigger mines.

Two such units had already arrived in Ukraine.

Irelands provision of such equipment has inevitably stirred up the debate on neutrality, a policy position on which a sharper spotlight will fall as the European Union seeks ways to deepen defence cooperation in the light of Russias invasion of Ukraine and the risk that a second Trump presidency could leave Europe militarily exposed.

The EU is already cooperating more deeply on defence.

It set up the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) in 2017, while the Strategic Compass, endorsed by member states in March 2022, encourages national capitals to invest more in defence and to identify areas where member states could collectively develop new capabilities, such as through PESCO, of which Ireland is a participant.

EU diplomats tread carefully when asked about Irelands neutrality, now that we share that particular bench with only Malta, Austria and Cyprus (Sweden and Finland have joined NATO), but at a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference, Leo Varadkar was asked several times about the charge of Irish "free-riding" on European security (a charge he politely, but firmly, rebuffed).

The Irish debate, and the consultative forums on security, are being watched with interest in EU capitals, not least Paris.

Ireland and France have had a strategic and security dialogue since the former President Francois Hollandes visit to Dublin in 2016, and officials from both ministries of defence have had meetings every 18 months, including one between high-level experts in December.

Security and defence have also been discussed during official visits to Paris by both Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin as Taoisigh, and when President Macron came to Ireland in June 2021 (the French Embassy in Dublin has hosted a conference on defence and security).

French officials speak of each member state having their own "path, rhythm and objectives" when it comes to national security.

Irish officials in Brussels insist that neutrality is never questioned in diplomatic exchanges.

However, one EU diplomat observed: "We would certainly say that Ireland, like each and every other EU member state, has to now increase its defence spending and it has to think more European when it comes to defence.

"No country can consider security in isolation."

Link:

Russian Roulette: Why Macron raised the stakes on Ukraine - RTE.ie

LINCOLN Good luck, everyone. So said a Ballys Twin River dealer before dropping a ball on the roulette wheel. It spun for about three seconds before it landed on 11 black.

There were no winners on that bet, but there were also no groans at least that anyone at the casino could hear.

Any gambler who wagered on the game did so from the comfort of home either on their phones or computers.

Welcome to the future of gambling in Rhode Island. Nearly nine months after the state approved online gambling, or iGaming, Ballys invited members of the media on Thursday to get a peek at their expanded offerings ahead of its launch scheduled for Tuesday, March 5.

General Assembly approves iGaming and more

Before the General Assembly approved the legislation, lawmakers amended it so online table games could be simulcast from within Twin River, thus avoiding having to put the proposed expansion out to voters.

Craig Eaton, Ballys head of Rhode Island operations, welcomed the change. He told reporters Thursday that simulcasting also allows people to still experience the casino without having to leave their homes.

People like comfort, people like convenience, he said.

Ballys iGaming offerings will include blackjack tables, one roulette station, and 170 slot games. Eaton said Ballys intends to get virtual baccarat online later in the month followed by absolute blackjack, which has no cap on the number of players.

But before iGaming officially goes online, the Providence-based casino giant on Friday will begin a four-day technical launch to a limited number of invited customers as a test to ensure any kinks are worked out ahead of time, Eaton said.

Its much like a restaurant does when they first open, he said. We just want to make sure its right and everything is ready to go.

Ballys also requires approval from the Rhode Island Lottery before its iGaming service can go live in the state, Eaton said. Based on observations from lottery spokesperson Paul Grimaldi, approval is likely.

These folks at Ballys have been partners with us for a very long time, Grimaldi said in an interview. We work really well with them, and they understand our concerns.

One of those concerns: More consumers could start to flock toward virtual games instead of driving to the physical games or purchasing lottery tickets sometimes referred to as cannibalization.

We have to make sure whatever is wagered online will balance out what would have been actually wagered at the casino, Grimaldi said.

Eaton said Ballys has no intention of divesting from its physical locations in Lincoln and Tiverton, pointing to the $60 million expansion to the Twin River Casino last year.

Were always looking at opportunities, he said If something makes sense, can grow revenue, and can grow revenue for the state we will look hard at it.

Online gambling would bring in $160 million in extra tax revenue for Rhode Island over the first five years, according to a 2023 report by Christiansen Capital Advisors, LLC a consultant hired by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue.

Theres also 1.45% carveout for the towns of Lincoln and Tiverton from iGaming slots (and 1% from live table revenue). What Ballys own revenue will be is unclear, as casino spokesperson Patti Doyle told Rhode Island Current the company does not disclose those projections.

The launch of iGaming in Rhode Island coincides with National Problem Gambling Awareness Month a fact not lost on Grimaldi.

The concern mostly surrounds college-aged students, the primary market for online gaming, Grimaldi said.

Youre not likely to see a young tech-bro tapping on a video screen downstairs here, he said. Hes going to be on his phone.

The legislation that allows iGaming requires the casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton to offer programming such as the promotion of player self-exclusions and the gambling hotline. Ballys must also reimburse the State Lottery Division no less than $200,000 each year for compulsive and problem gambling programs. Grimaldi said there is no cap for the casino giant to contribute.

Ballys has to fully fund whatever the demand is for problem gambling, he said.

Safeguards on the Ballys app include cool down times, deposit limits, and wager limits. Eaton added that the service will require two-factor authentication and requires new users to input the last four digits of their Social Security number in order to prevent minors from gambling.

Those are protections that we are shown work, Eaton said.

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The future of Rhode Island gambling is quiet Rhode Island Current - Rhode Island Current

Jujutsu Kaisens creator Gege Akutami might be the most in-demand individual in the anime and manga world right now. Their masterwork has created quite a stir in the anime and manga industry and has escalated to the top of the most popular anime list in a very short time, and only with two seasons and a movie.

While the credit for all of this goes to the intriguing storyline, brilliant character developments, and thrilling battles, all of this has been made possible by only one person. Some fans love them for creating such a brilliant story while some hate them because of their habit of making a character lovable and then killing him/her off.

Not much is known about Akutami and their personal life. Even their real name has never been revealed which makes them a much more interesting individual. However, recently a story was shared about Akutamis past which revealed that they played a unique game of Russian roulette and even won the game.

Gege Akutami celebrates their birthday on February 26 and to wish them, a Jujutsu Kaisen leaker/fan account @GO_Jover shared a unique backstory about the manga creator. According to the story, when Akutami was a kid, they used to lie, steal food, break things, and blame it on their dog.

The tweet stated:

As a child, Akutami habitually fibbed, filched food, broke things and blamed the dog. Thus, when Akutami came home after actually getting hit by a car, no one believed him. In 1999, Akutami was a champion in a death game that involved taking turns rubbing medication used for treating insect bites on ones nether regions, for which he attracted a lot of attention and had to disappear for a while.

According to the post, Akutami once took part in a unique Russian roulette game that involved rubbing dangerous medication on their private parts and surviving the longest. Akutami won the game and attracted a lot of attention because of it which led to them disappearing for a while.

The tweet went instantly viral and attracted a lot of attention from Jujutsu Kaisen fans. Fans pointed out that Akutamis thrills as a child are now being reflected in their work. Their mindset as a kid fits perfectly with the story that they have been showing in their magnum opus.

Fans shared the tweet and commented their opinion about Akutamis past and his adventures as a kid. They also compared them to Sukuna and stated that their actions of killing fan-favorite characters are now justified.

The story gives great hindsight into the life of one of the biggest manga creators in history as the only things known about Akutami are their pen name and their age. This is because they like to keep their identity hidden as not only they are the most loved manga creators in the world, but also one of the most hated too.

You can watch Jujutsu Kaisen on Crunchyroll.

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Gege Akutami Played a Unique Version of Russian Roulette and Managed to Not Only Survive But Also Win - FandomWire

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has added craps and roulette to its existing menu of casino games while expanding access to a new online sports book that allow placement of bets from anywhere within Florida via computer or cellphone.

The tribe already offered blackjack, baccarat, other casino card games, and slot machines, at six Seminole Casinos in the state.

The new games will be available at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, and Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood, the tribe announced.

The news comes as the sporting world prepares for college football bowl season and the NBA playoffs. The tribe began rolling out access to its sports betting operation on Nov. 7, although legal challenges to them remain pending. You can also lay a bet at one of the Seminoles six casinos in Florida.

The News Service of Florida has reported that the tribe will pay the state at least $650 million over the next year as its share of gambling proceeds under the Seminole Gaming Compact that the Legislature approved in 2021 and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law.

The states take over five years could hit $2.5 billion.

There remain two legal challenges to the sports book filed by competitors West Flagler Associates Ltd. and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp., one before the Florida Supreme Court and another before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Neither of those courts has accepted the companies request to block the sports book but appeals on the merits of the tribes deal with the state remain pending.

Both cases challenge the hub and spoke arrangement for betting on sports outcomes, wherein bets placed from anywhere in the state are deemed to have transpired through computer servers located on tribal land.

At issue is whether the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, or IGRA, which regulates tribal gambling, and Floridas Amendment 3, approved by the voters in 2018, which requires a public referendum to expand casino gambling in the state, allow the arrangement.

The tribe and DeSantis administration have argued that sports betting isnt subject to Amendment 3 because its not a traditional casino game as defined in the amendment and because the amendment exempted Indian gambling.

Also that federal law has long allowed arrangements similar to hub-and-spoke.

The U.S. Supreme Court has given the competitors until Feb. 8 to file formal arguments asking the justices to take up their appeal on its merits.

The competitors noted that Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed qualms about hub-and-spoke even while voting not to disturb a U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruling allowing the sports betting.

To the extent that a separate Florida statute (as distinct from the compact) authorizes the Seminole Tribe and only the Seminole Tribe to conduct certain off-reservation gaming operations in Florida, the state law raises serious equal protection issues, he wrote.

This story appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahassee.

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Seminoles open New Era in FL gaming, adds Craps, Roulette and Sports Betting at three casinos - Islander News.com

By Katrina Elsken Lake Okeechobee News

BRIGHTON RESERVATION Seminole Casino Brighton now has roulette, craps and sports betting. The new games launched at all six Florida Seminole casinos in December, with special VIP guests playing the first games for charity.

On Dec. 11, Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen led the ceremony to commemorate the start of the new games. The addition of roulette and craps adds more excitement to the Seminole casinos, he said. Sports betting is now available at the casinos and online at hardrock.bet. Sports betting has been endorsed by all the leagues, Allen added. He said people definitely seek it out.

He said Brighton casino is the fastest growing Seminole casino. It attracts visitors from as far away as Jacksonville. A new casino and hotel are currently under construction about three miles south of the existing Brighton casino. Construction is expected to take about a year to complete.

The entertainment, travel and tourism industries, and many more, will see positive economic impact generated from the new casino games, said Allen. They will increase tourism to Florida and boost employment in the areas surrounding the casino complexes.

The addition of the new games means the six Florida Seminole casinos hired more than 1,000 additional staff in Florida, in addition to 350 new jobs at Hardrock Digital. He said they were fortunate in finding staff and all the positions have been filled.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is proud to point to a new era in Florida gaming with the unveiling of our new casino games, said Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. With the addition of craps, roulette and sports betting, we now offer a full complement of casino games and we join the ranks of leading casinos around the world.

Were excited about this place, Osceola said of Brighton casino. Weve had a great run at this, and were just getting started.

He said the Tribe is now 4,435 members strong. Weve never given up. Were never giving up.

Osceola said the Tribes current success would not be possible without the past leaderships going back before 1957. (The Seminole Tribe adopted a constitutional form of government in 1957 and was federally recognized by the federal government as the Seminole Tribe of Florida.)

They found places to hide and we survived, he said.

Osceola thanked Allen for his part in developing the casinos. A lot would not be possible without him and his imagination, Osceola said. Its pretty amazing what weve been able to accomplish with the team he has assembled and the Tribal Council.

Larry Howard, Brighton Reservation representative, thanked God. Without God, none of this would be possible, he said. Its been a long time coming. Theres been a lot of work going on here for very long time.

The land they put us on look what we are doing with it today. Weve overcome a lot of stuff. Were unconquered. We dont give up. We continue to fight in the courts, said Howard.

The new games were made possible by the Gaming Compact signed and approved by the Seminole Tribe and the State of Florida in 2021. They join blackjack, baccarat, and other casino card games, plus thousands of the latest slot machines, to round out a full complement of casino games at all six Seminole Casinos in Florida.

Football coach Jimmy Johnson was joined by boxing legend Evander Holyfield for the first roll and first spin ceremony at the Brighton casino.

Earlier in the day on Dec. 11 Seminole officials were joined by Ashanti, Tony Orlando, Jimmy Johnson, Edgerrin James and Tito Ortiz at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee for the first roll of craps dice, the first spin of the roulette wheel and the first retail sports bets.

Seminole Casino Brighton is a 27,000-square-foot casino with over 400 slot machines and eight live table games, Blackjack and Three Card Poker, along with high-stakes bingo action, plus craps, roulette and sports betting. Seminole Casino Brighton also features Josiah, a full-service restaurant and lounge. Local live entertainment is featured weekly on Friday and Saturday nights. The casino also has an area for those who prefer to play slot machines in a smoke-free environment. Its warm and friendly staff, ultra-modern air-conditioning system, clean atmosphere, and rewarding casino promotions are a welcome alternative to big city gaming. Seminole Casino Brighton is located just west of Lake Okeechobee on the Seminole Brighton Reservation, 17735 Reservation Road, Okeechobee, Florida, 34974. For more information, call toll-free 800-360-9875 or 863-467-9998 or go online to http://www.seminolebrightoncasino.com or on http://www.facebook.com/seminolebrightoncasino

Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is Southwest Floridas premier gaming and entertainment destination. Located at 506 South 1st Street in Immokalee, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is easily accessible to all Southwest Florida. The 51,000-square-foot casino offers 1,400 slots and 39 live table games, plus craps, roulette and sports betting, as part of a New Era in Florida Gaming. Dining options include the award-winning 1st Street Deli, Asian fusion restaurant Lucky Mi Noodle House, and the EE-TO-LEET-KE (The Camp) Grill. Seminole Casino Hotels nightlife is highlighted by the Zig Zag lounge, home of the Zig Zag Girlz, where the party never ends featuring nightly live entertainment and no last call. Additional entertainment and events are held at the Seminole Center, an indoor/outdoor special event center featuring state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. The Seminole Casino Hotel is the first upscale hotel to open in or near Immokalee and offers suites and deluxe guestrooms with modern dcor and upscale features. Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee participates in the Unity Card Rewards Program whereby players earn and redeem Unity points at all Seminole Casinos in Florida. For more information, call toll-free (800) 218-0007 or go online to moreinparadise.com or facebook.com/SeminoleCasinoHotel/

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Brighton Casino adds roulette, craps and sports betting - South Central Florida Life

Roulette is thrilling, with each spin offering a chance to win big up to a massive 35 times your bet! But what if we top it up with a massive welcome bonus, hefty deposit bonuses and more appealing rewards?

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The Ignition Casino lets you play online roulette games from popular brands like NetEnt, Microgaming, and Playn GO.

The online roulette casino site has some great promotions for new players and weekly promotions with prizes ranging from cash-back bonuses to free spins on specific slot games each week!

European Roulette:

This game typically has an RTP of around 97.3% due to the single zero on the wheel, which gives it a lower house edge compared to its American counterpart.

Blackjack Early Payout:

Blackjack games, especially those with an early payout option, generally offer an RTP around 99.5%, though this can vary slightly depending on the exact structure of the early payout and the strategies players use.

Baccarat:

The standard Baccarat game offers an RTP of approximately 98.94% for Banker bets, 98.76% for Player bets, and significantly less for Tie bets (often around 85.6%), given the tie bets high house edge.

Blackjack:

Variations of blackjack have different RTPs, but they generally hover around 99% or more, especially if players employ optimal strategy.

Super 6:

As a variant of baccarat, Super 6 might have an RTP comparable to standard baccarat for Banker and Player bets but may differ for other betting options specific to the Super 6 variation.

American Roulette:

With its double zeros, American Roulette has a higher house edge, and therefore a lower RTP at approximately 94.74%.

Ignition Casino offers a mobile-friendly platform that allows users to enjoy their favorite roulette games when they are on the go. While no dedicated mobile app exists, the site is optimized for mobile browsers, where players can enjoy a wide selection of games, including roulette, slot games, live dealer games, etc.

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Jackpot Games:

Mega Moolah by Microgaming (RTP: 88.12%; progressive jackpot)

Table Games:

Blackjack variations (RTP: typically between 99.4% and 99.6%)

European Roulette (RTP: 97.3%)

American Roulette (RTP: around 94.74% due to the double zero)

Live Casino Games:

Live Blackjack (RTP: around 99.5%)

Live Roulette (RTP: 97.3% for European version)

Roulette Variations:

Speed Roulette (RTP: 97.3% for European version)

Immersive Roulette (RTP: 97.3% for European version)

Double Ball Roulette (RTP: 97.3% for European version, 94.74% for American)

Sports Betting: Extensive sports betting options, including football, basketball, and tennis.

Bitstarz casino app offers a smooth and user-friendly experience. Players may play various games, make deposits and withdrawals, and claim bonuses straight from their mobile devices, making betting effortless.

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7Bit is a top real money casino roulette site designed to make your gaming experience as fun and exciting as possible with multiple bonus options.

7Bit offers above 1000+ roulette games, including the classic double zero roulette, the European version, and even a live dealer version where you can chat with an actual person dealing with your cards.

Slots:

JetX Slots can have varying RTPs, but they typically range from 92% to 98%. JetX, if it operates like a traditional slot, might fall within this range.

Wild Spin As with JetX, the RTP for Wild Spin would generally be in the range of 92% to 98%, depending on the games specific structure and rules.

Roulette:

Automatic Roulette This is based on European Roulette, the typical RTP is around 97.3% due to the single zero on the wheel.

Speed Roulette Speed Roulette usually follows the rules of European Roulette, and thus it would generally have an RTP around 97.3%.

Card Games:

Andar Bahar This games RTP can vary widely depending on the specific rules, but it often ranges from 94% to 98%.

Bet on Teen Patti Similar to Andar Bahar, Bet on Teen Pattis RTP depends on the games specific rules, with a range typically between 94% and 97%.

Blackjack:

Salon Prive Blackjack A Standard blackjack games, if played with the perfect strategy, can offer an RTP of around 99.5%.

Salon Prive Blackjack C As with Salon Prive Blackjack A, the RTP would be around 99.5% with optimal play.

Live Game Shows:

Crazy Time Live game shows like Crazy Time have varying RTPs, but they typically range from 94% to 97%. The exact RTP depends on the specific bets made in the game.

Lightning Roulette This game combines traditional roulette with additional winning chances through lucky payouts and numbers; the RTP can range from 97.3% to 98%, depending on the rules.

Jackpot Slots:

The Mighty Toro Jackpot slots typically have a lower RTP than regular slots because a portion of each bet goes to the progressive jackpot. The RTP might be around 91% to 95%.

Beast Band Similar to The Mighty Toro, the RTP for Beast Band would likely fall within the 91% to 95% range.

7 Bit Casino is mobile-friendly so that customers can play their favorite games on their smartphones and tablets. There is no need to download an app because the casino can be visited through mobile web. The mobile edition of the site provides a smooth and user-friendly experience, allowing gamers to enjoy their favorite games while on the go.

The wagering requirement for 7Bit is relatively high, but its worth it as players are expected to wager their bonuses 40x within 14 days.

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mBit Casino is a top choice for online roulette gaming. It offers over 2400 games, including more than 23 roulette, classic slots, video poker, table games such as blackjack and baccarat, and even live dealer games.

The casino collaborates with renowned software providers to ensure a high-quality gaming experience for its players. SandiegoMagazine also reviewed some of the best slots for real money.

mBit Casino is adaptable and adjusts to multiple screen sizes, offering a smooth and fun gaming experience when on the go. Players may use their mobile browser to visit the casino without downloading additional apps.

The wagering requirement at mBit Casino is 40 times your deposit, but you can also win a maximum amount from this wagering requirement.

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BetFlip offers various games, including American and European roulettes and Russian and French.

BetFlip also offers free play versions of the games for players who want to practice before committing real money roulette gaming.

Roulette Games:

Emperor Roulette Live: This live roulette game, potentially based on the European model, offers an RTP of around 97.3%. The immersive experience of a live dealer brings the thrill of real-time gaming to players.

Lotus Roulette Live: Another live variant, Lotus Roulette, also potentially offers a 97.3% RTP if it follows the European format, combining the excitement of live gaming with the potential for favorable returns.

Korean Dealer Lightning Roulette: While base play might offer a standard RTP of 97.3%, Lightning Roulette enhances player engagement with lucky payouts or multipliers, which can significantly vary the effective RTP.

Gold Vault Roulette: This games RTP will align with traditional roulette offerings unless there are unique rules or features, making it essential for players to review the specific game details.

Live Dealer Games:

Blackjack Classic: With an RTP that can reach around 99.5% with optimal strategy, Classic Blackjack remains a favorite, especially in live versions that offer a real-world casino atmosphere.

Casino Hold em: This poker variant draws players with an RTP ranging from 97% to 98.5%, depending on specific game conditions and the players skill in making strategic decisions.

Craps First Person: The RTP for Craps varies widely based on the bets placed, with a range from 98.6% for the most favorable bets to below 90% for bets with higher house edges.

Baccarat Games:

Thai Speed Baccarat A: Banker Bets: Approximately 98.94% RTP.

Player Bets: Approximately 98.76% RTP.

Tie Bets: Approximately 85.6% to 86% RTP.

Side Bets: Vary, often below 90% RTP.

Emperor Speed Baccarat:

Banker Bets: Approximately 98.94% RTP.

Player Bets: Approximately 98.76% RTP.

Tie Bets: Approximately 85.6% to 86% RTP.

Side Bets: Vary, often below 90% RTP.

Speed Baccarat:

Banker Bets: Approximately 98.94% RTP.

Player Bets: Approximately 98.76% RTP.

Tie Bets: Approximately 85.6% to 86% RTP.

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Best Roulette Sites (2024): Top 10 Real Money Roulette Games To Play Online - San Diego Magazine

Freed hostage Sharon Alony-Cunio tells Reuters Hamas captivity was a Russian roulette, saying she feared she and her two young daughters could be executed any day.

Every minute is critical. The conditions there are not good and the days go on forever, she says. Its a Russian roulette. You dont know whether tomorrow morning theyll keep you alive or kill you, just because they want to or just because their backs are against the wall, she says.

Cunio, 34, and twin daughters, Yuli and Emma, 3, were released on November 27 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. The twins father David, 34, is still held in Gaza.

Every day there is crying, frustration and anxiety. How long are we going to be here? Have they forgotten about us? Have they given up on us?

My children are torn, she says. I am torn without my second half, the love of my life, the father of my daughters who ask me every day, where is daddy?

She says her husband was with them until three days before their release. I am petrified I will get bad news that he is no longer alive, she says.

We are not just names on a poster. We are human beings, flesh and blood. The father of my girls is there, my partner, and many other fathers, children, mothers, brothers.

You're a dedicated reader

Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.

Thats why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.

So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.

For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.

Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel

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Freed hostage says in Hamas captivity, every day 'a Russian roulette' - The Times of Israel

We dug deep into Michigans online casinos to find the best real-money online casino roulette. Weve ranked the best online roulette sites so you can play the popular casino game from your desktop or mobile device.

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Without a doubt, BetMGM Online Casino is the winner when it comes to playing online roulette for real money. The site beats out all of its competition by offering a whopping 22 roulette games across both regular table games and live dealer options.

Signing up for BetMGM also gets you a nice welcome bonus: $25 no-deposit bonus and a 100% first deposit match up to $1,000. Take advantage of this generous offer by using the promo code MLIVEMGM. You can use the bonuses on roulette if you choose. The offer comes with a 15x playthrough requirement, and table games only contribute 20% of your bet to that requirement. In other words, a $100 bet on roulette would only contribute $20 toward clearing your bonus.

DraftKings may only have 19 roulette games compared to BetMGMs 22, but its still an amazing option for online roulette enthusiasts. DraftKings boasts a portfolio of exclusive roulette titles from its in-house team, including Basketball roulette and Touchdown roulette. Standard roulette games are available, too, making DraftKings Casino an easy top choice for roulette players.

BetRivers online casino earns the third slot on our list thanks to its 17 roulette games and commitment to the casual or new player. Seasoned gamblers have a place here, too, of course, but BetRivers is particularly friendly if youre new to the Michigan online gambling scene.

Golden Nugget online casino advertises four 24-hour live dealer roulette games. Play at any hour of the day in Golden Nuggets real money online roulette live dealer lobbies. There are 14 total roulette games offered at Golden Nugget.

Stars Casino has 14 roulette games: Including fun themes and variants such as Mega Fire Blaze Roulette Live, PokerStars Roulette (an exclusive), and High Roller Roulette.

Sports Illustrated online casino has 13 roulette games. Its live dealer roulette games have low minimums and high maximums, so theres something for every player.

FanDuel online casino only has nine online roulette games you can play for real money. However, its an easy choice if you want a great user experience. Everything about FanDuel is fast and polished.

FanDuel gives you as a new user the chance to deposit $10 to get 50 free bonus spins and up to $1000 back on your first deposit.

Caesars Palace Online Casino has a 13-game roulette library that pales in comparison to some of its bigger competitors, but it makes up for it with a solid user experience and Caesars Rewards integration.

Roulette comes in many forms. Below are some of the more common variants youll find at online casinos in Michigan and other legal states.

American roulette is the most common form of the game at online casinos and on real casino floors. Its sometimes called Double-zero roulette because it has two green spaces: one with a single zero and another with two zeroes.

American Roulette typically has a return to player percentage (the theoretical amount of return you get as a player) of ~95%.

In European roulette, the numbers are in a different order on the wheel and there is only one green space instead of two. This slightly increases your odds of winning any bet on a specific number.

European roulette has a higher RTP than its American counterpart at around 97%.

French Roulette is usually played on a European Roulette wheel with a few additional rules. One includes the in jail rule, in which a zero doesnt lose you your bet. Instead, it keeps your bet on the table (in jail) and the next spin settles your wager (if its another zero, you lose). Sometimes the prison rule is switched with La Portage, in which a zero loses half your bet.

With jail or La Portage in play, French Roulettes RTOP is as high as 98.65%.

Live dealer roulette is offered at most online casinos. A real dealer (or sometimes an automatic wheel) sends the real ball spinning, and its live-streamed to your computer or phone. You can place bets using your device. Minimums and mechanics vary in live dealer roulette.

RTP on live dealer roulette varies by game type.

For a great overall experience, try our two top sites: BetMGM and DraftKings. Both have a strong variety of live dealer roulette games.

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Once youre ready to join an online casino and play real money online roulette, heres how to get started.

You might want to consider signing up for multiple online casinos: Theres no rule against it; in fact, its to your advantage as a player. You can claim each sites welcome offer and enjoy a wider variety of games.

BetMGM has the best selection of online roulette games. There are 22 different roulette titles available at the online casino. DraftKings Casino comes in a close second with 19 roulette games you can play online.

Yes. In Michigan, online casinos with roulette are completely legal, as long as the provider is properly approved and licensed. This means you can absolutely win real money playing roulette online. Remember to bet responsibly and set personal limits.

Yes. Roulette is a fair game. Remember that the house (the online casino) always has an advantage. Still, the spin of a roulette wheel is fair and balanced. Roulette has one of the lowest house edges of any online casino game.

BetMGM is our top recommended online casino site for playing roulette. It has the highest number of roulette games, and its welcome bonus gets you up to $1,025. That said, we recommend signing up for more than one site to take full advantage of bonus offers and each online casinos game library.

It varies. Sports Illustrated online casino, for example, allows for bets as low as $0.10. Some sites even offer penny roulette. Check with your preferred online casino for the minimums.

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Best Real Money Online Roulette Sites in 2023 in Michigan - MLive.com

An Israeli mom who spent 52 days held hostage by Hamas terrorists with her twin toddlers recounted the horrors of captivity Monday calling each day another round of "Russian roulette."

Sharon Alony-Cunio, 34, also said she and her 3-year-old daughters, Julie and Emma, remain "torn" because her husband, David Cunio, is still a prisoner of Hamas.

"It's a Russian roulette," she told Reuters in an exclusive first interview. "You don't know whether tomorrow morning they'll keep you alive or kill you, just because they want to or just because their backs are against the wall."

Alony-Cunio said one of her daughters was separated from the rest of the family when they were abducted from the Nir Oz kibbutz near Gaza during the surprise Oct. 7 attacks that sparked the latest Israel-Hamas war.

Alony-Cunio said gunmen set fire to her house, then grabbed her as she climbed out a window to escape the blaze.

After 10 days the family was reunited and held with 12 other hostages, with the group sometimes forced to share rations that were just enough for just six.

"Everyone gave up food for them," she said of her daughters. "You don't know if in the evening there will be a pita [bread] so in the morning you save some for the evening. Everything is very calculated, a quarter of a pita, half a pita to keep for the next morning."

The girls also had a hard time waiting to be allowed to go to the toilet and had to use a sink or trash can instead, she said.

"Sometimes when there was a power cut, they let us open the door, they drew the curtain and then we would whisper," she said. "How do you keep a child together for 12 hours with whispers only?"

Evert day, Alony-Cunio said, was marked by "crying, frustration and anxiety."

"How long are we going to be here? Have they forgotten about us? Have they given up on us?" she said.

Alony-Cunio said the group was held above ground and moved several times but declined to provide more details.

More than 100 of about 240 hostages were freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners during a recent cease-fire but 137 are believed to still be held captive.

David Cunio was separated from his wife and kids three days before they were released on Nov. 27, Alony-Cunio said, adding that she's "petrified I will get bad news that he is no longer alive."

"My children are torn," Alony-Cunio said. "I am torn without my second half, the love of my life, the father of my daughters who ask me every day, 'Where is daddy?'"

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Toddler Twins Endured 'Russian Roulette' as Hamas Hostages, Barely Fed or Let Use Bathroom: Mom - The Messenger