Category Archives: Roulette

The Government has been accused of playing "Russian roulette" with the safety of DVLA employees as the infectious Omicron variant of coronavirus rages around Swansea, after claims that it has limited the number of people who can work from home.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the DVLA has had 1,700 staff who have tested positive for the virus, and has taken measures to ensure 2,500 of its 6,000 staff have been able to work from home.

But Swansea MP Geraint Davies and workers' trade union PCS feel that is not enough, and say they feel there should be more investment in home working to ensure the safety of more staff. There is currently 45 or fewer staff members who have the virus at present.

READ MORE:Coronavirus infection rates, cases and deaths for all parts of Wales

At the beginning of the first lockdown, the DVLA ran with 250 people on site, and the rest from home, Mr Davies said, adding that he felt a report on working from home produced by Deloitte had been "suppressed" by the Department for Transport and that level of home working precaution was therefore less than anywhere else in the civil service, such as the Department for Work and Pensions or the HMRC.

He said: "Obviously we all accept some work has got to be done at the office, but the issue is, the more people, the less social distancing, amidst a continuous eruption of Covid, even though they are claiming Omicron is not as serious to your health.

"Even though management agreed a system with the union PCS of more home working at the end of last year, after infection rates were again surging, the Government again has intervened and this is the second time the secretary of state for transport Grant Shapps has intervened to stop civil servants from the department introducing common sense precautions to keep people safe and to give them confidence and give them peace of mind to boost productivity.

"It is playing Russian roulette with the latest variant. We're now in the situation where the amount of people who have had coronavirus at the DVLA (over the course of the pandemic) is at 1,700.

"Thankfully, because of vaccination, we are not seeing death of the scale we saw before, but I think the attitude of the Government and in particular Grant Shapps, with the endorsement of Boris Johnson, who I've raised it with twice now, is placing fast and loose recklessly with people's safety.

"I guess they take the view that, oh it's alright, in all probability if they do get Omicron, they'll survive and go back to work, but the truth is, some people are more vulnerable than others and some people are in contact with family members who are more vulnerable than others.

"It's wrong from a management point of view, a business point of view, and from a human point of view, to be taking risks with the workforce."

National officer for PCS, Andrew Lloyd said it had been a "long running situation" with the DVLA, adding in the last month, there has been 291 new cases.

"We have been in a long running trade dispute about the way that the DVLA management has handled Covid in the workplace," he said.

"We think that they have never done enough to protect employees and more than that, they have mismanaged the situation. In comparison to the rest of the civil service, they have been the outlier in their approach on how to deal with Covid.

"The DWP and HMRC, the two bigger civil service departments, have had people working from home since the start of the pandemic and that has meant that they have been able to pay benefits and furlough payments for people working from home. The DVLA has never been prepared to do that.

"When there was an enforced lockdown at the start, they had most of their staff at home but doing no work, because they had not invested in technology. When they began opening things up they rushed people back into the offices and hence that's why it started a Covid crisis in the offices in Swansea, and that resulted in us taking industrial action to persuade them to do more. That resulted in a bit more, but never enough in our opinion."

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Mr Lloyd said that a recent measure brought in has seen staff getting a day off every week on top of their normal holidays, so that there are less people on site than normal.

"That's clearly better, but it does not go far enough in our opinion. It's an improvement but falls short on where they need to be," he said.

"There has got to be more investment to allow hybrid working. They have never been prepared to invest in that so they have been uniquely different to the rest of the civil service and they are still failing to keep pace with other private sector organisations. Our main concern of all is it puts our members at risk.

"It's the highest number of Covid cases at any one workplace in the UK. Our members go into work and the anxiety levels are just enormous. We have people ringing me and ringing our offices over their anxiety about being forced to go into work. People are still anxious because you just do not know how you are going to be hit with the illness.

"It's (coronavirus) going to be with us for a while yet. It just makes sense for people to be able to work from home. Part of the DVLA's reasoning is that they have sensitive data which can only be accessed from the site. But when you compare the sort of data that the DVLA and the HMRC hold, that's on a different level yet they are allowed to work from home.

"It's the lack of investment that has put the DVLA in this position."

The claims were put to The Department for Transport, which was contacted for comment, but it referred WalesOnline to the DVLA.

DVLA has spent over 5.7m to help keep staff safe on site, introducing safety measures including leasing two new building, fitting perspex screens, temperature check stations, increased and enhanced cleaning throughout the day, and regular on-site testing.

A spokeswoman for the DVLA said: "The number of positive cases at DVLA mirrors infection rates in the local community. There are currently fewer than 45 members of staff who would normally work on site that are self-isolating due to testing positive.

The safety of our staff is paramount and colleagues whose work does not require them to be on site will continue to work from home, as they have done throughout the pandemic.

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DVLA Covid row as Government is accused of playing 'Russian roulette' with staff - Wales Online

Casinos and gambling have been a part of film since the very beginning. From blackjack to roulette, it seems like no casino game is off-limits for Hollywood to make into a blockbuster movie. While some films tell fictional tales about casinos and gamblers, others are based on real-life events or people involved in the industry.

There are so many good Visa Casinos also known as Visa Kasinot films out there, but here are some of the best!

This reboot of the James Bond franchise is one of the best in the series. Not only does it have an all-star cast, but it also has some great casino scenes. The movie follows Bond as he takes on Le Chiffre at a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro. If youre a fan of 00seven, you wont want to miss this one.

This movie is based on the real-life story of Jim Bennett, a high roller and compulsive gambler. The film stars James Caan as Bennett and tells the tale of his struggles with addiction and how it affects his relationships with the people around him.

This all-star remake of the Rat Pack classic is a must-watch for any casino fan. The movie follows Danny Ocean and his team attempting to rob three Las Vegas casinos in one night. With an all-star cast that includes George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon, its no wonder this movie was a hit.

This documentary is one of the most interesting films on this list. It tells the story of Herbert Yardley, who was once Americas top code breaker. After leaving the army, Yardley decided to start a career as a professional blackjack player and write a book about the game. This movie is informative and entertaining, making it a great watch for any casino lover out there!

This Martin Scorsese classic is a must-watch for any casino fan. The movie tells the story of Sam Ace Rothstein, a mobster who is sent to Las Vegas to oversee the operations of a casino. It quickly becomes clear that Ace is in over his head, and things start to go downhill from there. While this movie is great, its not for the faint of heart!

This thriller follows Ben Campbell as he gets accepted into Harvard Medical School but cant afford to go due to financial troubles. To make some money, he starts going to a special class that teaches him how to count cards in blackjack. After meeting the charismatic Professor Mickey Rosa (played by Kevin Spacey), Ben becomes one of his best students and starts to make even more money than he ever dreamed possible.

While this movie is fictional, its still a great watch for any fan of casino films!

This movie follows three salesmen who are sent to a convention in Hawaii. While there, they meet up with two of their old friends and decide to go out drinking. Things quickly spiral out of control, and the four men find themselves in the middle of the Hawaiian casino war.

This movie is a great choice for anyone looking for a light-hearted comedy with lots of casino action.

This drama is based on the true story of Washington, DC, power player, and lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The movie follows his rise to fame and his eventual fall when hes convicted for tax evasion, bribery, and conspiracy. Kevin Spacey stars in this one alongside Jon Lovitz and Barry Pepper.

This movie is set in 1930s Chicago and follows two con artists who team up to take down a mob boss. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won seven, including Best Picture.

This movie stars Matt Damon as a law student who moonlights as a poker player to make money. When his friend, Edward Norton, gets into trouble with the mob, Matt has to use all of his skills to get him out of it.

This movie tells the story of Raymond Babbitt, an autistic savant who can count cards and win at blackjack. When his father dies, Raymond is left with a large inheritance to spend in Las Vegas.

This comedy follows four friends traveling to Las Vegas for a bachelor party. After a night of drinking and gambling, they wake up the next morning with no memory of what happened the night before. This movie is sure to make you laugh!

These are just a few of the best casino movies out there! Whether youre a fan of gambling or not, these films are sure to entertain. So put on your smoking jacket, grab some popcorn, and get ready for some serious movie magic.

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From Blackjack To Roulette: The Best Casino Films All-Time - Film Threat

With the rapid rise in the growth of online casinos, many people have now developed a love and interest in playing casino games. Although most of them must have had experience playing in brick-and-mortar casinos, some may have little or no experience at all about how casino games work. As a result, they go through the rigorous activities of choosing an appropriate website, especially when they have to compare online casinos to find out which one has the best offer and then learn how to play the various games available. Figuring all of these out may be challenging, especially if you dont know which games are relatively easier to play.

Baccarat is a straightforward game to play despite having a complicated design. Unlike other casino games with various options, baccarat only has three significant options. The banker is the first and most commonly played option because it wins more often than others. However, the casino deducts a 5% commission fee when you stake on the banker hand.

The Player hand is the next best option, as it doesnt require any commission fee and has a better probability than the third option, The Tie. Despite being the option that pays the most when it wins, the tie is avoided mainly by players because it rarely occurs. That leaves you with only two primary options to choose from when playing baccarat, which explains why it is so easy to play, even for newbies.

reduces the winning probability to 97.3%, which is still not a bad idea at all.

It is essential to know that there are different types of roulette. American roulette is the least favourite one because it has two green zeroes, which indicates that the winning probability becomes lower and the house advantage becomes higher. European roulette and French roulette are essentially the same, as they both have one green zero.

The only difference between the two is that French roulette allows you to play pre-placed bets, and you can choose to include a unique rule that will enable you to reduce the house advantage.

You may also want to learn about how bonus rounds are triggered and the rules that apply during the bonus rounds. Doing this will put you thoroughly ahead of any unforeseen circumstances that may be detrimental to your winning chances. However, without knowing all these, you can still play slots and make a lot of profit.

The aim of the game is simply for both players to strive to get a score of exactly 21 or anything close enough. Most importantly, players must ensure that they do not surpass the 21 mark. Learning this rule and some other basic rules are all you need before you can start enjoying playing blackjacks. However, to increase your chances of winning, you will need to devise a good strategy.

Furthermore, you can opt for the autoplay option which implies that numbers will be selected randomly on your behalf. This process makes it easier for you to sit back and enjoy the game of Keno without stressing.

Infuriatingly humble organizer. Entrepreneur. Zombie guru. Professional creator. Future teen idol.

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Top 5 easiest games to win at a casino - Tech Gaming Report

Most countries have a soft spot for gambling. That is a well-established fact. Roulette sites for 2022 in Australia introduced some of the most intriguing aspects of the gambling industry, becoming a popular pastime for many people in the country.

Pokies dominated with their zappy and rewarding gameplay experience that made it a great bit of fun to be around them. Beyond Australia, people in other jurisdictions were also embracing gambling. In 2006, the United Kingdom introduced its Gambling Act which allowed many great UK roulette sites to shop in the country.

Today the digital entertainment known as iGaming is omnipresent, well-regulated, and has the consumers best interest in mind. For these reasons and more, its understandable that gambling has become a favorite pastime for many people around the globe, in Australia, the United Kingdom, and most recently, the United States.

Gambling is a fun and often a relaxing way to spend time, it seems. While you have to pay money to participate in it, there are numerous reasons why people enjoy the thrill of the chase. While most realize that hitting the jackpot is somewhat far-fetched, and the overall returns will probably be somewhere around 97% of the amount you bet, the chance of hitting a sudden win is exhilarating.

Gambling is also accessible in the sense that you can bet as little as 0.10 units on a spin. While the numbers can stack up high, you can still moderate your total spend and enjoy the games in free mode. All developers these days create story-rich titles that are intriguing in their own right. You can just as easily hop in a game and never spend a dime and still chase big wins.

Besides, numerous bonuses will allow you to enjoy yourself a great deal, from free spins for your favorite online slots to great overall bonuses to boost your gameplay.

Another reason why people enjoy gambling is that many of the titles out there are over 200 or even 300 hundred years old. That is right. Games such as roulette date back to the 18th century, if not earlier, and they are still an amazing part of the landscape, making for a great bit of fun.

Actually, the roulette game is probably at a historical high, and why most people would still play slots, this doesnt mean that they dont appreciate the game of roulette. Just the opposite is true.

Roulette is a lot of fun, and it has very cool gameplay where you can even theorize how a spin would turn out. Actually, you are not trying to guess the correct outcome but minimize the house edge that the 0 or the 00 gives the house. This is achievable through clever strategies such as Martingale and Fibonacci.

Now, these two stratagems are great for games such as roulette, where you have a near-50% chance to hit a winning outcome. Whether you do is another matter altogether, but there is no reason for you to be skeptical or worry too much about not.

The strategies have it in themselves to make the gameplay somewhat balanced and fun. Roulette is a game that takes a lot of luck, so dont beat yourself if you lose some part of your budget.

However, if you stick to a good strategy, you may just get what you need to carry on and have a lot of fun. Do people love to gamble? They sure do, and they gamble not just because they want to win. They enjoy the thrill of the chase, and they often cite it as the main reason they come back to slots and roulette hoping to hit that big win.

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Gambling Is a Popular Pastime Find Out Why Here! - TimesOfCasino

The casino and sportsbook B2B platform supplier Soft2Bet has been approved by the Danish gambling regulator and will receive a license, enabling it to supply operators in the local market.

The supplier license will permit Soft2Bet to power betting companies in Denmark with its rich suite of various slots games, poker, blackjack, bingo and roulette, among others. Furthermore, Soft2Bet will be allowed to provide local operators with its proprietary sports betting platform.

Soft2Bet spokespeople explained that entering the Danish market is the first step of many toward the providers goals of expanding across the world. The company envisions scaling its business up and launching its offerings in various key regulated markets.

The current move reinforces Soft2Bets presence in Northern Europe. The supplier already has a pre-existing license to offer its products in Sweden. Soft2Bet secured this license in 2019 and will likely continue to establish a strong foothold in the region.

Peter Christian Noer, the head of country team for Soft2Bet, spoke extensively about the Denmark launch and the companys vision for the future.

For Noer, the license acquisition is a monumental moment for the supplier. He pointed that this is a key point in Soft2Bets history since the Danish regulator is known as one of the strictest ones out there. In Noers words, the approval attests to the huge amounts of effort put in by the team and the companys devotion to meeting all the deadlines and requirements. Noer is thankful for everyones hard work and is delighted to have achieved this key milestone.

Since Soft2Bets offerings are already faring good in Sweden and have been doing well for the past two years, Noer is convinced that the company will be able to replicate the same success in the Danish market.

Speaking about what the company has planned next, Noer explained:

We now look forward to launching our innovative iGaming brands on the Danish market that have proven successful in other jurisdictions because of their state-of-the-art features, unique game supply, and strong player protection tools.

Noer concluded by once again thanking his team for its uncompromising dedication in achieving this great milestone. He said that everyone should be proud of what theyve achieved together. Noer also used the opportunity to thank the Danish regulator for its patience, positivity and willingness to help Soft2Bet out in its quest to get a suppliers license.

In mid-2021 Soft2Bet managed to acquire two Maltese gaming licenses for two of its subsidiary brands YoyoCasino and Campobet.

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Soft2Bet Receives a Suppliers License by the Danish Regulator - GamblingNews.com

The government is failing to monitor how many foreign lorries are entering and leaving the UK under revised cabotage rules introduced in October last year, Unite has discovered.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham

The union warned this week that failure to monitor foreign lorries under the revised rules, which were introduced to help tackle the UKs HGV driver shortage crisis, risks road users safety.

The government changed the cabotage rules at the end of October, allowing foreign HGV drivers to work unlimited hours in the UK and make unlimited deliveries in any 14-day period. During that time the drivers can sleep in their cabs and are then required to leave the UK.

However, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Unite has revealed that there is no monitoring by DfT of how many foreign companies and lorries have taken advantage of the policy, which countries they have come from and how many lorries have remained in the UK beyond the 14-day period.

The DfT told Unite that it does not monitor the results of the relaxed rules. It said: The specific information you requested is not held. There is no mechanism or register available from which cabotage data could be derived as it will be commercial data held by operators based outside the UK.

The FOI response from DfT also revealed that the only information it has on cabotage rates are still compiled by Eurostat, the European Unions statistical office, despite the UK having left the EU nearly two years ago, and that the most up to date figures were only recorded to 2019.

The only way the drivers can be monitored is through DVSAs random roadside spot checks. However, the number of on-the-spot inspections has declined by 39% since 2016/17.

Using government statistics Unite recently calculated that the average UK lorry can travel the equivalent of three-and-a-half times around the world before it is likely to be inspected in this way.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: This is sheer incompetence by the government, which is playing Russian roulette with British road users.

It introduced this knee-jerk reaction to the lorry driver crisis last year, now they tell us they dont know how many foreign lorry drivers have come, how many hours they work when they are here, and if they go home after the 14-day working period. Its literally an accident waiting to happen, based on the illegal super-exploitation of these drivers.

Unite is dedicated to protecting the jobs, pay and conditions of its members. If it receives any evidence that a failure to abide by the UKs employment laws, road safety rules or driving regulations is impacting on the jobs and conditions of our lorry deriver members, then we will take action to stop that.

Unite national officer for road haulage Adrian Jones added: Not only is the government clueless about how many foreign lorries are currently on UK roads, but the only on-the-spot inspections to ensure these vehicles are roadworthy and driving regulations are being observed are as rare as hens teeth.

Rather than allowing foreign lorries unlimited access to the UK to tackle driver shortages, the government should be tackling the root causes of the driver crisis, low pay, long hours and the lack of decent parking and welfare facilities for drivers.

A DfT spokesman said: The temporary, additional cabotage rules are one of 32 measures taken which are working to alleviate the effects of the global lorry driver shortage in the UK.

The department is monitoring the overall uptake of the additional cabotage rules and early indications are that they have been successful in assisting the resilience of supply chains, including providing key connections to ports.

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Government playing 'Russian roulette' with road user safety - FleetPoint

Installation Highlights Hann Casino Resort Clark, Philippines installation 15th December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic year 2020 - 2021 has been challenging domestically and internationally through travel restrictions and border closures. The gaming industry is not immune to massive lay-offs, casino closures, mergers, acquisitions and delayed openings. Not letting the global pandemic hinder its progress, Interblock has been working hard throughout the year with innovations and market developments to support the industry.

One of our highlights is the successful installation at the recently opened Hann Casino Resort in Clark, Philippines on December 15, 2021. Venue is a former Widus Hotel and Casino complex.

The ETG Stadium consists of 40 G5 Diamond Play Stations with Live Twin Table Baccarat and Live Roulette, with multigame, multi-denomination, multi-lingual support. An additional Diamond Megastar Roulette 8 was installed nearby, in total 48 seats.

Interblocks President for Asia Pacific, Michael Hu, commented: "We are thrilled for Interblocks products to be part of the vision to attract tourism to Clark area. We wish Hann Casino and Resort great success in years to come."

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INTERBLOCK INSTALLS 48-SEAT STADIUM AND MEGASTAR ROULETTE AT HANN CASINO RESORT IN THE PHILIPPINES - Gambling Insider - In-depth Analysis for the...

With the highly transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant spreading across just about every region in Australia, many have resigned themselves to getting the virus.

But experts are concerned that some people are going around, trying to catch it at a time suitable tothem to "get it over with".

Although early signs indicate Omicron symptoms are milder than in other COVID-19 variants, epidemiologists are urging Australians to not play "Russian roulette" with their lives, and to get extra protection through booster shots.

Here's how getting thebooster can make a difference.

University of South Australia's chair of bio-statistics and epidemiology, Adrian Esterman, is concerned people particularly younger Australians are becoming blasabout the potentially deadly virus.

"You hear stories of people having COVID parties to try and actually get infected. They're playing with their lives and the lives of their loved ones," Professor Estermansaid.

"Even though younger people are less likely to get sick and die some do.

"We get 30-year-olds, who are dying from COVID-19 without any other pre-existing illnesses.

"So, it's a bit like Russian roulette. It's up to them if they're willing to take that chance."

He said it was incorrect to assume that everyone would get COVID-19, and that people should avoid it at all costs becausethere was no way of pre-empting how one would reactto it.

"Up to a third of people who get infected, even mildly, end up with long-term health problems, which we call long COVID," he said.

"They can be things like pain, headache, brain fog, trouble breathing, nerve problems. In fact, COVID-19 can affect just about every organ of the body."

Professor Esterman saidthe only way to prevent the transmission to yourself and your loved ones was to get the booster.

From January 4, eligible Australianswho received their second vaccine shot at least four months ago, have been able to receive a booster dose.

While two shots can minimise your risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19, topping the two with a booster can significantly reduce the chances of catchingOmicron.

"Unless you get your booster, you get almost no protection against being infected with Omicron and we're seeing that now in the case numbers," Professor Esterman said.

Melbourne University epidemiologist Tony Blakely said that, although researchers were yet to obtain "precise" data, early signs showed boosting provided up to 70 per cent protection against infection with the Omicron variant.

"Boosting means, even if you are infected, you are less likely to pass it on reducing the total number of people likely to get infected by the epidemic's end," he said.

Professor Esterman said that, although we were"certainly nowhere near" the tail end of the pandemic, getting the booster wouldhelp speed it up.

"The more people we can get boosted ASAP, the more the wave of Omicron can be slowed down and the peak lessened which will both reduce the number of people that get sick, and make it easier for health services to manage," Professor Blakely said.

So far, 43.8 per cent or3,651, 855 of people aged 18 and over across the country had received their booster shot.

Below is the breakdown of boosters administeredby states, and the uptake.

States such asVictoria and South Australia have already mandated a third shot for people working in some sectors, such as health care.

"It is inevitable that the definition of fully vaccinated will soon become three doses. I support that," Professor Blakely said.

The Department of Health said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) currently consideredpeople who've had two shots of a vaccine as fully vaccinated.

"This definition may be updated over time, based on emerging evidence, as required," a department spokesperson said.

Professor Blakely said it was anyone's guess how frequently, going forward, we would needto get boosters, but a "plausible scenario" wasevery six to 12 months.

In addition to vaccinating the population, additional public health measures will beneeded to slow the spread of Omicron and seethe pandemic period transition to an endemic stage.

Meanwhile,New South Wales has banned singing and dancing in venues and Queensland has delayed the start of school year to help bring numbers down.

"They're almost certainly going to have to increase [public health measures] even more in the next two weeks, because hospital numbers are getting too high," Professor Esterman said.

"Right across Europe, for example, they are increasing public health measures. And what are we doing we're relaxing them.

"So, the answer is, we are not managing it well."

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Here's how getting a booster shot can protect you and help end the pandemic faster - ABC News

A Chicago-area mother wanted the killer of her 17-year-old son found, even if that meant she had to do it herself. Leslie Bell explained during a news conference Friday that she retraced her son Isaiah Davis steps to see who he was with. Nearly two months after the Oct. 28 murder, she came face-to-face with the man she believed was responsible. I knew that it was him who hurt my son, who actually killed my son, Bell said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. It was his interaction with me. He couldnt give me eye contact, so that was it for me. Police credited Bell with helping them nab Faheem Norwood, who was arrested on Dec. 31 on first-degree murder. Prosecutors say he shot Isaiah then tried to set the teens body on fire. Norwoods attorney claimed he accidentally shot Davis during a game of Russian roulette. The arrest of Faheem Norwood was possible because the community worked with us, Harvey Police Deputy Chief Cameron Biddings said.

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Mom Does Her Own Detective Work to Nab Teen Son's 'Russian Roulette' Killer - The Daily Beast

CHARLOTTE Zillow has released its predictions for the hottest housing markets this year and Charlotte ranks fifth. Experts expect prices to climb 21% through November, which is good for sellers but bad for buyers, including renters.

Many renters have been contacting Action 9, saying their leases are up and that their landlords are raising their rent hundreds of dollars per month.

[READ MORE: Charlotte ranks fifth in Zillows 10 hottest housing markets]

Charlene Phillip and her mother, Thora, have lived together in Concord since 2014. Their current lease ends in February. They told Action 9s Jason Stoogenke that they were paying a little more than $1,000 each month, but the new rate will be more than $1,350.

Charlene said shes very worried.

We didnt have holidays. I remember I cried all day Thanksgiving day because this is the first time Ive ever been in this position to this point where I dont know what to do, Charlene said.

You lose sleep at night, Thora added.

The Phillips told Stoogenke the pandemic cost Thora her job. Shortly after that happened, Charlene had to have emergency back surgery.

When I came out, I had no job. Im an independent contractor, Charlene said.

They were able to get unemployment benefits and rental assistance for a while, but both have ended or will end soon. Now, theyre living off Thoras Social Security and hoping Charlene will qualify for disability.

[READ MORE: Heres how much workers have to earn to afford rent in Charlotte area]

They told Stoogenke that they asked their apartment complex to reconsider the rent increase, but that it said no. Theyve considered moving but have run into one waitlist after another.

Its Russian roulette out there, Charlene said.

The women have renewed their lease, even though they dont know how theyre going to pay for rent.

According to Zillow, Charlottes rent has gone up 18.5% since this time last year with the average bill costing about $1,700 per month. Other markets have experienced an increase as well, including Raleigh, which has gone up 18.1% and Atlanta, which has gone up 22.7%.

A lot of people actually got relative bargains on rent if they signed a lease about a year ago, Zillow economist Jeff Tucker said. However, since then, supply has gone down while demand has gone up.

[ALSO READ: Charlotte area logs steep decline in housing affordability]

Vacancy rates are very, very low. There are a lot of folks out there trying to get an apartment. And a lot of people who may have been planning to move out of their apartment and buy their first home who got stymied last year because home prices rose just as fast as rent. So, put that all together and its a recipe for a lot of demand pressure on rentals, Tucker added.

Stoogenke found that the law isnt on the renters side. Landlords can raise the rent when a lease is up.

Many cities across the country limit what landlords can charge with rent control, but North Carolina law actually forbids cities and counties from doing that. The only option a renter may have is to pressure state lawmakers to change the law.

Unfortunately, that does not help renters now.

(WATCH: Action 9: Understanding the difference between low-income tax credits and income-based rent programs)

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Its Russian roulette out there: Tenants face sticker shock as rents rise - WSOC Charlotte