Litecoin and Cardano Exploring Velvet Fork Partnership Heres How the Crypto Collaboration Could Work – The Daily Hodl

Litecoin (LTC) and smart contract platform Cardano (ADA) are exploring a Velvet Fork partnership that will unlock new features in the 10th largest cryptocurrency such as cross-chain communications, smart contract capabilities, and improved scalability.

In July, Cardano creator Charles Hoskinson invited Litecoin Foundation managing director Charlie Lee to potentially collaborate on the testing of cross-chain communications between the two cryptocurrencies.

Since then, the two teams have been in communication, says Litecoin Foundation project director David Schwartz.

Given the opportunity to research and provide input into the feasibility, pros, and cons of such an endeavor, I have had a number of informative exchanges with Charles team on not just what a Velvet Fork is, but also how it affects the base code and what it would mean potentially for the continued growth and utility of Litecoin as not just a store of value, but also as a means of exchange and method of settlement within smart contracts.

According to Schwartz, a velvet fork is a protocol upgrade mechanism performed on a cryptocurrency code; it is neither a hard fork nor soft fork, notes Schwartz, because it doesnt require majority consensus. Miners will be able to continue to serve on the Litecoin network whether they choose to upgrade or not.

With the velvet fork upgrade, Schwartz explains how Litecoin can be used in smart contract platforms by using Non-Interactive Proofs of Work (NiPoPoWs).

It allows blockchains to interact like APIs, enabling a cryptocurrency like Litecoin to be used within a smart contract in a blockchain that has smart contract capabilities (Ethereum, Cardano, etc.). Basically the smart contract capable blockchain validates the NiPoPow used within the Litecoin sidechain that has had the velvet fork added to allow for this action to take place.

While the velvet fork partnership promises multiple benefits to Litecoin, Schwartz highlights that the partnership should make sense in terms of security and integrity of the coin.

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Litecoin and Cardano Exploring Velvet Fork Partnership Heres How the Crypto Collaboration Could Work - The Daily Hodl

Litecoin (LTC) Price Near $55.03; Breaks Above 20, 50, 100 and 200 Day Averages, Price Base in Formation Over Past 14 Days, Makes Big Move Relative to…

The Hourly View for LTC

Last Updated October 22, 2020, 01:036 GMT

At the moment, LTCs price is up $0.45 (0.82%) from the hour prior. Its been a feast for bulls operating on an hourly timeframe, as LTC has now gone up 4 of the past 5 hours. Regarding the trend, note that the strongest trend exists on the 50 hour timeframe. The moving averages on the hourly timeframe suggest a choppiness in price, as the 20, 50, 100 and 200 are all in a mixed alignment meaning the trend across timeframes is inconsistent, indicating a potential opportunity for rangebound traders.

The back and forth price flow continues for Litecoin, which started today off at 53.14 US dollars, up 13.23% ($6.21) from the day prior. As for how volume fared, yesterdays volume was up 377.89% from the previous day (Tuesday), and up 470.02% from Wednesday of the week before. Litecoin outperformed all 7 assets in the Top Cryptos asset class since the day prior. The daily price chart of Litecoin below illustrates.

First things first: Litecoin crossed above its 20, 50, 100 and 200 day moving averages yesterday. The clearest trend exists on the 90 day timeframe, which shows price moving down over that time. Traders will also want to note, though, that a counter trend meaning a trend going up can be seen on the 30 day timeframe. This may setup an interesting opportunity for traders looking to sell rallies in anticipation of the primary trend resuming. Also of note is that on a 14 day basis price appears to be forming a base which could the stage for it being a support/resistance level going forward. For another vantage point, consider that Litecoins price has gone up 18 of the previous 30 trading days.

For laughs, fights, or genuinely useful information, lets see what the most popular tweets pertaining to Litecoin for the past day were:

PayPalGrayscale Litecoin Trust#LTC debit cardLitebringer blockchain gameMWEB (Mimblewimble + Extension Blocks)AtariMore to comeAt the start of the year, I said #Litecoin was going to rip your face off in 2020.Whos laughing now?

@ROYALMRBADNEWS @MishelleO1974 @TJque1 @litecoin_bull @ccunningham821 @Michele17934584 @RealJamesWoods @realDonaldTrump @POTUS 3 That being saidfor some reason in the last 2-3 years he has changed. He has backtracked on many topics. He has argued agaisnt Trump many times. Something is wrong. He is not the same Alex Jones. Either he is controlled now or he is playing some role maybe even for POTUS.

I hardly ever swear, but PayPal just helped #Litecoin give all the doubters a big, fat f*uck you.May delete this tweet later (or pin it, not sure yet).

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Litecoin (LTC) Price Near $55.03; Breaks Above 20, 50, 100 and 200 Day Averages, Price Base in Formation Over Past 14 Days, Makes Big Move Relative to...

Litecoin (LTC) Closes Last Hour Up $0.20; Eyes 20 and 200 Day Averages, Breaks Below 50 Day Average, Moves Down For the 4th Day In A Row – CFDTrading

The Hourly View for LTC

Last Updated October 17, 2020, 01:037 GMT

At the moment, LTCs price is up $0.2 (0.42%) from the hour prior. This move is a reversal from the hour prior, which saw price move down. Regarding the trend, note that the strongest trend exists on the 20 hour timeframe. Regarding moving averages, it should first be noted that price has crossed the 20 hour moving average, resulting in them so that price is now turning above it. The moving averages on the hourly timeframe suggest a choppiness in price, as the 20, 50, 100 and 200 are all in a mixed alignment meaning the trend across timeframes is inconsistent, indicating a potential opportunity for rangebound traders.

Litecoin is down 3.88% ($1.92) since yesterday, marking the 4th day in a row a decrease has occurred. As for how volume fared, yesterdays volume was up 77.6% from the previous day (Thursday), and up 98.72% from Friday of the week before. Relative to other instruments in the Top Cryptos asset class, Litecoin ranked 6th since yesterday in terms of percentage price change. Below is a daily price chart of Litecoin.

First things first: Litecoin crossed below its 50 day moving average yesterday. The clearest trend exists on the 14 day timeframe, which shows price moving up over that time. Or to view things another way, note that out of the past 14 days Litecoins price has gone up 8 them.

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Litecoin (LTC) Closes Last Hour Up $0.20; Eyes 20 and 200 Day Averages, Breaks Below 50 Day Average, Moves Down For the 4th Day In A Row - CFDTrading

Crackdown on UK gambling ads expected to ban use of celebrities – The Guardian

The use of celebrities such as sports personalities and reality TV stars in betting and gambling ads is expected to be banned under new rules designed to crack down on marketing targeting under-18s.

The rules, which are being proposed by the body responsible for setting the UK code for advertising, would result in recent gambling ads featuring personalities such as Jos Mourinho, Michael Owen and Harry Redknapp being banned.

Under the current rules an advert is banned only if it likely to appeal more to an under-18 than to an adult. Under the new rules an ad will be banned if it appeals to children, regardless of how it may be viewed by adults.

The Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP), which has launched a public consultation on the new measures, said the new rules would have a significant effect on adverts that use prominent sportspeople and celebrities, including reality TV stars from shows such as Love Island and social media influencers.

For example, featuring the England football captain in a gambling ad would be prohibited under this new rule, said the CAP.

Ads featuring some celebrities not significantly resonant with younger audiences, such as Ray Winstone who has fronted numerous ads for Bet365, would not be affected by the new rules.

The CAP said it was tightening betting and gambling advertising restrictions as a result of recent research commissioned by GambleAware. It said the findings showed that the creative content of gambling adverts that currently abide by the UK code has more potential to affect under-18s than was previously thought.

Many campaigning groups would like to see a complete ban on gambling advertising. However, the CAP said the available evidence did not justify a total ban.

The CAP did not put forward a GambleAware recommendation to further restrict the range of media where gambling ads can appear. Gambling and betting ads are not currently allowed to appear in any media where more than a quarter of the audience is under 18 years old.

The CAP said it considered the 25% test to be appropriate.

Last summer, the gambling industry introduced a voluntary ban on betting adverts during sports programmes, a so-called whistle-to-whistle blackout, under mounting pressure to protect children from excessive exposure to gambling.

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Crackdown on UK gambling ads expected to ban use of celebrities - The Guardian

NEWS13 INVESTIGATES: 2nd former Florence Co. deputy named in gambling indictment was allegedly fired twice – WBTW

FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) A former deputy with the Florence County Sheriffs Office (FCSO), who was named in a new indictment related to an illegal gambling operation, had a history of conduct unbecoming of an officer and was fired by the department twice, according to new records obtained by News13.

Timothy Dane Keefe is among nine people named in the indictment that was filed Tuesday, as is fired FCSO Lt. & Special Response Team supervisor Mark Fuleihan. News13 has also learned that Fuleihan used to be Keefes immediate supervisor at the FCSO. Fuleihan even helped Keefe get a job with another law enforcement agency after Keefes firing, according to a typed letter from longtime Hemingway Police Chief H. Bryan Todd.

The latest indictment indicates that Keefe, Fuleihan and Dale Smith would communicate before and after various law enforcement operations. In February, weeks after Fuleihan allegedly called Keefe about upcoming gambling enforcement operations, Keefe allegedly removed & destroyed evidence before law enforcement arrived.

The indictment says a total of at least about $1,249,000 was obtained, directly or indirectly, by the nine named as a result of the allegations.

On Thursday, News13 obtained the training history report, certification documents, misconduct report forms, reports from FCSO members and personnel change in status reports surrounding former Deputy Keefe.

Keefe began working for the Florence County Sheriffs Office on Oct. 23, 2004.

On Aug. 24, 2009, alleged misconduct from Keefe was reported to the department. On a misconduct report form obtained by News13, Keefe was accused of Conduct unbecoming of an officer, public drunkenness, belligerence, rowdiness and fighting. Capt. D.L. Huggins with the FCSO wrote in a report that this was an off-duty altercation involving Deputy Keefe. The comments section on a separation supplement form indicated that Keefe had several incidents involving conduct unbecoming of an officer.

The following is a typed report sent from Sgt. Donnie McCain. Profane language has been redacted:

On August the 26th, 2009 I was contacted by Captain D.L. Huggins to come to his office. Capt. Huggins had Deputy Dane Keefe in his office. I was instructed by the Captain to ride with Deputy Keefe back to his residence and bring his patrol vehicle back to the office. On the way to the location, Deputy Keefe was very agitated and aggravated with the Captain. He immediately called his supervisor, Lt. Mark Fuleihan, and begins to cuss about Captain Huggins and the Sheriffs Office. He said f*** Donny Huggins; he wasnt going to take the three days off. He stated that if he could not go back to his team that he would quit and that he wasnt going to bring his s*** back and that we would have to come get it. He also stated that when he saw that fat f****** Brumbles he was going to beat his a**. All the way to the location he repeatedly kept saying f*** Donny Huggins and the Sheriffs Office and that he was tired of being treated unfairly. When we arrived at the location in Scranton and he got his stuff out of his vehicle, I got ready to leave and he said we would see him in booking because he was going to the hospital to beat somebodys a**. I told him not to do anything foolish. Lt. Fuleihan also heard what Deputy Keefe was saying. I came back to the office and immediately reported this information to Captain Huggins.

After this was reported to Capt. Huggins, Capt. Huggins met with then-Sheriff Kenney Boone. Then-Sheriff Boone and Capt. Huggins both felt that suspension was no longer an option, according to a report from Capt. Huggins, and that Deputy Keefe needed to either be fired or asked to resign from the department. He then called a meeting with Deputy Keefe, Keefes immediate supervisor Lt. Fuleihan and Lt. Clint Caldwell of the FCSO.

Lt. Caldwell typed up this report, which includes several mentions of Fuleihan. Profane language has been redacted:

On August 28, 2009, I, Lt. Caldwell, Capt. Huggins and Lt. Fuleihan were in Capt. Hugginss office and Deputy Dane Keefe was called to the office. Capt. Huggins began to explain to Deputy Keefe that his actions prior to this meeting were not becoming of the Sheriffs Office conduct and was not the way a Florence County Sheriffs Office deputy should behave in public. Deputy Keefe started to behave in an angry manner and began to get disorderly, stating to Capt. Huggins that he was not going to sign any f****** papers and he was not going to give him s*** and if he wanted his d*** gun and other items belonging to the Sheriffs Office he could come and get the s*** himself because he was not bringing him a d*** thing. He then stood up and reached towards Lt. Fuleihan and gave him his I.D. card. Capt. Huggins asked Deputy Keefe was he going to sign his disciplinary sheet. Deputy Keefe replied again that he was not signing a f****** thing because he didnt do anything wrong. Capt. Huggins asked Deputy Keefe to calm down. At that time, Deputy Keefe would not calm down and Capt. Huggins asked him again to calm down. Deputy Keefe would not, stating that he was f****** being treated wrong. Capt. Huggins then asked me to escort Deputy Keefe out of his office and off Sheriffs Office property. I then told Deputy Keefe that it was time to go and the meeting was over. Deputy Keefe turned to walk out the door and said, f*** it, Im going. As I, Lt. Caldwell was walking Deputy Keefe out the door, Deputy Keefe began to curse and stated that ****** f***** aint s***, that Huggins was a nasty f*****. I told Deputy Keefe to calm down and walked him to his vehicle where he gave me his Glock and a 45 caliber gun. Deputy Keefe stated he wanted to stay on property and wait for Lt. Fuleihan but I told him that he had to leave the property and I would tell Lt. Fuleihan that he wanted to see him. Deputy Keefe then got into his truck and left.

Deputy Keefe was fired from the FCSO on Aug. 28, 2009.

On Sept. 22, 2009, former director of the SC Criminal Justice Academy Hubert Harrell wrote a letter to then-Sheriff Boone. He indicated that the FCSO did not specifically indicate in previous reports what Deputy Keefe did that constituted misconduct. The letter asked Sheriff Boone to provide additional information and necessary documentation in order for the Academy to move forward in the process. There is no indication from the documents we obtained suggesting that then-Sheriff Boone sent additional documentation to the Academy about this.

News13 has not been able to get in contact with Boone. At last check, Boone was expected to undergo inpatient treatment after serving time in jail following a probation revocation from a domestic violence incident.

On Sept. 29, 2009, Keefe wrote a letter to the Academy. This was a rebuttal in response to the FCSO stating that he was terminated for misconduct. He indicates that he requested an investigation into the reason for his firing. Keefe said in the letter that Capt. Huggins had said in a previous meeting that Keefe was being demoted to patrol. Keefe said he asked for written statements or complaints related to this matter but says Capt. Huggins told him he couldnt provide that documentation at the time. Keefe indicated in his letter that he was not fired because of conduct unbecoming of an officer, but rather because of a personal conflict with him and Capt. Huggins.

On Oct. 19, 2009, Hemingway Police Chief H. Bryan Todd wrote a letter to the Academy, after Keefe applied for a position with the Hemingway Police Department. In it, he indicates that Lt. Fuleihan had very positive things to say about Keefes time with the FCSO.

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is in reference to Timothy Dane Keefe which has applied for a officer position with the Hemingway Police Department, and Per our telephone conversation of October 16, 2009 I have checked Keefes references which included contacting Lt. Mark Fuleihan of the Florence County Sheriffs Office.

Lt. Fuleihan stated Mr. Keefe was one of the most outstanding officers he ever had the pleasure of training. It is my understanding Mr. Keefe was not involved in any misconduct.

Im requesting that Mr. Keefes certification be reviewed by the Academy, and a decision made in reference to his employment with my agency. If you have any questions or concerns, please dont hesitate to contact me.

Upon obtaining that letter, News13 contacted Chief Todd on Thursday for his reaction to the news that both individuals mentioned in his letter have been named in a new indictment. Chief Todd said he was surprised to hear about the allegations.

According to Keefes training history report, Keefe began working for the Hemingway Police Department on Oct. 19, 2009, the same day his letter was sent to the SC Criminal Justice Academy.

On a document dated Oct. 20, 2009 and signed Oct. 21, 2009, the Academy provided training and/or certification documents to Chief Todd. The comments section indicated that the FCSO was requested to provide additional documentation about Keefes alleged misconduct but has refused to do so, according to the document. As a result, Academy Director Harrell rendered Keefe eligible for certification. This letter went on to say, Mr. Keefes separation from the Florence County Sheriffs Office will be amended to reflect that he was not terminated for misconduct.

Less than two months after his hiring at the Hemingway Police Department, Keefe resigned, on Dec. 10, 2009. For the first time, Chief Todd is explaining why.

Eleven years after Keefes departure from his department, Chief Todd said Thursday that its because Keefe did not want to participate in putting up Christmas lights prior to the holiday. Chief Todd says putting up the Christmas lights is a normal practice for his department, in a small town. Chief Todd said Thursday that Keefe didnt work out in his department based on the way the department operates.

According to a training history report, Keefe then worked with the Lake City Police Department from Dec. 29, 2009 to April 13, 2010. It is not clear what led to his exit from the department.

On April 24, 2010, Keefe was re-hired by the FCSO. On Thursday morning, News13 sent a Freedom Of Information Act request to longtime FCSO Major Mike Nunn, the spokesperson for the department, to ask why Keefe was re-hired. We are awaiting a response. If we get additional information, we will add to this article.

The illegal gambling operation indictment filed this week says, From on or about Jan. 2012, and continuously thereafter up to and including the date of this Indictment, the exact dates being unknown to the Grand Jury, Timothy Dane Keefe, Dale Smith, and others ran an illegal gambling business in the District of South Carolina as alleged in Count I. This would indicate that Keefe was allegedly involved in this activity while he and Fuleihan were part of the FCSO.

On April 5, 2013, Keefe was fired once again by the FCSO, this time for violation of agency policy, according to a personnel change in status report from the Academy. It is not clear what the violation was or if it was related to the illegal gambling operation. News13 also asked Major Nunn about this violation of agency policy and we are waiting to hear back. If we get additional information about this violation, we will add to this article.

News13 will continue to stay on top of developments in this criminal investigation involving former, local law enforcement officers and others.

In April, News13 obtained Fuleihans law enforcement training history report. You can take a look at that by clicking here.

Fuleihan is expected in court for a hearing on Nov. 4. Count on News13 for updates.

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NEWS13 INVESTIGATES: 2nd former Florence Co. deputy named in gambling indictment was allegedly fired twice - WBTW

Evolution, NetEnt living their best lives ahead of online gambling merger – CalvinAyre.com

Figures released Thursday by the Stockholm-listed Evolution (formerly Evolution Gaming, until a corporate rebrand dumped the Gaming earlier this month) show the company generated revenue of 140m in the three months ending September 30, up 48% from Q3 2019. Earnings rose 87% to 90.7m while profit doubled to 79.4m.

Evolution CEO Martin Carlesund hailed Q3 as a period of exceptionally high activity thanks to the pandemic suspension of major sports creating a boost in online casino activity across the globe. Evolution customers reported their players making 12.9b individual bets in Q3, up from just 5.8b in Q3 2019.

The pandemic did result in limits on Evolutions live casino studio operations but this also kept expenses down and the company is slowly coming back towards pre-COVID levels in number of tables. Since the quarter ended, Evolution has launched its first live tables in Pennsylvania and a new medium sized studio in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Carlesund said Evolutions new game show product Crazy Time, which launched July 1, has proven to be its most successful game launch to date. Evolution also launched an Instant Roulette product and Instant Craps is set to follow in the current quarter.

Evolutions geographic revenue split underwent some significant changes in Q3, as Europe (excluding UK and Nordic markets) shot up 41% year-on-year to 65.6m, while Asia more than doubled to 34.8m and North America rose 50% to 9.2m. The Asian surge pushed Evolutions share of revenue from regulated markets down 10 points to 32%.

Carlesund noted that Germanys transition to a strictly regulated online casino market will have a negative but limited effect on short-term operations, as German players currently account for 5-10% of total revenue. But Carlesund claims the long-term regulatory picture will prove a positive for the company.

Evolution has extended the deadline for shareholders to accept its proposed takeover of rival NetEnt from October 30 to November 20 to account for the expected November 16 decision by the UK competition watchdog as to whether the merger is anti-competitive.

NETENT HEARTS AMERICA

Speaking of the Stockholm-listed NetEnt, the companys interim Q3 report shows revenue up 17.6% from Q3 2019 to SEK521m (50.3m) while earnings gained 58% to SEK310m and after-tax earnings more than doubled to SEK167m.

It should be noted that these outsized gains were largely due to last Septembers acquisition of rival Red Tiger Gaming and its subsequent integration into NetEnts operations. Absent Red Tigers contributions, revenue would have risen a more modest 9% year-on-year.

NetEnt CEO Therese Hillman noted that her companys growing US presence pushed that markets revenue up 313%, accounting for 10% of overall Q3 revenue. In just the past few months, NetEnt has signed US-facing deals with BetMGM, DraftKings, Scientific Games, Tipico and William Hill US. Last week, NetEnt became the first independent game supplier to launch in West Virginias new online gambling market.

Mirroring Evolutions Crazy Time success, Q3 saw NetEnt celebrate what its calling by far the best performing new game ever launched in terms of revenue generation (Gonzos Quest Megaways). In December, NetEnt will roll out Roulette Max, a new high-volatility live casino product, which could bring the company some unwanted regulatory scrutiny in this uncertain pandemic environment.

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Evolution, NetEnt living their best lives ahead of online gambling merger - CalvinAyre.com

Former Florence County Lt. Fuleihan, others to appear in court on gambling business charges – WBTW

FLORENCE CO, SC (WBTW) Former Florence County Sheriffs Office Lt. Mark Fuleihan is set to appear in court in two weeks after being indicted on charges of running an illegal gambling business.

Eight other people also are listed on the federal indictment: Timothy Keefe, Dale Smith, Thyrone Eaddy, Cliff Contey, Kenneth Moore, George Dollard, Sheryl Kirby and Leroy Barbour. Their arraignment is scheduled for 3:20 p.m. at the McMillan Federal Building in Florence on Nov. 4.

The new indictment claims Fuleihan and the others together did conduct, finance, manage, supervise, direct, and own an illegal gambling business with video gaming machines since at least January 2012. The business had a gross revenue of about $2,000 on any single day, according to the claims.

Fuleihan also faces federal obstruction charges and an ethics bribery charge. The former Lieutenant was fired from the Florence County Sheriffs Office on April 2, the same day as his arrest.

According to the criminal complaint, Fuleihan had three illegal gambling machines in his garage in 2015 and also took an illegal gambling machine from the Florence County Sheriffs Office (FCSO) evidence building and delivered it to a co-conspirator, according to the criminal complaint.

The complaint states on several occasions, Fuleihan would seize illegal gambling machines from this source and give them to a co-conspirator.

The source said at one point, Fuleihan seized machines from him/her in Lake City, and then a couple of weeks later the source saw the same machines in a location in Johnsonville, being operated by the co-conspirator.

Fuleihan was given a $25,000 bond in his first court appearance in July.

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Former Florence County Lt. Fuleihan, others to appear in court on gambling business charges - WBTW

10 arrested in Randolph County investigation into illegal gambling – Asheboro Courier Tribune

Rachel Berry|The Courier-Tribune

Ten people were indicted by a grand jury on chargesconnectedtoa two-day investigation into illegal gambling in Randolph County.

On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, authorities conducted an investigation into illegal casinos in Randolph County. The investigation was a collaboration between N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement, theRandolph County Sheriffs Office, the Randleman Police Department, the Liberty Police Department and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.

"Special agents seized illegal gaming boards, illegal gaming machine hard drives, computers, documents, cash, methamphetamines, marijuana and numerous firearms throughout the operation," according to a press release.

In North Carolina, gambling machines that give out cash are illegal.

Unlike the States lottery system, these illegal gaming machines provide no customer protection or regulation," saidChris Poole,ALE Special Agent in Charge."In many cases, the amount of money patrons will win has already been determined, which gives them a false hope of winning large sums of money.

More: 6 Randolph County casinos raided for illegal activity

The Sheriff's Office said the locations raided were:

A grand jury indicted the following people in connection with the investigation, according to information provided by the Sheriff's Office:

David Wayne Hatcher, 54, of Greensboro, N.C.

Hatcher wasthe owner of Winner's Circle in Archdale, the press release said.

He is being charged with:

Hatcher was given a $3,000 secured bond. He's scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court onOct. 26.

David Anthony Powell, 52, of Randleman, N.C.

David Powell was the co-owner ofBig Black Dog Entertainment, LLC in Randleman, the press release said.

He is being charged with:

David Powell was given a$25,000 unsecured bond and is scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Oct. 26.

Denise Saunders Powell, 56, of Randleman, N.C.

Denise Powell was the co-owner ofBig Black Dog Entertainment, LLC in Randleman, the press release said.

She is being charged with:

Denise Powell was arrested in Randolph County and given a$25,000 unsecured bond. She is scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Oct. 26.

Luv Alkesh Amin, 22, of Asheboro, N.C.

Amin was the owner ofBonus Spins in Liberty, N.C, the press release said.

He is being charged with:

Amin was arrested in Durham County on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Heis scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Oct. 26.

Cynthia Dawn Duncan, 45, of Clarkton, N.C.

Duncan was an employee at64 Skillz in Asheboro, the press release said.

She is being charged with:

Duncan was arrested in Durham County on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Sheis scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Oct. 26.

Samantha Kelly Gouldman, 34, of Ramseur, N.C.

Gouldman was an employee at64 Skillz in Asheboro, the press release said.

She is being charged with:

Gouldman was arrested in Durham County on a $20,000 unsecured bond. Sheis scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Nov. 2.

Christa Nichole Taylor, 26, of Ramseur, N.C.

Taylor was an employee at64 Skillz in Asheboro, the press release said.

She is being charged with:

Taylor was arrested in Durham County on a $20,000 unsecured bond. Sheis scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Nov. 2.

Nicholas Joseph Cama, 31, of Asheboro, N.C.

Cama was an employee at311 Biz Center in Archdale, the press release said.

He is being charged with:

Cama was arrested in Randolph County on a $25,000 unsecured bond. He's scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Oct. 26.

Bernice Ingram Earnhardt, 53, of Lexington, N.C.

Bernice Earnhardt was the co-owner of the Franklinville Business Center in Ramseur, the press release said.

She is being charged with:

Bernice Earnhardt was arrested in Guilford County on a $100,000 unsecured bond. She's scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Nov. 2.

Jeffrey Dwayne Earnhardt, 56, of Lexington, N.C.

Jeffrey Earnhardt was the co-owner of the Franklinville Business Center in Ramseur, the press release said.

He is being charged with:

Jeffrey Earnhardt was arrested in Guilford County on a $100,000 unsecured bond. He's scheduled to appear in Randolph County Superior Court on Nov. 2.

The press release listed the following pre-trial release conditions that were imposed by the judge:

"1) Defendant shall not operate or keep illegal gaming machines, illegal gambling devices or violate any of Article 37, 1 and 2 of the North Carolina General Statues in the State of North Carolina.

"2) Defendant shall not allow or permit any employees or agents to operate or keep illegal gaming machines, illegal gambling devices or commit any violations of Article 37, parts 1 and 2 of the North Carolina General Statutes in the State of North Carolina. This includes not to/or allow or permit any employee or agent to make cash payouts or cash equivalent for credits won from play of a video gaming machine, or keep or operate a video gaming machine which allows the user more than eight credits to be played in a single play as defined in N.C.G.S. 14-306, anywhere in the State of North Carolina.

"3) Defendant shall not themself, or allow or permit any employee or agent to operate or keep gambling themed games such as video slot games, video keno games or video poker machines in violation of NCGS 14-306.1A, anywhere in the State of North Carolina.

"4) Defendant shall not themselves or allow or permit any employee or agent to conduct or promote a sweepstakes that is conducted through the use of an entertaining display, including the entry or reveal of a prize in violation of N.C.G.S. 14-306.4, anywhere in the State of North Carolina."

See the article here:

10 arrested in Randolph County investigation into illegal gambling - Asheboro Courier Tribune

Penn State University To Conduct Study On The Effects Of Online Gambling – CardPlayer.com

Researchers from Penn State University are looking into the effects on online gambling in the Keystone State.

Glenn Sterner, an assistant professor of criminal justice at the university, will team up with Penn States Social Science Research Institute and the Survey Research Center to conduct the study, according to Penn State News.

The study will be conducted as a telephone survey that will allow those involved to share their online gambling experience. Those that participate will likely be used again in future studies as it will look to compile data and publish an annual report.

The report is one of the first of its kind and is aimed at helping lawmakers shape the rules surrounding the market in the coming years. Sterners research will dig into the costs of problem gambling compared to the tax revenue the industry generates.

While working in conjunction with SSRI, we plan to pull on expertise and present results of reports and assessments to policymakers in Harrisburg, said Sterner to Penn State News. We have the ability to utilize the strengths across Penn State, integrating resources from an interdisciplinary perspective, to provide needed knowledge to DDAP [Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs] for ways to target prevention and intervention initiatives to address any issue we may find.

The study comes as online gambling is exploding and more states are legalizing online gambling and sports betting. And those states that have historically been against legalizing gambling activities, are starting

Last year, Alabama introduced a bill that would legalize sports betting in the state. There was also a push to bring brick-and-mortar gaming from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, but Gov. Kay Ivey said that she wouldnt consider signing anything until a study was conducted that showed the effects of gambling on the citizens.

Pennsylvania legalized online gambling, including sports betting and poker, in 2017. The online poker market didnt launch until two years later. Between the brick-and-mortar casinos and its booming online market, Pennsylvania has become one of the biggest gaming markets in the country.

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Penn State University To Conduct Study On The Effects Of Online Gambling - CardPlayer.com

Gambling: It’s your money, but here are some places to put it on Thursday’s NFL game – Colorado Springs Gazette

Every NFL Thursday, I will attempt, using the tools and stats from FTNBets.com, to slay the sportsbooks, scribbling my favorite side, total or prop picks for the weeks Thursday night game. Some will win. Many will lose. Fade or follow? That, of course, is up to you. Heres where Im stacking greenbacks on Giants/Eagles:

Side: NYG +4 (DraftKings -110) In a division Boston College would have a reasonable shot at winning, this storied rivalry doesnt have the same meaning it once possessed. Both teams are sapped by injuries. Both teams are largely dreadful. Both teams feature visible warts. Still, if there is a silver lining, its the Giants overachieving defense. Thought to be one of the flimsiest units in the league before the season, New York has played admirably whether defending the run (3.89 YPC allowed to RBs) or the pass (233.2 air yards/game; fewest in the NFL). Weighing the shortcomings Philadelphia is suffering from almost universally, the G-Men keep this one snug. Keep in mind 69% of early public spread tickets sided with the Eagles. Fading the majority is usually a sound strategy.

Prop 1: Devonta Freeman UNDER 77.5 total yards (William Hill -118) Undoubtedly mispriced, this is an aggressive line, even if Saquon Barkley miraculously trotted out on the field. Freeman, whos dominated the opportunity share the past two weeks, is New Yorks unrivaled bell-cow back. Still, his secondary profile (2.04 YAC/att; 12.1% missed tackle percentage) is equivalent to taking multiple shots of bottom-shelf Montezuma tequila upchuck-worthy. Fletcher Cox and Co. excel at shooting the gap and wrapping up running backs. This season, theyve surrendered just 3.21 yards per carry and 110.3 total yards per game to rushers. Darrell Henderson and Jerick McKinnon are the only RBs to cross the proposed threshold. Behind an offensive line dead last in adjusted line yards, Freeman wont be the third.

Prop 2: Travis Fulgham OVER 4.5 receptions (William Hill -118) A true diamond in the rough, Fulgham has emerged from the darkest recesses of the depth chart to seize the No. 1 gig. His story is one for a Disney production, a globetrotter whos exemplary of carpe diem. Over the past three weeks, he piled up 18 receptions (on 24 targets) for 284 yards and three TDs. Equally outstanding, hes notched a 13.1 average depth of target and ranks WR16 in yards per catch (17.4) and WR38 in contested catch rate on the year. Drawing the Giants on short rest, hes a strong candidate to haul in five-plus receptions for the third-straight week. His primary matchup, James Bradberry (69.9 passer rating allowed), has balled. Still, the underdog will continue to bark, loudly.

Last week: 2-1 ATS

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Gambling: It's your money, but here are some places to put it on Thursday's NFL game - Colorado Springs Gazette

A Look At The Type Of Margins Sports Gambling Investors Can Expect From The Business – Benzinga

One investing thesis that has performed very well in 2020 has been U.S. online and sports gambling. On Tuesday, Bank of America analyst Shaun Kelley took a close look at the type of margins sports gambling investors can expect from the business in the long-term.

The Numbers: At this point, early market movers are reporting large losses as they fight for initial market share on a state-by-state basis. However, Kelleybelieves these businesses will eventually be able to achieve 30% EBITDA margins at scale.

Between sports and iGaming, we expect iGaming will be the higher-margin business owing to lower platform, content and ongoing promotional costs but current gaps should narrow as marketing spend for sports betting rationalizes, Kelley wrote in a note.

Kelley said DraftKings Inc (NASDAQ: DKNG), FanDuel and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) have each already spent more than $100 million in 2020 on sports betting and iGaming marketing.

At the same time, Penn National Gaming, Inc (NASDAQ: PENN) and its Barstool app have achieved 15% market share in Pennsylvania with virtually zero external marketing spend, but Kelley said that's only one state in a very short period of time.

Finally, Kelley said Caesars Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ: CZR) could choose to take a more conservative, profit first approach to its marketing efforts.

Related Link: Fox Is An Under-The-Radar Play On US Sports Gambling

How To Play It: Bank of America has the following ratings and price targets for the sports betting and iGaming stocks mentioned:

Benzingas Take: Theres no question U.S. iGaming and sports betting will be a huge market as it expands throughout the country on a state-by-state basis. However, stocks like Penn and DraftKings have already priced in a significant amount of growth after gaining 159% and 300% year-to-date, respectively.

2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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A Look At The Type Of Margins Sports Gambling Investors Can Expect From The Business - Benzinga

Betting Apps Go Down In New Jersey, Beyond With Geolocation Issues – Play NJ

This is a breaking story. It will be updated as new information is available.

UPDATE: Around 11:30 p.m. ET, all online poker sites in New Jersey went back online. While Partypoker went ahead and canceled tournaments in the wake of the difficulties, WSOP.com and PokerStars events are playing out despite the disruption.

Online betting sites and apps across New Jersey and in other locations with online gambling went down on Thursday night due to issues with geolocation.

PlayNJ is still trying to determine the cause of the outage. A company called GeoComply works with nearly every regulated online gambling operator in the United States for geoloaction services. States require their gambling apps to be only accessible within state borders and rely on geolocation.

Any potential issue likely stems from the integration of GeoComply services with the apps and sites.

Poker players were one of the first people to take to Twitter noting the problem.

While glitches within an individual client are not unheard of in online poker, the issues across multiple platforms suggested something else, such as geolocation, might be causing the outages.

It initially seemed as though Nevada was unaffected, but multiple players in Nevada, including Jordan Cristos and Matt Affleck, reported location issues on WSOP.com as well. The issue is a coast-to-coast one with confirmed outages in New Jersey, Indiana, and Oregon.

The problem extended to sports betting as well, as noted as by one gambling in New Jersey:

Operators were quick to take to Twitter to address there was an issue, but did not offer much in the way of an explanation or a timeline until things would be back online:

After pausing tournament action, Partypoker elected to cancel tournaments disrupted by the outage. There is no word from PokerStars NJ and WSOP.com on social media regarding how these outages will affect tournaments in process. WSOP.com was in the middle of hosting its latest online Circuit series.

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Betting Apps Go Down In New Jersey, Beyond With Geolocation Issues - Play NJ

Nicolas Cage tells Marilyn Manson that he turned $200 into $20,000 gambling and gave it to charity – NME

Nicolas Cage has told Marilyn Manson in a new interview about the time he made $20,000 gambling before giving it to charity.

The actor opened up to the musician, who he has been friends with for years, in a new feature for Interview magazine in which the pair reflected on Cages life and career.

Manson asked Cage about his gambling habits, considering the actor currently lives in Las Vegas.

The last time I gambled was about 30 years ago, Cage replied. I was in the Bahamas, and I walked into a casino and felt like I had my mojo with me, like nothing could go wrong.

He went on to explain: My game was roulette. I went in with $200, and I didnt miss a number, so much so that even the lady spinning the wheel said, Nothing sweeter than a repeater.

In 20 minutes I turned $200 into $20,000, so I went and found an orphanage in the Bahamas, met all the kids and the headmistress, and said, This is for you. I put the 20 grand in her hand, walked away, and never gambled again, because if I did, it would ruin the power of that moment.

Earlier this year, Nicolas Cage reflected on his career to date in a Reel Talk interview with NME, acknowledging how nostalgia might play a big part in fans supporting his career.

There seems to be something happening on the Internet with people who have followed my career, Cage began. Some of the movies are returning in a way that I think is making them more interesting, which Im thankful for.

Its truly something that I see as good news. But Im not nostalgic about my early work and Im always trying to feel where I can go and how I can go forward.

Cage will next be starring inThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, playing a version of himself.

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Nicolas Cage tells Marilyn Manson that he turned $200 into $20,000 gambling and gave it to charity - NME

Dugher: Industry will change regardless of Gambling Act review – iGaming Business

Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) chief Michael Dugher says the standards body will not sit back and wait for a review before coordinating new social responsibility measures across the British gambling sector, in iGBs new Gambling Review Podcast.

The former Labour MP made a point of highlighting the efforts taken by the industry to introduce new safeguards to players, such as the BGCs ten-point player protection plan, announced as the UK went into lockdown in March.

He also cited the whistle-to-whistle adverting ban, which was introduced just as the BGC was being formed, which research by Enders Analysis claims has cut the number of gambling ads seen by minors by 97%.

Its important that the gambling industry takes action itself, he told anchor Daniel Bliss and co-host Robin Harrison. Were not going to just sit back and wait for a review.

Dugher added that this was part of the BGCs wider effort to be responsible for promoting high standards within the industry, rather than simply representing it.

The BGC is not merely a representative trade body. It absolutely will be a standards body. It will work round the clock to drive higher standards across this industry.

At a time when the sectors public image has taken a battering, he argued that rather than engaging only with its critics, the BGC had a duty to communicate with all stakeholders, including those in parliament.

Dugher suggested there was something of a silent majority in the Commons, who were less engaged in the debate over gambling reform. He said that although the industry has also co-operated with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling-Related Harm, other, less vocal, MPs could play a crucial role in legislative review too.

I think theres a difference between mainstream members of parliament who have genuine concerns about aspects of the industry and those, more of a minority, who frankly are the prohibitionists, who dont like online betting full stop, Dugher said.

I think its important that we engage with every MP. Most MPs dont have particularly strong views on this but they may, from time to time, have issues their constituents have raised or concerns they want to discuss with us. Its absolutely right and proper that the BGC engages with these MPs.

In Dughers view, the upcoming review is a necessary one and offers a great opportunity to help develop greater levels of protection to limit problem play, though stressed that it was equally important to cater to those less at risk of gambling harms.

Weve got to get the balance right between protecting the vulnerable and also protecting the millions who do enjoy the occasional bet and protecting those players safely, he explained. We do have to make this review have a really big focus on problem gambling. It may only be a tiny minority of people who are problem gamblers but any person is one person too many. Its a chance to tackle problem gambling and from the industrys point of view we want to see some big changes.

But we have to listen to everyone and that includes the customers who enjoy the occasional bet but are not problem gamblers. Theyre an important voice in our industry and they have their views on the industry that need to be heard.

This summer has sen input from a variety of other groups on potential targets of a Gambling Act review, many of which have included aspects that the BGC has voiced its opposition to.

However, despite noting he disagreed with its approach on stake limits, Dugher praised many aspects of the Social Market Foundations report on gambling reform, even if it leads to a regime with fewer licensees.

I thought it was a very thoughtful report, He talked about raising standards for licensees and thats very important. If that means fewer licensees then thats something were prepared to accept.

We should demand higher standards and if theres operators who cant meet those higher standards then they shouldnt be in the business. I think I speak for all BGC members when I say that.

The full podcast is available for download now. Remember, next weeks second episode sees Carolyn Harris MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Related Harm (APPG-GRH) join Bliss and Harrison.

The series will continue with a range of high-profile industry figures, with the first five guests including Lord Foster of Bath, John White of Bacta and Flutter Entertainment director Richard Flint.

Listen to the first episode now.

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Dugher: Industry will change regardless of Gambling Act review - iGaming Business

NFL Week 6 – Best Bets From the SI Gambling Team – Sports Illustrated

Over the course of this year's 2020 NFL season, the SI Gambling team, along with a few of our friends from the SI MMQB NFL team are putting our collective heads together to pick our top game of the week against the spread. We'll keep track over the course of the year for bragging rights as well as transparency. It was a stellar Week 5, as our crew had a second consecutive winning week at 9-4-0 ATS, and putting the team at 37-26-1 ATS overall!

Over at SI PRO, the "Vegas Whispers" NFL betting playsand information from SI Gambling insider Frankie Taddeo have gone 31-22-0 ATS as well as 7-0 on Thursday Night Football.

Before checking out the team's selections and "best bets," here are the latest Week 6 NFL lines at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Editor's Note - Odds are subject to change.

Please note: These are our FREE picks, not our PREMIUM picks which are reserved for MEMBERS only at SI Fantasy PRO. Members receive alert notifications immediately upon pick release.

For even more betting and daily fantasy content, become an SI PRO member today!

Ben Heisler (@bennyheis)

Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers (+3) | TOTAL: 52

For the third week in a row, the Sunday Night Football hammer happens to be my best bet for the slate.

Ill admit, its not easy to want to run to the ticket window to bet a team that got smoked by the Miami Dolphins at home a week ago, but I can also recognize a massive overreaction to a previous weeks game from a mile away. Weve seen the line initially open at 49ers -3 fall all the way down to 49ers +3 at DraftKings Sportsbook, and even 49ers +3.5 at a few other books.

Last week, Jimmy Garoppolo was nowhere close to healthy and having another full week to get back on track should help the 49ers offense re-stabilize. With all of their weapons back on offense, including RB Raheem Mostert, look for the 49ers to go back to their bread and butter in the running game, leading to play action and shots down the field with George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. The Rams rank 8th-worst in the NFL at stopping the run, so look for San Francisco to make a concerted effort to wear out Aaron Donald; giving Garoppolo better protection when they look to take some chances through the air.

I was able to grab 49ers at +3.5 at one point, but even with the line back to +3, I still think the live dog is in play.

BEST BET: San Francisco 49ers +3

Frankie Taddeo (@Frankie_Fantasy)

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-9) | TOTAL: 47

I will not be making the same mistake I made last week. I got away from the auto-fade of Adam Gase and suffered my first loss (4-1) ATS. It's time to right the ship and there's no better way than with a sure-to-be fired up Dolphins team coming off a 43-17 dismantling of the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5.

We know the Miami players will have the added motivation to humiliate their former head coach who was hated after his three seasons in South Beach. Add in Ryan Fitzpatrick revenge spot and we have the recipe for a blowout in Week 6 against a Jets team that now has zero game-changers on the offensive side of the ball following the sudden release of RB LeVeon Bell. Lay the wood and back up the truck. Easily the BEST bet on the board.

BEST BET: Miami Dolphins -9 (has since moved to -9.5)

Corey Parson (@TheFantasyExec)

Washington Football Team at New York Giants (-2.5 ) | TOTAL: 43

The once proud NFC East is now the worst division in professional sports. I feel sorry for the people who have to watch this game in their local market. If you like offense and points scored, this will not be the game for you, Washington has scored over 20 points once this season, and that was Week 1.

Meanwhile, the New York Giants are not much better when it comes to scoring points. They were able to score 34 points last week vs the Cowboys horrible defense, but outside of that the Giants highest point output this season was 16. I do not think either New York or Washington will get 20 points this week, so naturally, I will take the under

BEST BET: Washington & New York UNDER 43

Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano)

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-9) | TOTAL: 47

The Jets will be without their starting quarterback, and the team just released one of the two REAL offensive playmakers it had in LeVeon Bell. This team is now devoid of talent, and head coach Adam Gase cant possibly have the confidence of the players in the locker room.I interviewed Jets insider Manish Mehta on my SiriusXM show this week, and he agreed.

On the flip side, the Dolphins are feeling pretty good about themselves one week after whipping the Niners in San Francisco. Dont think the players in the Miami locker room won't remember the disaster that was Gase when he was the head man for the 'Fins. I think the Dolphins take this game with relative ease, so Ill lay the nine points.

BEST BET: Miami Dolphins -9 (has since moved to -9.5)

Dr. Roto (@DrRoto)

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) TOTAL: 51

I was this close to picking the Dolphins over the Adam Gase-led Jets, but instead, I will go to the AFC North for my best bet. The Steelers are 4-0 thus far and the crazy thing is that I think we havent seen them play at their best.

This week they take on their division rival, Cleveland, who comes in on a four game winning streak. The big problem is that the Browns are banged up all across their roster. QB Baker Mayfield could get pulled with one shot to the ribs, WR Odell Beckham, Jr. was sent home by the team on Thursday with an illness, and they have two other injuries to starters on their offensive line.

The bottom line is that the Browns are a running team and the Steelers are one of the top teams against the run in the NFL. When the Browns go out of their comfort zone and are forced to pass, they are in big trouble - especially on the road. Give the points.

BEST BET: Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5 (has since moved to Steelers -4)

Bill Enright (@BillEnright)

Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys (+1.5) | TOTAL: 55

The Cowboys are 0-5 against the spread and burned my pick last week resulting in my worst record to start the season ever. So why am I going back to the Dallas Dumpster Fire? Maybe Im masochist, or maybe, just maybe... Im not as worried about the Dallas offense with Andy Dalton under-center instead of Dak Prescott. Maybe Im more concerned about the Cardinals inability to get after the passer without Chandler Jones. Maybe I think the Cowboys will win outright but since they are getting the points Ill take 'em while I got 'em.

BEST BET: Dallas Cowboys +1.5(has since moved to Cowboys +1)

Roy Larking (@StatsGuru6)

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) | TOTAL: 51

Baker Mayfield and the Browns (4-1) are on the road following a 32-23 win at home against Indianapolis last week. Cleveland has won four straight after getting crushed 38-6 by the Ravens in Baltimore back in Week 1. Closer than the final score indicates, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers (4-0) defeated Philadelphia 38-29 at home last week. During a weird year, with lots of strange scenarios, Pittsburgh is playing a fourth straight home game. While Cleveland is performing at a higher level this year the Browns are 0-16 SU and 10-5-1 ATS in Pittsburgh dating back to the 2004 NFL season.

Cleveland rolls into the Steel City with injury concerns on both sides of the ball. Mayfield (chest) Odell Beckham Jr. (illness), Jarvis Landry (hip, ribs) and Pro Bowl guard Wyatt Teller (calf) are questionable. Injuries have also left the Browns thin in their secondary on defense. Pittsburgh is the healthiest team in the league as OG David DeCastro (abdomen) is their lone injury concern. The Steelers lackluster effort on defense last week is something they should be focused on during practice this week.

Lay the -3.5 points at the DraftKings Sportsbookand back Pittsburgh over AFC North rival Cleveland.

BEST BET: Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5(has since moved to Steelers -4)

Steve Renner (@Steve_Renner)

Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (-4) | TOTAL: 54.5

The total on this game opened at 56.5 and has already dropped down to 54.5. While I still like the UNDER here, the strong play for me remains on laying the points with the Vikings (-4). This is a classic matchup problem for Atlanta who is going to have a hard time on both sides of the ball at the line of scrimmage, and when you are in a negative spot in the trenches on both sides on the road, it spells disaster.

Both teams have underachieved but the Vikings have remained competitive and with similar rosters from a season ago, they dominated Atlanta 28-12 in Week 1. I expect a similar stout performance from the Vikings defense today and an easy victory for the Vikings sending Atlanta to another loss.

BEST BET: Minnesota Vikings -4

Ian Ritchie (@SIGambling)

Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys (+1.5) | TOTAL: 55

I know the Cowboys have been terrible against the spread so far but Mr. Ginger (Andy Dalton, in case you're wondering) is now running the show and getting some points. Nobody believes in Dalton as much as I do this week and I love getting the points in an emotional game for the Cowboys. Make no mistake, they are playing for Dak and will leave everything on the field and Mr. Ginger will be up to the task, do his part and look for Zeke to finally break the 100 yard barrier.

The wrong team is favored in this matchup. I look for the Cowboys to make a statement in this game that Andy Dalton can win and can get this team positioned to win the division and make a playoff run. Nick Foles part two? Time will tell.

BEST BET: Cowboys +1.5

Scott Atkins (@ScottFantasy)

Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (-4) | TOTAL: 54.5

No Dalvin Cook? No problem.

The Vikings may be 1-4 but they're not this bad. They had the Seahawks beaten and while they let it slip away, they're still fighting. The Falcons at 0-5, however they have serious issues on both sides of the ball and are repeatedly proving they are not ready to win a game any time soon. It all starts with their defense which ranks 31st in passing yards allowed and 30th in total points allowed, and their offense has struggled to put up 16 in each of the last two weeks.

The Vikings have won 12 straight at home ATS after a loss and I look for them to put it on the Falcons and win by double digits.

BEST BET: Minnesota Vikings -4

Casey Olson (@Y2CASEY)

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins -9 | Total: 47

This has to be it for Gase, right? His decision quality is just mysteries. He puts Darnold back in the game visibly hurt in week 4, resulting in losing his QB not only for week 5, but this week as well. Now three-time pro bowler Le'Veon Bell has been released? Not only are they 0-5 SU, but now also 0-5 ATS and losing by 20 at home against AZ last week. The Dolphins on the other side have some "Fitzmagic" going. Fitzpatrick now has three 300-yard games and is completing over 70% of his passes, and the Dolphins are high off last week's dominant 43-17 victory over the defending NFC champion 49ers. The Jets have averaged 31.25 points per game in their last four, while the Jets have averaged 14. This should be a rout.

BEST BET: Dolphins -9 (has since moved to -9.5)

Gary Gramling, The MMQB (@GGramling_SI)

Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers (+3) | TOTAL: 52

Im never crazy about division rivals giving points on the road, and I love me some Kyle Shanahan, but I dont think the lines have caught up to the fact that the 49ers pass rushand therefore defense as a wholeis nowhere near what it was a year ago due to the Nick Bosa and Dee Ford injuries (and the departure of DeForest Buckner). The return of Emmanuel Moseley steadies the secondary, but offensively the Rams have done whatever they wanted against opponents this year and theres little reason to think a team with a middling pass rush is going to knock Sean McVay off-track. (Also, keep in mind that after getting dominated in their first matchup last year, the Rams dropped 31 on a full-strength Niners defense in the rematch last December.) With the issues Jimmy Garoppolo is havingphysically and mentally and the lack of true home-field advantage in Santa Clara, I like a touchdown-plus win for L.A.

BEST BET: Rams -3

Mitch Goldich, The MMQB (@mitchgoldich)

Packers at Buccaneers +1 | TOTAL: 55

I like the Packers here, and Ive been surprised watching this number shrink throughout the week. I understand the optimism around the Bucs if and when Tom Brady finally gets both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans on the field and healthy together. But Aaron Rodgers also gets Davante Adams back, and even without him I think the Packers have clearly been the better team. Is that a little simplistic? Yes, but when the line is a single point Im just picking a winner here. The Packers are undefeated this season, both straight up and against the spread, and now coming off a bye week. Theyve already won in Minnesota (comfortably) and in New Orleans (by a touchdown), and I have no qualms about picking them to win on the road again. I have every reason to believe the Packers will keep it rolling.

BEST BET: Green Bay Packers -1

Ben Heisler

49ERS +3

3-2 (W)

Frankie Taddeo

DOLPHINS -9

4-1 (L)

Corey Parson

WSH/NYG U43

2-2 (W)

Michael Fabiano

DOLPHINS -9

3-2 (W)

Dr. Roto

STEELERS -3.5

4-1 (W)

Bill Enright

COWBOYS +1.5

1-4 (L)

Roy Larking

STEELERS -3.5

4-1 (W)

Steve Renner

VIKINGS -4

2-3 (L)

Ian Ritchie

COWBOYS +1.5

3-2 (W)

Scott Atkins

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NFL Week 6 - Best Bets From the SI Gambling Team - Sports Illustrated

Nicolas Cage Told Marilyn Manson That He Turned $200 Into $20,000 Gambling and Gave It to Charity – SPIN

You never know whats going to happen when pals get together for a chat. I mean, I guess that can be said about life, but its even more applicable when you get Nicolas Cage and Marilyn Manson.

In their chat forInterview, Cage told Manson about the last time he gambled, and well, let the iconicCon Airstarexplain.

The last time I gambled was about 30 years ago, Cage said. I was in the Bahamas, and I walked into a casino and felt like I had my mojo with me, like nothing could go wrong. My game was roulette. I went in with $200, and I didnt miss a number, so much so that even the lady spinning the wheel said, Nothing sweeter than a repeater. In 20 minutes I turned $200 into $20,000, so I went and found an orphanage in the Bahamas, met all the kids and the headmistress, and said, This is for you. I put the 20 grand in her hand, walked away, and never gambled again, because if I did, it would ruin the power of that moment.

Yes, you read correctly: Nicolas Cage, gambling genius and a humanitarian. Is it true? Who knows, but it definitely is wild enough to be.

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Nicolas Cage Told Marilyn Manson That He Turned $200 Into $20,000 Gambling and Gave It to Charity - SPIN

What Is Antifa? Separating Fact From Fiction | Here & Now

President Trump tweeted out a false claim this week that the elderly protester shoved by police in Buffalo, New York, was a member of the anti-fascist political movement antifa. He is not.

Last Sunday, the president once again said he would designate antifa as a terrorist organization. He made the same remarks last year after antifa followers rumbled with the far-right group, the Proud Boys.

Antifa has never been accused of killing anyone, unlike the white supremacist hate group Ku Klux Klan, which is not declared a terrorist organization.

Attorney General William Barr says antifa was responsible for the looting and violence that cities across the U.S. witnessed early on in protests against George Floyds murder and police brutality against Black Americans.

However, federal court records show out of the 51 people facing federal charges, no one is alleged to have ties to the antifa movement, according to an NPR review.

Over the years, activists on the left have debated whether to disavow antifas tactics.

Antifa, a loose organization of sorts, has its roots in Germany and the United Kingdom during the uprising fascist movements of the 1920s and 30s, NBC News investigative reporter Brandy Zadrozny says.

The modern movement came to the U.S. in the 70s and 80s, and they were known for fighting skinheads at punk rock concerts, she says.

Their ideology is based around a hate for fascism and a belief that people who are thought to be fascists are inherently violent, she says. Antifa believes violence is a useful tactic to combat violence from the alt-right.

The idea is that if more people had brawled in the streets with actual Nazis then Hitler and the Nazi party would have never risen to power, Zadrozny says. So antifa has popped up again now with the election of Donald Trump, the rise of the alt-right and the rise of far-right extremists and white nationalist groups that have sort of come up all at the same time.

Antifa has no leader and no clear organization. However, there are organized, localized groups who have followings on social media, such as the Rose City Antifa in Portland, Oregon.

Many became aware of antifa as a political movement in 2017 when they showed up at the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally that gathered Nazis and white supremacists. In the same year, they helped stop Milo Yiannopoulos, a far-right political commentator and Trump supporter, from speaking at the University of California, Berkeley by smashing windows and lighting fires on campus. Berkeley decided to cancel the event after the uproar.

Antifas goal is to deny fascists and far-right activist a platform, she says. Because of this, the right has long defined antifa as positioning themselves against free speech.

And it's not just violence in the streets, she says. It's also coordinated campaigns to shame out [and] harass those on the far right.

Theyve targeted far-right pundit Ann Coulter and conservative blogger Michelle Malkin, for example, and have doxxed people who are associated with alt-right groups. Theyve said their strategy is to dehood Klansmen, Zadrozny says.

Inciting street brawls, such as what Portland residents have experienced, is not part of their main activities, she says. However, thats how antifa has largely been positioned by their critics.

High-profile politicians have claimed that antifa is showing up in small towns and wreaking havoc during anti-racism demonstrations. Zadroznys reporting for NBC News has found those claims are part of a top-down disinformation campaign from the president and the president's allies down to local law enforcement and then through social media.

The result has been small groups of armed militias showing up to counterprotest Black Lives Matter demonstrations all over the country, she says, from Florida to Idaho and Oregon.

In Klamath Falls, Oregon, Zadrozny says hundreds of armed counterprotesters showed up ready to fight this invisible monster they heard about on social media. They believed antifa was coming to their town to murder people, murder white people and take their guns and destroy their town. Of course, antifa never came, she says.

Their presence did, however, intimidate a large group of diverse people who came together to peacefully protest police brutality in their small town, she says.

This doesnt mean that antifa hasnt shown up to protests against police brutality, she says. It would make sense they would be present because a large factor in antifa ideology is anti-racism, she explains.

There are concerns that at some point, some peaceful protesters might get accused of being antifa, like what happened to the elderly man in Buffalo. She says a vigilante mob mentality is taking over small towns.

For example, she says, a man armed with a chainsaw ran off protesters in McAllen, Texas. And in Forks, Washington, a multiracial family on a camping trip was harassed and trapped by locals who accused them of being with antifa.

It just seems like a powder keg, she says. And people that I've spoken to, activists from small towns to larger groups on Black Lives Matter side, they're very concerned for their safety.

Cassady Rosenblumproduced and edited this interview for broadcast with Tinku Ray. Serena McMahon adapted it for the web.

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What Is Antifa? Separating Fact From Fiction | Here & Now

Antifa ‘commander’ with flamethrower cried when he was …

An Antifa leader known as Commander Red was busted carrying a flamethrower to a Wisconsin Black Lives Matter rally and dropped into the fetal position and began crying when stopped by cops, officials said.

Matthew Banta, 23, is known to be a violent Antifa member who incites violence in otherwise relatively peaceful protests, a criminal complaint in his Green Bay arrest record insisted, according to WBAY.

He was carrying stickers and a flag for the controversial group the name of which is short for anti-fascist along with military-grade 5-minute smoke grenades, fireworks rockets, and a flamethrower, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Banta was stopped after being spotted with a whole bunch of white people with sticks, baseball bats and helmets heading toward a BLM event in Green Bay, police said in the criminal complaint.

The others fled when a cop blocked them with his squad car, but Banta was stopped and dropped into the fetal position and began crying, the police report said. He complained that the officer got on top of him, which police denied, WBAY said.

Its worrisome when people associated with Antifa come here to Green Bay from out of town for the purposes of committing violent acts, Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith told the station.

At the time of Saturdays arrest, Banta was out on a $10,000 cash bond after being accused of pointing a loaded gun at a police officer as well as biting and kicking a cop at a protest earlier this month, the report said.

A condition of his bond was that he cant have a dangerous weapon, according to the Brown County district attorneys office.

The 23-year-old from Neenah, about 40 miles south of Green Bay, was charged with obstructing an officer and two counts of felony bail jumping after Saturdays arrest, the report said. He was released late Monday on $2,500 bond, court records show.

He was one of 15 arrested at Saturdays Black Lives Matter protest that turned violent in the city and was deemed an unlawful assembly, police said.

Burning buildings, hurting people, shooting, looting, vandalizing theres absolutely no way that is a form of protest, Smith told Fox 11 of his zero-tolerance stance.

Thats criminal behavior, he insisted.

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Antifa 'commander' with flamethrower cried when he was ...

Most arrested in protests are not associated with antifa – Axios

Antifa may be a focus on the right, but it's hard to find in the court system.

Why it matters: Very few of the people charged in this summer's protests and riots appear to be affiliated with highly organized extremist groups, reports AP.

The big picture: More than $1 billion in damage was estimated after the uprisings following the death of George Floyd, as Axios' Jennifer A. Kingson reported last month.

Between the lines: Many of those charged are young people from the suburbs.

By the numbers: More than 40% of those facing federal charges are white, AP reports. At least a third are Black, and about 6% Hispanic.

The bottom line: FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress earlier this year that antifa is a "real thing," but it's hard to track because it's "not a group or an organization. Its a movement or an ideology."

The rest is here:

Most arrested in protests are not associated with antifa - Axios

Republican Plays the Antifa Card on Suburban Women of the Chathams – InsiderNJ

Even allowingfor over-the-top campaign rhetoric, it seems pretty hard to associate the suburbanwomen of the Chathams with Antifa.

Peter King is trying.

Chatham Moms for Change, a Modern Hate Group? is the provocative headline on a lengthy letter circulated this week by King, the vice-chair of the Morris County Republican Committee.

In short, Kings missive alleges thatthe Democratic-leaning Chatham Moms group is guilty of vile social media posts, relentlessly and falsely attacking its opponents and stealingand vandalizing campaign signs.

In a chat this afternoon, King said these tactics are designed to intimidate people.

My opinionis that theyre trying to suppress peoples free speech, King said. And that, he added, is how hate groups flourish.

Kings letter is filled with generalizations, but an individual he criticizes by name is Jocelyn Mathiasen, a councilwoman in Chatham Borough. (For the record, there are two Chathams a borough and a township;these are separate municipalities, but the demographics are similar and one school district serves both towns).

King says Mathiasen spends much time engaged in dueling posts with the constituents shes been elected to serve.

Reached by phone this morning, Mathiasen said of Kings letter, I mostly just try to ignore the whole thing, its silly.

Some things here are beyond dispute.

One is that the Chathams have changed politically big time. A Republican bastion a decade or so ago, Democrats are now a majority on the governing bodies of both towns.

More broadly speaking, it was suburban women who keyed much of the success Democrats had in the 2018 midtermelection,both across the nation and locally. In Morris County, they were strongbackers of two large marches in Morristown that year one for womens rights and the other for gun control.

Similar to others, the Chatham Moms group popped up around the time of Donald Trumps election. On its Facebook page, the group describes itself this way:

At itsinception, members of thecommunity felt marginalized and unheard and formed this group. Over the past four years, there have been tensof thousands of moments of supportive messaging, political activism, education and volunteerism. Members at times have vented frustrations with local and national challenges, but the mission and our actions remain the same; to provide a place of support to empower its members to have a voice and make positive change in our community.

King is not impressed by this romantic notion of civic involvement.

He points to posts that he says wish COVID-19 on political opponents, ridicule minorities who support Republicans and label Republicans in the Chathams as racists, homophobes, misogynists and white supremacists.

Of course, its necessaryto ask, Isnt this the normal course of events in anincredibly divisive election? After all, I have heard much GOP rhetoric that labels Democrats as socialists and communists who support mobs running amok in the street.

King argues that in the Chathams, the strident rhetoric has morphed into destructive action.

Turns out that Laura Ali, the chair of the Morris County Republican Committee, lives in Chatham Township. She recently reported to police that signs on her property backing police and the president were stolen.

Kings letter says the signs were defaced with such things as F Pigs, F the NRA. and dumped outside the township police station. The letter also said that the perpetrators screamed vulgar insults at officers. He said many Republicans now fear publicly stating their opinions.

The police confirmed most of this in a Facebook post, adding that the suspects are 3 white females, one of whom may have pink hair.

Pink hair?

She shouldnt be that hard to find. The Chathams have changed, but this is not yet the East Village.

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Republican Plays the Antifa Card on Suburban Women of the Chathams - InsiderNJ