A stalled gambling package in the Senate could be dead unless a member flips their vote or theres some real fancy jumping through hoops, Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, said Monday.

Albritton, who handled the package in the Senate but ultimately ended up voting against it, said that unless the Senate can get unanimous consent to suspend the rules for a new conference report, the upper chamber is stuck procedurally.

I dont think [unanimous consent] would happen. Were stuck. We either have to vote the [constitutional amendment] up or down or just leave it in the basket, Albritton said.

But he said the bill could still come up for a vote in the last days of the session, and any one of the nay votes could change.

That sounds easy enough, but the other problem that comes in is how many of the yes votes have already turned back to no. Every time we bring this up, we lose votes, Albritton said.

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And Albritton said his no vote wont change this year. He said he might change it next year if he gets a more palatable bill that [he] can vote for.

Albritton said the compromise would constrict the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI) involvement in the industry while allowing other entities to grow. The Poarch Band, a federally recognized tribe that operates casinos in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka, had sought to submit a final bid on any casino licenses issued.

In the compromise, Albritton said, there is no mechanism for PCI, based in Atmore in the senators district, to enter into a compact with the state because the state isnt offering something of value, such as another site off tribal land.

He said that while PCIs opposition was part of the reason for his nay vote, he voted in support of the bill before going to the conference committee, when he said PCI had been lobbying against it.

Gambling bills stalled in Senate as Alabama Legislature nears adjournment

Two other aspects of the bill kept him from voting for the compromise from the conference committee. There was no authorization for sports betting, which he said is a growing industry; there was no regulation for online gaming, whether it be slots, poker or roulette.

We have not done anything to control, restrict, oversee or tax that. Those are two growing portions of the industry that we just ignore with this bill, he said.

Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, one of the lawmakers assigned to the conference committee, said in a phone interview Monday that the Senate thought expanding casino gaming, especially with an open bid process, and legalizing sports betting was too much for right now. Gudger said addiction is a concern when it comes with electronic sports betting, especially for young people.

It changes the whole course of, really, their life, just based on something they really didnt know that much about except were having fun or were trying to get out of some other debt or just make some easy money, Gudger said.

But he said that from their estimates, over $1.2 billion is being spent on sports betting in-state currently. He sees the need for lawmakers to have that discussion, but he said that it came on too quickly.

We felt like in the Senate, from the House version, that we werent ready for that, but I do think there is an appetite to look into that as time goes on, Gudger said.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said last week that hes not in the mood to work on another piece of legislation, saying its one of those things you cant win.

Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, sponsored the original gambling proposal in the House. When asked about the chances of working on another piece gambling legislation in next years session, he had a definite, one-word response.

ZERO! Blackshear responded in a text.

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Key no vote on Alabama gambling bill suggests looking to next year Alabama Reflector - Alabama Reflector

Summary

Among all leisure destinations worldwide, few are as unique in their scope as gambling hubs, to which millions flock annually in search of luck at some of the world's largest casinos. As a result, passenger demand for these major centers for the gaming industry is extremely strong, and airlines are quick to compete on some of these lucrative routes.

The airlines serving gambling hubs often include a mix of low-cost leisure-focused carriers in addition to the long-haul legacy carriers one would expect. Equivalently, the large airports that serve as major gateways for these gaming areas are similarly massive and often service traffic from multiple continents.

Photo: Philip Pilosian | Shutterstock

Across the board, however, gambling hub airports have a uniquely large number of flights from leisure-oriented airlines and are less oriented toward business travelers. In this article, we will examine five of the world's largest gambling hub airports and what makes these facilities so special.

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Unarguably the world's largest gambling hub, Las Vegas attracts tens of millions of passengers annually from all corners of the world. The city is not only notable for the many casinos located across its famous strip, but is also host to a number of events and professional sporting teams. In 2024, the Super Bowl was held at the city's Allegiant Stadium, named for the popular hometown leisure airline.

Photo: ZikG | Shutterstock

The airport is among the busiest that serve any of the world's major gambling hubs and is, as one might expect, heavily bolstered by leisure-focused low-cost carriers. Nonetheless, there are a number of major international legacy carriers that also serve Las Vegas, such as KLM from Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (AMS) and Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

In fact, passenger demand has been so overwhelming for Las Vegas that the city has begun the process of developing another airport. Nonetheless, this facility will not be operational until at least the mid-2030s.

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Atlantic City International Airport is a unique, small airport located in Southern New Jersey that serves not just the nearby gambling center of Atlantic City, but also the greater South Jersey region as a whole. The facility, which is also a joint operating base for the New Jersey Air National Guard, is also home to the 177th Fighter Wing's F-16 fighter jets.

Photo:Robin Guess | Shutterstock

The only commercial operator at the airport is, unsurprisingly, leisure-focused Spirit Airlines. Interestingly, however, is that the carrier serves a number of leisure destinations in the American Southeast from the facility, demonstrating a lack of interest in Atlantic City from major population centers.

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Located in Eastern Macau, this facility serves as the primary gateway to the largest gambling hub in Asia. The relatively small facility sees traffic from across the continent and serves as the primary hub for flag carrier Air Macau.

While a mid-size airline by Asian flag carrier standards, Air Macau does operate flights from the facility to over a dozen destinations across China and Southeast Asia. Most major Asian airlines operate nonstop flights from their hubs to this popular gambling destination, but the airport does lack service from major European, American, or Middle Eastern airlines.

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Arguably, the largest gambling hub in Europe is in the city-state of Monaco, where the legendary casino of Monte Carlo is located. The small nation, however, lacks a proper airport due to its small size and, as a result, relies heavily on nearby Nice Airport to serve as its primary gateway.

Due to its nearby proximity, a number of airlines operate nonstop services to Nice and market the nearby gambling destination. Many carriers also offer helicopter transfers to Monaco, notably including Emirates, which recently announced new connections via helicopter operator Blade.

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The second-largest airport in Nevada, RNO serves the greater Lake Tahoe area, and offers flights to dozens of destinations across the United States from all major airlines. The city, which is home to casinos, is a popular gambling destination nestled amid a picturesque alpine lake.

Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock

The airport offers services to most major destinations in the Western United States, with a few nonstop flights to East Coast transportation gateways. For example, JetBlue operates seasonal service to the airport from its primary hub at John F Kennedy International Airport.

It is also important to note that not all traffic to RNO is driven by the gambling industry. The airport, like many others in the alpine west of the United States, serves a number of world-class ski resorts in the area.

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Casino Hubs: 5 Airports That Serve Major Centers Of The Gambling Sector - Simple Flying

Sports betting is having a big moment across the United States. While gambling on sports has been legal for decades in countries such as the U.K., it wasnt until 2018 that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could legalize sports betting. Before then, sports betting had been permitted only in Nevada.

After the Supreme Court decision, the floodgates opened. Many states were happy to legalize sports gambling, enticed by the opportunity for more tax revenue. As of May 2024, sports gambling is legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Americans wagered nearly US$120 billion on sports in 2023 alone.

Until about 10 years ago, sports leagues in North America were apprehensive about if not totally against legalizing sports betting. The long history of sports gambling scandals in the U.S. led many to worry that legalizing sports betting would tarnish their sports credibility and image. The NCAA was one of many governing bodies that objected to legalizing sports gambling nationwide.

But now that the Supreme Court has blessed it, sports leagues have embraced gambling, forming partnerships with brands like Caesars Entertainment. The sportsbooks and platforms have integrity monitors to track potential inconsistencies. Still, a number of scandals involving athletes and the people around them have emerged since the Supreme Court ruling.

As a professor of critical sports studies, I teach students about the history of sports betting scandals. And I think they offer lessons for the present day.

The Black Sox Scandal of 1919 helped to further organize baseball, leading to the creation of the position of commissioner of baseball, which was first assumed by former judge and known racist Kennesaw Mountain Landis. Along with maintaining the color line, arguably his most notable action was banning, for life, the players on the Chicago White Sox involved in the fixing of the 1919 World Series.

Early professional baseball regulations explicitly banned gambling, but the money was too tempting for many players to ignore and that included members of the 1919 White Sox. The players hated the teams owner, Charles Comiskey, and felt that they were underpaid. But they were unable to change teams due to the reserve clause in their contracts, which gave owners exclusive rights to their players in perpetuity.

A faction of the team agreed to throw the World Series. Those players were ultimately indicted by a grand jury and went to trial. They were acquitted of criminal charges, but Landis suspended all of the players connected to the fix including superstar Shoeless Joe Jackson, who admitted taking money from a teammate but maintained he was innocent of game fixing.

This was the the most notable of several attempts to fix baseball games early in the 20th century, as the game grew in popularity and a number of people associated with baseball, including players, managers and even umpires, looked to cash in.

Athlete salaries have soared in recent decades. However, this money hasnt shielded players and others involved in sports from the grips of gambling addiction.

There are no rules banning athletes from sitting at a blackjack table or even gambling on other sports. Numerous players have wagered millions of dollars, with some athletes building up massive debts due to addiction.

These debts can lead to such desperation that athletes decide to risk their careers. Baseball legend and admitted compulsive gambler Pete Rose continues to sit outside the Hall of Fame because he bet on baseball games.

The most substantial gambling scandal in modern sports came in the NBA during the 2000s, involving referee Tim Donaghy. He admitted to providing information on NBA games, including those he officiated, which allegedly influenced his calls. Donaghy served time in prison as a result. So it isnt just players who get in trouble.

There have been several major point-shaving scandals in college basketball history, most famously at the City College of New York in the 1950s and at Boston College in the late 1970s the latter of which involved Henry Hill, the subject of the blockbuster film Goodfellas.

The increasing use of prop, or proposition, bets, which focus on a specific outcome within a game rather than the overall result, has created a new point of vulnerability for student-athletes. While influencing an entire team is hard, history shows that individual players are more susceptible to pressure. A point guard or quarterback can slow down the game and reduce the margin of victory.

And while todays unpaid student-athletes have the same financial incentives to cheat as earlier generations did, they face a new pressure: Theyre often surrounded by gamblers on campus and on social media. Betting is pervasive not only at large universities but at smaller schools, too. According to NCAA surveys, 1 in 3 student-athletes have faced harassment from gamblers, ranging from derogatory comments to death threats.

The sportsbooks have very little incentive to address potential violations, so its up to organizations that oversee sports to ensure the integrity of their games.

NCAA President Charlie Bakers suggestion to ban prop bets is a good first step: The more individual players and gameplay are isolated, the easier it is for improprieties to occur.

Providing more guidance for players and different types of punishments for different transgressions could also be useful. Gambling violations that dont affect competition outcomes should be treated differently from ones that do. The NCAA already does this by meting out lighter penalties for student-athletes who wager on other teams and sports as opposed to their own.

Providing treatment for players and others suffering from gambling addiction would be helpful as well, and theres some evidence that open discussions of gambling addiction in European soccer have had a positive impact.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has suggested implementing federal oversight to eliminate the uncertainty of state-by-state regulations. Although scandals are still likely to occur, gambling commissions like the one in the U.K. can provide a framework for federal licensing and oversight.

The suddenness of states adopting sports betting has led to a windfall of profit for gambling companies and tax revenue for the states. But it may also endanger the integrity of sports. As policymakers mull how to address the issue, they might be wise to learn from history.

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Sports gambling creates a windfall, but raises questions of integrity here are three lessons from historic sports-betting ... - The Conversation

L.L. Bean has just added a third shift at its factory in Brunswick, Maine, in an attempt to keep up with demand for its iconic boot.

Orders have quadrupled in the past few years as the boots have become more popular among a younger, more urban crowd.

The company says it saw the trend coming and tried to prepare, but orders outpaced projections. They expect to sell 450,000 pairs of boots in 2014.

People hoping to have the boots in time for Christmas are likely going to be disappointed. The bootsare back ordered through February and even March.

"I've been told it's a good problem to have but I"m disappointed that customers not getting what they want as quickly as they want," said Senior Manufacturing Manager Royce Haines.

Customers like, Mary Clifford, tried to order boots on line, but they were back ordered until January.

"I was very surprised this is what they are known for and at Christmas time you can't get them when you need them," said Clifford.

People who do have boots are trying to capitalize on the shortage and are selling them on Ebay at a much higher cost.

L.L. Bean says it has hired dozens of new boot makers, but it takes up to six months to train someone to make a boot.

The company has also spent a million dollars on new equipment to try and keep pace with demand.

Some customers are having luck at the retail stores. They have a separate inventory, and while sizes are limited, those stores have boots on the shelves.

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Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter agrees to plead guilty in $17M sports gambling scandal - NBC Los Angeles

Online gambling in the UK has risen significantly during and post-pandemic, as tax-free winnings, affordability and convenience all contribute to a surge in gambling across the UK.

The UK has bagged second spot in the top online gambling nations list in 2024, with a projected revenue of about 11.01 billion (12.80 billion), according to Statista data about gambling revenue, compiled by the Japanese online casino guide for 61 countries.

This is just behind the US, which is expected to see about 18.41 billion in revenue this year. Australia took the third spot, with a projected revenue of 8.11 billion.

27.9% of UK consumers revealed that they had gambled online, with the country expected to see a rise of 7.4% in gambling revenues this year. However, this is projected to be the fourth-lowest gambling revenue increase this year. From 2024 to 2028, the UK is likely to see gambling revenues inch up 3.84% per year.

On the other hand, the US is expected to see a rise of approximately 20.3%, with Australia estimated to see a surge of 10.5% in gambling revenue this year, and about 5.12% annually until 2028. 21.1% of Australian consumers have also highlighted that they have already experienced online gambling.

Across the surveyed gambling nations worldwide, the jump in revenue is expected to be about 12.9%.

Japan came in at fourth place, with an estimated online gambling revenue of 4.95 billion this year, a 12.7% rise from 2023. About 7.9% of Japanese consumers are likely to gamble online this year, with 11.3 million people projected to be participating in the industry by 2028.

Emiko Matsuda, editor-in-chief of Japanese online casino guide said, in an email note, The surge in online gambling can be attributed to a variety of factors such as the pandemic, which meant many betters transitioned from wagering on sports to online gambling, and the data suggests that this shift is permanent.

Gambling culture is deeply ingrained in the UK, with a large market for sports and online betting especially. According to YouGovs Global Gambling Profiles data, about 49% of UK online gamblers spend more than 5 on fantasy sports and sports bets per month.

25% of online gamblers also went for slot machines, with 17% choosing casino games and 18% opting for bingo, with gamblers spending 5 and upwards for these games per month.

The lottery is also extremely popular in the UK, with Lottoland UK estimating that more than 70% of adults in the UK enter the national lottery regularly, coming up to nearly 45 million people.

However, perhaps surprisingly, football and horse-racing are not the sports that tend to see a very high amount of betting activity in the UK. Instead, sports such as cricket, tennis, boxing, rugby and golf see gamblers spend more than 200 a month, according to Global Gambling Profiles data.

Online gambling in the UK rose rapidly both during and after the pandemic, when traditional sports events such as horse racing, cricket and football faced considerable restrictions.

Now, even though these events are back to normal, the draw of online gambling still persists. This is because online gambling offers a range of advantages, such as several games and options, at the tips of gamblers fingers.

The convenience of online gambling means that visits to casinos are not always required, with players often able to access their favourite games from the comfort of their homes. Furthermore, gambling winnings in the UK are tax-free, which can be a major incentive for players to keep going and bet higher amounts than before, in the hopes of winning bigger.

Another reason gambling has gained a lot of popularity in the UK is due to increasing affordability, with several slot games allowing players to start with only 1. Gambling regulations in the UK have also strengthened, making several players feel much more confident spending money on various online gambling sites.

However, online gambling still poses significant risks in some cases, not least, the possibility of addiction, bankruptcy, fraud, scams and increased substance abuse. These in turn, may also cause rising problems at work and in interpersonal relationships.

Public Policy Exchange said on its website, The UK government estimates that 0.5% of the adult population has a problem with gambling (as many as 2.5% of people, according to a 2023 Gambling Commission survey), 3.8% are gambling at at-risk levels, and 7% are affected negatively by other peoples gambling.

Over 420,000 people in the UK lose 2,000 or more in online gambling each year. The governments economic analysis from 2023 estimates the direct financial cost to government associated with harmful gambling to be 412.9 million.

To help decrease the risks of financial loss, the UK government has imposed a levy of 2 on individual stakes on online slot machines for players under 25 years old, with a limit of 5 on individual stakes for people over 25.

Charles Ritchie, co-chair of Gambling with Lives said regarding this levy, on Public Policy Exchanges website, If the levy is going to be effective, then it would need to deliver significantly greater funds to the treatment system. Expenditure on treatment for drug and alcohol harms are many orders of magnitude greater than what is being suggested for gambling.

The 2 limit for under-25s is a step in the right direction, but 5 for over-25s is another missed opportunity to stop the harm to millions and the devastation caused by gambling suicides. Stake limits offer some harm reduction, but the products are still highly addictive, so we also need much slower spin speeds, affordability checks and proper public health information about the dangers.

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UK stakes its claims to second spot in worldwide online gambling - Euronews

Amongst NFL Owners, Dan Rooney was a giant. Art Rooney II probably took more after his grandfather. Art Rooney Sr. never had a successful team until the 1970s; however, he was a beloved City and NFL owner. It was Dan Rooney who built the team by hiring Chuck Noll. Art Rooney II arguably is no Dan Rooney. Since Art Rooney II took control of the team, he hardly seemed at the forefront of running the team. He stayed in the shadow of Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert.

That's no longer the case. Though it's been a while since assuming ownership, he seemed to have gotten fed up with the Steelers' lack of post-season success. So, he felt he needed to shake up the status quo, considering the Steelers valued tradition and have done things year in and year out in the same manner. Patrick Peterson and Darnell Washington found that out the hard way in their original jersey number requests.

Peterson wanted his number seven, and the Steelers said that that number was no longer in circulation. Darnell Washington wanted his college number 0. Steelers management responded by saying no, you get traditional jersey numbering like everyone before you. The Steelers always found free agents on the cheap, which worked because the Steelers still made the post-season regularly. They didn't fire assistant coaches mid-season, either.

Mr. Rooney's impatience with the team's lack of playoff success has led to a clear mandate for the Steelers. This season, it's no longer business as usual. Under Omar Khan's guidance, the team has shown dedication to fulfilling the owner's vision of a Steelers team back in the habit of winning in the playoffs. This renewed focus on success should inspire hope and optimism among Steelers fans.

Mr. Rooney's apparent need to break some ties with past traditions began late in 2023 when the Steelers suffered a humiliating loss to a rookie backup quarterback leading the Cleveland Browns. While theSteelersoffense remained stagnant the entire game, Enough was enough. Previously, firing an offensive coordinator mid-season seemed sacrilegious. Not anymore. The Steelers promptly fired Matt Canada the next day.

Mike Tomlin said he decided to do the deed, And Art Rooney II said it was his decision. As admirable as it is with the head coach and owner working in unison, Mr. Rooney has had a firm hand in showing Matt Canada the exit. Then came his statements at the end of the season when he said the Steelers needed to find new success in the post-season.Omar Khan has taken this mandate personally and is determined to fulfill Mr. Rooney's request in a way that upended Steelers normalcy.

Only Omar Khan could find a way to add players to the Steelers roster in the typical miserly Steelers fashion, being Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, while still giving Linebacker Patrick Queen a large contract that normally the Steelers do not do in free agency. Then, with his signing, even more tradition went out signing. Patrick Queen requested number 6. It's not a typical Steelers linebacker number they give out. The Steelers agreed all the same. Whereas Darnell Washington didn't get his way, Patrick Queen did, so much for business as usual.

Then Omar Khan wasted no time sending Kenney Pickett packing after only two seasons. Granted, he didn't sound like a team sport in the end, but it was a statement that the Steelers will follow through, implement Mr. Rooney's mandate, and do everything necessary to win in the playoffs.

If these changes work, then he comes out the winner in that he made the Steelers' General Manager and head coach make the tough decisions needed to transform the team. If they fail, then some may question whether Mr. Rooney decided to take things a little too far to try to win another championship. Yet fans do need to feel excited about the direction things are headed.

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Art Rooney II gambling his reputation that change will result in Steelers success - Still Curtain

Integrity is the word on the lips of every professional sports league commissioner as investigations into gambling unfold and punishments are handed down.

Players, coaches and other personnel associated with sport organizations are expected to uphold high standards of conduct and integrity to make professional sport worthy of the publics time and money.

CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie referenced integrity when he announced in late April that defensive lineman and three-time Grey Cup champion Shawn Lemon had been suspended indefinitely. Lemon was found to have engaged in sports wagering while he was a member of the Calgary Stampeders, even betting on a game in which he himself participated.

The integrity of our game is of the utmost importance, said Ambrosie. Any other factors career performance, actions in community, timing, frequency or size of wagers hold no weight when the legitimacy of the CFL can be called into question.

Ambrosie stressed the gravity of the matter, wanting fans to know his office was adequately addressing the issue. He also clarified that Lemons misdeeds didnt impact any game outcomes.

This incident is the latest in a string of gambling-related issues that professional sports leagues have faced recently. The rise of sports betting, fuelled by the proliferation of online platforms and the legalization of gambling in many jurisdictions, has brought new complexities to the world of sports.

Adam Silver, Commissioner of the NBA, faced a similar issue in April when the NBA started investigating Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for allegedly betting on games.

The investigation concluded that Porter had indeed violated league rules and he was banned from the NBA. He allegedly disclosed confidential information about his health to an NBA bettor before a March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings.

In addition, during his time with the Raptors G League from January to March, Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games totalling US$54,094. None of the bets were on games in which he played and he ended up making a profit of $21,965 from all the wagers.

In a statement, Silver said:

There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porters blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment.

Porters penalty was the first lifetime ban issued by the NBA since 1954 when Jack Molinas was permanently bounced for wagering on games that involved his team, the Fort Wayne Pistons.

Silvers stiff brand of justice was a public message: the NBA was prepared to protect the integrity of its game because the fans need to be able to trust the product.

The role of the MLBs commissioner was created in 1920 for just that reason: to restore public faith in professional baseball after eight members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted on criminal charges that alleged they fixed the 1919 World Series.

They were found not guilty amid several irregularities, including vanishing evidence in the form of self-incriminating statements. Justice wasnt served and everyone knew it.

Kenesaw Mountain Landis was installed as MLBs first commissioner. A former judge, he provided the penalty when the courts didnt lifetime bans for all eight implicated players. The public seemed satisfied that the cheats got their just deserts and faith was restored.

Almost a century later, Landis approach one rooted in a deterrence theory of punishment remains the standard for those that bet on games in which theyre involved.

Present-day league commissioners have learned from Landis how to handle gambling infractions, but missed his lesson on how to avoid them. Landis demanded that club owners rid their respective ballparks of any trace of gambling by being vigilant and stomping it out. Landis applied the wisdom: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

But this is not the state of modern sport. Commissioners and the owners they serve fully embrace the proliferation of legalized sport gambling. Thats where the money is. Leagues and teams have partnered with wagering sites to pad their wallets.

In 2021, the Ottawa Senators were the first to wear a gambling advertisement with a BET99 helmet sticker, making players skating billboards for sport betting.

The irony was lost on no one when Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto was the first modern NHLer suspended for a gambling infraction in 2023.

Gone are the days when Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle were banned from MLB because they accepted jobs as Atlantic City casino greeters in their retirement.

Players, current and former, have cozied up to gambling interests in league-allowed ways, advertising their product on television for all children included to see. It resembles the star-studded cast of athletes that pushed Chesterfield cigarettes decades ago, which used sports stars to appeal to young boys.

Anti-gambling advocates are pleading for the sports industry to re-think its approach to betting, but the practice has only become more pervasive and accessible.

The impact has been disastrous. Kids as young as eight-years-old are hooked and its only going to get worse.

In the end, sports leagues will protect the integrity of the game: theres money in preserving the trust and loyalty of their audiences. But will these same leagues demonstrate the integrity necessary to reverse course and protect vulnerable members of society from developing a gambling addiction? Theres no money in that, so dont bet on it.

See the article here:

Professional sport commissioners are fighting to preserve league integrity amid gambling scandals - The Conversation

Locks

NBA (0.5 Unit) Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves -2.5 (-110; Odds via Caesars): 7:00 PM CT on TNT

Ok, I dont know what that was, but its not happening again. My sense is that the Wolves had too much time off to get high on their own supply of positive press, and that a more focused effort is coming tonight. Even Anthony Edwards acknowledged after the game that he was not prepared, so expect a much better performance from Minnesotas star that fuels the whole team.

The Wolves only lost back-to-back games four times this season, so they know how to bounce back. Books have also not been able to effectively line this series, and a two-point adjustment from Game 3 because of an outlier performance seems like another mistake, but one that makes the Wolves a much more attractive favorite. Lets hope they got their needed dose of humility after a wild 6-game run of success, and the wakeup call pushes them to a win tonight.

Bonus Bet (0.5 Unit): Anthony Edwards Over 27.5 Points (-110; Odds via DraftKings)

An angry Ant is a dangerous Ant. He looked very upset and disappointed with himself after Fridays loss, and if hes the blossoming superstar we all hope he is, a game like this is where he should show it. Edwards had a bad Game 2 against Phoenix last round and rebounded with 36 and 40 points the next two games. He also had a bad Game 1 against the Nuggets in last years playoffs, then averaged 35.0 PPG the rest of the series. I think a big performance is incoming.

NBA (0.5 Unit) New York Knicks Team Total Over 106 (-110; Odds via Caesars): 2:30 PM CT on ABC

The Knicks were well on their way to eclipsing their team total on Friday night until an awful fourth quarter derailed the offense. That 16-point output was a definite outlier given they put up 39 and 31 in the fourth quarters at MSG in this series, and its possible they just ran out of gas. Regardless, Im not reading too much into it, and expect them to continue their shredding of this Indiana defense today.

New York has shot it incredibly well from deep in this series, and Indianas laser focus on Jalen Brunson leaves opportunities that the Knicks should keep cashing in. This is a better number than Friday, the Knicks showed they arent laying down despite a ton of injuries, and it should result in them clearing the team total this afternoon.

No degenerates today.

Tiny Nick is 2280-2097 ATS (+86.9 Units) on his Locks since joining Zone Coverage.

Every day he will offer his Locks and Degenerate picks. Locks are the games hes confident in. Degenerates are entertaining but riskier picks.

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Tiny Nicks Gambling Picks: 05/12 - Zone Coverage

Ippei Mizuhara agreed Wednesday to plead guilty to a pair of charges in connection with the gambling scandal involving Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.

Mizuhara, who was Ohtanis longtime interpreter, was arrested earlier this spring in a massive and complicated scandal that left him facing up to 30 years in prison. Mizuhara allegedly stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani to cover Mizuhara's illegal gambling losses, which totaled more than $40 million.

Mizuhara agreed to plead guilty to two charges bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return on Wednesday. The first charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison, and the second could add up to three years.

Mizuhara is expected to enter his guilty plea officially next week.

Mizuhara turned himself in to authorities officially last month after he was accused of stealing millions from Ohtani. He allegedly made 19,000 wagers with an alleged illegal bookie between December 2021 and January 2024, which averages out to about 25 bets per day. In total, Mizuhara lost more than $40.5 million.

Mizuhara was Ohtanis financial point person beginning when the star moved to the United States in 2018. Mizuhara reportedly helped Ohtani set up a bank account, and he impersonated Ohtani and later changed information in order to start funneling money from the account. Ohtanis agent reportedly talked to him exclusively through Mizuhara, too.

Mizuhara reportedly transferred weekly $500,000 payments into the account of an associate of Mathew Boyer, who is also under federal investigation. That associate then transferred the money into accounts with Resorts World, a Las Vegas casino, and Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. The scandal is reportedly part of a much larger operation in which 12 people have already been charged and convicted and multiple casinos have paid fines.

The associate in question, according to ESPN, was Ryan Boyajian, who is a cast member of "The Real Housewives of Orange County." Scott Sibella, the former president of Resorts World and MGM Grand, is set to be sentenced in federal court Wednesday in Los Angeles, too, after he pleaded guilty in connection with another sports gambling charge.

Ohtani has denied knowing anything about the scandal and said he learned about it when everyone else did. Major League Baseball has released a statement recognizing that authorities view Ohtani as a victim in all of this. Ohtani, one of the best hitters in baseball so far this season, is continuing to play with the Dodgers in the wake of the scandal.

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Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, agrees to plead guilty to 2 charges in gambling scandal - Yahoo Sports

This story was produced by our colleagues at the BBC.

China wants to transform Macao, known as the Las Vegas of the East, into a real Vegas that relies more on entertainment and tourism and less on gambling for its revenues.

The former Portuguese colony returned to Chinese sovereignty 25 years ago and is still the only place in China where gambling is legal.

Inside a casino at one of Macaos big gambling resorts, the Venetian, the gaming tables are full with customers. Many are playing baccarat, the most popular table game.

But larger crowds are gathered in the resorts non-gaming areas, enjoying free entertainment as they watch a magician suspend an audience member in midair. One of the people in the crowd is Wendy Qiao, a tourist from mainland China, who has no interest in gambling.

There are a lot of things here that I cant see in Shenzhen, where I come from. I came here to also eat some Macao specialty food, such as Portugese tarts, pork jerky, she said.

Qiao is the kind of tourist Beijing desperately wants Macao to attract. Its casinos no longer provide just slot machines and game tables, and have built waterparks, a virtual reality martial arts play area and a zip line. But the vast majority of money still comes from mainland Chinese gamblers.

Ben Lee is from iGamiX, a Macao-based gaming consultancy. With the handover, the idea was that Hong Kong would become the financial capital of this region and Macao would become the entertainment center, he said.

20 years down the track, Macao has become a gambling center for Chinese gamblers mainly, which I dont think was the intention of Beijing when it allowed Macao to liberalize its gaming industry.

Macaos gaming revenue was more than three times that of Las Vegas before the pandemic, but iGamiX research shows it earns just 5% of its revenue from non-gaming compared to Las Vegas 70%.

Casino operators have struggled to draw non-gambler tourists by simply opening retail stores or holding concerts, as the culture is very different.

A typical American would go to Vegas, he would spend $200, $300 on a concert ticket, the same amount in alcohol, and maybe $20, $50 on a table and say they had a great night, Lee said.

The typical Asian or more importantly the mainland Chinese would come to Macao, they would maybe spend $20 on a meal, and invest the remaining $480 at the table. And for them thats not entertainment, thats a business venture from which they hope to get a return.

Beijing has tried to wean Macao off its dependence on Chinese gamblers, who bring in around $150 billion. It restricts the number of visits Chinese residents can make and bans Macaos casinos from advertising in mainland China.

Last year, the new 10-year concession contracts between Macaos government and its six casino operators came into force. They require the casinos to invest heavily nearly $14 billion in total in non-gaming events such as conventions and exhibitions, waterparks, concerts and even revitalizing old districts.

Thats good news for Honey Leung, a manager at Pousada de Coloane, an elegant Portuguese style colonial-era manor house turned into a beach hotel and restaurant. She wants to promote Macaos unique cultural heritage.

We were once colonized by Portugal, so we have Western characteristics and we also have traditional Chinese characteristics, she said. If we develop different aspects of Macaos tourism, we can attract tourists with different interests, not just people who come for gambling or shopping.

Gaming industry expert Ben Lee says in order to do that, the government will have to resolve labor shortages and transportation issues, as well as bring in more English-speaking service staff.

All our services here, from the concierge to room service, what do they speak to you? Mandarin, he said. So for a typical Southeast Asian-Chinese tourist from Malaysia who may not know Chinese or Mandarin or speak only their local dialect, they cant get around.

He said it will also mean casinos will have to put up with making less profit and doing more work by focusing more on non-gaming entertainment.

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Sports betting contributes millions of dollars monthly $5.7 million in April to Marylands public education plans, but a push to divert 1% of the revenue to help fight problem gambling has met a lack of consensus in the legislature.

The legislature set up a problem gambling fund in 2007 with the legalization of casino gambling. But as the state has rolled out other forms of betting, lawmakers havent added revenue streams for the fund.

Unclaimed prize money from in-person sports betting goes to problem gambling resources, but 98% of money wagered on sports in Maryland is through mobile apps, which automatically pay out winners.

Longtime state Sen. Katherine Klausmeier, a Baltimore County Democrat who has pushed for 1% of the states sports wagering proceeds, or roughly $3.5 million annually, to go to problem gambling resources, said the state has an obligation to provide necessary support to those suffering from an addiction.

Problem gambling has become widespread, and I think so much more since sports gambling, Klausmeier, also vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a phone interview Friday. I would like to have the opportunity to help those people who are in the midst of having gambling problems.

Both the state Senate and House of Delegates voted during this years 90-day session to distribute a percentage of sports betting revenue to problem gambling resources, but a last-minute disagreement derailed the bill in the sessions final hours.

Klausmeier said she didnt know the details of the disagreement, and neither of the top Democrats whose apparent differences killed the bill Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Chair Guy Guzzone and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Vanessa Atterbeary could immediately be reached for comment by phone call Friday.

Since its inception in December 2021, sports betting has brought in $75.7 million for public education, according to the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency.

Hundreds of millions of dollars from the states six casinos also go to public schools, including nearly $623 million last fiscal year.

Sports betting revenue goes to a dedicated fund for the Blueprint for Marylands Future, a plan to boost education systems and student performance statewide by starting childhood education at an earlier age, increasing pay for teachers and bolstering career and technical education opportunities.

Lawmakers have set aside money to cover the Blueprint for the next three years, but the plan lacks a permanent funding stream and is expected to be a major driver of multibillion-dollar operating budget deficits in later years.

Top Democrats have maintained full-throated support for the plan despite the fiscal uncertainty, and last year they shied from taking 1% of sports wagering proceeds from the Blueprint.

With annual fees from slot machines and table games, problem gambling proceeds usually reach between $4 million and $5 million each year.

Between $2 million and $2.4 million goes to the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling to pay for a 24-hour helpline, an outreach program that includes a voluntary exclusion list, treatment and prevention programs offered for free or at a reduced cost, and staff research.

Director of Operations Mary Drexler has said that, while the center has generally had a large enough budget to assist the more than 600 people seeking help at any given time, it lacks money for adequate preventative measures like public service campaigns and advertising.

She said those services would help the center inform people suffering from a gambling disorder about the resources available to them.

Drexler wrote to lawmakers in February that a dedicated funding stream from sports betting proceeds would help the center boost marketing to counter the gambling industrys multibillion-dollar campaigns.

It would also help the center attract more treatment providers to the states no-cost network and launch public awareness campaigns to target people who are especially prone to problem gambling, like veterans with PTSD, Drexler wrote.

Link:

Advocates seeking more revenue for problem gambling in MD will have to wait - Maryland Daily Record

MONTGOMERY, Ala. Both chambers of the Alabama Legislature adopted the $9.3 billion 2025 education budget Thursday after hours worth of negotiations on legislation that could have legalized gambling in the state, legislation that ultimately failed to secure enough support before both chambers adjourned.

In the House, the first spending bill to come up for a vote was House Bill 144, a $681.2 million supplemental spending package for the current fiscal year. Among the bills largest expenditures include $109 million for local boards of education, $22 million for school nurse salary increases, and $17 million for Career & College Readiness grants.

Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, the chair of the House education budget committee, explained changes in the bill, including $5 million that the Senate originally allocated for the state employee retiree trust fund being split among several different items, such as $1.1 million to the Alabama Historical Commission for grants, or $1.1 million to the Alabama Arts Council.

Several bills were filed late this session to give cost-of-living adjustments for state retirees, but none advanced. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, told Garrett he was very disappointed that lawmakers were unable to secure any raises for state retirees.

Garrett said it was simply a matter of numbers, and that that state could not afford to do so this year.

What I think what the retirees want is a true COLA, I think thats what they really want, and Im going to go through the numbers and just show you how that really is not something we can afford to do, Garrett said.

Now were trying to address some of their concerns, but let me just give you some facts.

Garrett said that the Retirement Systems of Alabama Trust Fund is currently 67% funded, and has a $14 billion deficit, $2 million of which he directly attributed to COLAs adopted in the early-to-mid 2000s.

We all want to help retirees, were understanding of that, but we cannot afford a COLA. Garrett said. A 1% COLA is $200 million. What we dont have is a source of revenue to feed that money.

I hear you, but there are a lot of things that were funding that I dont see us getting a return on, Daniels responded.

These people put their health and their lives on the line for all these years, and were not showing appreciation. Im sick and tired of us flirting with them every year, telling them that were going to do something for them next year.

Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Phenix City, who sponsored one of the gambling bills that passed out of the House but stalled in the Senate, pressed Garrett on why the Senate even bothered to allocate $5 million to the retirees trust fund, something he argued would not benefit anyone at this time.

I believe that they wanted to let retirees know theyre not forgotten, that were thinking about them, Garrett explained.

Fine, but I dont think this gesture of $5 million, which would get a 25-year retiree theoretically $50, is doing anything. I think its an insult to be honest.

Circling back to his gambling legislation, Blackshear said the Senates failure to pass his gambling bill directly hurt state retirees, who with the gambling proceeds, potentially could have seen significant raises.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, also spoke against the Senate for its failure to pass the gambling legislation, specifically on its impact on state retirees.

We are spending $200 million across the street on a new State Capitol; we just spent a billion dollars on a prison that still hasnt been built, Givan said.

There are many avenues that we can take in the state of Alabama that we could have allowed for the citizens who have served this state, our state employees and educators, to reap the benefits of seeing some type of cost-of-living raise.

Several more lawmakers spoke on the bill, using their time to criticize the Senate for killing gambling and its revenues for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, House members voted to concur on the supplemental spending bill in a vote of 98-1, with Givan being the lone dissenting vote.

Also approved was House Bill 145, the $9.3 billion education budget.

They really didnt change anything substantial from the House budget, they did not delete anything that we had submitted, Garrett said when introducing the bill.

The bill has minor, inconsequential changes made to it when it came out of conference committee earlier this week, such as moving $1.5 million for school safety mapping from the Education Department to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Another change Garrett highlighted was $14.9 million for a proposed teachers compensation for teachers, which was contingent on a bill that ultimately failed, reverting to education operating expenses.

I think this is a good education budget with the exception of raises for the retirees, but I guess Im a little bit frustrated here on this last day, said Rep. Barabara Drummond, D-Mobile.

We have been talking and talking about education, and we had an opportunity. I applaud all of those who voted for gaming, but was particularly gratified because of the money that would have been generated for education.

The education budget ultimately passed the House unanimously, and was later concurred with by the Senate, sending it off to Gov. Kay Iveys desk for final approval.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, shared in the disappointment of some of his members that the gambling legislation had failed this year. House members overwhelmingly thanked Ledbetter for his efforts, however, and gave him a standing ovation before voting to adjourn for the year.

Alabama Daily News later asked Ledbetter what he considered to be the highlights of the budgets lawmakers adopted Thursday.

Youve got to be excited about the budgets, he said.

Giving teacher pay raises is a big deal, giving state employees pay raises is a big deal. This is the fourth year in a row that weve been able to give pay raises, which I think is probably as long of a run as the states had.

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After gambling standoff, Alabama lawmakers pass $9.3 billion education budget - Alabama Daily News