We all have an activity that makes us recreate, have fun and even stay in shape. But have you asked yourself what are the most popular hobbies in the world? Those that unite us with other cultures. And they make us share the same passion with people from other countries, who probably have completely different lives and customs from ours. This time we wanted to delve into the subject and we bring you two of the favorite hobbies around the world.

Source: Pixabay

The past few years have been a great success for podcasts in many countries. More and more people subscribe to platforms like Spotify to enjoy them. Now what has made them so famous? One of the most powerful reasons is that this audio format is perfectly suited to everyones busy lifestyle. You can listen to it wherever and whenever you want: in the car, cleaning, exercising, or just at home. Also, the best thing about podcasts is that the topics are very varied and there is something for everyone. Life stories, fiction, entertainment and humor.

However, you may be wondering what are some of the most listened to worldwide. The answer is that the themes of love and humor seem to predominate. The Modern Love podcast is one of the best known and favorite, this is in the English language. It is stories of love, loss and redemption as seen in its description. These are from real people and are narrated by famous actors like Kristen Bell, Michelle Rodrguez and Giancarlo Esposito. As for the comedy part, one of the most popular is Nobody Knows Nothing. It is in Spanish and is led by Andreu Buenafuente and Berto Romero. Their show is about them improvising with input from the audience. Listeners send songs for both to talk about, even if they have no idea of the topic. So the two comedians start improvising in a hilarious way.

Source: Pixabay

It is not a secret that one of the most entertaining hobbies is online gaming. The most incredible thing about them is that you can play them from the comfort of your home. But at the same time you can compete with participants who are on the other side of the planet. The fact that they are online brings people from different parts of the world together and makes them share the same hobby. Also, as with podcasts, the fact that there is a great variety of games has been essential to reach so many people.

They can be found from eSports better known as. The Last of Us II that can be obtained on the PlayStation page, as well as the popular games of chance such as slots, roulette, and blackjack, which can be played on platforms such as NetBet blackjack, even entertaining sports games like FIFA, which is one of the most played in the world thanks to the great fanatic of soccer.

Our passions can bring us together in unique ways. You might enjoy your favorite podcasts because you can listen to it at any time of the day. And anywhere, enjoying a great variety to choose from. Likewise, your favorite hobby may be sharing an online game in your living room with people from all over the world. No matter what your favorite hobby is, it brings you closer to hundreds of other fans around the world who have your same passion.

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20 What are the favorite hobbies worldwide? - Explica

DraftKings customers can now use a stand-alone app to play casino games in Pennsylvania.

The company announced the launch of the app Tuesday, which gives players a new option on their phones instead of navigating through the same site they use for sports betting and daily fantasy sports.

The move comes on the heels of DraftKings doing the same thing in New Jersey with a separate casino app launched June 23. On that same day, competitor FanDuel introduced its own casino app in Pennsylvania so customers wouldnt have to go through its sportsbook site to play.

DraftKings is primarily known for its sports betting and fantasy sports, but in April it introduced its casino product to Pennsylvania. Its casino games embedded on the sportsbook site took in $3.7 million in revenue in May, sixth best out of the iGaming sites in the state. FanDuels online casino, which had a head start several months earlier, earned $8 million.

Up to now, the DraftKings casino site, operating under a skin from Hollywood Casino, has had 29 slot options, four roulette games, blackjack, baccarat, and video poker.

$250 Bonus

Only 1x Wager Applies, Playable in PA Only

iGaming fans in Pennsylvania will now have the opportunity to experience a more holistic product suite and dynamic gaming experience in a DraftKings-created casino app, a press release from DraftKings announced.

Like in New Jersey, the app features new games only found on DraftKings, plus revamped classics, including blackjack and roulette. In addition to popular slot and table games found only on DraftKings Casino, the new app will also offer games from third-party providers like International Gaming Technology. DraftKings customers in Pennsylvania will soon have access to the custom DraftKings Live Dealer Studio which will operate 24/7.

Live dealing of blackjack and other games has been popular in New Jersey on iGaming sites for some time, but the requirements involved in creating that studio system in Pennsylvania has delayed its introduction in the state for now.

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As we now know four months into this pandemic, COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting people of color in a multitude of ways one of the biggest being economically. Systematically, black and brown bodies are shoved into neighborhoods that are economically unfounded and often in food deserts with little to no regard for food insecurity

After Latinos, African-Americans are the second most Coronavirus-affected community. On top of that, Black-owned businesses have been put at a severe disadvantage due to the pandemic, and many may not be able to bounce back from the financial toll this has taken on small businesses.

In efforts to fight this, a popular tool amid the pandemic and to a further degree the shifting cultural climate is the downloading of apps that are essentially directories of Black-owned businesses. A prominent app for finding new food is EatOkra, which highlights Dallas as a popular food destination where users can search for a variety of everything from Vegan eats to Soul food. In times of racially-conscious consumerism, apps like these go a long way in helping to keep Black-owned businesses afloat during this time of uncertainty.

Another favorite among such apps is, of course, burgers, and Dallas is not in short supply of eateries offering up some of the best. The tasty spots listed below are worth the hype that Dallasites seem to praise with every bite.

Wayback Burgers is a franchise with locations stretching across the world from the Netherlands to Africa. However, the Farmers Branch location is Black-owned. Wayback offers a wide selection of burgers along with chicken sandwiches and a ton of sides to share the onion rings are a must-try. Currently, they are only open for takeout.

Brickhouse Burgers is a little burger spot hidden away in a shopping center on Skillman street. This joint offers a wide variety of burgers and sandwiches to pick from, including vegetarian-friendly choices like black bean patties. Craving something sweet after? Try one of the restaurants lauded Mega-Milkshakes like the Candy Crush. For now, Brickhouse is are only open for takeout.

BurgerIM is a franchise across America with a location in the historic West End owned by Wesley Williams. BurgerIM has a wide variety of specialty burgers like the Hawiian Salmon burger and the Falafel burger. For the less adventurous eaters, theres also a build-your-own burger with seven different options, including vegan patties, as well as a gluten-free bun. At this time, BurgerIM is only open for takeout and delivery at this time.

Fatburger is a franchise with locations across the country, but the North Richland Hills location is Black-owned. As the name suggest, this spot has a wide variety of fat burgers. Fatburger also offers vegan and vegetarian patties, as well as vegan milkshakes for the dairy-free crowd. This restaurant is open in all capacities right now.

Wingfields Burgers is tucked into an unsuspecting little spot in Oak Cliff, and is known for serving an iconic duo of breakfast and burgers. Open since the 80s, this Dallas food institution is a must-have among the North Texas food scene. Aside from the thick and juicy burger selection, eaters rave about the thirst-quenching lemonade.

Jimmys franchise may not be Black-owned, but the Arlington location certainly is! This outpost offers up to 25 different types of burgers to pick from, as well as a chicken-based options and a hefty selection of sides. Regulars gush about the homemade taste and generous potions. Jimmys is only open for takeout at the moment.

Though its a small hike out to Duncanville, The Coaches Box is a hidden gem worth the trek. The restaurant doubles as a sports bar and boasts a huge menu with wide selections of burgers, wings and sandwiches. Currently, though, it is only open for takeout.

Also out in Duncanville is Hav-R-Charburger, a vibrant, artful diner crafting the best of American cuisine in classic char burgers, chicken tenders and hot dogs. Though its known for long wait times, that hasnt stopped Hav-R-Charburger from being a Dallas-area favorite. Besides, isnt that the sign of a meal well worth it? Due to the pandemic this joint is only open for takeout and delivery.

Dont let BlackJack Pizzas name fool you, this Dallas mainstay over on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is a burger haven. Beyond its extensive pizza menu, it also boasts a variety of burgers that has Dallasites waxing poetic. Not to be confused with a restaurant chain of the same name, Terry Jones has been serving up pizza and burgers to the community for more than 30 years. As of right now, BlackJacks is only open for takeout.

Cover photo via Brickhouses Instagram.

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9 Black-Owned Burger Joints In North Texas. - Central Track

We all love a quick hand of Blackjack, or spin or two on the Roulette wheel, whether it be at a land-based casino on Saturday night out on the town, or from the comfort of our own home. However, youve got to admit that its about time these games got spiced up a little! Well, with the help of live casinos online, you can now play modernized, live-action versions of your favorite games! Read on to find out more.

The concept of Roulette whether it be European, French, or American version has remained the same, since it was created by Blaise Pascal in the 17th century it has most definitely survived the test of time! However, thanks to Playtechs Quantum Roulette, the age-old classic has been given a much-needed boost into the modern world!

Roulettes odds have never been an issue, with the chance of winning up to 35x your wager. Although, with this innovative creation, you can now land up to a whopping 500x your bet!

Hows that even possible we hear you ask? Well, read on to find out.

Quantum Roulette is played on a standard European wheel this means that it boasts a range of 37 numbers, ranging between 0 and 36. You enjoy a spin on the Devils Wheel from as little as 20p, or right up to 500 ideal for the high-rollers!

Alongside the standard straight up bets which is the method of betting only on a specific number Quantum Roulette also has mouth-watering multipliers! Every time the wheel spins, a number is chosen a random by a quantum strike, sometimes more than one number at a time. Any number that is struck will be enhanced by a multiplier these are also chosen at random and can top 500x your wager!

Quantum prizes can only be won on straight-up bets, or straight up bets using the neighbors system. If the Roulette ball lands on your number, and its been enhanced by a quantum striker, your stake will be boosted by whatever multiplier is on display! The excitement of Roulette has suddenly gone up a notch, right?

Youve guessed it! Playtech has pulled it out of the bag once again, taking the best bits of a centuries-old game and adding in a few new twists and turns. Just like in all versions of Blackjack, the aim of the game is simple: beat the dealer! To get started, a wager between 1 and 500, and youll then receive two cards the dealer will then also receive two cards, one face-up, one face down. This is the point where you hit take another card or stand stick to your initial hand.

As always with Blackjack, you can also split pairs and double down on totals of 11 or under. However, the multiplier cards are what really make Quantum Blackjack different from your standard games. Before the cards are dealt with, between one and three multiplier cards will be given. These are shown in the top right corner of the screen, and can help boost your winnings by 3x, 5x, or 10x!

Basically, if youre dealt a multiplier card, and you win the hand, your prize will be enhanced. If a winning hand contains more than one multiplier card, your payout is boosted by the result of one value multiplied by another! And thats not all if youre lucky enough to have all three multiplier cards in your winning hand, then your payout will be enhanced by a whopping 1,000x!

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Play Modernised Versions of Your Favourite Games Thanks to Live Casino - TheUSBport

Following the recent reopening of Dufry stores at London Heathrow Airport Terminals 2 and 5,Leanne Nutter, Head of Travel Retail, Blackjack Promotions, says DF&TR must return to the basics of emotional intelligence in order to connect with shoppers in the post-Covid-19 world. Nutter, who was present at Terminal 5 on 1 July 2020, as the Blackjack team returned to work, emphasises the value of human-to-human interactions and suggests their remains plenty of ways to create valuable brand experiences.

As much as I would love to gaze into my magic crystal ball and predict that everything will be back to normal in a months time, we all know that can never happen.

In fact, if crystal balls were even a real thing, we might not have found ourselves in this position in the first place.

The truth is, we never could have predicted the massive global impact that the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic would have on so many aspects of everyday life from health to business, the global economy and even something as simple as buying a coffee on the way to work.

Covid-19 hasnt just turned our whole world upside down. It has grounded the airlines that connect our world. For those in the aviation and travel retail industries, theres no denying it has been a difficult three months as services ground to a halt, almost overnight.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY

The good news is that we are starting to see light at the end of the runway. Soon, the sky will be lined with contrails once again and with that means more passengers coming through the airport. But one things for sure. The new normal is going to be very different.

Leanne Nutter, Head of Travel Retail, Blackjack Promotions: Were all learning to adapt to these new circumstances. It will still take time, but for travel retail, its time to return to basics, hold back the bells and whistles and utilise your most important assets.

While its important to look forward, I want to start by taking a moment to reflect on the last few months. The headlines splashed across our trusty industry trade magazines painted a pretty dire picture for the travel retail industry things are going to change forever, consumers are not going to want to talk to people in-store and no sampling will be allowed.

That made me quite sad because all the things that make travel retail so great the people, the sampling, the amazing in-store experiences seemed to be going out the window with the prospect of being unable to do any of that anymore.

At the time, all consumer behaviour analysis and insight into how things were going to change was reflective of how consumers were feeling at that moment, which at points was pretty scary.

But now, with everything moving on so quickly, Im delighted to see that peoples views are slowly changing and they are feeling a little more confident.

It looks like were finally coming out the other side of it and, as we saw from the recent re-opening of Dufrys store in Heathrow Terminal 2, customers are more willing to get back to how things were. By this, I mean the positive side of how things were.

We know change is inevitable, but I believe it will all be change for the better.

IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN INTERACTION

One things for sure. The craving for human interaction will never disappear. After being in lockdown for three months, I think we can all agree on that. Its the same in-store. People value human interaction and for brands and retailers of course, how they create that connection might look a little different for a while in the months ahead.

Now must be the time for travel retail to return to basics. People like to talk to people; even if its muffled from behind a face-mask, with hands covered in freshly applied sanitiser or gloves, or at a two-metre distance (one-metre plus distance where two is impossible). Yes, there are still restrictions and it might take time to navigate through this, but the value of human-to-human interactions can never be outshone by technology. As things begin moving again, preparing your brand ambassadors with online safety training for a safe return to work is crucial before they return to the shop floor in the airport.

While they might be unable to hand out samples or spray eager shoppers with a spritz of the latest fragrance, there are still numerous other ways to create valuable brand experiences for duty free shoppers. Merchandising has probably never been more important to ensure a product is in the right place and looking how it should.

Leanne Nutter, Head of Travel Retail, Blackjack Promotions (left) was present at London Heathrow 5 last week, as Blackjack staff returned to work in the reopened Dufry store.

Again, its about going back to the basics of emotional intelligence in order to connect with shoppers under these new circumstances. Brand ambassadors are well trained in knowing how to spot signs by reading people and their body language in order to approach them in the best way.

Its about reading the customer and knowing what they want before they even have to ask. While some customers might be open to having a socially distanced conversation about a brand or product, others might be less inclined and perhaps even a little nervous about this whole new situation. Knowing if they should stand back or engage is something great brand ambassadors do best.

Were all learning to adapt to these new circumstances. It will still take time, but for travel retail, its time to return to basics, hold back the bells and whistles and utilise your most important assets the people to help instil trust and confidence with shoppers, as we navigate this new post-Covid-19 world.

Source: World Duty Free LinkedIn.

The views and opinions expressed here belong to the columnist and do not necessarily reflect those of TRBusiness.

To read other columns in the series, click the relevant links below. Interested in getting involved?Please contact one of the editorial team at the following:[emailprotected];[emailprotected];[emailprotected]

Diego Baeza,Global Travel Retail & Duty Free Director,Via Concha y Toro

Richard Gray, Chief Executive Officer, Aer Rianta International Middle East

Olivier Dancette Founder, HiDutyFree

Dr Patrick Bohl, Chairman, CEETRA

Laurent Safar, CEO, Adaptive Channel

Tim Jobber, International Management Consultant, JES Travel Retail

John Pearce, Head of Retail & Commercial Terminal, Adelaide Airport Limited

Alain Maingreaud, President, TFWA Part Two

Andrew Brodie, CEO, Sunshine Coast Airport

Trevor Lee, Managing Director, TravConsult

James Prescott, Managing Director, Harding Retail

Tullia Ialongo, Business Development Partner, Wand Technology

One Red Kite Limited, Founder and Managing Director Kevin Brocklebank

Alain Maingreaud, President, TFWA Part One

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'Over to you': Leanne Nutter, Head of Travel Retail, Blackjack Promotions | Travel - TRBusiness

What lies beyond the pandemic? MassForward is MassLives series examining the journey of Massachusetts businesses through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

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Walking through the main doors from the parking lot at MGM Springfield, things look about the same as they did before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered most Massachusetts businesses back in March. There is staff to greet customers. All the slot machines seem to still be in place.

Once inside, however, there are both handwashing and hand sanitizing stations. Some areas are closed to the public and there are signs throughout the floor that inform the guests to socially distance and practice good hygiene.

MGM Springfield will reopen in a limited capacity to the public on Monday at 10, a.m. under restrictions set out by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and Gov. Charlie Baker.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission closed the states three casinos on March 14, initially for two weeks before extending the closures. MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park all shut down.

When the casino opens its doors Monday, roughly 800 slot machines will be ready for play out of over 2,000 that were available pre-pandemic. Its a similar story for restaurant capacity, blackjack tables and the casino as a whole -- only a third is available under the states guidelines, which MGM Springfield management say they are happy to follow.

Poker, roulette and craps will not be available until a later date.

As it is in businesses across the state, masks or face coverings will be required of all guests, even when they are at a station with the appropriate social distancing or at the blackjack table where there is plexiglass protecting the dealer and other customers. Between sips of their drink, customers will be asked to keep the mask on. If the patron has a drink, they are asked to not walk the floor with it. Instead, they are to leave it in place and order another from serving staff that will be on the floor at the next station.

Chris Kelley, president of the Northeast Group, MGM Resorts told MassLive that the casino is focusing on public safety as the main goal and hopes that they will be able to further accommodate clientele when it is safe to do so.

This is a community that continues to overcome hardships by supporting and caring for one another, and it is a privilege to be a part of it, said Kelley. When we reopen our doors, we do so with the health and safety of our guests and employees as our number one priority. The property will look a little different, but the great experience at MGM Springfield will remain the same. We look forward to welcoming our guests back.

Slot machines have been closed off to promote social distancing as well as plexiglass being put up between machines for added safety. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Kelley spoke of the seven-point safety plan that has been developed by an epidemiologist and other health experts that have been advising the resort on how to mitigate the spread of the virus, protect customers, employees and rapidly respond to potential new cases.

We have a comprehensive multi-layered plan that is focused on infusing health and safety into the center of everything that we do, said Kelley to MassLive. Partnering with experts is a big piece of that, partnering with the state and local officials as well as regulators in each jurisdiction.

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, along with members of his administration, joined with Kelley and other MGM officials for a tour of the casino on Tuesday.

MGM has taken extraordinary measures to comply with the governors guidance around COVID-19, said Helen Caulton-Harris, the citys commissioner of public health on Tuesday. I felt good about how MGM has put the effort in ensuring those guests who decide to go to MGM will be safe.

Abe Berry, vice president of Hospitality shows the mobile scanner that will be used to promote safety within the restaurants of the casino. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Dining options for now will be limited to the Tap Sports Bar, South End Market and Costas pizza counter where diners will use mobile devices to view and order their food.

Abe Berry, vice president of hospitality, demonstrated the new mobile scanning station that will be used to reserve a table, preview the menu and order food at Taps Sports Bar. The space inside, like elsewhere, is socially distanced with each table a minimum of 6 feet away from others.

Berry said that before the pandemic the Taps could facilitate up to 240 seats in the restaurant and 25 outside, now the capacity is just 90 inside. However, the outside seating area has now been expanded and can fit up to 95 people bringing the total capacity for Taps Sports Bar to 185.

The hotel at MGM Springfield remains closed even though under state phase 3 reopening guidelines they are able to reopen.

The big thing for us is the convention business which drives a lot of the hotel and leisure, but that hasnt come back as strong as wed like to see, said Berry. In addition to that, the limit on capacity that the governor has set for large groups [is not viable at this point].

As the state continues to lift restrictions on groups not only will the casino look at reopening the hotel but also the other restaurants that remain closed.

MGM seven-point safety plan has been posted at the main entrance and casino to remind customers and staff of the precautions they should take to stop the spread of the virus. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

With the exception of the cleaning staff, MGM Springfield has taken staff on at a third of capacity. With only select restaurants open and many of the tables and slot machines closed off, the need to bring the casino back to full capacity is just not there yet.

Weve been in touch with our team members throughout this because theyve been going through a difficult time, MariKate Murren, vice president of Human Resources said to MassLive. Our intent, based on the Massachusetts gaming commission and the commonwealth of Massachusetts, is to bring them back as they allow us to have additional capacity here and to open additional outlets. That is the intent to bring back as many people as we can.

The cleaning staff of the casino is the only department that is at full capacity due to the importance of the upkeep during the pandemic of the casino.

Before the pandemic, MGM Springfield had more than 2,000 employees. Now the casino is staffed by roughly 650 staff members.

The resort has focused its reopening efforts around the seven-point safety plan. Those include:

Vice President and General Counsel Seth Stratton demonstrats one of the new hand washing station in the casino. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Changes that guests can expect:

Hand sanatizer stations have been installed around the casino. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

MassForward is MassLive's series examining the journey of Massachusetts' small businesses through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

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MGM Springfield reopens Monday; Heres how the casino plans to provide a safe experience amid the pandemic - MassLive.com

Guardians of the Galaxy is returning on July 15, picking up on the threads writer Al Ewing laid out in the first three issues of his still-burgeoning run on the title - including the death of Peter Quill and the formation of a second team of Guardians.

With all of that already on the Guardians' plate - and Empyre on the way - Newsarama spoke with Ewing about getting back into this cosmic adventure, working with artist Juann Cabal, and how the Guardians will play an important role in the move toward peace after Empyre.

Newsarama: Al, it's been a little while since we checked in with the Guardians, and there were some developments in the last issue of the series. How does it feel getting back into Guardians now? What do readers need to know to dive back in?

Al Ewing: Gamora's had a recent falling-out with Rocket, and as a result, there are now two separate and competing teams of Guardians, one led by Gamora, one led by Rocket. You'll be introduced to Gamora's team on page one, and then you'll be following Rocket's team through the rest of the issue, so it should all come back to you pretty quickly.

The one other detail it might be worth reminding people about is that there are currently two Moondragons - on Gamora's team, there's the Heather Douglas from the Marvel Universe, Earth 616, where her great love died and she's battled corrupting forces and her own inner darkness multiple times, and on Rocket's team, there's the Heather Douglas from a much more upright and upstanding universe, where she's married to the aforementioned great love - Phyla - and she's never had to go through the things Moondragon-616 has. So really, it's past time they met.

Nrama: You've made some big moves in just three issues of this series so far, pitting the team against the Olympians and apparently killing Peter Quill.

Ewing: That would be the source of the falling-out between Rocket and Gamora. It's not something we're just going to be forgetting about, either.

Nrama: Speaking of Guardians #3, you brought in a new branch of the team with the West Spiral Arm Guardians in that issue. Where did that idea come from? What can you tell us about who they are?

Ewing: The idea came primarily from wanting to shake the movie roster up a little - removing Quill from the picture and creating a schism in the remaining Guardians allowed me to look at some space faces who hadn't been part of things in a while, and bring in some new people.

But having done that, it didn't make sense for Gamora and company to just be sitting around - the soap opera of the Guardians demanded that we keep things moving with them as well as with the "main cast." Hence, the West Spiral Arm Guardians, a play on the West Coast Avengers - we'll see what happens as these now-separate teams intersect with each other.

Nrama: Guardians #3 presented a sort of Rashomon-esque look at the aftermath of Quill's death with three different artists. What makes the Guardians a team perfectly suited for that kind of storytelling? Do you plan to use more out-of-the-box writing styles as the series goes on?

Ewing: We've got plans for issue #9 that should be interesting for people - I spent a lot of time writing it, Juann Cabal took a lot of time designing and building it, and we each contributed an awful lot of esoteric ideas. What it actually is, I won't spoil just yet - but it involved creating an entirely new fantasy world for future adventures.

Nrama: Looking ahead, the solicitation for Guardians #4 mentions the formation of the "true" Guardians. What does that look like, compared to the team we've known for years?

Ewing: Since readers as well as retailers read the solicits, we often have a little fun with them - the joke here being that we're calling the West Spiral Arm Guardians the "true" Guardians, which is something Blackjack O'Hare does as well. To be fair to Blackjack, in terms of which team has the most "movie" Guardians, it's definitely the West-siders.

Nrama: Juann Cabal is drawing Guardians #4 and the arc it kicks off, which involves the Dragon of the Moon. What makes Juann the perfect artist for this cosmic story?

Ewing: Juann's the perfect artist for a lot of stories. Since the very start, I've compared him to New Wave Cinema - his desire to interrogate the rules of storytelling, to break them, to create new ones, to refine and explore those new techniques, all without losing the essential flow. Combine that level of artistic experimentation with a clean, clear, expressive style, that lets you know exactly what's happening in every panel, and you have something really special. Working with him brings out the best in me, and I think future issues - issue #9, for instance - will show that off.

And needless to say, Federico Blee on colors is matching him every step of the way.

Nrama: On that note, later issues deal with Nova trying to regain his status as a hero, according to the solicitations. What's Richard Rider going through right now, and how does that factor into what's coming for Guardians?

Ewing: Nova doesn't need to regain his status as a hero - he already is a hero, galaxy-wide. What he needs to regain is peace of mind - he blames himself for Peter's death, and he's struggling with the significant trauma he's been through in recent years, from the Annihilation War onwards. His big problem is that he's constantly pushing himself - he won't stop and rest unless he's forced to. Right now, he's being forced to - after the significant injuries he sustained during the mission against the Gods of Olympus, he's in a healing tank for at least one more mission, forced to watch and comment through Moondragon's telepathic link. But after he's healed, is he goingto throw himself right back into the meat grinder? Or will he give himself a chance to heal more than his body?

Nrama: You're co-writing Empyre, Marvel's line-wide cosmic crossover that starts in July. How will that play into Guardians of the Galaxy?

Ewing: Empyre is very big, and there are a lot of consequences coming out of it in terms of how the various Space Empires of the Marvel Universe relate to one another. Generally, when you talk about "big consequences" in these interviews, it means somebody's dying, or somebody's coming back to life - and maybe one of those things is true, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about getting my arms deep in the gears of Marvel Space and setting up how they mesh together from here on. In terms of Guardians of the Galaxy - if Empyre is a brutal, bloody war, Guardians is where we start to negotiate what peace looks like... and how fragile it can be.

Nrama: Bottom line, what do you want fans to know about Guardians now that it's coming back?

Ewing: We have one of the freshest and most exciting visual storytellers, the biggest scope and the coolest characters to explore it with. It's the new Marvel Age of Space, true believers - and we're your launchpad. Take the ride.

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Al Ewing: Guardians of the Galaxy is the "launchpad" to "New Age of Space" at Marvel - GamesRadar+

Cordish Companies, Baltimore-based parent company of the Live! Casino brand building gaming halls near Pittsburgh and adjacent to Philadelphia sports stadiums, plans to up the ante and try for a third Pennsylvania property.

A company spokesperson exclusively told PlayPennsylvania that they intend to make a bid on Sept. 2 for a mini-casino license which recently became available.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) announced on July 8 that they will auction off the license once held by Mount Airy Casino before the start of their Sept. 2 meeting. The opening bid is $7.5 million.

The license is available because back in November the PGCB denied the approval of the license which Mount Airy had paid $21.9 million for at the start of 2018. They get only a 75% refund.

Mount Airy cited financing issues.

But a news site, the BeaverCountian.com, reported the delay may have been attributable to a slow-going investigation of former Mount Airy owner Louis DeNaples. He allegedly attended several planning meetings related to the proposed site. DeNaples has alleged mob ties and is banned from working with the casino.

Plans for the bid come as the family-owned company preps for the fall opening of Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Westmoreland County, at a rehabbed vacant mall site.

While work there had ceased for about two months at the height of the virus pandemic, the spokesperson said a fall opening remains on track.

When it opens, it will be the very first mini-casino, or Category 4 Casino, in the state.

In 2017, PA lawmakers passed legislation allowing for an expansion of up to 10 new mini-licenses in parts of the state not served by larger gambling facilities.

But that partially fizzled when no more offers came to the auction table after only five licenses were claimed.

And meanwhile, four of the mini-casinos have proven a bit star-crossed.

Mount Airys site, proposed for Big Beaver, northwest of Pittsburgh, is dead and the license up for grabs.

Work on mini-casinos in York and Morgantown, with licenses held by Penn National Gaming, also halted during the pandemic but have not resumed. The company has not said when it will resume construction. But their CEO recently nixed bidding on the newly available license.

A Shippensburg site chosen by Parx Casino is unsuitable because of geological issues. Parx has never named a new site.

That leaves the western Live! Casino property as the only project moving along now.

The property includes 750 slots, approximately 30 live-action table games, and a retail sportsbook.

The Cordish spokesperson said in a written statement Monday:

Live! will be a first-class facility with the look, feel and amenities of a full-fledged casino, including the best in slots and table games, and exciting and unique food and entertainment amenities. It will showcase that a mini casino, done properly, can compare with any casino, and have an atmosphere and energy that will let it compete with the best the state has to offer.

To prepare for the opening, Live! is sponsoring the Westmoreland County Community College dealer school, scheduled to begin August 17.

Graduates will staff the new $150 million Live! Casino. There will be 500 permanent new jobs for locals. More than 100 of those positions are for table games dealers.

The school is meant to train qualified applicants with the necessary skills needed in the gaming industry and provide the opportunity to interview for a dealer position at Live! Casino.

Westmoreland is hosting a series of information sessions for those interested in learning more. Dates, locations, and sign-up information are available here.

There are no walk-ins. Information sessions are free, but the cost of the school and curriculum is $110 per student for Blackjack training and an additional $75 for other games.

Meanwhile, work is progressing on the Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia project, according to the spokesperson. PlayPA recently got a good look at the progress made.

The projected opening was just before the end of the year.

Together, the two projects represent a nearly $1 billion commitment to the Commonwealth and to bringing a new standard for casinos across the region. We are also excited for the opportunity to bid on the license that will be available in September, and the potential to invest further and create more jobs in the Commonwealth.

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Cordish Aims To Expand Live! Casino Presence in PA With Mini-Casino License Bid - Play Pennsylvania

Bovada is one of the most established and long-running spots to play blackjack online. With a uniquely well put together combination of fantastic bonus promotions, 24 hours a day 7 days a week customer service and easy access to your money it is no wonder why Bovada has become one of the most longstanding and reputable names in the world of internet gaming. With many choices online for options to play blackjack, it is perfectly understandable to want to choose a website that has a longstanding reputation. If you want the very best in the realm of internet gaming, look no further than Bovada. Bovada also features many other diversions including poker and roulette.

With Ignition, youre getting quality. They are one of the longest running and most trustworthy brands in the world of online gambling. If youre looking for online gaming you need to look no further than Ignition. There are thoroughly detailed bonuses that anyone that is interested in games here can apply for, fantastic customer service as well as a good design that ensures that players will always have quick and easy access to their money. Check out Ignition if you want one of the leading experts in blackjack today.

Cafe may not be as much of an established name as some of the other internet casinos, yet in a short time, it has managed to develop a stellar reputation. This is one of the best websites to play blackjack online. Online blackjack games can be played at Cafe by downloading apps for their Android and iOS devices. In addition to being a great spot for online blackjack games, the website also boasts a wide variety of live dealer games and progressive jackpot online slots.

King Billy Casino is a newer name in the market for those wishing to play blackjack online. It was launched just a few years ago, in 2017. However, in this short time, it has managed to establish itself as a leading name in the internet gaming community. It contains one of the most professional layouts in all of internet gaming, some of the best promotions in the field of online casinos and a license from the Curacao eGaming company that proves it is one of the most reputable companies in this field. There are few better opportunities to get your blackjack game on than at King Billy.

Jackpot City has been around for many years now and is well established as one of the very best internet gaming websites. If you want to play blackjack online, or many other fine games, you can do it right at Jackpot City. Due to its long-standing reputation, its managed to accrue some of the most rewarding bonuses, most dedicated support team and easiest access to funds on the entire internet. While you dont have to limit yourself to just blackjack at a wonderful establishment like this, youre more than welcome to play to your hearts content and get an exceptional experience while doing so.

Excerpt from:

Blackjack Online | Top 3 Casinos [2020] to Play for Real Money

Special Situations

There are a couple situations where a game of Blackjack will deviate from the procedures outlined above.

Insurance/Even Money:Insurance is a side bet offered when the dealer has an Ace as an up-card. Before anyone plays their hands the dealer will offer insurance (or even money if you have a Blackjack). You can put up a wager equal to half your original wager or less, which will get paid 2 to 1 if the dealer has a ten as their hole card. So, put simply, youre betting on whether or not the dealer has a blackjack. If you win, you get paid 2 to 1. As a basic strategy player you should always say noto insurance and even money. Only a card counter is skilled enough to play this side bet. Once all the players who want to buy insurance place their bets, the dealer will check her hole card (using a special viewing window in the table). If they have a ten underneath, the dealer got a Blackjack, and will take everyones original wager. Anyone who bought insurance will get paid 2 to 1 on their insurance wager. If the dealer does not have a ten underneath, she will take any insurance wagers that were made and the game will continue like it normally would. If you hold a blackjack while the dealer has an ace showing, you will be offered even money. Dont be fooled! This is just another name for what is mathematically the same as insurance. If you take even money, your blackjack will not get paid 3 to 2 like it normally would. It will just get one times the original wager (even money) regardless of whether or not the dealer has a blackjack. If you do not take even money and the dealer has a blackjack your wager will push and your blackjack will not get paid. If you dont take even money and the dealer does not have a blackjack you will be paid 3 to 2 like you normally would. Again, you should never take even money if you are not a professional card counter. To better understand the difference (or lack thereof) between insurance and even money watch this video from our premium video course: The Truth about Insurance.

Non-Insurable Dealer Blackjack:It is possible for the dealer to have a blackjack without offering insurance or even money. If the dealer is showing a ten up, they will check their hole card automatically, before anyone is allowed to play their hands. If there is an ace underneath, the dealer has a blackjack and all bets on the table will be taken except for any player blackjacks, which would just push. Insurance is only offered when the dealer is showing an ace.

Dead hand: If all players at the table bust before the dealer plays their hand, its considered a dead hand and the dealer will flip over her hole card (so the cameras can see it) and then sweep the cards up and put them in the discard tray. There is no reason to play the dealers hand and waste cards because the dealer has already beaten the player(s).

Side bets: In the last 2 decades or so, Blackjack side bets have become popular. Insurance is the only side bet that is universally offered on all Blackjack tables and is a big part of beating the game for a card counter. But there are hundreds of other kinds of side bets on the felts these days. Most of them will require you to place a bet at the same time you place your main wager. You can be betting on getting a pair as your first two cards, betting on if the dealers cards will match yours, betting on your hand making a poker hand with the dealers up-card, betting on whether or not the dealer with bust, etc. These side bets are everywhere and have various different procedures and pay tables so we will not explain them here. Just know that they are not part of the game of Blackjack itself but may affect the normal dealing procedure of the game. We never recommend playing these side bets. Casinos only offer them because they have a huge advantage over you. Dont be a sucker and learn how to count cards instead.

There are many different rule variations and conditions that can affect how the game of Blackjack is played. In other words, not all blackjack games are created equal, in terms of the odds and favorability to the player. Here is an overview of some of the rules that will affect the odds of the game.

Doubling After Splitting (DAS):This simply means you can double down on a hand you just split. Some casinos will allow you to double after splitting and some dont. Most casinos do allow this rule and it ISadvantageous to the player.

Re-Splitting Aces (RSA):Some casinos allow the player to re-split their aces after they have already split a pair of aces, meaning if you just split a pair of aces and received another ace as the next card, you are allowed to split to a 3rd hand up to a total of 4 hands. The ace is the most powerful card for the player so it is a very advantageous rule for the player if the casino allows RSA. Typically speaking, even if the casino offers RSA, you are still only allowed to take one card on each ace. You cant double after splitting an ace and you cant take additional cards. This is because the casinos know the Ace is the most powerful card and they are trying to limit situations where the playerhas an advantage.

Early Surrender: This is a dead rule that hasnt been in casinos in the United States since the 70s. It is the same as the usual surrender rule only you can surrender before the dealer checks for a blackjack or offers insurance. When it was still around it was highly favorable to the player, to the point where a perfect basic strategy player could have a small edge, without counting cards. It went extinct for that reason. Early surrender is also the reason why some perfectionists will call the common surrender rule by its proper name, late surrender to distinguish it from its counterpart.

6 to 5 Blackjacks: Some casinos that offer blackjack will reduce the 3 to 2 payout for Blackjacks down to only 6 to 5. This increases the house edge and takes more money out of peoples pockets. It also makes card counting basically useless. Even casinos that have this rule may not have it at every table. Be sure to read the rules on the felt before you sit down.

CSM Blackjack: Some casinos use Continuous Shuffling Machines on their blackjack tables. This is a machine that continually shuffles the cards as they are being played. Instead of putting the cards in the discard tray until the end of the shoe, the dealer will continually feed the machine all the used cards and there is never an end to the shoe. This also makes card counting impossible and worsens the odds for a basic strategy player.

Single Deck versus Multi-deck: All else being equal, the house edge on Blackjack gets higher for every deck you add to the game. As a rule of thumb, a 6 deck game will have a higher house edge than a 2 deck game if all other conditions are equal. The problem is, all the other conditions are rarely equal. Often times a single deck game will not allow doubling after splitting or re-splitting aces and will have 6 to 5 blackjacks, whereas an 8 deck game in the same casino might allow DAS, RSA, and have 3:2 Blackjacksand end up with a lower house edge. There are many trade-offs when it comes to the rules and number of decks.

Deck/ShoePenetration(PEN):This refers to the percentage of the cards that are actually dealt out over the course of a shoe. Usually the there is a cut card inserted in the shoe toward the back of the cards to be dealt. When the cut card is dealt out in the course of the game, it signals to the dealer that the shoe is running out of cards and the dealer will shuffle the cards and start a new shoe. While a quarter deck of cards is plenty sufficient to finish a round of Blackjack, most casinos will cut off much more than that (several decks) to limit the profitability of the game for a card counter. For a card counter, the depth of penetration can make or break a blackjack game.

Blackjack is a very popular game in the United States because many people try to beat it by counting cards. Because of its popularity and commonly known rules, many casinos have created Blackjack variants that use a lot of Blackjack rules and terminology to try and piggyback on Blackjacks notoriety. Casinos know they are creating new games entirely, but they want you to think the new games are the same as blackjack so that you can feel like youre playing a familiar gameand the casino can enjoy a higher house edge. Here are some of the Blackjack doppelgngers you should avoid:

Super Fun 21: This is usually pretending to be a single-deck blackjack game where you can surrender on any number of cards, you can double on any number of cards, and you can get paid automatically if you have a 6 card 20 or a 5 card 21 and a player blackjack always wins money! It sounds like a dream. The only problem is that blackjacks only pay even money (except for diamond suited blackjacks). That one change to how blackjacks get paid erases all the benefit of the super fun rules they give you and makes the house edge almost 3 times worse than regular blackjack. This game is not Blackjack. Stay away!

Spanish 21: This game is very popular in many parts of the country. Many of the same rules as above are also present in this game but blackjacks still pay 3 to 2 and you can re-double (double down twice on the same hand). That sounds awesome right!? WRONG! They remove all the 10s from the shoe (the face cards are still in there but no tencards). If you know anything about counting cards, you know the ten-value cards and aces are the most valuable cards for the player. Removing all the tens from the deck erases all the awesome you get from the better rules. It also has a more complicated basic strategy than conventional blackjack so most people do not play correctly and thusmost people are playing at a much bigger disadvantage than what the game insert would print about the game. The casinos love Spanish 21 players. This game is not Blackjack. STAY AWAY!

Free Bet Blackjack: In this game you play just like Blackjack but instead of supplying your own money to double down and split, the casino will let you do it for free but still pay you as if you had wagered the money. Sounds too good to be true right? It is! In exchange for the free roll, if the dealer goes over 21 with a hand total of 22, then all bets push (even though the dealer busted). BARF! This doubles the house edge of normal Blackjack. This is not Blackjack. Stay away!

Blackjack Switch: This game is a little different. You start with 2 hands of blackjack and you can choose to switch the top cards of each hand if you think it will make you a better set of two hands. Any of us who have played blackjack a long time wish we could do that sometimes so this sounds like it could really save your hands right? NOPE! Just like Free Bet Blackjack, the dealer pushes all bets if they get a 22 and player Blackjacks only pay even money. This is not Blackjack! No thank you! There are many more games masquerading as Blackjack that we havent mentioned here because it would take all day. Dont be fooled and make sure youre playing real blackjack before you sit down!

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How To Play Blackjack (The Complete Guide) - Blackjack ...

Mary Virginia "Ginny" Shreve Huntington passed away peacefully with her daughter at her side on June 27, 2020, at the age of 63. Ginny is survived by her beloved daughter, Leigh Huntington Mazzone; son-in-law, Luke Mazzone, and her grandson, Emmett, of Charlottesville, Va. She is also survived by her brother, James D. Shreve, wife, Mitsy and child, Sarah, of Clayton, N.C.; sister, Elizabeth Shreve Dougherty, partner, Frank Freeman and children, Josh and Melinda Renfrow and Patrick and Mary Katherine Dougherty; and grandchildren, Brianna and Steven Renfrow, all of Hillsborough, N.C. Ginny also leaves behind cherished family members including Helen Bushnell Huntington, Kathy Early, Jane Snyder, Ann Bauer, and Sue Huntington, along with numerous brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She was a treasured family member and completely devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, and godmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Clark Shreve and Mary Frances Allen Shreve, of Durham, N.C. Ginny was born on July 4, 1956, in Jacksonville, Fla. Having grown up in Durham, N.C., she graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a Bachelor of Social Work. She later earned her Master of Social Work from Radford University. She felt a call early on to public service, and her achievements as a social worker included employment at a myriad of human service organizations during her career including Crossroads House, Lynchburg Youth Services at Linkhorne Middle School, the 24th District Court Service Unit, City of Lynchburg Department of Social Services, and Bedford County Public Schools. Concluding her public service in the role of Deputy Director of the Lynchburg Department of Human Services, Ginny brought an ability to examine systems and services and maximize their outreach and effectiveness for various populations throughout the city of Lynchburg. As a professional supervisor, Ginny extended support and encouragement that enabled all who worked with her to feel heard, valued, and capable of excellence. In addition, Ginny worked as an adjunct professor at Lynchburg College, and was a staff member of the college's Center for Family Studies & Educational Advancement. In that capacity, she served as a Teaching Assistant for an educational initiative on the island nation of St. Lucia supported by a grant from the World Bank. Working with the island's Ministry of Education and the college's Counselor Education program, Ginny was part of a degree program that trained 25 counselors for service in schools throughout the island. In conjunction with her other work for the Center, she also offered parent education classes, workshops, and other programming related to healthy families and relational dynamics to school divisions, faith communities, and civic groups throughout central Virginia. Ginny's personal and professional worlds were closely woven together; both centered around service to others. Beyond her professional responsibilities she made a difference for those she cared about through a life of service and outreach, as evidenced on many fronts: * Virginia Skyline Girl Scout Council, over a decade of service, for multiple Girl Scout Troops including Troop 888, * Meals on Wheels, Board of Directors, * Healthy Families Advisory, Committee Chair, * Virginia League of Social Services Executives, Regional Coordinator for Directors, * Continuum of Care Committee, * SPCA, ardent supporter, * Bridges Out Of Poverty, now Bridges To Progress, initiated movement for the City of Lynchburg, * Open Table, interdisciplinary team member who invested in improving the outcomes of clients involved with multiple public service agencies. Her travels were extensive, but first and foremost in her heart were the sands of Topsail Island, N.C., where her annual pilgrimage with extended family was the hallmark and highlight of each summer. She trod many further shores, including those of Martinique, the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Hawaii, Scotland, Iceland, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Aruba. Her travels in the U.S. took her to Lake Erie, Disneyworld, Atlantic City, Utah, California, Florida, Boston, Idaho, Glacier National Park, and Colorado, including the top of Pikes Peak and the Four Corners of the West. Ginny really enjoyed a great laugh, and had a wonderful sense of humor. When Ginny laughed, everyone laughedher laughter was contagious. She was an excellent seamstress, wonderful cook, voracious reader of a good mystery, and above all, she was a demon at the card table (a particularly fierce and formidable player of blackjack!). She did not miss a UNC-CH Men's Basketball game; an avid Tarheel fan, she organized the rest of her schedule around Carolina basketball. She was a passionate collector of sea glass and shark teeth from any beach 'round the world. Ginny loved cruising in her convertible, particularly to see the changing colors of the autumn leaves, or on a road tripto anywhere! Ginny was so warmly relational she made friends everywhere she went. She was such a good listener, she often found herself listening to the life stories of complete strangersto her astonishment and chagrin! A reception celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2020, from 1 until 4 p.m. at The Virginian Lynchburg. All are welcome to stop by and celebrate Ginny's purpose-filled life. For those interested in offering a financial donation in Ginny's memory, rather than flowers, please make contributions to Lynchburg Meals on Wheels at mealsonwheels.lynchburg.org. Condolences may be sent to 2220 Old NC 10, Hillsborough, NC 27278.

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Huntington, Mary Virginia "Ginny" Shreve - Lynchburg News and Advance

SERA: CASINOS ARE ALLOWED TO REOPEN AS PART OF PHASE THREE, WHICH STARTED YESTERDAY. THE FIRST TO GET BACK IN BUSINESS WILL BE PLAINRIDGE PARK, WHICH REOPENS TOMORROW WE GOT A FIRST LOOK INSIDE. THEY POSTED THIS VIDEO SHOWING CHANGES THEY HAVE MAD INCLUDING HAND SANITIZER STATIONS, MARKINGS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING, AN BARRIERS BETWEEN SLOT MACHINES. THOSE CHANGES ARE MANDATED BY THE STATE. THE GUIDELINES REQUIRE THAT EVERY OTHER SLOT MACHINE BE TURNED OFF. CHAIRS SHOULD ALSO BE REMOVED FROM THOSE DISABLED MACHINES. OCCUPANCY IS ALSO LIMITED. AND WHILE BEVERAGE SERVICE IS ALLOWED, CUSTOMERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WALK AROUND WITH DRINKS. THE STATES TWO OTHER CASINOS, ENCORE BOSTON HARBOR AND MGM SPRINGFIELD ARE SCHEDULED TO OPEN NEXT

Plainridge to be first Mass. casino to reopen on Wednesday

Plainridge Park will be the first casino in Massachusetts to reopen Wednesday, pending approval from state gaming officials.

Updated: 11:42 PM EDT Jul 7, 2020

Plainridge Park will be the first casino in Massachusetts to reopen Wednesday, pending approval from state gaming officials."We expect to reopen Plainridge Park Casino on Wednesday, July 8th, pending final regulatory approval. We have been working closely with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, state and local leaders, and public health officials to finalize comprehensive reopening protocols and new health and safety precautions," Lance George, general manager of the Penn National Gaming-owned PPC, said last week.Encore Boston Harbor said last week that it expects to reopen its $2.6 billion Everett casino at 9 a.m. on July 12. MGM Springfield said it plans to open July 13 at 10 a.m.The Gaming Commission set out a series of restrictions meant to keep workers and players safe -- no poker, craps or roulette until further notice, blackjack-style gaming tables will be capped at three players and will include plexiglass barriers, and players must wear something to cover their nose and mouth upon entry and while in the gaming area, except to have a drink.

Plainridge Park will be the first casino in Massachusetts to reopen Wednesday, pending approval from state gaming officials.

"We expect to reopen Plainridge Park Casino on Wednesday, July 8th, pending final regulatory approval. We have been working closely with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, state and local leaders, and public health officials to finalize comprehensive reopening protocols and new health and safety precautions," Lance George, general manager of the Penn National Gaming-owned PPC, said last week.

Encore Boston Harbor said last week that it expects to reopen its $2.6 billion Everett casino at 9 a.m. on July 12. MGM Springfield said it plans to open July 13 at 10 a.m.

The Gaming Commission set out a series of restrictions meant to keep workers and players safe -- no poker, craps or roulette until further notice, blackjack-style gaming tables will be capped at three players and will include plexiglass barriers, and players must wear something to cover their nose and mouth upon entry and while in the gaming area, except to have a drink.

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Plainridge to be first Mass. casino to reopen on Wednesday - WCVB Boston

Blackjack Promotions staff were back at work welcoming shoppers into stores in airports across London and Dublin as travel retail outlets began to open again last week.

As World Duty Free Group reopened stores at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, Blackjack staff returned to the front line to greet shoppers in stores, including the specialist World of Whisky outlet in Heathrow Terminal 5.

Blackjack Promotions staff back at work at London Heathrow

The re-openings mark the culmination of hard work by staff, brands and retailers to ensure stores are safe and compliant with new regulations before the arrival of customers.

Blackjack Promotions Head of Travel Retail Leanne Nutter told DFNI: It felt so good to be back in store for the World Duty Free openings! Our team are ready and raring to go yes its quiet at times but passengers are keen to shop and with the stores looking so attractive, clean and safe, everyone has worked really hard to get to this moment.

Blackjack Promotions staff are back greeting customers at Gatwick Airport

In Ireland, staff were also getting ready to return to work at Dublin Airport, where Blackjacks #BeReady training videos and PPE resources have been deployed to ensure brand ambassadors and stores were ready to start business again.

Seeing the team get back to work in Dublin with ARI was a great moment and one that felt a long time coming, enthused Blackjack Promotions Head of International Fiona Rayner.

Blackjack Promotions Staff back at work in Dublin Airport

Its been wonderful to listen to stories from the shop floor and to see the team back doing what they do best passengers can seem nervous in the new environment but the Aer Rianta team have done a wonderful job to get the stores ready. Onwards and upwards.

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Back to work: Blackjack staff return to airports in London and Dublin - DFNIonline.com

Mobile casinos are designed to offer the best gaming experience, especially to Android users. Some of the most popular casino games on android include blackjack, slots, roulette, and video poker among others.

The top reasons why you should play casino games on android is the flexibility of playing while on the go and you also get to explore the same incredible gaming experience as you would on PC but in your pocket. With Android gambling apps, graphics and usability remain uninterrupted.

In this article, we will discuss some of the best casino games, comparison between Android and iOS devices casino games, as well as outline our top recommendable casino Apps.

Playing blackjack on Android gives you the option to either play for free or for real money. As a beginner, you can opt for the free version to help you hone your skills before risking with your money.

Types of online blackjack variations at casinos include:

Slots are among the most played mobile casino games mostly because they run smoothly on most Android devices. These games are simple to play and easy to understand as they dont require a lot of thought or strategy.

You only need to spin the reels and wait for the outcome. You can play for real money and earn real cash or play for free if you are just looking for a way to pass time.

Here are the top types of slots games on Android:

With the recent technological enhancement in mobile gambling, players not only have the opportunity to play virtual casino games, but they also have access to live dealers.

The types of roulette games available on Android include:

Video poker combines two highly popular casino games; poker and slots. But what makes video poker best to play on the go is the fact it is not as demanding as real poker, yet unlike slots, it requires some strategies and decision making to help you win.

Variations of video poker include:

With casino games, the software providers have ensured that you have a choice between playing on the apps or playing directly from the website.

Both options work perfectly and the effectiveness of each option depends on a players preference.

However, casino apps offer a light-weight and on-the-go chance to play your favorite casino game from your smartphone or tablet. More so, you will still have access to all the casino games available on the website.

The main difference will be the translation of the games to a small screen. Although the images maybe a little smaller, the sharpness of graphics and quality of interface of games powered by industry leaders such as NetEnt and Microgaming, tend to be as good, if not even better.

As for Android versus iOS casino games, it all boils down to personal preference since the quality of the gaming platforms for these two operating systems is the same.

However, we can expound on the difference based on these four factors:

Restrictions

Google Play does not support real-money gaming apps in some countries including the US. France, Ireland, and the UK are exceptions of this feature. Players in the restricted countries can only access the freemium casino games. App store on the other hand support gambling applications.

User experience

As earlier mentioned there is no significant difference between these two mobile operators in terms of your experience playing casino games.

Android offers more customized options while iOS devices are tailored to offer simplicity and effortless experience.

Performance

There is also no significant difference between these two in terms of performance. However, you can expect occasional issues if you are using the lowest end of Android devices or a very old iPhone.

Platform support

Apple often receives more new games first since developers have a reasonably smaller range of devices to cater to.

On the other hand, Android runs on thousands of different smartphones which can make it take longer to release a new game.

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What are the Best Casino Games on Android - Phandroid - News for Android

Blackjack is one of those games that will never get old. Popular more than ever, the game has been omnipresent on the internet for quite some time now. Blackjack is included in almost every casinos offer, those venues that dont have it in their portfolios are probably not even worth mentioning.

Over the years, and especially since the launch of its online version, the game has spawned many variants. Besides Classic Blackjack, you have games like War Blackjack, Doublet Blackjack, Blackjack Switch, Face Up Blackjack, European Blackjack, and many, many more.Some of these variants are adapted to fit better into a certain area, while others include some additional features and have a bit more different game mechanics.

Whatever the case may be, Live Blackjack is one of the most popular games in the world right now. There is no better time to try than today, the game has been a blast for the last couple of weeks attracting a vast number of players. To do so, you will need to find sites that offer it. Well, have no fret, we are here to help you. In this article, we will talk about three phenomenal casinos that can offer you Live Blackjack tables. Make sure that you visit them, you wont be disappointed with their offer.

Besides Live Blackjack, this site includes a ton of other intriguing games. Fruity Casa is known as a Jack of All Trades, a site that enjoys owning a huge and diverse offer of goods. Also, this casino boasts a superb customer support service that works all around the clock. Fruity Casa is a user-friendly and welcoming place, a venue that will satisfy all of your gambling needs for sure.

Managed by a group of gambling enthusiasts, this site is all about fun and games. Play Frank Casino is firmly focused on providing its clients with superb gambling experience, and it does that by importing the finest games in the world and by shuffling various bonuses and promotions on a regular basis.

This third site comes as a mix of two venues mentioned above. Like Fruity Casa, this site offers a huge assortment of diverse games. But then, just like Play Frank Casino, the site knows how to use bonuses and promotions to motivate players. What makes it unique is its great VIP program that will allow players to participate in special events and collect some rather unique prizes.

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High-Quality Online Casino Apps to gamble at Live Blackjack tables this week - Tunf.com News

NOW weddings have officially been given the green-light to resume, The Mail is reminiscing on some of its favourite themed weddings, ranging from Peaky Blinders to the casino.

Among these was Sarah Woodall, a teaching assistant and Matthew Caulfield, an electrician, who said I do in a gin-and-tea themed ceremony held at the Dunes Hotel in Barrow.

The pair, who both live in Dalton, first met through mutual friends in 2010, who set them up on Facebook.

Mrs Caulfield described the wedding as amazing and absolutely perfect.

I wish we could just do it all again, she said.

Everything went perfect - I remember dancing all night.

"Everyone was just having the best time."

Mrs Caulfield described the wedding as vintage, gin-and-tea themed with a twist.

The cake was amazing it had a theme of G&T with a twist, Mrs Caulfield said.

There was gin with cups of tea on the cake because I love tea and gin."

Another wedding-themed favourite was BAE workers, Holly Lloyd and David Thompson who had a Casino-themed reception at the Daffodil Hotel in Grasmere.

Mrs Thompson described the day as an 'absolute whirlwind'.

She said: "We wanted to get married outside but it was raining.

"A special highlight of the day was definitely the casino.

"There were three blackjack tables which everyone really enjoyed.

"It went down a hoot.

"We even had fake money which had the bank of Mr and Mrs Thompson printed on it.

"And the winners received personalised champagne bottles.

"We loved it because it was a quite unique idea."

Finally, Shirley Laurie and John Lyne caught everyone's attention when they decided to tie the knot with a very unique theme: The Peaky Blinders.

The couple, who met on popular dating site Plenty of Fish,tied the knot in a Peaky Blinders 1920s-themed wedding.

The male guests donned flat caps and Tweed suits whilst the women styled flapper dresses and feather boas.

Mrs Lyne said: "I love 1920s fashion. I love Tweed and flapper dresses so thought why not include it in the wedding?

"Most people wore a more formal outfit for the day then changed into a 1920s outfit for the evening do.

"It was absolutely great. Everyone seemed to love it."

Mrs Lynes two beloved pugs also played a part in the big day.

It was absolutely fantastic, she said.

It was very blissful and emotional, it was lovely to see my sons there."

See the rest here:

The Mail reminisces on its favourite themed weddings - NW Evening Mail

The casino industry is one of the fastest-growing industries globally. With new advancements in technology, the industry moved online offering fans and players an opportunity to explore the online casino gaming experience. Currently, online casino developers and service providers make the most of innovations to provide quality games characterized with great visuals, audio, and an array of modern games to play. Today, you can play your favorite games without visiting a land-based casino.

Whats more, new technology has changed the way you make payments, engage with live dealers, and enhanced the entire gaming experience for players. Here is how new technology will affect the online casino experience.

Casino games, IT experts, and slot machine developers have embraced VR/AR technologies to provide a gaming experience similar to that of land-based casinos to all players. Regardless of your location, you can make the most of VR headsets and AR technology to play poker, roulette, blackjack, and other exciting games that immerse you in the real world. Already, many casinos are offering the best AR and VR games for you to explore. Based on your gaming goals, skills, and experience, you will always find a platform that suits your needs.

Smart devices have made life more interesting for millions of casino game lovers globally. With modern and advanced smartphones, you can play any game from wherever you are. You only need to leverage the power of the internet, make smart decisions when choosing an online casino, and use your smartphone to explore the most thrilling and rewarding games.

Since 2017, when Micrograming introduced the smartwatch for online casino slot games, the industry has never looked back. It has continued to advance this technology making it easy for players to game even when traveling or when relaxing in your backyard. The smartwatch is highly portable, offers exciting games to play, and is more entertaining bearing in mind that you have easy access to your online casino, right on your wrist.

The gambling and online gaming industry embraced blockchain and cryptocurrency technology to enhance the easy transfer of money in land-based and online casinos. Today, you dont have to carry lots of money to play or bet on your favorite platform. With the technology, you only need to make use of cryptos including bitcoin and other popular digital money options accepted in an online casino. Using digital money is safe because of highly encrypted information that only you can access. Therefore, as you transact, you are at peaceknowing your payment option is secure, safe, and guarantees easy withdrawals.

How New Technology will affect the Online Casino Experience

When it comes to enhancing a players online casino gaming experience, understanding his or her needs is very important. This is why online casinos are using modern data and predictive strategies to evaluate a players gaming behavior. With such details, it becomes easy to tailor gaming to match the unique needs of a player. It is a technology that impacts a players experience and helps online casinos to tap more players based on a gamers positive reviews.

New technology also enhances a players whole round experience. A player today can access the best information on different online casino games at the click of a button. This includes the best games to play, bonuses, winning strategies, players across the globe who want to play virtually among other exciting details. The new technology has paved the way for a player who is informed and whole rounded to enjoy the best online casino experience. Gone are the days when you would play blindly and end up losing your money.

In a nutshell, technology has transformed online casino experience and created an incredible platform where you can play safely, conveniently, and comfortably. It has made the online gaming world an ideal place for entertainment and exciting rewards for players and fans globally.

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How New Technology will affect the Online Casino Experience - Gildshire Magazines

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: As a kid, my classmates used to call me blackie. My teachers would rarely let me participate in school dances or fashion shows. I thought I was not good enough for anything and it left a lasting impact on me, shares a 25-year-old journalist.

While I was interning as a school counsellor, I had adolescent clients who were dealing with body image concerns triggered by name-calling in class because of their skin colour, says K Apuroop, a counsellor. As a model, clients and brands would prefer white skin women and I had to struggle to get to where I am today. Very few designs houses or brands about ten years ago accepted my skin colour and booked me for their shows or shoots, comments Deborah Doris Fell, Ponds Femina Miss India 2013 - II nd runner up and finalist, Kingfisher Supermodels - Season 3.

The fairness creams market in India is estimated to be worth nearly `5,000 crore, and Fair and Lovely holds nearly 70% market share. Naturally, the branding was to convince the average Indian girl to become fair to look lovely. In my over 25 years as a make-up artist, I have had many requests from clients to make them look fairer. I have flatly refused even at the cost of losing some work. Skin should have a beautiful gradation and a glow, whether fair or dusky-skinned, reveals Hyderabad make-up artist Sachi Dakoji.A friend passed a coy comment when some guys were playing blackjack. He said to me with a chuckle that I cant play blackjack because I am black, shares Aditya V, a content writer.

Snide comments on dark or dusky skinned people right from the time they are born are not uncommon. We have quickly gone from oh what a cute and pink child to just oh! for a dusky newborn. Being derided for you will never find a suitable match to name-calling couples Black and White TVs if one is fairer than the other; from our well-meaning grandmothers to pesky neighbours, all and sundry have an opinion on skin colour.

Sushmita Jakkula, founder, The Soaptub Co shares that she gets many requests from clients in their late 20s for soaps that will make their skin fairer. She informs, I try to educate them that being fair-skinned or not, is just genetic. Face masks can improve skin health, but not change skin colour.

In a market obsessed with fairness, numerous companies have sold tubes of creams and jars of bleach in an attempt to make one fair. People over the years have fought hard to break this social stigma surrounding colour. When recently Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) rebranded its face cream to drop the word fair and make it Glow & Lovely, many felt it was a small step in the right direction.

A good thing about taking down the word fair from skin whitening cosmetic creams is that it will provide opportunities to have conversations on systemic racism and body image concerns. When we see advertisements that emphasise fairness to be the beauty standard, it causes viewers to develop negative body perceptions, says Apuroop. Stating that historically beauty standards were often shaped by the culture people are in, he adds, We have a colonial hangover which makes us obsessed with fairness.Deborah terms the name change a welcome decision. She feels, I believe everyone is beautiful no matter what skin colour they have. Colour should never be something that is looked down upon. We must learn to embrace ourselves and love ourselves first in order for others to do the same.

Looking good has always meant fair and lovely, not just what is seen in advertisements, but it has been put as a belief ingrained in us right from our adolescent years, feels Chaitanya Ch, image consultant, StyleChai. It has to set in that, dark is also beautiful, comments she. On her clients, she says, I have noticed that homemakers and even professionals placed in high offices suffer from low self-worth because they are dark in colour.

Harsha Tallapragada, model and an under-graduate student, begs to differ. She says, Firstly, changing the name of the product doesnt really bring changes to the product. Changing the product name is just like changing the cover of an old book. Adding that brands should come up with new products instead, she adds, With beauty trends changing, I dont think one should judge a person based on their colour.

Says Kavitha Emmanuel, Dark is Beautiful campaigner, Women of Worth Founder who is passionate about social justice and gender equity. Good to know that people are talking about colourism and companies are thinking about it. While I started Dark is Beautiful campaign in 2009, it took a long time to get matrimonial alliance firms such as Shaadi.com to rephrase words such as fair and beautiful etc. However, I wish the company will show more commitment to the cause and go beyond just the tokenism of changing the name. The 45-year-old fair is lovely narrative has to change to ensure that the change happens in mindset, and not just the brand name.

Inside GlowThe word radiant or glow to is holistic. It comes from inside and is enhanced by what you put on the outside. It is important to have wholesome food and drink lots of water. On the outside, enhance natural features. Embrace your skin colour and match whatever foundation you are using to that. For warm skin tones, never try to make skin look fairer because this will work against you. It will make you look grey and dull. Find a shade that matches your skin tone. Even while picking eye shadows or blush, pick warmer earthy tones, low warm oranges or deep pinks. This will give radiant-looking skin!-Gazal Surana, makeup artist

tamanna@newindianexpress.com@tamannamehdi

(with inputs from Ananya Mariam Rajesh)

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Thats so unfair - The New Indian Express

RAPID CITY Health officials have identified the weekend-long Torch Lake sandbar party and a period of time at a local casino as possible exposure sites for the pandemic disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Officials at the Health Department of Northwest Michigan on Friday announced several people who tested positive for COVID-19 indicated they participated in the parties at the Torch Lake sandbar during the Independence Day holiday weekend.

However, those infected could not identify everyone with whom they came into close contact as part of the case investigations, officials said.

"This situation reminds us of how important it is to take precautions such as avoiding large gatherings whenever possible especially without social distancing and masking," said Lisa Peacock, the department's health officer.

The possible exposure period at the Torch Lake sandbar is the duration of the holiday weekend. Anyone who attended the festivities there is advised to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and potentially seek testing.

With three law enforcement entities policing the party, Antrim County Sheriff Dan Beale said enforcing social distancing at the annual party that draws thousands wasn't possible.

"What do you expect to happen when you have that many people?" Beale said. "People have been cooped up for so long and individuals were willing to take the chance whether they would get sick or not."

The almost-certain presence of the virus was the reason Beale said the department did not have officers walking the sandbar to patrol like they have had in year's past.

Brandon Nichols, owner of Dockside Bar and Restaurant on Torch Lake, said his business was back open that day after being closed out of caution for extensive cleaning.

It came with a change, however, as he said his staff made an effort to sanitize and limit the restaurant's capacity, beyond what they've done so far this summer, that Saturday in particular.

"As far as the sandbar goes, we were worried about that coming into the summer," Nichols said. "There's really no way to stop that many people going down there."

Additionally, the Grand Traverse County Health Department announced a possible COVID-19 exposure at Turtle Creek Casino during the recent weekend.

Anyone at the blackjack tables at the casino in Williamsburg between 8 and 9:15 p.m. on July 5 should also monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and both seek testing and quarantine should any develop.

Casino security workers confirmed the guest who tested positive for the disease was temperature tested at the door and wore a mask for the duration of their visit.

"While exposure to our employees and guests is limited because of our mask requirements, plexi-shield precautions, social distancing, continual and deep cleaning, and maximized ventilation systems, we want to inform the public as soon as possible to ensure safety on everyone's behalf," said Michael Schrader, the casino's chief executive officer, in a released statement.

He said casino workers are working with health department officials for contact tracing.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced 612 new cases of COVID-19, the states most since May 20. On Wednesday it announced 610 cases.

MDHHS did not report any deaths within the last day for the second time in a week. The 15 deaths announced were through the process of a vital records review.

Just 35 deaths were announced this week, the lowest 7-day average of the pandemic, outside of those attributed to a vital records review.

Regionally, 11 cases were announced. There were four cases announced in Grand Traverse County, two in Emmet County and one in counties of Crawford, Manistee, Missaukee, Montmorency and Roscommon.

On the same day the Health Department announced community exposure sites at the Sandbar party, the Governor signed an executive order on Friday, reiterating a previous order that masks are required to be worn in enclosed public spaces in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. It also added the requirement to wear a mask in crowded outdoor areas.

For any business that is open to the public to refuse entry or service to people who refuse to wear a face covering, with limited exceptions. Businesses now must post signs at all entrances instructing customers of their legal obligation to wear a face covering while inside.

Similar orders have been filed by several city, county and state governments nationwide.

The Governor faced questions from reporters in a state press conference on Thursday criticizing the enforcement of the states prior mask order.

We do actually have penalties under the law, the problem of course is making sure that we are enforcing and have compliance, Whitmer said. That relies on assistance at the local level, and I think as we see our numbers continue to rise that locals are going to get more active in assisting on this front.

Nichols said he thought his restaurant would get pushback when the initial mandate went into effect, requiring patrons to wear masks until they reached their tables.

That's not been the case, he said.

"It's been really cool because everyone's kind of just doing their part," Nichols said. "Everybody has had a little bit of a wakeup call. We're kind of a bit in no-mans-land and everybody was like 'okay, it's real, we need to be safe, we need to protect ourselves and we need to protect other people."

The executive order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 13.

Sheri McWhirter contributed to this report

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Several visited sandbar party and tested positive for COVID-19 - Traverse City Record Eagle

NerdcoreMovement

NerdcoreMovement.com is your one stop destination for all things nerd, pop culture and geek related. Comic books, TV recaps and reviews, movie previews, trailers, and hot chicks reviewing video games. What more could you ask for?

In these unprecedented times, many people are searching for fun activities to do whilst locked down in their own homes and most of these involve the internet! However, if youre bored of making Tik Toks, or hosting pub quizzes for friends and family over Zoom, then why not head over to an online casino and sit around a virtual, yet live, table, and enjoy casino Blackjack at home! If that sounds like something you and your mates would be interested in whether youre novices or local brick-and-mortar regulars read on to find out about the best live Blackjack games around!

Live Quantum Blackjack

In Quantum Blackjack, the games classic rules apply, except theres a few modernised twists! In this game which is brought to you by the ever-popular gaming developers Playtech Quantum Multipliers can boost your winning when you beat the dealer with a hand containing one or more Quantum Multiplier cards.

A total of three multiplier cards which can multiply your initial wager by 3x, 5x and 10x can be in play on the table in each round. These apply only to the main bet and not to side bets, and, to make things even better, these are of no advantage to the dealer whatsoever! As soon as youve placed your bets for the up-and-coming round, up to three multiplier cards are chosen at random from the deck of digital cards. If your hand was to beat the dealers, and you have one (or more) of the multiplier cards, then your winnings are ramped up by the multiplier displayed. However, when this happens your initial bet will not be returned.

You can still, of course, place side bets in this eight-decked game and theres a vast range of bets for you to place, including pair-based bonuses focusing on identical cards, colours and numbers. The popular 21+3 side bet is also at your peril.

An unlimited number of players can play this game at once. So, grab as many of your mates as possible and try to beat the dealer, whilst hopefully enhancing your bankroll!

Live All Bets Blackjack

The classic rules apply in this Blackjack game get your cards to reach the value of 21 (or as close to as possible). You can split your hand, double down and even take insurance, if the dealers up-facing card is an Ace. However, the difference is Live All Bets Blackjack is jam-packed with several side bets five to be specific, as detailed below:

Similarly to Quantum Roulette, an unlimited amount of players can join in the fun with this game!

Of course, there are standard Blackjack tables online that you and your mates can gather around, however, make sure theres enough free seats!

So, what are you waiting for? Gather up your pals and get playing!

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The Best Live Blackjack Games to Play with Friends to Beat Lockdown Boredom - Nerdcore Movement