Monthly Archives: April 2021

Vote to sell Ascension sewer assets to Bernhard-backed firm headed to polls on Saturday – The Advocate

Posted: April 23, 2021 at 12:11 pm

PRAIRIEVILLEVoters across all of Ascension Parish will decide Saturday whether to sell a number of government-owned sewage treatment systems on the east side of the Mississippi River to a private management firm backed by former Shaw Group head Jim Bernhard.

The deal would include a network of public sewer operations in unincorporated areas, primarily in Prairieville and Dutchtown, leaving out those serving Gonzales and Sorrento. Sewer operations west of the river are also not part of the proposed deal.

National Water Infrastructure, owned by Bernhard Capital Partners Management, would take ownership of sewer plants, trunk lines and other elements of the waste system by paying the parish $9.26 million. It would also promise to build within five years a new $200 million regional treatment plant that discharges into the Mississippi River, long a goal of state regulators.

It's not clear what kind of rates NWI's current and future parish customers -- about 19,000 in all -- would pay under the deal.

Ascension Parish voters will be asked April 24 to decide whether the way to settle parish government's decades-long struggle to improve sewage

Parish officials have said it would be up to the Public Service Commission to set rates; NWI has said ratepayers could see an extremely minimal rate increase in the next two years, and capital expenditures could bring a later increase.

NWI residential customers currently pay $45 per month; parish customers pay $42.50 per month.

Among the parish assets, NWI would gain two major, costly sewer lines under La. 42 and La. 73 and also a regional collection system and discharge line to the Mississippi River. The latter were financed through several million dollars from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and federal hurricane recovery money.

The parish would simultaneously agree to a nonexclusive franchise agreement for NWI that would pay the parish $500,000 a year to start. The parish's annual fee collections would increase as new customers are added to the system.

The state Public Service Commission would need to approve the deal, along with any potential rate increases.

GONZALES Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment is ready to get back to business as usual, and says the parish's decades-old problem wit

The proposal represents a marked shift from generations of parish officials and, for a time, even first-term Parish President Clint Cointment. They had sought ways to have the parish finance and expand its own regional system, but were unable to reconcile the high costs through taxes, high user fees or significant subsidies with general parish funds.

For months, Cointment and a unified front of parish officials have argued the deal would put an end to costly public subsidies of a far-flung collection of sewer plants -- $42 million over the past nine years -- that won't ever reach economies of scale that would make them cost-effective.

The parish spends $3 million per year alone in general tax revenues to subsidize the existing system. And it also would need to find a way to finance the kind of large regional system NWI is proposing to satisfy state regulators worried about the poor water quality in the parish's bayous.

Meanwhile, the money saved and also earned under the NWI deal can be put to other needs in the growing suburban parish, they have argued. Parish officials estimated the combined savings and earnings could hit $95 million over 20 years.

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Ascension Wastewater Treatment, the state's largest private sewer provider, has been acquired by Baton Rouge private equity firm Bernhard Capi

In a recent public hearing in Prairieville, parish resident Rob Cowzer, 68, asked Cointment to explain why he had personally switched from opposing an earlier pubic-private partnership with NWI and arguing that the parish could finance its own regional sewage treatment system to now saying the parish's only path was to let NWI take full control.

"When you look at the numbers, the whole deal has switched over and that's why. If I didn't think this was best for the people of this parish, I promise you, I would not support it," Cointment said.

Cowzer remained skeptical of the parish's saving estimates and promised spending. Other residents said they were likely to support the measure.

Some of the public meetings, however, have been lightly attended. In early voting, 1,550 people have voted in person.

Parts of the eastern and all of western Ascension are also voting in the 2nd Congressional District runoff.

Under the deal, thousands of homeowners on individual treatment systems would not be required to hook up to the future NWI system.

The Ascension Parish Council has rejected Parish President Clint Cointments attempt to fully develop his own plan to inspect the more than 19

As president-elect in late 2019, Cointment and a handful of councilmen-elect opposed and stalled a proposed public-private partnership with the essentially same company that would have kept Ascension in the sewer business.

After floating a plan to have the parish build its own sewer system in May, Cointment, like other parish officials, has concluded it was time to sell.

The sewer asset appraisals represent significant hit for the parish. Appraisers estimated the replacement value at nearly $28 million.

But Cointment and others have suggested the appraisals show a parish system is a losing proposition. At the same time, the cost of more valuable parish assets would have been born by NWI's ratepayers.

"We wholeheartedly believe this is the best thing for the future of Ascension Parish when it comes to saving tax dollars, to spending more wisely and to protecting our general fund," Councilman Chase Melancon said in St. Amant earlier this month.

GONZALES A bigger, better sewer treatment plant, more customers, better environmental benefits for Ascension Parish and all of it done in

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Vote to sell Ascension sewer assets to Bernhard-backed firm headed to polls on Saturday - The Advocate

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New CEO named at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown and West – williamsonherald.com

Posted: at 12:11 pm

Ascension Saint Thomas recently announced Shubhada Jagasia, MD, MMHC, as the new president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital, Midtown and West campuses.

Offering nearly 30 years of clinical and health care administration experience, Jagasia most recently served as chief of staff for the adult hospital and ambulatory clinics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. There, she successfully led the COVID-19 service line as part of the pandemic response, created an innovative discharge and transitions program, and developed a patient and caregiver-centered end-of-life program. She also helped develop multiple new clinical programs, including a specialized service line catering to patients with high health care resources utilization.

Her prior roles include medical director of the Eskind Diabetes Clinic and vice chair of clinical affairs for the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt.

Jagasia moved to Tennessee in 1994 to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis after graduating from King Edward Memorial Medical College in Mumbai, India. She then relocated to Nashville for her internal medicine residency, which she completed on the Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown and West campuses through the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She continued her clinical training at Vanderbilt with a fellowship in diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism. She also obtained a Masters of Management in health care from the Owen Graduate School of Management.

Jagasia joins Ascension Saint Thomas amid major expansion of the heart, transplant, neuroscience and critical care programs on the West campus and a $300-million modernization of the Midtown campus. The widely anticipated Midtown development encompasses a new, state-of-the-art surgery and critical care tower, a new entrance and program enhancements for the Hospital for Women, a new medical office building, a new spine institute with specialized surgical suites, a new specialty hospital for inpatient rehabilitation and expansions to the cancer center.

Dr. Jagasia will be a tremendous asset to our ministry as we continue to drive innovation within healthcare, said Tim Adams, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas. Dr. Jagasia will lead and enhance our already strong associate and clinician engagement across service lines within both facilities while providing Middle Tennesseans with world-class care. Additionally, she plans to continue her endocrinology work as a part of our medical staff.

Jagasia succeeds Fahad Tahir, outgoing president and CEO of the Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown and West campuses, as he assumes the role of system chief strategy officer for Ascension Saint Thomas.

In partnership with Jagasia, and as part of his scope within the chief strategy officer role, Tahir will lead service lines across the system, continue to support clinical program development and maintain close engagement with physicians, hospital leadership and co-management boards. He will also remain a co-executive sponsor of the Midtown modernization, clinical program development and capital campaign, in partnership with the Ascension Saint Thomas Foundation.

Jagasias new role will be effective on May 1.

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Check out the results of the District 5-5A track meet at Catholic High – The Advocate

Posted: at 12:11 pm

Girls

Team scores: 1, St. Josephs Academy, 228. 2, Dutchtown, 129. 3, Baton Rouge High, 101. 4, East Ascension, 75. 5, St. Amant, 35. 6, Woodlawn, 10.

Field events

Long jump: 1, Simone Castelluccio, SJA, 17-10 . 2, Ava Riche, SJA, 17-7 . 3, Jakayla Joseph, EAHS, 15-6 .

High jump: 1, Riley Wilson, SJA, 5-3. 2, Aaryona Kinchen, BRHS, 5-2. 3, Reese Favaloro, SJA, 5-0.

Triple jump: 1, Simone Castelluccio, SJA, 38-2 . 2, Ava Riche, SJA, 36-3 . 3, McKenzie Landry, WHS, 33-3 .

Pole vault: 1, Ava Riche, SJA, 12-0. 2, Taylor Walker, SJA, 10-0. 3, Lexie Martin, SAHS, 7-3.

Shot put: 1, Laila Guy, Baton Rouge, 37-11 . 2, Lyndsey Darensbourg, St. Josephs, 33-7 . 3, Chelsey McClay, Dutchtown, 32-2 .

Javelin: 1, Rebecca Bordelon, SJA, 130-10. 2, Milain Marcel, DHS, 111-9. 3, Gracie Baker, 95-1.

Discus: 1, Laila Guy, BRHS, 111-6. 2, Chelsey McClay, DHS, 92-1. 3, Havilland Forbes, SJA, 89-8.

Track events

4x200-meter relay: 1, St. Josephs, 1:42.02. 2, Baton Rouge, 1:42.77. 3, East Ascension, 1;45.40.

1,600: 1, Sophie Martin, SJA, 5:14.79. 2, Maddie Gardiner, SJA, 5:20.99. 3, Kaylee Braud, DHS, 5:58.72.

4x800 relay: 1, St. Josephs, 9:53.68. 2, Dutchtown, 11:41.86. 3, East Ascension, 11:47.41.

100 hurdles: 1, Jessica Pitcher, BRHS, 15.33. 2, Isabella Lalonde, SJA, 15.75. 3, Elizabeth Gordon, SJA, 17.35.

100: 1, Ariane Linton, DHS, 11.97. 2, Jessica Pitcher, BRHS, 12.43. 3, Meghan Joshua, DHS, 12.54.

800: 1, Rachel Fereday, DHS, 2:25.43. 2, Amelia Cochran, SJA, 2:25.73. 3, Lydia Poche, SJA, 2:29.01.

4x100 relay: 1, East Ascension, 49.33. 2, Dutchtown, 49.60. 3, Baton Rouge, 49.68.

400: 1, Esther Nwanze, BRHS, 59.10. 2, Haley Jones, SJA, 59.13. 3, Aaryona Kinchen, BRHS, 1:00.55.

300 hurdles: 1, Isabella Lalonde, SJA, 48.57. 2, Rachel Fereday, DHS, 50.06. 3, Mihnlan St. Cyr, EAHS, 50.46.

200: 1, Ariane Linton, DHS, 25.65. 2, Kiearra Wallace, BRHS, 26.42. 3, Sydney Johnson, EAHS, 26.86.

3,200: 1, Sophie Martin, SJA, 11:14.09. 2, Maddie Gardiner, SJA, 11:55.85. 3, Phoebe Dunham, DHS, 13:12.31.

4x400 relay: 1, St. Josephs, 4:01.19. 2, Baton Rouge, 4:07.13. 3, Dutchtown, 4:15.46. 4, East Ascension, 4:18.48.

Team scores: 1, Catholic, 216. 2, St. Amant, 104. 3, Dutchtown, 89. 4, Woodlawn, 87. 5, East Ascension, 79. 6, McKinley, 4. 7, Baton Rouge High, 2.

Field events

Long jump: 1, Marty Jamison, SAHS, 22-11. 2, WJuanteraus Rodrique, SAHS, 22-7. 3, Bennett Saia, CHS, 21-7 .

High jump: 1, TreShaun Dunn, SAHS, 6-2. 2, Allen Stark, EAHS, 6-0. 3, Clayton Warner, CHS, 5-8.

Triple jump: 1, WJuanteraus Rodrique, SAHS, 42-1. 2, Bennett Saia, CHS, 42-0 . 3, Clayton Warner, CHS, 41-9 .

Pole vault: 1, Luke Neale, DHS, 11-0. 2, Branson Phillips, CHS, 10-6. 3, Graham Fels, CHS, 10-0.

Shot put: 1, Jerrell Boykins, EAHS, 55-6 . 2, Prince Edwards, CHS, 52-11 . 3, Grant Griffin, CHS, 52-0.

Javelin: 1, Jackson Rimes, CHS, 203-2. 2, Cole Martin, DHS, 165-10. 3, Caleb Marcantel, CHS, 158-1.

Discus: 1, Jerrell Boykins, EAHS, 171-4. 2, Gerard Lorio, CHS, 144-11. 3, Sam Cole, CHS, 140-2.

Track events

4x200 relay: 1, Woodlawn, 1:27.90. 2, St. Amant, 1:28.33, 3, Dutchtown, 1:30.57.

1,600: 1, Daniel Sullivan, CHS, 4:27.58. 2, Blaison Treuil, CHS, 4:28.06. 3, Cameron Bourgeois, EAHS, 4:44.36.

4x800 relay: 1, Catholic, 8:06.19. 2, St. Amant, 8:35.03. 3, East Ascension, 8:43,24.

110 hurdles: 1, Lanard Harris, WHS, 14.26. 2, Brandt Middleton, CHS, 15.69. 3, Winston Decuir, CHS, 16.14.

100: 1, Kevin Domino, SAHS, 10.66. 2, JMarcus Sewell, WHS, 10.82. 3, Jay Veon Haynes, WHS, 10.86.

800: 1, Daniel Sullivan, CHS, 2:00.66. 2, Max Guillot, CHS, 2:02.74. 3, Taylor Hofman, EAHS, 2:06.60.

4x100 relay: 1, St. Amant, 42.34. 2, Woodlawn, 42.82. 3, Dutchtown, 43.93.

400: 1, Shannon Helaire, CHS, 50.02. 2, Brock Boudreaux, CHS, 50.72. 3, Navell Chopin, 52.36.

300 hurdles: 1, Lanard Harris, WHS, 38.21. 2, Louis Rudge, CHS, 40.66. 3, Alex Martin, DHS, 41.20.

200: 1, Kevin Domino, SAHS, 21.86. 2, JMarcus Sewell, WHS, 22.11. 3, Kriston Pierson, DHS, 22.60.

3,200: 1, Owen Simon, CHS, 9:44.51. 2, Blaison Treuil, CHS, 9:53.55., 3, Cameron Bourgeois, EAHS, 9:53.82.

4x400 relay: 1, Catholic, 3:25.89. 2, Woodlawn, 3:31.99. 3, East Ascension, 3:33.13.

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Check out the results of the District 5-5A track meet at Catholic High - The Advocate

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COVID-19 ceremony in Evansville remembers and looks forward – Courier & Press

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. They came to a garden Wednesday, some 40 people did,in search of healing and hope that COVID-19 will be defeated. They came, too, in remembrance of people we've lost and intribute tohealth care workers who man the barricades against the virus.

For Heather Rieber, the planting of three flowering dogwoodtrees in Ascension St. Vincent Evansville'sDaughters of Charity Prayer Garden will offer a tiny rayof serenity.

Rieber and her 14-year-old daughter lost husband and father Justin Rieberto the coronavirus on Oct. 31. Because she works atAscension Medical Group Heart Carein St. Vincent'sCenter for Advanced Medicine building, she will walk right past the treesat least twice a day.

Justin Rieber, an Evansville resident, was just 39 years old.

More: Here's what Evansville leaders, organizations are saying about the Derek Chauvin verdict

"My plan was to grow old with my husband," Heather said just before Wednesday's ceremony. "I became a widow at a young age. My daughter is left without her earthly father.

"I hopethis helps some people find hope that thecoronaviruspandemic will come to an end soon, and people won't have to suffer like we have and go through what we have."

Justin Rieber was a loving person. Ajoyful person, Heather said.

"If he wasn't joking around with you, that meant he didn't like you," she said with a smile.

Heather was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Oct. 9, she said. Justin, who was working from home, developed symptoms a few days later.

"On Oct. 20, he was really struggling with shortness of breath, trying to breathe, so I convinced him that it was time to go to the emergency room and have it checked out," Heather said. "He was admitted, went to the ICU and just never really recovered. Each day got a little worse."

More: Bridging the gap: Evansville Police tap dance alongside Joshua Academy class

Like a lot of people, Justin didn't think the coronavirus was a big deal when the pandemic began, Heather said.

"But as it went on and people that we know were affected by it directly, he kind of took it more seriously," she said.

One of the trees planted Wednesday, a white flowering dogwood, is in remembrance of people in the area who have died of complications of COVID-19.

Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey and Gibson counties have seen 671 coronavirus-related deaths between them. Although the rate of death has slowed dramatically in recent months, no one knows when they will end. Vanderburgh County reported its 394th death related to COVID-19 just this past Friday.

A pinkflowering dogwood is in thanks to those who have produced and transported vaccines against COVID-19 and staff and volunteers in St. Vincent's vaccine clinic.

A red flowering dogwood honors health care workers who have cared for COVID-19 patients.

Stephanie Lambert, a registered nurse for four years, has worked in a St. Vincent's COVID unit since the pandemic's beginning. Lambert, a 30-something, has seen too many of them die. She's trying to be optimistic now.

"The beginning was very tough for everybody, but we developed a treatment plan, and we got better with things throughout the year," she said. "I'm proud to see a lot of the things that we accomplished during the time of treating patients.

More: Major complex for volleyball, track, other indoor sports proposed for Warrick County

"It's good to see the ones that made it through."

Most of those who attended Wednesday's 20-minute tree planting ceremony at St. Vincent are employees of the hospital system. Mayor Lloyd Winnecke was there, but he did not speak.

"Part of our mission is healing body, mind and spirit, and so we want our surroundings, we want our facilities and our campus to be nurturing, healing (places)," saidDan Parod, president of Ascension St. Vincent Southern Region.

The dedication of the three trees was intended "to acknowledge what we've all been through over the past year," Parod said.

But the community has survived, the St. Vincent president said. That's worth celebrating too.

"We've all experienced loss in some way," he said. "So today, we are dedicating three trees, really, to acknowledge what we've been through, but also to acknowledge the resiliency and the strength that we've seen in our human spirit."

Heather Rieber has found her way forward.

"The reason Ican keep going every day is I have a strong faith in Christ," she said. "I know that he has a plan for me and my daughter and this is not the end for us."

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‘Easy’ heart-valve fix takes Jacksonville man from shortness of breath back to ‘normal life’ – The Florida Times-Union

Posted: at 12:11 pm

Ted Jackson and his wife regularly walked at least 5 miles a day.

Then in August 2018 he foundhimself unable to walk even a short distance without having to catch his breath.

Assuming there was a problem with his respiratory system, he went to see a pulmonologistwho did a battery of testsand ultimately referred him to a cardiologist. When he was toldhe had heart-valve disease, Jackson made another assumptionthat he would needopen-heart surgery and a long recovery was in the offing.

Againhe was wrong.

Three months after that initial shortness of breath, Jackson underwent aminimally invasive procedure for heart-valve disease patients called transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR. As soon as he woke up, hefelt dramaticimprovement, particularly in his hands and feet that had been swollen. He went home the next day.

More: Guest column: Dont let COVID-19 delay heart care

"I could feel my hands and feet oxygenating again. They hadn't been getting enough oxygen," he said."Iwas amazed that they had such a thing, that it works so well, so easy.

"I basicallyresumed a normal life," Jackson, now 81, said.

In 2012AscensionSt. Vincents Riversidewas the first Jacksonville-area hospital to perform the innovative procedure.By the time Jackson's case came along in 2018, the hospital hadperformed about 500 such procedures and by 2021 had reached the 1,000-case milestone.

Annuallyat least 5 million Americans are diagnosed with heart-valve disease. Unlike other forms of heart disease that can be caused byrisk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and family history, heart-valve disease is "directly related to aging," said cardiologistSamer Garas,who performed the first procedure in Jacksonville in 2012as well as Jackson's in 2018.

With age, the heart's aortic valve thickens or calcifies, preventing the valve from opening fully, which limits blood flow. Symptoms can be shortness of breath,chest pain, fainting, fatigue andleg swelling. High-risk patients have a 50 percentchance of dying within twoyears of diagnosis.

Jackson said hisvalves "weren't working at all."

In most cases, transcatheter aortic valve replacement eliminates the need for open-heart surgery. A catheter issnaked to the heart through an artery in the thigh and a covered metal valveis inserted inside the diseased valve. Only patients who are relatively young or need bypass surgery as well would be candidates for open-heart surgery, Garas said.

"It's the most amazing advance in my career," he said. "I tell them, 'I can't believe you're going home in a day.' It would be 10 days if it was surgery."

The cause of heart-valve diseaseagingcannot be treated per se. But for the senior populationmost likely to have the disease, transcatheter aortic valve replacement "is the most preferred approach" to treating the symptoms, he said.

"Older people want to live healthier," he said, citing many elders' desire to playgolf, travel and otherwise keep active.

In the procedure's early years, its usage was slow going because of a lack of awareness in the medical community. That has improved somewhat, but Garas wants to spread the word about how the procedure changespatients' lives.

"The main thing is awareness. A lot of patients, alot ofdoctorsstill…don't know they have an option," he said.

Providing such an option, he said, is "rewarding" for him and for Ascension St. Vincent's.

"We take pride in our cardiovascular program," Garas said.

Related: Ascension St. Vincent's to host clinical trial for 'revolutionary' stroke-prevention device

When he recommended thetranscatheter aortic valve replacement to Jackson, the patient was a bit reluctant. Those 500 or so successful procedures still seemed like a small number, Jackson said.

"I didn't want to be a guinea pig," he said.

After some research, he agreed. And now he is an advocate, urging patients with similar symptoms to take action.

"I've got to say, anybodythat has this condition adversely impacting their life… don't hesitate," Jackson said.

Beth Reese Cravey: (904) 359-4109, bcravey@jacksonville.com

TO LEARN MORE

For more informationgo tohealthcare.ascension.org/Specialty-Care/Cardiology/Structural-Heart-Valve-Care-Jacksonville.

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'Easy' heart-valve fix takes Jacksonville man from shortness of breath back to 'normal life' - The Florida Times-Union

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Legal US Online Casinos – Where You Can Play in 2021

Posted: at 12:10 pm

New Jersey

In response to Atlantic Citys faltering economy, New Jersey was the first state to open the door for legal online gaming. The state overwhelmingly passed bill A2578 in February 2013, and wagers were being placed from around the Garden State before the end of the year.

New Jersey is now home to the healthiest online casino ecosystem in the U.S. There are currently more than twenty operators spreading casino games to users around the state. They range from established brick-and-mortar entities in Atlantic City like Borgata, Tropicana, Hard Rock, and the Golden Nugget, to international online stalwarts like Betfair, Stars Casino, PartyCasino, and Unibet. Theres plenty of choice on where to play, and what to play. All of your favorite casino games are available online bingo included.

After a nearly six year wait, Pennsylvania finally joined NJ in offering online casinos. The state legalized iGaming in October 2017, but took more than 18 months to bring its first products to market.

Better late than never PA is now replete with casino choices. More than 10 online casinos are now up and running within its borders. The states main brick-and-mortar powers like Parx and Rivers now have online extensions, as do online entities like DraftKings and FanDuel. While slow to get underway, Pennsylvania has been anything but in the time since launch.

West Virginia OKd online casinos in March 2019, with Governor Jim Justice, the owner of an in-state casino himself, allowing the bill to become law. Like in Pennsylvania, it wasnt exactly an expedited rollout. Online casino-goers had to wait until July 2020 for DraftKings Casino to officially open the market. A month later, BetMGM, in conjunction with The Greenbrier (Gov. Justices property), joined the fray.

Each of the five brick-and-mortar casinos in the state of West Virginia is eligible to hold an online casino license and can host up to three skins a piece. This leaves space for up to fifteen iCasinos in the Mountain State. It may take some time for each slot to fill, but rest assured, WV gamblers will have options.

Michigan laid the groundwork for online casinos, poker, and sports betting in December 2019. Current information is pointing to an early 2021 launch for Michigan online casinos. Well keep you posted once online casino gaming officially gets underway in the state.

MI has a deceptively high number of brick-and-mortar casinos. There are three commercial casinos located in the Detroit area, in addition to more than 20 tribal casinos across the state. Like West Virginia, Michigan has the potential for up to fifteen online casino sites. One online partner for each of the three commercial facilities, and one for each of the twelve federally recognized tribes (some of which have more than one retail site).

Online casino game libraries will vary from state to state due to local laws. Just because the brand is the same, it doesnt mean the available titles will be. For example, DraftKings Casino in Pennsylvania and DraftKings Casino in West VA will have some differences in their catalogs.

While more mature markets, like New Jersey, will offer the most options, generally speaking, the following real money casino games will be available in most casinos throughout the United States:

Legal online casinos regularly boast slot libraries with hundreds of options. Choose by theme, aesthetic, pay table, number of reels, or the all important return to player figure. Slots actually work extremely well on mobile devices too, making them one of the most convenient options for players on the go.

The so called one-armed bandits dont have to be bandits, either. With online casinos you have options, and when you have options, sites will compete for your business. Keep an eye out for available bonuses that can flip the house edge in your favor and help secure profits. Slots can be fun, and profitable!

An offshoot of traditional slots, but with the potential for a much larger pay day. A small portion of every spin goes towards the progressive prizepool. The more play the machine receives, the bigger the jackpot when it hits. Pay outs regularly stretch into the six figure range, making them a fun, and potentially lucrative option.

When it comes to table games, blackjack is king. Its a safe bet that every online casino that launches in the U.S. will have at least one blackjack title available from day one. Its easy to learn, fun to play, and adapts well online. Its not uncommon for online casino sites to offer multiple versions of blackjack, each with slightly different rules check them all out to find your favorites. At the end of the day, however, its the same core game.

Another staple of the industry, roulette is amongst the most popular games in casinos around the world, and its arguable even better online. While brick-and-mortar casinos in the U.S. will typically only offer the standard American version, online sites often have multiple choices available including both European Roulette and French Roulette. While the American game comes standard with both a 0 and 00 slot on the wheel, the French and Euro variants have just a single 0 massively reducing the house edge. Plus, you dont have to wait at all between spins.

While you may miss out on some of the communal fun that comes from playing in-person, online craps is still the exciting dice game that you know and love. Learn the ropes, play at your own pace, and bet the way you want. Betting against the shooter? No problem no one is going to hold a grudge.

Craps isnt the most common game for online casinos in the U.S., so make note when you find it. Notably, if you can clear a bonus while playing craps do it. The Pass/Dont Pass bets have some of the lowest house edges in the casino.

Some casino operators have started to produce their own video poker titles, but they are usually close to the Game King versions that set the standard. Most online casinos will have a few options to choose from, such as: Video Poker, Jacks or Better, Triple Play Draw Poker, Five Play Draw Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, and more. Theyre fun, play well online/mobile, and offer a high return to player. What more could you want?

Fast, fun, and easy to master Pai Gow is surging in popularity within the U.S. online casino market. While playing online you can play as quickly as youd like, avoiding lengthy waits for others to set their hand in-person. The house edge isnt huge either, as long as you can avoid the temptation to shoot for the moon on one of the potentially lucrative bonus payouts.

Baccarat is a surprising simple game that has become a favorite for both those on a budget, and those with deep pockets. The online game is commonly found in most online casinos and offers players excellent bang for their buck.

The games above? Thats just the tip of the iceberg. Its not uncommon to see plenty of other options including Ultimate Texas Holdem, Three Card Poker, Casino Holdem, Mississippi Stud, and more.

Before you can gamble in an online casino you will need to add funds to your account. At a distance this may seem cumbersome, but its really not. Legal, regulated online casinos have easy to use cashier pages that are equipped with the best methods in the business. You can fund your account and be ready to play in just moments. Popular payment options include:

It is important to remember that cashiering options will vary based on the operator and the state. If youre looking for a specific deposit or withdrawal method, we recommend checking with the casino first to make sure it is available. Though, all offered methods will have been deemed safe by state regulators.

While the core rules of each game have stayed the same, there are still a few differences between your standard brick-and-mortar experience and that found online. When lined up side by side youll find that online casinos compare very favorably to their in-person partners.

Dont live near a brick-and-mortar casino? No problem. As long as youre physically located inside a state that has regulated online casino games, you can play anywhere, anytime. Pull out your phone or log-in to your computer and youre ready to hit the tables.

With online casino gaming you have choices. Every state that has legalized the activity now has multiple sites available, each hoping for your action and willing to pay for it. Each online casino has put together a unique welcome package that will add value to your play. Whether its a deposit match bonus, free spins, risk-free plays, etc., theres free cash available online that just isnt offered for in-person play.

If youre just looking to play more, online casinos take the cake. When enjoying casino games over the internet you play on your own time frame. Theres no lengthy lag between hands, decisions, rolls, or spins while you wait for the dealer or other patrons. When youre ready for the action to progress, it does. The speed of play allows customers to enjoy far more of their favorite games in a shorter amount of time.

Online casinos offer bettors the opportunity to play for pretty much any stakes they might want. If youre playing in a brick-and-mortar casino its unlikely youll find table limits below $10/hand. However, you can find real money online tables that accept stakes under a dollar. If youre operating on a smaller bankroll, playing online will give you a lot more bang for the buck.

Whats more, if youre not an expert and are hoping to learn how to play a specific game or slot title online casino games have detailed instructions. Plus, many online casinos offer customers the opportunity to demo the game for free. You can play as much as you want at no cost, and when youre comfortable with all of the ins and outs, flip the real money switch and get involved with the knowledge that youre ready.

One of the biggest innovations in online casino gaming are Live Dealer games. Live Dealer games are an appetizing blend of both online and in-person play. They are hosted from a professional streaming studio on-site at a brick-and-mortar casino. A real, living dealer is on camera to facilitate the game over the internet.

For example, you can play blackjack from home, over the internet, while looking at real cards, on a real table, and chatting with a real dealer within the designated window. It creates a more social atmosphere that is typically lacking with online casino games.While they move a little slower than traditional online play (youll need to wait for the other players at the table to make their bets), they are still far faster than playing completely in-person.

Common Live Dealer games include: blackjack, roulette, baccarat, three card poker, ultimate texas holdem, and even some slots. While online casinos are a 24/7 operation, Live Dealer games typically run from around 11am 3am. They do require a full staff to operate, after all, so during the early hours of the day there is usually a brief shut down.

Not all states with legal online casinos have launched Live Dealer games yet, though the list will be growing. We recommend checking our individual casino state pages for a full breakdown of whats available in your region.

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Legal US Online Casinos - Where You Can Play in 2021

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Online Casinos USA | What Are the Best Casino Sites for US …

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The Best US Online Casinos

Here are the best online casinos for US players.

Stick with CasinosOnline.com for a detailed look back at the gambling regulations in the States. Just scroll down for more info about American gambling laws.

Unfortunately, US players have a narrower choice when it comes to online casino games. Although they cannot play games from top providers such as Microgaming and Playtech, they can still choose from some of the best RTG, Pragmatic Play, Rival, and Betsoft titles. Typically, US online casinos offer limited catalogues compared to international casinos. However, we have selected some of the best online casino games for US players. Thus, you can read comprehensive reviews of these games at Casinos Online.

In spite of the absence of federal and state level regulation in the US, online casino gaming is not denied to its residents. A number of reputed, licensed, and regulated offshore online casinos are willing to accept US players. These US-facing online casinos cater exclusively to the gaming needs of US players.

Gambling in the US has a long, interesting, and complex history. European and Asian immigrants brought games of chance to the US, leading to the mushrooming of gambling houses all over the US from 1849 to 1855. It was at that time that games like poker gained popularity with female gamblers, too.

In contrast, anti-gambling public opinions gained prominence. This led to several US states imposing a blanket ban on gambling.

However, things changed for the better when Nevada legalized gambling in 1931. A number of other US states followed Nevada and legalized different forms of gambling. Today, traditional forms of gambling are legal in all US states except Utah and Hawaii, which have banned gambling 100%.

However, when it comes to Internet gambling, the US remains a grey jurisdiction. Although a handful of states such as Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have legalized some forms of online gambling, the US federal government has not yet created a proper regulatory framework. In the absence of regulation, US residents are forced to turn to offshore online casinos.

The residents of the following American states can legally play online casino games at the best US online casinos.

The following US states are planning to legalize online gambling in the near future:

According to a Bloomberg news report on US online gambling, the US federal government has recently declared that the Wire Act of 1960 applies not only to online sports betting, but also other forms of online gambling. This is going to have a major impact on all online gambling activities within the country.

The US still remains a grey jurisdiction when it comes to online gambling. In the absence of proper online gambling regulations and regulatory bodies, US residents remain unprotected from unlicensed online casinos. Since there is no law to prevent residents from playing at offshore online casinos, a large number of online casino players from the US play at offshore online casinos.

The most important thing for US players is to gamble safely and responsibly. To spare you the trouble, here are the blacklisted online casinos no one should register with. Particularly, American gamblers can be drawn to sign up with these gaming sites due to the restrictions. However, please stay away from rogue casinos and register only with top USA online casinos.

We review and rank some of the best online casinos, including new casinos, for US players. Additionally, the following guide is for players who are determined to find the best US online casino on their own:

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Real Money Online Casino: Play Now For A Chance To Win Big …

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Welcome to CoolCat The Core of Real Money Online Gambling

Come and flex your paws with the best real money online casino! Get non-stop access to your favorite casino games including 220 exciting slots, table games, video poker, and specialty games to freely indulge in from the moment you sign up. Our casino lets you play and win real money casino games which sport the coolest and classiest gameplay, graphics, and features, with never-ending piles of rewards to be won. The casino is always on the hunt for the latest innovations in gaming to offer you fresh releases with great jackpots to play for every month! Try your luck and purrfect your playing skills at CoolCat Casino!

Deposit today and we'll help you grow your bankroll with a match bonus plus free spins on some of our hottest games.

Slots are a top favorite of ours at CoolCat, which is why youll always find a wealthy mixture and variety of online slot games to choose from. Whether youre looking to play with classic 3-reel slots, get more ways to win with 5-reel slot, or play more exotic slots that have an explosion of bonus rounds, bet multipliers, and progressive jackpots to play for -- youll never be short of anything to play here at CoolCat. Our online slots also come with the most lucrative match bonus offers and free spins to use when you deposit a minimum deposit or more. Be sure to check out our list of exciting slot match bonuses, plus other promotions to use on your favorite table, card, and dice games!

CoolCat Casino houses all the classic online games that players have come to know and adore on the gambling floor. From online slots, baccarat, and blackjack to video poker, roulette, and craps, CoolCat Casino is home to the ultimate collection of online casino games that pay real money. Players are even able to enjoy alternative classes of games such as keno, bingo, and online scratchcard games with the same great prizes to be won and exciting bonuses to redeem. You can play every single casino game for real money at CoolCat, or you can play each one for free if you want to get some practice first.

The games and software at CoolCat are powered by leading developer Realtime Gaming, and the games can be accessed through your mobile or smart device as long as there is an internet connection. This means you can expect the same great graphics and easy navigation as the desktop site, just with the added value of being able to win huge jackpots while youre on the move! It doesnt matter if youre playing a table game like blackjack, or a slot game like Cash Bandits we guarantee youll experience the same immersive thrills and action as the physical gambling floor.

Looking for a Big Win? Check out the Best Progressive Jackpot Games!

What makes playing at CoolCat an even sweeter deal is the ability to access all of these top casino games through your mobile or smart device. The CoolCat real money mobile casino runs on nothing more than an internet connection, which means you can be logged in and winning on your favorite games wherever you are.

The online casino also offers spectacular bonuses with special mobile play offers, one-of-a-kind VIP bonuses, plus daily, weekly and monthly promotions on all sorts of games that are yours to take advantage of.

To put it bluntly, we love being able to give something more to our players. Whether this is in the form of bankroll enhancing bonuses or cashback rewards, or the top-level care and support our friendly team of advisors are always happy to provide. We want to ensure your money is well spent, just as we want your time here to be. That all starts with a state-of-the-art gaming lobby and ends with real money in your back pocket.

Get started with CoolCat on your desktop, Mac, mobile, or tablet by quickly registering an account. Then youll be able to make use of your fantastic welcome bonus to use on your favorite games within a few minutes! Once youre a member, you can simply log in to the casino any time day or night to play and win real money.

Just in case youve still got some unanswered questions when it comes to online gambling, here are the most commonly asked ones from players who gamble for real money here at CoolCat.

Online casinos have grown into a booming industry. Regular brick and mortar casinos have been popular for a while, but the developments in technology over time have allowed players to have more access to what they want. The same things that casino goers love about their experiences dont have to be limited to the time they spend at land-based casinos. As a $35 billion a year industry, online gambling continues to flourish, with an estimated increase of $50 billion in 2018.

With online games increasing popularity, the once-restrictive laws surrounding internet gaming and real money gambling online have been developing across different countries and will continue to do so. Regulatory laws will only continue to improve to both allow people to play and ensure that games are fair. When it comes to our role in the growing market, we strive to ensure that CoolCat is the most profitable online casino for real money for all players of different backgrounds.

Theres a long list of all the reasons, but here are a few of the most important ones. Online gambling offers entertainment, stress relief, and the frequent opportunity to try your luck and learn some strategy. Plus, good casinos offer a multitude of unique, exciting choices to experiment with. They offer you a whole world to explore, and theyre building on it all the time. We here at CoolCat Casino know that the competition is fierce, and we work to earn the loyalty of each of our players by mixing things up with new games and new perks.

As weve already said, we have the most extensive variety of over 220 online casino games for real money you just wont find anything better out there in the world of casino games. Its also important to us that you get started with a low-stakes environment. With us, you can always practice for free to get comfortable, with no limits or conditions. Once you make the jump to playing for real money, you have a chance to win big thanks to each games special features. Thats what makes us the best online casino to win money.

One word: bonuses this is equally as important to our players as the variety of options. As a reliable, competitive online casino, CoolCat offers all of its newcomers an advantageous real money welcome bonus for creating an account and making a deposit to guarantee a solid start. If youre not a new player, weve still got you covered we have many other offers that change all the time, including match deposit bonuses, free no deposit bonus, free spins, and free chips.

Yes. While sketchy online casinos do exist, the reliable ones are certified and held to strict standards in order to maintain a solid reputation and build trust between players and casino operators. If you familiarize yourself with house edge and payout percentages, youre sure to reap the benefits.

Yes, you can in fact, youre not limited to just a smartphone. CoolCat Online Casino is compatible with any mobile device that connects to the Internet that means anything from iPhones, Windows phones, or Android phones to tablets of all kinds. Not only that, but completing a transaction is just as easy on your mobile device as it would be on a desktop or laptop computer.

There are up and downsides to virtual gaming. Your average land-based casino has a lot to offer, but its limited by space. They can have a hundred gaming machines, but theyre spaced out by necessity because theyre exactly that large, rectangular machines. That means you can take your time in one section of the casino or another, and you dont have to venture out. With an online casino, theres a variety of real money casino games for players to select from, but its all just a few simple clicks or taps away from exploring all categories of casino games. That in itself can make for an overwhelming moment, just seeing all the options laid out in one place.

The transition from practice to real money is just as simple as signing up for an account in the first place. To make a deposit, log in, navigate to the cashier page, select the payment method of your choice, and decide how much to start with. We accept payment by credit card, debit card, Neteller, and Bitcoin.

The process for withdrawals is just as simple. Youll find the Withdraw Money option on the cashier page as well. To complete a withdrawal, you can opt for a cash deposit, Neteller, or wire transfer, just to name a few of our available methods. After that, its up to you to decide how youll use your winnings. If youre looking for a live online casino for real money, give CoolCat a shot you wont regret it!

Ted plays CoolCat Casino almost every day, he loves our games and he loves the wins that come with them. Ted also likes playing a variety of games from Enchanted Garden to Sweet 16 and this day was no exception.

He generally starts off betting low and steadily raising his bets according to his wins. Ted started by using code THATSMINE to try out or newest slot game Gemtopia with 30 Free Spins and a 250% No Max Bonus on his deposit.

After winning $900 in Gemtopia, Ted moved on to his personal favorite Purrfect Pets and went on to hit the many features in the game, pushing his balance up by a further $10,000. Finally, he went on to play Sweet 16 where, through the morphing feature, which raises the multiplier up to 12x for every win that is made in a row, he made a cool $45,000. Not bad for his daily dabble on CoolCat.

Martin was on break from work at 4:10 PM last Wednesday, so he decided to play one of the newest games on CoolCat, Kung Fu Rooster.

He had some leftover balance from his previous games, so he started betting at $30 a spin. He wasnt winning anything for the first few spins, but less than two minutes after he began playing, he won $3,000 on a single spin and triggered the feature.

Then, on a single spin in the feature, he won $22,400. Without betting anything. His total for the feature: $24,400 in 10 free games.

His break was over four minutes later, but he went back to work knowing he won $29,537.50 on Kung Fu Rooster.

Steve started playing Naughty or Nice at CoolCat at 8:24PM last Wednesday. He was coming off of a previous win, so he bet big from the get go.

Almost immediately, the big bets started paying off. Within the first minute of playing, he won $1,037.50.

Then, he got $812.50, $400, $1,450. All on single spins. A few minutes later, he hit his first Feature and won $1,800 on 12 Free Spins.

He soon triggered his second Feature. Again, 12 Free Games. But this time, he won $64,725.00 across the 12 Spins. Without betting a cent of his own money.

Steve played for some time longer, adding a few more wins before calling it a night. Not bad for a Wednesday night.

Matt couldnt sleep last Friday night, so he tried playing a few of his favorite slots at CoolCat Casino before he settled on one of our newest games, Kung Fu Rooster.

He was coming off a previous win, so he started betting at $60 a spin.

Less than a minute after he started playing, he triggered the Feature. He got 10 Free Games and won $1,225.

That was just the beginning. Back in the base game, he won $575, $550, $465 in a space of 20 Spins.

But it was the final Free Game Feature that really made Matts night. He triggered 20 Free Games and won a total of $21,785. Thats a good Friday night.

Before starting her day yesterday, Amy decided to play a little Cash Bandits 2. Turns out, it was the best decision she couldve made.

She started playing at 7:56AM less than a minute later she won $16,000 on a single spin.

Encouraged, she decided to continue playing Cash Bandits 2. Her big moment came when she triggered the Feature at 8:07. Her correct guesses in the Vault Feature got her 75 Free Games.

Without making additional bets, she won $88,110 in the Feature. Amy then had to head to work, but she was a lot happier than when she woke up.

Thats a morning well spent.

Just yesterday, Hannah saw the newest promotion on CoolCat Casino and decided to try her luck with the CoolCat exclusive bonus code, which awarded her 40 Free Spins on Cash Bandits 2.

She started spinning her $25 bets at 5:32 PM, but her first twenty spins only brought in $155.

But then.

She triggered the Feature and won an additional 80 Free Games. She won, $100, $100 and $150 on her first three spins. And that was only the beginning. She won a total of $12,260 in the Feature.

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Real Money Online Casino: Play Now For A Chance To Win Big ...

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Top 10 Indian Online Casinos – Best Online Casino Sites in …

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Hopefully, the research weve put into real money online casinos has given you the confidence to start playing. Its nice to have the option to try before you buy though, and most of Indias best casino sites will give you this opportunity.

Free spins largely speak for themselves, typically allowing you to play an online casinos most popular slots. The free spins could be made available as part of a sign-up bonus, or they may be offered to loyal players should a new game be released.

No deposit bonuses work in a similar manner. Theyll generally appear in your account in a bonus wallet, and youre likely to have the freedom to spend them as you choose instead of having to use them on a specific game.

As for deposit bonuses, these will be expressed as a percentage and should be calculated in the currency youre playing in. For example, a 50% deposit bonus up to 10,000 gives you the option of depositing 20,000 of your own money to receive an additional 50% of that amount.

In each case, you should check the specific terms for the promotion as there may be significant rollover requirements on your free balance before youre allowed to make a withdrawal. Essentially, you should try to see both free spins and deposit bonuses as opportunities to experience and enjoy the online casino of your choice, rather than as a chance to win a large amount of money.

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Top 10 Indian Online Casinos - Best Online Casino Sites in ...

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No Deposit Bonus – Keep What You Win – CasinoFreak.com

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No Deposit Bonus - Keep What You Win - CasinoFreak.com

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