Monthly Archives: August 2021

Q: For years my husband has enjoyed a weekly poker night with his friends. During the pandemic he got into online betting; now I'm concerned that he's turning into a compulsive gambler. He says I'm worried about nothing. How can I be sure?

Jim: While it sounds trite to say it, your husband may be in denial. Dr. Robert Custer, a trailblazer in the field of gambling addiction treatment, identifies denial as "refusing to acknowledge something to oneself [leading] to actually believing that there is no danger at all." It's a common mindset among those who struggle with gambling addiction.

Unfortunately, denial can affect others around the addict. Loved ones may subconsciously use it to explain away, minimize or rationalize destructive behavior. This being the case, I'd recommend that you first take an honest look at yourself. If you have been enabling a troublesome pattern in some way, you're going to have to change your approach in order to help your spouse.

If, upon reflection, you're convinced that your husband's gambling is compulsive, sit down with him and confront the issue head-on. Has he placed any limits on his gambling activity, either in terms of money wagered or time invested? Does he gamble as a way to escape from problems? Has he lied to others to conceal the extent of his gambling or worse, committed any illegal acts to finance the habit?

Depending on the answers to those questions, insist that he consider the possibility that he has a serious problem. Suggest that he seek professional assistance. If he's unwilling to listen, enlist the help of an objective third party a pastor, a relative or a male friend who agrees with your assessment. Our counseling department can offer you a free consultation and a referral to qualified local therapists; call 855-771-HELP (4357).

Q: How can I begin to help my kids break some of the bad screen-time habits that have set in during the COVID-19 lockdowns?

Adam Holz, Director, Plugged In: Screen time. Is there a bigger issue that parents are facing these days? My wife and I are dealing with it in our family. And most other families are too.

Screen time was a big issue before the coronavirus. And studies suggest that the amount of time we spend on screens now has perhaps doubled in the last year. That's a result of many factors: remote learning, being able to connect with friends almost exclusively through screen-based devices, and parents working from home themselves while not having the mental bandwidth to exercise discipline in this area 24/7.

So, what do we do? Before we deal with our kids' habits, we need to look at our own. Our children will naturally imitate what we model; thus, we may need to make screen-time adjustments ourselves before taking the next step.

With our kids, that next step should be a concrete and specific one that begins to reclaim lost ground. It might be as simple as no phones at the dinner table. Other suggestions include a tech-free night when the whole family engages in non-screen-related activities. We may also want to re-establish basic boundaries regarding where and when phones can be used, such as limiting use in bedrooms at night. The goal here is to set measurable, achievable goals as a family.

Habits take time to form and time to reshape. A reset in this area won't happen overnight, and it likely won't be without setbacks and moments of discouragement as you strive to break some unhealthy patterns and reestablish new ones. But by gradually establishing concrete, specific changes, you can successfully pull back from screen overuse as a family.

Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at http://www.jimdalyblog.com or at http://www.facebook.com/DalyFocus.

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Focus on the Family: Husband may have gambling issue - Boyertown Berk Montgomery Newspapers

By Logan Landers | on August 04, 2021

Despite seeing a pair of sports betting bills (HB 2070 / SB 736) stalled yet again by the GOP-dominated Texas Legislature, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones still believes in them and the opportunities the bills could offer.

Monday, Jones was speaking with Sports Radio 96.7 FM The Ticket, when he was asked whether he felt sports betting would become a regular occurrence in Texas. He stated that given how gambling has already been in Texas, he believes it can become a common practice. As an example of how it would operate here, he pointed to Cowboys fans betting during a game being telecast by Tony Romo and using sports vernacular.

I picture right there millions of people making a wager by hearing that, he said. Weve got to make sure that the terminology is the kind of terminology that is common, but I can see our game enhanced tremendously by that aspect of it.

The Cowboys, along with the Dallas Mavericks and the Texas Rangers, are a part of the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, which has been advocating for lawmakers to loosen their efforts to keep betting out of Texas. Dallas Cowboys Executive VP and Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones stated that with gambling already being such a prominent activity in Texas, legalizing it would be a way to offer restrictions and control.

Unregulated and illegal sports gambling is already taking place in the State of Texas, Jones said. Legalized sports betting would regulate the industry and generate millions of dollars of new revenue for the state which will help fund critical programs without raising taxes.

There appears to be little hope for the advancement of the legislation however, with the bill originally dying in May. In an article by The Texan, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stated that the tax revenue that could be earned is not a real selling point for him. He insisted that the progression of legalized gambling is harmed by competing interests, which is why the bill is likely to never be seen.

Thats why it never goes anywhere, he said, and so its not even an issue thats going to see the light of the day this session.

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Cowboys Owner is Hopeful About Future of Legalized Gambling in Texas - Dallas Weekly

Its been more than a decade since Casey Anthony was acquitted in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, and she now leads an entirely different life in Florida, multiple sources exclusively tell In Touch Weekly.

Shes been gambling at underground poker games and partying nonstop, a local in West Palm Beach explains in our August 2021 cover story about Anthonys various outings.

Casey goes to these poker parties after dark, another source who played cards with Anthony tells In Touch Weekly in an update. She meets up with six or eight of her friends and they all sit around a table covered in a green cloth with cards in their hands and drinking beer.

Anthony, 35, seems to be a real risk-taker and thrill-seeker, the source claims. Poker makes her feel alive, and thats why she likes to gamble! I have no idea where she gets the money from because as far as I know, she doesnt have a proper job.

I heard the PI [Private Investigation] company she set up isnt successful, the source goes on. Pat made a ton of money from selling the house, so its possible that shes using his money, but she can, somehow, afford to gamble.

By Pat, the source was referring to Anthonys lead investigator on her defense team, Patrick J. McKenna, who has long maintained Anthonys innocence.

Bill Warner, a private investigator from Sarasota, Florida, who has been researching Anthony for years, tells In Touch Weekly that Anthony was living with McKenna at a beach house which they very recently sold for $1 million. It looks like theyve moved out already, so theyre on the move, Warner says.

In addition to McKenna, Anthony has some friends who are true to her, Warner adds. It doesnt make any sense. She goes to bars with her head held high like nothing ever happened. She doesnt have any security or anything like that. Never.

She likes to argue. She lives for that, Warner claims. Some of the people she hangs out with [are] people who are in the law enforcement. Some of them are criminals.

Ever since she was found not guilty of murder, manslaughter and abuse charges in July 2011, Anthony has tried to remain out of the spotlight, but she made headlines for a dispute with a fellow bar-goer and frenemy in South Florida on May 23.

The verbal argument started between the two women at OSheas Irish Pub over an ex-boyfriend they were dating at the same time, according to the police report obtained by In Touch. No charges were filed after the incident.

Some people react negatively to her and some [do] not, Warner shares about the responses to Anthony being spotted out and about. Some are friendly towards her because shes still an attractive woman. The guys are all over her because shes good-looking. She gets a lot of male attention. They dont care about her past. People seem to have forgotten.

Casey Anthony on the Cover of In Touch Weekly.

For more on this story, check out In Touchs August cover story on newsstands now!

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Casey Anthony Gambling and Partying Nonstop in Florida: Inside Her Life Today - inTouch Weekly

Ireland is poised to introduce a strict gambling regulator that could transform the current state of play regarding all forms of gambling and related advertisements across the country. The new watchdog will prioritise public health and wellbeing and have extreme power, as stated by James Brown, the Minister of State for Justice. The regulator is expected to be in full operation by the end of 2021, employing 100 people to keep an eye on Irish companies and impose fines in instances of non-compliance.

The new watchdog may be unwelcome news to some gambling businesses but not all of them. Operating in legal jurisdictions and prioritising player wellbeing will match the new branding of Entain, which has multiple gambling businesses in operation across the country, PartyCasino being one of their most recognised brands in the world. The changes may even work seamlessly with their new Advanced Responsibility and Care (ARC) strategy.

The story in detail

Irelands gambling laws and legislation have been outdated for a long time. Before an interim Act was passed early in 2021, the then-current laws were devised in 1931, with changes made in 1956. The industry was running on older rules that were not fit for purpose, especially considering the trend in online gambling and vast advertisement opportunities since their conception.

Another issue with the current system is that overseeing influences within the local gambling industry are fragmented. Multiple government departments and agencies are responsible for the different parts of regulation in the country. The creation of the new regulator will solve the outdatedness and the fragmented nature of the current state of play.

Will ads be banned in Ireland?

There is a possibility that gambling ads will be banned in Ireland as a result of pending changes. However, it may be more likely that an advert watershed is introduced, which is not currently the case. There have been growing concerns surrounding children witnessing scores of gaming ads each week due to no lights-out hours on these ads, especially as more children were being homeschooled over the last year.

Earlier this year, the Irish Labour Party tabled a Bill to ban all gambling ads on television as a way to prevent minors from witnessing these adverts. The Bill has been supported by Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). However, it is still unclear whether a blanket ban will be used or a watershed introduced. Mark Wall from the Labour Party has stressed that Ireland should not wait until the end of the year when a new regulator is created to ban these ads, suggesting that Ireland cannot wait that long.

These debated changes mirror what is happening across the Irish Sea, as the UK Gambling Commission wrestles with the same issues and the high prevalence of gambling companies partnering with professional sporting teams, notably as Premier League shirt sponsors.

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Ireland's plan to launch gambling regulator - What will this mean? - jim o brien

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In its closing remarks to the Victorian Royal Commission, Crown Resorts has stated it is an integral part of Victorias economy, adding that the company has paid at least AU$1.4bn ($US1.04bn) in taxes since 2014.

The operator added that Crown Melbourne employed more than 12,000 people, according to The Canberra Times. However, the company had paid AU$61m on July 27 after it was found that Crown failed to pay some of its casino tax. The company promised there will be no more underpayments.

Its particularly important at this time, during the pandemic, where tourism and other economic activity is already so hampered (that) great care should be exercised before recommending anything that might adversely affect Melbourne and Victorias ability to advance its tourism industry, Michael Borsky QC said.

However, the opposition argued that the casino remains a profitable business even if Crown Melbourne should switch operators.

Additionally, the newly established Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission will regulate all gaming in the state and will work independently from the current gambling and liquor authority. What this will do is provide us with a sharp focus and a dedicated division in the new regulator that focuses directly on regulating the casino, said Gaming Minister Melissa Horne.

Crown Melbourne announced Chief Executive Xavier Walsh will step down from his duties on August 20 and will leave the company in December. Despite the sudden changes in management, Crown must prove it can safely operate its Melbourne property, as Counsel assisting Adrian Finanzio has already told the Commission the operator is unfit to hold a licence.

The Commission still has to hear several other closing statements before a final decision can be made.

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Swedish Non-profit Organisation GAG Calls for Stricter Gambling Regulations - European Gaming Industry News

Hashing It Out latest episode came out on Monday this week. The eighth episode of the show is a special edition filmed during CoinGeeks Zurich conference. Three industry experts reveal how beneficial the BSV blockchain can be for gambling operators in terms of compliance and responsible gambling.

The latest episode of Calvin Ayres Hashing It Out with host Becky Liggero Fontana is now out. The eighth episode of the show is a special edition, filmed during CoinGeeks Zurich conference in June. In previous episodes of the show, iGaming experts revealed the significant possibilities that the Bitcoin SV (BSV) wallet app can bring. Furthermore, in Hashing It Out Episode 7, Transmira founder Robert Rice spoke about the benefits that augmented reality (AR) together with blockchain technology may bring for casino operators.

Hashing it Out Episode 8 features three guests from the iGaming landscape. A supplier, an operator and a consultant all share their opinion on how the iGaming industry can benefit from using blockchain technology. Simit Naik, nChains director of business services, together with Esports Entertainment Groups CTO, John Brackens, join Nick Hill, a CoinGeek author and BSV blockchain consultant, who participated in episode 4 of the show.

As director of business services at nChain, Naik revealed that the company plans on delivering an iGaming solution that can be used by operators to plug into and alleviate pain points. According to him, being able to use data to address challenges within the industry is incredibly valuable. Moreover, Naik stressed that tracking data helps with responsible gambling and enables operators to prevent problem gambling. He deemed that the use of blockchain for that purpose phenomenal. Additionally, Naik revealed that a payment system built on Bitcoin brings many benefits, such as micro and nano payments.

We talked a lot about responsible gaming and ensuring that we can track data in order for us to be able to prevent problem gaming. And I think thats a phenomenal use case for blockchain,

CoinGeek did not miss mentioning that, last week, nChain launched the initial phase of its enterprise platform dubbed Kensei. The new platform features enhanced data integrity, including tamper-proof documents and auditable logs. Additionally, the platform may be beneficial for iGaming operators, considering that it can be seamlessly integrated into an existing business. This provides a huge advantage for iGaming operators using the platform and utilizes the full potential of blockchain.

Another important topic discussed in the latest Hashing it Out episode is how blockchain technology can help gambling operators stay compliant with regulations. On that topic, Brackens said that, after looking at blockchain for several months, EEG recognized the inherent benefits of what blockchain has to offer to the industry. By using the benefits of the blockchain system, the trust level within the community, customers and the regulators rise, revealed Brackens.

Having a transparent way to be able to hand that information over to them in a frictionless way that minimizes the actual work we have to do and reduces our costs and operational overhead, but still meet all their clear requirements and its transparent and its seamless,

Acknowledging that the gambling industry is heavily regulated, EEGs CTO stressed that regulatory bodies ask for a significant number of reports. They need that information because it is their responsibility to ensure that operators are following the rules. At the same time, he said that the regulators are also aiming at protecting the community. Using blockchains immutable ledger, operators can store gameplay data and player communications. At any moment, the regulators can receive permission to access the data and review it. This makes the whole process more transparent, frictionless and minimizes the operational work needed.

Similar to Brackens, Hill acknowledged the advantages of using blockchain for data storage. He stressed that with the help of blockchain, data is stored in a much more chronological, accessible way. Additionally, he revealed that the technology boosts KYC and AML.

Another important point that Hill raised highlights the benefits that blockchain brings operators when it comes to responsible gambling. He revealed that if an operator detects problem gambling behavior, it can embed markers of harm in this players journey using the blockchain. Consequently, if that player decides to raise a complaint against the operator to the regulator, the operator remains protected as that marker will be visible within the players records.

From the regulators point of view, everything is in one place. Very accessible and easy to retrieve,

Hill stressed that such functionality will eliminate the possibility of operators having issues with such consumers and then asking themselves why someone allowed this to happen. Last but not least, he outlined that using blockchain for responsible gambling enables operators to keep data in one place and very easily access it when necessary.

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Hashing It Out Ep 8: How the BSV Blockchain Can Help Compliance and Responsible Gambling - GamblingNews.com