Monthly Archives: August 2022

Master equation to boost quantum technologies – EurekAlert

Posted: August 27, 2022 at 11:42 am

image:Bjrn Annby-Andersson view more

Credit: Image credit: Bjrn Annby-Andersson

As the size of modern technology shrinks down to the nanoscale, weird quantum effectssuch as quantum tunneling, superposition, and entanglementbecome prominent. This opens the door to a new era of quantum technologies, where quantum effects can be exploited. Many everyday technologies make use of feedback control routinely; an important example is the pacemaker, which must monitor the users heartbeat and apply electrical signals to control it, only when needed. But physicists do not yet have an equivalent understanding of feedback control at the quantum level. Now, FQXi-funded physicists have developed a master equation that will help engineers understand feedback at the quantum scale. Their results are published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

It is vital to investigate how feedback control can be used in quantum technologies in order to develop efficient and fast methods for controlling quantum systems, so that they can be steered in real time and with high precision, says co-author Bjrn Annby-Andersson, a quantum physicist at Lund University, in Sweden.

An example of a crucial feedback-control process in quantum computing is quantum error correction. A quantum computer encodes information on physical qubits, which could be photons of light, or atoms, for instance. But the quantum properties of the qubits are fragile, so it is likely that the encoded information will be lost if the qubits are disturbed by vibrations or fluctuating electromagnetic fields. That means that physicists need to be able to detect and correct such errors, for instance by using feedback control. This error correction can be implemented by measuring the state of the qubits and, if a deviation from what is expected is detected, applying feedback to correct it.

It is vital to investigate how feedback control can be used in quantum technologies in order to develop efficient and fast methods for controlling quantum systems, so that they can be steered in real time and with high precision, says co-author Bjrn Annby-Andersson, a quantum physicist at Lund University, in Sweden.

But feedback control at the quantum level presents unique challenges, precisely because of the fragility physicists are trying to mitigate against. That delicate nature means that even the feedback process itself could destroy the system. It is necessary to only interact weakly with the measured system, preserving the properties we want to exploit, says Annby-Andersson.

It is thus important to develop a full theoretical understanding of quantum feedback control, to establish its fundamental limits. But most existing theoretical models of quantum feedback control require computer simulations, which typically only provide quantitative results for specific systems. It is difficult to draw general, qualitative conclusions, Annby-Andersson says. The few models that can provide qualitative understanding are only applicable on a narrow class of feedback controlled systemsthis type of feedback is typically referred to as linear feedback.

Pen and Paper

Annby-Andersson and his colleagues have now developed a master equation, called a Quantum Fokker-Planck equation, that enables physicists to track the evolution of any quantum system with feedback control over time. The equation can describe scenarios that go beyond linear feedback, says Annby-Andersson. In particular, the equation can be solved with pen and paper, rather than having to rely on computer simulations.

The team tested their equation by applying it to a simple feedback model. This confirmed that the equation provides physically sensible results and also demonstrated how energy can be harvested in microscopic systems, using feedback control. The equation is a promising starting point for future studies of how energy may be manipulated with the help of information on a microscopic level, says Annby-Andersson.

The analysis and related experiments are partially funded by a grant from the Foundational Questions Institute, FQXi. It is a great example of a successful collaboration between two different teams based at the University of Maryland, College Park, and at Lund University, says co-author and FQXi member Peter Samuelsson, a quantum physicist at Lund University.

The equation is a promising starting point for future studies of how energy may be manipulated with the help of information on a microscopic level, says Annby-Andersson.

The team is now investigating a system that makes use of feedback to manipulate energy in quantum dotstiny semiconducting crystals just billionths of a meter across. An important future direction is to use the equation as a tool for inventing novel feedback protocols that can be used for quantum technologies, says Annby-Andersson.

This work was partially supported through FQXi's Information as Fuel program.You can read more about the teams grant in the Foundational Questions Institute, FQXi article: Connect the Quantum Dots for a New Kind of Fuel,by Colin Stuart.

Journal reference: Quantum Fokker-Planck Master Equation for Continuous Feedback Control

ABOUT US

The Foundational Questions Institute, FQXi, catalyzes, supports, and disseminates research on questions at the foundations of science, particularly new frontiers in physics and innovative ideas integral to a deep understanding of reality but unlikely to be supported by conventional funding sources. Visit fqxi.orgfor more information.

Physical Review Letters

Computational simulation/modeling

Not applicable

Quantum Fokker-Planck Master Equation for Continuous Feedback Control

25-Jul-2022

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

Visit link:

Master equation to boost quantum technologies - EurekAlert

Posted in Quantum Physics | Comments Off on Master equation to boost quantum technologies – EurekAlert

What Makes the Human Brain Unique to How Quantum Physicists are Looking for Alien Life (Planet Earth Report) – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries…

Posted: at 11:42 am

Todays stories include Quantum Theory of Consciousness Challenged to Is Life on Earth the Standard Model for the Universe to The 50 Million-Year-Old Treasures of Fossil Lake, and much more.

What makes the human brain different? Yale study reveals clues What makes the human brain distinct from that of all other animals including even our closest primate relatives? In an analysis of cell types in the prefrontal cortex of four primate species, Yale researchers identified species-specific particularly human-specific features, they report Aug. 25 in the journal Science.

Seven Million Years Ago, the Oldest Known Early Human Was Already Walking, reports The Smithsonian. Analysis of a femur fossil indicates that a key species could already move somewhat like us.

Extraterrestrial Life Is Earth the Standard Model for the Universe? asks The Daily Galaxy. By the end of this century, says astrophysicist Martin Rees, we should be able to ask whether or not we live in a multiverse, and how much variety of the laws of physics its constituent universes display. The answer to this question, says Rees, will determine how we should interpret the biofriendly universe in which we live (sharing it with any aliens with whom we might one day make contact).

Unfathomable Abodes of Life? Water Worlds of the Milky WayBefore life appeared on land some 400 million years ago, all life on Earth including the mind evolved in the sea. Astronomers have recently conjectured that blue exoplanets with endless oceans may be orbiting many of the Milky Ways one trillion stars, reports The Daily Galaxy.

What Drives Galaxies? The Milky Ways Black Hole May Be the Key--What Drives Galaxies? The Milky Ways Black Hole May Be the Key. Supermassive black holes have come to the fore as engines of galactic evolution, but new observations of the Milky Way and its central hole dont yet hang together, reports Quanta.

Quantum theory of consciousness put in doubt by underground experiment, reports Physics World. A controversial theory put forward by physicist Roger Penrose and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff that posits consciousness to be a fundamentally quantum-mechanical phenomenon has been challenged by research looking at the role of gravity in the collapse of quantum wavefunctions.

How quantum physicists are looking for life on exoplanets, reports Northeastern University. News@Northeastern spoke to Gregory Fiete, a physics professor at Northeastern, about some of the broad applications of quantum research, from developing renewable energy sources and building more powerful computers, to advancing humanitys quest to discover life beyond the solar system.

The Plan to Look for Life on VenusWithout NASA--A private group of scientists and rocket engineers might be the first to find signs of extraterrestrial life on the second planet from the sun, reports The Daily Beast.

After Millennia of Agricultural Expansion, the World Has Passed Peak Agricultural Land, reports Dr. Hannah Ritchie for Singularity HubHumans have been reshaping the planets land for millennia by clearing wildlands to grow crops and raise livestock. As a result, humans have cleared one-third of the worlds forests and two-thirds of wild grasslands since the end of the last ice age.

The 50 Million-Year-Old Treasures of Fossil Lake In a forbidding Wyoming desert, scientists and fortune hunters search for the surprisingly intact remains of horses and other creatures that lived long ago, reports The Smithsonian..

Drought Exposes Dinosaur Tracks in Texas--The 113-million-year-old footprints were largely made by the carnivorous Acrocanthosaurus, reports The Smithsonian. A severe drought in Texas has revealed 113-million-year-old dinosaur tracks in Dinosaur Valley State Park. The prints are usually covered by the Paluxy Riverthe last time they were visible was in the year 2000, according to BBC News.

Doppelgngers Dont Just Look AlikeThey Also Share DNANew research finds genetic and lifestyle similarities between unrelated pairs of virtual twins, reports the Smithsonian. People with very similar faces also share many of the same genes and lifestyle traits, according to a new paper published Tuesday in the journal Cell Reports.

Shape of human brain has barely changed in past 160,000 years An analysis of fossils suggests changes in the shape of the braincase during human evolution were linked to alterations in the face, rather than changes in the brain itself, reports New Scientist.

Humanity Is Woefully Unprepared for a Major Volcanic Eruption, reports Gizmodo. When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano erupted in Tonga on January 15, the result was devastation. The eruption literally blew up an island, caused mass flooding in the surrounding areas, coated whole communities in a thick layer of ash, and took out telecommunications for weeks. Yet in that eruption, we got lucky, according to a new commentary article .

Scientists discovered a 5 million-year-old time capsule buried in Antarctica--Its an ice core with bubbles containing remains of ancient Earth atmosphere, reports ZME Science.

When will Chinas population peak? It depends who you ask--Data show the country is facing a demographic crisis, with an aging population and young couples having fewer children, reports Nature.

MIT professor wrongfully accused of spying for China helps make a major discovery Gang Chen, who was cleared after a lengthy DOJ investigation, said he is stepping away from federally funded research because of anxieties around being racially profiled, reports NBC.

Reconstructing ice age diets reveals an unraveling web of lifeWhile about 6% of land mammals have gone extinct in that time, we estimate that more than 50% of mammal food web links have disappeared, said ecologist Evan Fricke, lead author of the study. And the mammals most likely to decline, both in the past and now, are key for mammal food web complexity, reports Rice University.

Why Thinking Hard Wears You OutConcentrating for long periods builds up chemicals that disrupt brain functioning, reports Scientific American.

Tiny Caribbean crustaceans and their bioluminescent mating displays are shining new light on evolution, reports Science. No bigger than a grain of sand, ostracods abound in fresh and saltwater. They are very cute but also sort of bizarrelike a cross between a crab and a tiny spaceship, says Timothy Fallon, an evolutionary biochemist at the University of California (UC), San Diego.

The Biggest Offshore Wind Farm in the World Will Be Fully Online This Month, reports Singularity Hub. A massive offshore wind project has been underway off the coast of England for over four years. Construction of Hornsea One started in January 2018, and generated its first power a year and a half later. Meanwhile, construction of neighboring Hornsea Two got underway, with that site first coming online last December.

Eye movements in REM sleep mimic gazes in the dream world, reports the University of California, San Francisco. When our eyes move during REM sleep, were gazing at things in the dream world our brains have created, according to a new study by researchers at UC San Francisco. The findings shed light not only into how we dream, but also into how our imaginations work.

Curated by The Daily Galaxy Editorial Staff

The Galaxy Report newsletter brings you twice-weekly news of space and science that has the capacity to provide clues to the mystery of our existence and add a much needed cosmic perspective in our current Anthropocene Epoch.

Yes, sign me up for my free subscription.

Recent Galaxy Reports:

Read more:

What Makes the Human Brain Unique to How Quantum Physicists are Looking for Alien Life (Planet Earth Report) - The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries...

Posted in Quantum Physics | Comments Off on What Makes the Human Brain Unique to How Quantum Physicists are Looking for Alien Life (Planet Earth Report) – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries…

Quantum Birth of the Universe (Weekend Feature) – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel

Posted: at 11:42 am

In some pockets of space, far beyond the limits of our observations, wrote cosmologist Dan Hooper at the University of Chicago in an email to The Daily Galaxy, referring to the theory of eternal inflation and the inflationary multiverse: the laws of physics could be very different from those we find in our local universe. Different forms of matter could exist, which experience different kinds of forces. In this sense, what we call the laws of physics, instead of being a universal fact of nature, could be an environmental fact, which varies from place to place, or from time to time.

I think I know how the universe was born, said Andrei Linde, Russian-American theoretical physicist and the Harald Trap Friis Professor of Physics at Stanford University. Linde is one of the main authors of the inflationary universe theory, as well as the theory of eternal inflation and inflationary multiverse.

According to quantum models, galaxies like the Milky Way grew from faint wrinkles in the fabric of spacetime. The density of matter in these wrinkles was slightly greater compared to surrounding areas and this difference was magnified during inflation, allowing them to attract even more matter. From these dense primordial seeds grew the cosmic structures we see today. Galaxies are children of random quantum fluctuations produced during the first 10-35 seconds after the birth of the universe, said Linde.

As a result, the universe becomes a multiverse, an eternally growing fractal consisting of exponentially many exponentially large parts, Linde wrote. These parts are so large that for all practical purposes they look like separate universes.

Late one summer night in 1981, while still a junior research fellow at Lebedev Physical Institute in Moscow, Andrei Linde was struck by a revelation. Unable to contain his excitement, he shook awake his wife, Renata Kallosh, and whispered to her in their native Russian, I think I know how the universe was born.

Kallosh, a theoretical physicist herself, muttered some encouraging words and fell back asleep. It wasnt until the next morning that I realized the full impact of what Andrei had told me, recalled Kallosh, now a professor of physics at the Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics.

Lindes nocturnal eureka moment had to do with a problem in cosmology that he and other theorists, including Stephen Hawking, had struggled with.

A year earlier, a 32-year-old postdoc at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory named Alan Guth shocked the physics community by proposing a bold modification to the Big Bang theory. According to Guths idea, which he called inflation, our universe erupted from a vacuum-like state and underwent a brief period of faster-than-light expansion. In less than a billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second, space-time doubled more than 60 times from a subatomic speck to a volume many times larger than the observable universe.

Guth envisioned the powerful repulsive force fueling the universes exponential growth as a field of energy flooding space. As the universe unfurled, this inflation field decayed, and its shed energy was transfigured into a fiery bloom of matter and radiation. This pivot, from nothing to something and timelessness to time, marked the beginning of the Big Bang. It also prompted Guth to famously quip that the inflationary universe was the ultimate free lunch.

As theories go, inflation was a beauty. It explained in one fell swoop why the universe is so large, why it was born hot, and why its structure appears to be so flat and uniform over vast distances. There was just one problem it didnt work.

To conclude the unpacking of space-time, Guth borrowed a trick from quantum mechanics called tunneling to allow his inflation field to randomly and instantly skip from a higher, less stable energy state to a lower one, thus bypassing a barrier that could not be scaled by classical physics.

But closer inspection revealed that quantum tunneling caused the inflation field to decay quickly and unevenly, resulting in a universe that was neither flat nor uniform. Aware of the fatal flaw in his theory, Guth wrote at the end of his paper on inflation: I am publishing this paper in the hope that it will encourage others to find some way to avoid the undesirable features of the inflationary scenario.

Linde Answers Guth

Guths plea was answered by Linde, who on that fateful summer night realized that inflation didnt require quantum tunneling to work. Instead, the inflation field could be modeled as a ball rolling down a hill of potential energy that had a very shallow, nearly flat slope. While the ball rolls lazily downhill, the universe is inflating, and as it nears the bottom, inflation slows further and eventually ends. This provided a graceful exit to the inflationary state that was lacking in Guths model and produced a cosmos like the one we observe. To distinguish it from Guths original model while still paying homage to it, Linde dubbed his model new inflation.

Models of Inflation Theory

By the time Linde and Kallosh moved to Stanford in 1990, experiments had begun to catch up with the theory. Space missions were finding temperature variations in the energetic afterglow of the Big Bang called the cosmic microwave background radiation that confirmed a startling prediction made by the latest inflationary models. These updated models went by various names chaotic inflation, eternal inflation, eternal chaotic inflation and many more but they all shared in common the graceful exit that Linde pioneered.

Quantum Fluctuation Fingerprints

Inflation predicted that these quantum fluctuations would leave imprints on the universes background radiation in the form of hotter and colder regions, and this is precisely what two experiments dubbed COBE and WMAP found. After the COBE and WMAP experiments, inflation started to become part of the standard model of cosmology, Shamit Kachru said.

Pocket Universes New Inflating Regions in the Universe

Linde and others later realized that the same quantum fluctuations that produced galaxies can give rise to new inflating regions in the universe. Even though inflation ended in our local cosmic neighborhood 13.8 billion years ago it can still continue in disconnected regions of space beyond the limits of our observable universe The consequence is an ever-expanding sea of inflating space-time dotted with pocket universes like our own where inflation has ceased.

As a result, the universe becomes a multiverse, an eternally growing fractal consisting of exponentially many exponentially large parts, Linde wrote. These parts are so large that for all practical purposes they look like separate universes.

Linde took the multiverse idea even further by proposing that each pocket universe could have differing properties, a conclusion that some string theorists were also reaching independently.

Its not that the laws of physics are different in each universe, but their realizations, Linde said. An analogy is the relationship between liquid water and ice. Theyre both H2O but realized differently.

Lindes multiverse is like a cosmic funhouse filled with reality-distorting mirrors. Some pocket universes are resplendent with life, while others were stillborn because they were cursed with too few (or too many) dimensions, or with physics incompatible with the formation of stars and galaxies. An infinite number are exact replicas of ours, but infinitely more are only near-replicas. Right now, there could be countless versions of you inhabiting worlds with histories divergent from ours in ways large and small. In an infinitely expanding multiverse, anything that can happen will happen.

The inflationary universe is not just the ultimate free lunch, its the only lunch where all possible dishes are served, Linde said.

While disturbing to some, this eternal aspect of inflation was just what a small group of string theorists were looking for to help explain a surprise discovery that was upending the physics world dark energy.

The Last Word -Brian Keating and Avi Loeb

When asked, will Lindes pocket universes be subject to the same laws of physics as our Universe, Brian Keating, Distinguished Professor of Physics at the Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences at University of California, San Diego, told The Daily Galaxy: No, not necessarily. Its not mandatory that the properties of space-time be consistent from universe to universe. Nor is it impossible that the laws of logic and mathematics be consistent throughout the universe. This has led some physicists such as Paul Steinhart claiming that the multiverse concept is not a self-consistent or proper subject with the traditions of the scientific method.

Not so certain of the existence of Lindes free lunch, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb told The Daily Galaxy: Advances in scientific knowledge are enabled by experimental tests of theoretical ideas. Physics is a dialogue with nature, not a monologue. I am eagerly waiting for a proposed experimental test of the multiverse idea.

Avi Shporer, Research Scientist, with the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research via Dan Hooper, Brian Keating, Avi Loeb and Stanford University

The Galaxy Report newsletter brings you twice-weekly news of space and science that has the capacity to provide clues to the mystery of our existence and add a much needed cosmic perspective in our current Anthropocene Epoch.

Yes, sign me up for my free subscription.

Recent Galaxy Reports:

Avi Shporer,Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. AGoogle Scholar, Avi was formerly aNASA Sagan Fellowat the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). His motto, not surprisingly, is a quote from Carl Sagan: Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

Continue reading here:

Quantum Birth of the Universe (Weekend Feature) - The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel

Posted in Quantum Physics | Comments Off on Quantum Birth of the Universe (Weekend Feature) – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel

NASA Captured The Sound Of Space (And It’s Bloody Terrifying) – Boss Hunting

Posted: at 11:40 am

As it turns out, the idea of space being a completely silent vacuum is a misconception. And were now learning thanks to a recording released by NASA, not only does space have a sound its a goddamn Lovecraftian horror.

The 34-second clip sending social media into a frenzy is a remixed sonification of the black hole located at the centre of a galaxy cluster dubbed Perseus. For reference, Perseus is approximately 240 million light years away from Earth (just in case any of you were thinking about ducking over real quick).

RELATED: NASAs James Webb Space Telescope Reveals Galaxy From 4.6 Billion Years Ago

Since 2003, the black hole at the centre of the Perseus galaxy cluster has been associated with sound, explained NASA.

This is because astronomers discovered that pressure waves sent out by the black hole caused ripples in the clusters hot gas that could be translated into a note one that humans cannot hear some 57 octaves below middle C.

So how is it possible that our woefully human ears are (finally) registering the audio being emitted by Perseus?

RELATED: Hubble Telescope Photo Shows One Galaxy Ripping Solar Systems From Another

The US space agency added: The sound waves were extracted in radial directions, that is, outwards from the centre. The signals were then resynthesized into the range of human hearing by scaling them upward by 57 and 58 octaves above their true pitch.

Another way to put this is that they are being heard 144 quadrillion and 288 quadrillion times higher than their original frequency (a quadrillion is 1,000,000,000,000,000.) The radar-like scan around the image allows you to hear waves emitted in different directions.

In other words, this isnt a completely faithful representation of what youd experience in the aural sense if you were to hypothetically get up close and personal with a black hole. Although in that scenario, sound accuracy would probably be the least of your problems.

Still, anyone having trouble staying awake in the dead of night should definitely give the NASA space sound recording a listen.

Visit link:
NASA Captured The Sound Of Space (And It's Bloody Terrifying) - Boss Hunting

Posted in Hubble Telescope | Comments Off on NASA Captured The Sound Of Space (And It’s Bloody Terrifying) – Boss Hunting

Love Chicago? You likely give thumbs-up to the casino plan – Chicago Tribune

Posted: at 11:36 am

When Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that she had selected the only North Side option for the citys first casino, she riled many aldermen, especially those who had hoped for a different location. But most Cook County residents, it turns out, are A-OK with her choice.

Time will tell whether Lightfoots casino pays off in jobs and economic growth, but new public opinion polling suggests that the casino has in some ways become a proxy for how residents view the Chicago area more broadly.

To gauge how those who live in the Chicago area feel about the proposed casino, The Harris Poll surveyed a representative sample of them about the project and the city. We found that support for the casino strongly corresponded with ones view of the Chicago area generally: Supporters of the North Side casino complex tend to be markedly more upbeat about the city than opponents.

Compared to supporters, casino critics are twice as likely to describe metro Chicago as struggling (32% to 16%). Two-thirds of casino supporters have a positive view of greater Chicago and believe that it is attracting new residents and businesses, while only 50% of critics say the same.

In this sense, how you view the casino depends on whether you see Chicagos glass as half full or half empty. If you are a booster, the casino represents a new opportunity and no surprise, people who live in the city itself more often view the venture favorably and you may be more likely to care about the specific payoff: money flowing into first responders chronically underfunded pension plans. But if youre a skeptic, the notion of a new casino brings with it the ills of gambling: corruption, dependence and decay.

Tellingly, both sides are glum about the South and West sides, with pluralities saying that these parts of the city are on their way down. Majorities of both groups described the North Side as being established, which raises questions about whether the casinos expected economic development might have done more for Chicago if Lightfoot had chosen one of the South Side sites on her list of finalists. But these could well be chicken-and-egg conundrums: Would the casino provide the spark for an ailing area or would neighborhood decay undercut the new establishment?

In any case, the top-line figures suggest that the mayor and her City Council allies did not hurt themselves politically in May by approving the Ballys plan to convert a 30-acre industrial site in River West into a $1.74 billion entertainment complex that, in addition to a gambling floor with 3,400 slot machines, includes a 500-room hotel, a 3,000-seat theater, six restaurants, a park and a Riverwalk extension.

When told about the scale of the project, as well as the fact that it is expected to pump $200 million annually into pensions for Chicago police and firefighters, 54% of representative adults polled in the online survey said that they support the casino, with 20% opposed and 26% neither for nor against it.

Here again, differences emerge among demographics groups. Those who live in the city itself, for example, more often support the project than those who live in the Cook County suburbs (56% to 51%). Theres an even wider gap between men and women in favoring the casino (61% to 48%).Support falls under 50% for adults with less than a high school education and rises to at least 60% for adults with household incomes of $100,000 and up.

Chicago certainly needs an economic boost, based on our survey. A plurality of area residents (34%) describe the city as declining. Many of those challenges are seen as happening in the South and West sides, but perhaps ominously, more than three-quarters of area residents believe that downtown Chicago has gotten more dangerous in the last year.

Still, two-thirds overall say they enjoy spending time downtown. Will that share rise if the 312 area code includes a casino? Ballys has submitted an application to the Illinois Gaming Board for a license and also still needs permission from the Chicago Plan Commission to move ahead. If everything goes to plan, the new complex wont open until 2026.

But Ballys plans to open an interim casino in the Medinah Temple in River North in 2023, so we should get an early sense of its impact.

How will it all turn out? Place your bets.

Will Johnson is CEO of The Harris Poll, a global public opinion, market research, and strategy firm.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

Read the original post:

Love Chicago? You likely give thumbs-up to the casino plan - Chicago Tribune

Posted in Casino | Comments Off on Love Chicago? You likely give thumbs-up to the casino plan – Chicago Tribune

Here’s a first look inside the new Legends Bay Casino in Sparks – Reno Gazette Journal

Posted: at 11:36 am

An exclusive sneak peek inside the Legends Bay Casino as Olympia Gaming puts the finishing touches on the property prior to its Aug. 30 opening.

Point to something anything inside the new Legends Bay Casino and Court Cardinal will have an interesting story about it.

That comfy-looking seat placed in front of a nearby slot machine? Thats a Gary Platt chair that Cardinal picked after sitting on every chair featured at a casino expo.

The tables inside one of the casinos restaurants? Those are raised exactly 28 inches from the floor, which happens to be the perfect height to match the accompanying chairs that are 18 inches high. The combination, by the way, is the sweet spot thats comfortable for a wide range of people, the Olympia Gaming regional president said.

More: Legends Bay Casino earns gaming commission approval, looking to hire nearly 300 workers

Even the carpet, whose swirling red, blue and tan patterns are reminiscent of agate crystal, has a tale behind it.

A thousand hours went into deciding on these casino carpets, which you want to be warm and inviting but also resist stains and have a good flow, Cardinal said.

Its the little things that you normally dont think about that have hours and hours spent on them.

Then again, when youre getting ready to open a $130 million casino the first new ground-up casino project in Reno-Sparks for more than two decades Cardinal says its crucial to be on top of everything. Whether it be the hiring of nearly 300 employees, the kind of food served in the various restaurants, or, yes, the carpet being used, Cardinal is keeping track of every little detail prior to Legends Bay Casinos Aug. 30 opening.

Court was even able to say exactly how many gaming machines are on the floor at Legends Bay Casino at the moment.

Six hundred sixty-five, Cardinal said without skipping a beat. I know because weve got topay taxes on every machine.

In and around the casino, the sight of employees putting various finishing touches on Legends Bay Casino is commonplace.

Several machines have panels open as technicians work on setting them up. Inside Dukes Steakhouse, new employees gather around a large counter surrounded by a wall of wine bottles to familiarize themselves with the menu.

Outside, a man stands on a raised platform while diligently cleaning the exterior glass. Just below, a couple of guards watch by the front door to ensure that only employees and authorized personnel enter the property. Security was beefed up after some members of the public wandered in to check out the casino.

Weve had a lot of requests from people wanting to see the property, Cardinal said.

All requests have been denied,however, as Legends Bay Casino hunkers down for the final stretch. Cardinal, who opened Olympia Gamings Casino Fandango in Carson City as well as a few other casinos, says hes quite aware of how busy the final days get before a facility finally opens its doors.

A lot of stuff is still getting wired up, Cardinal said. Were also doing a lot of training right now.

So far, Legends Bay Casino has been fortunate with filling all its vacant positions, according to Cardinal. Despite challenges posed by the Great Resignation, which has seen many businesses nationwide struggle to hire and keep employees since the pandemic, hiring has gone smoothly at the new Sparks casino.

Finding employees in Reno-Sparks was also a lot easier compared to Carson City, including hiring experienced workers coming from other casinos, Cardinal said. Costs, however, have definitely gone up.

Salaries across the board had to be raised in the last few years because of COVID, Cardinal said. But thats happening industrywide.

Cardinal smiles like a kid in a candy store as he walks down the floor and reaches a large machine.

The machine features a pair of slots set back to back, with the four vertical screens arcing in a giant half circle with several images of a buffalo a familiar mascot for slot aficionados. Cardinal called it the giant-giant Buffalo arch.

They dont build them anymore and we got the only one in Northern Nevada, Cardinal said.

Buffalo slots along with Lightning Link slots are two of the most popular machines in the market right now, according to Cardinal. Buffalo slots are especially popular among slot machine lovers due to their volatile nature. While it can be easy to quickly rack up a huge loss, its also easy to string together big wins, Cardinal said.

In addition to gaming machines, the Legends Bay Casino floor also has several tables for games like craps and poker. The casino does not have a poker room, however.

You need poker rooms when you have a large, out-of-town contingency and the large hotel-casinos can support that, Cardinal said. When youre a local casino, though, its not as profitable and you end up having the same eight guys in there.

Legends Bay Casino also scrapped plans for a buffet due to COVID concerns and rising food costs, opting to do an indoor food truck hall instead.

It still has a sportsbook, however, which is also the first one in Northern Nevada to be run by Las Vegas-based Circa Sports. Clients will be able to try out the sportsbook along with the rest of the propertys amenities when Legends Bay Casino opens in six days.

Although Cardinal has opened his share of casinos, its admittedly been 19 years since his last one, Casino Fandango in Carson City. The last few days are also some of the most crucial when opening a new casino.

There are always going to be bumps here and there, Cardinal said. You just have to figure them out and overcome them.

While walking through the casino floor, Cardinal took a breath in response to a comment about Legends Bay Casinos new casino smell.

Its the first one (in Reno-Sparks) in over 25 years so youre not going to have a lot of casinos with that new casino smell, Cardinal said with a laugh.

Jason Hidalgo covers businessand technology for the Reno Gazette Journal, and also reviews the latest video games. Follow him on Twitter @jasonhidalgo. Like this content?Support local journalism with anRGJ digital subscription.

Read the original post:

Here's a first look inside the new Legends Bay Casino in Sparks - Reno Gazette Journal

Posted in Casino | Comments Off on Here’s a first look inside the new Legends Bay Casino in Sparks – Reno Gazette Journal

Casinos in the Sacramento area and how far they are – KTXL FOX 40 Sacramento

Posted: at 11:36 am

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) The Sky River Casino in Elk Grove opened its doors in August, becoming Sacramento Countys first tribal casino.

On the casinos opening day, there were long lines of cars full of people eager to check out the new 100,000-square-foot-facility.

The casino is located off Highway 99 on 1 Sky River Parkway in Elk Grove and features 2,000 slot machines, 80 tables, and 17 planned restaurants and bars.

The new casino was originally supposed to open in September, which at the time was considered ahead of schedule.

Sky River Casino is the closest gambling spot for residents in the city of Sacramento and its reach also includes West Sacramento, Arden-Arcade, Davis, and Rancho Cordova.

For people driving to Sky River from Sacramento, the distance is approximately 24 minutes or 17.9 miles.

As for other tribal casinos in the Sacramento region, here is how far youll have to drive from the city of Sacramento.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Wheatland opened its doors on October 2019 and has over 1,500 slot machines, 57 table games and 169 luxurious hotel rooms and suites.

Recently, the casino opened its new music and entertainment venue in June with Maroon 5 as the first performers. Since the venue made its debut with Maroon 5, the venue has hosted multiple music and comedy acts. The venue is also made to host MMA and boxing fights, charity events and trade shows.

The casino is located off Highway 65 on 3317 Forty Mile Road in Wheatland.

Thunder Valley, a 270,000-square-foot facility, in Lincoln has become a popular spot in the area, as its casino features 3,500 slot machines, 100 table games, a live poker room for tournaments, and a bingo room that holds up to 800 players.

For those who arent interested in gambling, Thunder Valley features a spa, 18 restaurants and bars including a poolside bar at its resort. Its hotel is 17 stories with 408 rooms including 40 suites.

Thunder Valley is located off Highway 65 on 1200 Athens Venue in Lincoln.

The Red Hawk Casino, located off Highway 50 at 1 Red Hawk Parkway in Placerville, features over 2,500 slots ranging from one penny to $25. The casino also features table games and multiple restaurants and bars.

Unlike other tribal casinos in the area, Red Hawk doesnt have a resort attached to its casino, but there are multiple hotels nearby, according to its website.

Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort, located at 12222 New York Ranch Road in Jackson in Amador County, features over 1,700 slot machines and 32 table games.

As for the casinos resort, Jackson Rancheria features 86 rooms and people can also stay overnight at its nearby RV park.

Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks in the Capay Valley in Yolo County. The casino originally opened as a bingo hall in the mid-1980s and has since become a 400,000-square-foot resort.

According to its website, Cache Creek has over 2,300 slot machines, multiple table games, and a lounge. Its resort features the Yocha Dehe Golf Club, which features 18 holes, a spa, pools along with 459 rooms and suites in its hotel.

The casino and resort is located of Highway 16 at 14455 CA-16 in Brooks.

Another casino in Amador County, Harrahs Northern California is located at 4640 Coal Mine Road in Ione.

The casino floor features 950 slot machines and 20 table games, but attendees will need to book a hotel nearby. According to the casinos website, there are multiple nearby hotels for an overnight stay.

For Caesars Reward members, you can earn redeem points at the Harrahs Northern California location.

There are also multiple non-tribal casinos in the Sacramento area. These facilities dont include slot machines.

Here is where theyre located:

Capitol Casino, 411 North Street, Sacramento, Ca 95811

Stones Gambling Hall, 6510 Antelope Road, Citrus Heights, Ca 95621

Parkwest Casino Lodi, 1800 South Cherokee Lane, Lodi, Ca 95240

Parkwest Casino Lotus, 6010 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, Ca, 95824

Parkwest Casino Cordova, 2801 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, Ca, 95670

See more here:

Casinos in the Sacramento area and how far they are - KTXL FOX 40 Sacramento

Posted in Casino | Comments Off on Casinos in the Sacramento area and how far they are – KTXL FOX 40 Sacramento

Macau sets first formal cap on casino tables, income amid bidding war – Reuters

Posted: at 11:36 am

People wearing masks walk in front of Casino Lisboa, before its temporary closing, following the coronavirus outbreak in Macau, China February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

Register

HONG KONG, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Macau has fixed a limit of 6,000 gaming tables and 12,000 gaming machines for new casino operators early next year, as well as minimum income levels for each operator, the government in the world's biggest gambling hub said on Friday.

It is the first time authorities have set a formal cap on the numbers of tables and a minimum income requirement, as the government looks to tighten control of casino operators who raked in $36 billion in 2019, before COVID-19 disruptions.

With contracts set to expire at the end of the year, the territory's six licensed operators, Sands China (1928.HK), Wynn Macau (1128.HK), Galaxy Entertainment (0027.HK), MGM China (2282.HK), SJM Holdings (0880.HK), Melco Resorts have to rebid for their spots.

Register

The highly anticipated bidding process kicked off in July, when the government said global gaming operators could submit bids for new licenses from July 29 until September 14.

"The new gaming operation from early next year will ... cap the total amount of all gaming tables and gaming machines to ensure orderly and healthy development," the government said in a statement on its website.

Minimum annual gross income from each gaming table is set at 7 million patacas ($866,122) while the figure for each gaming machine is 300,000 patacas ($37,120), the government said.

Such figures of minimum gross revenue guarantee a minimum level of tax for the government, with the operator having to make up the gap if revenues fall short.

The rules aim to spur licensed companies to make good use of approved tables and machines, the government said.

A nominal cap on table games set by the government in 2012 allowed for compound annual growth of 3% on the number of tables available for all casinos.

By the end of 2021, Macau had a total of 6,198 gaming tables and 11,758 machines in operation. That was down from a high of 6,739 tables in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The rebidding takes place amid Macau's worst outbreak of COVID-19, which led to a 12-day closure of casinos in July. While they have re-opened, there is no business, as curbs are only being lifted slowly.

At a time when other gambling centres in the world are getting busy again, Macau's COVID-19 curbs are burning through about $600 million a month. The casinos are expected to have little to no income for months, analysts say. read more

($1=8.0820 patacas)

Register

Reporting by Farah Master and Twinnie Siu; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Clarence Fernandez

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Originally posted here:

Macau sets first formal cap on casino tables, income amid bidding war - Reuters

Posted in Casino | Comments Off on Macau sets first formal cap on casino tables, income amid bidding war – Reuters

Wildhorse Casino Gunman Demanded $1million and Threatened to Bathe Everyone in Blood – PokerTube

Posted: at 11:36 am

08:0427 Aug

The gunman in last weeks Oregon casino shooting that left a bystander wounded demanded $1,000,000 from the cashier and threatened to bathe everyone in blood according to court documents...

As we reported just a few days ago, an armed gunman robbed the Wildhorse Resort and Casino but was involved in a shootout as he made his escape.

Now it has been revealed that the 51-year-old suspect, named as Javier Francisco Vigil, told the cashier Im f*cking God...Im going to bathe everyone in blood, as he demanded $1million.

The gunman had an automatic pistol and two extra magazines of ammunition on his hip, wearing a white football jersey, a baseball cap, gloves and sunglasses, as he entered the casino in broad daylight.

Court documents from the FBI, reported by the Tri-City Herald newspaper, show that the cashier thought Vigil was joking when he walked straight to her desk and handed her a note demanding $1million.

Her laughter turned to fear, however, when Vigil pulled a gun and started making threats, although the cashier managed to press the emergency button as Vigil filled a bag with cash.

The cashier claims that Vigil, caught on camera as he robbed the cage, said:

Two minutes after entering the tribal casino, situated on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Vigil made his way to the exit with $69,068 in stolen cash.

However, he was faced with a Umatilla Tribal Police Department (UTPD) officer who was positioned behind his K-9 vehicle, and a shootout ensued during which Vigil and a bystander were both injured.

Local media reported that the responding officers vehicle had multiple bullet holes in it, including the front hood, front passenger tire and through the front passenger and driver side windows.

Vigil has reportedly claimed he intentionally shot an officers vehicle because he did not want to hurt the officer.

It is unclear as yet who shot the unidentified bystander, a Pendleton School District employee apparently there as part of a school event.

The FBI special agent whose report the court received says that by the time he arrived, Vigil was lying on the ground with a gunshot wound and a pistol and clear bag of unfolded cash lay next to him.

Vigil, who has a long history of burglary, theft, assault and resisting arrest or fleeing charges, has been denied bail by Federal Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo. A formal arraignment has been set for September 15th.

Did you like this article?

Continued here:

Wildhorse Casino Gunman Demanded $1million and Threatened to Bathe Everyone in Blood - PokerTube

Posted in Casino | Comments Off on Wildhorse Casino Gunman Demanded $1million and Threatened to Bathe Everyone in Blood – PokerTube

Finding the Best Metaverse Casino – Where Should You Play? – Gambling Sites

Posted: at 11:36 am

Im on a mission to find the best metaverse casino out there.

Bring me the top casino in the metaverse, post haste. One that has everything I want and could possibly need. From great games and bonuses to opportunities to make passive income from my wagers, I want it. And I want it now.

You might be thinking that my demands are unreasonable. Thats because they are. It takes time to compare the best and much patience. But thankfully, Ive done the leg work to deliver some excellent metaverse casinos you should try out.

Some of you will be thinking, What is the metaverse? And thats fine. Its probably best to establish a frame of reference for how it all works before diving in at the deep end.

When you have a basic idea of metaverse gambling, lets get down to business.

Should You Play at a Trusted Online Casino Instead?

How does the best metaverse casino compare with those online?

Ill stop short of giving you a defining answer to that question now. There is a lot to consider before we weigh up both sides of the coin. But I would also keep in mind that comparing thebest casinos in the metaverse to the leading online sites isnt easy.

There are the more obvious points to consider, of course. First, to play at any metaverse casino, you will need a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) appliance. Its not as easy as just logging on through your phone or home computer.

Many are reluctant to say goodbye to online casinos for that reason alone.

Others will play in both worlds, and Ill share mytop metaverse casinos below, so you know where to explore. But if you have stumbled on this piece looking for the best casinos online, the following table lays out our leading recommendations.

#1

Welcome Bonus

240% up to $12,500

Deposit Method & Payout

Bitcoin (1-3 days)

Credit Cards (3-4 days)

Bank Wire (5 days)

#2

Welcome Bonus

280% up to $14,000

Deposit Method & Payout

Bitcoin (1-3 days)

Bank Wire (within 5 days)

Credit Cards (3-4 days)

Casinos in Decentraland

Decentraland is considered by many to be the home of the best metaverse casinos.

The platform hosts Decentral Games, a grid ofdecentralized applications (dApps) that run on its exclusive DG token. The network which encompasses these metaverse casino games is spearheaded by a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) where token holders can contribute to games and casinos on the platform.

There are two main gaming worlds to explore in Decentraland. These are ICE Poker and the standard metaverse casino experience. ICE Poker, as it happens, is widely considered the top casino in the metaverse.

Its not difficult to see why, given its groundbreaking and innovative approaches. Never mind the full range of games accessible to players. Everything from poker, roulette, blackjack, and slots is easily found inside a bright and encapsulating world of high-tech betting.

Decentral Games offers two different types of Metaverse gambling experiences: ICE Poker and an average Metaverse casino.

The ICE NFT token allows players to try their luck at several games while providing access to other challenges and competitions, with the DG token serving as the governance token. With these, players can use communityvotes to modify economic incentives and allocate fees that accrue in the Decentral Games treasury.

That all sounds very interesting. Of course, one thing you cant do at Decentraland is bet on live dealer casinos for real money. If thats something a little more to your liking, Id probably consider Bovada a better option.

The Sandbox Casinos

Another one of the best metaverse casino experiences you can find is the SandVegas Casino.

Admittedly, this world is still being developed. As such, it will take a while before it catches the eye of many players. The project is very ambitious, however, with the likes of Adidas and Snoop Dogg getting involved.

If youre looking forwhere to gamble in the metaverse, its worth keeping this one in mind.

Alongside various games such as slots, poker, and roulette, there is also a chance to make money and buy into a fractional ownership program.

If youre still wondering what the metaverse exactly is, this could all seem crazy.

I digress. The early-stage design looks promising. It allows players to immerse themselves in a world where they can kick back and enjoy games. Or listen to live DJ sets and grab a couple of cocktails while shooting the breeze with others.

Well, not real cocktails. I mean, we havent quite gotten that far with metaverse gambling. The same applies to real money. So, if playing blackjack with cash deposited from your card or e-wallet is how you like it, the chances are youll find this a little grating.

If thats the case, you could always explore the options over at Wild Casino.

EarnBet Casino

Since arriving on the block fairly recently, EarnBet has turned some heads.

Its already being touted as the best casino in the metaverse by some critics. And there appear to be many reasons for believing that. The design is nice and straightforward, encouraging players to buy into the project to see the faster progression.

Founded on the BET crypto token, EarnBet allows players to access a growing library of games with low house edges. More than that, you can further reduce house edges by taking with BET.

Some of the more attractive points of playing at one of thebest metaverse casinos online include.

These are very appealing factors. But not everyone will be interested in them, of course.

Some players will indeed want to play the best metaverse casino games for novelty purposes. Others will be looking to find a new home, with casinos like EarnBet obvious destinations. As for providing you with a 100% no-frills gambling experience? Nah.

In my opinion, excellent all-in-one betting sites online will take some beating. For that reason, casinos like Las Atlantis will continue to see new players looking to sample their burgeoning catalog of slots and other games.

Edgeless Casino

Its tough to ignore Edgeless.io when discussing thetop metaverse casinos.

Touted as the worlds first Ethereum-powered crypto casino, the site welcomes players of all backgrounds to try their luck in the metaverse realm. One aspect that might be of interest to safer gamblers is that they value a straightforward and completely honest approach to betting.

Edgeless is officially licensed by the Curacao Gaming Commission.

The company behind this site wants to set a precedent of complete frankness.

To be fair, they do just that. Not only do they publish their smart contract and Edgeless Casino bankroll, but you can also find details of every jackpot payout from the site. This is all readily available on the blockchain for players.

Edgeless utility coin is EDG and runs off the Ethereum blockchain. You can use the coin to bet on roulette, slots, jackpot games, and their Crash title.

You could give these guys a look if youre wondering where to play casino games in the metaverse. But if youre still not sold on the idea, El Royale Casino is a real money site with a vast library of casino games.

Comparing the Best Metaverse Casinos

I guess the best metaverse casino is the one that ticks all your boxes.

Subjectivity is at the heart of any comparison. That theory stands up to any criticism, in my opinion. What one person enjoys might be a mini sample of hell for the next person, and vice versa.

Important

To find the best casino in the metaverse, you should try as many as you can.

Who has time for that, though?

The main reason I shared my top four metaverse casino sites with you today was to help you with that process. Its much easier to list four of them and let you go away and try them out for yourself.

But as you will have noticed, I also provided you with some stellar alternatives in the form of top-class casinos and betting sites.

Now, if those alternative casinos are already known to you, perhaps its worth looking through a more extensive list. Who knows you could even find thebest US casino onlineby comparing them.

Here is the original post:

Finding the Best Metaverse Casino - Where Should You Play? - Gambling Sites

Posted in Casino | Comments Off on Finding the Best Metaverse Casino – Where Should You Play? – Gambling Sites