Category Archives: Gambling

Gambling is often seen as a game of pure luck. While luck does play a role, there are ways to improve your chances of winning and make gambling more than just a game of chance. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips that will help you become a better gambler and increase your chances of winning!

Matched betting is a great way to make money from gambling without relying on pure luck. With matched betting, you can use mathematical strategies to guarantee profits from your bets. This makes it an incredibly popular technique among professional gamblers. The experts from the team at Odds Monkey recommend matched betting as the number one way to make money from gambling. If you want to try your hand at matched betting, there are a few things you need to know before getting started.

First, you will need to find a good matched betting service. This service will help you find profitable bets and give you the tools you need to place them. Once you have found a good service, you will need to create an account and deposit some money. After that, you can start placing bets and making money!

Not all gambling games are created equal. Some games, like blackjack and video poker, offer better odds for the player than others, like slots or keno. If you want to have better luck gambling, focus on playing the games that give you the best chance to win.

In addition to playing the right games, you can also increase your chances of winning by using some basic strategies. For example, if youre playing blackjack, always hit on a soft 17 and stand on a hard 17. If youre playing video poker, always play max coins. By following some simple strategy tips like these, youll be giving yourself a better chance to win.

Of course, even if you do everything right, theres still no guarantee that youll win. Gambling is, after all, a game of chance. But by playing the right games and using some basic strategy, you can put the odds more in your favor and have a better chance of coming out ahead.

Some gamblers think that they can just rely on pure luck to win. However, this is not always the case. In order to increase your chances of winning, you need to learn how to manage your funds properly. This means knowing when to bet and how much money you can afford to lose. Without proper money management, you will eventually go broke, even if you do get lucky and win a few bets.

One way to help manage your gambling funds is to set aside a certain amount of money for gambling each week. This will help you keep track of how much you are spending on gambling and will also help you limit your losses. It is also important to remember that gambling should only be done with the money that you can afford to lose. Never try to utilize gambling as a means of making money.

It goes without saying that drinking and gambling dont mix. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and makes you more likely to make impulsive, risky bets. Its also a depressant, which means it can impact your mood and make you more likely to chase losses. In short, drinking while gambling is a recipe for disaster. So if you want to improve your chances of winning, its important to stay sober while youre gambling. This doesnt mean you cant have a drink before or after you gamble, but try to limit yourself to one or two drinks and make sure youre not drunk when you start gambling.

Another way to improve your chances of winning is to set a budget and stick to it. Gambling can be addictive, and its easy to get caught up in the excitement of the game and start spending more money than you intended. Before you start gambling, decide how much money youre willing to lose and stick to that limit. Its also a good idea to set a winning goal, so you know when to quit while youre ahead. That way, you can walk away from the table as a winner, even if you dont end up winning big.

In conclusion, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of winning at gambling. First, focus on playing the games that offer better odds. Second, use some basic strategy tips to give yourself an edge. Finally, manage your money properly, and dont drink while you gamble. By following these tips, youll have a better chance of coming out ahead when you gamble. Good luck!

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How To Turn Betting Into More Than Just Pure Luck - KHTS Radio

A GAMBLING strategist revealed six beginners' rules he wished hed followed from the time he started betting after he realized the lottery was straight theft.

Bradley Retter, a resident professional gambler, penned a blog for BestUSCasinos.com detailing the mistakes he made that cost him money and prevented him from winning.

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Almost everything I learned when I started gambling was through trial and error, and it cost me a lot of money, he wrote.

A little research goes a long way toward better gambling results, but sometimes you dont even know where to start looking.

His first tip was to avoid slot machines, as tempting as they might be.

For many casino visitors, their intro to gambling is those flashy, spinning reels, he said.

I love to play slot machine games.

I like trying to catch a winning combination and working through the storylines of story-based slots games.

Im a sucker that falls into the slot machine trance quickly and would play for hours if I didnt know exactly how bad these machines are in terms of my bankroll.

The reason to avoid them is simply that the odds of winning are low.

He claims online real-money slots tend to be more successful.

Its important to know that there is no guarantee of winning, so never spend more than you can afford.

Retter's next tip is to avoid lottery tickets, as their chances of winning are even lower than slot machines.

I dont know the exact numbers, but I bet that some years I spent more than $1,000 on lottery tickets, Retter said.

"I probably spend less than $50 a year on lottery tickets now, and I get at least that much in entertainment value out of them, Retter said.

Retter said the average return on a slot machine might be around 90percent, while the average return on a lottery ticket is closer to 30percent.

Stop buying lottery tickets like theyre some sort of investment," he said.

The only thing lottery tickets are good for is daydreaming about what to do with all of the money if you ever win.

Enjoy these dreams, because youre never going to actually win.

Next, he said, you must understand that every casino game and bet is set up for one side to win, and another to lose.

Most beginner bets, and even expert bets, are on the wrong side of the bet, as he said

Slot machines are designed with a mathematical edge that you simply cant beat in the long run, he said.

If the conservative, on-the-fence gambler had any idea how much the gambling options were stacked against them, theyd never gamble again.

However, he said, there is a way to win, if you want to, but you need to put in the work.

It took me close to 20 years before I started figuring out how to win as a gambler, he said.

This was before the internet blew up, and there werent very many good books available, so I had to figure out a lot of stuff on my own."

He suggested learning as much as you can in whatever area of gambling you pursue, whether that is sports betting, casino games, or horse betting.

Retter also stressed people should not quit their day jobs to be professional gamblers.

Ive never been a full-time gambler, but Ive come close to making the jump a couple of times, he said.

But what I found out both times was that I could make more money, with less stress, working a regular job.

He noted you can make $1000 per week playing poker, but it may take up to 70 hours to do so.

You have to be able to take the down weeks without it hurting your mental state., he said.

Finally, he suggested you avoid physical casino locations."

Ive been in so many casinos that I dont even get excited when I get to the casino," he said.

"Instead, I think about all of the loud noises and people I have to deal with.

The alternatives are largely online casinos.

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Im a gambling strategist 6 beginners rules I wish Id followed after realizing the lottery is straight... - The US Sun

The Dutch soccer association -KNVB, or Royal Dutch Football Association- stated Monday it is against the total ban on online gambling providers sponsoring sports teams, a move expected to be enforced by the government in January 2025.

The football association and professional clubs of the country have sent a letter toFrank Weerwind, Minister for Legal Protection, in a plea to change the strategy and try more targeted information and measures that could prove to be more effective than the proposed ban.

Online gambling became legal in the Netherlands in October last year, which quickly led to an avalanche of online gambling ads, raising concerns about gambling addiction and protecting vulnerable groups like young people. This prompted the government to announce a series of measures, with have now led stakeholders to reply.

According to the KNVB, a ban on letting online casinos sponsor sports teams goes too far," the association said, as reported by NL Times. With the intended total ban, the Cabinet is not looking further at alternatives to limit the risks of online gambling," the football body wrote.

Instead of properly addressing the concerns around problem gambling, the association says the sponsorship ban would result in much less income for sports teams, between 40 and 70 million euros a year, which could instead be invested in youth training and social programs.

According to the KNVB, the sports world is already taking various measures to combat the risk of gambling addictions and match-fixing. The professional football sector takes risks surrounding online games of chance very seriously and wants to draw up more far-reaching rules and focus on more information," the association's letter reads.

Instead, the body suggested other less drastic measures such as not letting role models or influencers -like football players and coaches- appear in gambling advertisements; instead using them to warn about the risks of gambling.

Moreover, clubs could adjust their contracts with gambling providers to ensure that their ads do not cause moral or material damage, and exclude young people. They could also use their channels to inform supporters about the dangers of gambling addiction, the KNVB proposes.

The alternative to the total ban brought forward by the KNVB also suggests letting the football sector phase its own regulations on matters such as shirt sponsorship, boarding, and naming partners.

An online gambling provider may ultimately be the main sponsor, but must give the place on a shirt to a social organization," the body said, as reported by the cited source. It also pointed out that the sector could also ensure that youth teams are not involved with gambling and phase out gambling companies mentions on signs and boarding.

The associatedbill to limit advertising is set to be introduced in phases, with a ban on untargeted advertising coming into effect in 2023. This provision concerns ads that people have not actively shown interest in, such as when using search engines online to find gambling websites.

From 2024 onwards, online gambling companies will no longer be allowed to sponsor programs and events, with the ban on sponsoring sports facilities and shirts coming into force the following year.This implies current sports clubs have two and a half years to find new sponsors.

Weerwind has also announced aban on the use ofcelebrities and influencers in gambling advertisements.

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Dutch Football Association opposing total ban on gambling companies' shirt sponsorships; proposes alternative measures - Yogonet International

Stake UK, the crypto gambling company that sponsors Everton FC, has been hit with a $400m (346m) lawsuit from a former business partner of its co-founders, alleging they stole from him and bullied him out of the business.

According to court filings obtained by the Guardian, Christopher Freeman, a resident of Florida, claims that he was the brains behind Primedice, a predecessor company of Stake, which is now valued at more than $1bn.

Freeman claims he set up Primedice with school friend Bijan Tehrani and Ed Craven, who now run Stake.

The firm has gone from total obscurity to one of the fastest-growing gambling brands within a few years, boasting a partnership with platinum-selling rapper Drake and sponsorship deals with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and F1 driver Pietro Fittipaldi.

It also sponsors Watford FC and is among a glut of gambling firms, many of them with no presence in the UK, that sponsor English and Scottish football.

According to Freemans account, which the company strenuously denies, the trio built the business together but Tehrani and Craven gradually edged him out, using bullying and unlawful tactics.

The key bone of contention relates to the origin of Stake. Freeman says it was his idea to expand Primedice into a more comprehensive crypto casino.

Tehrani and Craven, he says, claimed to be more interested in starting a traditional online casino, using fiat currency. In the end, Craven and Tehrani did build a crypto casino, which became Stake.

Freeman alleges the business was built using his ideas, as well as Primedice funds that rightfully belonged to him. He is demanding a full audit of Stake assets to see what he is owed, which he claims could be more than $400m.

A spokesperson for Stake said his claims were internally inconsistent, intentionally misleading, and provably false.

This filing is a desperate attempt to spread false information and extort money over which Freeman has no claim, they added.

The company does not intend to give in to this sort of blackmail, and are confident that these utterly frivolous allegations will be dismissed by the court in due course.

Stake.com is technically based on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao but is connected to an Australian business called EasyGo.

Freeman also alleges that Stake is not only aware of, but encourages, the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) by customers who want to gamble with Stake but cannot legally do so.

VPNs create a spoof location for a computer, allowing users to gamble with crypto in countries where it is not legal to do so. Freemans claim refers to the US. Crypto gambling is also illegal in the UK.

Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning

Stake denied that it accepts money from bettors skirting the law with a VPN, saying it complies with all applicable laws.

As with all companies in the sector, Stake experiences unauthorised users attempting to evade geoblocking through the use of VPNs, it said.

The company has implemented stringent compliance processes beyond simple geoblocking, including KYC [know your customer] and other anti-money laundering measures.

As one example, customers who attempt to use VPNs to evade geoblocks would be prevented from depositing funds under KYC requirements.

It also pointed to responsible gambling measures, such as offering customers free blocking software for people who want to stop themselves from gambling.

Last month, the Guardian reported that Everton FC told Stake to stop using club branding in a promotion offering a $10 free bet to anyone who wagered $5,000 in a month.

More than 30,000 people had earlier signed a petition urging the club to end its partnership with the gambling company.

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Crypto gambling site that sponsors Everton FC hit with $400m lawsuit - The Guardian

Kindred Group announced it will hostthe Sustainable Gambling Conference for the seventh consecutive year on October 19, at the Johan Cruijff Arena, in Amsterdam. Under the theme "Safer gambling - An honest conversation", the conference aims to "connect people inside and outside the industry who share Kindred's purpose to transform the online gambling industry into a trusted and safe industry that contributes positively to society."

International leading experts such as keynote speaker Johann Hari -a New York Times best-selling author-, Dr. Jonathan Parke, and Professor Mark Griffiths will share their knowledge. They will be joined by Swedish Elite Football (SEF) and European Football Development Network (EFDN), among others. The conference coincides with the UK and the European Safer Gambling Week and will be a hybrid event where parts of the conference will be streamed.

"We want to facilitate the difficult conversations, and build a platform where we can all meet and share experiences and insights so that we can find good, sustainable solutions for our industry together. I am really excited to welcome Johann Hari as our keynote speaker," said Anna Jein, Head of Sustainability, Kindred Group. "Hari is a best-selling author on addiction and online behavior and I am sure the industry can learn a lot from him."

"I am also looking forward to hearing from SEF and EFDN on the beneficial collaboration between sports teams and gambling operators, which is a topic that is very relevant," she added.

Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, venue for the event.

In a press statement, the company explained that it organizes the Sustainable Gambling Conference "to connect stakeholders within and outside the industry to discuss how we all can work together to secure a more sustainable gambling industry."

"The industry is less closed today and more transparent and proactive than it was just a few years back. Hopefully, the Sustainable Gambling Conference has contributed to this transition, but we still have work to do. That is why the theme of this year's conference 'Safer gambling: An honest conversation' is so important. We simply cannot solve future challenges without more collaboration across the value chain and we are happy to take the lead in this," Jein concluded.

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Kindred set to host the Sustainable Gambling Conference for 7th consecutive year in Amsterdam - Yogonet International

Billionaire David Rubenstein says that crypto investors are essentially playing at casinos and that hes identified the motivation behind it.

In a new interview on crypto influencer Anthony Pomplianos YouTube channel, the Bloomberg host says that traders are choosing to buy crypto assets because they are trusting governments and fiat currencies less.

I used to say that if you would go to Las Vegas and you like gambling there, [if] it gives you a form of happiness and pleasure knowing that youre going to lose the money in the end if stay there long enough because the odds are always in favor of the house, go ahead and do it, but dont lose more money than you can afford to lose.

Put one or two or three percent in, if it gives you pleasure, fine. I used to say the same thing about cryptocurrencies, if you want to speculate, you want to read about all the things going on there, you like the thrill of cryptocurrencies, okay, put one or two or three percent in.

Today, what I clearly think is going on is that more and more people are doing more than one or two or three percent and that reason is [because] people have less confidence in governments generally and their currency is being devalued, so they think that cryptocurrencies wont be devalued quite that way.

Rubenstein goes on to say that investors, particularly the wealthy, may enjoy the financial confidentiality that owning crypto assets could provide.

Theres a lot of thrill in the secrecy of it, a lot of thrill that nobody knows what you actually own, a lot of Russian oligarchs saw their assets being taken away by Western governments and many other wealthy people around the world are probably saying, well I want to have some assets that nobody can confiscate, nobody knows that I have [them], and thats what cryptocurrencies do.

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Featured Image: Shutterstock/Alexander Sviridov/SpicyTruffel

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Billionaire David Rubenstein Compares Crypto to Gambling, Says Investors Take the Risk for This Reason - The Daily Hodl

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has issued an update on the introduction of its new remote customer interaction requirements and guidance. The regulator has also advised gambling operators to consider the contents of the announcement, as the body has now shifted the date on which some requirements will come into force and a consultation has been announced.

In April this year, UKGC published a set of new requirements to ensure companies do more to identify customers at risk of harm Social Responsibility Code Provision 3.4.3 and guidance to assist operators to comply with the requisites followed in June. Both the requirements and the guidance were due to take effect on September 12.

While the regulator notes the industry requested an extension to the timeframe for implementing these requirements due to the technical challenges some companies indicated they are facing in delivering full compliance by the deadline it has now decided that the majority of the new requirements will still come into force as planned, on September 12.

Remote gambling operators are already subject to a duty to conduct effective customer interaction, and the new requirements reflect the minimum steps that we consider are necessary to meet that duty, UKGC noted. However, the UKGC has also decided that certain requirements will not be brought into effect in September.

These now excluded provisions include a requirement to take timely action where indicators of vulnerability are identified and to take account of the Commissions approach to vulnerability as set out in the UKGCs guidance; and a requirement to prevent marketing and the take-up of new bonus offers where there are strong indicators of harm.

In light of this extension, the Commission considers that it would be beneficial to use the time now available to conduct further consultation on matters to be addressed in the guidance associated with SR Code 3.4.3, by way of a consultation on the guidance document itself. Therefore, the requirement to take into account the Commissions guidance on customer interaction for remote operators will also not be brought into effect in September, UKGC said.

The UK gambling regulator said the guidance is a living document that is intended to be amended over time. As part of the consultation, the body will be particularly interested to hear about good practice in implementing the requirements, based on the lessons learned by operators during the period between April and September, and to hear about any implications arising out of recent research, evidence and casework.

Consultation is likely to be launched during late September and will last six weeks. All views expressed in response to this six-week consultation will be carefully considered before a decision is taken on the contents of the guidance on the new requirements, UKGC said.

Subject to consultation, the Commissions provisional intention is to publish the guidance on the requirements in December 2022, with it taking effect approximately 2 months after publication.

In the circumstances, we consider this will allow the industry a reasonable period to consider the guidance before it takes effect, the Gambling Commission noted.

It is the Commissions intention, subject to consultation, to bring the remaining requirements of SR Code 3.4.3 and the associated guidance into effect on February 12, 2023, UKGC concluded.

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UK Gambling Commission Amends Requirements of Social Responsibility Code on Customer Interactions - European Gaming Industry News

After a rare weekend away from UFC action, MMAs premier promotion returns with a historic card. UFC Paris marks the companys debut in France, and is headlined by a heavyweight tilt with title implications between former interim champion Ciryl Gane and the surging Tai Tuivasa. The main event is equally as interesting, showcasing a middleweight contest between former champion Robert Whittaker and former title challenger, Marvin Vettori, plus there are 10 other fights on the card, featuring a bevy of French fighters who are hungry to give their countrymen something to cheer about.

As always, all odds are courtesy of our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Marvin Vettori, +180

In the co-main event, Vettori and Whittaker are fighting for the title of second-best middleweight in the world behind Israel Adesanya, and while Whittaker might be the better overall fighter, Vettori is a tough out for anyone. The Italian Dream has won six of his past seven fights, with his lone loss coming to Adesanya in a failed title bid. Vettoris game doesnt have much flash but it more than makes up for it with relentless pressure and an unbreakable chin. Whittaker should be able to stick and move well enough early on, but he doesnt have the firepower to keep Vettori off of him and so this fight could simply come down to how the judges score forward pressure vs. retreating counterstrikes. Dont get me wrong, Whittaker should be the favorite here, but theres value in Vettori in this line as this fight is closer to an even contest than the bookmakers are suggesting.

John Makdessi, +195

Similar to the above analysis, I perhaps favor Nasrat Haqparast to get the win over Makdessi, but these odds are off. Yes, Haqparast is the younger, bigger man, but his game has never quite impressed and weve seen him struggle with high-volume, tricky strikers before. Makdessi isnt Bobby Green, but hes got a unique Tae Kwon Do style that has troubled more accomplished fighters than Haqparast. It wouldnt be shocking if Haqparast was able to edge out a decision, but this fight is much closer to a 50/50 proposition than the odds suggest.

Gane/Tuivasa OVER 2.5 Rounds, -135

More about this fight later, but for now the important thing to know is that in six of his eight UFC bouts, Gane has hit the Over 2.5 Rounds wager. Now, Tuivasa has had less success with Overs, but the truth is, this should be Ganes show. Hes the superior striker and his style prioritizes safety and movement. I expect him to pick Tuivasa apart, but Bam Bam is more than tough enough to take it. I would also feel decent about betting this line at OVER 3.5 Rounds for +115 odds.

Charles Jourdain/Nathaniel Wood OVER 2.5 Rounds, -150

Arguably the most fun fight on the entire card is the featherweight main card opener between Jourdain and Wood, so let me give you some quick numbers: In nine UFC bouts, Jourdain has gone OVER 2.5 rounds in seven of them. For Wood, hes gone OVER 2.5 in four of seven bouts, but hes done so in his previous three encounters. Both of these men are scrappy and durable, and were more than likely in for 15 minutes of fighting between the two of them.

Ciryl Gane, -520

Heres a simple fact that should tell you all you need to know about this fight: in his eight UFC fights, Gane has never lost a round that took place on the feet. Hes fought Francis Ngannou, Derrick Lewis, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Junior dos Santos (among others) and took them to school in kickboxing. Why would Tai Tuivasa be any different? Gane is the best striker in the heavyweight division. Its that simple. So unless Tuivasa has been working on an Ngannou-like wrestling game for this fight, his prospects for winning are bleak. MMA is MMA, so perhaps Ill look like an idiot for this one, but this is one of the most confident outcomes Ive felt in a long time, and I would personally feel comfortable betting this outcome straight at a heavy price, in lieu of using it as parlay fodder.

Whittaker/Vettori Goes To Decision, -250

As mentioned above, Vettori is a brick building of a man who seems nearly impossible to stop. But for all his own durability, hes also not much of a finisher; 10 of his 12 UFC fights have gone to decision. Likewise, Whittaker has proven to be a tough guy to finish, but hes seen the final scorecards in six of his previous seven bouts. Oh, and lest I forget, five of those decisions for Whittaker and four for Vettori were in five round bouts, and this is only three.

Makdessi/Haqparast OVER 2.5 Rounds, -205

I may sound like a broken record, but numbers dont lie. 12 of Makdessis 18 UFC bouts have gone to decision, including his previous five in a row. Similarly, seven of Haqparasts nine bouts have seen the scorecards, including his previous four. Despite their high volume, neither of these men are big finishers, so expect this one to go late.

Parlay Ciryl Gane, William Gomis, Fares Ziam, Nassourdine Imavov, and Benoit Saint-Denis for +787 odds.

Parlays are never the smartest way to bet but then again, neither are long shots. But you know what both are? Fun. And so, in the spirit of the UFC making their debut in France, what could be more fun than predicting a stellar night for the French crowd with all five French nationals on the card picking up wins? Theres no real breakdown in the math or the matchups here, this is simply betting with your heart. So don your beret, break out the baguettes, and say it with me, Vive la France!

We got absolutely hammered last time out, but after several winning weeks in a row, it was bound to happen. Time to rebound and build some momentum heading into UFC 279.

Until next week, enjoy the fights, good luck, and gamble responsibly!

All information in this article is provided to readers of MMA Fighting for entertainment, news, and amusement purposes only. It is the responsibility of the reader to learn and abide by online gambling laws in their region before placing any online sports betting wagers.

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UFC Paris Gambling Preview: Will Ciryl Gane give the French crowd something to celebrate? - MMA Fighting

This is not anti-gambling per se. It is anti the way gambling promotions are shoved down our throats and up our noses. It is anti the infantilisation of sports fans. One of Quiltys themes is masculinity. Betting ads are pitched to a lame caricature of Australian masculinity, taking us all for simpletons (no correspondence will be entered into!).

Even if you can gloss over the insidious effect this brainwashing has on enough of the population to make it a documented social menace, you cannot ignore the ruinous effect it has on the amenity of watching sport. You cannot ignore the fact that its impossible to ignore it. It gets into you, not like an earworm, but a carcinogenic.

Steve Smith gets in for his whack this week.Credit:Getty Images

If you complain, youre likely to be told that you can always watch on pay TV with no or fewer ads. Its true. But its all of a piece. The deafening glut of gambling ads, the pushing onto children of merchandise designed to be obsolete next year, the secretion of sport behind paywalls: that piece is sport as commodity.

Somewhere along the way, Australias enjoyment of sport has been confiscated from us and sold back to us as something we must buy to guarantee our place in sports heaven. The Catholic Church and its Middle Ages indulgences had nothing on the ecclesiastics of 21st century sport. Sport has become crowdfunding for millionaires.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan this week,Credit:AFL Photos

Have a look around this week; its been all about the ledger, not the scorecard. Golfers Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman are following Greg Norman to the promised landing strip. Norman affects to be shaking up pro golf, but Smith himself baldly calls it a business decision. What he will learn is that sports events whose sole raison detre is money soon enough become dead to watch, dead to play and then die. Theres a long history to say so.

As negotiations for a new, 10-figure AFL TV rights deal draw to a close, still on the table is the possibility that more games will be pixelated away on pay. A Super Saturday is proposed. It certainly will be super for someones already super super.

Almost as if to offset this, the AFL announces a funding boost for community footy, $17 million next year, thereafter 10 per cent of the AFLs annual assessable income, whatever that is. AFL CEO Gillon McLachan called this truly historic.

At the sub-pro level, footy is bleeding to death. By the AFLs own figures in the same release, $17 million equates to $35 a head for all registered players. Thats about half a football each.

At the same time, Cricket Australia is trying to head off a mass exodus from its modestly lucrative Big Bash League to fabulously rich leagues in South Africa and the Gulf. CA figures it needs an extra $30 million.

As reported by Daniel Brettig in these pages, among the funding options are to secrete more games away on pay TV, flog bits or all of the BBL off to Indian entrepreneurs and/or American venture capitalists, or jack up charges on club and junior cricketers.

And still it might not be enough. Steve Smith is holding out for a better BBL deal. Anyone would think he was a bit short of scratch. Meanwhile, a national jobs summit was convened and one of its agenda items was five years or more of stagnation in real wages for Australian workers and what to do about it.

The disconnect has rarely before been so stark. Honestly, to the various Smiths, tell someone who cares.

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Gambling ad blitz in sport is a turn-off - Sydney Morning Herald

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Look out for signs of harmful gambling - and recognise when it's time for change.

It's Gambling Harm Awareness Week in Aotearoa September 5-11. It's a good time to test your gambling and see if it's okay. Is it still just for fun?

Know the signs so you have an idea of what to look for if you think someone may be gambling harmfully.

Pokies, the blackjack table, the roulette wheel. Enjoyed occasionally, these can be a harmless bit of fun. But it stops being fun fast if your gambling starts negatively impacting your life and affecting people close to you.

What makes gambling addictive?

For one thing, there's the hope of winning money, but it goes deeper than that, because it has an effect on our brains. Gambling stimulates your brain's reward centres, in much the same way good food,alcohol or other pleasurable experiences do. Pokies, the most harmful form of gambling, with their bright flashing lights and exciting sounds, are specifically designed to be addictive and keep you playing for a long time.

The casino and other gambling venues interfere with your sense of time for example, they rarely have windows or clocks. This removes visual cues of the time of the day, so you stay longer.

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There are signs that can indicate a person may be experiencing harmful gambling.

When gambling becomes harmful

Gambling is easy to hide which is why it is often called the 'hidden addiction'. There are no physical cues or symptoms as there are with drugs or alcohol.

But there are signs that indicate a person may be experiencing harmful gambling, including:

The harm caused by gambling

While harmful gambling can cause significant financial hardship, it can impact someone's life in many other ways. Gambling takes up time that could be spent at work or with family, and mounting debts cause additional stress in all aspects of someone's life.

Harmful gambling can cause relationship breakdowns, legal problems (particularly for those driven to theft to fuel their gambling), poor work performance or loss of employment, and declining personal health. In some cases, gambling can even lead to self-harm. Harmful gambling can have consequences so serious it can and does destroy lives.

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Take a quick test - it only takes a few minutes, is completely anonymous and you get a personalised report at the end.

Test your gambling to see if it's still just for fun

This Gambling Harm Awareness Week test your gambling. If you're not sure whether your gambling has become harmful to yourself or your family and friends, take a quick test it only takes a few minutes, is completely anonymous and you get a personalised report at the end.

Check your gambling now it could be the best 10 minutes you've ever spent: http://www.pgf.nz

If you are concerned about your own gambling or the gambling of someone close to you, help is free and confidential. There's no judgement, just support.

PGF Services

Call: 0800 664 262 | Email:help@pgf.nz| Text: 5819 | Online chat:www.pgf.nz

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Worried about a loved one's gambling? Here's what to look for - Stuff