Category Archives: Gambling

The Simpsons and gambling is a match that works almost seamlessly. In many episodes of the famous cartoon family, gambling was present. But from the beginning, there have always been episodes around this theme. Some of these have even become classics, but for the most part, well leave you to watch them yourself and decide.

The first episode in the longest-running American sitcom also contains its most direct reference to gambling. In Roasting On an Open Fire, Homer takes a job as a department store Santa to make ends meet for Christmas. But after borrowing money from Mr. Burns to buy Marge a gift, hes forced to visit the dog track on Christmas Eve to win back his money. Of course, it all goes wrong, and the Simpsons family ends up with a greyhound called Santas Little Helper instead of cash.

Homers twin brother Herbert Powell comes to town and takes Homer on a trip to Las Vegas, where they visit several casinos, including the Landmark Hotel and Casino. Homer thinks he can win at roulette by betting on 32 because its his lucky number but loses everything he brought with him when they get there. He then wins by betting on all numbers, ending with 2, which was his birthday date (2/2).

Ned Flanders wins a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, and Homer tags along. They get caught up in the citys excesses and become addicted to gambling mega moolah $1 deposit among other games.

Homer joins his best friend in gambling during the Super Bowl. After losing the game, Homer wins a lot of money by betting on the coin toss that opens the game. The episode parodies Viva Las Vegass film and features Elvis Presley impersonator Tom Jones as himself.

In this episode, the father, Homer Simpson, goes to Las Vegas and meets a young girl named Mary.

Once there, he discovers that Mary is the daughter of Krusty the Clown, who had become a millionaire by investing his money in casinos. He tells Mary about his gambling addiction, and she gives him $5,000 to buy a new car. Homer then tries to win back the money he lost at the casino but loses even more.

Bart becomes a poker prodigy in The President Wore Pearls after taking an IQ-boosting medication. He participates in the World Series of Poker, and his family cheers him on from home.

The Simpsons are seen playing poker at a table while watching Bart play against some of the worlds greatest players on TV. Throughout the show, he eliminates opponents until there are just two left. Bart holds a royal flush, while the other player has four kings. But a phone call disrupts Barts concentration just before the fight. The opponent then displays a complete house of three kings and two queens (with one king being on top)

If you love gambling, The Simpsons might seem an excellent inspiration for you. The games of Caesars Palace, the Springfield Bowl, and many others are as incredible as in real life, giving you a perfect chance to have fun in your favorite series. In particular, any gambling fan is going to love this animated series.

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The Simpsons and Gambling - SpeedwayMedia.com

UFC 273 takes places Saturday at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.. The pay-per-view features two title fights and arguably the most intriguing non-title fight of the year. In the main event, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defends his title against The Korean Zombie, Chan Sung Jung. In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling finally settles his longtime feud with interim champion Petr Yan, and in a featured welterweight bout, one-time title challenger Gilbert Burns takes on the most exciting prospect to come to the UFC in many years, Khamzat Chimaev.

Lets take a look at some of the best bets available on the card. All odds are courtesy of our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Mackenzie Dern over Tecia Torres, -120

Part of me understands why this line is so close: Torres is on a good run right now, shes scrappy as hell, and Dern is probably overrated. But despite all that, I cant help but feel that almost everything here favors Dern substantially. Shes younger, bigger, more athletic, and arguably the best grappler in MMA. Yes, Torres is a better striker and uses more volume, but shes not a finisher and simply lacks the footwork and distance management that Marina Rodriguez used to frustrate Dern. On top of that, Torres isnt a great defensive wrestler, meaning that Dern will probably be able to score takedowns, and with her top control and grappling, one takedown may be all it takes. To win this fight, Torres will need to be close to perfect all night long, and thats asking a lot.

Mark O. Madsen over Vince Pichel, +105

Madsen is one of the dark horses in the lightweight division. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist in Grego-Roman wrestling has been perfect in his MMA career thus far, and in Pichel, he faces an aging veteran who has historically struggled with good wrestlers. In other words, this is a good matchup for Madsen. The only real concern here for Madsen is his cardio, but with Pichels porous takedown defense (25 percent), Madsen should mostly be in control of this fight.

Jared Vanderaa over Aleksei Oleinik, -110

God love him, but Aleksei Oleinik is a few months shy of his 45th birthday and hasnt won a fight in two years. Granted, in that time he has fought better fighters than Vanderaa, but the fact remains that Oleinik is just generally old and practically ancient in fight years. Hes been fighting since the first Clinton administration, for Gods sake. Vanderaa may not be great, but so long as he doesnt get Ezekiel-choked in the first four minutes, hes going to be able to simply outlast Oleinik.

Mickey Gall over Mike Malott, +180

This line is a perfect showcase of how hype plays with public perception. Mickey Gall is not an A-plus level welterweight, but he is a decent one. Similarly, Malott isnt great, but because Malott is new to the UFC and coming off a quick submission, and Galls been around a long time and has notable losses, the public is all about the shiny new object. The truth is, these guys are pretty similar fighters, but I think Gall is the better grappler and the more dangerous striker. This fight should either be a pickem, or Gall should be a slight favorite, so Im taking the underdog value.

Petr Yan over Aljamain Sterling by KO/TKO, +150

I want to believe in Aljamain Sterling, but I just cant. Sterling certainly has the tools to make this an interesting fight, but unfortunately for the champion, his game is not well-built to fight someone like Yan. We saw what happened last time. Sterling was unable to get his takedowns going against Yan and so he resorted to overly aggressive striking. He can be competitive with that for a round or two, but ultimately, that drains his card and plays into Yans snowball-rolling-downhill style of fighting. The same thing will happen this time, only Yan wont throw the fight away.

Jairzinho Rozenstruik by KO/TKO, +110

Rozenstruik has had an up-and-down run of late, alternating wins and losses over his previous six fights. But when you consider that those losses have come against Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane, and Curtis Blaydes, three of the four best heavyweights alive, then that run doesnt look so bad. Marcin Tybura is another step back in competition for Rozenstruik, and while Tybura is fairly durable and a better grappler, he gets hit a lot on the feet, and hes not a great wrestler. Rozenstruik has show solid takedown defense, and hes a much better striker, so I suspect this will look similar to Tyburas fight with Derek Lewis, which ended with Tybura in a heap.

[Ed. note: Unfortunately, Rozenstruik vs. Tybura has since been canceled.]

Aspen Ladd by Decision, +250

This is the bet I feel the least confident about (aside from the Long Shot) but I cant help but see value here. Statistically, Ladd and Raquel Pennington are extremely similar in terms of size and output, but Ladd is the better grappler of the two. Pennington is the savvier striker and a pretty good defensive wrestler, but she still gives up takedowns, and she will allow fights to come to her, which gives Ladd even more of a chance to get her own offense going. Add in that Ladd is still improving and Pennington is hitting that point where we can expect to see some regression and I think Ladd is being undervalued.

Alexander Volkanovski over Chan Sung Jung, -720

Simply put, Volkanovski is one of the best fighters in the world, and for as much as everyone loves Korean Zombie, he is not. Moreover, Volkanovski is coming off a very similar fight against Brian Ortega. Like Ortega, Zombie presents the possibility of winning with a singular moment of brilliant offense, which is the only real way to beat Volkanovski. But the champ has proven to be exceedingly durable and nearly impossible to submit. At this point in his career, Zombie is probably just a worse version of Ortega, which means Volkanovski should show his class.

Petr Yan over Aljamain Sterling, -475

Everything I said above is true, but there does exist the possibility that Sterling doesnt overexert himself early and instead, simply loses a decision. This accounts for that possibility.

Khamzat Chimaev over Gilbert Burns, -490

I wrote about this fight here, so I wont dive into this one, but the short version is: Chimaev is the next big thing and also a horrible matchup for Burns. This should be one-way traffic.

Aspen Ladd/Raquel Pennington Fight Goes To Decision, -280

Pennington is absurdly durable and also not much of a finisher. Thats a good combination for a Goes To Decision bet, especially when you factor in Ladds most recent performance and both womens propensity for slower-paced fights.

Parlay these four bets together for +125 odds.

Aljamain Sterling by Submission in Round 1, +3500

Forget everything else I said above, if Sterling is going to win, its going to be via early submission. For his many faults, Sterling remains a predatory grappler, and hes entering into this fight with a huge chip on his shoulder. Hes spent the past year catching hell from half the sport, and I suspect he will come out for this fight turbo-charged. Sterling isnt built to win a drawn out battle with Yan, but he could barnstorm him early, a la the Cory Sandhagen fight.

Obviously we had last week off, but before that we were starting to put together a good run. UFC Columbus treated us rather nicely, cashing all three of our straight bets and two of our three props. Lets keep that roll going this weekend.

Good luck yall, 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 273 gambling preview: Best bets, parlays, and long shot of the week - MMA Fighting

Peter Hannibal, Chief Executive of the UK strategic body the Gambling Business Group, spoke in advance of the 2022 edition of ICE London, which will take place next week at ExCeL London from April 12 to April 14, and described as an "unbelievable source of inspiration and an unparalleled shop window for the international gambling industry".

In an official press release,Hannibal, who will be attending his 40th edition of ICE and its predecessor ATEI, explained: "The gambling industry is one of the fastest adopters of new technology and ICE is the event at which innovators unashamedly choose to launch their newest and most progressive products and services safe in the knowledge that they will be able to engage with a truly international audience of gambling industry buyers. As a consequence I think it's fair to say that the majority of great gambling innovations have been seen if not launched at ICE London."

However, the importance of ICE goes beyond just the launch of innovative new gambling products and services: "From my first show back in the early 1980's ATEI, as it was then, was the place where the industry met, networked and educated themselves as to what else was going on. Much of the discussions surrounded pending legislation changes and I'm certain that will be the case next week when there is sure to be intense speculation on the forthcoming UK Government Whitepaper on gambling reform."

"Initiatives such as The Consumer Protection Zone, that Clarion introduced to the ICE show floor in 2018, are great examples of how the industry is working in partnership with safer gambling and treatment charities - a progressive partnership which helps explain why problem gambling rates in the UK as calculated by the Gambling Commission sit at their record low of 0.3%. This industry is at its best when it is able to meet face-to-face and discuss products, consumers, trends and the future direction of travel for gambling. I believe the bounce-back for the land-based gambling sector begins at ICE London", he concluded.

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Gambling Business Group CEO: "The majority of great gambling innovations have been seen if not launched at ICE London" - Yogonet...

A husband and wife admitted to bilking Parkwest Casino 580 in Livermore through an extensive scheme to cheat at baccarat over multiple years, according to state prosecutors who announced the plea deal last week.

(Stock image)

Eric Dat Nguyen, 40, and Khanh "Tina" Tran, 34, pleaded guilty to felony grand theft and were sentenced to eight months in jail, two years of supervised probation and a restitution bill to pay in the amount of $507,600, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on March 30.

"Breaking the law is never the right way to get ahead," Bonta said in a statement. "We will not tolerate criminal activity in our state. Today's announcement holds accountable Nguyen and Tran and sends a message that cheating in California will not lead to success."

At the time of the couple's arrest in 2020 on 10 felony charges plus special allegations, prosecutors said they conspired to steal nearly $4 million from the casino they both used to work at. But last week after the convictions, Bonta referred to the gambling scheme as resulting in the theft of over $500,000.

The criminal complaint said Nguyen and Tran cheated at EZ Baccarat with Panda 8 Rules during 2015 and 2016 while she worked as a card dealer and he gambled at the casino on North Canyons Parkway. Nguyen previously worked at Parkwest Casino 580.

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Couple plead guilty to gambling scheme targeting casino in Livermore - Pleasanton Weekly

All of us, one way or another, came across the topic of casinos. Whether its real life, maybe in the app on your smartphone, or even watching a movie with a cup of hot tea in hand.

Recently, this topic has begun to develop strongly in the film industry. If Hollywood used to impose stereotypes on us that casinos are owned only by the mafia, they are full of thugs, stereotypes about poker fraud, now from watching new movies, you will only open your mouth with surprise and anticipation of what will happen next. Modern films have already moved away from these ideas of showing casinos in a bad light. This is certainly not a general rule and stereotypes are still common, however, with the development of the casino itself, even online, films have become less picky about this topic.

I think that everyone would like to be in the place of the main characters of such films and win real money. But nowadays this is no longer a problem. On the Internet, you can find many online casino for real money. You will be able to feel not only in the lead role, but also to feel what gambling is, and even have a chance for a casino win.

Hazard to the gamer occurs in any case. First of all, it is fear and the opportunity to lose, but it is as equal as the chance to win. We face risk every day, even when walking down the street. To know the real risk, you can watch the movie Oceans Eleven. Didnt they take the risk? Then there is the fear of being deceived by online casinos, you are playing casino, are afraid that in the end you will not be paid.

However, before making a deposit, and winning real money you should read the reviews and find casinos that payout. You can find many casino tips in online resources. Therefore if you want to play casino games, feel a touch of excitement in the soul, first of all, look for minimal information.

If you have enough of the atmosphere of cinema, I can advise you to watch Asian movies, because it is in this part of the globe, now the biggest boom in the development of movies in the casino genre. And they reveal the casino features well. The game Squid, is a sensational series around the world. It was so interesting to watch because there was an element of gambling.

Now the film industry has changed its course to show that you can not only lose money, show not only the dark side of the casino, but also open this world to everyone, and of course, get rid of ingrained stereotypes. In real life, establishments do not hire thugs, the mafia does not own all the casinos, and poker hands are not as funny as shown in the movies. However, you can also find interesting casino life hacks in the movies. See how peoples subconscious mind works, how you can beat a casino and even win. Yes, the film industry is still a story based on a script, but who said a smart player cant use that knowledge by betting.

No need to be afraid to play, take risks, or bet. There are many stories, true, not written on paper, where a person grabbed luck by the tail. You should not convince yourself that you will be the next lucky one, but it is worth a try. If we talk about movies, the actors are often seen in casinos. Not only do Hollywood actors often appear in movies with poker scenes, but they also gamble in real life. Moreover, world celebrities always speak openly about their love for casinos.

Gambling is often a central element of both outstanding literary works and screenplays for ingenious films. Gambling can be just a symbol and at the same time play a key role in the development of the plot. In many cases, such works create a distorted view of the gambling industry. But there are also many worthy examples in the world of cinema that tell about the hidden sides of casinos and gambling, as well as real stories about gambling that have changed the lives of many people.

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Development Of Gambling Industry In The Last Years Shown In Films - Film Threat

SHREVEPORT, La. Rick Brinkley was at the top of his career. He had been a pastor, an Emmy nominated television producer for the Sally Jessy Raphael show, a successful businessman and was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 2010 and again in 2014.

But less than two years after the most recent senate victory, it all fell apart due to a gambling addiction. Now, hes sharing his story to help others bring their addiction into the light.

Brinkley grew up without vices.

"To this day, I've never had a drink of alcohol in my life, said Brinkley. I've never used a drug in my life."

But when he walkedinto a casino with a group of friends, his world changed instantly.

"At that point, it was over, he said.

Brinkleysaid it was like walking into a snow globe.

"Everything outside of that building disappeared, he explained. Nobody asked me for anything. Nobody wanted anything. I could just sit there and mindlessly focus on nothing."

The gambling addiction started immediately. It wasn't money he craved. It was the escape.

"It's the same, I think, for a lot of addictions, whether it's drugs or alcohol, it's the escape, Brinkley said. It numbs you to what is going on around you."

And like other addictions, it is a progressive disease, meaning it continues to get worse.

Its a brain thing, said Brinkley. The chemistry of the brain kicks into action and you have the exact same kind of reaction a gambler does in a casino as somebody else does when theyre taking a hit.

But unlike other addictions, it is easier to hide.

Literally no one, no single human being knew I had a gambling problem," Brinkley said.

Until they did.

His former employer, the Better Business Bureau of Tulsa, discovered Brinkley, its chief operating officer, had been taking money. And the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was called.

He resigned his senate seat.

When the story broke, and I was breaking news on my friends phones, I had to get to my family as soon as possible, Brinkley said.

Brinkley pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion in connection with the embezzlement of over $1.8 million. Much of it was used to cover gambling losses.

I lost everything because of the laws I broke trying to keep my addiction going, he said.

And in a twist of irony, the feeling of escape he craved from gambling ended up costing him his freedom.

I ended up spending three years in prison and have a felony on my record, Brinkley said.

After prison, he went to a treatment facility in Shreveport, a community he says holds a special place in his heart, because it is where he got his life back together.

I was an incredibly broken human being, and ended up going to the Center for Recovery in Shreveport, he said.

He has not gambled since.

Im going to hold onto the people who love me, he said. Im going to hold onto my financial resources. Im going to hold onto everything Ive got.

And now hes helping others by telling his story. Brinkley says one big step to recovery is to own your garbage.

If youre always afraid that somebody is going to find something out about you, it ultimately controls you. Addiction is a horrible place to live. Brinkley said. Now Ive got nothing to hide. And when you live in that space, its the happiest youve ever been in your life.

Brinkley encourages anyone with a gambling problem to get help. He says addicts are able to compartmentalize and even consider gambling to be a hobby. He says they can convince themselves they are enjoying it while they are actually completely destroying their lives.

But it will all eventually come crashing down.

Brinkley says if you have a loved one you think may have a gambling problem there are a few signs to watch out for. Someone may have a gambling problem if they are gone for long periods of time without telling you where they have been, if money often goes missing, and if they seem secretive. He also says they may often smell like smoke, or use cologne to cover the casino smell.

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If you or someone you love may have a gambling problem, call or text 1-877-770-STOP.

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Former Oklahoma senator shares story of gambling addiction to help others - KTBS

Gambling and betting companies will be banned from using advertising featuring top-flight footballers and other sports personalities, as well as reality TV and social media stars, under new rules designed to protect under-18s and other vulnerable groups.

The changes, set out by the body responsible for the UK code for advertising, will mean that past betting and gambling marketing that features stars and celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Jos Mourinho, Michael Owen and Harry Redknapp, would not be allowed in the UK.

The wide-ranging new rules also include a ban on showing specific teams football kit and stadiums in ads, as well as using video game content and gameplay popular with under-18s.

No more top-flight footballers or other high-profile sportspeople promoting the latest odds, said Shahriar Coupal, the director of the Committee of Advertising Practice, which sets the rules enforced by the UKs advertising watchdog. No more social media influencers, TV stars or other celebrities popular with children inviting us to bet on red. And, no more gambling ads featuring video game images or gameplay familiar to many childrens lives.

Under the current rules, an advert is banned only if it is likely to appeal more to an under-18 than to an adult. Under the new rules, an ad will be banned if it is likely to be of strong appeal to children or young persons, especially by reflecting or being associated with youth culture, regardless of how it may be viewed by adults.

The new rules come into force from October, in the run-up to footballs World Cup in Qatar the following month, a sporting event around which gambling and betting companies traditionally spend heavily on marketing to attract gamblers.

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However, the Advertising Standards Authority, the body that enforces the UK ad code, does not have the power to regulate in the contentious area of team sponsors.

This might not seem immediately significant but its effect particularly in a World Cup year will be dramatic, Coupal said. By ending these practices, our new rules invite a new era for gambling ads, more particular to the adult audience they can target and more befitting of the age-restricted product theyre promoting.

The new rules will ban the use of any celebrity, from sports stars to Love Island contestants, with a significant fanbase of under-18s, in betting and gambling ads. The rules apply to broadcast media, such as TV, radio and cinema ads, as well as non-broadcast such as online and in newspapers or on billboards and posters.

The ASA said that children were still seeing on average 2.2 betting or gambling ads a week, although this is the lowest level in 12 years, with existing rules banning anyone under the age of 25 being used in an ad.

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UK to ban gambling ads featuring sports and reality TV stars - The Guardian

Posted on: April 6, 2022, 05:43h.

Last updated on: April 6, 2022, 11:46h.

UK government leaders appear to be ready to embrace some types of cryptocurrencies. They could soon recognize them as a legitimate form of payment, which, in theory, means that the gambling industry in the country could soon accept certain forms of digital currency.

The UK just announced a new ambition. It wants to become a global crypto-asset technology hub. One step will be to recognize cryptocurrencies as a legitimate alternative to fiat to achieve this.

The UK Treasury is going to begin to regulate stablecoins. This, according to an official government announcement, seems to be more than just a pipe dream. Legislation is being drafted to officially make stablecoins a form of payment. The government hasnt announced which stablecoins it will approve, and there are plenty from which to choose. The most well-known options are Tether, USD Coin, and DAI.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies where the price is designed to be pegged to a cryptocurrency, fiat money, or exchange-traded commodities.

Stablecoins have direct links to fiat currencies. They differ from other digital currencies in that their value, in theory, moves in unison only with the value of their fiat counterpart. As such, stablecoins cannot experience some of the wild fluctuations in value that bitcoin and others experience.

The decision isnt necessarily the government stating that it is time for cryptocurrencies to be recognized globally. Its a move to propel the UK forward, and the government hopes to turn it into a global cryptocurrency technology hub.

This is part of our plan to ensure the UK financial services industry is always at the forefront of technology and innovation, states Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak.

As long as the initiative is allowed to proceed, it could also benefit the gambling industry. Transacting with cryptocurrencies is significantly cheaper and faster than using bank transfers or debit and credit cards. Digital currencies also make it easier for businesses to operate globally, eliminating barriers to cross-border payments.

The UK might eventually embrace some other forms of digital currencies. The Treasury confirmed that it would review the possibility later this year but didnt specify what options might be on the table.

Around 9.8 million Brits hold cryptocurrency, a six-fold increase from 2018. Digital currency and gambling have always had a close relationship, and the UKs decision could fortify that link.

The announcement that approval of stablecoins could be coming to the UK is substantial. However, the government has other plans, as well. It will reportedly look into adopting distributed ledger technology for its financial markets and develop a financial market infrastructure sandbox.

In addition, a non-fungible token (NFT) is coming this summer. The Treasury and the Royal Mint will collaborate on developing the token, an emblem of the forward-looking approach the UK is determined to take. Decentralized finance (DeFi) loans could also officially arrive. These alternatives allow any holder of digital assets to lend those assets to others and earn interest.

The government plans on considering whether it can support DeFi loans by altering the tax rules. If successful, it would mean a more competitive lending environment.

Should the UK implement all of its plans, they would have far-reaching effects extending beyond its borders. Others, such as the US, would need to update their policies to not fall further behind.

The US has limited ties to stablecoins currently but acknowledges that they are present in the financial lending sector. However, it has not officially taken a stance on their use as a form of payment.

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The UK's Gambling Industry Might Soon Have Access to Some... - Casino.Org News

For me, casino gaming is all about timing. If I walk up to the craps table and everyone looks sad and dejected, I just saunter away full of false self-confidence, pretending my hair is blowing in the casino oxygen. If the people at the table look like theyre in a Saracen Casino commercial, laughing and high-fiving, I boldly enter. Unfortunately, most of the time, theres no way of knowing when the timing is going to be right until it is.

In 2018, voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing four casinos to operate in Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson and Pope counties, forever changing the gaming landscape in Arkansas. That made the timing right for the states two racing/game of skill racinos, Oaklawn and Southland, to make huge bets on themselves. They announced multimillion dollar expansions, including live table games (to add to existing digital equivalents) and sports books, new restaurants, hotels and event centers. In 2019, the Oklahoma-based Quapaw Nation opened the Saracen Casino Annex, then followed with Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff in October 2020.

Pandemic numbers are looking less gloomy at the moment, and the time feels right to strap on a mask and take a little in-state casino road trip. Lets face it, after the past two years the odds still arent in my favor, but the timing has to be right. Right?

Rooms with a trackside view

Formerly known as Oaklawn Park Racetrack, Oaklawn is locally famous as the historic thoroughbred racetrack in Hot Springs with opening day 50-cent corned beef sandwiches bigger than your face. And that it remains. But in early 2019, Oaklawn embarked on a $100 million expansion that includes a 200-room luxury hotel, a spa, an event center, two new restaurants and a food court.

My first impression pulling up on Central Avenue is that Oaklawns parking lot is bigger than it once was, and the hotel neatly blends into the facility. If I didnt know any better I would assume its always been there.

Taking a break from winning.

I check into my room on the seventh floor, equipped with its own iPad for room service/guest information. Behind a 65-ish-inch flatscreen is a large panoramic painting of racehorse legs spraying dirt toward the viewer, a crowd of blurry onlookers in the background watching the race from the infield.

The room is modern and luxurious by my journalist-salaried standards, but what sets it apart from any other hotel room Ive ever stayed in awaits just beyond the curtains. Opening them reveals an incredible view of the fabled, meticulously groomed thoroughbred racetrack. The windows do not open, but if they did I probably could fly a paper airplane made from Oaklawn stationery right onto the track.

Night views from the room.

Less than a year old, Oaklawns fine dining establishment The Bugler is located just outside the casino and the new food court. Headed up by James Beard Award-winning executive chef Ken Bredeson, the restaurant announces itself with the statue of a bugle player blowing imaginary musical notes from the hallway right into the restaurant entrance. A row of tables runs parallel to the racetrack inside and on a patio. Pro tip: Reserve a table at sunset. Adorned with chic modern lighting and sleek restaurant booths, The Bugler feels both upscale and casual and doesnt take itself too seriously. A large cartoon-style painting of a horse jockey thinking about a massive Thanksgiving spread is visible from about anywhere in the restaurant.

The Bugler offers fine dining with trackside viewing.

Highlights from the meal include crab cakes served on top of a sweet corn relish and my girlfriends steak being preceded by a knife case presentation in a sort of choose-your-own-steak-knife adventure. The baked hot chocolate dessert was outrageously decadent: Ouachita chocolate cake in the bottom of a coffee cup, topped with piping hot marshmallow fluff thats bruleed. The texture is surreal as the fluff molds back into its previous shape after a spoonful is taken, making your bite disappear like it never happened.

Shrimp and grits from The Bugler.

The most brilliant thing about Oaklawns casino is that its nonsmoking, which sets it apart from every casino Ive ever been to, giving it a much cleaner feel. Standing amongst other players at the craps table, I feel too full of marshmallow fluff to gamble. I shouldve known my timing was all wrong. I play the safest bet in the house, the pass line with odds, but everyone craps out almost instantly. Down $100 after just 20 minutes, I retreat to the room.

The nighttime view of the track from the room might be what I remember most. A large horseshoe planter on the lawn lights up with LEDs, as does an adjacent floating fountain spraying water highlighted with neon colors. I turn off every light in the room, device screens included, and quietly take in the view with a $14 room service cocktail. Highly recommend it.

Morning comes suddenly. Slightly hung over and confused about my location on earth, I open the curtains and am practically blown backward by the combination of sunlight and the herd of majestic horses galloping down the track! A $14 carafe of coffee delivered to the room as I watch the superlative creatures run warm-up laps on expertly manicured dirt? When youre at Oaklawn, of course.

A horse runs warm-up laps on a Thursday morning at Oaklawn.

Tally: $100 lost on the craps table. $80 won on the Super Bowl from a Saracen bet just before mobile gaming was legalized: depleted at the craps table. Down $20.

A new era of gambling in West Memphis

Just west of the Mississippi River from Memphis, Southland began as a greyhound racetrack in the 1950s. In 2019 it announced both a $250 million expansion and the end of greyhound racing, a victory for animal rights advocates and dog lovers who find the practice to be cruel and inhumane. The last greyhound race at Southland is scheduled for Dec. 31. According to greyhound protection organization GREY2KUSA, after the years end, West Virginia will have the last two active racetracks in the country.

Southland is building a blue glass, 300-room high-rise hotel. Its still under construction, but the frame is up and you cant miss it from Interstate 40. A new casino complex, which looks near completion, is scheduled to open this spring. Combined with the current gaming floor, it will total 113,000 square feet, with about 2,400 slot machines and 60 table games.

PLACE YOUR BETS: Southlands new casino addition is expected this spring, with the hotel to be completed later this year.

I arrive on a Wednesday around noon and am thrilled that Southland has also gone nonsmoking. I walk the floor, which is dark and like most casinos feels like a gaming tomb devoid of time. It feels pretty lively for a Wednesday afternoon. I imagine weekend nights are slammed. A big crowd is eating lunch in the sports bar. A dated cartoon painting of happy dogs that look like theyre racing in their sleep hints that youre close to the track with the caption, Any closer and youd need a muzzle.

I check out the new Roll to Win craps table, a millennial spin on the classic game, now played on an interactive surface that feels like plastic and illuminates the craps graphics with flames skirting the edges. Between rolls, the table takes on a Tron appearance, turning all black with cyan grid lines. Bets are made on iPad stations, so there are no chips. The stick person who slides the dice to the roller is the lone dealer. The tables minimum bet is $5, perfect for a fledgling journalist. This Gen-Z version of the game likely cuts down on labor costs for the casino while adding another table and maybe enticing a new era of bettors. Also, there is no chance of dealer error. I put $50 in the machine and after a few short rolls around the table, Im down to $10. The dice slide over to me and I go on a long roll, winning several points. No one at the table can believe it. Hes rolling! I hear a guy say. Ive never felt cooler in West Memphis. I get up to $73, cash out, and eat an excellent Reuben from the sports bar.

High roller.

Driving home I consider making a bet on the Razorbacks first-round NCAA Tournament game versus Vermont. Mobile sports betting was legalized in Arkansas in early March, meaning sports bets can be made from anywhere inside the state lines. But none of the three casinos had apps running yet (that may have changed at the point youre reading this, as all were working furiously to get them live).

Tally: After the Super Bowl bet and putting $150 down on craps tables at Oaklawn and Southland, Im up $3. I drive home feeling rich.

Steaks are higher in Pine Bluff

Saracens $300 million casino opened in October of 2020. The hotel is still in development, but you can see the framing of the first couple of floors of the future 13-story hotel tower housing about 320 rooms, an additional restaurant and a coffee shop.

The drive to Saracen is an easy, smooth 45 minutes from Little Rock. My friend and I arrive for a 6 p.m. reservation at Saracens flagship restaurant, Red Oak Steakhouse, tucked away at the back of the casino. The last row of slot machines offers views into the kitchen, their neon reflections shimmering among chefs cooking over high flames.

A look inside the Red Oak Steakhouse kitchen from the casino floor.

My voice cracks like a teenager asking someone to prom when I order the A5 Kobe strip steak ($150). Red Oak is one of the few restaurants in America offering certified Kobe beef, an elusive breed of pure-blood Tajima Wagyu cattle born, raised, slaughtered and processed in Japans Hyogo Prefecture. What makes the steak special is its marbling, which Saracens food and beverage director, Todd Gold, attributes to genetics. With Kobe, there are no big chunks of fat like on traditional steaks. Rather, the fat is evenly dispersed throughout the muscle in a type of spider web of ultra-thin veins, Gold said. Carlton Saffa, Saracens chief marketing officer, tells me Saracen sought the certification to reinforce its commitment to raising the bar in Arkansas, making Saracen as much of a food destination as it is for gaming.

The fried oysters app our waiter recommends might be worth the trip alone a layer of delicious pork belly-smoked grits topped with creamed spinach and the delicately fried oyster, covered with a flavorful pickled-corn tartar sauce that I would happily eat out of a jar with a spoon. Its the best dish Ive eaten this year.

The fried oysters at Red Oak Steakhouse.

The 8-ounce Kobe strip arrives on a wooden cutting board with three crisped rice rounds resembling scallops and topped with microgreens. Each rice round has a dollop of a sweet and tangy orange sauce beside it, almost resembling cherry tomatoes. Cutting through the Kobe strip proves to be effortless; a dull butter knife would probably work just fine. As far as steak goes, Ive never had one more tender; it almost dissolves in your mouth. A wow is certainly in order. Its also thinner than my friend and I both imagined, nicely seared, but couldve done with one less pinch of salt. Its unlike any steak Ive ever eaten and, to drive the point home, comes with a letter of authenticity. Our waiter drops off a complimentary side of Brussels sprouts, which are fantastic and enough to feed a family of four ($9 value).

AUTHENTIC KOBE: Red Oaks Kobe A5 strip came with a certificate of authenticity.

If wed been blindfolded and taken to Red Oak Steakhouse, Id be shocked to exit the restaurant and find myself in the back of a casino in Pine Bluff. It could definitely exist among the elite restaurants in Little Rock or Bentonville.

The casino is slammed without feeling crowded and has a nice vibe. Casinos can feel sad, but Saracen feels like a place where people might go to hang out and drink and maybe get a bite to eat without even gambling. My only complaint: It would be a nicer experience without the secondhand wafts of cigarette smoke.

We nestle up to a craps table with a $15 minimum. The table is hot. A lot of people know each other. The dealers are friendly with the regulars and sometimes know their bets before they make them. We play for a couple of hours without ever buying back in. My friend cashes out up well over $100. I lose $17. Given how hot the table was, I shouldve bet more aggressively.

Tally: I visited four casinos, risked $370 and walked away down $14. I feel good about it, but now I feel like I need to win back that $14. Thats the problem with gambling.

If you have a gambling problem the National Council on Problem Gambling Helpline offers a confidential, 24-hour helpline for problem gamblers or their family members at 1-800-522-4700.

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Arkansas dice are out: I went gambling at the state's three operating casinos and didn't lose. Much. - Arkansas Times

This is an excerpt from The Buzzer, which is CBC Sports' daily email newsletter.Stay up to speed on what's happening in sports by subscribing here.

Think this is the year the Toronto Maple Leafs finally end their Stanley Cup drought? Have an inkling that North Carolina will upset Kansas in tonight's men's March Madness final? Got your eye on Canada's Corey Conners to win The Masters?

If you live in Ontario, then congratulations starting today, you can legally put your money where your mouth is.

As Ontario becomes the first province to expand its sports betting market, here's what you should know:

Wait, wasn't sports betting already legal?

Prior to the passing of Bill C-218 last June, the only legal type of sports betting in Canada was through parlays (bets where you pick multiple results which all must hit in order to win)and horse racing.

Bill C-218 changed that, removing the federal ban on sports betting and paving the path for more types of gambling to be allowed, like futures (e.g. a Stanley Cup bet placed at the beginning of the season) and single-game betting (e.g. the Leafs to beat the Lightning tonight).

Ontario is the first province to launch its regulated sports betting program, with multiple sportsbooks officially opening for business today. With a population of around 14.57 million people, Ontario is expected to generate $800 million in gross revenue from sports betting this year hardly a gamble for the provincial government.

The U.S. passed a similar bill in 2018, and 30 states now host legal sports betting.

This doesn't seem like it changes much for me.

Then you were probably already betting in what's known as the grey market, with an online sportsbook based offshore.You may also be placing bets in person with a bookie, in which case your gambling may not be affected at all.

In the first case, the transition seems like it will be pretty simple. If your current sportsbook has an agreement with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, it's likely asking for some verification of your age (you must be 19 to bet) before you can continue. For your troubles, it may offer some sort of promotion through bet credits but don't mistake credits for real dollars. There are often many strings attached before credits can turn into withdrawable money.

How will this affect my sports viewing experience?

Besides the endless sportsbook ads after seemingly every whistle, betting should make your sleepy late-season NHL game a little more exciting and hey, maybe you'll even win some money while you're at it. (Here's where we note that the bookalwaysknows best, and you will probably lose. Fair warning).

One way to gamble in-game is through prop bets, which you may be familiar with from the Super Bowl. Props can be anything from the length of the national anthem (typically only offered for the NFL championship) to specific player stats (Auston Matthews to score in any given game seems like the safest bet there is these days). Some people's vision for the future of sports betting is to have fans in the arena placing these types of wagers, and pro leagues are slowly warming to that idea with every additional dollar of revenue.

What are the downsides?

Gambling addiction is one. The government is providing online supports to curb that problem, including an online self-assessment quiz. Meanwhile, self controls where you can set deposit limits and a maximum loss must be included on all sportsbooks.

The other downside involves the athletes themselves. The NFL recently suspended Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley an entire season for betting on his team's games, even though he reportedly bet on Atlanta to win as part of multiple parlays. But the whole thing falls apart if the players are rigging games part of the reason some think single-game betting was banned in the first place, and the entire reason why names like Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose are held in infamy.

So how can I get started?

Some basics: if you see -110 next to a wager, that means you need to bet $110 to win $100. Conversely, something like +220 means that a $100 bet would pay off at $220.

A moneyline bet is when you choose a game winner, with odds skewed toward the favourite. Betting with the point spread evens those odds. For example, Kansas is favoured by 4.5 points in tonight's title game against UNC. If you bet on the Jayhawks with the spread, they need to win by at least five points. Meanwhile, a UNC bet would be successful if the Tar Heels either lose by fewer than five points, or win.

Canadian swimmers are back in the pool.Fresh off a six-medal performance at Tokyo 2020, Canada's swim team is back in the starting blocks for a new season, beginning with national trials in Victoria. The whole event will be streamed live on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem, with action starting tomorrow at 12:27 p.m. ET and running through Sunday. The trials help determine Canada's team for the world championships, which will be held in June in Budapest. For the first time in a decade, the event will take place without former head coach Ben Titley, who split with Swimming Canada in March despite his success overseeing the likes of Penny Oleksiak, Kylie Masse and Summer McIntosh. McIntosh, 15, is the name to watch this season. The Toronto native just missed a medal at her debut Olympics in Tokyo, placing fourth in the women's 400-metre individual medley. But after posting the third-fastest timeeverin the event last month, McIntosh seems destined for many podiums to come.

Brad Gushue is off to a strong start at curling worlds.After earning bronze at the Olympics, Gushue and his rink won the Brier just weeks later to book a ticket to the world championships in Las Vegas. The Newfoundland b'ys have won each of their first four matches in Nevada to surge into first place of the 13-team round robin. Gushue is back on the ice today at 5 p.m. ET against Italy. The biggest surprise so far is Sweden's Nik Edin, who won Olympic gold but is just 1-2 so far at worlds. Gushue said the ice conditions in steamy Vegas may be to blame.Watch highlights and read more about Canada's latest two victories here.

Kyle Lowry finally returned home.Until Sunday, the last time Lowry played a game in Toronto was Feb. 28, 2020. In between, the Greatest Raptor Of All-Time essentially relocated to Florida, playing home games for Toronto in Orlando (in the bubble) and Tampa (last season) before signing with the Miami Heat. And so Lowry's homecoming last night became a long-awaited celebration of his nine seasons with the club, full of reunions and ovations. Lowry's Heat went on to win the near-afterthought of a game. The Raptors, despite the loss, still seem assured of a top-six playoff seed to avoid the precarious play-in tournament. But four games remain, and they'll go a long way toward determining the final standings and playoff matchups.Watch the Raptors' tribute to Lowry and read more about the game here.

#TigerWatch is officially on.Tiger Woods hasn't played a PGA Tour event since a car crash 13 months ago so badly damaged his right leg that doctors considered amputation. In fact, the last time Tiger played on tour was at the pandemic-delayed Masters in November 2020. Yesterday, with the 2022 edition of the tradition unlike any other just days away, Tiger tweeted that he would be a "game-time decision" to play in the tournament, which begins Thursday. His practice round soon after has already been deeply dissected, right down to his shoe brand (notably not Nike). Check out scenes from the roundhere, and read more about the potential storybook returnhere.

The Ryerson Rams hoisted the Bronze Baby.That's the trophy given to the U Sports women's basketball national champions, and it seemed destined for Ryerson all season as head coach Carly Clarke and her team went undefeated. The Rams left no doubt in the title game either,beating Winnipeg by 22 points. Meanwhile, men's powerhouse Carletonwon its third straight titleafter taking down surprising Saskatchewan in the final. South of the border, U.S. women's national-team coach Dawn Staley led South Carolina, featuring Canadian role player Laeticia Amihere, to itssecond championship everby upending traditional power UConn. The men's final between eighth-seeded UNC, whobeat archrival Dukein the semis, and first-seeded Kansas goes tonight.

A 93-year-old broke three Canadian running records.Canio Polosa is a retired doctor in London, Ont., who finished a 10K on Sunday in just over one hour 14 minutes. That was good enough to break the mark for Canadians in the 90-95 age bracket. For good measure, he also took down records in the 8K and 5-mile distances along the way. And in case you're not feeling bad enough for skipping that weekend run you'd planned, 18-month-old Luke Bellalsocompeted in part of the race.See a picture of Polosa and Bell together and read more about Polosa's achievements here.

You're up to speed. Talk to you tomorrow.

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How sports gambling changes now that it's fully legal in Ontario - CBC Sports