Category Archives: Gambling

Britney Spears' lawyer has taken off the gloves in his war with Jamie Spears, calling him a "reported alcoholic and gambling addict," and that's just for starters.

Attorney Mathew Rosengart has gone on the attack, after Jamie filed legal docs challenging the person Rosengart has tapped to replace Jamie temporarily as conservator of Britney's estate.

TMZ broke the story, Jamie claimed CPA John Zabel is unqualified to assume that position, but Rosengart's new legal docs refer to Zabel as a "highly-esteemed, nationally-recognized, award-winning CPA with an impeccable record of serving in positions of trust."

Rosengart finds it rich that Jamie is blasting Zabel, saying Jamie has "zero financial background or experience in financial matters, who previously filed for bankruptcy and has a Domestic Violence Restraining Order currently in effect against him."

Rosengart's legal docs challenge Jamie's request for fees for himself and Jamie's lawyers. He calls Jamie incompetent and rails on what he says is "abuse of his daughter (which evidently goes back to her childhood), and the dissipation of Estate assets."

He also references the latest revelation that Jamie allegedly engineered secret recordings in Britney's bedroom, which Rosengart believes is a square violation of law.

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Britney Spears' Lawyer Rails on Jamie, Calls Him 'Alcoholic and Gambling Addict' - TMZ

In a letter to her Democratic colleagues on Saturday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote, The next few days will be a time of intensity. That was an understatement. Democrats in the House and Senate are struggling to broker a compromise on two huge spending bills that embody much of President Bidens domestic agenda. If Democrats fail to pass the bills, it could derail his Presidency and strengthen Republican chances of gaining control of the Senate or House in next years midterm elections. Meanwhile, after Senate Republicans blocked a temporary spending bill on Monday, Congress must also pass a funding measure by Thursday to avoid a government shutdown, and also deal with the threat of a potentially catastrophic debt default. Its possible that each of these challenges will be resolved smoothly, but it would take a brave person to bet on this outcome. Like many other parts of the U.S. political system, the federal governments budget process no longer operates on rational lines.

Its important, however, to distinguish between two different strategies at work. On the Democratic side, there is a bitter but familiar tussle between progressives and moderates over tax and spending priorities. Fearing a last-minute double cross by moderates and the Party leaders, members of the House Progressive Caucus are refusing to support a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill until there is an agreement on a historic three-and-a-half-trillion-dollar Democratic spending package designed to bolster the social safety net and promote green energy. Given Democrats single-vote majority in the Senate, a deal of this nature requires Party-wide unanimity, including the participation of Senator Joe Manchin, of West Virginia, and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, of Arizona. Both have said repeatedly that they wont support the broader spending bill with its current price tag. Hence the standoff.

On Sunday, Pelosi postponed a vote on the infrastructure bill from Monday to Thursday of this week. She also acknowledged, for the first time, that the three-and-a-half-trillion-dollar spending package would be trimmed back. In order to move forward, we have to build consensus, she told George Stephanopoulos, of ABC News. Appearing on Meet the Press, another Democratic Senator, Cory Booker, of New Jersey, predicted that his colleagues would reach an understanding. This is Washington, Booker said. Im sure there is going to be some sort of compromise. Given that the alternative is an ignominious failure for the Party and its President, Booker may well be proved correct. Right now, though, the fault line running through the Democrats polity remains in place, with both sides trying to exert maximum leverage.

This sort of high-stakes intra-party politics is long familiar in American politics. As is common in such disputes, the onus will fall on the President to unite his partys elected representatives behind a particular outcome, even though they may not like parts of it. By contrast, the brinksmanship surrounding the debt ceilingwhich brings the threat of a government defaultrepresents something more recent and ominous. Led by Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority leader, Republicans in Congress are cynically exploiting for partisan advantage a set of antiquated rules and procedures that should have been done away with years ago. They are displaying a willingness to bring the country to the edge of a financial cataclysm amid a global pandemic.

Last week, the House passed a temporary funding bill that would keep the government running until December 3, 2022, and also suspend the debt ceiling until that same month. It was this bill that Senate Republicans blocked on Monday, with the Democrats failing to get the sixty votes needed to defy a filibuster and McConnell accusing them of engaging in a socialist spending binge. For weeks, McConnell has made clear that his goal is to force the Democrats to raise the ceiling on their own, through the reconciliation bill, so that Republicans can attack them for profligacy going into next years Senate and House races. The G.O.P. is pursuing this cynical and reckless course even though Democrats twice agreed, during Donald Trumps Presidency, to raise the debt limit on a bipartisan basis.

Todays G.O.P. is utterly shameless, of course. Arguably, the Biden Administration and Democratic leaders in Congress should have acted upon this information sooner and taken steps to raise the debt ceiling before the threat was so close at hand. During the Obama Administration, Republicans in Congress blocked an increase and refused to budge in 2011 and did so again in 2013. During the first standoff, Standard & Poors, the ratings agency, cut the debt rating of the U.S. government for the first time in the nations history, noting that the effectiveness, stability, and predictability of American policymaking and political institutions have weakened at a time of ongoing fiscal and economic challenges. During the 2013 crisis, the federal government shut down for more than two weeks, and Fitch, another ratings agency, warned that the debt ceiling is an ineffective and potentially dangerous mechanism for enforcing fiscal discipline.

Despite these warnings, and others like them, nothing was done to reform or eliminate the debt ceiling, which is a hopeless anachronism. It dates to 1917, and most other advanced nations dont have one. Like the filibuster, it survives simply because it can be used to frustrate the executive branch and, potentially, to bring the entire government to a halt. It has practically no positive utility. All it does is authorize the issuance of debt to spend money that Congress has already appropriated through the legislative process. A major reason that we are so close to breaching the existing ceiling is that the Trump-G.O.P. tax bill of 2017 has already added more than a trillion dollars to the national debt. McConnell doesnt mention that, of course.

On Wall Street, most analysts are assuming that this confrontation, like the previous ones, will be resolved without an outright default, which would almost certainly cause a global financial crash. On Monday, the markets remained calm, with no sign of panic about the showdown on Capitol Hill. This stoic attitude toward happenings in Washington is probably reasonable, but, even so, its hard not to wonder just how much more self-harm and degradation the American politicaland financialsystem can take. After all, this country depends heavily on the faith of overseas creditors. (Of the roughly twenty-one trillion dollars in publicly owned U.S. government debt, about a third is owned by foreign investors, including foreign governments.) Not for nothing has Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary, been calling the C.E.O.s of major corporations and asking them to help persuade the Republicans to raise the debt ceiling.

Even if some corporate executives carry out Yellens request, Republicans on Capitol Hill are likely to ignore their entreaties, especially because Trump said publicly, last week, that his partys representatives would be both foolish and unpatriotic not to use their leverage now. On some issues, the McConnell and MAGA wings of the Republican Party have their differences. When it comes to meeting the U.S. government's financial commitments, they are equally feckless and irresponsible.

This article has been updated to include news developments.

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Republicans Are Gambling Recklessly on the Debt Limit - The New Yorker

The chance of winning is very random since it all depends on a tossed dice or ball, or a combination of strategy and chance.

Gambling is known as a past-time that gives pleasure to the players. You will be fully conscious that you will need to bet something valuable with a huge risk of losing it all. The chance of winning is very random since it all depends on a tossed dice or ball, or a combination of strategy and chance. The probability of winning or losing has the same probability during any casino game you play.

Gambling is one of the oldest activities that has been seen in writings on tombs. The outcome used to be predicted by marking sticks and objects. All of which was determined by fate and destiny. Even the Bible has some aspects that indicate gambling, such as the casting by Roman guards for the garment of Jesus during his crucifixion. During the 15th century, gambling was permittable by the Government, authorities and larger organisations due to the money raised from gambling and lotteries. In the 17th century, the legal gambling houses were set up when the mathematicians started to take it seriously due to the calculations. During the 1980s and the 1990s, there was a rise of pathological gambling. Here, individuals couldnt control their gambling habits. This was recognized as a cognitive disorder which affected more than 1% of the population that had to be treated with therapy programs for their addictive habits.

In India, the game has been prevalent for a long time. The first description in India became famous during the mythological Ramayana which goes back to the 7300 BC. The attitude and acceptance of gambling in Ramayana has had a positive impact and is not considered as forbidden or as a taboo. On the other hand, in Mahabharat which started during 3200BC, the negative attitude towards gambling could be noticed. In 300 BC, the nuts of the Bibhitaki tress were used as dice. Then, astragali were used of dice instead. Indians became fond of playing on animals. First, they started with ram fights, cockfights and then it all shifted to progressive horse racing. Indians are known to gamble and spend their money without thinking. Indians are known for being given credit for the development of games. You might notice that the playing cards that have been developed by Europeans also contain Indian symbols.

The Public Gambling Act of 1867 looks after the general law of gambling in India. This law was accepted by some of the states, whereas the other states followed their own rules and regulations. These are also known as the Gambling Legislations and were formed before Indian online casinos activity began. This industry generates a lot of revenue even though the court of the country is not in favour of such games of probability. Gambling has been made legal in the states of Goa, Sikkim, Union Territory, Daman and Diu. List II of the Schedule Seven of the Indian Constitution states that all the states are independent to take their decisions or form their own regulations when it comes to gambling and betting.

India divides the gambling games in two categories, the Games of Chance and the Games of Skill. The random games are known as game of chance. You cannot have any prior knowledge or skill for these games. Such games include dice games and picking of numbers. These games re not legal in the country. On the other hand, when it comes to game of skills, you need to have prior knowledge and skills. Logical thinking, decision-making and analytics are required for such games to be played. These games are considered to be legal.

The future of casinos in India is unknown. Online gambling has now become a trend and we hope that there will be no negative impact on peoples lives. Proper education and skill shall be taught to those that want to make wise decisions while playing in a safe and secure manner.

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The History of Gambling and Online Casinos in India - The News Minute

Recovery-based survey for Gambling market price report contains essential information concerned with growth strategies, trends, innovations, business opportunities, 2021 competitive landscape, and geographical outlook which includes North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, as well as the Middle East and Africa. A comprehensive estimation of this global market encompasses the historical analysis (2015-2020) of this global market and derives trustworthy and approximate timeline estimations leading up to 2031, based on respective market and regional segmentation. It also provides accurate information and cutting-edge analysis that is necessary to formulate an ideal business plan, and to define the right path for rapid growth for all involved industry players. With this information, stakeholders will be more capable of developing new strategies, which focus on market opportunities that will benefit them, making their business endeavors profitable in the process.

The primary objective of the Gambling report is to lend industry knowledge and to help our clients achieve organic growth in their respective fields. This report provides key statistics on the global market status of the Gambling manufacturers and should be considered as a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals who are interested in a particular industry/field. The biggest highlight of this report is to lend companies in this industry with strategic analysis.

Key insights of the Gambling report:

Gambling market highlights technology trends, main gamers and aggressive trade situations, 2031

This report includes business statistical extensions, future plans directions, as well as developing potential strategies that are expected to be successful.

It offers projection research specifications and predictive business strategies leading up to 2031.

Research also presents company profiles, top competitors, industry developments, and a general market overview as well.

The global market is further divided under financial insights and systematic review analysis offered in this research report.

This research report will include possible highest growth rates and other related development trends of the Gambling leading up to 2031.

In this study, the years is taken into consideration to approximate the market size of the Gambling are as follows:

2015-2020:History Year

2021: Base Year

2022 to 2031:Forecast Year

Get a PDF Sample for Technological Breakthroughs:https://market.us/report/gambling-market/request-sample/

This evaluation converges to the very best top players in the global Gambling market:

888 HoldingsCamelot GroupGalaxy Entertainment GroupIntralotMGM ResortsNew York State LotteryPaddy Power Betfair

The detailed segmentation of the Gambling market

Market Segmentation by Type, the product can be classified into:

LotteryBettingCasinoOther

Market Segmentation by Application, the market is categorized into:

Online GamblingOffline Gambling

Provincial (Regional) Segmentation:

North AmericaBusiness Strategy inGambling Market Forecast(2022-2031)

U.S.

Canada

EuropeOn-Going Trends inGambling Market Forecast(2022-2031)

UK

Germany

France

Rest of Europe

Asia PacificCompetitive Growth Strategies inGambling Market Revenue and Forecast(2022-2031)

China

Japan

India

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin AmericaAnalyzing Growth inGambling Market Revenue (2022-2031)

Mexico

Brazil

Rest of Latin America

Middle East and AfricaSignificant Growth inGambling Market (2022-2031)

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of Middle East and Africa

Gambling Market research reports allow you to:

Learn about vital marketplace tendencies

Identify hidden risks and opportunities

Allow you to make well-informed decisions concerning your marketing, strategy and planning endeavors

Instantly build aggressive abilities

Outcomes:

Historic statistics and evaluation of this industrys essential drivers.

10-year forecast of this market and potential upcoming trends.

Detailed research and segmentation of key products and markets.

An evaluation of this markets competitive landscape, as well as existing market stocks for important businesses.

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Outlines of Gambling Market Extensive Growth Opportunities To Be Witnessed By by 2031 - Taiwan News

The gambling industry is one of the most aggressive markets in the world in terms of innovation and evolution. Circling back to the early stages of online gambling back in the 90s, it was practically unthinkable to so many people all over the world that they would be able to play their favorite casino games without having to visit actual casinos.

However, as more and more people were given access to high-speed internet, things started to take a turn. Suddenly, it was possible for people to fit entire casinos into their pockets.

The age of the smartphone has changed society in so many ways and the gambling industry hasnt been spared from that. For the most part, smartphones are used for communication and productivity tasks. However, they have also grown to become devices that are used for content consumption and media production. They are also bona fide gaming devices that are capable of producing immersive gaming experiences for users. Many industry leaders saw this and tried their best to integrate their brands and services as mobile platforms within these devices.

Many casino operators started developing mobile casinos which ushered in a new age of online gambling. In the past, people had to go to actual casinos in order to play all of their favorite casino games like poker or baccarat. Then, once online casinos started operating, people merely needed to access their favorite websites via popular web browsers on their personal computers. And yet, after that, once everything started adopting mobile technology, casino operators saw the need to innovate. It ended up happening that many casinos started offering mobile versions of their platforms in order to cater to a more dynamic and younger audience. Ultimately, these days, people are now capable of playing their favorite casino games wherever they are at whatever time of the day as long as they have a reliable internet connection.

One main reason why so many people are shifting to playing on their smartphones for casino games is convenience and accessibility. Again, in the past, playing casino games was always such a big deal. It was always such a spectacle or event. You would have to get dressed and travel all the way to your favorite casino in order to play games. That might have been okay for people who only gamble occasionally. However, there are so many gamblers out there who like to gamble on a more regular and periodical basis. It can be such a big hassle having to travel to the casino every single time one gets in the mood to play.

With the smartphone, the need to get dressed and travel is virtually eliminated. One can merely whip out a smartphone and hop online to start betting within a minute. Aside from that, making use of online casino platforms allows users to play with people from all over the world. This means that there is bound to be an active table or game at any time of the day, regardless of where you live.

Aside from that, online safety and security protocols have vastly improved over the past decade. Its now a lot more difficult for hackers to gain access to sensitive data and information of data users due to encryption technology. This is a kind of technology that is typically present in most major accredited casino platforms. This is particularly important when you consider the number of dollars that make up the transactions that are being made on these platforms on a daily basis. Fortunately, its gotten to a point wherein online casino platforms are developed so well and that users dont have to worry about their data, information, or even money getting stolen.

Lastly, its just a different experience altogether. Theres something so exhilarating about being able to play your favorite casino game on your technological device. It may not accurately mimic the same gaming experience of being at the actual casino. However, its a different experience altogether. And its one that happens to appeal to a lot of people, especially those who arent too fond of physical social interactions. At the end of the day, the online gambling industry is going to continue to grow as long as technology will keep allowing it to.

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How Smartphones are Changing the Dynamics of the Gambling Industry - Tech Guide

From Friday, ten gambling companies can legally offer online gambling in the Netherlands. The new gambling law takes effect on October 1, from when online gambling will no longer be banned in the country. The Gambling Authority will announce which ten companies will receive a license later this week, NOS reports.

The goal is that within three years' time, 80 percent of online gamblers in the Netherlands will play at a company with a license. At the moment, over 800 thousand Netherlands residents play on illegal sites, spending an estimated 500 million euros a year, according to the Gambling Authority.

"Many do not even know that it is illegal. There is no supervision at the moment. We cannot really intervene on how they gamble, Rene Jansen, chairman of the board of directors of the Gambling Authority, said to Nieuwsuur. According to him, the new gambling law changes that. "For the first time, we now have instruments with which we can really intervene."

A total of 29 largely Dutch companies applied for an online gambling license. Ten of them met the high requirements, Jansen said. "The game must be safe. Much must be done to prevent addiction. There must be anti money-laundering provisions. Suspicious gambling patterns must be detected. Providers must be able to monitor people's gaming behavior and tackle it. That takes a lot from companies that have applied for a license."

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Online gambling soon possible on the Dutch market with ten companies - NL Times

Online gambling industry insiders and watchers have been saying for years that operators need to use tech to up their responsible gambling (RG) acumen. That is, spotting problems, flagging them and taking measures to solve them. Kindred Group may be ahead of much of its competition in this regard, using its proprietary technology to do all three.

Kindreds PS-EDS (Player Safety Early Detection System) is now active for its US products, operating under theUnibet brand. This is only a recent addition for US customers, however. Most of Malta-based Kindreds nearly 2 million global customers have been benefiting from the technology for a while.

Maris Catania, Kindreds head of RG and research, spoke with Online Poker Report about her companys efforts to reachzero percentrevenue from harmful gambling behaviors by 2023. At the moment, Kindred says it estimates that 2% of its revenue comes from such behavior.

Not all US online gambling operators are taking such proactiveresponsible gambling measures. Theres growing concern that if the industry doesnt rein itself in of its own accord, the backlash could ultimately lead to a regulatory crackdown. Such is the situation facing the industry in the UK at the moment.

Heres how Kindred is using PS-EDS to help accomplish that goal. OPRs questions and Catanias responses are taken verbatim from an email conversation, save for minor grammatical edits.

Catania: It takes into account myriad indicators of harm. PS-EDS is based on several research papers that have looked into markers of harm, and also through discussions with treatment centers and experts with experience. What we have also additionally done is that we translated the DSM-5* criteria for a gambling disorder and applied this to our algorithms. The logic behind the thinking of PS-EDS is currently being peer reviewed, with the aim of being published.

* The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, now in its fifth edition, is the core handbook of the American Psychiatric Association.

This is a reflection of prevalence studies and of what we see of gamblers that are detected.

We take into account every customer that discloses that they have an issue with gambling; and in cases where this is disclosed, we do not welcome the customer to play with us anymore. We still look into self-exclusions, but we understand that it is not enough to use this as a proxy measure for problem gambling.

Yes, but this would be as a result of the intervention. For example, someone is detected on PS-EDS, we call them and then they disclose that gambling is causing too much stress or other issues. If we see that this is the issue, it is our commitment to harm minimization for us to suspend the account and advise the consumer to seek professional advice.

We launched the PS-EDS methodology for the first US states in May/June this year, and are closely monitoring the output. Since we operate on a third-party platform, the overall process is slightly more manual. We aim to introduce PS-EDS in other states as we go live, and continuously apply learnings from our vast experience over the years.

Not really. Most US states require a common set of responsible gaming tools (deposit limits, spending limits, session limits) and operate a state-wide self-exclusion registry. We comply fully with these state-by-state rules. Our PS-EDS tool is something we do in addition to whats required, so we can support our customers in a more targeted manner, based on the behaviors we actually see.

It is not necessarily breaks, but there are different responsible gambling tools that are presented. The interventions that result from higher levels of gambling harm detection require a more intrusive approach to limiting harm. We also employ a stepped-care approach, where the intervention may change if the customer is contacted more than once.

Since weve just introduced PS-EDS in the US, were not yet able to reach a conclusion on the absolute numbers. However, we have no reason to assume that the US number would be substantially higher than in Europe. We will continue to monitor the US numbers and will include them in our group reporting shortly.

We would not have this information, but we are aware that this may be an issue. That is why we pay for everyone to have Gamban, a software which allows you to block access to online gambling on all your devices, for free.

Due to data protection, we do not know this. But we do keep in touch and collaborate with treatment centers not only to learn from them about their interventions, but also for them to evaluate our practices.

Here are two examples:

This is an example of an onsite message that we sent to customers detected on PS-EDS:

Subject: Temporary deposit block

Hi,

Your recent gambling activity was detected by our system and reviewed by a member of our Responsible Gaming team.

Weve decided to temporarily block your deposits as a precautionary measure.

Its our job to create a safe, secure and supportive environment for all our players, and to also make sure we comply with gambling regulations.

Whats next?

Well get in touch with you soon to give you more details and talk about this deposit block thank you for your patience!

In the meantime, you could check out our Responsible Gaming tools. Theyve helped many of our players keep their gambling fun and sustainable.

Best wishes,

The Responsible Gaming Team

This is another example of an onsite message, which includes information about different responsible gambling tools that we offer.

Subject: Tools for Responsible Gambling

Dear ,

Unibet provides a safe, secure and supportive gaming environment for our customers and would like to share information about our responsible gaming tools with you.

Responsible Gaming limits

Deposit and Loss limits mean that you can still enjoy playing, and that you will be notified if you exceed your limit. They therefore ensure that you can easily and conveniently control your preferences.

If you feel that your Deposit or Loss Limit option will work for you, visit our responsible gaming page for more information: https://www.unibet.eu/general-info/whentostop.

Reality Check

We also offer the option for you to activate the Reality Check tool on your account. When this limit is activated, after 30/60/90 minutes it will show you a reminder of how long you have been playing on the website. It will also give you an overview of how much you have been winning/losing within that specific time frame.

This reality check can be activated via: Go to my account> Responsible Gaming> Reality Check and then tick the relevant box in the Settings tab.

Product Block

If youd like to take a break from one of our products, you can easily restrict your access for a set period of time (Go to my account Responsible Gaming Restrict my gambling).

Canceled withdrawals

When you request a withdrawal, you will always need to take a processing time of 24 hours into account. During this period, a player can still cancel the requested withdrawal and have the amount returned into the gaming account.

Should you wish, we can disable this option for you. You will then no longer be able to cancel a withdrawal request that was made.

If you wish to speak to someone about your gambling, you can also access http://www.gamblingtherapy.org.

You can choose your own language and speak with a counselor through live chat, email or phone.

Best Regards,

Responsible Gaming team

As previously stated, since weve just introduced PS-EDS in the US, were not yet able to reach a conclusion on the absolute numbers. We will continue to monitor the US numbers and include them in our group reporting shortly.

I would like to bring awareness of the [Oct. 5, Kindred-hosted] Sustainable Gambling Conference which is free to attend. The conference aims to facilitate a broad discussion on how we can ensure a sustainable, long-term industry and the theme of this years conference is Safer gambling: a shared responsibility.

Read more from the original source:

Unibet Leads The Way On Proactive Responsible Gambling Measures - OnlinePokerReport.com

Try these gambling alternatives

We live in a digital world; one where anything of desire can be found right at our fingertips. This accessibility may be beneficial for a lot of things, including grocery delivery, ordering gifts, and texting an old friend. However, when it comes to risky behaviors such as gambling, the increase in availability may pose a potential issue, especially for those who struggle with problem gambling.

Gambling means to risk something of value on a game of chance, in the hopes of a desired outcome. Many people gamble without a problem. However, about 5% of adults in New York state have developed a problem with gambling. This could be anytime their gambling has caused serious issues in their lives including relationship issues, financial struggles, and even work-related problems.

The legalization of mobile sports betting in New York State is set to begin this fall. Therefore, in preparation, the Finger Lakes Problem Gambling Resource Center has created a healthy alternatives to gambling guide to assist those who want to keep the odds at bay.

If youre looking for a little EXCITEMENT or rush ... try participating in a SPORT or HOBBY through your local community center.

If youre looking to be more SOCIAL or not feel so ISOLATED ... try joining a social group or CLUB, VOLUNTEER in your community, CONNECT with family and friends, or enroll in a CLASS

If youre looking for a DISTRACTION or are experiencing UNPLEASANT FEELINGS. .. try talking to a COUNSELOR

If youre BORED or LONELY ... try finding something youre passionate about like ART, MUSIC, SPORTS, or READING

If youre looking to RELAX after a STRESSFUL day ... try YOGA, EXERCISE, DEEP BREATHING, or getting a MASSAGE

If youre looking to solve MONEY PROBLEMS ... try seeking help from a CREDIT COUNSELOR

If youre looking for HELP ...call TODAY

The Finger Lakes Problem Gambling Resource Center

JENNA HOTALING, CHES, CHC

Team Leader-Finger Lakes PGRC

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LETTER: There are alternatives to gambling | Letters to Editor | fltimes.com - Finger Lakes Times

D

espite the recent boost in the Chamber of Deputies for the launch of a project that would legalize gambling, casinos, and the Jogo do Bicho in the country, President Jair Bolsonaro said in an interview that he intends to veto the proposal.

Stagnant since the government of Michel Temer, the regulation of sports betting gained momentum after the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, created a group to discuss the legalization of casinos, slot machines, and bingo halls, among others.

It is intended that the issue be voted on in the Chamber before the end of the year. The proposal has enthusiasts among the president's closest collaborators, such as the Chief of Staff, Ciro Nogueira, but it is however met with resistance from evangelical parliamentarians.

Nevertheless, the president told the press that supporters of gaming legalization in the country have already approached him, but he told them that the measure will not have the support of the Government to be approved in Congress and, if it goes ahead, he will veto the proposal.

"I think there is more to lose than to gain at this time. If they approve, I will veto, which is normal, and then Congress can override it. Yes, what is being discussed so far will have my veto, period," Bolsonaro said. "For now, that is my opinion on gambling," he said in an interview with Veja magazine.

Gambling legalization is also backed by parliamentarians, who see in the initiative the possibility of strengthening the tourism and hotel sector of the country.

Rather than regulate gambling, Bolsonaro said he intends to boost the sector by facilitating jet-skiing. According to the president, it would be possible to obtain a license that allows the use of a jet ski using the common driver's license, and a disclaimer. There is no deadline for the idea to gain momentum.

"There is something I want to highlight: jet-ski. It is expensive, but I am in contact with the Navy, as I am seeking to facilitate the jet-ski license. Today it is very complex to obtain, and I would like it to be similar to the process in the United States, where you use your driver's license and disclaimer policy to get it because driving a jet ski is learned in a minute, which is closely related to tourism in Brazil," he said. "It's 0.001% of employment", he assured.

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Brazil: Bolsonaro will veto gambling legalization - Yogonet International

Its no secret that the majority of Europe enjoys gambling and when it comes to the northeastern region of this continent, Latvia has a thriving multi-million Euro gambling industry. This is despite the strict gambling regulations implemented in the country. Today, Latvia has 10 retail casinos and 13 registered or licensed online casinos.

This makes Latvia a great spot in northeastern Europe to go to if you are fond of visiting casino hotspots. Sports punters would also not have a hard time placing their bets here, online or not. Whether youre looking for the best online casinos or the best odds on any of the sports you follow, you should be able to easily place your bets from here.

However, like how things are in other countries, Latvias gambling industry has also experienced a decrease in revenue because of the COVID 19 pandemic. This year, it has been reported that during the first six months, the local gambling sector witnessed a 26 percent decrease in revenue.

How Big is the Decrease?

According to Latvias Ministry of Finance, the total revenue of the gambling sector in the first half of the year was only 7 million. This is around 16 million lower than the forecasted revenue that the ministry had for the said period.

The chief executive of the Lotteries and Gambling Monitoring Inspectorate, Signe Birne, explained how significant the impact is of the pandemic when it comes to how the industry is doing. Birne said, If we look at the six-month results, then, in fact, the traditional gambling sites have worked for 16 days in total. This has an impact on overall results. Of course, interactive gambling has not stopped.

Unlike last year, when interactive gambling wasnt offered for about two months, they have worked nonstop this year. It also appears in the results that total revenue, which is in six months, is from the interactive gambling.

The spokesman for the Latvian Games Business Association, Arnis Vrzemnieks, also spoke about how there just werent enough customers for the retail sector of the industry. Vrzemnieks said, The reason is that there simply arent enough customers. This trend, with a significant reduction in customers, started already, I would say, before the pandemic, when the Register of Self-enied Persons was introduced, when the number of customers fell quite rapidly by 20-25%.

Then, of course, there was a pandemic, and it should be noted that, from the middle of this year, this register includes those who have alimony debt, which is about 40 thousand people, and it also leaves a great impact.

Now, even if the overall gambling revenue of the country dropped, there was still a significant increase in online gambling. Jnis Trgers, a member of the Latvian Interactive Gambling Society and Chairman of the board of 11. lv said that the online sector grew at least 5 percent during the first six months of 2021.

Trgers said, [This] trend is still growing, but it's in similar sizes as it has historically been in recent years. If we compare [how the industry is doing] to the last quarter before the pandemic, the total gambling volume in Latvia has fallen by two-thirds. This is very important. Namely, it can't be said that everyone who previously played is now gambling on the Internet.

This fall is extremely significant. Even if some customers have migrated from the hall to the Internet, it has in no way compensated the extent seen before the pandemic, he added.

A representative of the State Revenue Service or the VID also explained that before the pandemic, the tax revenues collected from gambling companies were steadily growing. According to the representative named Natlija Fiipovia, the turnover before the pandemic increased by around 9 to 10 percent on an annual basis. However, this started to go down in 2020, when the pandemic started.

Fiipovia said, "If we compare the revenues provided during the first half of the year, then in 2019 they amounted to 20 million for this tax. 15 million in 2020, but only 7.03 million in 2021. These tax revenues have decreased by two-thirds.

Illegal Gambling Activities

It could also be considered that Latvias regulated gambling industry is still up against the underground market. In the whole of Europe, the illegal gambling market is about 20 percent of the gambling scene. In Latvia, however, its reported that 45 percent of the gambling transactions are made underground.

While the pandemic has triggered the growth of the online gambling sector in the country, it still somehow contributed to the growth of illegal gambling as well. With that, the Lotteries and Gambling Monitoring Inspectorate had to work harder to lessen the accessibility of illegal gambling sites.

Birne said, Overall, in 2021, we've already made 594 decisions [to block domains]. Of course, these blocked domains use a variety of technological capabilities to move to another location. We're trying to follow it again with our automated devices and tools.

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Latvia's Gambling industry Experienced a Drop In Revenues - Baltic Times