WEB LETTER: How NFT & Cryptocurrency Trading Can Be Just Another Form of Gambling
Are you familiar with the new “investment” rage of Non-Fungible Token (NFT) and cryptocurrency trading? NFT day trading, cryptocurrency day trading, and stock market day trading have more in common with slot machines, poker, and sports betting than you might think. They all involve the act of risking something of value on an activity that has an uncertain outcome – or simply put, gambling. Though not often recognized as such, day trading on the stock market – or with NFTs or cryptocurrencies – constitutes a form of gambling, and today’s trading apps and websites make it easier than ever.
Read the February Web Letter to learn more and how the 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine provides help and hope for any type of gambling problem.
Several daily fantasy sports pick’em operators intend to cease their operations in Florida by March 1.
The move comes after the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) sent out a second round of cease and desist letters to Betr, PrizePicks, and Underdog Fantasy in January asking them to leave by the March deadline.
the Commission will not take further action”
The letter read that should those concerned comply with the cease and desist order within the timeframe “the Commission will not take further action.”
Speaking on the matter, a PrizePicks spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have reached a negotiated resolution with the FGCC to cease operating our current contests on March 1.” PrizePicks added that the order said that they were welcome to operate in Florida “in the future.”
Stamping out DFS operators
The FGCC first declared its stance toward DFS brands in September when it sent the three companies cease and desist letters.
offering or accepting illegal bets or wagers from Florida residents”
According to FGCC Executive Director Louis Trombetta, Betr, PrizePicks, and Underdog Fantasy had crossed the line into sports betting. Trombetta said that the Commission received information that the three may “be offering or accepting illegal bets or wagers from Florida residents […] promoting and conducting an illegal lottery.”
Following the letters, the FGCC updated its FAQ page stating that all fantasy sports were “likely illegal.”
The Coalition for Fantasy Sports, a trade group representing the companies, said it is “committed to ensuring its member companies remain in the state and is actively engaging with Florida policymakers to protect the ability of fantasy sports fans to engage in the games of skill they enjoy.”
The Sunshine State is not the only one actively working to remove these apps. Describing pick’em games as “player prop bets,” Arkansas regulators also sent cease and desist letters to PrizePicks and Underdog.
Monetary fine
PrizePicks’ removal from Florida comes shortly after it was ordered to pay $15m to the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) foroperating without a license.
violated the law for years
In a document signed by both sides, PrizePicks confirmed that it had violated the law for years. Equally important to note is that a spokesperson for the operator believed it “operated in New York in a good-faith belief that it had the ability to do so.”
The amount PrizePicks needs to pay back is based on the revenue generated from its contests from June 4, 2019, to December 19, 2023.
The post PrizePicks Among DFS Operators to Leave Florida Following Second Cease and Desist Letter appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
Ever stumble upon a celebrity’s unexpected #ad or #sponsored post and think…what the heck? From Justin Bieber’s ‘One Less Lonely Girl’ Opi Nail Polish collection to Katy Perry’s “(Did Somebody Say) Just Eat” foodie jingle, the world of unanticipated celebrity brand deals continues.
With Paris Hilton announced as the ambassador for WOW Vegas, reactions flew all over the social media world. This prompted us to dig deep into America’s sentiments on celebrity endorsements, with a nationwide survey to discover their reasons why, and which industries are most likely to get a golden seal of approval (or eye-roll).
Key findings:
60.7%trust brands less when they use celebrity endorsements
The fashion industry ranks #1 for celebrity endorsement approval (in trust), followed by music (2nd) and beauty (3rd)
The gambling industry ranks as the least trusted industry for celebrity brand deals, followed by finance and technology
The sentiments are in: Why Americans do and don’t trust celebrity endorsements
To our surprise, a whopping 60.7% of Americans admit they trust brands less when they utilize celebrity endorsements! While marketers can argue it drives sales and attracts new customers, an astounding 81.8% find these endorsements to be lacking in credibility – suggesting for more authenticity in today’s marketing world. Only 7.3% don’t trust the brand’s marketing strategy, while 6.7% simply dislike the chosen celebrity ambassador. An additional 4.1% cited ‘other’ reasons, like finding the entire tactic as meaningless.
On the flip side, for the 39.3% who do find themselves trusting brands more with celebrity endorsements, their reasons vary. The #1 reason is personal fondness for the featured celebrity, according to 37.4%. Another 24.6% trust the brand’s marketing choices, while 23.3% believe the endorsement represents a credible and authentic decision for the brand. Only 14.7% feel somewhat indifferent, but ultimately trust the brand’s expertise in their decision-making.
Industry rankings: Most trusted vs least trusted with endorsements
Let’s roll out the red carpet because fashion steals the spotlight as the #1 celebrity endorsement-approved industry! Nearly half (42.1%) of respondents find this partnership the perfect match, where celebrities and fashion brands can seamlessly sync in reputation and style. Take Rihanna and Louis Vuitton’s Men Spring Summer 24 endorsement for example – an iconic and fashion-forward powerhouse that’s able to bring fresh energy towards the already establish fashion house!
Crank the music up! The music industry rocks the industry chart as the #2 most celebrity endorsement-approved sector, as voted by 34.7%. This also comes as no surprise, considering how many of these partnerships feature musicians themselves. Just take the iconic Taylor Swift and Drake Apple Music commercial, for example. Talk about a great marketing decision!
Cue the glam, because the beauty industry secures the #3 spot on the approval charts with a solid 34.6% of votes. The marketing tactic makes sense within this industry as celebrities are now crafting their own product lines – and it sure helps to have A-List friends promote these products! You may have seen Kendall Jenner sporting in Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment, for example. Talk about beauty and friendship goals!
On the other end of the spectrum, the gambling industry takes the title of the least trusted sector for celebrity endorsement deals – with only 2.3% of approval rates. Despite A-List names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Nicki Minaj, and Drake sharing their star power, the industry still struggles to win over trust.
Sentiments on brand deals within the casino and gambling industry
With the fast-growing online gaming industry, celebrity endorsements have become the most influential strategy. But do they hit the jackpot with consumers? We opened the floor with the following question: “How do you feel about celebrity endorsements within the casino and gambling industry?”
The results are in: 66.4% feel that the partnership just doesn’t add up, compared to the 33.6% who see the appeal in the marketing move. Whether it’s the puzzling celebrity choice or the general unfamiliarity with the industry, building trust with potential consumers remains a hurdle.
Following the recent Paris Hilton and WOW Vegas partnership, over half (57.5%) of respondents also revealed their dislike of the brand deal. Another celebrity endorsement within the industry that sparked a lot of talk online was Jamie Foxx and BetMGM’s partnership – receiving a 53.6% disapproval rate as well. It seems that celebrity brand deals aren’t always a winning hand when it comes to approval rates!
Conclusion
It’s safe to assume that winning over customers’ trust is essential in the business and marketing realm. Our findings reveal the importance of selecting relevant celebrities as brand ambassadors to build trust and avoid skepticism among consumers.
Methodology
In February 2024, we conducted a nationwide survey of 3,000 US residents. The average age of respondents was 40.2 years old. The representative sample comprised of 58.2% female, 39.1% male, 2.1% non-binary, 0.5% transgender, and 0.1% ‘other’.
Fair use
Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.
For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org
The race to be the 47th president in United States history is on, and according to betting odds, former President Donald Trump is the frontrunner.
BetUS sportsbook gives Trump -140 odds to become the second president ever and first since Grover Cleveland in 1892 to serve nonconsecutive terms. President Biden is a +200 underdog, followed by Michelle Obama (+700), California Gov. Gavin Newsom (+1000), Vice President Kamala Harris (+1600), and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
implied probability of 58.33%
Trump’s -140 odds equal an implied probability of 58.33%. Biden, who is next closest, has an implied probability of 33.33%.
Controversy at the top
Trump was a divisive figure from the moment he popped up in the presidential race in 2015. After once polling below 1% support, he defied the odds and expectations and replaced Barack Obama in the White House in January 2017.
Trump’s tenure matched his persona and was rife with controversy, whether it be his handling of foreign policy, laissez-faire approach to COVID, or his role in the January 6 riots at the Capitol.
Trump, who defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 with 306 electoral votes to 232, but had nearly 3 million fewer total votes, was ousted by Joe Biden in 2021 despite many voters feeling he was not the optimal president. Instead, they voted him into office under an “anyone but Trump” approach.
As the Trump resistance starts to wear off and questions of Biden’s mental standing swirl, many anti-Trump voters are beginning to succumb to reality.
It’s crisis fatigue, for sure.”
“We’re kind of, like, crises-ed out,” said Shannon Caseber, a security guard in Pittsburgh, per the New York Times. “It’s crisis fatigue, for sure.”
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, announced last week that President Biden will not take a cognitive test during his upcoming medical exam. Although she cited remarks from Biden’s doctor that suggested his daily duties and job requirements were evidence of his mental standing, many took it as another sign that he is not fit to continue in office.
Russian president Vladimir Putin also said last week he prefers that Biden continue as US President, which inspired varying remarks.
Candidates and opinions
As Trump prepares to potentially reclaim his seat on Pennsylvania Avenue, he first has to pay off $355m owed as the result of the ruling of a fraud trial.
New York Justice Arthur Engoron handed the fine to Trump, his company, and business associates, after he was found guilty of inflating the value of his assets to procure favorable bank loans. He was also banned from doing business in New York for three years. Trump plans to appeal the ban.
Polling company FiveThirtyEight found that only 39.4% of Americans approve of the job Biden has done, while 55.9% disapprove. That’s lower at this point in his tenure than his seven immediate predecessors, including Trump (43% approval) and three Democrats, Obama (48.2%), Bill Clinton (48.9%), and Jimmy Carter (56.5%).
“terrified” about the result of the upcoming election
Despite being third in odds, Michelle Obama has not declared that she is running for office. The closest she came was sharing that she was “terrified” about the result of the upcoming election during a podcast released on January 8.
Newsom said he had “sub-zero interest” in running for president despite his foray into a larger spotlight after battles with the governors of Texas and Florida.
Haley, the first woman of color to be a major Republican presidential candidate, is well into the race for the presidency. She said Sunday that she believes either her or VP Harris will be the president in 2025.
Other notable names on the list of candidates receiving betting odds include 2016 runner-up Hillary Clinton (+10000), right-wing political commentator Tucker Carlson (+25000), and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (+25000), among many others.
The post Odds: Donald Trump Has a 60% Chance to Win 2024 Presidential Election appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
Can Betting Strategies Used in Blackjack Help You Win?
By Stephen R. Tabone
This article is about betting strategies used on blackjack and relates to other casino games too. I delve into that mysterious and often misunderstood world of betting strategies and systems.
I’ll attempt to explain the principal codes of why using one can lead to success and at other times fail to.
Join me in this guide as I try to make sense of what betting strategies are all about. And whether they can help players win more in the short-term or generate any long-term tangible profits. My focus will be on topics such as:
To continue reading this article, please visit: https://www.888casino.com/blog/blackjack-strategy/can-blackjack-strategies-help-win
The Macau SAR Government reported significant growth when it came to gaming tax revenue generated in January 2024. The city earned MOP$7.34 billion, or US$911 million in January, which is 365% more than it had in January 2023.
The industry is recovering:
As the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) reported back then, the tax revenue in the same month 2023 was MOP$1.58 billion, or US$195 million.
Macau suffered a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic due to various restrictions that took place back then. However, the city is recovering, and the figures prove that. In 2022, when the traveling restrictions were still in place, the revenue was MOP$42.4 billion (US$5.26 million), while after the restrictions were lifted on January 8, 2023, the annual tax revenue was MOP183.06 billion (US$22.75 billion).
According to the source, in December 2023, the GGR was MOP$18.57 billion (US$2.30 billion). Compared to December 2022, an increase of 433% was recorded.
In its report, DSF included its budget for gaming tax revenues, which were MOP$83.6 billion (US$10.4 billion) in 2024. The budget is 82% of the whole 2024 budget, which is MOP$102.0 billion, or US$12.7 billion. The revenue generated in January is 8.8% of the whole gaming tax budget the government prepared for 2024.
Upcoming auction:
Meanwhile, a second attempt at auctioning 36 real estate properties owned by former Suncity Group Chairman Alvin Chau is reportedly underway after the Macau Court’s first attempt in Sept 2023 failed to attract bidders.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, in July 2023 it was decided that the properties would be auctioned off. The auction of the belongings of Chau and Grupo Tai Tak Lei was supposed to be sold on September 11, however, the auction wasn’t a success.
The potential buyers will be able to purchase 31 parking spaces and five commercial properties. Parking spaces can be purchased for the price of MOP$1.133.000 to MOP$1.184.500, and commercial properties will cost from MOP$55.517.000 to MOP$21.9 million, which is the same price as it was at the previous auction.
The properties are worth about MOP$600 million, or US$74.5 million.
The interested parties will be able to bid on the auction which will be held on February 20.
The auction will be held a month after Chau was sentenced to 18 years in prison. On top of that, he and his partners are obligated to pay over MOP$25.5 billion in damages to the government.
Will the properties be sold this time? It’s a valid question since the Macau property market is going through hard times. The Financial Services Bureau revealed that in January only 105 properties were purchased, which is a decrease of 93% compared to the same month in 2019.
The Star Sydney will be subject to a new inquiry to assess its suitability to hold a license in New South Wales (NSW).
The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) appointed Adam Bell on Monday to carry out a 15-week investigation and deliver the findings by May 31. The NICC isn’t happy about the speed at which the casino operator is making changes to comply with the recommendations of a 2022 inquiry.
The previous probe found that the casino was a hotbed of criminal activity, leading to a suspension of its license and an AU$100m (US$65m) fine. Lawyer Adam Bell also led up that previous inquiry, delivering his damning conclusion in September 2022.
The Star Sydney has had 18 months to demonstrate its progress
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford explained that The Star Sydney has had 18 months to demonstrate its progress and show it is suitable for a license. He noted that the company does not lack the resources and capability to do so.
Speaking about the matter, Crawford said that the NICC was “not satisfied The Star was progressing its remediation in a timely fashion.” Some of the operator has to make include properly funding its remediation program and bolstering its anti-money laundering controls.
The post New NSW Inquiry to Probe The Star Sydney’s Lack of Reform appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
Three weeks ago, we all saw the selfie and I for one swooned like a southern belle. Shaun Deeb was on track and looking great heading into the final four months of his $1m prop bet with Bill Perkins. The six-time bracelet winner and former WSOP Player of the Year didn’t just post a thirst trap. He also shared a dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan showing 23.9% body fat percentage.
Entering the challenge, he weighed in at 306 pounds and had a body fat percentage of around 40%.
In March 2023, Deeb wagered $100,000 at odds of 10-1 that he could get his body fat down to just 17% by the start of the 2024 WSOP. Entering the challenge, he weighed in at 306 pounds and had a body fat percentage of around 40%. Perkins’ $1m was obviously a massive incentive, but nonetheless it was a tall order and most people gave him little to no chance of getting there.
Well last night, according to Deeb, he and Perkins agreed on a buy-out to the tune of $800,000. The bet is officially over, but Deeb is determined to hit his goal anyway. He has even offered to take bets on himself if anybody doubts his conviction. It would be a brave person to wager against a man who, after this, will surely go down in history as one of the great prop bettors.
Poker players love weight loss and body fat props
These types of weight or body fat bets have been all the rage in poker for several decades. Back in 2010, six-time bracelet winner Ted Forrest bet Mike Matusow that we could go from 188 pounds to under 138 pounds in just two months. With $2m on the line, Forrest ended up making the weight although the bet was never resolved.
In 2017, Matt and Jaime Staples won $150,000 from Bill Perkins after completing a very creative bet at generous odds of 50-1 . The brothers were given one year to weigh within one pound of each other. At the beginning, Matt was 134 pounds and Jaime was 304 pounds but on March 25, 2018, they both weighed in at exactly 188.3 pounds.
In 2022, Doug Polk wagered $200,000 against Perkins that he could drop from 27.7% body fat to 13.85% in 12 months. On February 10, 2023, Polk conceded defeat after only getting down to 15.1% body fat.
An escape hatch
After victory against Polk, Perkins must have fancied his chances of taking another six-figure sum from a poker pro after he locked in the bet with Deeb. Body fat bets are notoriously more difficult because you need to be meticulous with the type of diet and the type of exercise that you do. You need to cut carbs, but continue to eat healthy fats and lots of protein. Cardio workouts are not as effective as weight-training.
from 306 pounds to 221 pounds, losing well over half of his body fat
Aware of what was needed, though, Deeb hired a team who knew how to get him there. On January 25, he posted a topless photo and a scan which showed that he had gone from 306 pounds to 221 pounds, losing well over half of his body fat along the way. Three weeks on, both of those figures have continued to drop, prompting Perkins to pursue an escape hatch.
Yesterday, Deeb tweeted the outcome of some negotiations he had completed with Perkins on Friday, February 16. He said:
“Last night after discussion with my wife Ashley, we decided to accept the buyout from Bill Perkins for $800K. I can’t thank him and Charlie enough for the bet they offered – it gave me the motivation to prove everyone wrong. I’m still working toward my goal of 17%. I’m going to get there to show my kids that if I can do this, they can do plenty of things people say are too hard or impossible. I initially thought to not announce the buyout since I am determined to reach the goal, but too many people have side action to not let them know that Bill bought out and at what %.”
Determination was always his secret weapon
Deeb was understandably in triumphant mood and still bullish about his chances of hitting the target.
“If anyone doubts me on still getting there”, he said, “I’m open to taking a lot more bets on myself.”
Speaking exclusively to VSO News just moments after the announcement, Deeb added: “If I want to do something, I will do it. From Day 1, I was very committed. I was actually ready to start ozempic before the bet was offered so let’s just say I had already made up my mind.”
It is clear that from the outset that it was Deeb’s determination that was his secret weapon. I asked him about tough days along the way, but he immediately played it down, saying:
I knew the long-term EV, so I had my eye on the goal whole time.”
“Nah, it was never too hard. My trainer, nutritionist, doctor and massage therapist all kept me at peak performance levels throughout. Being an MTT pro for 20 years, I knew the long-term EV, so I had my eye on the goal whole time. I honestly had very few cravings which made it easy. I cheated fewer than ten times and when I did cheat, I only grabbed a minimum amount of the snack.”
Deeb ended his statement by making an offer to help others in the community: “Anyone who needs advice on their own goals, feel free to reach out – if I can’t help I can direct you to someone who can.”
He turns 38 in just ten days and is very conscious of the fact that he has turned his health around at a crucial point in his life. He also wants to be a role model for his kids, so seeing this 17% body fat goal through is important for him beyond any additional bets that may get booked from here on out.
The post Bill Perkins Buys Out of Shaun Deeb Body Fat Percentage Bet For $800,000 appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
DraftKings has reached a deal to acquire the online lottery ticket app Jackpocket in a deal worth $750m. The Boston-based company announced the agreement on Thursday, for which around 55% of the payment will be cash and the remainder stock.
the top US provider of digital lottery services with scalable and proprietary technology
The press release describes Jackpocket as the top US provider of digital lottery services with scalable and proprietary technology, a quality management team, and a strong brand. Both boards approved the deal, which will now need the relevant regulatory approvals to proceed.
DraftKings plans to dip its toes into the country’s lottery sector, as well as cement its position in the online casino and sports betting markets. According to the release, the firm believes the acquisition will help boost customer lifetime value thanks to the opportunities to cross-sell the customer bases.
Boosting efficiency
The US lottery market is a lucrative one, with nationwide lottery sales in the 2022 fiscal year hitting $108bn. DraftKings estimates the deal will create up to $340m in additional revenue in the 2026 fiscal year.
Jackpocket is currently available in more than 16 US jurisdictions, including New York, New Jersey, and Texas. It takes a cut of the deposits that users make into their accounts. Customers can digitally access their tickets through Jackpocket and winnings of less than $600 are credited to their account automatically. Meanwhile, those with bigger wins will receive physical tickets.
Commenting on the acquisition, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said that the company is excited to become part of “the rapidly growing US digital lottery vertical.” He believes the move gives DraftKings customers another product to enjoy, as well as improving marketing efficiency in a similar way to how it leveraged its daily fantasy sports customer base when launching sportsbooks.
Jackpocket CEO Peter Sullivan also praised the agreement, saying that it will continue to make it more convenient and fun to buy lottery tickets in a responsible manner.
Strong results
DraftKings announced its Q4 2023 results on Thursday, with revenue rising 44% year-on-year to $1.2bn and its adjusted EBITDA at $151m. Monthly unique payers (MUP) were up 37% in Q4 2023, while average revenue per MUP increased by 6%. Net loss for the recent quarter dropped from $242.7m to $44.6m year-on-year.
mobile sportsbooks in 24 states and online casinos in five states
DraftKings is optimistic about the year ahead, upping its revenue forecast to $4.9bn from $4.65bn. The operator currently has mobile sportsbooks in 24 states and online casinos in five states, with further launches on the horizon. DraftKings’ share price finished the day up 1.3%.
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Commissioner Tick Segerblom has said that Clark County “never signed a contract” with Formula One for its November race in Las Vegas.
we never committed to three years, to my knowledge”
Speaking Thursday with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Segerblom said: “It turns out we never signed a contract — that was all with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). So everybody keeps saying that we’ve got three years. We never committed to three years, to my knowledge.”
Segerblom had intended to bring the issue up at a Tuesday meeting with the Board of Clark County Commissioners, but a Clark County spokeswoman has said it will be heard at a future meeting.
Each year until 2025, the LVCVA pays $6.5m to put on the F1 race with Liberty Media, the parent company of the F1. Notably, while Clark County approved the racing event for at least ten years, officials didn’t contractually agree for it to take place each year.
Lack of communication?
For the first race to go ahead, Formula One asked Clark County to pay half of the $80m to get the 3.8-mile race track ready.
F1 will have to take on the full brunt of the cost
However, it remains to be seen whether the county will pay the $40m. F1 has already paid the money for the infrastructure work, so if Clark County doesn’t pony up the rest, F1 will have to take on the full brunt of the cost.
Speaking on the matter, Segerblom said: “We haven’t agreed to anything.”
Even though they had to approve many of the plans, county commissioners feel as though they’ve been the last to find out what’s going on. Yet, according to Betsy Fretwell, Chief Operating Officer for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, they have worked closely with county officials as they work toward the 2024 race.
Lost revenue
The November race will continue to remain a hot topic for all concerned. The main concern for local businesses is the potential loss of millions of dollars, similar to what they say happened in 2023. Last year, a group of nine businesses approached the LVCVA seeking reimbursement of an estimated $23m it claims to have lost in revenue.
The nine companies want the LVCVA to establish the recovery fund over claims that vehicular and foot traffic nosedived over six months because of multiple road closures and entrance blockages.
With businesses allegedly seeing a decline of over 50% in their usual revenue during the 2023 race, companies could continue to feel skeptical about the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
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