Living with a compulsive gambler can be life-changing in many ways. In addition to the financial difficulties, stress created by a gambling addiction in the family can manifest in loved ones emotionally and lead to significant relationship problems. It is common for family members and loved ones of an individual with gambling problems to feel anger, betrayal, or fear. Increased stress and worry can lead to physical and mental health problems for the gambler’s loved ones, including anxiety and depression. You are not alone. The 888 ADMIT-IT HelpLine is available 24/7 for ANYONE impacted by problem gambling!
For someone who lives and shares finances with a disordered gambler, the emotions can be overwhelming and can lead to self-destructive behaviors. There is a tendency to react to negative behaviors of others with rash actions and self-defeating behaviors. There is evidence that shows substance abuse along with over-eating are used as ways to cope, escape, or give a feeling of control for oneself. For a loved one, the thought may be something like, “If you can gamble all of our money away, I can drink as much as I want.”
With problem gambling, there are different ways a loved one may unconsciously believe they are helping or have some control. It can be a belief such as, “If I go and gamble with them, I can control how much and how long they gamble.” This may work in the beginning, but as the addiction progresses within the gambler, so do the negative self-behaviors of the loved one. When gambling alongside the problem gambler doesn’t work, loved ones may unconsciously over-spend money with the idea that there won’t be any money left for the gambler to bet. Over time a sense of urgency sets in, inspired by a lack of control, which may cause vulnerability and cause the loved one to acquire his or her own addictive behaviors.
There are other various negative impacts of problem gambling on emotional wellbeing, mental and physical health, and relationships. Because of gambling, many loved ones report a loss of respect and trust for the gambler due to lies, dishonesty, and betrayal. In the end, it is not only the compulsive gambler who is suffering. Loved ones may conclude that the only way they can live with the impacts of gambling addiction is to escape themselves into whatever can numb this despair, a destructive pattern which can itself lead to addiction.
The Importance of Promoting Positive Self-Care
As you can see or may know already from experience, it isn’t easy to escape the self-destructive, reactive behaviors and thoughts inspired by a loved one’s gambling problem. The important thing to know is that you are not alone, and help and hope are available!
Contact the 888-ADMIT-IT Problem Gambling HelpLine and get connected to powerful and free resources specifically for loved ones, such as: self-help literature like the FCCG’s A Chance for Change Workbooks Series for Loved Ones, self-help support groups like Gam-Anon, financial resources, legal resources, emergency/crisis resources, and many more.
Avoid isolation by seeking out family, friends, or self-help support groups and recovery networks, such as a Gam-Anon.
Focus on positivity and positive self-talk.
Take time to exercise regularly: a 20-minute walk can have significant benefits.
Practice gratitude by reminding yourself about the things for which you are grateful.
Stay in touch with your thoughts and feelings. Don’t allow yourself to “numb out.”
If you are in Florida and impacted by a loved one’s gambling, call or text the 24/7, Confidential, and Multilingual 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine, or open a live chat here on gamblinghelp.org to get connected with a Specialist today.
Genesis Global Limited, a flagship, mobile-first international gaming company, is the newest operator to have its license officially canceled by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
License cancellation:
The company represents the 3rd operator, which received an order from the MGA, to suspend all operations in Malta. The main reason for the order was unpublished violations of the Gaming Compliance and Enforcement Regulations. In addition, the firm managed the significant number of sites under the aforementioned license, involving Casinojoy.com, Genesiscasino.com, Sloty.com, Spinit.com and Vegasoo.com.
On a related note, every unpaid payment to the players and MGA have to be repaid within 7 days of the date of the issuance of the above cancellation order, aka January 11, with proof that the above has been obeyed, according to the official press release.
Furthermore, Genesis’ license was originally officially suspended at the beginning of 2023, aka January. When it happened, the workers received letters about the firm’s insolvency a month earlier.
In this regard, recently, the MGA also gave an order to Rush Gaming, which manages Onebet.com and Fansbet.com, to stop all B2C operations in the region, following the cancellation of its professional relationship with Betago. All of this represents part of the comprehensive strategy of the MGA to fulfill global gambling standards by fostering secure gambling surroundings.
In 2021, the aforementioned operator run into regulatory trouble in the UK regulated market after being fined £3.8m and required to fulfill additional licensing conditions after the inquiry conducted by the UK Gambling Commission revealed the operator had committed “significant social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.”
About:
The main responsibilities of the Malta Gaming Authority are:
Guidance and cooperation at all stages of the application process
Ensure the integrity of games and gaming devices, via audits and independent testing facilities to ensure the randomness of results of all games of chance
Protection of minors and vulnerable persons, while promoting responsible gaming in a safe environment
Protection of player funds, ensuring that all deposits and withdrawals are secure and enforceable.
Licensing and regulation of the gaming operators
Safeguarding of player rights, via investigation of complaints concerning the licensees on behalf of the players
Monitoring of activities to keep gaming free from criminal activities
Monitoring of licensee activities to ensure compliance
The MGA can’t compel any operator to return stakes voluntary placed and lost in fair play, but it can offer assistance and advice in enforcing deposits money and real winnings and aids in resolving disputes with players and its licensees when necessary.
It appears that online casinos won’t arrive in New York any time soon. Governor Kathy Hochul did not mention the topic during her annual budget presentation for the 2025 financial year on Tuesday, which effectively means that the matter won’t be of importance during the coming legislative session.
New York is currently trying to deal with a significant deficit
Senator Joseph Addabbo introduced an iGaming bill just last week, estimating that the state could eventually benefit to the tune of about $1bn each year. New York is currently trying to deal with a significant deficit, an issue that Addabbo argued legalizing online casinos could help.
Hochul did mention gambling during her $233bn budget presentation, but this related to the extension of simulcast revisions and pari-mutuel wagering tax rates.
Plenty of potential
Senator Addabbo is already on record asserting that without the support of the governor he won’t put too much energy into progressing an iGaming bill. This doesn’t mean that there is zero chance of passage in 2024, but it does seem unlikely at this stage.
The bill would also have allowed for the online selling of lottery tickets
Addabbo proposed setting a 30.5% tax rate on iGaming revenue, as well as a one-time $2m license fee. The bill would also have allowed for the online selling of lottery tickets. A similar bill last year did not get much support in the legislature or from the governor.
Online casinos have much higher profit margins than sportsbooks, which is why six states have launched these types of platforms so far.
Differing opinions in the state
Senator Addabbo is a long-time proponent of gambling expansion in the Empire State and is the current chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering. He has also introduced various iGaming, commercial casino, and sports betting bills over the years.
Some of the people who oppose iGaming legalization in the state believe that the rollout of these platforms would lead to skyrocketing gambling addiction rates while negatively impacting the revenue of land-based casinos.
The post Another Year, Another New York iGaming Bill Likely Down the Drain appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
An ex-Australian and British Special Forces serviceman left his elderly mother in Eastleigh, UK broke after he spent a night gambling and drinking on her credit card.
accepts he gambled the money as a result of boredom and drinking”
David Apps, 57, left Anne Bates penniless after he spent a night on the town racking up almost £12,000 ($15,154) on her card. Prosecutor Nicola Sully told Southampton Crown Court on Monday that Apps “accepts he gambled the money as a result of boredom and drinking.”
Apps, who was once a cop in Australia, was visiting his mother in July when he gambled £11,900 ($15,027) via sportsbook Spreadex.
According to the Daily Echo, Apps is currently Director of Special Projects at the United Arab Emirates government. Judge Nicholas Rowland questioned Apps’ need to steal from his mom, given “his level of income.”
In a victim impact statement, Ms. Bates said her son’s actions left her “financially vulnerable … unable to cover my bills and prompted me to put my apartment for sale and move to Australia.”
Ms. Bates’ statement continued that she couldn’t believe what Apps did to her, that she wanted him “to be held accountable, but he is my son and I love him.”
Judge Rowland ordered Apps to pay £1,500 ($1,895) per month to his mother, and prove repayment of the full amount of her money he blew before July 15. The judge also ordered Apps to “pay a significant additional sum to compensate Anne Bates for psychological trauma and provide proof of continued counselling.”
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The best of the best in the blackjack world have been known to employ card-counting strategies. With more and more players venturing into online blackjack, the question becomes, “Can you count cards at an online casino?” Let’s dive into the topic below.
What is Card Counting?
There have been plenty of gambling movies that make card counting seem like it is a great and complex strategy. Believe it or not, you don’t have to be a mathematician to count cards the next time that you sit down at a blackjack table.
Card counting is a relatively basic strategy used in blackjack where the player keeps a running tally of all the cards that have already been dealt. Dealers can have varying numbers of decks, but players can keep track of the cards that have been dealt to provide more information.
Card counting is essentially gathering as much data as possible to make a more educated guess as to the next cards to be dealt. It isn’t perfect and can be a bit tougher with more decks in play, but it has become a consistently used way to gain a slight edge on the house.
Is it Illegal to Count Cards?
Despite what you might have heard, it actually isn’t illegal to count cards, whether it be in a real or online casino. That said, casinos generally frown on that sort of thing, so use caution. Doing so at a brick-and-mortar casino could result in ejection and refusal of service.
That said, most of the truly good blackjack players count cards in some way. It isn’t the most complicated process to learn and can provide a slightly better chance of winning than not using this strategy. It isn’t a guaranteed winner but for high-volume players, it is something that can somewhat level the playing field over time.
Can You Count Cards at an Online Casino?
Now to the million-dollar question. When talking about online blackjack, there are two major differences. For one, there is no dealer. For two, there is no shoe as cards are randomly generated each round. Every online casino uses a random number generator (RNG), which basically equates to the cards being shuffled before each round.
Since there isn’t a shuffle order – nor is there a cut card 80% of the way through 6- and 8-shuffled decks, card counting would have to be thrown away ahead of each round. There isn’t enough data available to provide an edge, which basically negates the strategy as a whole. If you see someone offering online counting services, it is a scam. It simply isn’t possible to count cards at an online casino with any consistency or regularity.
Conclusion
There are certain advantages to playing in person versus an online casino when it comes to blackjack. Though card counting is certainly not a guarantee, it does provide a slight edge that would otherwise be unavailable. Those attempting to count cards when playing online blackjack will find themselves sorely disappointed. Even in live casinos, the placement of the cut card can drastically reduce any edge the player would have gotten from counting cards. There is definitely strategy involved but not when it comes to card counting.
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Due to general elections in both the USA and UK, 2024 promises to be the busiest ever year for political betting. To help you bet on politics, below you’ll find my current recommended bet, plus 10 political bets you can make over the year and their odds.
My Recommended Political Bet
Nikki Haley to win New Hampshire Primary @ 8/5
1. Bet On The Presidential Nominee For Each Party
Image of Donald Trump: Gage Skidmore/Wikipedia Commons
The political betting action begins with the primaries, which determine the presidential nominees for each party. Odds will be available on the primaries for all 50 states and later for how each votes in the presidential election. Some firms will also offer odds on who finishes second, or the winning margin.
Here are my insights for Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Iowa
The action begins with the Iowa Republican Caucus.
Trump is an overwhelming favorite to win Iowa, rated almost certain to win the popular vote at 1-100. BetMGM offer a more competitive market involving the race without him.
Ron DeSantis is favorite at 1.57…
…compared to Nikki Haley at 2.5.
If the Iowa results go as expected, it will strengthen Trump’s dominant position at the head of the odds list for Republican Nominee. The highest odds available with Sportsbooks is 1-7 with Bet365, but if you can access an exchange the political betting odds are more generous. For example, 2-11 with Betfair or buying at 82c via PredictIt.
New Hampshire
States do not behave uniformly, and the second leg of the schedule could be the one which sets the race on fire. The New Hampshire Republican Primary is on January 23rd.
New Hampshire has a much higher share of Independent voters than Iowa, and Trump’s polling performance here is notably inferior. While he still leads the polls, the margin has shrunk markedly, with Haley emerging as the main challenger. A recent survey had her within 4%, and Trump on just 37%.
Since then, Chris Christie (polling around 12%) has withdrawn, and almost all of his supporters are expected to transfer to Haley.
BetMGM‘s odds about Haley have collapsed from 5.0 to just 2.6 in recent days, compared to 1.45 for Trump. She remains my preferred bets at these odds. Primary voters famously decide and swing late.
Image of Nikki Haley: George Skidmore/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
If Trump isn’t getting close to 50%, despite his massive, unique advantage in name recognition and being a former President, I’m skeptical he’ll win. I’d expect anti-Trump voters to unite around the only candidate running him close.
New Hampshire’s primary attracts vast numbers of Independent voters (perhaps more than half the total turnout). These are the types I believe can swing it for Haley.
Whether a Haley win in New Hampshire transforms the wider race is doubtful, because Trump remains will probably dominate the Southern states. Notably, he enjoys a big poll lead in the third race, South Carolina, despite Haley being the former Governor there. Betfair are first up with political betting odds, rating Trump a 1.08 chance to win the popular vote.
South Carolina
In a change from previous cycles, the Democratic Primary officially starts later, in South Carolina, on February 3rd. The party’s decision to usurp New Hampshire did not play well in that state, who chose to keep their primary on the same day as the Republican race. It is unsanctioned by the party and Joe Biden’s name will not be on the ballot. Party activists are organizing a write-in campaign for him.
Image of President Biden: U.S. Secretary of Defense/Flickr, CC BY 2.0
While Biden is expected to win in the absence of a serious challenger (his opponents are led by little-known Congressman Dean Phillips, Oprah Winfrey’s former spiritual advisor Marianne Williamson and TYT host Cenk Uygur), how this pans out is unclear. Were Biden to fail to win, or reach 50%, via these write-ins, it could spark very serious doubts about his candidacy.
Despite the absence of a strong challenger, Biden is available at bigger odds to win his party’s nomination than Trump. Bet365offer odds of 1.25.
His closest rivals in this year’s political betting are not currently in the race – Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama. All have strongly endorsed Biden. Bettors supporting them are hoping that, at a later stage, Biden will withdraw due to retirement, ill health or another factor such as impeachment.
2. Bet On The Likelihood Of A Biden v Trump Rematch
Image of Trump and Biden: Emma Kaden/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
A Biden v Trump rematch is very likely. The Betfair odds about this are 1.47.
Yet in both cases, critical known unknowns remain. In Biden’s case, polls show 40% of those who voted for him in 2020 don’t want him to run again, amongst 60% of the population.
Trump’s stranglehold on the nomination could plausibly be threatened by his legal peril. The timeline of his court cases remains unclear but, were he convicted before the nomination is determined, that might alter the calculations of Republican primary voters. Polls indicate a conviction would badly damage his chances at the general election. There is also the ongoing question of whether he could be removed from state ballots via the 14th amendment. Whilst unlikely, in theory the Republican Party could choose to ditch him at their convention in July.
There has never been a campaign anything like it and we take such short political betting odds at our peril. However, assuming we do ultimately see a rematch of 2020, the current odds imply Trump starts as favorite. He’s available at 2.3 with BetMGM, compared to 3.25 about Biden.
3. Bet On The Republican Vice Presidential Nominee
Image of Ben Carson: Gage Skidmore/Wikipedia Commons
Another competitive market to consider is Republican Vice Presidential Nominee. Whereas Kamala Harris is assumed certain to be Biden’s running mate and trading at the same as his main nomination odds, this is wide-open. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is the early favorite at 5.0, ahead of Vivek Ramaswamy at 7.5 and Elise Stefanik at 8.0.
4. Bet On Congress
There is also Congress to consider. Control of both the US Senate and House of Representatives will be on the November ballot and betting will become widely available on both, along with all the key states and congressional districts.
5. Bet On Individual Races
In the nearer term, there is a special election in New York’s third district, following the expulsion of Republican George Santos. Betfair have just opened their market and others will follow. This should be a close contest.
6. Bet On When The UK General Election Will Happen
Regarding the UK election, we still don’t know the date or even party leaders for sure. Rishi Sunak is the third Conservative Prime Minister since the last election and, given abysmal approval ratings, his future is far from secure.
A general election in the UK will almost certainly take place in 2024. The latest possible date is January 25th 2025, but that is extremely unlikely for logistical reasons.
The latest Betfair political betting odds rate October-December as 4-9 favorite to be the election date, ahead of April-June at 5.7 and July-September at 7.8.
7. Bet On Who Will Be Conservative Party Leader
Image of Rishi Sunak: Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Sunak is rated a 1.2 chance to be Conservative leader at the election.
The recent and long-term history of the Conservative Party suggests the latter is a risky short-odds bet. They are famous for removing unpopular leaders and have the mechanism to do so, via a vote of confidence.
Prior to Christmas 2023, with the party bitterly divided over it’s immigration policy, the odds about Sunak exiting early and/or facing a confidence vote spiked. This could well happen again within the next few weeks when Parliament considers the legislation.
8. Bet On The UK’s By-Elections
Before the general election, we will also have at least one and perhaps three by-elections to bet on. These are, like US special elections, local contests in particular districts where the representative has stood down. Again, these have the potential to destabilize Sunak.
The Conservatives have fared terribly in these and the very early betting for Wellingborough has them as big outsiders. However upsets do happen in these affairs – they won a similar race in Uxbridge last year at odds of 8.0.
9. Bet On The UK General Election
Regarding the main event, Labour are strong favorites to regain power.
Labour are rated 1-10 chances at best to win Most Seats at the general election with Bet365 and 1.25 to win an Overall Majority. On current polling, they should achieve both with ease but we are still very early in the process. Recent elections saw dramatic changes during the final months and the Conservatives can hope for a repeat.
10. Bet On How Many Seats Each Party Will Win
At a general election, there are also hundreds of interesting side markets, such as each party’s seat total. For example, Betfair offer “How many seats will the Conservatives lose”. Here the favorite is 201 seats or more at 2.7.
By seats, we mean ‘constituencies’. There are 650 of them, each returning a Member of Parliament (MP), who takes up a seat. In due course, sportsbooks and exchanges will offer odds on which party will win each of those 650 constituencies. Hundreds of markets among thousands in what promises to be an unforgettable year. Truly, a betting bonanza!
FAQs About Political Betting
How do you bet on politics?
Betting on politics is the same as betting on sports. You can do so via a Sportsbook, taking fixed odds about a particular outcome. For example, “Who will win the 2024 US Presidential Election?”. Alternatively, you can place political bets via a peer-to-peer betting exchange such as Betfair or PredictIt.
How accurate are political markets?
Many argue that political betting markets are a more accurate predictor of results than opinion polls. The evidence for this is mixed and complex, because to some extent political betting odds are driven by polls.
The best guides to answering this question are the exchanges, where odds are driven purely by supply and demand, rather than a particular oddsmaker. Their record is very strong. Since the Betfair exchange was formed in 1998, the favorite 100 days out won the most seats in every UK general election and in all but one US presidential election (the exception being Hillary Clinton’s defeat in 2016).
How big is the political betting market?
The US Presidential Election is the biggest single betting market in the world, measured by liquidity on Betfair, the world’s largest betting exchange. The 2016 match-up between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton established a new record, and then liquidity rose seven-fold in 2020 when Trump faced Joe Biden.
Around $2BN was traded on Betfair’s main market to be Next President in 2020. Expect that to increase again in November and perhaps even be challenged, with ever more betting firms offering political betting odds.
Political betting was pioneered in the UK and there are no legal restrictions to bet on politics. These elections come only second to the USA in terms of liquidity and the range of political bets is even bigger.
The billionaire owner of Fontainebleau Miami Beach is pouring money into political donations to secure a casino in his Florida hotel.
donated more than $300,000 last year to political action committees
According to finance reports, Jeffrey Soffer has made significant donations to Florida lawmakers to achieve his goal. Those tied to the real estate developer donated more than $300,000 last year to political action committees (PACs). This money contributes to various campaigns, including nine Republicans representing Miami-Dade County.
The two-month Florida legislature begins this week and on the agenda are bills that could open the door to casino hotels in Miami. They would allow those with greyhound dog racing permits and authorization to conduct casino activities to move the operations of “all pari-mutuel wagering and gaming activities” to Miami. This would include Soffer’s Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach.
Political donations
Parties linked to Fontainebleau and Big Easy Casino donated $50,000 to the Republican Party of Florida in September. Last June, they also donated $25,000 to the Florida Senatorial Republican Campaign Committee.
In the past, Soffer has gone to great lengths to sell his idea of moving a gambling permit from his Broward-based Big Easy Casino to the Fontainebleau.
Since acquiring the Big Easy, known then as the Mardi Gras Casino and Race Track, Soffer has provided more than $2.5m in political donations, including $250,000 in 2021 and 2022 to a PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Soffer is not the only one to push for a casino expansion in Miami. Commenting in 2021, Eric Trump, the son of former US President Donald Trump, described his father’s Doral Miami golf resort as a “natural choice” for a casino if legislation opened the door for one.
Untapped market
Miami Beach has banned casinos since 2017 and is one of the most anti-gambling areas in Florida.
they’ve so often been the target for a casino”
According to John Sowinski, who runs the “No Casinos” group, people have been “trying for years” to bring a casino to the area. “Miami Beach is among the most anti-casino jurisdictions anywhere in Florida because they’ve so often been the target for a casino,” he added.
Sowinski said any attempts to further this will only force people living in Miami Beach to oppose measures. If progress is made, it would draw the attention of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. In 2021, the tribe negotiated a deal with DeSantis, paving the way for online and retail betting across the state.
However, in the agreement, DeSantis agreed not to oppose new casinos over 15 miles from the tribe’s gambling hubs in the Hollywood area. Miami Beach is around 17 miles away from the Seminole Hard Rock Casino.
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Luke Garrison is a professional writer who grew up just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He currently works at the Canadian Press and enjoys the outdoors in his free time.
Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto
Located in the North York area of Toronto, this 33-acre mega casino just opened in 2023 and has quickly become a go-to spot for the city’s entertainment lovers.
This venue is so large and full of amenities thanks to the $1 billion budget available during construction. Noteworthy features include 4,800 slot machines, 145 table games, and a 400-room hotel (attached).
A 5,000-seat auditorium is another huge draw, featuring a variety of live shows including concerts and stand-up comedy. There is also ample room for your car thanks to a multi-level garage that can accommodate upwards of 3,800 vehicles.
It’s conveniently located beside Woodbine Racetrack, for those who enjoy betting on the ponies. Talks of building a second casino directly adjacent to these locations have been on-and-off, so perhaps the best is yet to come. For those wanting a full casino experience outside a bustling metropolis, this location is for you.
Montreal Casino
Located on Notre Dame Island within Jean-Drapeau Park in Montreal, this 12-acre casino stretches across three interconnected buildings. One of the best things about this location is the number of events including concerts, comedy shows, and dances.
The casino also boasts special events including an annual New Year’s Eve party spanning from the afternoon of December 31st until late morning on New Year’s Day. Other draws include four restaurants, three bars, and even a cabaret.
With over 3,200 slot machines and 115 gaming tables, there’s no shortage of action. There are also separate facilities for Keno-type games as well as virtual and lottery games. Montreal is already a hot vacation destination, and a casino of this size and caliber only adds to the appeal.
Great Canadian Casino Vancouver (Formerly Hard Rock Casino Vancouver)
Located 30 minutes outside Vancouver in Coquitlam, the formerly famous Hard Rock Casino rebranded to the Great Canadian Casino on December 1st, 2023. Great Canadian Entertainment now owns 15 different casinos, including this one and the first casino we mentioned.
Like the Toronto location, one of this casino’s hallmarks is a 1,100-seat theatre with a plethora of concerts, comedy shows, and other events all year round. With over 920 slot machines and 37 live table games, the selection is small compared to others on this list, but it’s still worth a visit.
A restaurant called ‘Gordon Ramsay Burger’ draws a lot of visitors and is one of four restaurants available on site. Another restaurant is called ‘Rock House Grill’, which is an ode to the casino’s former Hard Rock branding.
Fallsview Casino Resort Niagara
Located on the picturesque Fallsview Boulevard near downtown Niagara Falls, this casino is sure to wow you. From a gorgeous view of the ever-popular Horseshoe Falls to a 5,000-seat multipurpose theatre, there’s something for everyone.
In fact, there are two different entertainment venues on site – OLG Stage and Avalon Theatre. The adjoined hotel is also quite upscale however reasonably priced, and there are 24 different dining options ranging from Burger King to 21 Club – the on-site steak and seafood restaurant.
What it lacks in size, it makes up for in elegance, but it’s not exactly a closet either. With 3,500 slot machines and 130 table games spread over 200,000 square feet, the action is non-stop.
River Rock Casino Resort
Located right beside Vancouver International Airport on the Fraser River, River Rock Casino Resort is the perfect clash of convenience and scenery.
As another casino owned by Great Canadian Entertainment, all of the amenities are impressive. Slot machines are plentiful with over 1,100 to choose from, including some of the largest progressive jackpots in the country.
Upwards of 75 live table games and 104 electronic table games are a staple of this facility, and it actually boasts the most Baccarat tables at one location in all of North America. The poker room in particular is quite renowned and regularly hosts large tournaments.
Over 40% of the people in Nebraska, Maine, and Arizona, and about half of the residents of both Ontario and British Columbia say that they’ve done something that would count as doomsday prep within the last 12 months. This includes stockpiling supplies, learning survival skills, and creating emergency plans.
To see how the rest of the U.S. and Canada feels about the apocalypse, we conducted a survey of 5,000 residents (3,000 from the U.S. and 2,000 from Canada). We also analyzed online tendencies in the two countries via hashtags and Facebook groups to see what we could uncover about the general attitude toward the end of life as we know it. Here’s what we found.
Key Takeaways
More than 56% of Americans and Canadians have done something to prep for doomsday in the past 12 months
Most Americans and Canadians believe that a natural disaster is most likely to cause an apocalyptic scenario in their lifetime
Only 2% of Americans and Canadians feel fully prepared for a doomsday event
The average person in the U.S. and Canada spends just $441 preparing for an apocalypse
Nebraska Leads the Doomsday Charge
Just under half of all residents in Nebraska report that they’ve prepared for the apocalypse in the last year. And they’re not alone—Maine, Arizona, and Mississippi all come in at over 30%.
Of the top 20 states that house the most doomsday-prepared residents, an average of around 20% of all residents have done something to prep for the worst in the past 12 months, based on our survey alone.
Behind the top four states—Nebraska, Maine, Arizona, and Mississippi—are the following, along with the percentage of residents who fear the worst in each state.
Missouri: 27%
Arkansas: 25%
North Carolina: 18%
Florida: 17%
Illinois: 16%
Maryland: 15%
Michigan: 15%
Colorado: 14%
Massachusetts: 14%
Tennessee: 14%
Virginia: 13%
Wisconsin: 12%
Georgia: 11%
Louisiana: 11%
Alabama: 10%
Kentucky: 10%
We noticed that the urge to prepare for the worst isn’t just reserved for coastal states, states where seismic activity is an issue, or states in Tornado Alley. There seems to be a universal fear that things might not be as pleasant and comfortable in the near future as they are today.
Despite around 20% of the residents in these states taking action to prepare, only 9% of all Americans identified as preppers. To be fair, though, most people who have prepped have spent under $500 doing so, and the majority of them have done things like stockpile food and water and learn survival skills.
That’s a far cry from building a bomb shelter, but still…it suggests that a good portion of Americans are worried about the future.
B.C. and Ontario: The Best at Preparing for the Worst
A little further north, British Columbia and Ontario are Canada’s two twitchiest provinces. Both provinces score 90 out of 130 on our custom doomsday prepper metric, making them the places with the highest concentration of people who are seriously concerned about the apocalypse happening sometime next week.
A surprising 51% of British Columbia residents say that they’ve done some type of doomsday prep in the last 12 months—more than the residents of any single U.S. state. A whopping 12,000 people are also members of at least one B.C.-based prepper Facebook group, well above the overall average of 5,000 for Canada as a whole.
B.C. residents spend $792 per year on preparedness, which isn’t much but also isn’t nothing—and it’s nearly twice what U.S. residents have spent. A relatively modest 14% of British Columbians are campers. Now, camping with your car and a cooler full of beer might not help you survive the apocalypse, but we’re sure at least some of those 14% have learned useful skills while they’re enjoying the great outdoors…or, at least, they believe they have.
Ontario’s residents share some common ground with their West Coast brethren, at least when it comes to preparing for the worst. Responders from Ontario say they spend $1,342 per year on survival gear, which puts them ahead of British Columbians by a decent margin. However, just 8% of people from Ontario consider themselves campers; we’ll say those two stats cancel each other out.
A respectable 50% of Ontario residents also say they’ve done some doomsday prep within the last year, which is just one meager percentage point behind people from British Columbia. To make up for it, Ontario residents are more likely to be active in their online prepper communities, with 18,000 people belonging to one or more apocalypse-related Facebook groups.
Earthquakes and Viruses and A-bombs, Oh My
Out of all the apocalyptic scenarios we asked about, natural disasters are the most concerning to Americans and Canadians. A solid 40% of responders say that they think a natural disaster could create an apocalyptic scenario in their lifetime. We don’t know about you, but that seems like a lot.
An equally surprising 12% of Americans and 18% of Canadians say that they think nuclear war could cause the end of days before they kick the bucket. This is nothing compared to the nearly 100% of the population who were worried about nuclear winter during the Cold War, but it still seems fairly high.
An end-of-the-world pandemic is only a major concern for 20% of Americans and Canadians, which is surprising for the opposite reason, given how fresh the year we lost to COVID-19 is in many people’s minds.
An enlightened 1% of responders take the sensible approach and rank all of the above as the most likely apocalyptic scenario to occur during their lifetime. We may be laughing now, but just wait until a new super bug gets dispersed by a nuclear weapon during a major recession.
On a more serious note, the fact that some people believe they may live to see more than one world-ending catastrophe is more than a bit concerning. Fears of the apocalypse are as old as humanity itself, but we can’t help but think that the last few years have made people a little more sensitive to the idea that world-changing events are becoming more common.
Even with all of that said, only 64% of Americans and 54% of Canadians say they’ve done something that qualifies as prepping. Out of those percentages, 61% and 48%, respectively, say all they’ve done is stockpile food and water. Only 1% of Americans and 3% of Canadians feel they are fully prepared for an apocalyptic event.
It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
While doomsday prepping seems like it’s taking over as news outlets and articles online highlight the most out-there preppers, the reality is that only 9% of Americans and 7% of Canadians identify themselves as preppers. Sure, most people have done some type of doomsday preparation within the last year, but there’s a big difference between making sure the generator has gas and stockpiling guns and ammo in an underground bunker.
Whether or not you think doomsday prepping is a good idea or an overreaction, the bottom line is that people in parts of North America are afraid of the apocalypse. Government confidence is dwindling, while fears of climate change and economic collapse are on the rise.
You probably don’t need to start filling water bottles with gas or breaking ground on a new bunker, but you might want to have a little extra canned soup on hand…just in case.
Methodology
We reviewed social media trends related to prepping across the U.S. and Canada to discover which communities take their doomsday readiness most seriously. We looked specifically at trends related to the terms “prepper” and “flat-earther” based on Facebook Group activity and hashtags. Additionally, we looked at the level of preparedness in each province, along with natural disaster occurrence, fears related to climate change, lack of faith in institutions, and levels of scientific knowledge.
We also conducted a survey of 3,000 Americans and 2,000 Canadians in December 2023 to determine the states and provinces with the most self-identified preppers. The median age of the respondents was 35; 44% were male, 55% were female, and 1% identified as non-binary.
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Anyone who thought that a wild year of NFL betting was going to stop in the Wild Card round had another thing coming to them.
Amid the shock of the Houston Texans – who have a rookie head coach, rookie offensive coordinator, and rookie quarterback – annihilating the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys losing their undefeated home streak in historic fashion to the Green Bay Packers were some major betting surprises.
$7,505 on a two-leg $5 parlay
One of the craziest wins of the weekend at a major sportsbook was one DraftKings bettor winning $7,505 on a two-leg $5 parlay.
The bet included both Packers running back Aaron Jones and Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson scoring 3+ touchdowns in the same game, a feat they’d only accomplished three times across their entire careers (and not since September 2020).
Jones finished the game with 118 yards and three TDs on the ground on 21 carries, while Ferguson caught 10 balls for 93 yards and three scores. Ferguson scored twice in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter, cementing the ticket as a winner after he scored on a 14-yard pass with 3:25 remaining.
While Jones and the Packers enjoyed the spoils of Sunday’s win against Dallas, top wide receiver Jayden Reed dropped a giant goose egg.
The 23-year-old caught 64 passes for 793 yards and eight TDs during the regular season, but did not manage to come down with a catch on three targets on Sunday.
Reed posted on X (formerly Twitter) after the game and jokingly apologized for ruining his fans’ parlays but also shared his excitement for advancing in the playoffs.
I know I sold yall parlays I apologize, but F*CK it we ball!! GO PACK GO!!
Green Bay became both the first seven seed to win a game in the newly expanded NFL Wild Card format and a betting hero. The Packers were around +285 on the moneyline at kickoff, but showed no mercy to a Dallas team that was 8-0 at home with an average scoring margin of +21.5.
Meanwhile, the Texans’ Super Bowl odds shrank from +6000 to as low as +1700 at DraftKings following their upset win over the Browns.
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(@JaydenReed5)