The Delaware casino that is land-based is hit hard by increased competition from new areas in neighboring states, as the more recent and shinier casinos of Pennsylvania and Maryland outperform its three struggling, and highly taxed, racinos.
Dover Downs is Delaware’s biggest and just publicly traded racino, but high taxes that are domestic increased competition throughout the state line means hard times for the property and also the state’s two other racinos.
The sector, which comprises Harrington Raceway, Dover Downs, and Delaware Park, peaked in 2006, the year Pennsylvania began issuing its first casino licenses, when slot revenues hit more than $650 million. By 2016, slots and table revenues combined had plunged to $398 million.
Meanwhile, outfall from the new MGM nationwide Harbor, which started in Maryland year that is late last stands poised to be the final nail in the coffin. That property caused other casinos in Maryland and West Virginia to ramp up their own marketing drives, drawing even more customers away from Delaware’s ailing properties.
The three racinos cannot compete because they spend higher state taxes than their counterparts across the border, and they are begging legislators for help.
Taxed From the Market
This week, the Delaware’s Video Lottery Advisory Council (VLAC) met to discuss the status of Diamond State’s three casinos. The council is tasked with advising government policy on gambling and could urge lawmakers to pass a casino relief measure.
But the racinos will have to wait. VLAC will not publish its guidelines until the fall, and until then, it is maintaining tight-lipped.
Legislation that will have provided relief by creating advertising and capital credits, while quashing the table game fee and lowering the tax rate on dining table games, received shrift that is short the typical Assembly in 2015 and 2016.
Begging for a Lifeline
While there is sympathy for the racinos’ plight in the legislature, a sizable budget deficit has managed to get hard for a bill advocating tax relief to get much traction. Nevertheless, something has become done, says Ed Sutor, president and CEO of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, as he urged VLAC to toss the racinos a lifeline.
Sutor told the Delaware State News that a concession that is simple could be easily enacted is always to allow the racinos to operate on Christmas and Easter, which may generate an approximated $2.25 million more.
‘We’re the only casinos in the country that shut down completely on Easter and Christmas,’ said Sutor. ‘We can not give up, people, and now we can’t sit another year out of not doing anything.’
Impossible Chances? Wagering Sites Offer Lines on Political, Celebrity Absurdity
Political betting markets are doing their best to keep appropriate considering that the highly engaging 2016 campaign that is presidential by offering online bettors unique lines on activities that seem to have little chance of occurring.
Lines on Kid Rock therefore The Rock’s future in government are a couple of areas to be had at political sites that are betting. (Image: Terry Renna/Associated Press/WWE/Collage by Casino.org)
From Kid Rock’s operating for the US Senate to talk of The Rock building a serious bid for the White home in 2020, political betting networks are attempting to maintain a connection between celebrity entertainment and influence that is political. It truly worked in 2016 with Donald Trump.
Betting on political results is illegal through the US (also in nevada), but American politics is a popular wager that is exotic Europe and elsewhere on the planet.
PredictIt.org provides exchange wagering, which really is a slightly different variant of wager that trades shares in real time on predicted outcomes of political events. (Exchanges charge a commission on trades in place of establishing odds.)
Kid Rock for Senate?
Musician and Trump that is avid supporter Rock has recently teased a bid to run for Michigan’s US Senate chair in 2018 against incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow (D). But, betting cash is currently against Rock officially operating.
PredictIt shares of Kid Rock, aka Robert Ritchie, running are available for 40 cents, while no, he won’t run shares are at 60 cents. Adhering to a tweet in early July from rap star that showed a yard sign reading ‘Kid Rock for all of us Senate,’ shares claim that is laying the idea which he would indeed run soared to 70 cents.
Rock followed the image with a statement of political philosophy that read, ‘we believe you will be able to effortlessly navigate the laws, income tax codes, health care, and anything else the government sets in place that affects us all. if you work your butt off and pay taxes,’
The 46-year-old singer from Michigan has never run for or held elected office, but that did not stop the present American president. Ritchie reportedly has yet to file official campaign paperwork, however, which undoubtedly factors into why the PredictIt line remains open.
President The Rock
Bettors, of course, need certainly to be careful never to confuse Kid Rock with The Rock. PredictIt is asking whether actor Dwayne Johnson will throw their name in to the ring for the US presidency in 2020.
A campaign committee called ‘Run the Rock 2020’ recently did file documents because of the Federal Election Committee, which appeared like a larger action in a direction that is serious. The Rock, nonetheless, isn’t actually behind the company trying to elect him. It’s instead the work of a fan whom merely hopes he’ll run.
Even though the seed’s been planted, enthusiasm for a Rock presidency is rather low on PredictIt. Shares that Johnson will run are trading for 25 cents, while owning ‘no’ can cost you three quarters.
PredictIt’s willingness to offer the market on Johnson despite his public declaration that he is not even considering a 2020 run suggest that celebrity lines with which has no opportunity of striking are a popular revenue stream for the exchange.
ElectionBettingOdds.com, meanwhile, provides the actor a 3.5 % chance of actually winning the White home, comparable chances it offers for Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, who can turn 35, the minimal age for allowed for A united states president by the Constitution, in 2019.
What Hath Paddy Energy Wrought
Sites and markets such as PredictIt may be seeing the value of offering opportunities for wagering on wishful thinking and irrational fears, but really they have been just after in the footsteps of Paddy energy.
The Irish that is infamous bookmaker the standard for allowing individuals to bet the unthinkable, at one time asking clients whether or not then-President Barack Obama would be assassinated.
Paddy Power’s current odds in the champion associated with 2020 election feature Trump as the favourite (2-1), followed by Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and current Vice President Mike Pence at 15-2.
But a slew of ridiculous names are included on the odds sheet. Leonardo DiCaprio (80-1), Kanye West (100-1), Beyoncé (200-1), fictional House of Cards president Kevin Spacey (200-1), and Kim Kardashian (275-1) are just a couple of the picks readily available for those who think they could see something in a extreme longshot.
Macau Police Bust Scam ‘Pop Up’ VIP Casino Op
Director of Judiciary Police Chau Wai Kuong said that gaming related crime in the gambling hub stayed ‘serious’ despite the apparent recovery that is economic. (Image: Macau Day-to-day Times)
Macau authorities have busted a bogus ‘pop-up’ VIP casino racket that bilked high-rollers out of millions in presumably crooked baccarat games, based on the South China Morning Post.
The police investigation started in June after a man told authorities he was in fact defrauded of HK$4 million (around $500,000).
Officers from the Judiciary Police raided an unidentified hotel in the gambling hub on Wednesday, arresting 15 males and four women, all from the Chinese mainland.
They’re accused of luring high-rollers to hotel rooms which the gang had gone to elaborate lengths to disguise as genuine VIP rooms.
Ruse Meticulously Planned
Police said the ruse, which was in operation since 2015, was intricately planned and executed, with members of the gang posing as dealers, VIP hosts, VIP room operators, security guards and shill gamblers so that you can trick their prey.
Four ‘customers’ were based in the process to be scammed when police swooped on according to Macau’s public broadcaster, TDM wednesday.
A lot more than HK$75 million ($9.6 million) worth of gaming chips were bought at the scene. While reports did not specify, it’s likely these were ‘rolling chips,’ non-redeemable tokens issued to rollers that are high casino as credit to gamble with, in place of the type of chips that may be exchanged directly for cash. HK$200,000 in hard money was additionally seized, around US$25,600.
The suspects, aged between 35 and 53, are dealing with numerous charges, ranging from fraud to managing a syndicate that is criminal.
Last week, 15 mainlanders were detained and accused of managing a high-interest loan-sharking ring focusing on casino gamblers regarding the Cotai Strip.
Taking Crime Seriously
Gaming-related crime has risen within the enclave since Beijing’s anti-corruption drive almost 3 years ago. The crackdown on the junket industry has place the squeeze on the gambling hub’s unlawful underbelly, with reports of a razor-sharp increase in triad-related crime.
Police have said that the number of illegal detentions, which largely involve the forced collection of gaming debts by loan-sharking triads, are up 11.8 percent year-on-year, after having almost doubled between 2014 and 2015.
‘Although the performance of Macau’s video gaming industry has stabilized since the second 50 % of last year, the gaming-related crime situation remains serious,’director of Judiciary Police Chau Wai Kuong said this week in a statement.
‘We have witnessed a boost in how many situations of unlawful detention related to operations that are loan-sharking’ he included. ‘As such, police have strengthened patrols, having detected 20 cases of gaming-related unlawful detention in an individual day.’
Macau’s Judiciary Police recorded a total of 734 suspected gaming-related crimes in the 1st five months of this 12 months, up by 74 cases weighed against the corresponding amount of 2016.
New Jersey’s Chris Christie Urges President Donald Trump and Congress to Support States’ Rights in Online Gaming Battle
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) put his signature on a bill later last week that urges President Donald Trump, members of his management, and Congress to oppose any legislation that could prohibit individual states from authorizing and managing online gambling.
Nj-new jersey State Representative Vincent Mazzeo has authored a bill that asks federal leaders to break the rules against any measures that could impede states’ right in the online gambling arena, and it is gained the support of Governor Chris Christie. (Image: Jackie Schear/Press of Atlantic City)
Introduced by State Rep. Vincent Mazzeo (D-Northfield) in January, the resolution that is joint to notify the president and Congress how internet casinos are playing a vital role within the recovery of Atlantic City. Of course, it’s an opinion only and another that holds no given fat, as state governments do not have direct input into federal laws.
The issue that is main once again the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA), legislation that would reverse a 2011 US Department of Justice opinion that stated the longstanding Wire Act applied only to recreations betting, and perhaps not other types of gambling.
Mazzeo’s resolution explains, ‘Recent federal measures, such as [RAWA], introduced in the 114th Congress, if pursued by the 115th Congress and supported by President Trump and his management, would prohibit the transmission of cable communication of any bet or bet … including internet gaming.’
A copy of the finalized legislation is being sent to the president, US House and Senate leaders, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and different other political powers in Washington, DC.
Internet Gaming Wins
Garden State politicians have plenty of reason to support Mazzeo’s bill. Atlantic City’s staying seven casino operators are finally posting gains, and online gambling is playing a leading role in the recovery that is fiscal.
Through June, land-based gaming win is up 1.5 percent. However, internet gambling has soared over 28 percent, bringing the casinos’ main point here to 3.5 percent.
Web gambling has delivered $121.4 million to operators through June, about $26.6 million ahead of where these were this time around a year ago.
‘a prohibition that is federal internet video gaming would directly and negatively impact New Jersey by dismantling the investments that hawaii and Atlantic City casinos have currently made,’ Mazzeo explained.
iGaming’s prominent part in revitalizing Atlantic City is just why Mazzeo had small trouble in garnering support for the resolution that is joint. Just a single ‘nay’ vote arrived in from either chamber, State Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) being the opponent that is lone.
Not Biting
There doesn’t be seemingly much enthusiasm in Washington to take up RAWA, or similar anti-online gambling legislation. Past committee hearings in the home and Senate did not change the proven fact that most in Congress just are not terribly spent in discussing gaming that is internet at the federal degree, a matter that the Republican-controlled Congress would seemingly prefer to leave up to each state to decide for themselves.
RAWA was introduced into their respective chambers by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah). It’s mostly thought that those actions arrived at the behest of Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson, A gop that is powerful financier has made it his life’s work to block iGaming.
After lingering for two years, RAWA has not been re-introduced to Congress because of its 115th session.
Scott Blumstein Wins $8.15M at World Series of Poker Main Event with Three-Outer on River
Scott Blumstein, a 25-year-old medium stakes poker pro from nj, made a decision to play his first World group of Poker tournament a couple of weeks ago, the 2017 Main Event. It turned out to be a pretty good decision, as late into Saturday night, Blumstein survived an initial industry of over 7,200 entrants to take home $8.15 million plus a jewel-encrusted champion’s bracelet worth another half-million.
WSOP 2017 Main Event winner Scott Blumstein, now in a greater tax bracket than he was whenever he entered the World Series of Poker’s many prestigious tournament a couple of weeks ago, says fame and fortune will maybe not change who he is. (Image: ABCNews.com)
It absolutely was not long after midnight Pacific Time on Sunday morning, on hand 256 of the WSOP Main Event table that is final Blumstein defeated Pennsylvanian Dan Ott to become poker’s new world champion.
‘I’m still in shock,’ Blumstein told reporters afterwards. ‘ I thought I would get even more emotional that what I got in real time but it’s just the feeling that is best, I can not even put it into terms.’
First Time’s the Charm
This was the first time Blumstein had ever ventured to the Rio in Las Vegas to play live in a World Series event despite making a living as an online grinder back home 1xbet зеркало рабочее на ÑÐµÐ³Ð¾Ð´Ð½Ñ 2017 in New Jersey.
With the November Nine concept scrapped in favor of three consecutive segments of final-table play, broadcast with a 30-minute wait by ESPN on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Blumstein started the brand new format final table with a commanding chip lead. It was a lead he relinquished only once over the program associated with match, whenever crowd that is jovial and British granddad John Hesp briefly wrestled top spot through the chip-stacking juggernaut.
Hesp busted out in fourth, setting up a night that is final of action between Americans Blumstein and Ott, and France’s Benjamin Pollack.
Two Plus Two Equals $8.15 Million
The short-stacked Pollack had everything to achieve and was ready getting his chips in and gamble. Ultimately, though, he hit the rail immediately after 9 o’clock PT, after some intense three-way action.
Pollack shoved from the button with Q-T, while Ott lived up to his name, coming over the top (OTT in poker parlance), re-raising all-in from the blind that is small K-9. Blumstein saw potential to go all down right there, and called from he big blind with A-Q. Blumstein ended up being ahead pre-flop, plus the entire tournament could have ended then and there. Alternatively, a king on the flop tripled-up Ott and sent Pollack to the rails.
The ultimate moment was postponed for another 60-odd hands, and when it came, it came via a slice of luck for Blumstein, who played solidly throughout the event that is 10-day. With most of the chips going in pre-flop, Ott was ahead with A-9 versus Blumstein’s A-2, but one of three remaining deuces hit in the river, ending the Main Event and assuring Blumstein an area in poker history.
The brand new champ says that, while the money is nice, it will not change his lifestyle all that much. The Temple University graduate, who holds an accounting degree, told WSOP officials after his win:
‘Just two weeks ago I happened to be a New Jersey online grinder and nothing has really changed.