Gambling in the USA

Oprah assuming as President could turn out to be a game changer for gambling in the United States

Published

6 years ago

March 5, 2018

Niji Narayan

Photo credits: www.streetwisereports.com

Reading Time: 4 minutes

It seems that an Oprah presidency might evolve as a potential game changer for gambling in the United States

Until her acceptance speech at the Golden Globe awards Oprah Winfrey was never excogitated as a presidential candidate, but the speech casted so much spell that several significant people suggested she could be a potential candidate in the future. Indeed her odds dropped to as low as 20/1 at William Hill and other sportsbooks to be the President in 2020. However, it is well known that afterwards Oprah made her part clear that she was not even a wee bit interested in politics but the fact that Donald Trump decided to run and got elected makes anything possible. So, with the Academy Awards taking place this weekend there is no question that rumours and speculation regarding Oprah running for President will abound again. Googling on ‘Oprah and gambling’ reveals nothing aside from odds on her winning. It seems that on the issue of gambling Oprah has never expressed any opinion.

While speaking to a couple of Oprah aficionados, Joan and Shelly the two, claimed to have watched nearly every Oprah episode, read almost all her magazines and her self-help books and claim to be the biggest Oprah fans. They both suggested that, Oprah would be good for the gambling industry. Without saying it specifically, they claimed Oprah does not believe in any organised religion, so unlike the Republicans under Bush, who tried to preach their brand of evangelical neo-conservatism (which of course included an anti-gambling stance that led to the passage of the UIGEA), Oprah has never preached or tried to force her beliefs on anyone. If she has an issue with the gambling industry she never said so.

“When Oprah talked about her drug use with her boyfriend in the 1980s, she never preached about the dangers or said that police fell down on the job because they failed to crack down on drug dealers,” Joan staed: “she simply said that she had to accept that it had become a part of her life and the only way to kick drugs was to dump her boyfriend who got her using cocaine. That is one thing Oprah has constantly said – people need to make their own decisions in life and accept both the rewards and consequences of those decisions. And when she lost all the weight, she never put down anyone who was obese, she simply gave them the facts and told them to decide for themselves whether food is worth the risk of a heart attack later in life. Oprah once brought out a big tub of fat on stage and told people that this is what they were carrying around with them if they were overweight. She just wanted to give them the information, but she said that whether they decided to do something about it or not was naturally the individual’s decision.”

Going further Shelly said that in an episode of Oprah on her own station she had a woman on the show from Britain who had lost the down payment for a house to an online gambling company and was afraid to tell her husband. The woman told her husband she lost a few hundred pounds instead of the 100,000 pounds or so that she truly lost. In that episode Oprah and her guest never decried the evils of gambling, they never said that she should be ashamed to have been involved in the devil’s game or anything like that and they never mentioned the online gambling company let alone called them out for taking the bets. Instead they told the woman to own up to what she did, tell her husband the truth and face the consequences. Plus, they suggested she get help for her compulsive gambling, but that was it.”

The two also pointed out that on many issues Oprah is very libertarian and has never told people they need to be protected from themselves. On issues like teenage pregnancy (she was 14 when she was raped and impregnated herself), gay marriage, gender reassignment, alcohol use and even religion Oprah told guests on the show that they have to decide for themselves, but to try and make an informed decision. And, In the book the Gospel According to Oprah, the author, Marsha Z. Nelson, notes that Oprah is a great spiritual leader, not because she tells people what to do in life, but rather asks them to do a self-examination, confess their mistakes and when necessary ask forgiveness. But the decision of what is right and wrong is not up to the religious leaders to decide, but rather the individuals.

Joan also said that she saw Oprah onstage with Cher and Tina Turner at Caesars Palace a few years back and while she could not say for certain she was fairly convinced she saw Oprah playing the slots that day. But for certain, she didn’t say anything negative about the casino itself or the gamblers at the show. She simply asked if they were winning and having fun.

So, does this prove that Oprah would be good for the gambling industry in America if she were to become president? Of course not.

It is quite possible that Oprah may be very opposed to any gambling expansion. But what we can be assured of is that she won’t be beholden to the religious right as many in the Republican party are currently, she won’t be beholden to Sheldon Adelson as the current Republican party is and based on prior comments she won’t blame the industry or even the individuals who get in trouble because of gambling. She will simply suggest a self-examination and self-help. And as president, she may try to get a bill introduced by Congress to provide more help to people who struggle with addictions, but again the decision is up to the individual.

Most importantly, Oprah is a great businesswoman and will certainly look at what is best to grow the economy and create jobs, but unlike Trump she won’t do so in a confrontational manner or in a way that will put the U.S. at odds with the rest of the world. And like it or not the casino industry along with lotteries and racetracks are important businesses in the U.S. that employ thousands of Americans and help grow the economy.

Oprah is still 20-1 in the odds, but if she does decide to run there is no doubt she would immediately become the betting favourite. And that could be good for the gambling industry and for American gamblers.

Source: osga.com

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 8-14

Published

5 days ago

April 15, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

FanDuel Group, the premier online gaming company in North America and an Official Partner of Churchill Downs Inc., announced five time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan and Grammy award-winning R&B singer Ne-Yo as the headlining performers at FanDuel’s inaugural Kentucky Derby Party. The exclusive, invite-only event will take place on Friday, May 3 at Paristown Arts and Entertainment District in Louisville, Kentucky from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM.

TPI, a leading provider of innovative player communication solutions for the casino industry, has appointed Joe Tingson as its new Vice President of Customer Success. With his unparalleled dedication to his customers, Joe will play a pivotal role as a leader for our digital Customer Success and Product teams.

PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, has announced plans for its new 33,000 square foot Atlanta Headquarters, which will be located in the Star Metals Building in Midtown Atlanta. The company plans to grow its workforce by 1000 new jobs over the next seven years, the economic impact of which will be $25M to the state of Georgia.

Century Casinos Inc. has announced that it opened its hotel in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, The Riverview. The Riverview is a 69 room, six-story building with 68,000 square feet that is adjacent to and connected with Century Casino Cape Girardeau. The project cost $30.5 million and was financed with cash on hand.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced the opening of Terre Haute Casino Resort in Terre Haute, Indiana. The $290 million investment includes a casino floor with 1000 slot machines, 36 table games, and a state-of-the-art sportsbook. The 400,000-square-foot entertainment venue also features regionally inspired bars and restaurants including: Four Cornered Steakhouse, Rockwood Bar & Grill, The Soda Shoppe, Crossroads Center Bar and High Limit Bar.

Bragg Gaming Group Inc., a global B2B gaming technology and content provider, announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ronen Kannor, has notified Bragg’s board of directors (Board) that he will resign from his position to pursue other career opportunities, effective June 3, 2024. The Company confirms that the search for a replacement CFO has commenced.

Partnerships

EQL Games has partnered with global aggregation leader and NeoGames company, Pariplay, to provide the Virginia Lottery, through an agreement with NeoPollard Interactive, with a series of eInstant iLottery games for their industry-leading digital platform.

JACK Entertainment LLC announced the selection of Konami Gaming Inc.’s SYNKROS to power industry-leading systems technology across its 1.5 million square feet of casino entertainment space. The Ohio-based gaming operator’s portfolio includes a combined 2600+ gaming machines and 85 table games at JACK Cleveland Casino in downtown Cleveland, and at JACK Thistledown Racino, located approximately 10 miles to the southeast.

PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced that the company has reunited with the Atlanta Braves as the club’s Official Daily Fantasy Sports Partner for the 2024 season. The partnership extends a longstanding relationship that dates back to 2020, with the two Atlanta-based companies continuing to work together on unique opportunities for their dedicated fans.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 1-7

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

International Game Technology PLC (IGT) announced that it will showcase its performance-focused portfolio of games and solutions for tribal casinos at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA) 2024, April 9-11 in Anaheim, Calif. Under the theme “We’ve Got Game,” IGT’s booth #536 will feature a compelling array of gaming solutions designed to engage players and drive growth.

Caesars Sportsbook announced its receipt of the prestigious RG Check accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). The certification includes an assessment of Caesars Sportsbook’s commitment to Responsible Gaming, including areas such as player and Team Member education, public awareness advertisements and funding for organisations dedicated to Responsible Gaming research, awareness and education.

Veriff, a global identity verification (IDV) provider, announced the appointment of Jeffrey Guy as President and COO. Jeffrey brings a wealth of leadership experience at technology companies in driving profitable growth and expanding product portfolio. Before Veriff, he was Chief Operating Officer at DigitalOcean, a publicly traded cloud computing platform provider.

GAN Limited announced that Mr. Brian Chang has recently been named the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Chang had previously been serving in an interim capacity. Mr. Chang will be focused on guiding the Company towards a timely closing with Sega Sammy Creation Inc. (Sega Sammy).

Partnerships

The Commerce Casino & Hotel, home to the largest poker room in the world, has announced an exciting partnership with the richest, most prestigious and longest-running poker series – the World Series of Poker (WSOP). This collaboration signifies a pivotal moment for the poker community, bringing together two powerhouses to elevate the poker experience for players and fans worldwide.

BetRivers, powered by Rush Street Interactive, a leading US-based online betting and gaming company, has announced its partnership as the title sponsor for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race at Dover Motor Speedway. The BetRivers 200, set for Saturday, April 27, is being undertaken with the Delaware Lottery and marks the beginning of a thrilling new chapter in NASCAR history, as RSI commits to the long-term support of this top tier sporting event.

Elys BMG Group Inc., an interactive gaming and sports betting technology company, announced the completion of its sportsbook installation at The Ugly Mug restaurant and bar situated at 723 8th St SE, in Washington, DC. This collaboration underscores Elys’ commitment to providing unparalleled sports wagering experiences for small and local businesses across America.

SCCG Management has announced a strategic partnership with mkodo, a leading technology provider in the iGaming space. This collaboration is set to distribute mkodo’s innovative geolocation product, GeoLocs and other leading solutions across the US and key global markets, including Brazil, leveraging SCCG’s robust market presence and industry expertise.

Prove Identity Inc. announced a strategic partnership with BetMGM, a sports betting and iGaming leader, to enhance the security and user experience for BetMGM customers through the cutting-edge Prove Pre-Fill identity solution. Prove Pre-Fill accelerates digital consumer onboarding by up to 79% and is used by more than 1000 businesses globally across diversified industries, including 9 of the top 10 banks.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – March 25-31

Published

3 weeks ago

April 1, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

Bragg Gaming Group is now registered as an approved service provider by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, allowing for the distribution of online casino games, including Bragg’s proprietary and exclusive games portfolio, via the Bragg HUB aggregation platform to operators in the soon-to-be-launched LatAm iGaming market.

PENN Entertainment announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Anuj Dhanda to the Board, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Mr. Dhanda’s appointment expands the size of the Board to ten members, nine of whom satisfy the standards for director independence under the current Listing Rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market.

SlotsCalendar has launched its tailor-made platform for American users: https://www.slotscalendar.us. The brand’s clear aim is to provide a digital environment where impartial and informative content is optimised specifically for the American market.

MGM Resorts International announced that it proposes to offer $750,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2032. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes to repay existing indebtedness, including its outstanding 6.750% senior notes due 2025. Pending such use, the Company may invest the net proceeds in short-term interest-bearing accounts, securities, or similar investments.

Genius Sports Limited, the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, announced that it has been certified by the State of Wisconsin Division of Gaming as a gaming-related contractor with immediate effect.

Win Systems is going to participate in the next edition of GAT with its exclusive distributor in Colombia, Comercializadora Selan S.A.S. The event will be held in Cartagena de India on April 10–11, and the company’s booth will be A11.

Pragmatic Play is set to make another appearance at a Latin American exhibition, at GAT Expo in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The gaming provider will be on stand A31 and A32 to showcase its diverse portfolio, including Slots, Live Casino, Virtual Sports and Bingo content, alongside its new Sportsbook offering.

Partnerships

DraftKings announced an expanded relationship with Kindbridge Behavioural Health to provide access to therapy and treatment for problem gaming in every jurisdiction where DraftKings operates its online sportsbook and iGaming products. DraftKings and Kindbridge originally joined forces in September 2023 to launch a pilot programme to deliver personalised support for sports bettors in Colorado.

The Connecticut Lottery, in partnership with Fanatics Betting and Gaming, the online and retail sports betting subsidiary of Fanatics Holdings, has opened a new retail sportsbook location at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport. The exciting new location is more than 2300 square feet and features betting windows, self-service betting kiosks from Suzohapp and high-definition TVs situated all around the sportsbook.

The Texas Lottery and Texas Motor Speedway have joined together again to rev up luck for lottery players and racing fans through the new LUCKY 7s scratch ticket game. The new $5 game features chances to win a $100,000 top prize and integrates a series of promotional second-chance drawings. The drawings give players with non-winning tickets a chance to win exclusive Texas Motor Speedway prizes.