The ultimate spot for Casinos & Sportsbooks

Despite the Washington Capitals’ 8-5 loss to the unsuspecting Buffalo Sabres, Alex Ovechkin pulled closer to breaking the NHL scoring record as he is now five goals away from surpassing the legendary Wayne Gretzky for the most goals scored in the history of the NHL. So far, it has been a hyped campaign, and one can say that this is really a hyped push for the Capitals’ veteran star. At the age of 39, Ovechkin is now knocking in the doorstep of the goal record set by Gretzky, who scored his final goal on March 29, 1999. Known as “the Great One”, Gretzky has been able to come up with explosive games over the years, setting the standard for his greatness in the game and cementing his place in history. Ovechkin, however, played at a high level for most of his career, and now he is on the cusp of breaking and rewriting history now more than ever, which says a lot about the impressive chase that he’s been gunning for so far. Now more than ever, Ovechkin is bringing fiery performances in the season and is leading the Caps to the playoffs – all while accomplishing his own goals. The GR8 Chase Closing Fast Starting out the season with just 853 career goals, many expected Ovechkin to come up short considering his age and the Capitals’ waning dominance in the league entering the campaign. However, both proved to be wrong so far as Ovechkin has blazed his way through the season and has scored big numbers – all while the Capitals have kept on grinding their way to the top of the league. Ovechkin scored 15 goals in his first 18 games before going down with a broken fibula back in November. Many thought that it would halt his campaign to break Gretzky’s goal record, but he was just out for five weeks and returned to form in a snap, not even missing a single beat since returning to injury. Scoring his 890th goal in a loss to the Sabres, Ovechkin now moves four goals behind to tie the record and five to set a new record now more than ever. With nine games left to play, it seems that there are high expectations for the Capitals star to at least break the record or even become the first to reach 900 goals. A Legend Among Men There are only three players with at least 800 goals in the history of the NHL, which includes Gretzky (894), Ovechkin (890), and Gordie Howe (801). Ovechkin’s climb, however, has been really impressive with the way he has kept on scoring at a high level. In 2005, Ovechkin scored his first goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets, then scored his 50th against the Atlanta Thrashers in 2006. A year later, Ovechkin clinched 100 goals against the New York Rangers. What’s surprising is that Ovechkin has tallied only 32 career hat tricks, even missing out in 2011-12, 2014-15, 2020-21, and 2023-24. Ovechkin is likely expected to break the scoring record by April 4th vs Chicago or April 6th vs the Islanders, assuming that he scores at least one goal against Boston (April 1) and Carolina (April 2). At this point, one can say that Ovechkin is really ramping up his big game, and it is easy to expect that the star is going to set his massive record and leave his mark in the history of the league.

A new bill proposal for the state of South Carolina could very well change the legal landscape in the state for years. The bill proposes the construction of a new casino resort in a county in SC, and the project could potentially lead to the creation of more than 4,600 jobs and generate $75 million per year. A newly proposed bill in the state of South Carolina could pave the way for the state's first casino resort, potentially bringing thousands of jobs and millions in tax revenue to economically struggling regions. The legislation, known as the I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act, seeks to legalize gaming in one of three counties - Dillon, Orangeburg, or Marlboro - where a major casino project could take shape. Santee casino proposal One of the most prominent proposals under the bill is a $1 billion casino resort in Santee, a small town in Orangeburg County. The project, spearheaded by GOP mega donor and real estate developer Wallace Cheves, aims to transform an abandoned shopping complex into a world-class casino and entertainment hub. According to the Santee Development Corporation, the development could generate approximately 4,600 jobs and attract over four million visitors annually, contributing an estimated $75 million in tax revenue each year. Proponents argue that the casino would provide a much-needed economic boost to rural areas along Interstate 95, where poverty rates remain high. In 2023, data from Data USA indicated that 41.9% of Orangeburg County children were living below the poverty line. State Representative Chris Murphy highlighted the potential impact of the project, stating, "You would draw a lot of people that right now don't have economic opportunities, don't have job opportunities in their own counties, but it would be a central point for them. I have all the confidence in the world that this would be a game-changer for this area." Legislative hurdles Despite the economic promise, the path to legalization remains challenging. South Carolina has some of the strictest gambling laws in the country, with limited opportunities beyond the state lottery. To move forward, the bill would require a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, followed by approval from South Carolina voters in a statewide referendum. The state legislature has historically resisted gambling expansion due to strong opposition from social and religious groups. A similar effort, House Bill 4176, introduced in December by Representatives Todd Rutherford and Hamilton Grant sought to make slot machines, sports betting, live dealer table games, and parimutuel wagering legal. However, that bill has seen no progress since mid-January. Catawba casino battle South Carolina's complex history with gambling includes the struggles of the Catawba Indian Nation, the state's only federally-recognized tribe. The tribe fought for decades to open a casino within state borders but faced repeated political opposition. Eventually, they secured federal approval to open the Two Kings Casino right across the border (in North Carolina), a project that was partly financed by Wallace Cheves. However, relations between the Catawba and Cheves have since soured. The introduction of the I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act signals renewed debate over gambling in South Carolina. If passed, the bill could mark a historic shift in the state's stance on gaming, with significant economic implications. However, with opposition deeply rooted in South Carolina's political and cultural landscape, the battle for legalization is far from certain. As of now, the proposed casino in Santee - and the broader vision for gaming in the state - remains a topic of heated discussion among lawmakers, business leaders, and residents alike. The fate of the bill will likely depend on whether proponents can convince both legislators and voters that the economic benefits outweigh the social concerns tied to gambling expansion.