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Playtech and MGM International, both big names in their own sectors, have banded together to bring a whole new and exciting experience to Las Vegas casino players with its latest offering: live casino content direct from the casino floors of the famous Bellagio and MGM Grand

In an exciting development for online casino enthusiasts, MGM Resorts International and Playtech, the tech giant, have announced a strategic partnership to launch a groundbreaking live casino platform. The new initiative, aptly named "MGM Live," promises to bring the vibrant atmosphere of Las Vegas directly to players' screens worldwide, offering a totally unique and immersive gaming experience that has never been seen before.

MGM Live: bringing the sights and sounds of Vegas to your living room

The collaboration between MGM Resorts and Playtech will deliver an unparalleled live casino experience, streaming directly from the casino floors of the iconic Bellagio Resorts & Casino and MGM Grand in the heart of Las Vegas. This new platform caters to iGaming operators in regulated markets outside of the United States, providing players with exclusive access to a variety of high-quality live casino content.

MGM Live will initially feature classic casino games such as baccarat and single plus double-zero roulette. But these offerings are just the beginning, as Playtech and MGM plan to expand the portfolio significantly in the future. The partnership aims to introduce a wide array of Playtech's innovative games, including trivia shows hosted by celebrities, branded television game shows, and unique entertainment experiences that seamlessly blend gaming with interactive content.

"This collaboration amplifies our commitment to providing unparalleled experiences and expands our global reach to our customers," states Chief Executive Officer & President of MGM Resorts Bill Hornbuckle. He continues that with this partnership, they will be able to combine their famous MGM hospitality and expertise in entertainment with the premium, cutting-edge technology Playtech is known for, creating a whole new standard for live and real-time casino gaming.

A truly strategic, powerhouse partnership

Chris Paul has signed a deal with the San Antonio Spurs after being waived by the Warriors, which brings him to Texas, and is now slated to form a fearsome team-up with reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama with the hopes of ending the Spurs’ playoff drought ever since the end of the Kawhi Leonard era in the team.

Prior to the signing, the Warriors reportedly was offered to bring in Zach Lavine in exchange for Chris Paul. However, the management didn’t feel that it was enough to actually be a sound deal structure, which led them to release Paul. This cleared the way for Paul to sign with the Spurs as an unrestricted free agent.

At the age of 39, it does seem that Paul is clearly a talent to acquire in the market. However, the events that unfolded happened too fast, and the Spurs were clearly waiting on a guard to go in the market before quickly offering a deal for Paul that would see him agree to in just a snap. Alas, the Spurs may well be done with the free agency at this point in time.

A Thriving Force with Wembanyama

Paul enters the San Antonio Spurs roster as a seasoned veteran who has seen a lot of playoff experience in the game. Paul is actually one of the best point guards to ever play in the game, and it cannot be denied that pairing him with Victor Wembanyama is going to be fun to watch considering that a true point guard is what the Spurs have needed to pair with their big man, and Paul is an exceptional win that the team can take at this point in time.

To be fair, there were rumors that the Spurs were keen to engage in trade talks that would see them bring in the likes of Trae Young – who is now slated to be the main centerpiece for the Hawks, and Donovan Mitchell, who remains to be coveted but is still yet to be decided if he will request a trade or not.

With Paul, the Spurs get a promising point guard who has been one of the best icons in the league – known for his finesse in passing the ball. This will surely bring Wembanyama a promising look in his games, especially with the Spurs having no real point guard, save for the recently drafted Stephon Castle and Tre Jones, who was at the spot in the previous season.

A Star in Decline

After missing out in the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to an ACL and MCL injuries, La’El Collins returns to the big stage in the NFL with the hopes of getting a chance to earn more minutes in the game and dominate as a key player for the championship contenders. It has been a long time since Collins has enjoyed a promising run in the game, and now this is his chance to get back on track.

At the age of 30, it is hard to actually get a team to sign you, especially if you have had a lot of injuries in the past. For Collins – who has enjoyed a total of 86 career starts before a string of injuries in his ACL and MCL derailed his career, this chance offered by the Bills is a blessing that the star hopes to make the most of.

The Cincinnati Bengals had him as a promising star, and lingering back injuries proved to be pivotal in the team’s decision to finally let him go last September, in which the Dallas Cowboys signed him into their practice squad in January 2024. Now that he is close to a bigger run in his game, fans can expect more from Collins to share the stage with big names and an opportunity to play at the highest level once more.

A New Hope with the Bills

It's clear that the Pennsylvania online casino industry continues to thrive, as evidenced by the latest revenue figures released by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for May. Surprisingly, it has surpassed the $200 million mark for the fourth consecutive month, and PA’s iGaming revenue reached an impressive $216.5 million, recovering from a minor dip in April.

In comparison to May of the previous year, online casinos in Pennsylvania saw a remarkable 23.50% increase in total revenue in the same month this year. This substantial growth is primarily attributed to the performance of online slots, which experienced a significant 26.15% uptick from slightly over $100 million in the month May, 2023 to nearly $127 million in May of 2024. The rise in online slot revenue underscores the increasing popularity and player engagement within this gaming category.

Table games are up, but poker revenue sees a slight decline

Table games also contributed to the robust growth in the iGaming sector. Revenue from online table games, for instance, surged to nearly $45 million this May 2024, reflecting an 18.58% increase from the previous year's figure of just below $38 million. This upward trend highlights the expanding interest and participation in online table games among new and veteran Pennsylvania gamblers.

While the overall iGaming market showed significant growth in the Keystone State, online poker revenue experienced a slight decline. Revenue from online poker in May 2024 amounted to approximately $2.27 million, marking a 9.08% decrease from the $2.50 million it generated in May 2023. But despite this slim decrease, the robust performance of slots and table games more than compensated for the decrease in poker revenue.

Breakdown of the May 2024 revenue by game category

The detailed revenue figures for May 2024, compared to May 2023, are as follows:

It can be said that the thriving iGaming industry in Pennsylvania also generates significant tax revenue for the state. In May, for instance, the total tax revenue from online gambling reached $76,063,660. This revenue stream is crucial for state funding and public services, further emphasizing the economic importance of the online gaming sector.

Sustained momentum in Pennsylvania's iGaming market

Can skill games be classified as gambling? This is what the Pennsylvania supreme court will debate and decide on, as distributors await its verdict with bated breath.

The fate of so-called skill games in Pennsylvania is poised to be determined by the state's highest court. As the debate over these games intensifies, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is set to provide a definitive ruling, which could pave the way for their regulation and taxation, just like other casino games. This decision comes as online casinos in the Keystone State push for equal regulation and taxation, while public opinion and lawmakers remain deeply divided.

The impending decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is expected to be a landmark ruling, one that will realistically clarify the legal status of skill games and allow lawmakers to craft appropriate regulations. At the moment, skill games are ubiquitous in Pennsylvania, as they are found in gas stations, corner stores, and bars. In fact, the American Gaming Association estimates that there are around 67,000 skill games distributed throughout the state.

It's worth noting that Philadelphia is the only city that has taken the drastic step of banning these skill games completely, a move that has led to a lawsuit from the well-known distributor of such games in PA, Pace-O-Matic. The court will need to determine if the games should be categorized as gambling machines, particularly given the "so-called skill element that is almost entirely hidden from view and is almost impossible to complete," as released in a statement by Michelle Henry, the Attorney General. At the same time, the court will define what exactly constitutes a slot machine.

The impact of the Supreme Court's decision

If the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules that skill games are a form of gambling, it will contradict a November 2023 ruling by the Commonwealth Court, which stated that the "element of skill" involved in these games prevents them from being classified as gambling. This previous ruling has been a cornerstone for the argument that skill games should be regulated differently from traditional gambling machines.

Online casinos in Pennsylvania have long been vocal about their desire for skill games to be taxed and regulated, similar to other casino games. They argue that the current ambiguity gives skill games an unfair advantage, as they are not subject to the same stringent regulations and taxes as traditional casino offerings. This discrepancy, they further contend, creates an uneven playing field in the state's gaming industry.

Public and legislative opinions count

The debate over skill games has seen a wide array of opinions from the public as well as legislators in Pennsylvania. Some view these games as a harmless form of entertainment that provides small businesses with an additional revenue stream. In contrast, others see them as a form of unregulated gambling that preys on vulnerable populations and skirts the regulatory framework designed to protect consumers.

June 28, 2024 – Tuesday night’s winning numbers were 3, 16,27, 47, and 62, Mega Ball 8 with a Multiplier at 4x. Drawn at 11 pm ET, the estimated total jackpot is now at $97 million. The lottery states that a winning player may get a lump sum payment after taxes that is estimated to be worth $46.4 million.

This year, there have been two winners of the Mega Millions jackpot: a player from New Jersey who took home a whopping $1.13 billion in March, and a player from Illinois who won $552 million earlier this month.

Playing Mega Millions

You will need to go to your neighborhood convenience store, gas station, or grocery store to get a ticket; however, in a few locations, tickets are also available online.

In order to participate, you must select six numbers. White balls with numbers from 1 to 70 will represent five numbers. One number between 1 and 25 represents the gold Mega Ball. To be eligible to win in Mega Millions, you just need to match one number. But that figure has to be the $2 Mega Ball.

Requesting a "Quick Pick" or "Easy Pick" is easy by simply choosing the numbers at random for you if you feel the odds are stacked against you. Gamers can boost non-grand prize winnings by two, three, four, or five times by purchasing the "Megaplier" for $1. On Tuesday and Friday, the Megaplier is drawn before the Mega Millions numbers.

The long wait is finally over for the hyped 2024 NBA Draft as the Los Angeles Lakers have finally selected Bronny James with the 55th overall pick in the second round, finally ending all the speculations of where will the USC Trojans guard end up in the Draft. There were multiple talks as to how Bronny might end up with different teams, but it ends up where it was expected to begin with.

It was just a dream for LeBron James back in the day. He didn’t even expect to stay long enough in the NBA to be on this pace, and yet here we are, now playing with his eldest son in just a few months’ time. Bronny brings in a new feel for the Lakers’ as the team sets its eyes towards development in the season with a new head coach in JJ Redick as well.

This has been quite a historic feat considering that there are no father-son duos in the league – at least until now. At least, the league can be sure that James that won’t be retiring from the NBA after a spectacular career, and it seems that he will be taking this chance to play at the big stage with his son.

A Historic Team-Up in Los Angeles

Back then, James was just hoping to get that chance with Bronny, and now he is just a few months away from playing with his son – at least when he opts in with his player option. James can become a free agent next week, and he can either sign a new deal with the Lakers – or bring his talents to another team, possibly for the last time in his career. However, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was confident that they can sway James to return, especially after drafting Bronny.

“In the history of the NBA, there’s never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court and that feels like something that could be magical,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. “We know, and have to respect of course, that LeBron has a decision on his opt-out … but if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made. And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.”

It should be clear that even with Bronny drafted, there are no guarantees that both players would end up in a Lakers uniform. However, it is worth noting that there have been at least 100 instances in the history of the league where sons of players have joined the league after their fathers played, but a gap of at least five years has been present after the father’s career has wrapped up.

Will Bronny Log Heavy Minutes?

June 27, 2024 – British broadcast giant BBC Radio 4 announced that its Today program will no longer be covering horse-racing tips. The show’s presenter Amol Rajan announced on air that the program that’s been running for 47 years will be scrapped from the show.