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No one can deny the fact that it was a surprising note that OKC has gone to send one of their young and impressive guards in Josh Giddey, who has been on a tough note with the Thunder after the team got eliminated in the second round of the 2024 Playoffs. Oklahoma City received Alex Caruso in exchange for Giddey in the said deal.

The deal was such a surprise on both ends. For OKC, Giddey’s brilliance on the court in the past few years has him intended to be one of the best staples in the squad who could really help the Thunder come up with massive strides in the game, so trading him away seemed to be a huge surprise, especially when his so-called “liability season” saw him average impressive numbers even as a fourth scoring option in the team so far.

For the Bulls, however, it seems that it is going to be one of the biggest stories that will see them either regret it or celebrate it. Many fans even thought that they could’ve gotten more from Caruso as a valued player in the Bulls’ roster so far.

A New Future for Giddey

Giddey is one of the biggest assets in Oklahoma City. Selected sixth overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, the promising guard finishes his tenure with the Thunder with averages of 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 31.0 percent from three. Giddey was essentially a candidate for the Rookie of the Year back then and was also the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.

What proceeded with OKC’s decision to trade Giddey was that the team sought to see him come off the bench in the 2024-25 season. However, discussions with the third-year guard led to him seeking options where he can serve viable minutes while being a starter. That came for Chicago later on, in which sends a promising groove for Giddey in the long run.

Giddey was quite said to be a liability in his games, especially against the Dallas Mavericks. However, Giddey’s playstyle was quite hampered with him going more off-ball than what he was used to. For context, Giddey used to average 25.1 minutes per game in the regular season, but was on the court for just 18.1 minutes each night in the playoffs.

A 3&D Boost for the Thunder

At the age of 30, it is actually quite baffling how fans should expect Caruso to fill in the playmaking that Josh Giddey brings to the table for OKC. But with both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Wiliams transitioning into elite playmakers, it seems that OKC is seeing a formula work for them, much like how Jrue Holiday, a 3&D player, did the trick for the Boston Celtics’ championship run.

Caruso averaged a career-high 10.1 points this past season and was named to the All-Defensive First Team for 2022-23, the All-Defensive Second Team for 2023-24, and he won the NBA Hustle Award for 2023-24. To add to that impressive trade, Caruso used to play for the Oklahoma City Blue, under the Thunder’s current head coach Mark Daigneault back then.

OKC can either see him come off the bench, or as a starter for the team should he ever be considered to be a good fit on each unit. His defensive brilliance makes him a good choice for the Thunder considering that they are on the pace to become one of the best defensive teams in the league.

Everyday, gamblers in Sin City are set to lose massive amounts of money, no surprise there. But $24 million is a lot to take, even if you are a high-roller. This was certainly the case with three men who lost $24 million in Las Vegas’ Resorts World in a span of several years. What’s more interesting to note is that all three men are currently being investigated, as confirmed by the Nevada Current.

The big losers?

Damien LeForbes is one of the gamblers at the top of the list, having lost approximately $12.3 million in almost 50 visits to the casino. LeForbes, who is also under scrutiny for presenting a bad check worth $2.5 million to the same Resorts World, appears to have been the most frequent and significant loser among the trio.

But it doesn’t end there. Ryan Boyajian, known for his appearances on the reality TV show “Real Housewives of Orange County,” lost around $3.7 million over 21 visits. His association with the casino adds a layer of celebrity intrigue to the unfolding financial drama.

Lastly, Matt Bowyer, a bookmaker from California, reportedly lost $7.9 million in 32 visits in 2022 to 2023. But Bowyer's involvement extends beyond mere gambling losses, as he is also allegedly linked to the theft of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s money by former translator Ippei Mizuhara, according to ESPN.

The Ohtani connection

Bowyer's connection to the Ohtani scandal further complicates the situation. Mizuhara allegedly embezzled almost $17 million from Ohtani, channeling some of this money to Bowyer, hence the connection. It is allegedly reported that portions of these funds ended up in Boyajian's account at Resorts World as well, and they were later converted to gambling chips and subsequently cashed out, with the money going to Bowyer or his accomplice.

Mizuhara, as most of you may already know, is deeply indebted with gambling losses totaling $40.7 million. He agreed to a plea bargain after facing charges of bank fraud and submitting a false tax return, and he could face up to 33 years in prison if convicted. Despite the gravity of these accusations, Ohtani remains free of any wrongdoing, seen only as a victim of Mizuhara's fraudulent activities.

Legal and regulatory scrutiny

Currently, neither LeForbes, Boyajian, nor Bowyer have been charged with any crimes related to their gambling losses or associated activities. Resorts World itself hasn't faced any charges, though it is cooperating with ongoing investigations. A spokesperson for Resorts World declined commenting on the situation when approached by Casino.org, highlighting the casino's stance of full cooperation with investigators.

Needless to say, the investigations into these activities form part of a broader scrutiny of Las Vegas casinos. For instance, multiple properties associated with iGaming are under review for potential money laundering and other illicit activities, with oversight by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) and other federal investigators.

The fallout has even extended to the former president of Resorts World Las Vegas, Scott Sibella, who is under fire for activities dating back to his tenure at MGM Grand. Sibella reportedly allowed illegal bookies to gamble at the casino without probing the sources of their funding. The case even involves Wayne Nix, a known gambler and high-roller, whose sentencing is pending as well.

Sibella's involvement led to his dismissal from Resorts World in September for policy violations. In fact, he pleaded guilty to Bank Secrecy Act violations and was sentenced to a year’s probation, alongside having to settle a fine of $9,500 and a special assessment of $100. Meanwhile, MGM Resorts faces a $7.5 million penalty for violations at both The Cosmopolitan and MGM Grand.

The broader implications of these goings-on

It’s obvious that this high-profile investigation underscores the increasing scrutiny on Las Vegas casinos, revealing vulnerabilities in the financial operations of some of the city's most iconic establishments. As federal and state regulatory bodies continue their investigations, the industry faces pressure to tighten controls and enhance transparency to prevent similar incidents in the future.

While the spotlight remains on LeForbes, Boyajian, and Bowyer, the broader implications for the Las Vegas casino sector could lead to significant changes in regulatory practices and operational oversight. These ongoing investigations serve as a reminder of the risks inherent in high-stakes gambling - and the necessity of stringent regulatory frameworks to safeguard against financial misconduct.

Atlantic City casinos experienced a promising start to the summer season, defined from Memorial Day through Labor Day in the US. The nine brick-and-mortar casinos in the Garden State reported a significant increase in GGR or gross gaming revenue in May of 2024, totaling $239.1 million - a 5.2% improvement year-over-year.

But this isn’t the only significant earner to come out of Atlantic City. The revenue from slot machines in retail shops saw a notable increase of 4.8%, reaching $181.2 million. Meanwhile, table games also showed impressive growth, jumping 6.4% to as much as $57.9 million. These positive trends indicate a strong start for the casinos as they head into the lucrative summer months.

iGaming platforms continue impressive growth trajectory

In addition to the strong performance of physical casinos, Atlantic City’s partnered iGaming platforms continued to grow their businesses. Online slots, table games, and poker collectively amounted to $192 million in revenue, marking a 19% improvement compared to May 2023.

However, not all sectors of the gaming industry saw growth. Sports betting, for one, experienced a decline, with revenue falling 4.2% to $78.7 million. Despite this, the overall performance of New Jersey's gaming industry was robust, generating a total GGR of nearly $510 million last month - a notable 8.3% increase from the previous year.

Stability and optimism combined

James Plousis, chair of the NJCCC or the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, highlighted the stability and positive results across all components of Atlantic City’s gaming revenue, including winning via casinos, winnings via internet gaming, and the revenue earned from sports wagering. “Casino win recorded its best May result in eleven years, aided by the best slot machine win since 2012,” Plousis said.

As a matter of fact, the $192 million won by online casinos stood for iGaming’s second-best month earnings in the Garden State. This momentum, combined with the onset of the summer vacation season, provides optimism for Atlantic City’s economic outlook.

Momentum in the market

Plousis also expressed confidence in the continued growth of the industry, noting that statewide GGR from January to May came up to $2.567 billion, reflecting a 13.1% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This year marked the quickest ascent in surpassing $2.2 billion GGR in over a decade.

“May provided a promising start for the summer season and positive momentum has been building,” Plousis stated. He attributed this growth to strong consumer interest driven by recent investments in casino hotels. “(The diversified casinos are) providing abundant reasons for summer tourists to visit and stay,” he added.

Challenges amid growth: will they be surmountable?

Despite the positive revenue trends, gaming analysts caution that Atlantic City’s casinos still face challenging operating conditions. Director Jane Bokunewicz, from the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality, and Tourism at Stockton University, noted that rising expenses might offset the gains in revenue.

“Inflation impacts both operators, in the form of costs of goods and wages, and consumers, in the form of prices,” Bokunewicz explained. Despite these pressures, it is notable that consumers continue to spend their money on New Jersey’s casino offerings.

Borgata leads the market with earnings of over $110 million

Borgata Casino, an MGM Resorts affiliate located in the city’s Marina District, continues to dominate the Atlantic City market. In May, Borgata generated $61.4 million from its physical casino floor, $43.9 million from its partners in iGaming, and $5.6 million exclusively from its sportsbooks, totaling to around $110.9 million.

Resorts Casino Hotel wasn’t far behind – it followed with a combined GGR of $84.9 million, primarily driven by its online gaming and sports betting operations, which contributed $71.4 million.

Among the brick-and-mortar casinos, Borgata’s $61.4 million was trailed by Hard Rock ($49.9 million) and Ocean with $32 million. Tropicana, Harrah’s, Caesars, Resorts, Golden Nugget, and Bally’s also contributed to the overall positive performance, though with varying degrees of success.

As Atlantic City casinos continue to navigate the summer season, the industry remains cautiously optimistic. The combination of strong interest from consumers, strategic investments, and diversified offerings provides a solid foundation for continued growth. However, the ongoing challenge of managing rising operational costs in the middle of inflationary pressures will be crucial in determining the profitability and sustainability of these record gains.

But with a strong start in May, it’s obvious that Atlantic City is set for a potentially record-breaking summer season, attracting tourists and gaming enthusiasts to its ever-vibrant casino scene.

WarHorse Casino Omaha, a permanent casino at Horsemen’s Park, is on track to open its doors this August, as it awaits regulatory sign offs by the NRGC (the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission). Officials from WarHorse Gaming, which is a subsidiary of Ho-Chunk, Inc., the business branch of the Winnebago Tribe, have announced that the casino is scheduled for a grand opening on August 6.

The $250 million WarHorse Omaha will feature over 20 table games, 800 slots, a sportsbook, and enhanced simulcast parimutuel wagering. The premier facility, located at 6303 Q Street, will also include a bar, restaurant, and a parking garage. But there are also future expansion plans for the casino, which involve additional floor space exclusively for gaming, a gaming patio located outdoors (where smoking will be permitted), and, last but definitely not least, a boutique hotel with 200 rooms.

The establishment of WarHorse Omaha follows the 2020 statewide ballot referendum that Nebraskans passed which authorized the state’s racetracks to run table games, slot machines, and sportsbooks. With this permanent casino establishment, the legislation also applied the Clean Indoor Act, which doesn’t allow tobacco smoking indoors in most businesses and public places and businesses, including casino venues.

WarHorse’s two casino projects in the state

After the 2020 vote, which was a resounding success, the NHBPA (Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association) joined with WarHorse Gaming to transform its racetracks into - you guessed it - casinos. Because of this, besides Horsemen’s Park, WarHorse is also developing a casino at the Lincoln Race Course.

The WarHorse Casino in Lincoln is another significant project, mirroring the investment and scale of the Omaha facility. Set to open this fall, the Lincoln casino will feature 430 slots, parimutuel wagering, and sports betting. But it differs slightly from its Omaha counterpart because the casino property in Lincoln will debut with a hotel featuring 220 rooms, along with a special center dedicated to events. Additionally, it will be home to a gourmet steakhouse.

It’s worth noting that another stipulation of the 2020 referendum mandates that gaming facilities be located next to an active racetrack. To comply, Horsemen’s Park has set September 29 as its single day of live racing in 2024. The Lincoln Race Course, rebranded to Legacy Downs at WarHorse Casino Lincoln, will conduct four racing days in total on September 20-28.

The NHBPA also oversees the dormant Atokad Downs (located in South Sioux City). Plans are in motion to redevelop that track into a casino, along with live racing, in the coming years. Post-construction, the NHBPA aims to increase live racing dates, targeting 15 race days at Legacy Downs and five at Horsemen’s Park per year.

The increase of gaming in the state of Nebraska

Since September 24, 2022, WarHorse has operated a temporary gaming center in Lincoln, located within the grandstand of Legacy Downs, featuring 400 slots and the Winner’s Circle Grill. Last year, WarHorse Lincoln generated a GGR (gross gaming revenue) of $51.5 million, outperforming the state’s three interim casinos in 2023. Meanwhile, Grand Island’s temporary facility followed with $30 million in GGR, while Harrah’s Columbus’ temporary setup at Ag Park, which opened a year ago this month, earned $7 million through the year of 2023.

WarHorse Omaha also launched a temporary sportsbook in November last year, generating $224,000 in GGR throughout December. And last month, Caesars Entertainment marked a milestone in Nebraska by opening the state’s first permanent casino. Harrah’s Columbus Racing & Casino (an investment of $100 million), opened on May 17 along with a Caesars Race & Sportsbook, 11 live dealer games, and 400 slot machines. In addition, two adjacent Marriott hotels are expected to open soon, offering accommodations for overnight guests.

As the August opening approaches, WarHorse Casino Omaha is poised to become a major player in Nebraska’s blossoming gaming industry, promising an array of exciting entertainment and beautiful amenities for NE residents and visitors alike.

In recent weeks, our friends at Casino.org, specifically Corey Levityan, debunked a prevalent myth involving Gordon Ramsay, who was rumored to have ejected Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce from his Hell’s Kitchen restaurant for being too inebriated (i.e., drunk). It’s totally untrue - and this unraveling leads us to another enduring myth about celebrity chefs: the belief that they are regularly present and actively cooking in their own restaurants. There may be a ton of myths in Las Vegas, including having your picture taken at the famous Las Vegas sign (then again, it just might be a popular superstition), but one thing’s for sure: we’ve all heard the myth about celebrity chefs and actually slaving in the heat of their restaurant’s kitchens.

Take, for example, Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen at Caesars Palace. It is indeed a must-see when you’re in Las Vegas, and it is a place where Ramsay is often photographed - but has never actually cooked. But this misconception about celebrity chefs' involvement in their restaurants is widespread and not without reason.

The origins of the myth

It's relatively easy to see how this myth took hold. A vintage menu from Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Palace tantalizingly suggests, “If you think the guy sitting at the end of the bar looks a lot like Gordon, well, it just might be.” This statement feeds into the fantasy that diners might casually encounter Ramsay cooking up a storm or enjoying a drink nearby.

However, the reality is quite different. While Ramsay does make appearances, these are strategically scheduled and heavily promoted events designed to maintain the illusion of his regular presence. After all, we’re in Las Vegas, where magic happens every day!

Booking busy celebrity chefs

Caesars Entertainment, the entity that operates six Las Vegas restaurants under Ramsay's name, leverages this myth to attract diners. In fact, Caesars Entertainment mandates Ramsay to visit each restaurant annually and stay for a minimum of 24 consecutive hours. During these visits, Ramsay participates in photo sessions, creating the perception that his presence is a regular occurrence rather than a contractual obligation.

This annual visit is part of Ramsay’s lucrative deal with Caesars. To be perfectly honest, he receives $340,000 per restaurant annually for licensing his name, along with a cut of 5% - 6% of the gross profits of Caesars. This arrangement underscores a broader truth about celebrity chefs: once they attain substantial wealth through television shows and licensing deals, they are less inclined to engage in the day-to-day grind of running a restaurant kitchen. Why would they, when they quite literally don’t need to?

The reality of celebrity chef restaurants

While celebrity chefs like Ramsay might (and this is a big “might”) occasionally contribute to menu design, their hands-on involvement in the kitchen is virtually nonexistent. Furthermore, cooking in these restaurants could be legally challenging without the appropriate Nevada health card! Instead, these establishments rely on the expertise of their hotel partners’ food and beverage departments to manage daily operations.

As you may realize, Ramsay’s cooking appearances are limited to his television shows, such as "Hell’s Kitchen," which are filmed on soundstages. For example, the current filming of seasons 23 and 24 at the Foxwoods in Connecticut is taking place on a soundstage within the casino resort, not in an actual restaurant kitchen.

The details of Ramsay’s arrangement with Caesars were brought to light during the company’s bankruptcy proceedings in 2016, thanks to an exposé by the Wall Street Journal. While we do not have similar financial disclosures for other celebrity chefs, it is reasonable to assume that other celebrity chefs like Guy Fieri, Giada De Laurentiis, Guy Savoy, José Andrés, David Chang, and Michael Mina have comparable agreements.

The illusion of accessibility in Las Vegas celebrity restaurants

The illusion that diners might encounter these culinary stars in their “natural habitat” is perpetuated by the rare but highly publicized grand openings of new restaurants. These events are often attended by the chefs themselves, but unfortunately, they are exclusive, invite-only affairs for celebrities and VIPs, not the general public.

The myth that celebrity chefs actively work in their restaurants is just that - a myth. The presence of chefs like Gordon Ramsay at their establishments is a carefully managed and marketed illusion, much like the ones performed by David Copperfield and David Blaine, designed to enhance the dining experience and draw in the crowds. While the chefs willingly lend their names (and occasionally their creative input, like Ramsay with his famous Beef Wellington), the day-to-day culinary operations of these celebrity restos are left to a dedicated team of professionals behind the scenes. So, the next time you dine at a celebrity chef’s restaurant, go right ahead and enjoy the ambiance and the expertly crafted dishes - but don’t expect to see the chef sweating it out over a hot stove on your account.

June 21, 2024 – Popular online gaming site Sportzino has improved its welcome bonus package for new users, presenting a good mix of Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC) to improve gameplay. By offering more value at signup and more chances to win awards, the enhanced incentive hopes to draw in more players.

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