This Week in Gaming Review

Gaming News from New Jersey took the spotlight with the announcement that Rush Street Gaming is entering the Garden State and accepting Online Wagers. Rush Street Interactive can now accept wagers from any patrons within the State of New Jersey. The website is playsugarhouse.com.

DraftKings paid millions of dollars this past week to make good on a promotional claim that a guaranteed jackpot would be in place. This is a good business move that shows credibility. FanDuel and Yahoo reported similar shortfalls though not as high as DraftKings.  It does not bode well for the marketing analysis that allow for an overestimation of the amount of entries. The next several weeks should have a lower guarantee based on the amount of interest from week 1.

MGM National Harbor is still on target for a 4th quarter opening. The Tables Games Team and the Food & Beverage Department are participating in community events in the DC area. Here are two photos that will give a glimpse of what to expect in the coming months.

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                                                          7 days until #G2E2016

This Week in Gaming Review

The New York State Gaming Commission on Monday issued temporary permits to five fantasy sports operators, including industry giants DraftKings and FanDuel.  Governor Cuomo signed legislation to legalize Fantasy Sports Betting earlier this month. This is great for New York Football and Basketball fans.

Yahoo, Fantasy Draft and Draft also received temporary permits Monday. The companies were allowed to begin offering paid contests immediately. This is the 1st step toward sports betting. It will not be the last.

Glenn Straub. owner of the Revel Casino, now claims the property will have a soft Oct. 1 opening and be fully functioning by the end of December. The site is awaiting zoning and inspection by Atlantic City's L&I Department. There appears to be uncertainty about this.  Stay tuned for updates.

Governor Christie stated he is in favor of gaming expansion outside of Atlantic City. If this happens, casinos will be in North Jersey. This will not only affect AC but will hit some of  the Pennsylvania Casinos as well.  Mount Airy and Sands come to mind.  The proximity to the New Jersey border and the New York crowd are the respective reasons for both of these operators.

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                                                        27 days until #G2E2016

Daily Fantasy Football Tips (2)

The key to having a successful Daily Fantasy Football team is doing your homework. Spend some quality time in researching the players that you are considering for your team. Don't allow emotion
or home team bias influence your choices. The decision to pick a player should be based on statistics and data that consist of past performances.

I would also consider if the player is going into a contract year. If free agency is looming, the player has a real football incentive to play well. His stock will rise if he is productive and that will give you
additional fantasy points.

                  
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                                                        36 days until #G2E2016

Daily Fantasy Football Tips (1)

For the next three weeks we will provide periodic tips for Daily Fantasy Football fans. This will benefit the fans of DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo. If you are selecting a team, look to stacking your team for the optimum results. Stacking is pairing the quarterback with a receiver or running back that play on the same team. This is a smart play because they are dependent on each other for production.

Pairing Matt Ryan with Julio Jones is an example.

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                                                        38 days until #G2E2016

This Week in Gaming Review

New York has made a major move with authorizing the regulation of Daily Fantasy Sports. New York has 13% of the market of Fantasy Sports Players. This is great news for FanDuel and DraftKings. There was talk of these two merging. They may not have to if other states decide to follow New York.

The news was not as good for New Jersey and the quest for sports betting. The 3rd Circuit Court decided in a vote of 10-2 that the federal ban should be upheld. The next move is taking the challenge to the United States Supreme Court. There is no timetable or guarantee that the top judicial body would hear the case. An act of Congress may be a viable alternative. The American Gaming Association is in favor of having the sports betting ban repealed. Fantasy is clearing the way.

MGM is in Atlantic City doing auditions for dealers. They are mandated to hire a large percentage of their staff from the residents in the DC area where the casino is located. They have a sizable labor pool to choose from. Atlantic City is a great place to start.

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                                                        42 days until #G2E2016

This Week in Gaming Review

This week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a preliminary bill to expand gaming.
This expansion will include IGaming, Daily Fantasy Sports and slot machines at airports.

This is what online gaming enthusiast have been waiting for.Pennsylvania need the revenue and the public demand for gambling online is increasing every year. While the projected revenue varies, it will be at least 9 to 12 months before implementation. The next step is the bill moving to the Pennsylvania State Senate. While nothing is guaranteed, I like the chances of this passing.

New York made headlines with a reversal. They authorize Daily Fantasy Sports just months after issuing a ban on FanDuel and DraftKings. The following is an except from Sports Illustrated.
"Indeed, this was the reason for the cease-and-desist orders in 2015. Now, however, amended laws will seek to bring clarity to the matter. The full bill can be found here. Crucially, it alters the state’s gambling laws to include “regulated interactive fantasy sports contests with an entry fee.”

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NBA Playoffs Fantasy Pick: Isaiah Thomas vs. Paul George

My 2nd match up will compare the productivity of  Isaiah Thomas and Paul George. I chose this pairing because both of them are trailing in their respective series; 2 games to 1. They also have the next game at their home court.

This chart compares the last 5 regular season games of each player.

 

I also compared how each produced in a home game. Both averaged 22.6 in their last 5 regular season games. George grabs more rebounds and should double Thomas in this category. Thomas will get at least 3 more assists with 1 less turnover per game. George is a more complete player but Thomas will have the ball more. The injuries to the Celtics and a comparable price make Thomas my play.

 

 

 

 

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NBA Playoffs 2015-2016

The NBA playoffs started this week. I will have a series of articles that will compare comparable

players based on daily fantasy prices and make a determination as to which one has the best value.

I will also participate in a contest that will run through the entire playoffs. The players that obtain

a double - double will get one point. If the player get a triple double, he gets two points. A quadruple double that does not include turnovers would get 4 points. The player that gets the most points wins.

I want the fans of DraftKing and FanDuel to follow me and see how well I do. Tell me who you would pick as your player. I will update this blog post through the duration of the playoffs.

Which of these guys would you pick?

Follow me and see which one, if any, I select. Leave a comment if you like someone not pictured.

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               Read my latest post about #Warriors Klay Thompson & #Rockets James Harden.
thegamingguyproductions.blogspot.com/2016/04/nba-playoffs-klay-thompson-or-james.html

This Week in Gaming Review

 

FanDuel and DraftKings have suspended all college sports contests involving NCAA players from their offering of Fantasy Sports effective at the end of this Final Four Weekend.This makes Fantasy Sports acceptable to some legislators that are currently on the fence. They are presently 30 states that are considering some form of regulations (pro or con) about daily fantasy. While the debate over skill

or gambling continues, most states see this as a tax generating revenue base. It is part of what the public considers fun. This is simply giving the people what they want.

 
                                                                  Final Four Odds
                                         The North Carolina vs. Syracuse analysis is here.

The Tar Heels opened as a 4-5 favorites at the Westgate SuperBook, followed by Villanova at 11-4, Oklahoma at 4-1 and long-shot Syracuse at 10-1.  The match up between Nova and the Sooners is here.
Villanova -1.5 o/u 149.5
North Carolina  -9.5 o/u 149.5
Both of the above are opening numbers.

As of this post,the Sooners are now 7-2 and Carolina is 5-7.
The Orangemen are 12-1 and the Cats are 16-5. When you compare the line movement,the sports books are generating interest in both of the former Big East rivals. Interest does not always lead to
action.

 

Villanova was attracting the bulk of the early bets against Oklahoma at sportsbook operator CG Technology. According to CG Technology vice president of race and sports Jason Simbal, 10 times more money had been wagered on the favored Wildcats compared to the Sooners as of Sunday night.

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This Week in Gaming Review

The 1st week of the year included more gaming news regarding Daily Fantasy Sports. The Attorney General of New York is amending his injunction against DraftKings and FanDuel.  The proceeding will now include restitution of any money losses by the players in New York and a fine of 5,000 for a each transaction. There will be a settlement before any of this transpires.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman

 

 

The CES 2016 was held in Las Vegas this week. The NBA on TNT hosted the pregame show from there.Technology, Virtual reality and Skill based games will change the landscape of how the gaming industry evolves over the next 5 years. Embrace the changes!

 

Consumer Electronics Show 2016

 

Rush Street Gaming has partnered with Matt Glantz to give his insight about Poker to the Poker Night in America series. This show is entering it's 3rd season. Glantz will assist in he development, programming and promotion of all poker related operations. This collaboration will be on display during any televised event at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh and SugarHouse Casino.

Matt Glantz

 

 

             My best pick this week is Texans plus 9.5 as part of  a teaser. Game starts at 4:30 pm.
                                                  Enjoy +NFL Wildcard Weekend.


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This Week in Gaming Review

This week includes 3 reports that will change gaming landscape in the mid Atlantic area. One is the

order to curtail Daily Fantasy Sports operators from operating in New York immediately. FanDuel and DraftKings plan to appeal this ruling. As this post was being written, this report was received from ESPN. 

Not in New York!

The second is a referendum to expand gaming outside of Atlantic City. This will be on the ballot during the presidential election vote in November 2016. Meadowlands would be a strong possibility if gaming is allowed to extend to north New Jersey.

 

Pennsylvania is in the process of finalizing the budget for 2015-16.  Since they are overdue by 5 months, the legislators are looking for new revenue streams. One strong consideration is online gaming and the expansion of slots to airports.

Pennsylvania Gaming Oversight Committee

DraftKings and FanDuel were granted a temporary injunction and can continue to operate pending appeal.

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Fantasy Sports is not Sports Betting: The Myth that came True

Nevada regulators handed down a ruling that Fantasy Sport sites can not operate in the Silver State

without a license. NBC News reported this. FanDuel and DraftKings can no longer take action in the state where gambling on almost anything is legal. This comes one week after the employee of   DraftKings  hit on the FanDuel site for $350,000. They both have institute a ban that prohibits employees from playing. Does the ban prevent the employees from sharing information with friends? Hmm!

 

FanDuel vs. DraftKings

 

 

                                                                

 

 

 

                                                               

 

                                                                  The Myth

The Trojan Horse is a tale from the Trojan War about the subterfuge that the Greeks used to enter the city of Troy and win the war. After a fruitless 10-year siege, the Greeks constructed a huge wooden horse  and hid a select force of men inside. The Greeks pretended to sail away, and the Trojans pulled the horse into their city as a victory trophy. That night the Greek force crept out of the horse and opened the gates for the rest of the Greek army, which had sailed back under cover of night. The Greeks entered and destroyed the city of Troy, decisively ending the war. A "Trojan Horse" has come to mean any trick or stratagem that causes a target to invite a foe into a securely protected bastion or place. This passage was provided courtesy of Wikipedia.

 

                                      So how did the myth come true?

 

Daily Sports Fantasy is the millennial Trojan Horse. The American operators pretend that it not gambling under the auspice of the 2006 Internet Gambling Enforcement  Act. 9 years later, the public is swayed by conventional wisdom  that this is the substitute for legal action on a game because it  is  technically not gambling. The selection of players from multiple teams does not constitute a "real" contest. The states are the protected place. We are allowing an unregulated form of wagering.

                                             

                                  Fantasy Sports = Sports Betting?  Hmmm!

 

The advertising dollars spent to entice players are outrageous. It does seem to be working. The incident that happen with the employee did not lower the interest in wagering on either site. It did alert the government to look at regulating Daily Fantasy Sports. I see partnerships that extend beyond licensing agreements and commercials. Casinos and Racetracks could connect with a site like Yahoo and DraftPot to offer Fantasy Sports. They have the facilities and are regulated. The sites have the software. The states could sell licenses for a fee. Everybody Wins. Hmmmm!

 

 

 

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Is Wagering on Fantasy Sports Gambling?

I saw this question about 10 days ago on LinkedIn. I did not read the response because I knew that I would weigh in on this. I like to maintain my objectivity when I write. I decided that I would compare betting on a football team like the Eagles to wagering on a fantasy team of my choosing.

When I bet the Eagles I take in consideration the line or points spread, homefield and weather. I

also chart the recent history between the Eagles and their opponent. If I can find more pluses to take the Birds then I put my money on Philly. If I can't ,then I don't wager on the game. If all roads and factors point to the opponent, I considered going the other way.

 

Some fans feel this is a form of blasphemy. No way can you bet against your team. A fan and a bettor are two different people. Fans are ride or die. Bettors are live to die another day. Read this paragraph again and you'll get it!

Now when I wagering on a fantasy team, I get to pick this imaginary lineup that would never play together against someone else's dream team of the week or day. I look at homefield, opponent and weather. I considered past individual performances. I also look at any significant injury. The injury variable is incorporated into the spread or line.

So the factors that go into picking a NFL team to wager on are the same as what you look for in betting on a fantasy team. So why is Fantasy a skill proposition and picking a team (Eagles) a gamble? The answer is not Sam Bradford.

The only difference is the point spread. My NFL team must win by more than the number designated or I will lose. My fantasy team just has to win. In a day fantasy league like DraftKings, FanDuel or Yahoo, my opponent and I may have some of the same players on our team.

Wanna Play??

Picking that secondary guy to go with your elite players will make the difference between winning and losing. There is something to be said for finding value at a price. Finding that value is a skill that is not based on luck. Skill ties more into percentages and analytics.

                                        Webster's definition of gambling is
: to play a game in which you can win or lose money or possessions : to bet money or other valuable things
: to risk losing (an amount of money) in a game or bet

: to risk losing (something valuable or important) in order to do or achieve something.

 

Wagering on Fantasy Sports sounds like gambling to me. And about 33 million other people.

 
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Fantasy Sports Explosion

I have been researching Fantasy Sports in preparation for the upcoming NFL season. I am not a baseball fan these days because my team has the worse record in either league. Our coach just resigned without being asked to. Who does that? 

So NFL it is. I plan to review each position with a top 5. I looking for input. Each week starting July 13, 8:00pm EST, I will share the view thru my social media outlets.  Join me and my co host Nkeshi Free on Twitter for #GTLivechat.  #GTLivechat is a conversation that is conducted via Twitter with followers around the world. What makes us unique is that we make picks and then get a poll of which players are the popular choices. We will select the positions individually and give the consensus of what you think.  Fun. Easy and Free.   For those who have a gaming interest, look at Fan Duel, DraftKings and Yahoo after you connect with us.

Then in August, we will look at the divisional and conference breakdown of the AFC and NFC. Since we have followers from different regions, we will balance what they see and compare it to the national media outlets like ESPN and Sports Illustrated. This will prepare you for the upcoming season. 

                                                         Now my question is ....




CASHING???

OR

TRASHING???

 

                                      Get the winners by being informed!
                                                                        

 

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NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers odds about to take a turn.

The past 24 hours have not been good for the Cavs. First, Kevin Love injured his shoulder and is expected to be out 2-3 weeks. The injury did look premeditated on the part of Kelly Olynyk, the player from Boston.  See for yourself.

Then in the 2nd half , J.R. Smith hits Celtic small forward Jae Crowder with a backhand, closed fist that knocked him down and out of the game. Crowder also suffered a knee injury on the same play. This looks like a suspension to me of at least 2 games.  How many games does it look like to you?

 

 

If the Bulls take care of business against the Bucks Thursday, these teams will meet at the end of the week. Cleveland will be shorthanded two men in the rotation. Even with Irving and James that would be a difficult task against Chicago and Derrick Rose.

 

The addition of Gasol along with the emergence of Jimmy Butler make Chicago a force even if Rose is less than 100%.  The defense is solidified by Noah and will attempt to surround Lebron.

 

 I am sure the odds of Cleveland winning the title and the eastern conference have shifted. They were a 11-5 and 5-11 during the season to win the championship and conference finals. I predict they go to 13-5 and 5- 8. Bulls will shift slightly from 12-1 and 5-1 respectively for the same plays to 10-1 and 4-1.   The price of picking Lebron or Kyrie Irving in a daily fantasy league should increase due to more anticipated minutes and shots. Let's see if I'm right.

 

 

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Online Gaming News from Pennsylvania

On Wednesday, the 1st of a series of meetings took place about the merits and concerns of online gaming in Pennsylvania. It was held at Harrah's Philadelphia by the Pennsylvania Gaming Oversight Committee. This committee is chaired by state Rep. John Payne, R-106, of Hershey. HB 649 was introduced in February by the state rep. It would empower the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to explore online gambling options and to create regulations for any games it approves.



Jan Jones and Ron Baumann testifying before Gaming Committee

The hearing was provided with testimony from Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vice president of Caesars Entertainment Group. Blackhurst told the committee members that online gambling is already prevalent in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country, even though it isn’t legal. Blackhurst stated,“Today’s reality is that Internet gambling is taking place in all 50 states, almost all of it illegally. It’s an environment that’s ripe for fraud and criminal activity and it provides no tax revenue. However, the online gambling experience in the states where it is legal, has been successful from a regulatory perspective. Minors can't gamble, the vulnerable are protected and consumer protections against fraud are in place." Ron Baumann, general manager of Harrah's Philadelphia ,also testified about the allowing Pennsylvania Casinos to increase agility and speed to market. Bauman also express interest in gaming tax credits that would be used as capital investment incentives. This is consistent with West Virginia and New Jersey.

The I Gaming views of Blackhurst and Baumann were shared on part of the regulatory framework and strong consumer protections to:

• Prevent minors from playing, with robust age and ID checks
• Ensure players within borders with strong geo-location technology
• Tools to deal with problem gambling

In accordance with the report from Econsult for the Pennsylvania Budget and Finance Committee, the annual ongoing potential revenue would mean tax collections of approximately  $43 million applying a 14% tax. The industry is in support of a tax rate of 12%. I Gaming would take off quicker with the industry proposed rate. More promotions related to sign ups would increase the number of people that want to play. This would make Pennsylvania a more appealing place to play than Delaware or New Jersey. There are several additional meetings scheduled for April that will continue the conversation about I Gaming ,fantasy sports betting and gaming on mobile device.

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Poker or Fantasy Sports: Which one is the skill game?

Poker and Fantasy Sports are getting a lot of conversation. Both are receiving more consideration as games of skills and not chance. This interpretation makes both of them socially acceptable and widely popular. I decided to compare the two and give my assessment.

Poker has the statistics to determine probability of what may happen based on what cards you have. Stats in poker are constant and absolute. Psychology has a part to play, but a solid understanding of math and probability will increase your chances of winning. The hand and the chances of winning with it have a percentage that is comparable to the other players in the game. When watching shows like Poker Night in America , you are updated as what each poker player's chances are throughout.

Analytical variables are given to players in fantasy leagues that give them value based on past performance.  During the NFL playoffs, a prognosticator was giving predictions based on analytics related to the point spread. Variables in fantasy are subject to exponents that fall outside of the player's control. Weather, illness  and coaching decisions are things that can alter a fantasy player productivity. Think how many people wagered that Marshawn Lynch would score more than 1 touchdown during Super Bowl 49. We all know how that ended.

Poker is the true skill game of the two. I think that fantasy leagues will have a more diverse following that will include women. Poker is played predominately by males.  While there is a poker community that is established, there is not enough liquidity yet for it become profitable. Delaware Lottery reported a combine total of $600,000 for the year ending 2014. This number included casino and slot play. In 2014, several of the online gaming sites in Nevada and New Jersey shut down. Trump Taj Mahal just closed their poker room in Atlantic City. They anticipate reopening in the summer.

The acknowledgement of the professional leagues will build the support for more fantasy leagues. Fan Duel has commercials that air during ESPN telecasts.  DraftKings has added two more teams to its growing list of partnerships in the NBA . Shortly after announcing a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, DraftKings has struck separate deals with the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors.  There is also a  Daily Fantasy Expo this year in Miami. The Expo will focus on management, technology and marketing for the fantasy sports industry. Since 2006, fantasy sports has grown from USD $1.6 billion industry to a USD $15 billion industry. It's meteoric rise is considered the tip of the iceberg, given the new dynamic of Daily Fantasy Sports.

Imagine That!

The upside for poker is it can be played for low limits in the online gaming world.  Borgata and Caesars  are two of the top poker sites in  New Jersey. 888  is one of the leading software providers. Many states are talking about the legalization of poker. We will see who enters the game in 2015

.

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