Monday, April 30, 2018

Sportsbetting.ag – Our Featured Betting Site for the 2018 Kentucky Derby

GamblingSites.com
Sportsbetting.ag – Our Featured Betting Site for the 2018 Kentucky Derby

The Run for the Roses is quickly approaching. While May 5th racegoers are making their fashion choices and getting ready for their annual Hot Brown and Mint Juleps, punters around the world are studying the competitors and current odds.

Last year, the Derby’s 14-race card at Churchill Downs took in over 209 million dollars in legal wagers from US-based tracks and off-track betting locations. If you factor in the global online bookmakers, the numbers are downright impressive.

Whether you’re an experienced bettor or want to place your first bet ever on the “most exciting two minutes in sports,” we’ve got your back with a recommendation for Sportsbetting.ag.

Sportsbetting.ag is one of the premier websites that specializes in online betting, particularly for its American clientele.

The virtual betting window is NOW open at sportsbetting.ag, so you can stake your Kentucky Derby predictions. If you want to play the odds, Justify is the current favorite, or you can roll the dice with a long shot like Snapper Sinclair, at 100:1.

Sportsbetting.ag does its best to accommodate players from the US with credit and debit card acceptance as well as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum.

But we’ve done a great deal of research on each of the individual services provided by sportsbetting.ag, from its promotions to betting opportunities to payouts.

Read on to find out more about sportsbetting.ag, and you’ll find out why it’s a top choice for Kentucky Derby betting. If you don’t live in the US or would like to shop around for your options, you can also check out our full list of recommended horse racing betting sites.

About the Kentucky Derby

It’s a party in Louisville, Kentucky, each May for the annual running of the Kentucky Derby.

The famous American race was modeled after Britain’s Epsom Derby, one of the highlights of England’s annual racing season both on and off the track. It’s where sports, fashion, and fun are combined into the social event of the year.

Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs has been the home of the Derby since 1875 when it equaled Epsom’s 1½-mile distance. It was later changed to resemble today’s 1¼-mile course in 1896. The Derby survived some turbulent times with financial difficulties and waning crowds in its early days, though.

The difficulties started to diminish in 1902 when a new owner came in to turn things around for the relatively new race meeting and racecourse.

Not only did Churchill Downs prosper, but the Kentucky Derby also became the principal stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds in the United States.

The Triple Crown

The Grade 1 Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the coveted Triple Crown that is made up of the following three races.

Kentucky Derby – 1 ¼ mile Preakness Stakes – 1 3/16 mile Belmont Stakes – 1 ½ miles

You may recall names like Secretariat and Seattle Slew, the 1973 and 1977 Triple Crown champions.

Triple Crown status gives competitors instant recognition, increases track attendance, and creates new racing fans.

Like the Derby itself, the Triple Crown is also modeled after Britain’s. The first US winner was in 1919 with Sir Barton. The term “Triple Crown” wasn’t used, though, until 1930 when Gallant Fox was the second to achieve first-place finishes in all three races.

After 37 years, American Pharoah finally excited enthusiastic fans in 2015, becoming only the 12th horse in US Triple Crown history to claim the prestigious title. Affirmed was previously the last in 1978.

2018 Kentucky Derby

The 144th running of the Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 5th.

It features the top contenders from the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” events that start with the Iroquois at Churchill Downs in September. The qualifying races are primarily held across the United States at courses like Belmont Park, Aqueduct, Del Mar, Gulfstream Park, and Santa Anita.

However, over recent years, runners from Japan and Europe have been invited to participate. The overseas “road” events include the Juddmonte Royal Lodge at Newmarket and the Cattleya Sho at Tokyo Racecourse.

The Derby invites are issued based on a point system from the Road to the Kentucky Derby events, with points awarded for the first four finishers in each of the 45 races.

Todd Pletcher’s trained Magnum Moon is at the top of the leaderboard, having accumulated 150 points, followed by the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, Good Magic, at 134.

The Derby will be televised on NBC starting at noon with the undercard.

About Sportsbetting.ag

While the oddsmakers have picked Justify as their favorite, our pick for this year’s Derby is sportsbetting.ag. Here’s why.

More Than the Odds

When we consider online bookmakers, we don’t just glance at the odds they’re giving. Instead, we take a look at the entire service that they provide.

Online betting is much different than walking up to a window and presenting a $20 and your pick. You have to consider the reputation, the banking options, promotions, payouts, and the user-friendliness of the website.

The US Challenge

American punters have the additional difficulty of financial service limitations. In an area like the United Kingdom, where online betting is permissible as long as the site is registered with the UK Gambling Commission, it’s a straightforward process to transfer money into a betting account.

Debit and credit cards are typically approved, and e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller are plentiful.

For US customers, it’s not a given that a debit or credit card transfer will successfully go through every time. Banks have intricate coding systems that can immediately decline debits and credits to sportsbooks. Sportsbetting.ag does pretty well at getting the transactions through, though.

Crypto Acceptance

Sportsbetting.ag does allow for credit and debit card transfers, but it’s the cryptocurrency menu that kicks up their service level by several notches. The bookmaker accepts Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum transactions in both directions.

So, for anyone who is restricted by a traditional bank that rubber-stamps “decline” on transfer requests, these crypto options are beneficial.

Only $20

Not only do you have ways to fund your betting account, but you also don’t have to risk more than you’re comfortable with, as there’s a low minimum deposit of just $20.

Compared to some other US-servicing betting sites, that’s a good deal. We’ve seen some that start out at $50 or even $100. That’s just way too high for many recreational bettors, especially if you only want to make a one-time wager on the Derby.

Cashback Programs

You may also find the promotional program appealing if you have yet to register an account on sportsbetting.ag.

Currently, new players get a $25 rebate on their first bet if it’s not successful. But the incentives don’t just stop with the first bet slip.

Sportsbetting’s punters can also take advantage of daily 7% rebates or 4% if you prefer to wager by phone. While these promotions can change at any time, you should be able to find some value-add offers listed year-round.

To Win

The sportsbetting.ag website offers a sportsbook and a racebook, so you can head over to the “futures and props” section of the sportsbook for early “to win” Derby action. On Derby weekend, you can access the Kentucky Derby options in the racebook.

Straight Bets and Exotics

Sportsbetting.ag offers straight bets and exotics like exactas, quinellas, and trifectas. It also accepts multi-race exotics.

If you’ve never filled out a bet slip before, you should have no worries. The bookmaker also posts printed materials on how to bet, the types of wagers from which you can select, and the current odds, tips, and predictions.

The Benefits of Using a Top Betting Site

When you’re staking real money, you want to be sure that you’re using the right bookmaking service to alleviate any concerns about legitimacy and payouts.

That’s why we take the time to diligently sift through all of the information that sportsbetting.ag, as well as other racebooks, provides. A betting service encompasses more than the betting possibilities, and we’ve done our homework to make the process of picking a site much easier for you.

Payouts

We’ve touched on the different methods of depositing already, but we also investigated the payout turnarounds.

After all, if your pick crosses the finish line first at Churchill Downs, you want that cash in your hands as quickly as possible.

The challenges are significant for Americans, but sportsbetting.ag comes through again with relatively fast payouts.

They’re particularly appealing if you do use a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, as you don’t have additional delays after the withdrawal requested is internally approved by the sportsbetting’s accounting department.

Minimum Withdrawal Requests

You can withdraw as little as $20. Requests are typically reviewed every business day, 24 hours after you initiate a payout.

Just as we’ve come across many operators that impose a relatively high minimum deposit, we’ve also seen $100 withdrawal minimums. So, $20 is on the low end of the spectrum.

Esports, Financials, Casino

In addition to the better-than-average banking program and cashback promotions for race bettors, you’ll also find other gaming opportunities offered on the same website.

Not only can you bet on other sports, esports, and financials, but sportsbetting.ag also provides a Betsoft casino with slots, table games, video poker, and specialty gaming options.

Sportsbetting.ag has longevity, as it initially launched back in 1999.

But in recent years, customers have commented on a noticeable upturn in the overall quality of the service. Payouts are faster, and customer service agents are much more responsive and helpful.

It’s important to choose a bookmaker that covers all bases from promotions to plenty of markets, good odds and reliable banking.

Taking all things into consideration, sportsbetting.ag is one of the top sites, whether you’re looking for a go-to sportsbook or you just want to give it a try with a Kentucky Derby prediction.

The Latest 2018 Kentucky Derby Betting Odds

The Kentucky Derby is quickly approaching, and books like sportsbetting.ag are now taking “to wins.”

While the odds may change between now and the race, the following were posted on sportsbetting.ag the week leading up to the main event.

Bolt d’Oro+600
Combatant+6500
Enticed+3500
Firenze Fire+9000
Free Drop Billy+5500
Good Magic+825
Instilled Regard+6500
Lone Sailor+6000
Mendelssohn+525
My Boy Jack+3000
Solomini+3000
Noble Indy+3500
Audible+650
Flameaway+5500
Vino Rosso+950
Magnum Moon+725
Bravazo+6500
Snapper Sinclair+10000
Justify+180
Promises Fulfilled+8500
Hofburg+3500
Betting on the Kentucky Derby

If you’re as excited about the 2018 Kentucky Derby as we are, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got a lot more information posted on our site to help you with your projections.

Our guide to the Kentucky Derby will get you up to speed on one of the most exciting horseraces in the world. Over 150,000 people head to Churchill Downs, but if you’re not one of them, you can catch the action on NBC sports. Post time is 6:46 PM (ET) on the 5th of May.

Sportsbetting.ag is currently taking futures bets on win predictions and will soon be fully open for business for straights and exotics.

If you need a refresher, some advice, or instructions on how to bet, then we’ve you covered there as well in our dedicated race betting section.

For now, here’s a quick look at some of the contenders you might consider betting on.

Justify and Magnum Moon

These are two runners to definitely watch at this year’s Kentucky Derby, but it’s not just because they’re two of the favorites.

Neither Justify nor Magnum Moon has raced as a two-year-old. While Justify emerged victorious at the Santa Anita Derby and Magnum Moon at the Arkansas Derby, are they subject to a 136-year-old curse?

The ONLY runner to ever win the Kentucky Derby without previously competing as a two-year-old was Apollo.

That was all the way back in 1882. Despite 61 attempts over the years, while some have claimed second- and third-place finishes, none have ever duplicated Apollo’s achievement.

Keep in mind that Justify is the current favorite. So, will the oddsmakers prove to be right, or will the curse prevail?

Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn might not be subject to the Apollo curse, but he is also one to watch. He’s trained by Aidan O’Brien, one of the top Irish trainers in racing history.

Mendelssohn won both the $2 million UAE Derby in March at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai as well as the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf this past November in Del Mar.

Mendelssohn is ranked as number eight on the leaderboard and has nearly $2 million in recorded earnings. His victory would mark O’Brien’s first at the Kentucky Derby.

Snapper Sinclair

If you gravitate to long shots, you’ll want to take a peek at Snapper Sinclair’s stats. He’s currently listed at 100 to 1 odds despite a victory in March’s Louisiana Derby. Snapper Sinclair is a home-based contender, born in Kentucky. He’s trained by Steven M. Asmussen and recorded $301,810 in stakes earnings.

Snapper Sinclair is number 21 on the leaderboard ranking and accumulated 22 points in the “road to the Kentucky Derby.”

Conclusion

The 2018 Kentucky Derby is offering a $2 million purse and expects record-breaking betting action. If you’re not in the vicinity of a racecourse or off-track betting facility, then you should now be well-prepared to make an online wager.

You don’t have to stake hundreds or thousands to experience the excitement of having some money on the line. Sportsbetting.ag allows for as little as $20 deposits, and you can withdraw at the same level.

Of course, you can also take advantage of a new player welcome offer. So, if your horse doesn’t finish first, you can request a refund, and sportsbetting.ag will credit you with up to $25 in bonus play cash.

Over the years, we’ve become an all-encompassing resource for all things Kentucky Derby. You can check out our other racebook recommendations, read up on this year’s Derby, and get some betting tips and tricks in our guide to horseracing.

All that’s left is the mint julep. But you’ll have to take care of that one.

The post Sportsbetting.ag – Our Featured Betting Site for the 2018 Kentucky Derby appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

PAGCOR Puts Galaxy Entertainment’s Boracay Casino Project “On Hold”

CasinoGamesPro.com
PAGCOR Puts Galaxy Entertainment’s Boracay Casino Project “On Hold”

The gaming regulator of the Philippines revealed that the PHP500-million integrated casino resort project of Galaxy Entertainment Group in the country’s most popular holiday destination – the island of Boracay – was put on hold until the Macau-based operator is able to convince the president that the project would be beneficial for the region. As […]

The post PAGCOR Puts Galaxy Entertainment’s Boracay Casino Project “On Hold” appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.

Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago to undergo $15 million renovation

World Casino News
Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago to undergo $15 million renovation

In Indiana, the Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago has reportedly announced that it will be spending $15 million over the next 18 weeks in order to completely renovate its four-level riverboat casino operation. According to a recent report from The Times of Northwest Indiana newspaper, the Lake County facility owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties […]

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Local player cashes in for $50,000 in Pala Casino's 'Goin' Bannanas' cash promotion

Casino City Times
Local player cashes in for $50,000 in Pala Casino's 'Goin' Bannanas' cash promotion
Rosilina T. from Oceanside, California scoops a huge jackpot at the California casino.

How Augmented and Virtual Reality Could Affect Esports

GamblingSites.com
How Augmented and Virtual Reality Could Affect Esports

In the summer of 2016, the world got it’s first taste of consumer usable, mainstream, beloved augmented reality with the release of Pokémon Go. The game spread like wildfire throughout the globe, maintaining a huge player base even today.

Pokémon Go is not an esport and would have to make major changes to become one. However, the game does leave some precedent for what augmented and virtual reality can do for esports in the future.

The technology is growing ever closer, with AR now being a default for products like the iPhone X. Truly innovative and cutting edge, it’s difficult to predict where exactly virtual reality and augmented reality will take us.

It seems like a time when VR or AR are entirely ubiquitous is still in the distant future, but it will come. The question for esports fans is this: what will augmented and virtual reality do for esports?

How Esports Have Already Been Affected by Virtual Reality

The esports community has already seen the first inklings of virtual reality. In 2017, Oculus teamed up with common esports sponsor, Intel, and the Electronic Sports League to create the Virtual Reality Challenger League.

At this point, the league seems to be a novelty above all else, being showcased at several ESL events. The league supports two games at the time of writing: Echo Arena and The Unspoken.

What we’ve seen from the league so far is promising. The players are more active in their role, navigating the games with more physicality. The viewers don’t benefit much from this, however.

The viewing experience is much the same, as players are seen navigating the games on screens that show what’s happening in game.

However, ESL has been working to change the viewing experience starting as early as 2016. It was reported in April of 2016 that ESL was beginning to work on virtual events where viewers could join alongside ESL events in a digital arena.

This technology has yet to come to fruition, but could be a major turning point for virtual reality.

I would expect that this technology will also enrich the viewing experience by creating in-game spectatorship. Just like you can go to an arena to see actual football, you’ll soon be able to step into a virtual one to watch Madden.

How We Can Expect Virtual Reality to Affect Esports in the near Future

Black Box VR is outside of the esports realm for now, but also something esports fans should keep a watch on. This virtual reality company helps people to have a more intense workout by allowing them to play a virtual reality game.

While the technology is more likely to come to gyms before it comes to esports, I would expect that VR games will be played similarly.

The only certainty with virtual and augmented reality technology is that it will increase the level of physicality in esports significantly and eventually lead to a more exciting game play experience. With players using themselves instead of an extension of themselves, there’s more room for player skill to play a factor.

This will also open a whole new world of esports, which will lead to a takeover from more traditional esports.

Augmented reality may help to create more physical esports in a much different way. If you tuned into Cartoon Network in the 2000s, you likely remember the Yu-Gi-Oh! cartoon/anime. While they were playing with the same cards that were printed on cardboard, arenas in the show would create physical representations of the cards.

Star Wars toyed with a similar idea in dejarik, the sci fi version of chess played by Chewbacca and C-3PO. It’s reasonable to expect that augmented reality will lead to great possibilities for traditional games to become even more exciting.

The first company to create a card game that uses AR to recreate the experience shown on Yu-Gi-Oh! will be very rich.

Finally, I expect AR and VR to be the nail in the coffin for traditional sports. As the two work in combination to create a more exciting spectator experience, there will be a fever pitch.

Traditional sports, like football, have managed to survive because of the raw physicality. This physicality will now be brought to esports, but with no margin for error.

The concussion controversy leading to the NFL’s lowest rated season in history will never be a thing in virtual reality — the esports themselves will never lead to injury. I’m not expecting traditional sports to go away entirely, but I do expect more people to tune into the Madden Esports League final than the Super Bowl in the near future.

How Virtual Reality May Affect the Esports Community as a Whole

Augmented reality will almost certainly make a splash in the esports community before virtual reality does. I expect that within the next few years a company will create a “heads up display” technology that will be the foot in the door for mainstream VR and AR tech.

That technology will make it easier for fans to keep up with stats, navigate around events and become immersed in esports culture.

Virtual reality’s most immediate affect will certainly be to bring the esports community closer together. Because virtual reality is so interesting to esports fans, but remains unavailable to the general public, it will likely begin in a shared space. In fact, we’ve already seen this with the rise of VR lounges throughout 2017.

These are parlors that set up in malls and other similar commercial spaces offering people a place to sit and tap in to the world of virtual reality.

When the ESL spectator technology comes out, it’s a near certainty that these will convert into a sort of “esports bar.” People will be able to use virtual reality technology to watch and become part of the event while being surround by real people with similar interests.

Where esports spectatorship has been mostly a private hobby in the past, there will now be a pillar upon which local communities will be built.

How Virtual Reality May Affect the Esports Betting Community

Both AR and VR technology will be great for the esports betting community as well. Augmented reality technology should greatly streamline the experience of online betting. Keeping up with scores and odds will now be much more passive, which will be a great convenience for anyone who loves esports betting.

Should “esports bars” become a thing (which they almost certainly will) the opportunity for esports betting will also greatly increase. Betting is so ingrained in sports culture that it seems almost impossible to have one without the other. Not only will this be great for the casual bettor, but could lead to a payday for the esports betting pro.

With huge change on the rise, it’s important to stay up to date with augmented and virtual reality.

The two are being worked on by tech companies across the world, meaning their day of ubiquity is always on the horizon.

Both an entrepreneurial esports fan or a savvy esports better will have a field day if they find themselves on the forefront of AR and VR. The two will rework everything, and the early birds will get the worm.

The post How Augmented and Virtual Reality Could Affect Esports appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Janis Laganovskis to speak at upcoming Mare Balticum Gaming Summit

World Casino News
Janis Laganovskis to speak at upcoming Mare Balticum Gaming Summit

After announcing the first lineup of speakers back in February, organizers of the Mare Balticum Gaming Summit have announced that four regulators will be present during the event to provide briefings and official gaming numbers from the Danish, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuanian markets. Each market will have panel discussions on the schedule with Janis Laganovskis […]

Wynn Resorts to rename Boston casino project

World Casino News
Wynn Resorts to rename Boston casino project

In an effort to further distance itself from former Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn, the Las Vegas-based company that bears his name will reportedly rebrand its $2.5 billion under-construction property in Everett, Massachusetts as Encore Boston Harbor. The name is taken from Wynn Resorts Limited’s Encore-branded gaming facilities it owns in Las Vegas and Macau. […]

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Four Powerful Tips for Choosing a Winning Horse in the Kentucky Derby

GamblingSites.com
Four Powerful Tips for Choosing a Winning Horse in the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby has been one of the most popular annual sporting events in America since it started in 1875, and it is one of the most unique American traditions.

Whether you are looking for an excuse to wear an elaborate hat, or you want to watch other people show off their extravagance, or if you simply want to sip a mint julep in the southern sun, the Kentucky Derby is the place for you.

But horse racing wouldn’t be the same without the chance to place a wager on the winning horse. In fact, if it weren’t for the gambling, horse racing would probably cease to exist. Today’s technology means that you can place a bet from anywhere using a variety of different websites, so you don’t have to go to the Derby to enjoy gambling on it.

There are lots of simple and fun ways to choose your winning horse. You may decide based on the name of the horse or because the jockey is wearing your favorite color.

Or maybe you’re a chalk player who always backs the favorites, or you may have a tradition of choosing a chestnut-colored filly. Or perhaps you always place your bet on horse number 7 because that was your great aunt’s lucky number.

If you are just betting for the enjoyment of it, these methods are all perfectly acceptable. However, if you would like to increase your odds of winning, you will want to use a little bit more strategy when you choose your selection.

Below are some tips for selecting a winner. Remember, though, that no wager is ever guaranteed. These tips are meant to help you make your choices strategically, but there is always an element of risk when you are betting. The risk is what makes it thrilling!

Tip #1: Get a Head Start

If you really want to increase your odds of choosing a winner, don’t wait until the day of the Kentucky Derby to start thinking about it. Here are a couple of ways that you can start getting ready even now.

If you can, it is a good idea to watch and wager on a few of the earlier races.

The prep races for the Kentucky Derby start as early as September of the previous year, so there are plenty of opportunities to watch and learn. There are still two prep races that have not yet aired. The Arkansas Derby and Lexington races both take place in mid-April.

If you missed the earlier races, it is usually possible to watch them later on horse racing websites like DRF (Daily Racing Form).

On the opposite side, you can also use the Kentucky Derby as a learning experience. The Kentucky Derby is the first race of the Triple Crown Series.

It is followed by the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, each of which occurs three to five weeks after the Kentucky Derby. To win the Triple Crown, a horse must win all three of these races in any given year. So far, there have only been twelve horses who have won the Triple Crown Series!

As you watch the Kentucky Derby, try to think about your future bets on the Preakness and Belmont races and learn as much as you possibly can about the horses competing.

Watching the early races will help you to be familiar with the horses, the jockeys, and the trainers. An educated guess is better than just a guess, and watching these races is one way to get your horse-racing education. Betting on those earlier races will also give you a chance to practice the other tips and get yourself familiar with the odds.

Another thing that you can do to prepare yourself is to begin studying the form guides. Form guides, or sometimes called racing forms, are merely records of information on each racing horse. We will explain form guides in more detail in the next section.

If you are not accustomed to reading a form guide, it can be overwhelming. Give yourself a chance to explore a few different examples of form guides so that you are ready to learn the form guide on the day of the Derby.

Tip #2: Get as Much Information as You Can

The most important way to make a strategic choice is to have as much information as possible before you begin. Form guides or racing forms are the best sources of detailed, up-to-date information when it comes to horse racing.

Each race will have its own form guide with information about that race, the distance and conditions of the track, and the specific horses that are competing in that race.

You should read the Kentucky Derby racing forms before the race to familiarize yourself with each horse, its trainer and jockey, and its weight and age. They will also tell you the father and mother of each horse, which is very relevant information because horse racing is a sport that often revolves around breeding.

Some information on the horses’ past performances is also included on the form guides. However, they only list the most recent races and the horse’s place in that race.

You need more information about those past performances for this information to be useful.

For example, if a horse has had a good winning streak but lost the last two races, you may ask yourself why. If the winning races were all over a short distance, but the losing races were both long distances, you can use that information to predict the horse’s performance for this distance.

Don’t just pay attention to information about the horse itself. Jockeys and trainers make a big difference in the likelihood of a particular horse winning.

The form guide will tell you who the rider and the trainer are, but if you are not familiar with their stats and styles, you need to do some research before placing your wager.

As you can see, the racing guides are an excellent place to start when gathering information. But they don’t give you the whole picture, especially if you are unfamiliar with some of the other races.

The daily racing program will have some more information, but these are only available on the day of the competition, and they still don’t have all of the information you might want. Use this information to guide your decisions, but look at more details found through horse-racing websites like Brisnet, Equibase, and the Daily Racing Form.

They will give you every possible detail, although some of them require a fee for specific information.

There is an unending amount of information that you can consider when you are choosing a winning horse. Don’t let the abundance of material get you overwhelmed, though.

Once you become acquainted with each of these sources, you will begin to understand which factors are crucial and which statistics you can dismiss. You will also become familiar with the terms, the people, and the symbols used, so it will get easier and easier to understand. This will help you with your horse racing betting in general, not just for the Kentucky Derby.

Tip #3: Watch the Horses

Another way that you can guide your picks is to watch the horses, whether that is in person or through live streaming before the race begins. Horses’ physical appearance, specifically on the day of the Derby, gives you some significant clues to how they are feeling.

If the horse has pricked ears that are pointed up, it is feeling confident and alert. Signs of general well-being like a shiny coat and well-toned muscles are a big positive. If the horse is hanging its head or has its ears flattened, it may be either inattentive or anxious. If the horse is sweating profusely or is fidgeting a lot, it is nervous and is wasting vital energy that it will need during the race. Check for a coat that is dull or if it seems to be carrying extra weight because these are signs that it is not in good health.
Tip #4: Listen to the Experts – But Form Your Own Opinion

As the Derby approaches, more and more experts will start to publish their favorites and the horses that they might bet on themselves. These experts are usually racing analysts that work for the racetracks or the betting companies, and they are often journalists who publish information about the races.

These guys definitely know what they are talking about because it is their JOB to know.

Experts are there for a reason, and while they won’t always be correct, it is a good idea to listen to their perspectives. If it is possible, be sure to know WHY they are making their predictions. This will help you to narrow down the ways that you agree or disagree with them.

Don’t be afraid to bet against the experts or the favorites, though. There is approximately a 70% chance that an outsider will win the race, and outsiders will usually have higher odds which will mean a larger payout. Pay attention to what the experts are saying and the odds that a bookmaker is using, but consider each of them with a grain of salt.

If you have strong reason to believe that an outsider will win, don’t be afraid to trust your own judgment.

Summary

To sum it all up, the more that you know, the better your wager will be. Knowing how to read and interpret the information that is available to you is half of the battle. You also need to know what information is the most important, though.

For example, a suitable trainer with a history of wins is probably more predictive of the winner than the horse’s lineage.

The more that you can develop your own system, the more confidence you will have in your bets. There are never any guarantees, but if you use these tips to arm yourself with information, you will significantly increase your chances of choosing a winning horse at the Kentucky Derby, and any other horse race for that matter.

Once you put these strategies to use (and hopefully win!) for the Derby, you will be even more excited to place a bet on the other two races in the Triple Crown Series, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

Over time, these techniques have the potential to take you from being a random beginner to becoming a successful bettor. No one wins every time, but you definitely CAN win often enough to make it worthwhile.

The post Four Powerful Tips for Choosing a Winning Horse in the Kentucky Derby appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Friday Brings partypoker Grand Prix Germany Main Event Player Count to 1,646 Entries

CasinoGamesPro.com
Friday Brings partypoker Grand Prix Germany Main Event Player Count to 1,646 Entries

Poker action is in full swing at the King’s Casino located in Rozvadov, the Czech Republic and this is clearly visible by the enthusiastic poker players currently participating in the long-anticipated partypoker Grand Prix Germany Main Event. The first three live starting flights already finished and this brought even more players to the overall players […]

The post Friday Brings partypoker Grand Prix Germany Main Event Player Count to 1,646 Entries appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.

Videoslots debuts two new online slot games from GAMING1

Casino City Times
Videoslots debuts two new online slot games from GAMING1
Both Cirtakus and Pearl Tracker offer low-limit wagers, free spins and other extra bonuses.

Blue Chip Casino announces May entertainment and specials

Casino City Times
Blue Chip Casino announces May entertainment and specials
May at Blue Chip is jam-packed with fun, including Brewfest May 5 with 70 breweries and some 300 delicious craft brews, a Mother's Day Brunch featuring prime rib, and the start of the Summer Wheels giveaway.

Friday, April 27, 2018

The Biggest Reaches and Steals from Round One of the 2018 NFL Draft

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The Biggest Reaches and Steals from Round One of the 2018 NFL Draft

Day one of the 2018 NFL Draft is officially in the books, meaning all 32 NFL teams probably feel like they got the elite talent they fell in love with.

Some of those teams nailed their picks, and in some spots, they got value so good that they actually exceeded expectations. If things work out as that value might suggest, said teams may end up looking quite smart down the road.

There’s also the other side of the first round of the draft. That’s the losing side.

As bold as some moves can appear, going beyond your draft board can produce reaches or flat-out bad fits.

A few teams went outside the lines in round one, and if things don’t unfold the right way, everyone will eventually look back at these as either being reaches or simply terrible picks.

Which teams hit these extremes the best and worst in round one? Let’s look over how the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft unfolded to find out.

5 Biggest Reaches
Cleveland Browns (1st Overall) – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

I’m not saying Mayfield isn’t a tantalizing talent, because he absolutely is. He’s got a compact build, a strong arm, nice mobility, and he plays with a fire.

Unfortunately, even with new shot callers in the front office, this is such a classic Browns move.

Mayfield is a gamer in every sense of the word, but he also has a lot of red flags.

The two big ones are his small stature and some genuine character concerns. After getting comparisons to former Browns draft bust Johnny Manziel, it’s a little shocking that Cleveland still threw caution to the wind and made this pick.

Another thing aligning Mayfield with Manziel is that both of these quarterbacks were former Heisman Trophy winners. While not always a death sentence, Heisman winners historically do not go on to have successful pro careers.

None of this means Mayfield will be a failure, but Sam Darnold was arguably safer, and Josh Allen had more upside. Mayfield’s stock had heated up, but this still felt like a reach.

While that’s possible, the good news is that Mayfield was projected for a high Over/Under, and he did end up getting picked early in the draft. If you went with the Under at any NFL Draft betting sites, you certainly came out in the green.

Cleveland Browns (4th Overall) – Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

Again, Ward is another guy who is a stud talent and very well could end up being a fantastic pro football player.

However, he was the first defensive back taken in this draft, and the consensus did not have him pegged as the best available.

At corner alone, Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick was regarded as the top cover man, while safety Derwin James was arguably a better overall secondary pick.

That doesn’t mean the Browns didn’t make a great pick, but there’s an argument here that they could have traded down and still landed Ward.

That, or they could have grabbed a better prospect in this spot like Fitzpatrick, the best pass rusher in Bradley Chubb, or the best offensive lineman in Quenton Nelson.

Cleveland obviously loved Ward enough to make this splash, but the value just wasn’t there.

San Francisco 49ers (9th Overall) – Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

McGlinchey is another guy that was a fantastic prospect, but maybe not one that necessarily felt like a top-10 lock.

I was looking at either a go-to number-one wide receiver like Calvin Ridley here or a big impact defender, yet the Niners went a completely different route.

Rebuilding the trenches is never sexy, yet often pretty smart, so it’s hard to come down on John Lynch and company too hard here.

That being said, not everyone would agree McGlinchey was even the best offensive tackle available at this point, while the Niners passed up on some truly elite talent.

Jimmy Garoppolo really doesn’t have a reliable wide receiver to throw to. Considering no receivers had been selected at this point, San Francisco had their pick and opted to go tackle instead.

The same goes on the defensive side of the ball, where studs like Derwin James, Tremaine Edmunds, and others were still waiting to hear their name called.

McGlinchey is probably going to go down as a solid pick for the 49ers, but it still felt like a reach.

Oakland Raiders (15th Overall) – Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

The Raiders committed a similar gaffe just six picks later. They actually traded down from the 10th spot, and with this draft pick, they took a raw offensive tackle that wasn’t even consistently projected to be taken in the first round.

That isn’t to suggest Miller is a trash tackle!

Miller absolutely has the talent and upside to project well down the road, but experience, consistency, and durability raise some red flags. Offensive linemen often look like locks, and then they’re simply not, so taking a guy with some technical and consistency issues right off the bat at 15 feels like a bold call.

Depending on who you ask, Miller was a second-round pick at best in this draft, while the Raiders really had the opportunity to snag some high-level talent at 15th overall.

It doesn’t feel like they maximized their pick value, while trading down could have netted Jon Gruden and co. more picks, and they probably could have still had Miller fall into their lap.

Seattle Seahawks (27th Overall) – Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State

There were a few more reaches throughout round one of the 2018 NFL Draft, but the last big one is Penny, who wasn’t even the third-best running back on most draftnik’s boards.

Seattle had the need for a running back, which understandably triggered this reach.

The running game hasn’t been good for the Seahawks ever since Marshawn Lynch left town, and they probably felt like they had to get that situation right again.

Of course, Penny might not be the answer, and he arguably was far from the best rusher available when they picked. Sony Michel, Derrius Guice, and even Nick Chubb were all graded better than Penny by most draft gurus.

Maybe Seattle knows something everyone else doesn’t, but it still feels like they could have snagged a better value here and went after Penny in round two.

On the betting side of things, Penny did contribute to three running backs being drafted in round one. Depending on where you bet on the NFL Draft, the Over could have won you some money.

5 Biggest Steals
Arizona Cardinals (10th Overall) – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

There are cases to be made for the top offensive guard (Quenton Nelson) going 6th overall and Josh Allen (7th) also sliding, but Josh Rosen falling to the 10th spot makes for a bigger steal.

Rosen has talked a loud game all offseason, and he didn’t win at UCLA, but he was a smooth operator, put up solid numbers, and brings pro-level talent to the table immediately.

The beauty here is that Rosen had the talent to be argued for the #1 pick in this year’s draft and Arizona badly needed a franchise passer.

All the Cardinals have right now is an often-injured Sam Bradford and the pedestrian Mike Glennon. For a team that was competing for a shot at the Super Bowl just a few years ago, that simply will not do.

The Cardinals aimed high here and got a guy who can win from within the pocket and has the demeanor of a champion.

Only time will tell if he actually pans out as their long-term starter, but he was graded extremely high and slid further than expected. By definition, AZ got themselves a steal.

Miami Dolphins (11th Overall) – Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama

Just as big of a steal landed one pick later when arguably the top cover man in the 2018 NFL Draft was yanked off the board by Miami.

The Dolphins had been said to be interested in grabbing a new franchise quarterback, but Rosen was plucked off the board ahead of them, and then they were staring at the best defensive back in this draft class.

Fitzpatrick was not the first corner selected in this draft, but he probably should have been. This was the most complete secondary talent available and was regarded by most as a lock for the top five for much of the draft season.

It didn’t shake out that way, but that allowed for Miami to beef up their secondary with a flat-out stud.

Yeah, I’d call that a steal!
Buffalo Bills (16th Overall) – Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

An even bigger steal came at the 16th pick when the Bills landed stud Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds after some trades.

Buffalo landed their second big selection of round one, but Edmunds in a lot of ways is a way bigger steal than getting Josh Allen at 7th overall.

Allen will likely be more important for Buffalo’s long-term success, but Edmunds is a freak athlete that was projected well inside the top 10.

A number of teams could have and probably should have pounced on him before he got to the 16th spot, as this kid is just insanely athletic and versatile.

He’s a pure defender that can be used all over the place and could be a real problem for opposing offenses, both as a stopper in the open field and as a pass rusher.

Edmunds felt like a lock for the top 10, so for the Bills to get him here is frankly amazing.

Los Angeles Chargers (17th Overall) – Derwin James, S, Florida State

There was another huge steal just one pick later as stud safety Derwin James finally saw his own free fall come to an end.

Much like Edmunds, James looked like a lock to be taken inside the top 10 throughout the draft process, but somehow, he slipped through the cracks.

It was shocking to see, considering James is the total package.

James offers the ideal size, physicality, speed, fluidity, and instincts for the safety position. Perhaps inconsistency in general pushed him down some teams’ boards, but this is a freak game-changer in the making.

Already blessed with a sound defense across the board, the Bolts just got a heck of a lot better on that side of the ball.

Atlanta Falcons (26th Overall) – Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Ridley couldn’t help but tear up when he found out he was selected by the Falcons at pick 26, both because his dream was finally realized, and his epic slide was over.

Perhaps part of his joy came from teaming up with former Crimson Tide stud Julio Jones, as well as former league MVP passer Matt Ryan.

Regarded by many as the most complete wide receiver in the 2018 NFL Draft, Ridley inexplicably plummeted down draft boards despite having the speed and playmaking ability to be a true difference-maker at the next level.

Size questions may have dropped his stock slightly, but that didn’t really explain D.J. Moore being taken ahead of him.

With Jones showing him the way, something tells me Ridley’s plight to prove how wrong the rest of the league was will be a story to follow.

From a sports betting perspective, Ridley’s free fall was quite disappointing, as it impacted the number of wide receivers taken in round one.

He and Moore gave bettors two to work with, and depending on the Over/Under wagers out there, it could have been problematic.

Baltimore Ravens (32nd Overall) – Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

I had to include one more steal for the first round because the Ravens swooped in and grabbed Louisville dual-threat passer Lamar Jackson at the last second.

It really looked like Jackson was about to slide into the second round, with the Philadelphia Eagles ready to make the round’s final pick, but Baltimore made a trade to get Joe Flacco’s eventual successor under center.

Only time will tell when Jackson will supplant Flacco and if he’ll pan out, but considering he was being talked up as a top-15 pick, this certainly qualifies as a steal.

Jackson is an elite talent in general, both as a runner and a deep ball maestro.

It was odd throughout the draft season to see so-called draft experts knock his ability as a passer, but it was great to see someone go out of their way to express their confidence in him.

Needless to say, if you placed any bets that Jackson would be taken in round one, you converted them – just barely.

Summary

Overall, this was one heck of a first round. Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson are probably the headlining acts, both because they started and ended this thing and because they’re without a doubt two of the most polarizing figures in the 2018 NFL Draft.

There were several big reaches and impressive steals, and to be honest, there were too many to cover in depth.

These were the ones that likely left a lasting impact, however, and are probably the players that fans will look back on the most.

The best part is that the draft continues on through the weekend, so fans can embrace more of this excitement and even place wagers on NFL Draft prop bets as they follow along.

The post The Biggest Reaches and Steals from Round One of the 2018 NFL Draft appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Crown Resorts Limited fined for slot tampering in Melbourne

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Crown Resorts Limited fined for slot tampering in Melbourne

In Australia, casino operator Crown Resorts Limited has reportedly been fined AU$300,000 ($225,000) by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation after it was found to have contravened the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 at its Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex. According to a report from The Guardian newspaper, the firm was penalized after being […]

Scientific Games installs LIGHTNING LAUNCH Roulette in two Atlantic City Casinos

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Scientific Games installs LIGHTNING LAUNCH Roulette in two Atlantic City Casinos

Two casinos in Atlantic City now have a new gaming option to enjoy, thanks to Scientific Games. The technology-based gaming systems provider announced this week that Bally’s Wild Wild West and Harrah’s Atlantic City now have the PRIZM GAMETABLE in operation, featuring the unique LIGHTNING LAUNCH Roulette game. This new roulette title places a spin […]

2018 NFL Draft Betting – 5 Players Who Could Free Fall in Round One

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2018 NFL Draft Betting – 5 Players Who Could Free Fall in Round One

The 2018 NFL Draft officially arrives on Thursday, April 26th, putting to bed speculation surrounding the first pick in the draft.

It’s been a wild ride to get to this point. Sam Darnold was once the locked-in favorite, and even after almost being supplanted by a number of elite prospects, he still may very well be the guy for the Cleveland Browns at #1 overall.

That’s at least what most sports betting sites think, as Darnold has been the clear frontrunner no matter where you look.

Sports bettors can hop on Darnold as the top pick in this year’s draft, or they can take advantage of all of the hype surrounding other players, as well as Cleveland’s presumed inability to make a decision.

Of course, nailing the top pick – whether you’re the Browns or just someone betting on it – is just the beginning.

That pick will set in motion a domino effect that could end up having numerous big names free fall down draft boards. Whether it’s just overrated talent, big trades that shake things up, or a lack of need at a position, there are a handful of players that could slide on day one and possibly all the way out of the first round.

Anything can happen in the draft, and if there are going to be some top prospects sliding, it may impact how you wager on various NFL Draft prop bets.

To help you place your wagers, here’s a look at five big-name prospects that could drop more than expected, and how it could impact the rest of the draft.

All odds that are referenced in this article were taken from MyBookie.ag at 1:04 pm CT on 4/25/2018. These odds may have changed since the time of this writing.
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

It might not be a great idea to bet on Rosen to be the #1 player off the board this year. While the odds are tempting (+2200 at MyBookie.ag), he’s been regarded as the most likely quarterback to slide in this year’s stacked draft class.

That isn’t to say Rosen isn’t good. He comes with an NFL-ready skillset and looks about as smooth in the pocket as any passer in this draft.

The main problem is that Rosen didn’t win at UCLA and also doesn’t have the elite physical traits some of the other top passing prospects possess.

Rosen isn’t the best passer, but he’s a good one. Still, because he’s probably only the fourth-best quarterback going into the 2018 NFL Draft (and some would argue he’s even behind Lamar Jackson), there is a chance he slides.

If there isn’t a crazy quarterback run in the first five picks, a lack of need and interest in other positions could send a guy once seen as a viable #1 option outside of the top 10 or worse.

Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

I name Nelson with some hesitance, as he is absolutely the best offensive lineman in this draft and the best guard by quite a bit. From a sheer talent perspective, he would seem to be a locked and loaded pick within the top five.

NFL scouts looking for a nasty guard who can dominate on the line with athleticism and power will find a stud in Nelson. Fundamentally and technically sound, Nelson feels like a can’t-miss prospect in a draft loaded with questions.

As surefire of a pick as Nelson appears to be, need is going to be a huge determining factor in where he ends up in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Literally every team could use a player of his talent, but a lot of teams picking early lack a franchise quarterback or will be hard-pressed to pass on studs like Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb, and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

I still don’t think a slide outside of the top five is a lock, but it could certainly happen, and if it does, it may not stop there. Based on need and the other talent available, it’s really not that crazy to imagine this beast of a man sliding somewhere in the 8-10 range.

At some point, though, even teams that may like another player at a different position will have to weigh the risk of bypassing such a flat-out stud.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Ridley is at greater risk of sliding further than both Rosen and Nelson. Rosen has at least been in the mix for the first overall pick in the past, while both guys have been regarded as top-five possibilities for quite some time.

Ridley hasn’t risen quite that high, but he’s still been regarded as a potential top-10 pick. Considering he is the consensus #1 wide receiver talent this year, he absolutely could still hear his name called early.

However, there is reason to believe Calvin Ridley’s draft stock has suffered and he COULD free fall.

Ridley has great speed and route tree knowledge, but he’s a little smaller than you’d like your top receiver to be. Strength, size, and consistency are the main red flags – not enough to push him too far down in the first round, but enough for some teams to consider other wide receivers ahead of him.

There is a solid group here. D.J. Moore, Courtland Sutton, and Christian Kirk are all viable round-one prospects, so depending on what teams think, it’s possible Ridley could be leap-frogged by any of them.

Of course, while Ridley could slide, the real question is just how far he might fall.

I think he’s still locked into the first round, but when you look at the first 15 picks in this draft, it’s not crazy to suggest nobody picks a wide receiver.

Chicago, San Francisco, Buffalo, and Washington are your best bets in the top 15. They all need wide receiver help in some fashion, but they also need talent elsewhere. If the Cowboys and Ravens don’t take a wide receiver in round one, Ridley’s slide could continue.

Toss in the possibility that Sutton or someone else goes over Ridley, and his fall could go further than people think.

I still think wide receiver is pretty top-heavy, and teams are going to select a handful of them in round one.

However, if you’re trying to gauge who the first receiver off the board will be, looking at D.J. Moore (+160) and Courtland Sutton (+380) as value bets at My Bookie might not be a terrible idea.

Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

There are only three realistic top-level cornerbacks slated to be taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and there’s no denying Ward is one of them.

Scouts that crave speed (4.32 40-yard dash time!) and top-shelf man coverage are going to be very high on Ward, who comfortably slides in as this draft’s second-best corner prospect.

The problem? Ward may lack the ideal size some scouts will be looking for, which could better suit him on the inside as a slot corner.

That doesn’t destroy Ward’s draft stock necessarily, but if that is how certain teams view him, they may feel less inclined to invest a top-10 pick in him.

This is a fantastic athlete who can stick with anyone at the next level. He’s absolutely a top-10 threat, but in addition to size/strength question marks is the issue of need.

Everyone needs a stud cornerback in the NFL, but the main teams that would pounce on him early could also address other areas. The Bears don’t really need a defensive back this early in the draft, while the 49ers and Raiders could opt for the best linebacker available.

I love the talent here and corner feels thin up top, but if enough teams fall in love with other players and/or don’t view Ward as a #1 cover man, he could conceivably slide out of the top 10.

Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

The last guy to keep tabs on is Marcus Davenport, who is a total freak and is probably going to be a menace at the next level if he falls into the right hands.

“Fall” is the keyword here, unfortunately, as this was at one point a guy working his way into the top 10, but a few issues may cause a free fall.

The biggest drawback is Davenport’s immense size. He is perfectly built for the line in a 4-3 and hypothetically could be a terror on the edge in a 3-4 system as well.

Unfortunately, there are very real concerns about his ability to drop back into coverage.

Davenport has the athleticism to play anywhere, but if teams running a 3-4 system don’t believe he can consistently get the job done in coverage on the outside, that could outweigh his athleticism and pass-rushing ability.

In addition to the possible scheme issue, consistency has been a problem. If teams feel Davenport is more of a flash in the pan against weaker competition and/or is system-specific, they may stay away.

The main thing working in Davenport’s favor is the fact that this draft class is not loaded with high-level pass rushers. There are a few, but he’s on a short list, and teams looking to give their pass rush a jolt should be giving him a long, hard look.

I still think Davenport is a likely lock for round one, but he’s not the top-15 slam dunk I thought he was months ago.

Summary

Overall, I still think all five of these guys stay inside round one. While this year’s draft process has felt fairly unpredictable, I do think most of the guys projected inside the first round are destined to be there.

The players at real risk are the ones already projected in the 20-32 pick range, and they wouldn’t necessarily qualify as “big falls.”

Of everyone, the biggest guy to keep an eye on is Rosen. His situation could end up being quite similar to Aaron Rodgers’. He’s an elite passing talent, but a loaded position and the combination of talent and need elsewhere could end up hurting him.

It will be interesting to see how the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft unfolds, but the biggest takeaway is how this could impact NFL Draft betting. If you feel any guys are slipping enough to go outside of round one, that may affect how you wager on positional and school bets.

This breakdown also gives you an idea of how to approach player-specific bets that deal with the Over/Under on their draft range, while these guys sliding (or not sliding) could also understandably play into Over/Under wagers for other players.

There is a lot to consider this year, even if all you’re doing is just watching the draft. If you plan on betting on it, make sure you do your research and feel comfortable with your bets before hitting “submit.”

Whatever you do, enjoy the draft, and good luck with your wagers!

The post 2018 NFL Draft Betting – 5 Players Who Could Free Fall in Round One appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Former Okada Manila exec Wolstenholme appointed COO at Hoi An project

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Former Okada Manila exec Wolstenholme appointed COO at Hoi An project

Veteran international gaming executive Steve Wolstenholme (pictured) has reportedly been appointed group chief operating officer (COO) for Hoi An South Development Ltd.’s US$4 billion Hoiana casino resort project. Located approximately 18.6 miles south of Da Nang, central Vietnam’s fastest growing tourist destination, Hoiana will feature premium amenities including luxury hotels, private villas, a condominium hotel, […]

WPT Tournament of Champions to Welcome Exclusive Players this May

CasinoGamesPro.com
WPT Tournament of Champions to Welcome Exclusive Players this May

In the poker industry, there is rarely a time where nothing happens and there are no poker festivals in progress. Players willing to participate in such have the opportunity to do so at all times and the rich schedule of upcoming events of the World Poker Tour proves it with its upcoming and highly anticipated […]

The post WPT Tournament of Champions to Welcome Exclusive Players this May appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.

Iron Dog Studio nominated for EGR Awards 2018 Software Rising Star

World Casino News
Iron Dog Studio nominated for EGR Awards 2018 Software Rising Star

The EGR B2B Awards will take place on June 20 at The Hurlingham Club in London, with operators already being nominated in various categories. When it comes to the 2018 Software Rising Star category, 1X2 Network’s Iron Dog Studio finds themselves shortlisted as a nominee. The nomination comes after 18 months of success for the company. […]

The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians announce passing of former tribal chairman

Casino City Times
The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians announce passing of former tribal chairman
Chairman John A. James was one of the most recognized and respected Native American leaders in the U.S.and has been called The Father of Native American Gaming.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Weekly PGA Tour Betting Preview – 2018 Zurich Classic

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Weekly PGA Tour Betting Preview – 2018 Zurich Classic

I’d venture to guess we’ll hear a Drake song or two from some of the younger guys, and perhaps a Michael Jackson track from the ‘80s from some other players. It’s hard to say what kind of music PGA Tour players listen to nowadays, but we’ll get a glimpse of their taste soon enough.

I can’t tell you the names of all the songs that teams will be selecting as their “walk-up” music as they head to the first tee this weekend in New Orleans, but I can tell you which teams are primed to contend come Sunday afternoon.

The Ryder Cup may not be until September, but we get a sneak peek of the team format this week. The Zurich Classic starts on Thursday at TPC Louisiana, and boy, are we in for a treat. Golf in the morning and dinner in the French Quarter at night? No wonder the players want to come to the Zurich Classic every year.

With Bourbon Street located just a few miles away from the golf course on the other side of the Mississippi River, the fans have it pretty good and will have plenty to choose from as well.

There’s a ton going on in the Big Easy, but I’ll save the “what to do in New Orleans” stuff for the trip advisors. I am here to break down the golf tournament this week and tell you about a few teams I think we need to keep an eye on.

It’s a unique tournament on the PGA Tour schedule, so let me quickly break it down so that you know exactly what to expect.

I took the odds for this post from Bovada.lv at 2:00 pm EST 4/24.
The odds may have changed since then.
Format

The Zurich Classic debuted the team format last season, and it turned out to be a hit. This year, the top 35 teams and ties after Friday’s round will earn tee times for the weekend. The format is simple.

The first and third rounds will be played as four-balls (best ball), while the Friday and Sunday rounds will be played as foursomes (alternate shot).

If this sounds similar to how the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup are played, that’s because it is!

We are in for a ton of excitement, especially if you remember the incredibly dramatic finish to the 2017 edition. Kevin Kisner holed a pitch shot for eagle to force a Monday playoff, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we witnessed another thriller this year.

Teams to Target

Don’t sleep on this field, folks. Five of the top ten in the Official World Golf Rankings are here this week, and there’s plenty at stake. Each winning player takes home over a million bucks, not to mention 400 FedEx Cup points.

It’s easy to predict former Ryder Cup duo Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson will play well; that’s a given. Another set of close friends that competed together during the last Ryder Cup that we’ll see tee it up this week is the “Spanish Armada” combo of Sergio Garcia and Rafael Cabrera-Bello. These two teams are easy choices as to who will win, but they are exactly who the public will bet on.

On the other hand, I found four other teams that I think are legitimate candidates to “wear the belt” at the trophy presentation when it’s all said and done. Take a look and see if you can get on board.

Justin Thomas/Bud Cauley +1200

What’s not to love about “Team Alabama?” Justin Thomas and Bud Cauley were both standout players for the Crimson Tide and now share a home together in Jupiter, Florida. I shouldn’t have to twist your arm too hard to convince you that Justin Thomas is a force to be reckoned with any time he is in the field.

The 2017 FedEx Cup Champion currently sits atop the 2018 standings, and the dude hasn’t even hit his summer stride yet.

His teammate this week might not boast nearly the same professional resume as Thomas, but don’t let Cauley’s 5’7” frame fool you into thinking he isn’t ready to win on the big stage.

The 28-year-old has quietly strung together three straight top-25 finishes in his last three starts on tour and had a pair of top-10s earlier in the campaign.

While Cauley doesn’t tear the cover off the ball to the extent of Thomas, Bud can give it a pretty good poke and get it out there plenty. More importantly, both players are fantastic putters and have great short games. Cauley is ready to get his first win on tour, and his good pal JT wants nothing more than to help him get there.

I expect the two roomies to gel famously this week, as they did en route to a T-5th finish in this event last year. After a Saturday 74 seemed to derail them from contention, their final-round 61 vaulted them back onto the first page of the leaderboard.

Look for them to be on the first page of the board on Sunday this time around as well, only this time it might be at the top.

Sean O’Hair/Jimmy Walker +2200

Are you interested in two players that are playing their best golf in a long time? Look no further than the Sean O’Hair/Jimmy Walker tandem. The two good friends actually got a little warm-up session this past Sunday as they were paired together alongside Ryan Moore during the final round of the Valero Texas Open.

Considering they combined for 15 birdies and finished T-2nd and solo-4th respectively, it’s pretty safe to say the two men enjoy each other’s company.

Sean O’Hair may be a forgotten name on tour, but don’t sleep on the skillset of this 35-year-old resident of Lubbock, Texas.

I already mentioned his runner-up finish last week, but I didn’t tell you he also finished 12th and 7th in back-to-back weeks just over a month ago at the Valspar Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

As for his last team event? That came in December of 2017 at the QBE Shootout when he was paired with Steve Stricker. All they did was shoot -26 and win the golf tournament.

On the flip side, Jimmy Walker is no stranger to team competition. Walker played on the past two Ryder Cup Teams (2014, 2016), not to mention was on the winning 2015 Presidents Cup team. After battling with Lyme disease and struggling to stay healthy, Walker has seemingly turned the corner and is getting back to the form that we saw him display during his triumphant win at the 2016 PGA Championship.

He’s made his last five cuts, which includes his 4th-place finish at Valero and a top 20 at the Masters over his last two starts.

I was looking for two hot players that have similar games, and then this pair hit me in the face like a ton of bricks. They’re both high ball hitters, they make tons of birdies, and they’re coming off great weeks. What more can you ask for?

Jerry Kelly/Steve Stricker +6000

Don’t laugh at me for picking two guys in their 50s until you’ve actually read into the data. I don’t care how old Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelley are; they without a doubt have what it takes to win this golf tournament.

Stricker and Kelley will show up at TPC Louisiana this week with more than enough confidence to compete with the young guns. They currently occupy the top two slots on the 2018 Charles Schwab Cup Money List and have played extraordinary golf all year long.

They teamed up in the inaugural version of this event last year and cruised along to a top-15 finish. Talk about two men with similar games; these two Wisconsin natives are almost a mirror image of each other at this stage in their careers.

They both hit the ball short by today’s standards, although they’ll probably hit as many or more fairways and greens than any team in the field.

Kelly might not be the “magician of a putter” that Stricker is, but the fact of the matter is that you can’t accumulate $28 million in lifetime PGA Tour earnings without holing the occasional 12-footer.

His last victory on the PGA Tour might have come back in 2009, but guess what? It was at the Zurich Classic at this very same course!

They shouldn’t be the favorites to win this week, and I am not suggesting throwing your entire last paycheck on them. However, at 60:1 to win, I think it’s worth throwing a few bucks on them to see what happens.

Sam Ryder/J.J. Spaun +14000

This last “tag-team” is my sleeper pick for the week. At +14000, nobody in the golf world is expecting much from two guys who became close friends while traveling through Canada while competing on the Mackenzie Tour in 2015.

They graduated to the Web.com, and after passing that test with flying colors, the two good buddies have found homes on the PGA Tour. Sam Ryder is a 28-year-old Stetson University grad who is enjoying his rookie season on tour.

Although he has had a mixed bag of results, he did get into contention earlier in the month in Houston and finished 5th.

Meanwhile, Spaun got off to a red-hot start during the fall portion of the 2017/2018 PGA Tour season but was slowed down by nagging injuries earlier this spring. He may have attempted to come back a bit too soon, but his T-26th last week in Texas tells me he is healthy again and ready to play some good golf.

The two Srixon staff members have had this tournament circled on their calendars since the start of the year, and while no one will be picking this duo to win, it actually wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

Keep in mind that there is a reason they are +14000, ladies and gentlemen. No need to go crazy here.
Final Thoughts

Just because the PGA Tour event this week isn’t a typical stroke play event, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance to make some money. Bovada.lv has presented us with a fairly-priced betting sheet with more than enough formidable teams to choose from.

While the general public will be focused on the teams led by the superstars like Jordan Spieth or Jon Rahm, I took a slightly different route.

I dug into the teams that featured players with similar games and players that are playing well.

The good news about trying to pick winners is that the payoffs are generally pretty handsome, so we don’t have to fork out tons up cash up front for the potential of a nice payday.

I anticipate much more being on the table next week for the Wells Fargo Championship, as we should be able to unlock loads of value. In the meantime, place some smallish wagers on the teams I recommended above.

Skip doing the research on future golf tournaments and just take the free advice from a golf nerd like me! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via Twitter.

The post Weekly PGA Tour Betting Preview – 2018 Zurich Classic appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

China lottery sales up 6% for March

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China lottery sales up 6% for March

In China, March ticket sales for its official lottery systems saw a 2.9% spike, with revenue growth for Q1 sales of 9.4% year-on-year. GGRAsia reports that according to China’s Ministry of Finance, aggregate ticket sales of CNY40 billion (US$6.34 billion) for the month of March were registered for the East Asia nation’s two lotteries: the […]

2018 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting the Entire First Round

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2018 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting the Entire First Round

NFL fans don’t have long to wait until the 2018 NFL Draft finally arrives. There has been a ton of hype surrounding the top prospects – namely a stacked quarterback class – and on April 26th, we will finally get to see where they all land.

Draft season is one of hope. This is a time where the Cleveland Browns and other losing teams can attempt to rebuild their franchise the right way.

It’s also a season of retooling and putting on finishing touches.

Perhaps the Indianapolis Colts can get back into the playoff conversation if they make the right moves. Maybe borderline title contenders like the Green Bay Packers or Carolina Panthers are a pick or two away from making a deep playoff run.

Even if the draft goes as planned, it will be months and possibly years before teams know for sure if things worked out in their favor.

Fortunately, sports bettors don’t have to wait that long to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Instead, you can freely bet on the 2018 NFL Draft and be rewarded instantly, depending on which NFL Draft prop bets you target and how hard you bet on them.

One great way to correctly gauge said props, of course, is to map out the first round of the draft.

If you can do so somewhat accurately, you can potentially convert some fun props and enjoy the draft both as a fan and as a winning bettor.

I’ll do my best to aid readers in that process as I hand out my final 2018 NFL mock draft.

All odds that are referenced in this article were taken from Topbet.eu at 9:13 pm CT on 4/23/2018. These odds may have changed since the time of this writing.
Cleveland Browns – Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

If you’re picking here and you don’t have a franchise passer, you better get one. The Browns have gotten the quarterback position so wrong for so long, so they might as well aim high.

Sam Darnold feels safer, but nobody has the upside Allen does. With a solid option like Tyrod Taylor in place as a stop-gap, Allen can take his time to develop.

He had accuracy issues in college, but his size/arm/athleticism combination demands comparison to Cam Newton and Carson Wentz. This has to be Cleveland’s pick.

Considering Allen still carries just +120 odds to go first overall at Topbet.eu and other NFL Draft betting sites, you’re getting a solid bargain here.

New York Giants – Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

The Giants struggled to get after the quarterback last year (29th) in sacks, and they also were terrible as a rushing unit (26th in rushing yards per game).

They need to fix one of those areas with this pick, and I think considering Barkley might be a generational talent, he’s the easy call.

For those keeping score at home, the G-Men bypassing a quarterback and beefing up their running game nixes a Topbet.eu wager that asks if the top three picks will all be passers.

If Barkley is the selection here a -170 “no” bet can return a solid win for bettors.
New York Jets – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

The Baker Mayfield Jets rumors are starting to gain serious steam, so I’ll bite and assume he’s their guy.

Unless Cleveland shocks everyone and takes the Sooners star first overall (+1200 odds), the Big Apple appears to be his destiny.

New York has a lot of problems to address, but they still lack a franchise signal caller. Josh McCown was retained, and Teddy Bridgewater is an interesting one-year flier, but neither of those guys can be counted on as a long-term solution.

Mayfield has size and character concerns but was otherwise a flat-out gamer in college. The Jets are making a bold (but likely smart) choice here.

If you’re with me here, Mayfield could return value on his Over/Under draft range wager (-250).
Cleveland Browns – Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama

It’s very possible the Browns just trade out of this #4 pick, but I’m not in the trade-predicting game.

Should they stand pat, they have a shot at getting a number of elite options, and I think a stud corner like Fitzpatrick should be high on their list. If so, he wins a Fitzpatrick vs. Derwin James prop (-110) by being drafted first.

Some people seem to think they can get away with trading down and still getting someone like Fitzpatrick, but I don’t buy it.

You can’t go 1-31 over the last two years and keep trading down out of spots where you can nab elite prospects. Cleveland needs to bite the bullet and snatch up a lockdown cover man here.

Denver Broncos – Sam Darnold, QB, USC

John Elway has made it his mission to find the next Broncos franchise quarterback. He signed Case Keenum away from Minnesota, and that should give the offense a boost for the immediate future, but he has to know he can’t stop there.

Picking in the 5th spot, Denver has an amazing opportunity to snatch a starting caliber quarterback that can be their answer for years to come. I think that’s Darnold, who lost some luster because he’s more safe than flashy.

Indianapolis Colts – Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

The Colts appear to be fully backing Andrew Luck now that they traded out of the #3 spot, which means they won’t be taking a quarterback. They also won’t have a chance to land Saquon Barkley, which tells me this is a trenches play.

Bradley Chubb could be an option to ignite the pass rush here, but what makes more sense than anything is beefing up the offensive line.

Quenton Nelson is without a doubt the top o-line prospect on the board, and this team needs help creating running lanes and protecting a quarterback that just spent a year away from football.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

If Chubb lasts this long, he’s a lock for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has some talent on defense, and they did just trade for JPP, but you can never have too many high-level pass rushers.

Chubb is a pick for 2018 and beyond, as Tampa Bay really left a lot to be desired on the edge (dead last in sacks).

This is a move to bolster Tampa Bay’s pass rushing rotation, while Chubb should eventually end up providing them with an elite pass rushing presence for years to come.

Chicago Bears – Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

I would have said corner here a few months ago, but the Bears brought back Kyle Fuller and seem set here for the time being. They do need to keep adding defensive pieces, with linebacker arguably topping the list.

Smith feels like a logical pick here, as he’s an elite athlete and can potentially excel on the inside. Chicago hasn’t had a truly great linebacker in years, and he could give them one.

San Francisco 49ers – Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

I was going to project a wide receiver here, seeing as the Niners seem to be making all the right moves but still lack a go-to #1 option.

The Reuben Foster noise has me thinking San Francisco may protect themselves in this spot.

Edmunds would give them an elite linebacker to use next to Foster if all goes well, but should they end up cutting ties with their star linebacker, Edmunds could simply replace him.

Both strategies are fine, seeing as Edmunds is an elite athlete and versatile difference-maker. The Niners wouldn’t have minded reaching for a stud receiver, but at this point, bolstering an improving defense might be the right call.

Oakland Raiders – Derwin James, S, Florida State

You could make a case for corner or safety here, but one way or another, the Raiders probably need to address a defensive backfield that ranked just 26th in 2017.

James is a true difference-maker, as he has the swagger and athleticism you want in a safety.

There are still some consistency issues, but James is a future stud that could help reshape a previously-regressing Oakland defense.

Miami Dolphins – Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

There are a few ways Miami could go in this spot. One is replacing quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and another is beefing up the defensive line.

Both are fine directions, but when a stud corner prospect like Denzel Ward falls into their lap, they won’t have much choice but to snatch him up.

Miami’s pass defense was just a middle-of-the-pack unit a year ago, and they are young at the position, so it makes sense to add another talented body to the pile.

Buffalo Bills – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

Perhaps it is Miami that jumps at a free-falling Rosen here, or maybe the Bills trade up to ensure they get the franchise passer they covet. No matter; I’m mocking a slide for Rosen, and I think the Bills would be happy to have him.

A.J. McCarron feels like a band-aid for Buffalo right now, and after passing on Tyrod Taylor, I’m doubting they’re interested in playing with another dual-threat option like Lamar Jackson.

Instead, the Bills will look to start from scratch with Rosen, who was at one point seriously in consideration for the #1 pick.

Washington Redskins – Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

The Redskins could go after an impact wide receiver here, but odds are they’ll keep adding to an improving defense. Washington has nice pieces on defense already, but they could use a man-eater up front.

They should be able to get that in Payne, who can immediately help sniff out the run and with time may develop into a balanced interior presence.

Green Bay Packers – Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

Jackson is a common player mocked to the Packers, and for two very good reasons: he has the talent to be an elite cover man, and Green Bay still needs help in the secondary.

The Packers added some veteran help in free agency, but they shipped one of their young guys to Cleveland in a trade and badly need to add more talent at the position.

Jackson should last about this long in round one, even though he provided elite ball-hawking ability at Iowa. Poor timed speed has him slide a bit, but he has the tools to be a beast for a bad Packers secondary.

Arizona Cardinals – Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

The Cardinals have been in the market for a quarterback all offseason, as they were desperate enough to take a chance on the often-injured Sam Bradford.

Bradford is a solid get if he can stay healthy, but nobody seems to assume that will happen. That must force Arizona to think about the future under center, and someone as dynamic as Lamar Jackson has to be quite appealing.

There is a very real possibility Jackson is long gone by now, but if he slides this far, the Cardinals should snatch up the explosive Louisville product.

Baltimore Ravens – Billy Price, OG, Ohio State

I feel like Baltimore is in play for a wide receiver or tight end on a yearly basis, but this is the first time in a while I’m personally not biting on it happening.

It’s not sexy, but the Ravens need to do some work inside on their offensive line.

Whether they’re beefing up at guard or getting a new center, I think the versatile Billy Price can help them out.

Los Angeles Chargers – Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

The Bolts are another team with a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, but they just need to add a few players to round things out.

Los Angeles could be in play for another defensive piece, but I think adding another piece to their o-line should be the play.

McGlinchey is a high-upside tackle who brings the frame and athleticism to the table that teams covet. The Chargers need a long-term fix on either side, so provided he can add some muscle, he’s a logical fit.

Seattle Seahawks – Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Seattle has done nothing but let people go over the past few seasons, and one area they fail to truly address is wide receiver.

Golden Tate and Paul Richardson have left in recent years, while this passing game continues to lack a true difference-maker.

Maybe the Seahawks are content with who they have now, but if they really want to open things up, they’ll make a splash and snag the draft’s top wide receiver.

Dallas Cowboys – Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

I wouldn’t normally project a wide receiver here, as Dallas has other fish to fry – namely on defense. That puts a defensive tackle in play at this spot, while it wouldn’t be bad for the ‘Boys to bring in linebacker, cornerback, or safety help.

That being said, the Cowboys don’t have a whole lot to get excited about at wide receiver now that Dez Bryant is gone.

They can spend the rest of the draft tacking on pieces to their defense, but they may want to take the time to land an impact receiver like Sutton first.

Detroit Lions – Marcus Davenport, OLB, Texas-San Antonio

The Lions ranked in the bottom 12 at rushing the passer a year ago, so even though they re-signed Ziggy Ansah, boosting their defensive line has to be a priority.

They could look for long-term help up front with someone like Vita Vea, or they could add a young defensive end to pair with Ansah.

Davenport makes that the better play, as he has the size, physicality, and athleticism to be a beast on the outside.

Cincinnati Bengals – Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Geno Atkins remains a strong presence up front, but he’s 30 now, and the rest of Cincy’s interior bodies don’t offer a ton of upside.

Vea could give the Bengals a big body to rotate in immediately, while he has the talent to be a future star in the middle of the defensive line.

Buffalo Bills – D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland

The Bills grabbed their future franchise passer in Josh Rosen earlier in round one, and they’ll go get him a weapon via Moore with their second pick.

This is a solid class for wide receiver, and the combination of talent and need should give Moore a shot at getting taken in round one.

Buffalo let Jordan Matthews go this offseason and dealt Sammy Watkins before last year started, so it’s no shock they could be interested in adding some help at receiver.

Another NFL prop bet to keep an eye on is the number of wide receivers to be selected in round one.

Topbet.eu and other NFL betting sites set the Over/Under at 2.5, and if Moore is taken here, that’d quickly hit the Over at +125.
New England Patriots – Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

The Patriots seem to be interested in nabbing Tom Brady’s heir apparent, but they may have to trade up to get the guy they want. That, or they think they can get him elsewhere.

I don’t see them reaching here, especially when a quality cover man like Alexander is there for the plucking. The team let Malcolm Butler go this offseason, and bringing in a young corner to help replace him going forward makes good sense.

Carolina Panthers – Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

The Panthers are really lacking playmakers in the passing game. Not only did they trade away Kelvin Benjamin last year, but Greg Olsen is getting older, and the team’s big offseason move was signing an aging Torrey Smith.

That simply will not do.

Carolina needs to get serious about helping Cam Newton out. They started the process by drafting the dynamic Christian McCaffrey last year, and now they can solidify their passing attack by selecting Kirk.

Kirk gives the Panthers a strong possession receiver who can work the middle of the field and also help the offense take shots over the top of the defense.

Tennessee Titans – Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

The Titans seem to be just about set offensively going into 2018, so their job is to shore up an improving defense. Tennessee is heading in the right direction, but they could use a linebacker to kick inside and direct the defense.

There has been a lot of praise thrown Vander Esch’s way, with some even comparing him to a young Brian Urlacher.

I’m not sure he’s that guy just yet, but there is no doubt he has the size, length, and athleticism of a stud linebacker. Now the Titans just need to use him correctly.

Atlanta Falcons – Maurice Hurst Jr., DT, Michigan

Grady Jarrett has been a nice find for the Falcons, but they could still have some work to do up front with nobody else really standing out next to him.

Hurst has some size and health questions, but he has a great burst and knows how to slip through the cracks inside.

He could potentially give the Falcons a huge jolt in the pass rush, while it will be interesting to see if adding his penetration skills also translates to the run game.

New Orleans Saints – Harold Landry, DE, Boston College

The Saints got a lot better on defense last year, but they can’t stop trying to improve now. While they made some strides, they were a joke just over a year ago, and they need to make sure they don’t suddenly regress again.

One great way to do that is to bring in some pass rushing talent.

The Saints actually ranked 7th in the NFL in sacks in 2017, but they have multiple pass rushers coming into 2018 at less than full strength.

Landry doesn’t have to push for a big role right away, but adding some depth that can make an impact as part of a rotation keeps their defensive pressure a strength.

Pittsburgh Steelers – Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

Nobody knows what the future holds for star linebacker Ryan Shazier, but the Steelers probably have to move forward as if his playing career is over.

That’s likely the case, while adding a solid linebacker probably wouldn’t be a terrible idea, either way. Evans is a fine talent to bring in, as the Crimson Tide product has good size and all of the athletic traits (namely speed) to excel as a sideline-to-sideline menace.

If Pittsburgh is looking for a Shazier replacement, Evans certainly fits the bill.

Jacksonville Jaguars – Connor Williams, OT, Texas

The Jaguars are pretty set across the board, but they could use a little extra meat in the trenches on offense.

Offensive tackle is a position of need, and a guy like Connor Williams has the ability to set up shop on the right side or even kick in at guard in a pinch.

Jacksonville could also look for a big impact wide receiver late in round one, but Williams feels like a steal here.

Minnesota Vikings – Will Hernandez, OG, Ohio State

Minnesota is another team that is looking pretty good across the board, so they could take this opportunity to land a highly-versatile offensive lineman.

Will Hernandez is about as good as anyone at this point and figures to be a stud guard at the next level. Thanks to his strength, agility, and athleticism, Hernandez could give Minnesota a flexible guard to be used on either side.

The Vikings really need help all over the o-line, but starting on the interior with a guy this versatile makes a lot of sense.

New England Patriots – Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

The Pats can’t hold their breath on Tom Brady for forever. He’s going to call it a career at some point, and not having a backup plan simply isn’t an option.

New England could still move up in a trade, but I think they risk it and see if someone like Rudolph can just slide into their hands at #31 overall.

I think that’s likely, as Rudolph is a borderline round-one prospect but profiles as a Brady-esque clone.

Not many view Rudolph as an elite franchise passer, but he plays well within the pocket and can take the top off of the defense. He feels a bit raw in terms of accuracy and decision-making, but under Brady and Bill Belichick’s watch, he could develop into a star.

Philadelphia Eagles – Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

Lastly, the Eagles could be in the market for another body in their offensive backfield. LeGarrette Blount left for Detroit in free agency, so a running back spot may be opening up.

Philly has done well to address most of their pressing needs, so they can afford to make a luxury pick with the final pick in the first round.

I don’t hate the idea of them snatching up Guice, who is a first-round talent but is clearly in danger of sliding into round two. The team seems to like Jay Ajayi plenty, but they also want to keep their running game split up amongst a committee.

Guice is good enough to take over on his own eventually, but at the very least, he makes a strong running game even better.

While Guice helps the rich get richer, he also may help sports bettors. One more 2018 NFL Draft prop bet to consider is how many running backs will be taken in round one.

Topbet.eu has the Over/Under set at 1.5, but if Guice can crack the first 32 picks like I think he can, the Over (-260) could be an easy call.

Summary

That does it for my look at the 2018 NFL Draft. There are sure to be a lot of rumors floating around, and there should even be big trades that go down.

However, I think this shines a light on some team needs and gives you an idea of which prospects are solid bets to hear their name called in round one.

With all of this in front of you, it’s possible to take advantage of some NFL Draft prop bets and hopefully win some cash this year. Good luck with that, and I hope you enjoy the draft!

The post 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting the Entire First Round appeared first on GamblingSites.com.