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Novomatic AG bringing it all to Entertainment Arena Expo
Friday, August 31, 2018
Novomatic AG bringing it all to Entertainment Arena Expo
Mississippi Finally Gets Its Lottery with Support from Lawmakers, Governor
CasinoGamesPro.com
Mississippi Finally Gets Its Lottery with Support from Lawmakers, Governor
After this week’s surprising vote in Mississippi’s House of Representatives, the state is finally getting its lottery. Governor Phil Bryant, who has publicly declared his strong support for the lottery legislation, is expected to sign the bill in the coming weeks. With legislature finally approving lottery in Mississippi, five states in the country remain without […]
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3 MLB Division Wagers That Could Still Return Insane Value
GamblingSites.com
3 MLB Division Wagers That Could Still Return Insane Value
The 2018 MLB season is moving readily along. We’re getting close to all six MLB divisions being settled, but with just a month left in the 2018 regular season, a lot can happen in each division.
Only the AL Central is truly spoken for. The Cleveland Indians are coasting to a playoff spot with a 14-game lead over the Minnesota Twins.
The Boston Red Sox, for all of their dominance, have the next-biggest gap, yet reside above the New York Yankees by just 6.5 games in the AL East.
Just can be a funny word. A six-game lead can be quite the mountain to climb in professional baseball, after all.
Still, there are five MLB divisions worth betting on – and not just the favorite. Of those five, there are three elite bets that stand out to me. That isn’t to suggest those value bets are for sure going to pan out, but if you’re looking for an upset to cheer for, you could do a lot worse.
Let’s take a closer look at which divisions aren’t quite settled, while we also try to secure some elite value to wrap up the regular season.
Oakland Athletics (+300)
This one stands out the most to me when you look at overall team talent, price, and the actual chances of it happening.
Oakland just wrapped up a tense series with the AL West-leading (and defending World Series champion) Houston Astros, but they held their own. This team has a loaded offense that can attack even the best arms, and when they get outside of their pitcher-friendly ballpark, they can really go nuts.
The A’s don’t have amazing pitching, and that’s another thing that has held them back this year. Houston is also finally getting healthy at the exact right time.
However, the Astros have played down to their competition at home all year, and their elite pitching rotation has been banged up and not quite as good as we’re used to seeing.
Considering this race is so tight (Astros lead by just 2.5 games), the Athletics are a very solid bet to storm the castle by the end of the year.
Milwaukee Brewers (+750)
Another team I like is the Brew Crew, who still hold their fate in their hands with a month to play.
The Chicago Cubs lead everyone in the NL Central by at least four games, but the Brewers are only 5.5 games out of first and had been there earlier in the year.
Milwaukee has also had some success against Chicago this year, while few teams offer as much pop as their stacked lineup does. Like most teams with crazy offenses, Mil-town’s biggest concern remains their shaky starting pitching.
Freddy Peralta, Chase Anderson, Jhoulys Chacin, and Junior Guerra make them passable, but Milwaukee is really going to have to crush it with the sticks and/or grind out some tight wins.
While it’s certainly a tall order to win the division, the Brewers aren’t that far out of first place and are very tough to beat (40-26) at Miller Park.
What’s better is that Milwaukee enjoys the majority of September – their most crucial month – at home. Literally 15 of their 26 games to close the year go down in Miller Park, and judging by how they’ve performed this year, that should only be a good thing.
More than that, the Brewers face four teams in September with .500 records or worse, and two of their series go against – you guessed it – those hated Cubs.
If the Brewers are finally going to get it done and take the division back, the time is now. You certainly can’t say the opportunity to do so won’t be there for them as the season winds down.
The Cardinals (+550) are also a really good play inside the NL Central, but I’d aim a bit higher with the more potent Brewers.
New York Yankees (+1000)
This is probably Boston’s baseball world, and we’re all just living in it. Maybe so, but the New York Yankees have hung on all year and are still just 6.5 games behind the very best team in the majors.
The fact that the Red Sox are a staggering 91-42 (at the time of this writing) and aren’t even that far ahead of the pinstripes has to be concerning for Boston fans.
To make matters worse, the Yankees are keeping themselves from falling behind despite Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, and Gary Sanchez all being on the shelf.
At full strength, it’s quite arguable New York has the best offense in baseball.
When the Yankees are firing on all cylinders, their solid pitching is enough to combine with their excellent offense and make them a legit title threat.
That understandably puts them in play for the AL East, especially when you consider they still close out the year against Boston with two different three-game series.
If the Yanks somehow sweep both, they can make up that ground in a hurry. If they can cut their deficit down to just 2-3 games, just winning those series can put them in position to take back the division.
Summary
I honestly think there’s even more value to take a long, hard look at.
I mentioned the Cardinals at +550, while the AL West isn’t remotely close to being decided, and a collapse from the Atlanta Braves could always open the door for the Philadelphia Phillies (+260) and maybe even the Washington Nationals (+1400!).
The NL West is just so tight that the value isn’t that appealing. I also think Atlanta is taking the NL East.
Washington is admittedly too far gone (8 games back), especially when you factor in that they kind of mailed it in by trading away Matt Adams and Daniel Murphy recently.
You can still look at these spots, but my favorite bet across the board is the Yankees. They’re going to get healthy eventually, and earlier in the year, some would tell you they were truly the best team in baseball.
Boston has the best combination of top ace and offense, but their arms after Chris Sale aren’t unbeatable.
In theory, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and J.A. Happ give the Yankees a stable of pitchers that are plenty good enough (especially with that offense backing them) to take down anyone – including the Sox.
There are no guarantees, but the Yanks feel like sleeping giants. Three of their best bats have been shelved, and they all could come back just in time to lift the Yanks to the top of the division.
Considering their talent, their odds, and their clear path to pay off this wager, I think it’s a flier bet worth taking on.
PICKNew York Yankees+1000
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Visit the Retro 70s with Booming Games new Disco Bar 7s slot release
World Casino News
Visit the Retro 70s with Booming Games new Disco Bar 7s slot release
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Playsugarhouse.com reports sportsbook trends
eGaming
Playsugarhouse.com reports sportsbook trends
Playsugarhouse.com sportsbook went live last Thursday, and reported that there are already some interesting trends to be seen.
Penn National Nears Closure of Pinnacle Takeover with Missouri Approval
CasinoGamesPro.com
Penn National Nears Closure of Pinnacle Takeover with Missouri Approval
One of the largest and most influential casino operators in the United States is one step closer to gaining an even bigger share of the gambling market in the country. On Wednesday, Penn National Gaming announced it has secured an approval from the gambling regulator in Missouri in relation to the pending acquisition of Las-Vegas […]
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IGT presents new hardware and gaming technology
Casino City Times
IGT presents new hardware and gaming technology
At SAGSE Buenos Aires from 11-13 September, the company's SPHINX 4D game featuring industry-first technology and the CrystalDual 27 gaming machine will make their Argentina market debut in IGT's stand 206.
Penn National Gaming secures approval from Missouri Gaming Commission
Casino City Times
Penn National Gaming secures approval from Missouri Gaming Commission
Inclusive of the approval from the MGC, Penn National has received approvals from 12 gaming regulatory bodies in connection with its proposed acquisition of Pinnacle Entertainment.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Betting Preview of the 2018 Dell Technologies Championship with Free Picks
GamblingSites.com
Betting Preview of the 2018 Dell Technologies Championship with Free Picks
So apparently this Bryson DeChambeau cat is the real deal. His breakthrough performance at the Northern Trust all but stamped his ticket to Paris in less than a month’s time, but we’ve still got plenty left to play for.
Now it is time to turn the page and get ready for the Dell Technologies Championship.
The top-100 in the FedEx Cup standings have advanced, and they’ll make the short trip from Paramus, New Jersey, up to Norton, Massachusetts, a small town about 25 miles south of Downtown Boston. Because of Labor Day, this tournament will begin on Friday and conclude on Monday, so keep that in mind as you make your plans.
Just like last week, the top sports betting sites have done us a solid and provided us with an assortment of matchups to choose from. Sifting through the betting sheets is a bit more challenging than in weeks past, as the golf course doesn’t really seem to favor any one type of player.
Sure, we have seen bombers like Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy take this tournament down in the previous two years, but let’s not forget about the list of “short knockers” who have also tasted victory at TPC Boston.
Chris Kirk (2014), Webb Simpson (2011), Charley Hoffman (2010), and Steve Stricker (2009) all won here without overpowering the golf course, so anything can happen. That means trying to predict who winds up on the first page of the leaderboard is even more up in the air than normal.
All I can do is try and lock into the players who are primed to play well, given current form and the way their games are trending.
Take a peek at the head-to-heads that have me interested, and perhaps you’ll feel the same way.
Ian Poulter vs. Rafa Cabrera-Bello
Technically, both of these men are still trying to impress Thomas Bjorn in hopes of being selected as a captain’s pick for the European Ryder Cup team. I’d like to clarify by stating that one of these men is already locked into the roster as far as I am concerned, regardless of what happens in Boston.
All Ian Poulter has to do is stay alive for the next four weeks, and he’ll be on the team plane to Paris.
On the other hand, Rafa Cabrera-Bello is amongst the players who are in the running for a captain’s pick, but I envision that he still has some work left.
I know that the 34-year-old Spaniard desperately wants to be on the team, but I’m afraid that the pressure of having to play great this week could have a negative effect on his performance.
We saw this come into play over this past weekend, as Rafa’s +3 total of 145 over the final 36 holes dropped him all the way back into a tie for 60th. I know he is feeling the nerves of trying to inspire the European captain; it’s just natural.
I’m not saying that Rafa is going to “wet the bed” and miss the cut horribly in Beantown. I’m just saying I don’t see him getting into serious contention.
On the flip side, Ian Poulter has been playing tremendously for more than four months now, and the Ryder Cup is now in sight. His string of terrific play was slightly halted by a less-than-stellar T-48th last week in New Jersey, but I’m not reading into it a whole bunch.
Ian was mediocre all week long, as the 54 pars he made were the second most in the field. I look for Poulter to get the putter heated up this weekend, and that should spell for lots of birdies and low scores.
On top of all of this, BetOnline is allowing us to snag Ian at even money, while Rafa is the listed favorite at -120. I’m riding with the value here because I don’t suspect it’ll last all the way until Friday morning.
PICKIan Poulter+100
Tommy Fleetwood vs. Henrik Stenson
I’m a big fan of Henrik Stenson and know how premier of a ball striker he is. But I can’t help but think that this elbow injury that forced Stenson to skip the Northern Trust might be a bit more serious than I originally anticipated.
He claims that it is okay and that he can practice and play without pain, but perhaps his recent results suggest otherwise. Take a look.
After finishing 26th or better in 9 of his first 10 starts, the “Big Swede” has cracked the top 35 just once in his most recent four tournaments. This includes an MC at Bellerive Country Club at the year’s final major just a few weeks ago.
You can keep saying that your elbow is fine, Henrik, but your play over the past 5 weeks is telling me and the golf world something else.
I’ve heard rumors that Thomas Bjorn has already secretly guaranteed Henrik a pick, which makes me even more wary of how Stenson plays this weekend at TPC Boston.
Meanwhile, there is absolutely nothing suspicious about Tommy Fleetwood and the current state of his golf game. The 27-year-old father of one doesn’t know anything other than finishing in the top 20, as he’s done so in 12 of the 16 PGA Tour events he has entered this season.
I could go on and on about what Tommy does well on the golf course, but the fact that he’s 7th on the PGA Tour in overall strokes gained tells you how consistent of a player he is.
Despite all of Fleetwood’s accomplishments, he’s never hoisted a trophy on this stage up until this point. It’s only a matter of time until that changes, and it could even be this week. The fact that all he has to do is beat Stenson over the course of 72 holes for me to cash in on this wager has me licking my chops.
PICKTommy Fleetwood-115
Adam Scott vs. Jon Rahm
BetOnline has dropped the ball on this line, flat-out.
Bovada seems to have gotten it right, as they have Adam Scott listed at -110 versus Jon Rahm. Adam is +110 versus Rahm on Sportsbook.ag, so I continued scouring to see if I could find an even better price.
That’s when I spotted the 38-year-old Aussie at a ridiculous +140 versus Jon Rahm on BetOnline. If you want to wager on Rahm here, you have to lay an egregious -160!
Forget about the prices for a second and just look at what the two golfers did last week.
While Jon Rahm was throwing clubs and muttering curse words en route to an “MC Hammer,” Adam Scott was busy leading the field in strokes-gained putting.
The top-5 finish at Ridgewood was the perfect amount of momentum that Adam needed as we roll into the remainder of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. With a cumulative scoring average of 67.38 over his last 8 rounds on tour, Scott has clearly found the form he had been searching for throughout the season.
I expect him to continue striping the golf ball up and down the fairways, so now that he’s found a stride with his flat stick, the sky is the limit.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rahm bounce back and play well, but come on, folks.
+140 for Adam Scott here is what I call “stupid value.” It’s a no-brainer, no matter what the outcome is.
PICKAdam Scott+140
Kevin Na vs. Bubba Watson
Kevin Na is quietly a really good golfer. No, he doesn’t hit it as long as Bubba, and no, he isn’t known for being the fastest player on tour.
But when it comes to cashing checks on golf’s biggest stage, few do it better and more consistently than Kevin Na.
Here in Las Vegas where Kevin resides, we call him the “walking ATM machine.” Everywhere this guy goes, he just prints money.
Since winning at The Greenbrier in early July, Na has made all his cuts, and he’s even shown flashes of improvement lately. After finishing 31st at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Kevin has gone 19th-15th over his past two tournaments (PGA Championship and the Northern Trust).
Bubba has been doing the exact opposite, plummeting far and fast ever since he finished 13th that same week that Kevin won. To be more precise, in his last 5 appearances, all Bubba has to show for it is a 31st and a 34th to go along with a trio of missed cuts.
If you want more data that points in the direction of Na, look at what happened at the 2017 Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston.
Bubba failed to break 70 all week on his way to finishing in a four-way tie for 69th. Kevin posted a Sunday 66 to finish in a tie for 6th.
I feel like there is more than enough information here for me to feel comfortable loading up on Na. Bubba is searching for a swing thought that works, while Kevin is pretty much firing all on cylinders.
That’s enough for me to work with, and I’m guessing most of the sharps feel the same way.
PICKKevin Na-110
Final Words
These wagers are oozing with value, and I can promise you I am not the only one targeting them. There is a good chance that this value won’t last, so if I were you, I’d book these quickly.
If you wait until 8:15 AM local time on Friday morning when that first tee time goes off, you are going to miss the boat.
Setting up an account on BetOnline.ag is so quick and so easy, and the payouts are super reliable. As fun as it is to hang out on the couch with a cold beverage and watch the PGA Tour tournament action unfold, it gets even more exhilarating when you have a few bucks on the line.
Seriously, though, if you thought any of these bets were attractive, head over there right now. Book the bets and see how it goes. If it works out, come on back next week for my betting tips and advice for the BMW Championship!
The post Betting Preview of the 2018 Dell Technologies Championship with Free Picks appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Osage Casino Tulsa expansion opens in Oklahoma
World Casino News
Osage Casino Tulsa expansion opens in Oklahoma
Global Gaming signs sportsbook deal with Kambi Group
Casino City Times
Global Gaming signs sportsbook deal with Kambi Group
The multi-year agreement will see Kambi supply its sportsbook for all markets where Global Gaming holds local licenses.
Ponca Tribe to Open Iowa Casino in October
CasinoGamesPro.com
Ponca Tribe to Open Iowa Casino in October
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska hopes their new casino in Iowa to be open and fully operational in October. The gaming facility, which is now under construction at Carter Lake, would be named Prairie Flower Casino, the tribe announced Monday. The casino project has a couple of phases, but the first one will include a […]
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Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Scientific Games Corporation debuts new Kansas Lottery gaming system
World Casino News
Scientific Games Corporation debuts new Kansas Lottery gaming system
Possible Upsets to Target in the Week of August 27th
GamblingSites.com
Possible Upsets to Target in the Week of August 27th
The 2018 NFL season is just around the corner, while the final week of the preseason arrives on August 30th. It’s not quite here yet, but with that first week of NFL regular-season action comes a huge swoon in the sports betting world.
I touched on it last week, and in short order, meaningful NBA and NHL contests will be here as well.
It’s pretty much the best point in the sports year, and it’s certainly a thrill for sports betting enthusiasts. The good news is that I’m nailing upset picks even while dabbling in the less appealing genres, so when the good stuff gets here, it should be even better.
I marched into last week with a 30-46-1 record. That doesn’t sound impressive at first glance, but that’s 30 upset picks. It isn’t ever easy to nail an upset pick, and as I’ve mentioned, I’m getting you value at a pretty difficult time of year.
Hopefully it’s helped you hit a few big winners and cash more often than not. I’d also like to point out that there is risk anytime you bet on a big underdog, so always consider angling the point spread as a hedge (or replacement) if you’re not in total agreement with me.
In fact, due to lines being slow to come out last week, I took two dog lines, and it worked out swimmingly. Let’s take a look at last week before digging in deep for some more underdog picks.
All odds that are referenced in this article were taken from SportsBetting.ag on 8/27/2018. These odds may have changed since the time of this writing.
Week in Review
It was a really nice week overall, as I went 3-1 for the second week in a row. I tried my hand at WNBA, MLB, CFL, and NFL preseason picks.
I like to offer some versatility whenever possible, but I don’t love to force picks I don’t see value in and/or actually believe in.
The only blemish was Minnesota getting housed by LA. That was a tough loss, but as you can see, the rest of the week worked out nicely.
Minnesota Lynx over Los Angeles Sparks+245
St. Louis Cardinals over Los Angeles Dodgers+154 
Edmonton Eskimos over Hamilton Tiger-Cats+3
New Orleans Saints over Los Angeles Chargers+2.5
The Cards felt like an elite betting value on Tuesday night, and they stayed hot with a win at Dodger Stadium. The +154 price was pretty nice, and it’s certainly never a bad thing to hit a good baseball underdog like that.
My CFL picks have been hit or miss this year, but I’m glad the lines were slow to materialize. I rolled with the Eskimos as +3 underdogs based on the point spread, and they ended up losing by just one point to the Tiger-Cats.
I would have been game for them straight up, but hopefully you just played the points and got the win.
The same goes for the Saints, but they actually destroyed the Chargers on Saturday. You would have been a winner if you rolled with their moneyline, but backing them as a +2 underdog against the spread also worked out.
Overall, it was a terrific week, and my sports upset picks record jumps to 33-47-1 on the year. I’m inching closer and closer to .500, which for underdog picks isn’t just difficult but also rather profitable.
Let’s try to keep the good times rolling this week with a handful of my favorite upset plays.
Northwestern (+130) over Purdue (-150)
College football is back! It’s actually been here for a week now, and I know there are more high-profile games to target, but I just like the value associated with this Big 10 clash.
Northwestern is coming off of a fantastic 10-3 season in 2017, while they’ve secured bowl game wins in each of the last two years. The program has been trending very much in the right direction under Pat Fitzgerald, while they’ve specifically been owning the Boilermakers (four wins in a row) in the recent past.
The top college football betting sites clearly expect that trend to be bucked, as Purdue is favored to win at home.
On paper, the Wildcats still project as the better team, and they might be in Purdue’s head. When you factor in that anything goes in these conference rivalries, Northwestern as a +130 underdog feels like a huge steal.
PICKNorthwestern+130
Washington Redskins (+6.5, +101) over Baltimore Ravens (-6.5, -121)
Week four of the 2018 NFL preseason concludes on Thursday night, which gives you one more chance to risk some cash on games that don’t mean a thing.
Joking aside, you can still take a crack at some elite value with a team like the Redskins, who are inexplicably huge underdogs as they take on the Ravens.
Starting talent isn’t expected to hit the field much (if at all) for either side, so you’re just dealing with a sea of backups.
I’ll admit the Ravens have the quarterback edge here, but there’s not much in it other than that. Although I wouldn’t feel comfortable backing the Redskins as straight-up underdog winners, I’m expecting this to be a close game.
That’s why I’ll take them to beat this gaudy +6.5 point spread, where SportsBetting.ag hands out a sweet +101 price. Provided the Redskins can get within a touchdown, you win.
PICKWashington Redskins +6.5+101
Oakland Athletics (+173) over Houston Astros (-183)
Normally I wouldn’t dare bet against the Astros, but there is a lot working against them on Tuesday night. For one, they really haven’t been that dominant at home (33-29), while projected starter Charlie Morton’s form hasn’t been overly scary.
In come the A’s, who got to Gerrit Cole of all people early on during Monday’s showdown and entered this series scorching hot. Oakland is equipped to overtake the AL West, and by the time this series is over, it’s possible they will have done just that.
Backing Edwin Jackson on the road against the Astros really isn’t what I’m doing here.
More than anything, I’m rolling with Oakland’s dangerous bats in a tense rivalry clash. That, and a team playing as well as the A’s offering a +173 price is just too good to pass up.
PICKOakland Athletics+173
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (+3, -104) over Saskatchewan Roughriders (-3, -116)
The actual line for the Blue Bombers as a straight-up underdog isn’t out yet, but whatever it is, I’m down for it. It won’t be an amazing price, but they’re mild +3 underdogs, and it’ll be enough to catch my interest.
You can still back Winnipeg against the spread, as they look like a solid bet to at worst keep this one tight.
Their Bombers’ offense remains arguably the most explosive unit in the CFL, and if their defense can just get it together, they should be able to snag a win.
Winnipeg has dropped two in a row and is just 2-3 on the road, but I think their defense has a good shot at taming the Roughriders in this one.
PICKWinnipeg Blue Bombers +3-104
Summary
I could toss a slew of MLB or NFL preseason picks at you, but I’m really just trying to hunt down the very best underdog picks for the week.
Quality over quantity is always the way to go, especially when you’re putting down money on teams Vegas is projecting the public to bet against.
Of course, as we’ve learned (and Vegas knows), it’s not always about public perception. If we can keep trying to go against conventional wisdom and gauge when it’s appropriate to exploit it, it can be highly profitable.
I’ve been surging in recent weeks and hopefully can add to the hot run with another solid showing this week. Whether you jump on all of my upset picks or are selective, I wish you luck. Enjoy the games!
The post Possible Upsets to Target in the Week of August 27th appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Chicago and 3 Other Division Upset Picks for Your 2018 NFL Betting
GamblingSites.com
Chicago and 3 Other Division Upset Picks for Your 2018 NFL Betting
Betting on NFL division winners can be one of the more profitable NFL prop bets, depending on the year.
Provided you steer clear of the AFC East, pretty much every division has at least a faint argument for your money to go on someone other than who Vegas and everyone else is favoring.
The New England Patriots simply don’t lose the AFC East. Even if they were at risk of doing so, you’d have to have even an inkling of confidence in the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, or Miami Dolphins.
There’s nothing to suggest you should, arguably making that division off limits. The Pats are probably winning Super Bowl 53 after all.
That doesn’t mean you can’t aim high elsewhere, and there’s actually a few elite betting values I love going into 2018. Let’s break down my favorite four as the new season rapidly approaches.
Chicago Bears (+800)
The thing about preseason NFL betting is that you need to act fast. With the season drawing closer, some of the best value picks that looked awesome a month or two ago lost some of their luster.
I still think the Bears are worth a look. Everyone thinks the NFC North is a two-team race between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. That very well may be, but there is a lot to like about this young Chicago team.
John Fox instilled a competitive will with this roster, and offensive guru Matt Nagy takes over with better personnel. Year two could be a big one for the talented Mitchell Trubisky, who has the tools, system, and supporting cast to thrive in 2018.
Chicago is not making this kid do it all by himself, either. Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen form a nasty rushing attack, while new weapons in Allen Robinson and Trey Burton make the Bears dangerous through the air.
The Bears don’t lack bite on the defensive side of the ball, either. Kyle Fuller was retained, and Chicago drafted Roquan Smith to be a leader at linebacker.
This team has the coaching, approach, star power, and balance to make some serious noise this year.
If you’re not sold on them making a run to Super Bowl 53, I get it. However, at +800, there aren’t many better NFL division picks out there when you look at value.
Washington Redskins (+800)
If you want a little more stability at that same nice price, consider looking at the Washington Redskins.
Jay Gruden’s crew has already been dealt some rough luck with stud rookie rusher Derrius Guice being lost for the year with a torn ACL, but they’re still stacked with veteran talent.
The trade for quarterback Alex Smith stabilizes their passing game, while the veteran passer has some tantalizing options to work with in Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder, Jordan Reed, and Paul Richardson.
The consistency you find on elite teams isn’t proven to be there yet, but the Redskins have speed and the overall tools to torch defenses. Future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson joins the backfield, and with scat-back Chris Thompson at his side, could have a chance at forming a nasty running game.
I understand the doubt associated with Peterson, but even at 33, he’s a physical marvel. If the role is there and he’s determined enough, it’s not that crazy to imagine him playing well and elevating Washington in the process.
The good news is that the offense isn’t alone.
Josh Norman anchors a talented secondary, while Ryan Kerrigan has morphed into a dominant pass rusher. If Washington can be a little more stingy on that side of the ball, they just may have the goods to storm the castle in the NFC East.
Making this bet even more interesting is a potential Super Bowl hangover for the Eagles, who also could be without Carson Wentz to start the season. They could just as easily repeat as title winners, but if not, there could be room for the Redskins or someone else to rise up the rankings.
If things break just right, the Redskins could be a very sneaky bet to steal back this division.
Cleveland Browns (+900)
You can get a little more value with the Browns. Their price was way more appealing a few months back, but they seem to finally have a good GM and are making sounds moves.
Not only did Cleveland draft well last year, but they really made an effort to improve their talent base.
They made sure quarterback would no longer be such a glaring weakness, as they traded for former Bills starter Tyrod Taylor and spent the #1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft on Oklahoma passer Baker Mayfield.
One way or another, the Browns are set up to succeed through the air based on the talent under center alone. They also have the explosive Josh Gordon back with his mind right, while Jarvis Landry and David Njoku round out a seriously overlooked Cleveland passing attack.
The Browns already have a stacked offensive line, so there’s a pretty strong argument they’ll also be able to pound the ball on the ground. Carlos Hyde comes in to manage the early down work, while the Browns drafted the athletic Nick Chubb and still have scat-back Duke Johnson to work with.
Across the board, the Browns are suddenly quite talented and (gulp) possibly even a little scary.
You might say the same on defense, where Myles Garrett leads a seemingly vastly improved unit. The talent is certainly there, and if the Browns can iron out some small wrinkles, they may really have something here.
Are they already for sure the best team in the AFC North? No, that title belongs to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Cleveland isn’t going 0-16 again and very well may experience the biggest one-year turnaround we’ve ever seen.
It’s up to you to decide if their rapid improvement should lead to a wager on them to win the division at a +900 price tag.
Arizona Cardinals (+1400)
I really do feel like everyone here has a mild chance to return value this year.
I’m not exactly picking them to win their respective divisions, but based on the price and everything we’ve seen thus far, I wouldn’t be that shocked, and they could be worth a bet.
Lastly, I’d assign the same narrative to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals are in a quick rebuilding mode, but it might not last long with a solid quarterback situation, a stud running back, a veteran wide receiver, and a talented defense combining to make one of the more underrated situations in the league.
Sam Bradford is a lot better than people give him credit for, and he’s certainly good enough to lead this Cardinals team to the playoffs. If he gets hurt like he often has in the past, rookie franchise passer Josh Rosen could be ready to take over and get the job done as early as this season.
Neither of these guys is going it alone, as stud rusher David Johnson is back in the saddle and figures to be featured prominently in this offense. Even DJ doesn’t have to do all of the heavy lifting, however, as Larry Fitzgerald leads a young crop of wide receivers that could actually end up shocking the league.
Rookie Christian Kirk has been impressive all summer and may carve out the #2 role across from Fitz, while Ricky Seals-Jones, Chad Williams, J.J. Nelson, and Brice Butler make up a depth chart ready to compete.
If you’re not sold on AZ offensively, maybe you’ll confide in their defense. They did lose some key parts, but Chandler Jones still anchors a nasty pass rush, and it’s always tough to bet against a secondary paced by Patrick Peterson.
From top to bottom, the Cardinals have the look of a team that is rebuilding behind the scenes, but actually may be ready to win right now.
Seattle is trending in the wrong direction, and I’m not quite sold on the 49ers just yet. That could leave just the Rams as Arizona’s main threat in this division. That’s still quite the hill to climb, but for a 50% chance, a +1400 price seems obscene.
Summary
As I touched on, I don’t expect all of these teams to win their divisions, and it’s quite possible none of them do. But I’m also not telling you to bet on the Broncos, Dolphins, or a slew of other teams that have nice odds but simply aren’t teams I’m really worried about.
I actually think these teams could make some noise. Every one of them has a tough road to the top of the mountain, though.
Chicago is staring the Packers and Vikings in the face. Washington has to get through the defending champs. Arizona has to best the Rams, too, while the Browns have to not be so Browns-y.
The point here is that the 2018 NFL season is rapidly approaching, but there is still a lot of value to be had. Consider these four division upset picks, and you just might end the year with some serious profit.
The post Chicago and 3 Other Division Upset Picks for Your 2018 NFL Betting appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
MGM Springfield opens for business
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MGM Springfield opens for business
Monday, August 27, 2018
Betting on the 2019 Stanley Cup – Latest Odds and Top Contenders
GamblingSites.com
Betting on the 2019 Stanley Cup – Latest Odds and Top Contenders
Being raised in Las Vegas, I felt I was spoiled enjoying the inaugural season for the Vegas Golden Knights. Now with a year behind them, I am looking forward to this upcoming NHL season more than I have in the past.
In this post, I will take a look at the teams I feel have separated themselves from the pretenders and are the true contenders at raising the Stanley Cup in 2019.
From the betting favorites in Vegas to the dark horse I feel has a shot at making a deep playoff run, I’ll be covering 5 teams with a realistic chance of glory. I’ll give you an idea of what happened for these teams during the offseason that has set them up nicely for their shot at the Stanley Cup.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+750 to Win Stanley Cup)
The leading sportsbook Bovada has Tampa Bay as the betting favorite to lift the Stanley Cup this season. And I can easily understand why.
Tampa Bay has been a top team the last couple of seasons. They look primed to continue their success in the competitive Atlantic Division and will battle the Toronto Maple Leafs to be the division’s top seed.
They have been busy this offseason keeping their core intact for another run at the playoffs. First, they signed forward J.T. Miller to a five-year contract. Then, they quickly followed that up with a seven-year deal for defenseman Ryan McDonagh.
Miller and McDonagh were late trade additions in 2018, and signing both shows Tampa Bay is still in win-now mode.
Taking a peek at the 2019 NHL schedule, it seems the NHL is doing their part in making sure Tampa Bay starts and finishes strong.
The Lightning will open 2018-2019 with five straight home games and end the season with their last four at home. On top of that home-ice advantage to open and close the regular season, the Lightning is already scheduled for 12 nationally broadcasted games.
This shows the spotlight the NHL will be trying to put on the betting favorite Tampa Bay Lightning.
Now let’s take a look at a couple of teams in the toughest division in the NHL. The Central Division boasts a number of strong teams, headlined by powerhouses in Nashville and Winnipeg.
Nashville Predators (+1100)
It’s a shame that only 5 teams from the Central can make the playoffs because all 8 teams have a legitimate shot to enter the postseason in 2018-2019.
The Nashville Predators were the club that had the best regular-season record in 2017-18. They were also a Stanley Cup finalist in 2017, so they are certainly in the running for glory this season.
With a strong defense led by P.K. Subban, and with the Vezina Trophy winner for best goaltender Pekka Rinne back, the Predators have the right formula to chase another Stanley Cup. Add top line forwards Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, and Viktor Arvidsson, and Nashville is primed to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals.
A possible warning sign for Nashville is the form of their goaltender during the playoff games last season.
Despite his strong regular season, Rinne really slipped during the postseason with a bloated goals against average of 3.07
With Nashville’s backup goalie having limited experience, Rinne’s postseason performances could be pivotal to the Predators’ championship hopes this time around. If they make the playoffs again, they’ll need their goaltender to step up his game.
If he can maintain his form beyond the regular season, Nashville will be the team all opponents want to avoid.
Let’s move on to the next contender out of the Central division.
Winnipeg Jets (+950)
The Winnipeg Jets were true contenders last season, and I predict that they’ll be able to follow up with another good season in 2019.
Even with Paul Stastny leaving for Vegas and losing Joel Armia to free agency, the Jets still have plenty of firepower to battle in the Central Division.
The reason the Jets parted ways with these experienced players is because of the young core they have. The young, deep, and dangerous offense they currently have has the tools to fill the holes left by the departing veterans.
That’s not the only thing helping their case of making a run at the Stanley Cup, though. They also have a promising young gun on the defensive side in 24-year-old goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
The quick development of goaltender Hellebuyck has provided the Jets everything they’ve lacked in previous years.
Goalies are vital come playoff time. The fact that Winnipeg has a young goaltender that has the potential to become elite automatically puts them into contender status.
Phew! We got through the toughest division in the NHL. Time to turn our attention to a team that came up 3 wins short of winning it all last season – the Vegas Golden Knights.
Vegas Golden Knights (+1100)
What a year. The Vegas Golden Knights started out as the biggest underdog to win the Stanley Cup last season, but they defied all expectations and only just fell short of landing the trophy.
How can the Knights repeat what they were able to accomplish last season? I’ll tell you how. George McPhee.
The Knights’ general manager was aggressive at the trade deadline last season and continued that trend over the offseason.
Going into the offseason, it was always going to be hard for McPhee to keep everyone. Somehow, though, he was able to keep key players for another run at the Stanley Cup.
Center William “Wild Bill” Karlsson, defenseman Colin Miller, left wing Jonathan Marchessault, and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury are all back to take another shot at the Stanley Cup.
On top of re-signing their stars from 2018, the Golden Knights made an impressive move in bringing in forward Paul Stastny on a 3-year deal. He was brought in to fill the void left by James Neal.
The most important difference between Stastny and Neal is that Stastny performs in the postseason, which can only strengthen the Vegas roster.
With a weak Pacific division, I see Vegas winning the division again. This will give them home ice for the first two rounds in the post season. With T-Mobile Arena one of the biggest home-ice advantages in the NHL, look for the Vegas Knights to make another run at Las Vegas’ first professional sports championship.
As promised, it’s now time to give you the team I feel represents the best value out there for a team to win the Stanley Cup: the team from the current “City of Champions.”
Philadelphia Flyers (+2500)
Here’s the team I am willing to throw some money on. My dark horse for the 2019 Stanley Cup champion. The Philadelphia Flyers.
When the Flyers enter next season, there will be a variety of benchmarks the entire team must meet in order to better the 98-point result from the 2017-18 campaign. Much of the benchmarks will have to come from the continued maturation of the young players on the roster.
Even though the Flyers made the 2018 playoffs, their young roster has plenty of room for improvement.
I’m expecting head coach Dave Hakstol to start leaning on his young guys to increase their responsibility. For example, defenseman Travis Sanheim will likely be trusted with more ice time as his sophomore season progresses.
Nolan Patrick and Travis Konecny will be relied upon as regular offensive contributors, and left winger Oskar Lindblom and defenseman Robert Hagg must build upon their rookie year successes as well.
The main point is that the Flyers are very young. Having a roster full of young players can work for or against you. I personally believe they possess the value we are all looking for.
Regardless of youth, the Flyers are talented, and I see them continuing the maturation process. Even though the Flyers are stuck in a division with the past two Stanley Cup champs in the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, they are just as dangerous.
Young players don’t know what’s good for them. Some young guys don’t recognize the magnitude of the situation, allowing them to play at their best.
That being said, at a 25 to 1 shot, the Philadelphia Flyers represent the type of value we all look for with futures.
PICKPhiladelphia Flyers+2500
Conclusion
With only 43 days left before the first games of the regular season, it is time to start thinking about which teams are contenders and which are pretenders. Don’t worry, though. I have done the work for you, separating out 5 contenders I believe are worth keeping an eye on.
Hopefully, with the five teams I have outlined, it will help you narrow down which teams have the value to try to book a futures win.
I will be taking my chance with my dark horse pick, the Philadelphia Flyers. For a dangerous young team, 25 to 1 is just too much value for me to pass up.
The post Betting on the 2019 Stanley Cup – Latest Odds and Top Contenders appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Imperial Palace Saipan developer requests two-year deadline extension
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Imperial Palace Saipan developer requests two-year deadline extension
Marilyn Matthews Takes Down Borgata $50K GTD Deepest Stack Challenge
CasinoGamesPro.com
Marilyn Matthews Takes Down Borgata $50K GTD Deepest Stack Challenge
The August Deepstacks Challenge has come to end this weekend, with Marilyn Matthews taking down the final tournament of the series, the $50,000 Guaranteed Deepest Stack. The event, taking place at the famous Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, attracted 192 entries, pushing its prize pool to a nice $65,000. This year’s Deepstacks Challenge promised players […]
The post Marilyn Matthews Takes Down Borgata $50K GTD Deepest Stack Challenge appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Wazdan launches with relax gaming
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Wazdan launches with relax gaming
Which Players Will Make the European Team for the 2018 Ryder Cup?
GamblingSites.com
Which Players Will Make the European Team for the 2018 Ryder Cup?
Get ready for some electrifying highlights, because the 2018 Ryder Cup will be nothing short of spectacular.
As an American, I’ll be pulling hard for the red, white, and blue to get it done in Paris and retain the Ryder Cup.
But I’d be completely ignorant if I sat here and told you it’s going to be a walk in the park for Captain Jim Furyk’s squad. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say that right now, I give the edge to the Europeans.
I think that Thomas Bjorn and the 12 men he’ll be bringing with him to France will feature even more of a stacked lineup than the US team – and that’s saying a lot.
The plan for this blog is to quickly identify the European roster and mainly focus in on who Captain Bjorn will be selecting as his captain’s picks. When you see the pool of talent he has to choose from, it won’t take you long to realize how formidable the “Blue and Yellow” squad will be.
Who Is Set in Stone?
Unlike the American side, the automatic qualifying is still going on for European players to try and make the team. With that being said, there are 7 names on the European side we can pencil in for who will be competing in Paris for the Ryder Cup.
Francesco Molinari Justin Rose Tyrrell Hatton Tommy Fleetwood Jon Rahm Rory McIlroy Alex NorenRegardless of what happens over the next couple weeks, Bjorn knows that he’ll be able to count on these 7 men to put up some points at Le Golf National.
Right now, Thorbjorn Olesen is narrowly hanging on to the 8th and final automatic qualifying spot, but that outcome will depend on how things shake out by the end of next week.
Eddie Pepperell can pass Olesen with a strong performance at the D+D Czech Masters in Prague, although it’ll take something special.
Who Thorbjorn really needs to dodge is the quartet of players competing at the Northern Trust who can all pass him in the standings. I’m going to focus on those four players in the segments below, as well as two others who absolutely cannot be counted out when it comes to potential picks.
Whether or not Olesen stays inside the top 8 could be the difference of whether or not the 28-year-old Danish golfer gets to taste Ryder Cup Action this fall. Unfortunately for Olesen, the world-class players lurking for a captain’s pick means there will be some really good players left off this roster.
Assuming Olesen is the 8th man on the squad, here are the 6 players who I believe are essentially competing for the last four spots.
Ian Poulter
I take it back. Ian Poulter is not competing with anyone for a spot on this team, because if he’s not in the top 8 by September 3rd, he’s an absolute lock to be picked. Kind of like the Tiger Woods situation for Team USA, there are absolutely no versions of Ian Poulter not being on this roster.
The 42-year-old Englishman has made 11 of his last 12 cuts, which includes a win at the Houston Open. He’s added 5 other finishes inside the top 12 and was a quarterfinalist at the WGC-Match Play.
Do I really need to remind you how incredible Poulter has been at the Ryder Cup? Press play below, and you’ll be reminded how cold-blooded this dude is when he’s playing for his country.
Let’s not waste any more time making a case for Poulter to be picked, because it’s already a foregone conclusion.
Paul Casey
How good is the European team looking?
So good that Paul Casey is on the outside looking in as things currently stand. Casey has had one of his better years on the PGA Tour in 2018, finishing in the top 25 in 11 of his 16 regular-season starts. He won the Valspar Championship back in March, and I know he isn’t afraid of the big stage.
But Casey hasn’t played his best golf as of late, and with as competitive as it is for these last few spots, he could wind up missing out.
A strong performance at either the Northern Trust and/or the Dell Technologies Championship would probably be enough to solidify his spot, but at this point, there are no guarantees.
Look at the caliber of players still to go on my list, and you’ll see why Casey isn’t a sure thing.
Rafa Cabrera-Bello
Rafa Cabrera-Bello might not be as “household of a name” as some of the others on this page, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he isn’t a serious contender to be on the chartered team plane to Paris.
If the 29th-ranked player in the world is trying to convince Captain Bjorn he is in good form as the summer winds down, I must say, he is doing a pretty good job.
A 17th-place finish at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational propelled Rafa into a top-10 at the PGA Championship. Rounds of 68-69-65-64 at the Wyndham Championship landed Cabrera-Bello in 11th, and more importantly, back onto the short list of the possible captain’s picks.
The 34-year-old Spaniard is known as a premium ball striker, and Le Golf National has already been deemed “a second-shot golf course.” Well, I suppose the fact that Cabrera-Bello leads the PGA Tour in proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards, I’d say his iron game is in complete control.
If Bjorn really wants to key in on the guys who are rounding into peak form as we get closer to the end of September, he probably won’t want to look past Rafa.
Russell Knox
Russell Knox is the guy on this list who I feel has the most to prove to Thomas Bjorn if he’s going to be on the receiving end of a happy phone call from the captain.
Without giving away who is left on this list, let’s just say that there are two European Ryder Cup stalwarts who are relying on a pick if they are going to be on this team.
That means that Russell’s best opportunity to make this squad is to snag the 8th and final spot via automatic qualifying.
He’ll have to play extraordinarily well at the first two Playoff events, but it’s still within the realm of possibilities. As good of a putter as Russell is, I just have a hard time imagining Bjorn and his assistant captains will pull the trigger on Knox if it means passing up one of the two players listed below.
Henrik Stenson
Henrik Stenson is as good of a ball striker as there is on this planet, and I don’t think many individuals in the golf industry would argue with that statement.
But an elbow injury that has been hampering him all summer was enough for Stenson to withdraw from the Northern Trust, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his Ryder Cup status.
Hopefully this is more of a precautionary WD than one that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the Playoffs, but that remains to be seen.
What Stenson does have going for him, aside from the fact that he’s been a key contributor for Team Europe in each of the last two Cups, is how superb he is with his irons.
The PGA Tour leader in greens in regulation percentage (GIR) also tops the charts in strokes gained on approach shots.
Given the setup of the course, there is no way that Captain Bjorn will leave Stenson off this roster if he is healthy. Stenson’s elbow injury not subsiding is about the only realistic way I could see the 42-year-old Swede not in France when September comes to a close.
Sergio Garcia
It’s hard to believe I am talking about Sergio Garcia as someone who might not be on the 2018 European Ryder Cup Team. The 2017 Masters champ is in the midst of the worst funk in his 19-year career as a professional, as Sergio missed the cut in all four majors in 2018 for the first time ever.
I understand that getting the monkey off his back after winning the Green Jacket last April was a huge moment in Garcia’s career. Getting married later in the year and having his first child 5 months ago are obviously going to take the focus off of golf in the interim.
It’s Garcia’s lack of concentration and inability to hole key putts that are really holding him back here.
After not qualifying for the FedEx Cup Playoffs (also a first), Sergio now has to sit back and wait, hoping he’ll get the call from Bjorn.
Garcia has been an instrumental participant for the Europeans, and I don’t suspect Bjorn will have any trouble remembering how big a factor Sergio has been during his 8 appearances as a member of the team.
Perhaps nobody has shown more passion and heart for this team competition than Sergio, and it’s that enthusiasm that will hopefully outweigh Garcia’s porous play over the past 8 months.
In the end, I think Sergio brings too much to the table to leave off the team. And this could be the event that gets the wheels spinning back in the right direction for the guy they used to call “El Niño.”
Rehashing the Main Points
Any way you slice it, the European Ryder Cup team is going to be loaded.
Will the captain and his assistants decide to lean on veterans like Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson? Or perhaps they’ll opt for the hot hand of Rafa Cabrera-Bello?
What I know for sure is that Ian Poulter will be part of the roster.
I already wrote a piece last week about which players are in the mix to be chosen for the US Ryder Cup team, so it was only fitting that I brought you up to speed on what’s going on for the Americans’ counterparts.
We’re just one month away from the festivities, and I’m already counting down the days. As we inch closer to September 27th, I’ll be releasing more Ryder Cup-related posts to keep us clued in to exactly what’s going on.
Until then, enjoy the FedEx Cup Playoffs!
The post Which Players Will Make the European Team for the 2018 Ryder Cup? appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
New MGM Springfield casino makes New England debut
Casino City Times
New MGM Springfield casino makes New England debut
Investing in the revival of historic Springield, Massachusetts' first resort and casino brings 3,000 permanent jobs and new entertainment offerings to region.
Mega Moolah jackpot passes $12 million milestone
World Casino News
Mega Moolah jackpot passes $12 million milestone
Why You Shouldn’t Play Online Poker Freeroll Tournaments
GamblingSites.com
Why You Shouldn’t Play Online Poker Freeroll Tournaments
If you’re new to the world of online poker or simply enjoy playing within your limits, the concept of a freeroll tournament simply seems too good to be true.
And that’s because it is…
For those that don’t know, a freeroll tournament is one which doesn’t require an entry fee of any sort in order to play. That’s right, free poker – so what’s not to love?
Well, poker is a game that fundamentally revolves around the concept of risk and reward. And with no skin the game, as gamblers are prone to say, playing a freeroll tournament is a far cry from real poker.
Just ask Chad Holloway, a longtime veteran of the poker media industry who isn’t a slouch on the felt in any respect. Holloway bagged a gold bracelet at the 2013 World Series of Poker (WSOP), and he’s accumulated more than $163,000 in live tournament earnings – all while playing part-time.
Writing in a guide on how to beat freeroll tournaments, Holloway penned the following passage which speaks to the heart of why these special events aren’t exactly poker as you might know it.
“With many inexperienced players and nothing to lose, the first few minutes sees a large chunk of the field go out with crazy hands and all-in preflop action. So sit tight initially.
That doesn’t mean you can wait too long – we said ‘first few minutes’ not ‘first few levels.’
The all-in craziness isn’t defined by blind levels, but by a lot of players in small poker freerolls who are looking to accumulate a big stack early or just go out.
Don’t bother trying to play ‘real poker’ in the first few minutes; just fold everything bar big pairs, and spring into action when things calm down.”
Just like Holloway says, freeroll poker and real poker are two completely different pursuits. Without their own money on the line, your opponents can simply click buttons and get their chips in holding any two cards, turning the pure strategy game of Texas Hold’em into nothing but a crapshoot.
You’ll find dozens of daily freeroll tournaments littering the schedules of your favorite online poker rooms, which can make the events seem like an attractive option. And for players who find their bankroll tapped out at the moment, getting an hour or two of tournament play in free of charge makes perfect sense – at first glance, anyway.
But in reality, freeroll tournaments just aren’t worth your time or effort. Read on to learn why entering freeroll events is a mistake, complete with advice from successful pros like Chris “Jesus” Ferguson and Chris Moorman, along with Holloway.
Your Opponents Hardly Ever Take Them Seriously
Way back in 2006, decorated pro and six-time WSOP bracelet winner Chris “Jesus” Ferguson embarked on the adventure of a poker player’s lifetime.
Even though he had plenty of money in the bank, Ferguson challenged himself to generate a bankroll of $10,000 on Full Tilt Poker – all while beginning with exactly $0.00 in his online account.
Naturally, the only way to turn nothing into something in the poker economy is through freerolls, so Ferguson dove headlong into the strange world of no-cost tournaments.
But even while he was surrounded by lesser-skilled opponents, Ferguson struggled to gain traction at first, and all for one simple reason – his opponents weren’t taking the game nearly as seriously as he was.
Here’s how he described the situation in 2014.
“One of the funny things about the challenge is that people would see me playing a freeroll and think I was fooling around. Are you kidding me?
I was taking those freerolls dead seriously because getting money out of them was an essential part of the challenge.
I was sweating on the other side praying, ‘Please fold, please fold!’”
While Ferguson was anxiously sweating every flop and fold, his opponents were simply splashing around and having fun. And while that’s all well and good if you’re playing for entertainment purposes only, serious poker improvement inherently requires serious opposition.
You can’t explore different strategies in your own game when the rest of the table isn’t thinking strategically in the slightest. Just imagine trying to run a carefully constructed bluff through on the river, knowing your opponent only has bottom pair and a missed draw.
That player should fold to your pressure play on fifth street – and if they had even a dollar on the line, they probably would. Instead, they happily click the “CALL” button, secure in the knowledge that winning or losing doesn’t really matter to them at all.
Scenarios like this are all too common at the freeroll tables, which Holloway alluded to in his warning on not worrying about playing “real poker.”
Freeroll “Strategy” Can Wreak Havoc on Your Game
Consult any poker strategy guidebook, and you’ll likely come across several pages devoted to patience.
The players who can rein in that natural temptation to play poor hands – especially when the dealer doesn’t seem capable of delivering premium cards their way – are best equipped to survive the gauntlet that is tournament play.
Here’s what Holloway had to say about freeroll strategy when he wrote a guide on the subject for 888 Poker.
“Always be prepared to make huge raises and all-in pushes with hands like A-A and K-K, almost regardless of position.
One of two things will usually happen. Either inexperienced players will give you action by calling with any Ace, any pair, or even any two suited cards. Secondly, a player with a similar level of experience as you may share the opinion that a tournament without a buy-in allows for a greater amount of gamble, and therefore make the call with a low pair, a big Ace like A-K or A-Q, or even something like K-Q or K-J!
Yes, everyone might fold, but if you do catch someone with a playable hand you’re in a great spot to double through. If the action is short-handed or the blinds really small then a big raise, rather than an all-in move, is a better approach.”
And while that all may be well and good in the freeroll world, playing like that in a real tournament is a recipe for disaster.
Unfortunately, most players aren’t as capable of “switching gears” as they’d like to think, so freerolls can definitely develop several bad habits.
From semi-bluff shoving every draw you flop to calling big river bets down light assuming your opponent is bluffing – these freeroll-inspired leaks can severely impact your ability to eke out a profit in the paid entry tourneys.
If your goal is to return to the real money games at some point, it’s best to avoid freerolls entirely and work on improving your genuine poker strategies.
They Aren’t Lucrative in Any Sense of the Word
One of the main reasons serious players dabble in freeroll tournaments is the prospect of winning something for nothing.
Remember, we’re not talking about play money poker here, and most freerolls offer prize pools in the $100 neighborhood. Using the typical poker tournament payout structure, which sees the winners claim 10% of the prize pool, you may be competing for a cool $10.
And hey, that’s nothing to scoff at when your bankroll is bust and belly-up. Whenever you can score an infusion of funds without making a deposit from your bank account, you’re already winning.
That $10 prize is good throughout the rest of the poker room, so you can make like Ferguson and transition into to micro-stakes cash games and tournaments from there.
But one thing to keep in mind about freerolls is that the “big bucks” are only claimed by the winner. The runner-up in a $100 freeroll might win $5, while the first player out at the final table usually gets $1.
Notch a “min-cash” by barely making the money, however, and your reward is nothing but a few pennies – not even enough to enter the lowest non-freeroll event on the board.
That was Ferguson’s experience, anyhow, as he recounted during a 2014 interview.
“I basically broke even on (cash games) and made about $22 from freerolls.
I cashed in about one in 10, at about an hour and a half for each, which works out at $0.14 an hour or something stupid, but that wasn’t the point.”
Yes, you read that correctly…
Ferguson – a world-class poker pro who was taking the games as seriously as he could – only managed to squeeze out 14 cents per hour while grinding freerolls.
Let’s take a bold leap and assume you’re not as talented of a poker player as the 2000 WSOP Main Event World Champion. If you were even 1/3 as skilled as he is, you might expect to earn a nickel per hour playing freerolls.
In order to get $1.10 in your account – the typical low-point for online tournament entry fees – you’d need to play (and win) for 22 hours.
If spending nearly a full day of your life chasing a measly buck sounds like fun, by all means, take your shot at the freeroll festivities. But if you’re like the rest of us, you’ll probably want to play poker games that offer legitimate compensation for your time, effort, and good luck.
The Environment Is Toxic and Irritating
Back in the heyday of the online poker boom, chat box intimidation was a serious issue.
The technology back then didn’t allow for chat to be turned off or muted, so players were forced to endure a stream of invective – for winning and for losing.
Put a bad beat on a player, and you’d get harangued and harassed for being a “fish,” a “donkey,” a “luckbox” – or worse. Conversely, if you continually played high-level poker and won your pots using skillful calls, bets, and bluffs, the game’s losers had no compunction about calling you out as a bully.
All in all, the chat box turned most online poker tournaments into a toxic cesspool of juvenile banter and bickering between opponents.
Thankfully, the environment has been largely cleaned up at the standard entry tables – but freerolls are another story.
Check out what Holloway wrote about the chat box nuisance in his freeroll tournament guide.
“You’d be hard pushed to find any other instance in the world of online poker where the chatbox gets abused more than during a poker freeroll tournament.
With the standard of most players being relatively low, you’ll bear witness to an endless run of bad beat stories that disgruntled punters will have trouble letting go of.
Of course, you’ll have noticed that most of these tales are not unlucky, but in fact the result of poor play. The trick is not to tell them that, no matter how tempting it is.”
Holloway wasn’t focused on harassment so much as bad beat stories, but his point is clear – chat boxes in the freeroll arena are like the comments section on YouTube. Everybody has something to say, but nobody’s saying a damned thing worth listening to.
Spare yourself the grief and aggravation by avoiding freeroll tournaments and their poisonous chat rooms altogether.
They Make You Rush to Get Registered
This criticism is a bit of nitpick, but when you open up your favorite online poker room’s lobby and see an attractive freeroll on the board, you’d better hurry.
These events are the bread and butter for players who have long since gone broke playing real games. And believe it or not, most poker rooms are filled with long-term losing players who have nothing better to do than fire away at the freeroll menu.
As such, when the site opens a new freeroll for registration, the tournament typically reaches capacity in a matter of moments. And even though we’re talking about freerolls that seat 3,000 players in most cases – it doesn’t matter in the slightest.
As soon as the green light goes up to enter, the event will be jam-packed and filled up within minutes.
This is what Greenstein had to say about the mounting frustration that comes with such a short window of opportunity.
“If you didn’t sign up within the first 90 seconds of registration opening the tournament would fill up and you’d have to wait until the next one, so I’d set an alarm clock to remind me.”
Remember, most sites run a daily freeroll, so you’ll only have one shot every 24 hours to get in the game. Miss it, and you’ll be sitting on the sidelines that day, with nothing to do but sweat the action from afar.
That’s no way to play poker, especially online where bankrolled players have dozens – or even hundreds – of tournaments to choose from during the course of a day.
Conclusion
Freeroll tournaments seem like they should have a place in the poker economy, and indeed, they do for many people. But by and large, these players are folks who have long since given up on the prospects of playing for real money.
Sure, they may score a few bucks here and there, but for the most part, freeroll regulars are akin to the railbirds you see along the major live tournament circuit. They’re spectators, stuck on the fringes of a game they love, but lacking the ability and the bankroll to play for keeps.
If you’re still serious about improving your poker skills while having fun at the tables, ditch the freerolls altogether and start grinding the lowest stakes.
A tiny $20 deposit is enough to play 18 of those $1.10 tournaments, and know this – even for a single dollar, the poker played there is leaps and bounds better than what you’ll find on the freerolls.
The post Why You Shouldn’t Play Online Poker Freeroll Tournaments appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Korean Investor K-International Sizes Up Primorsky Krai Integrated Resort Project
CasinoGamesPro.com
Korean Investor K-International Sizes Up Primorsky Krai Integrated Resort Project
Primorsky Krai is one of the rapidly developing regions in the Asia-Pacific region and Russia is willing to explore the opportunities foreign investors could offer. The latest news came after a Korean casino developer and operator K-International Inc. recently made known its desire to work on a new entertainment resort in the area which could […]
The post Korean Investor K-International Sizes Up Primorsky Krai Integrated Resort Project appeared first on CasinoGamesPro.com.
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