Execs: US internet casino gambling is poised for expansion

The Derrick

23 September 2022

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — As sports betting has swept across the country with states, casinos and consumers eagerly embracing a new gambling market, internet casino games have grown much more slowly.

But the online casino market has tremendous potential for growth and expansion, participants in a major casino conference said Friday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Patrick Cantlay drained a putt from deep on one of the toughest par-4s on the course, Hideki Matsuyama and Tom Kim shook their heads and exchanged a smile as if to say, “What else can we do?”

ATLANTA — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Friday that he will replace voting equipment in Coffee County after supporters of then-President Donald Trump and their computer analysts copied confidential data following the 2020 election.

Embattled Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee has resigned at the request of the city’s mayor Lauren McLean. The announcement came Friday afternoon amid complaints from officers, reported by KTVB this week, and after an investigation into an allegation that he injured a subordinate in a neck restraints demonstration last year. Boise City spokesperson Maria Weeg said “It became clear to the mayor the department needed different leadership.” City officials say Lee’s resignation will take effect Oct. 14, but he will be placed on leave until then. McLean appointed retired officer Ron Winegar as acting chief.

Craig Kimbrel won't be closing any more games for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts says Kimbrel will be used in different innings and different situations over the final two weeks of the regular season. Roberts isn't naming a replacement for Kimbrel in the ninth. The manager was noncommittal about Kimbrel's situation in the postseason. Kimbrel has struggled in his first season with the Dodgers. He has a 6-6 record and a 4.14 ERA. Kimbrel's career ERA is 2.33 over 13 seasons with six teams.

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 has struck in the Pacific off southern Chile, but there are no early reports of damage. The U.S. Geological Survey says the epicenter of the quake Friday evening was 6.2 miles below the surface. It was 88 miles west of Ancud, a town 696 miles south of the Chilean capital, Santiago. Chile's National Emergency Office says authorities are checking for any “possible damage to people, alteration of basic services or infrastructure.” The Chilean navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service has ruled out the possibility of a tsunami.

Billy Horschel raced over to Max Homa on the 18th green and chest-bumped his playing partner after Homa’s birdie putt gave the United States a 1-up victory over the International team at the Presidents Cup and a commanding 8-2 lead after the second day of play. Then, as he walked away Horschel privately pumped his fist in the air, his own little bit of satisfactory celebration. The 35-year-old Horschel has always wanted to play for the US in a team format in an international competition but has never had the opportunity. So Friday was a dream come true for the fiery 2014 FedEx Cup champion.

Public school advocates who oppose a massive expansion of Arizona’s private school voucher system have filed enough signatures to block it from taking effect. The law extends the program to every child in the state. It will be on hold instead of taking effect Saturday. If a review finds that Save Our Schools Arizona has met the requirement for nearly 119,000 valid signatures it will remain blocked until the November 2024 election. Save Our Schools director Beth Lewis says the group turned in just under 142,000 signatures on Friday. Voters rejected an earlier attempt to expand the voucher program by a 2/3 majority in the 2018 election.

LOS ANGELES — After not practicing Friday, Justin Herbert is listed as questionable for the Chargers' game Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars at SoFi Stadium.

NEW YORK — Leon Rose emerged from hiding to tell the Knicks’ in-house network that he’s “thrilled” with his roster after missing the playoffs and missing out on Donovan Mitchell.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton is out for the season and is set to have surgery on his troublesome right knee. After Minnesota went 1-7 on its road trip and fell out of contention in the AL Central, the team made the decision to shut down Buxton for the year. Minnesota president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Buxton will have an arthroscopic “cleanup” surgery to alleviate some scar tissue and fraying. Buxton, who was an All-Star for the first time this season, has been out since Aug. 23 due to a right hip strain.

Georgia ran a surplus of more than $6 billion in the budget year ended June 30. That means the state’s next governor and lawmakers could spend or give back billions more than this year. The State Accounting Office says Georgia had all that extra money even after spending $28.6 billion in the 2022 budget year. Total state general fund receipts rose a whopping 22%. Georgia has $6.58 billion in cash that leaders can spend however they want. Some money is spoken for, with the state likely to transfer more than $1 billion to roadbuilding after waiving gas taxes since March. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams have other spending priorities as well.

CHICAGO — The epitaph for this Chicago White Sox season was delivered Wednesday night by starter Lance Lynn.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — George Kittle’s season debut should come Sunday night in Denver, and while his explosive ability as a receiver could complement Jimmy Garoppolo’s first start since last season’s playoffs, Kittle’s blocking prowess will enhance the NFL’s No. 4 rushing attack.

A strong undersea earthquake has shaken Indonesia’s northernmost province of Aceh, but there are no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties and officials say there is no threat of a tsunami. Witnesses said many people ran out of their homes to higher ground when the earthquake struck before dawn Saturday, but they later received text messages saying there was no danger of a tsunami. A massive quake off the coast of Aceh in 2004 triggered a powerful tsunami that killed around 230,000 people in a dozen countries. The U.S. Geological Survey said Saturday’s magnitude 6.2 quake was centered 40 kilometers south-southwest of Meulaboh, a coastal city in Aceh province.

GOP rival quips about kidnapping plot against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

A Mississippi man has been charged with a federal hate crime, accused of burning a cross in his front yard to threaten his Black neighbors. The U.S. Justice Department said 23-year-old Axel Cox chose to burn a cross in front of a Black family because of their race. He also allegedly addressed the family with racially derogatory language. A grand jury indicted Cox in September. The Gulfport, Mississippi, man is accused of violating his neighbors’ housing rights. Cox is being held without bond pending a Nov. 7 jury trial. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Roger Federer's last match before retirement is a loss in doubles with Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup.

NEW YORK — Out of public safety concerns, Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is likely to surge more cops into the Bronx neighborhood where it plans to soon start housing hundreds of Latin American migrants in tent camps, according to the local Council member.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tropical Depression Nine formed in the Caribbean on Friday with a path that could bring it to Florida next week as a major Category 3 hurricane prompting Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency in 24 counties.

Oregon state Rep. James Hieb will not face charges in connection with his August arrest for alleged disorderly conduct and other charges at Clackamas County Fairgrounds. A memo obtained by KOIN 6 News says the Clackamas County district attorney is declining to pursue charges based on a lack of evidence and a recent change in Oregon law. The Republican lawmaker from Canby previously said the incident happened after he had consumed four beers and then lit a cigarette. He says a woman asked him to put it out and then summoned officers. The district attorney determined Hieb’s behavior did not rise to the level of creating a disturbance to qualify for disorderly conduct.

NEW YORK — A Manhattan judge found New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate can’t justify firing or putting on leave members of the city’s biggest police union.

Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows

CHICAGO — Eight-year-old Cooper Roberts has returned to his home after being shot during the Independence Day parade in Highland Park, his family said Thursday.

The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was listed as questionable on the injury report after not participating in practice Friday. Herbert sustained a fractured rib cartilage after taking a hard hit from Kansas City defensive lineman Michael Danna during the fourth quarter of last Thursday night’s game against the Chiefs. Herbert was limited on Wednesday and went through most of his usual workload Thursday as the Bolts prepare to host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Herbert said he felt good going through Thursday’s workout. He plans to get plenty of rest before testing his injury in pre-game warmups Sunday.

Republican J.R. Majewski insisted Friday that he would stay in the race for a competitive northwest Ohio congressional seat after The Associated Press reported earlier this week that he misrepresented key elements of his Air Force service. “I flew into combat zones often, specifically in Afghanistan and I served my country proud,” Majewski said at a news conference. The comments came amid growing fallout for Majewski, who repeatedly said he deployed to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, but instead served a six-month stint loading and unloading planes while based in Qatar, according to records obtained by the AP through a public records request.

The matches were close at the end. The outcome was not. Max Homa delivered two late birdies for another U.S. win. The Americans won another session at the Presidents Cup by a 4-1 margin. That makes the lead 8-2 going into the weekend. And it makes another U.S. victory in these one-sided matches start to look inevitable. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were on hand for the action. The lone International point came from two ties. It's the second time on American soil they have a mathematical chance to end it on Saturday.

LOS ANGELES — The wholesale privacy invasion was vast when FBI agents drilled and pried their way into 1,400 safe-deposit boxes at the U.S. Private Vaults store in Beverly Hills.

The Republican candidate for Michigan governor has compared Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s policies to the 2020 plot to kidnap the Democratic incumbent. Tudor Dixon's remarks at two events Friday immediately drew criticism from Democrats who said she was making light of a serious and dangerous crime. At one event Dixon said, “For someone so worried about being kidnapped, Gretchen Whitmer sure is good at taking business hostage.” Two men were convicted last month of plotting to kidnap Whitmer because they were angry about pandemic-related restrictions she imposed. Prosecutors said they were part of a group who planned to abduct Whitmer and blow up a bridge.

A Texas city has settled a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by a Black mother after she and her daughter were wrestled to the ground and arrested by a white police officer following a dispute with a neighbor. Jacqueline Craig and one of her daughters were wrestled to the ground and had a stun gun pointed at them by Fort Worth officer William Martin in December 2016. Another of Craig’s daughters, who filmed the incident on her cellphone, was also arrested. Charges against all three were later dropped and Martin served a 10-day suspension for violating departmental policies. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Friday that the city agreed to settle the lawsuit for $150,000.

Every September, the New York City police barricades go up around the U.N. headquarters in midtown Manhattan. They demarcate a temporary multinational fiefdom and inadvertently annex peripheral businesses and residence towers. Hillary Lee has owned Belleclaire Cleaners for four years. She softly moans when asked how business fares during the U.N. General Assembly's high-level meeting. It's frustrating for customers, business owners and residents but she doesn't hold a grudge. She even picks up some new clients, although she doesn't try to make money off them. She says the U.N. visitors are nice and she wants to help so she'll let them pay what they want.

An Idaho judge has banned cameras from the courtroom in the high-profile triple murder case against a mother and her new husband, saying he fears the images could prevent a fair trial. Lori Vallow Daybell and her new husband, Chad Daybell, are accused of conspiring together to kill her two children and his late wife. The strange details of the case have garnered international attention, and late last month Vallow Daybell's attorneys asked the judge to ban cameras from the courtroom. Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce made the ruling on Friday, saying that news organizations will no longer be able to shoot still photography or videos inside the courtroom. Both Vallow Daybell and Daybell have pleaded not guilty.

A fugitive defense contractor nicknamed “Fat Leonard” who claims to have incriminating sex photos of top U.S. Navy brass could become the latest bargaining chip in Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s efforts to win official recognition from the Biden administration. But it’s unclear how hard the U.S. government will fight for the return of Leonard Glenn Francis, the Malaysian owner of a ship servicing company in Southeast Asia who is the central character in one of the largest bribery scandals in Pentagon history. While Venezuela and the United States have an extradition treaty, the Biden administration does not formally recognize Maduro's government.

SAN DIEGO — It's all fun and games until the power line blows up.

It's been a rough couple of weeks on the stock market, ending recently with a warning from FedEX about a downturn in the global economy that sent shares tumbling.

BALTIMORE — Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the team has agreed to terms with Jason Pierre-Paul pending a physical, and he expects the veteran edge rusher to reach game readiness quickly once he arrives.

The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms with veteran pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul. The Ravens announced the deal Friday and said it was pending a physical. Pierre-Paul had 2 1/2 sacks in 12 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. He was with the New York Giants from 2010-17 before joining the Buccaneers. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Pierre-Paul’s daughter’s birthday is Saturday, but he’d be arriving after that. Harbaugh also said receiver Devin Duvernay has been cleared to play Sunday at New England following a concussion.

The Wisconsin Election Commission has notified clerks that an independent candidate’s identifying information was printed incorrectly on general election ballots in the state’s 2nd District. The commission said an error at the state level meant county clerks didn’t get all the information on Douglas Alexander's candidacy that they should have before printing ballots. Wisconsin law lets independents include a statement of no more than five words next to their name. Alexander had wanted “Term Limits on Congress” to appear next to his, rather than “Independent.” The commission is arranging for voters to see a notice about the omission.

A new Arizona law banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy takes effect Saturday, even as a judge weighs whether a pre-statehood law that outlaws nearly all abortions will be enforced. The 15-week law passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by GOP Gov. Doug Ducey in March was enacted in hopes the U.S. Supreme Court would pare back limits on abortion regulations. It mirrored a Mississippi law that the high court was then considering that cut about nine weeks off the previous threshold. The conservative justices who hold a court majority instead completely overturned Roe v. Wade, and states can now ban abortion completely. A dozen have blocked all abortions, and and three others are restricting it.