As March gives way to April, baseball season (delayed just a week, thankfully) will soon be upon us. That month also represents a milestone for my card store, Cullman Sportscards & Fun Shop, as April 6 will mark one year that I’ve been in operation. On that day in 2021, […]
Gambling Industry
It’s on: Baffert Transfers Four Derby Prospects to Other Barns
With a tick more than six weeks remaining until the Kentucky Derby, suspended trainer Bob Baffert finally moved four of his Derby prospects to other trainers. Provided the horses receive enough points in their impending final Derby preps, the move makes them eligible for the May 7 Derby. The Los […]
Kansas Considers Ambitious Sports Betting Bill
Lawmakers in Kansas discussed a sweeping sports betting bill on Tuesday that would allow both online and live sports betting, including in such places as casinos, convenience stores, and at racetracks. House Bill 2740 came together after much negotiation by the state’s gaming interests, who previously couldn’t agree on how […]
Maine Sports Betting Bill Faces Heavy Criticism
A bill that would permit online sports betting in Maine passed a legislative committee last week, but enough questions remain that its passage through the Legislature is far from assured. The Judiciary Committee voted 8-6 to advance an amendment to LD 585, a bill that includes several reforms negotiated between […]
Bob Baffert’s Latest Appeal Denied by Kentucky Court
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert suffered another legal setback Monday in his bid to keep his considerable stable running when a Kentucky judge denied a stay of his 90-day suspension. The suspension, $7,500 fine, and forfeiture of Kentucky Derby winnings by Amr Zedan, the owner of the late Medina […]
Barcelona Accept Spotify Offer for Camp Nou Naming Rights and Shirt Sponsorship
FC Barcelona has agreed a deal with streaming giant Spotify for the naming rights of the Camp Nou stadium. The world’s most popular subscription-based music streaming service will also have its name written on Barcelona shirts starting July. It’s for the first time in the history of FC Barcelona that […]
South Carolina Considering ADW Bill Allowing Horse Race Wagering
Legislators in both South Carolina state houses proposed bills legalizing advance deposit wagering (ADW) apps allowing the state’s residents to wager on horse races. Rep. Russel Ott (D-Calhoun) introduced the proposal at a Monday news conference, according to the Associated Press. The bills filed in the House by Ott and State […]
Here’s Why You Can’t Bet Several Tracks Saturday: Blame the Storm
A powerful, late winter storm wiped out Saturday racing cards at several Midwest and Eastern tracks, most notably New York’s Aqueduct, Maryland’s Laurel Park and West Virginia’s Charles Town. That explains why horseplayers can’t bet those races on their ADWs. The storm already claimed Turfway Park in Kentucky’s last five […]
US Government Now Owns $58K Pokemon Card
No, the federal government is not getting into the collectible card business, but U.S. Marshals did seize a Pokemon card valued at nearly $58,000 from a man recently convicted of fraud. Georgia resident Vinath Oudomsine, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud earlier this week and received a […]
Lawmaker Introduces Minnesota Sports Betting Bill
A sports betting bill introduced in the Minnesota Legislature enjoys the support of state tribal nations, which should help its chance of passage, says its sponsor. HF778 would establish both online and brick-and-mortar sports betting in Minnesota for residents ages 18 and up. The legislation would create the Minnesota Sports […]
Opinion: Calvin Ridley Hysteria Shows Lack of Understanding on Betting, Integrity Issues
It was all but inevitable that professional athletes in the United States would be caught gambling during the era of regulated sports betting. The hyperbolic reactions to the NFL’s suspension of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley earlier this week were almost as predictable. Ridley will miss at least the […]
Apple Scores First Sports Deal with $85 Million Friday Night MLB Package
Apple has a new deal to stream MLB games on Friday nights. The exclusive $85 million, multi-year, contract marks Apple’s first foray into live sports coverage. Meanwhile, the news could give MLB players a bit more leverage in their ongoing CBA negotiations. There were rumors that Apple was in the […]
F1 Dumps Russian Grand Prix, Haas Cuts Russian Sponsor and Driver
Formula One (F1) cancelled the 2022 Russian Grand Prix on Feb. 25. Days later, F1 terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoter. Meanwhile, the Haas F1 Team ended its contract with Russian driver Nikita Mazepin and the team’s title sponsor, Uralkali. F1 is a truly international sport, which […]
NFL Suspends Atlanta Falcons WR Calvin Ridley for 1 Year Due to Gambling
Calvin Ridley made $1,500 in parlay wagers and those bets ended up costing him $11 million in salary after the NFL suspended the Atlanta Falcons wide receiver for one year. Ridley becomes the fifth player in NFL history to serve a gambling suspension which includes 1961 NFL MVP Paul Hornung, […]
FanDuel Raises Stakes in Connecticut with Grand Opening of Massive Sportsbook at Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun celebrated the grand opening of its new 11,000-square foot sportsbook on Saturday, officially unveiling the largest FanDuel Sportsbook facility on the East Coast. The celebration began with a parade from the hotel lobby to the sportsbook, and culminated with appearances from a variety of sports legends and celebrities. […]
Back Off Dirt, Tiz the Bomb is Poised to Go Off in the Battaglia Memorial
The John Battaglia Memorial isn’t one of your A-list Kentucky Derby preps. It’s probably not a B-lister either. But the status trip down the alphabet got a boost with the presence of Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes winner Tiz the Bomb. Tiz the Bomb headlines an oversubscribed 14-colt-and-gelding field in Saturday’s […]
Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Rejects Baffert’s Appeal for Stay
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted to deny trainer Bob Baffert a stay of his 90-day suspension Friday, upholding a decision made by KHRC Executive Director Marc Guilfoil. This is the latest saga in the late Medina Spirit’s post-Kentucky Derby positive test for the anti-inflammatory betamethasone, banned on race days […]
Russian Club Krasnodar Suspends 8 Players, New Manager Farke Quits Before Debut
Russian Premier League club Krasnodar said eight foreign players had their contracts suspended. Daniel Farke, the recently-appointed German manager, also quit on Wednesday. The former Norwich City boss didn’t even get to make his debut on Krasnodar’s bench after joining the team in January. All decisions come in the wake […]
NBA to Add Expansion Teams in Seattle and Las Vegas?
During a segment of the Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons suggested that the NBA will add expansion teams to Seattle and Las Vegas, which would expand the NBA from 30 to 32 teams and mark the return of the Seattle SuperSonics. If the NBA adds two teams to the Western Conference, […]
Baffert Sues Churchill Downs Inc. Over Track, Derby Ban
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert filed a lawsuit against Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) Tuesday, seeking a reversal of his two year-suspension in the wake of Medina Spirit’s positive drug test for the banned-on-race-day anti-inflammatory betamethasone. The suit, which was filed in US District Court for Kentucky’s Western District, also […]