Donald Trump has secured the backing of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) ahead of the upcoming elections. As announced, the non-profit has pledged to contribute $5 million to Trump’s reelection.

The RJC’s ambition is to forge a meaningful relationship between the Jewish community and Republican lawmakers. The organization’s overarching aim is to foster favorable relations between the United States and Israel.

RJC officials also intend to distribute an additional $15 million among other GOP candidates.

The contributions come amid the continued conflict between Israel and Hamas and decreased support from Biden’s government. In an interview with Fox News, Sam Markstein, RJC’s political director, said that the Jewish community is “more energized than ever to turn the page from the failures, broken promises and betrayals by Joe Biden.”

Political bettors are currently more likely to place their wagers on Trump winning the presidential elections. William Hill bettors’ wagers, for example, seem to suggest that the ex-president’s chances of winning the race are standing at approximately 55%.

The RJC Was Extensively Backed by LVS’ Founder

For context, the RJC was founded in 1985 and is based in Washington DC. The organization has significant lobbying power thanks to its past relationship with Sheldon Adelson, founder of the Las Vegas Sands casino and hospitality giant.

Adelson passed away three years ago but is still listed as a board member of the RJC board thanks to his incredible contributions to the non-profit organization. He has fueled RCJ’s Victory Fund with millions of dollars and, together with his wife, provided Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns with over $200 million.   

In return, Trump, during his time as POTUS, moved the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as Adelson desired.

In other news, Trump Jr. recently criticized the Alabama Senate’s reluctance to pass a bill that would have allowed Alabama state residents to cast their vote on whether they would like to have a state lottery or not.

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GambleAware, the leading commissioner of gambling harm prevention and treatment services in the UK, suggested that the broad public supports the controversial affordability checks. The measure, originally outlined in the Gambling Act white paper, seeks to introduce frictionless checks that would prevent at-risk players from overspending.

However, gambling industry campaigners have suggested that the checks would make gambling unsustainable for many players, potentially even hurting the horseracing sector. On the contrary, GambleAware suggested that the public actually supports the measure.

Citing recent polling, the charity suggested that three in five adults (57%) support enhanced financial risk checks. People impacted by a loved one’s gambling, on the other hand, were much more likely to support the measure, with data showing that 76% of affected others believe gambling companies should be held responsible for gambling problems.

In the meantime, 63% of respondents said that they believe that affordability checks would reduce the number of problem players.

For reference, the polling was conducted by Ipsos and saw the public opinion specialist survey 4,170 British adults.

GambleAwar Supports Frictionless Checks

GambleAware’s chief executive officer, Zoë Osmond, said that her team urges the government to not miss opportunities to introduce “robust preventive measures.” While GambleAware acknowledges that affordability checks should be frictionless and properly implemented, it also believes that they are a necessary measure.

By prioritizing preventative action and ensuring the industry take some responsibility for protecting individuals against unaffordable losses, we can mitigate the detrimental impact of problem gambling on individuals and society as a whole.

Zoë Osmond, CEO, GambleAware

Nicola Jaques, family support worker for the Beacon Counselling Trust in Preston, and an affected other of gambling harms, also commented on the matter, highlighting the devastating effects gambling harm could have on families. 

Safeguards like these financial risk checks are so important because they would help protect not only the person experiencing problems with gambling, but also those around them. Anyone can experience gambling harm and it affects far more than just one person.

Nicola Jaques, family support worker, Beacon Counselling Trust

GambleAware is the organization behind the United Kingdom’s National Gambling Support Network (NGSN). The charity recently reported that the helpline received over 52,000 calls in 2023 – a figure representing a year-on-year rise of 24%.

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While California’s appetite for the lucrative sports betting industry remains substantial, the path forward is unclear. A pair of proposed measures for the November 2024 ballot seeks to allow on-site and online sports betting in the Golden State through recognized Indian tribes. However, these propositions are raising questions due to the notable absence of support from California’s gaming tribes.

The Proposals Faced Significant Backlash from Tribes

October saw two new sports betting proposals emerge in California, aiming to reintroduce the contentious issue to voters. However, further investigation revealed Reeve Collins and Ryan Tyler Walz, the proponents of the two new bills, were unknown in the sports betting regulatory world. Some evidence linked them to Nevada casino giant Boyd Gaming and gambling site Pala Interactive, but both organizations denied involvement.

Neither Collins nor Walz have made a public appearance so far. Despite the proposals heavily favoring tribal operators, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association confirmed they had not been consulted regarding this matter. The group expressed disappointment that the sponsors didn’t seek consultation or input from California’s largest tribal gaming organization.

While the sponsors of these initiatives may believe they know what is best for tribes, we encourage them to engage with Indian Country and ask, rather than dictate. 

Indian Gaming Association statement

The two new sports betting initiatives will be hard-pressed to qualify for the November 2024 election. Usually, petitioners have 180 days to win public approval, but the late submissions mean Collins and Walz must collect the 874,641 valid signatures required to get on the ballot in just four months. Meanwhile, California voters are not inclined to support unknown entities.

Regulated Wagering Will Offer Unparalleled Opportunities

While the two proponents’ identities remain mysterious, their motivations are relatively straightforward. The popularity of sports betting is on the rise nationwide, and California is keen to capitalize on this trend. By legalizing sports betting, the state can tap into a new source of revenue while providing its sports-loving residents with the thrill of betting on their favorite games. 

With the potential for vast revenues, investing in an expensive initiative effort remains an alluring prospect. Despite little hope for success, the gaming industry contributed over $360 million to competing propositions in 2022. The two mysterious propositions could be part of a similar effort as interested parties are keen to advance their interests and gain an advantage over the competition.

While it seems crazy to try again to unlock the market after such a resounding defeat, the upside is just so significant that maybe people can’t help themselves.

Geoff Zochodne, Covers.com sports betting analyst

While the path to legalizing sports betting in California remains unclear, the demand and potential remain substantial. Even if the two current initiatives fail, experts agree that sports betting will come to the Golden State sooner rather than later. The story continues to unfold, leaving industry insiders and gaming enthusiasts eager to witness the future of sports wagering in

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Amid the fervent competition to secure licenses for New York City’s inaugural casinos, developers are undertaking unconventional strategies to garner local support, but this turns out to be a move sparking parental discontent.

This summer, a basketball camp held at Coney Island’s Kaiser Park was emblazoned with the logo of “The Coney”, a proposed casino project seeking to establish roots in the neighborhood, reported the New York Times. The basketball clinic, organized by Brooklyn USA Basketball, is just one example of the lengths to which casino operators are going to curry favor with local communities as they vie for coveted licenses.

While some parents decry the casinos for using their kids to advance a potentially detrimental agenda, others welcome the funding that enables enhanced sports programs and activities. The divisive issue has fueled heated debates on social media, bringing the ethics of casino-funded youth programs into the spotlight. The discussions have prompted deeper contemplation on the roles of gaming corporations within communities and the responsibilities they carry when engaging with the youth.

The controversy underlines the high stakes in the race for the three casino licenses in the New York City area. However, these battles extend beyond the boardrooms and into local communities, where concerns over the impact on children and ethics are in focus.

Silverstein and Greenwood Join the Race for New York’s Casino Licenses

Legal experts have noted that this grey area in advertising to minors continues to challenge states, despite measures in place to prevent casino operators from targeting young audiences. New York’s gaming regulators, for instance, have a pending rule proposal that would forbid marketing sports betting to minors, encompassing logos on clothing aimed at those under 21.

Besides The Coney, there are also other projects fighting for the coveted New York licenses. At the end of June, Silverstein Properties and Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment joined forces to vie for a commercial casino license in downstate New York. Their proposed “Avenir” casino hotel, situated in Manhattan’s far West Side, aims to tap into the area’s high demand for entertainment and gaming options. The collaboration faces tough competition from other casino operators, with factors like financial stability and project design influencing the regulatory evaluation process. The developers must also address community concerns, as seen in Coney Island where residents are protesting a Boardwalk casino bid due to crime and pollution fears.

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