Ukraine’s gambling operators are facing a range of possible tax rates once the government approves its new market structure.

Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada parliament approved the first of three required readings of the latest proposal to authorize land-based and online gambling operations. But the draft of this new legislation lacked any specifics on the level of tax that licensed operators would be required to remit to the government.

This weekend, Ukraine’s parliament revealed the existence of four competing drafts of new gambling tax proposals intended on replacing the current Tax Code, which imposes an 18% rate on all forms of gambling revenue. Bill 2713 calls for this rate to be reduced to 10% for all verticals, although the Dentons international law firm noted that the tax rate for online poker went unspecified.

Rival drafts offer more complicated tax structures, including one that calls for a blanket 25% rate on all products. At the other end of the spectrum, another draft would exempt operators from any tax on their revenue, based on the view that the license fees – which will cost $23.4m for a five-year bookmaking permit – are already too high.

New Jersey is quickly becoming one of the best places for gamblers as they have been one of the first to legalize sports wagering. Now they look to go a step further by allowing for wagers to be placed on esports.

A bipartisan bill was added to the New Jersey State House on January 28 for consideration and discussion and would make it legal to bet on these events as part of the 2018 sports-gaming law that legalized sports gambling. The bill allows for wagering on video-game competitions, but does have some limitations. It prohibits wagers from being placed on any tournaments organized by high schools or in instances where the majority of those participating are not considered adults. The bill includes a list of specific events that would be legal for people in New Jersey to bet on.

This is not the first time the state has considered legalized esports betting. In November, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) authorized sportsbooks operators to be able to accept wagers on the League of Legends World Championships.

Since gambling was legalized in New Jersey in 2018, the law has been changed to allow for betting on video game tournaments, as long as competitors were at least 18 years old. Now, there is a call to allow for expansion beyond these tournaments.

OJ Simpson isn’t happy with the treatment he has received by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. More specifically, he’s upset with the casino for having incorrectly stated that, during a November 2017 visit, he was “drunk and disruptive,” according to information that was leaked to celebrity tattle site TMZ. His inebriated state was the excuse given by the casino for not letting him get beyond the lobby on that attempted visit, but Simpson asserts that it was a complete fabrication to cover up The Cosmopolitan’s racial discrimination. In order to try to get to the bottom of the ordeal, the two sides will now face off in court after attempts to work out a private settlement failed.

The 72-year-old former NFL star, known to many as The Juice, is suing The Cosmo for defamation. He asserts that someone at the casino, or perhaps multiple individuals, told TMZ that he was blitzed when he tried to visit the gambling house and had to be refused entry. However Simpson claims he was not drunk and was a victim of discrimination by the casino, and he says he has the evidence to back up his claims.

Simpson, who stood trial for killing his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, before being found not guilty, resides in Las Vegas. Later, he was involved in an incident involving an attempt to recuperate some of his football memorabilia with a heavy hand – he was charged with kidnapping and robbery after having held hostage the individual who had the items in his possession. For those crimes, he served over nine years in prison.

He was fresh out of jail when he visited The Cosmo in 2017, having enjoyed his freedom for only about a month. A day after the incident occurred, and in accordance with the conditions of his parole, Simpson took drug and alcohol tests at the Nevada Department of Parole and Probation and passed both with flying colors. As a result, it became apparent that he could not have been “smashed” the night before as The Cosmo had asserted.

The Palms Casino Resort was one of the first Las Vegas casinos, along with Red Rock Resort and Casino, to make a test run with new cashless technology at its gambling tables. Automated Cashless Systems (ACS) is rolling out its gaming table-based ATM system, PlayOn, which makes it easier for gamblers to top off their chip stacks if they start to run low. It appears the technology has made some more friends as additional casinos are starting to adopt the system, as well.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal (LVRJ), The Strat, which is owned by Golden Entertainment, is part of the next batch of casinos to embrace PlayOn. It just completed renovations to bring it into a new era, and adding innovative technology augments its expanded capabilities. According to Golden Entertainment VP of Gaming Development and Technology Jay Fennel, “We are testing this system because we see this as a great convenience for our players [which will] enhance the guest experience as a convenient way of accessing their funds without having to leave the comfort of their table.”

D Las Vegas is also reportedly using the technology already, as well, and its sister property, Golden Gate, is expected to incorporate it within a few months. With Stations Casino already having rolled out PlayOn at The Palms and Red Rock, there’s a good chance the technology will be introduced to some of its other properties, as well.

Gamblers will enjoy PlayOn not only for the convenience, but because it keeps them from having to break the action. Adds Fennel, “The obvious benefit is that it is efficient. Sometimes the time you spend finding an ATM and coming back to the table disrupts your flow. Plus, you don’t have to risk losing your spot.”

Barstool Sports was designed to offer a take on the sports gambling industry that would be, at times, edgy and controversial.  The online media platform has covered all things sports since 2003 and, if the adage “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” is to be believed, Barstool’s outspoken nature has paid off in a big way.  The rumors of a potential sale of the company to Penn National have now been confirmed, and the amount of money exchanging hands makes this one of the most lucrative media deals in recent history.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Penn National is prepared to hand over $163 million to buy 36% of the company.  The amount includes $136 million in cash and another $28 million in stock, and, if everything goes according to plan, Penn National will have the ability to increase its stake to 50% within three years.  It will also have first rights to buy the company outright at that time.

As a result of the deal, Barstool’s value now sits at about $450 million.  This is proving to be very lucrative for The Chernin Group, an investment firm that injected $10 million into the company in 2016 and another $25 million two years later.  Not a bad return on investment.

It should also prove beneficial for Penn National as legalized sports gambling continues to roll out across the US.  According to its available financial data, Barstool picked up between $90 million and $100 million in revenue last year from merchandising, contests and advertising.  This gives the gambling operator a relatively short period to see the positive side of its investment.  Not that Penn National is too concerned – its third-quarter turnover last year was around $1.35 billion.

The 14th Anniversary Sunday Million approaches, and among the many companies to reach out to the world’s current market leader in the world of poker, PokerStars, is one of their… wait, deadly rivals?

Yes, either to tease their rivals or add to their already mammoth marketing campaign, partypoker have fired a fairly sizeable Twitter shot across the limitless bounds of the internet. Here it is in all its glory:

Hey @PokerStars. Good luck with the 14th Anniversary #SundayMillion You may be bigger on Sunday but we are still the biggest! https://t.co/SuDZZgL1vF. Look out for our 2020 #MILLIONSOnline announcement soon

18+. Play responsibly. begambleaware pic.twitter.com/6iTsusimtW