Pirate’s Punch did just that April 3 at Oaklawn Park, knocking out the competition in a five-length allowance victory for trainer Grant Forster, who said April 9 that the gelding is scheduled to run next in the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) May 2.
Monthly Archives: April 2020
Stakes Winner Reride to Stand in Argentina
Reride, a Candy Ride half brother to top 3-year-old filly Finite, has been retired and will stand at Haras La Leonor in Argentina.
Mullins Among Trainers With Los Alamitos Starters
The question of where some West Coast horses might run amid widespread meet suspensions and cancellations caused by COVID-19 has at least been partially answered: Los Alamitos Race Course.
Beau Choix Dies From Sudden Onset of Colic, Infection
The 13-year-old, well-bred son of Elusive Quality stood his entire career at Pleasant Acres Stallions.
Tom's d'Etat Returns in Oaklawn Mile
After Tom’s d’Etat triumphed in the Nov. 29 Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) for his first grade 1 victory, trainer Al Stall Jr. quickly came up with a plan.
Choose your own adventure: is match-fixing going up or down?
Suspicious sports betting patterns are either rising by one-half or falling by one-third, depending on which monitoring body you listen to.
This week, the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) issued a report on match alerts it received from its sportsbook partners in the first three months of 2020. The TIU, which represents the sport’s seven largest stakeholders, said it received 38 alerts in Q1, up from just 21 in the same period last year.
The TIU said the stats suggested that “corruptors” were responding to the pandemic-related cancellation of major events by targeting the sport’s lower rungs, as there were no match alerts for any Grand Slam, ATP Tour or WTA Tour events. Six alerts were recorded in the ATP Challenger feeder division, while all the rest came via ITF ‘apprentice’ level events.
The rise in sketchy tennis activity echoes the recent findings of the International Betting Integrity Association, which reported that tennis accounted for 31 of the 61 alerts flagged during the first quarter of 2020.
UK ad watchdog wants public to fink on corona-gambling promos
The UK’s advertising watchdog wants the general public to go full fink on gambling promos that so much as reference any submicropic infection agents.
This week, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) launched a new service via which members of the public could alert the watchdog regarding ads that make “misleading, harmful or irresponsible claims around the current coronavirus or ‘COVID-19’ situation.”
At the same time, the ASA issued a notice regarding “the conduct of the online gambling industry, including the nature and frequency of its advertising” during the current crisis. The watchdog claimed that the nation’s enforced self-isolation has created a ‘captive audience’ that may view gambling as “an escape from the situation they now find themselves in.”
The ASA is therefore warning gambling operators against any ads that “refer to the COVID-19 crisis or related matters, such as the government’s lockdown policy; and / or include claims or themes that are of particular concern in the current climate (e.g. ads that refer to relieving boredom, repeated play or personal problems like family difficulties).”
Bloomberry Resorts writing off 2020 as casino closure extended
Philippines-based casino operator Bloomberry Resorts is ready to write off 2020 as the government extends the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
This week, Bloomberry boss Enrique Razon told Bloomberg TV that he’s far less concerned with the current state of his business than he is with limiting further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Razon (pictured), whose interests also include major shipping terminals around the globe, said “the concerns of businesses are secondary at this point.”
All Philippine casinos, including Bloomberry’s Solaire Resort & Casino in Manila’s Entertainment City gaming zone, have been closed since March 15 following the government’s declaration of a public health emergency. On Tuesday, the government extended that shutdown on the main island of Luzon until the end of April, after which the government will reassess the situation.
Even assuming the infection rate slows to the point where the shutdown can be lifted, Razon warned that restarting the economy – including the gaming industry – “is going to be very tricky, a lot of people are underestimating what this is really going to take.”
Keeneland September Dates Unchanged; F-T July Undecided
Sales company executives continue to monitor the pandemic in relation to sales schedules, and while Keeneland has announced the September Yearling Sale will remain on schedule, Fasig-Tipton said the The July Sale could be rescheduled.
Indiana Sportsbooks Lose Out on $125 Million in March Wagers, According to PlayIndiana.com
Indiana’s retail and online sportsbooks were hit hard in the first weeks of the coronavirus shutdown, costing the state an estimated $125 million in wagers in March, according to PlayIndiana. And with no immediate end in sight, the industry will continue to navigate treacherous waters in the months ahead.
“This is an unprecedented stoppage for legal sportsbooks, and there is no playbook for them to follow to help manage the crisis,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Obviously, the sports betting industry is just one facet in a crisis that is affecting us all, too often tragically. But it is a business that employs hundreds in Indiana and generates millions in state taxes. And the bottom line is that there will be no significant relief until the sports world begins to open back up.”
Indiana appeared to be headed for its first month of more than $200 million in bets. Instead, the state’s retail and online sportsbooks collected just $74.8 million in March wagers, down 60% from the record $187.2 million in February, according to official reporting released Thursday. Almost all of the handle was generated before March 11, when the sports world began to shut down.
March’s bets produced $5.5 million in adjusted gross revenue, down 50.5% from $11.9 million in February, and yielded $522,0825 in tax revenue for the state.
The loss of the NCAA Tournament proved particularly damaging. Indiana sportsbooks could have generated more than $50 million in tournament-related wagers, PlayIndiana estimates.
“There is no way to replace the revenue that would have been generated from the NCAA Tournament, which in legal jurisdictions generates more action than the Super Bowl,” said Jessica Welman, an analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “The NCAA Tournament can’t be rescheduled, but professional leagues are beginning to draw plans to begin games again. We still don’t know what that looks like or when it will happen. Whether spectators are there to watch in-person or not, though, online sportsbooks should again be able to attract bettors, which will be welcome news for the industry.”
The silence of sportsbooks could change in a minor way. Sportsbooks are now accepting bets on the WNBA and NFL drafts.
“We don’t expect a lot of betting on the WNBA and NFL drafts, but we suspect that each will draw more interest than either would under ordinary circumstances,” Welman said. “People are looking for some sense of normalcy while they practice social distancing, and the drafts and futures betting is providing at least some outlet for bettors.”
In March, online sportsbooks generated 81.3%, or $60.8 million, of the state’s handle. DraftKings/Ameristar Casino led the market with $33.1 million in bets, down from $74.1 million in February, and generated $2.4 million in gross receipts. Horseshoe Hammond led the retail market with $3.4 million in bets, down from $12.4 million in February. That generated $211,475 in gross receipts.
“Online sportsbooks will bounce back more quickly than their retail counterparts, which face a much more uncertain future as the coronavirus pandemic continues,” Gouker said. “In states where online casino games and poker are legal, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, casino operators have had a bit softer landing. But Indiana has really borne the brunt of this crisis, unfortunately.”
For more revenue information, visit PlayIndiana.com/revenue.
Gulfstream's Race Quality Remains High During COVID-19
Amid COVID-19 health restrictions that canceled meets, suspended others, and postponed the openings of yet more racetracks, this year many barns are remaining in place in South Florida, where racing continues without spectators at Gulfstream.
Sands’ Adelson only gaming boss in Forbes top-100 billionaires
Casino boss Sheldon Adelson is once again the global gaming industry’s wealthiest figure, even if the COVID-19 pandemic is playing havoc with everyone’s net worth.
The annual Forbes ‘billionaires’ list pegs Las Vegas Sands boss Adelson as the gambling sector’s Daddy Warbucks with an estimated net worth of $26.8b. The 87-year-old Adelson ranks 28th on the overall Forbes list and was the only gaming industry figure to crack this year’s top-100.
Forbes introduced a new wrinkle for the 2020 list to reflect the volatility in the global economy caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The ‘real-time’ list now shows the daily fluctuation in the net worth of the 2,095 individuals who made the grade in 2020 and, as this was being published, Sheldon’s net worth was up 1.44% ($441m) from the day before, with his net worth having increased by over $4b since the original list was released.
Adelson recently showed a willingness to share some of his immense wealth by continuing to pay Sands staff furloughed by the shutdown of the company’s US casinos, and challenged other casino bosses to do likewise “for as long as possible.”
British Racing Explores Possibility of Return
British racing is considering a return to action at a limited number of racecourses under strict quarantine conditions once the government lifts the current coronavirus lockdown and gives the sport approval.
Sweden threatens online casino curbs during pandemic lockdown
Sweden’s online gambling operators are expressing alarm at the government’s proposal to limit online casino activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier this week, local media quoted Sweden’s Social Security Minister Ardalan Shekarabi saying the government was “looking carefully at extraordinary measures to protect Swedish consumers” from the potential negative implications of playing online casino games while on a COVID-19 lockdown in their homes.
Shekarabi was responding to statistics from the Spelinspektionen gambling regulator showing a one-third rise in registrations and log-ins with 17 Swedish-licensed online casino operators in the previous two weeks. Shekarabi said if these figures continue to increase, the government “will take action.”
State-run gambling operator Svenska Spel issued a statement on Thursday taking issue with what analyst Martin Johansson called “misleading statistics.” Johansson noted that registrations didn’t automatically equate to increased online casino play and that the 17 companies cited by Spelinspektionen were “smaller, purely online casino companies and thus it is not a representative selection.”
Footballers launch #PlayersTogether movement to help NHS
After weeks of discussions between politicians, football fans and Premier League players, an agreement has been reached. The #PlayersTogether initiative has been set up to help the National Health Service (NHS) who are battling to keep people alive during this present COVID-19 crisis.
Let’s get straight to the statement in question, and it was one that footballers such as Harry Maguire, Jordan Henderson and James Maddison all shared at the same time on their social media accounts. It’s all about the slick branding.
OK, so if you’re anything like us, you’ve read through that statement looking for the numbers. Because although it all sounds good – and kudos for swapping round the traditional ‘thoughts and prayers’ to the slightly edgier, marketing-toned ‘prayers and thoughts’ – the denial is in the detail.
What exactly is being promised is incredibly vague. A “voluntary initiative”, while paired with the NHS Charities Together (NHSCT) for credibility still very much sounds like footballers deciding to put their hands in their pockets very privately with no reveal of who gives what and why.
Golf major odds: Schedule reshuffle hits board
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
Usually there are four major championships each golf season – all majors are part of both the PGA Tour and European Tour – and they are supposed to go in this order: Masters in April, PGA Championship in May, United States Open in June, and British Open in July.
However, this is anything but a normal year around the planet due to the coronavirus pandemic. The British Open, scheduled to begin July 16 at Royal St. George’s in England, has been flat-out canceled for this year because of it. It’s the first time the tournament won’t be played since World War II. Royal St. George’s will instead host in 2021.
The other three majors have been rescheduled in the hope of playing them, although it’s quite possible no fans would be allowed in attendance. The Masters was to tee off this Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club but now will run from November 12-15 – smack dab in the middle of the NFL and college football seasons.
FIFA tournament starts on Friday for Englands football stars
Looking for some Esports and Premier League crossover content to while away the Easter weekend? Look no further, as some of England’s best footballers will be taking to the virtual Wembley pitch to battle it out on FIFA20 and prove they are the best Esports player in the England squad.
In what should be a highly entertaining series, 16 international players from the Under 21’s Men’s Seniors and Women’s Seniors squads will take each other on by playing the popular video game FIFA 20 in a tournament designed to thrill fans and test each player’s mettle.
The whole thing is part of the new #FootballsStayingHome initiative, which was announced by England captains Harry Kane and Steph Houghton earlier this week.
Introducing #FootballsStayingHome!
Generation Esports launches with the Social Distancing Cup
With most of the world operating on a policy of social distancing first and asking questions later, there are concerns that people’s mental health will be affected by the degree of separation we are all experiencing from loved ones right now.
One benefit of the Esports many of us enjoy is the collaborative, colloquial nature of them. They are ways we connect to our friends, they are routes to conversation, camaraderie and true friendship.
That’s never been more important for children than during this crisis.
It’s very good news, then, that the High School Esports League (HSEL) has launched Generation Esports, a new platform for competitive gaming that will help players of all ages connect, have fun and possibly win money too.
Stones distance themselves from Mike Postle in cheating case twist
There’s a popular phrase that is starting to apply the poker scandal that rocked 2019 and looks set to continue into the summer of 2020 as Mike Postle and Stones Gambling Hall look to clear their names against the 89 plaintiffs and counting that have made the allegations against them. That phrase?
‘There’s more than one way to skin a cat.’
The cat in question has, until now, been a combination of both Stones Gambling Hall, where the popular YouTube stream ‘Stones Live’ took place and Mike Postle, who was the player alleged to have cheated. You know the rest, from his alleged accomplice at the venue to a bone-conducting earpiece used to transmit information to his crotch-sitting mobile phone.
It’s the episode of Columbo that never made it to screen because there were too many clues.
Stones distance themselves from Mike Postle in cheating case twist
There’s a popular phrase that is starting to apply the poker scandal that rocked 2019 and looks set to continue into the summer of 2020 as Mike Postle and Stones Gambling Hall look to clear their names against the 89 plaintiffs and counting that have made the allegations against them. That phrase?
‘There’s more than one way to skin a cat.’
The cat in question has, until now, been a combination of both Stones Gambling Hall, where the popular YouTube stream ‘Stones Live’ took place and Mike Postle, who was the player alleged to have cheated. You know the rest, from his alleged accomplice at the venue to a bone-conducting earpiece used to transmit information to his crotch-sitting mobile phone.
It’s the episode of Columbo that never made it to screen because there were too many clues.