Michigan’s online gambling and sports betting hopefuls have officially been invited to submit their license applications, while operators continue to forge the ties to make their local operations a success.

On Wednesday, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) announced that it had begun accepting applications for online gaming and sports betting operator licenses from the state’s commercial and tribal casino operators. The casinos’ online technology partners have also been cleared to submit vendor registration applications.

MGCB executive director Richard Kalm urged interested parties to submit their paperwork “soon” to give the regulator sufficient time to “conduct investigations and work with them on internal controls, technical standards, lab certifications and other requirements.”

Michigan legislators approved online gambling and sports betting legislation last December and the first retail wagering operations made their debuts in early March, only to be shut down days later along with the casinos’ other operations due to COVID-19. (Many tribal casinos have since reopened but Detroit’s three commercial casinos remain dormant.)

The UK’s financial watchdog is under fire for apparently ignoring reports that disgraced payment processor Wirecard was enabling online gambling transactions through bogus eCommerce sites.

On Wednesday, the Times reported that the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) was warned last year that Wirecard was linked to a ‘transaction laundering’ network of websites purporting to deal in commercial goods but actually processing payments for European online gambling operators, including some who did business with American bettors.

The Germany-based Wirecard collapsed last month after it was found to have been fudging its books to create an extra $2.1b in reserves that didn’t actually exist. The company filed for insolvency and its former CEO Markus Braun was arrested on suspicion of market manipulation and false accounting.

In 2017, Reuters reported that seven Europe-based eCommerce sites had been facilitating payments for online gambling operators that catered primarily to US customers. The transactions were processed through Berlin-based Deutsche Payment.

Kenya’s government is denying reports that it has permanently repealed its controversial 20% tax on sports betting stakes, plunging the already disrupted market into further turmoil.

Earlier this week, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the legislature’s new Finance Bill 2020, which eliminated the 20% tax on bettors’ winnings that resulted in many of Kenya’s leading bookmakers to quit the market last year.

On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Ukur Yatani issued a statement noting media reports that “the government has reneged on this commitment on taxation of the betting industry.” Yatani observed that “the removal of this tax happened during the Committee stage of the Bill.”

Yatani (pictured) went on to state that “following various consultations and in line with the government’s commitment on mitigating against the social vices associated with betting activities” the Treasury will propose to Parliament “the reintroduction of the excise duty on betting within next six months.”

There have been hundreds of hands that have taken place in the world Series of Poker in Las Vegas that have shaped the development of the game we love. Poker has always relied on these moments of narrative drama to base the next era of advertising, business development and player recruitment upon.

Of all the many dramatic moments at the WSOP, however, perhaps it is Joe Cada’s Main Event victory over Darvin Moon in 2009 that has changed the future of poker more than any other.

There was so much more on the heads-up between Darvin Moon and Joe Cada than just the money. There were, of course, many millions of dollars on the line, with the runner-up finish worth $5.1 million to the $8.5 million on offer to the winner.

For a start, there were the bragging rights. Phil Ivey, who bubbled the WSOP Main Event final table of 2003 courtesy of Chris Moneymaker’s river, made the November Nine this time round, eventually finishing 7th. He wasn’t the only major name at the felt, however, as even James Akenhead, who came 9th, won over a million dollars, cashing for $1.23 million. Jeff Shulman ($1.9m) finished 5th, while French poker legend Antoine Saout came 3rd for $3.4 million.

Last October, Burrel Jones made a trip to the Naskila Gaming center in Livingston, Texas. The bingo hall is located on the reservation of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe, and he expected just another routine visit. What he got, though, was a tumble down the stairs and a trip to the hospital. As a result, he took the tribe to court, arguing that, since the gambling facility was operating “illegally,” it wasn’t entitled to protections normally provided to tribes. Now, Jones is suffering pain in his hip and his wallet.

As part of a federal policy to provide restitution to native Indian tribes for having been essentially wiped out as Europeans moved into what is now the U.S., recognized tribes are generally immune from lawsuits. An exception is made if they have waived this immunity – something that would be foolish to do. However, Jones asserted that the tribe was breaking state law by offering the bingo games, in violation of the Texas Restoration Act, according to his lawsuit, and, therefore, wasn’t immune from his lawsuit.

The TRA states that tribal gaming activity cannot be offered unless it matches what is available throughout the Lone Star State. Some lawmakers have tried to assert that the gambling facility’s games violate the TRA, but the tribe has continuously been able to gather support for its argument that the games are no different than what is found elsewhere throughout Texas. Lawmakers in the state are currently discussing a bill that would clear the air, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is still fighting, and wants the Alabama-Coushatta tribe to be fined $10,000 a day for having the Naskila Gaming center open. That fine would be retroactive to May 2016.

When Jones took his spill, he fractured his humerus, sustained radial nerve damage and was knocked unconscious. The incident has allegedly resulted in impaired cognitive functions and mobility, nausea and permanent leg damage, and he wanted the tribe to be held accountable. Arguing that the gambling facility was illegally operating, the tribe couldn’t claim immunity. Why he would take part in activity that, according to him, was illegal isn’t clear, but that’s a subject for another day.

Last October, Burrel Jones made a trip to the Naskila Gaming center in Livingston, Texas. The bingo hall is located on the reservation of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe, and he expected just another routine visit. What he got, though, was a tumble down the stairs and a trip to the hospital. As a result, he took the tribe to court, arguing that, since the gambling facility was operating “illegally,” it wasn’t entitled to protections normally provided to tribes. Now, Jones is suffering pain in his hip and his wallet.

As part of a federal policy to provide restitution to native Indian tribes for having been essentially wiped out as Europeans moved into what is now the U.S., recognized tribes are generally immune from lawsuits. An exception is made if they have waived this immunity – something that would be foolish to do. However, Jones asserted that the tribe was breaking state law by offering the bingo games, in violation of the Texas Restoration Act, according to his lawsuit, and, therefore, wasn’t immune from his lawsuit.

The TRA states that tribal gaming activity cannot be offered unless it matches what is available throughout the Lone Star State. Some lawmakers have tried to assert that the gambling facility’s games violate the TRA, but the tribe has continuously been able to gather support for its argument that the games are no different than what is found elsewhere throughout Texas. Lawmakers in the state are currently discussing a bill that would clear the air, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is still fighting, and wants the Alabama-Coushatta tribe to be fined $10,000 a day for having the Naskila Gaming center open. That fine would be retroactive to May 2016.

When Jones took his spill, he fractured his humerus, sustained radial nerve damage and was knocked unconscious. The incident has allegedly resulted in impaired cognitive functions and mobility, nausea and permanent leg damage, and he wanted the tribe to be held accountable. Arguing that the gambling facility was illegally operating, the tribe couldn’t claim immunity. Why he would take part in activity that, according to him, was illegal isn’t clear, but that’s a subject for another day.

Last October, Burrel Jones made a trip to the Naskila Gaming center in Livingston, Texas. The bingo hall is located on the reservation of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe, and he expected just another routine visit. What he got, though, was a tumble down the stairs and a trip to the hospital. As a result, he took the tribe to court, arguing that, since the gambling facility was operating “illegally,” it wasn’t entitled to protections normally provided to tribes. Now, Jones is suffering pain in his hip and his wallet.

As part of a federal policy to provide restitution to native Indian tribes for having been essentially wiped out as Europeans moved into what is now the U.S., recognized tribes are generally immune from lawsuits. An exception is made if they have waived this immunity – something that would be foolish to do. However, Jones asserted that the tribe was breaking state law by offering the bingo games, in violation of the Texas Restoration Act, according to his lawsuit, and, therefore, wasn’t immune from his lawsuit.

The TRA states that tribal gaming activity cannot be offered unless it matches what is available throughout the Lone Star State. Some lawmakers have tried to assert that the gambling facility’s games violate the TRA, but the tribe has continuously been able to gather support for its argument that the games are no different than what is found elsewhere throughout Texas. Lawmakers in the state are currently discussing a bill that would clear the air, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is still fighting, and wants the Alabama-Coushatta tribe to be fined $10,000 a day for having the Naskila Gaming center open. That fine would be retroactive to May 2016.

When Jones took his spill, he fractured his humerus, sustained radial nerve damage and was knocked unconscious. The incident has allegedly resulted in impaired cognitive functions and mobility, nausea and permanent leg damage, and he wanted the tribe to be held accountable. Arguing that the gambling facility was illegally operating, the tribe couldn’t claim immunity. Why he would take part in activity that, according to him, was illegal isn’t clear, but that’s a subject for another day.

The prospect of playing a World Series of Poker bracelet event is different for every player. For professional poker players, the forthcoming GGPoker and WSOP.com hosted series provides a chance to earn more money in MTTs than would usually be possible, with swelled player fields and big guaranteed prizepools.

For the regular player who turns a profit at the game, some of the events represent a chance to up the stakes and take a shot at a bigger top prize than would usually be possible. There will be a huge number of player who take on the events that are recreationals, however, and they’ll be hoping to do so by travelling on the Silk Road.

What’s the Silk Road? Well, it’s a satellite path where you can enter World Series events for as little as $2. We’ve come a long way from Chris Moneymaker, haven’t we? With millions of online poker players reveling in the ability to play in multiple series events in the last few months, the lack of live poker tournaments – in particular the Las Vegas-based WSOP itself – has been tough to take. These sorts of promotions make up for a lot of the value lost, however.

There are no steps or satellites, with each event leading to a direct ticket, which means that for many events, only a handful – or fingerful – of tickets will be available. You’ll need to perfect that short-handed game in order to do well, then, and in that sense, these events play a little more like a freeroll with one or two big prizes than satellite events with 20-30 tickets on offer in every single game.

The global impact on the gaming industry as a result of the coronavirus has been severe, and companies everywhere are scrambling to launch recovery efforts. Sports activity has started to see a soft relaunch, and the tentative return to action by major sports organizations like the NBA and MLB should help sportsbooks start to generate revenue. However, it’s going to be a long journey that will require companies to continue to make adjustments, and William Hill is initiating a plan that it hopes will help it reduce its losses. The company is planning on combining its online and retail operations in the U.K. in a move that will help save money and see the sportsbook bounce back sooner.

Racing Post reports that Phil Walker, William Hill’s current managing director of online gambling, will now run the retail show, as well, as the sole director of the company’s U.K. market division. Nicola Frampton, who has led the retail division, will step down, but both executives will work together for the next six months as the sportsbook makes the transition to its new structure. By the time the six-month period is done, Walker should be up to speed with everything his retail counterpart has been doing.

It isn’t clear what lies ahead for Frampton, but he seems to be taking the news in stride, at least externally. He states, “It has been an absolute privilege to lead the retail team at William Hill. Our shops play a vital role in our success and I look forward to working with Phil on a handover plan in the coming months.”

Now that there are more options with things like the English Premier League and Bundesliga, William Hill is going to pack its schedule with as much action as possible. If the NBA, NHL and MLB are able to get their seasons relaunched this month as planned, it will enable even more coverage, facilitating an easier transition back to the plus side. The UEFA European Championship, which had to be rescheduled because of COVID-19, will also play an important role in William Hill’s recovery. 

Ten years, in the overall scheme of things, isn’t that much time. Looking back at all the changes that have happened over the past decade, the world is in a much different place now. According to a prediction by Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society, the next ten years could bring about even more substantial advancements. So much so, that, by 2030, man could be ready to make a trip to Mars, thanks to Elon Musk’s SpaceX and NASA. 

Zubrin recently held an AMA (ask me anything) session on Reddit when the question came up about travel to Mars. Asked by “jared_number_two” when the first humans might be ready to land on the red planet, Zubrin didn’t hesitate, indicating that the target date is going to be here sooner than anyone might have expected. He explained, “Before 2030. SpaceX will do it, with NASA collaborating. If Starship is flying regularly to LEO by 2024, the next president will ask his or her advisors: Can wee [sic] get to Mars before the end of my second term. The answer will be yes. so [sic]then it will happen. By making the mission practical, SpaceX will make it sellable.”

For a Mars landing to happen, there will need to be close collaboration between SpaceX and NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration). NASA is a federal entity and has seen its budget drastically cut over the years. On the other hand, SpaceX seems to have a bottomless pit of cash, and has already been working on private space travel with a lot of success. 

Driving the possible venture out to Mars will most likely be The Starship, or one of its successors. The Starship is SpaceX’s spaceship, which has been in development for a couple of years. Commercial flights are expected to take place next year for the first time and, if things go well, new designs and upgrades will be included over the next decade to make it even more efficient.