The unmistakable energy and color of Miami culture is so pervasive when you’re there that it’s easy to forget the rest of the world exists.
It’s probably a good thing not everyone forgot that. That’s why I was a little surprised when Miami’s J. Wakefield Brewing created a year-round porter and named it the decidedly un-Miami Union Jack Porter (Porter, 7% ABV).
Union Jack Porter by J. Wakefield Brewing
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Sports have always had a certain tie with gambling. Athletics of all types have always captured and held the interest of those who made money off of learning statistics and making educated guesses using algorithms as a basis for their knowledge. They have also captured the interest of fans, people who feel as though they know a lot about a sport or a team simply because they’ve been watching for a long time and are passionate about their alliance. When groups like these meet over a common subject, there is always going to be gambling of some sort. The fans trust their judgement and instinct and the professionals trust the math. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, there has been a recent explosion in online fantasy-based sports gambling. the ads are showing up everywhere and they’re relentless in trying to convince you to sign up and spend your hard-earned money on fantasy sports gambling. This sudden, and very public, push for what is clearly a form of gambling is now drawing both questions and ire from governmental and nongovernmental organizations that have been traditionally opposed to gambling which is still, in most states, illegal. Now, as fantasy gambling is clearly becoming more popular and making a push for more customers, these groups and organizations are wrestling with how to approach this new form of sports entertainment.
One of the main issues is that there is a huge potential for profit, something that is making sports teams more than happy to sign up with these companies. Both FanDuel and DraftKings have signed lucrative deals with multiple NFL teams (DraftKings with 12 teams and FanDuel with 16) even though the league itself is opposed to any sort of gambling. The NFL is so against gambling that they’ve even distanced themselves from the more casual form of fantasy sports-based gambling that these new services offer. While these companies are making potential enemies out of the leagues themselves, they’ve already won over at least two of the wealthiest and most powerful team owners within the NFL — both Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and Robert K. Craft of the New England Patriots have stakes in DraftKings.
So why are these companies drawing the ire of such powerful institutions? The main reason is how they have monetized what was once a casual affair. Fantasy sports gambling is legal in all states except for 5 because of just how casual an affair they are. Until the creation of these sorts of companies, most fantasy gambling was done amongst friends and in situations like the office pool. Both DraftKings and FanDuel have taken this casual format and turned it into a huge cash cow not only for their winners, but also for those who invest in their company. Fans need to pay an entry fee that can range anywhere from 25 cents to $1,000 and there are potential payouts every day that can reach up to $2 million. FanDuel itself says that it pays out about $75 million every week and $2 billion in a year.
With such large payouts, people are taking notice and calling out the NFL for what this really is, gambling. This past Monday, Representative Frank Pallone Jr., a Democrat of New Jersey, asked the government to investigate these companies to see if they had broken any laws when it comes to restricting and monitoring online gambling. This comes on the heel of a recent ruling last month that said that any casinos or horse tracks in New Jersey that allowed people to bet on sports events are breaking the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a law passed in 1992. Even though neither FanDuel nor DraftKings have made a profit yet, they are setting themselves up to be the leaders in sports gambling if it ever becomes fully legalized and integrated online. Until then, these companies will continue to need to toe the line and make sure that they have quality lawyers on retainer.
If you’d like to read more, the link is here.
from Bryan Lockley and Sports http://ift.tt/1QJ39x6
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The white cushioned chair assigned to Jimmy Carter at Emory University sat empty Wednesday night.
Published: September 16, 2015 at 05:54PM
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It should be known that there is absolutely nothing illegal about network marketing and multi level marketing companies and how they function. Both network marketing and MLM companies are growing in the US economy and prospering despite negative stereotypes and this is important to remember throughout this article. ACN is one of the largest MLM firms in the country and specializes in telecommunications and technology, just through the MLM and network marketing framework.
However, ACN has dealt with accusations of luring potential clients into making promises they can’t keep. Their income comes primarily from recruiting new members instead of selling actual products. Hiring Trump to endorse their business. At $450,000 a speech, Trump served as an advertiser for ACN. Trump has since claimed “I’m not familiar with what they do or how they go about doing that, and I make that clear in my speeches.” This didn’t stop him from making millions of dollars from the company.
A leader in the business world, Trump’s involvement with ACN surely threatens his credibility. Trump has been quoted, “ACN has a reputation for success, success that’s really synonymous with the Trump name and other successful names, and you can be a part of it.” ACN may have a reputation for success, but their reputation is also clouded with scams. Trump’s success, too, is mired by four unsuccessful ventures that ended in bankruptcy. Despite these blemishes, Trump acted as an effective celebrity sponsor for the marketing firm.
Early last week, ACN claimed a “long-standing, respected business relationship with Donald Trump” but have since removed Trump from their website. However, this erasure (intended to protect Trump’s campaign) can’t disguise the Trump’s influence as a household celebrity name from his first appearance with the company in 2006. ACN’s attempt to distance themselves from the Trump name likely correlates with an intention to stay out of the spotlight during Trump’s presidential campaign.
ACN has been accused of “deceptive and misleading trade practices,” with the defense that price-spike problems occur across the industry. As Trump and ACN go separate ways, maybe they both will commit to developing an honest business model that prioritize its customers over profit.
If you’d like to read more, the link is here.
from Bryan Lockley’s General Site http://ift.tt/1OfwQrp
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seattle teachers reached a tentative contract agreement with the city’s school district as their strike entered its fifth day Tuesday, but they will stay on the picket lines pending its approval.
Published: September 14, 2015 at 11:50PM
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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The latest on the strike by public-school teachers in Seattle (all times local):
Published: September 15, 2015 at 07:11AM
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By REUTERS
A battle is brewing in Washington as the capital city prepares to regulate personal fitness trainers in a move that could ripple through the country’s booming $24 billion gym industry and its fight against flab.
Published: September 12, 2015 at 03:04AM
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By KYLE SPENCER
Inside the three-year effort to open an economically diverse, academically rigorous charter in Brooklyn.
Published: September 12, 2015 at 08:00PM
from NYT N.Y. / Region http://ift.tt/1K23VD6
By KATRIN BENNHOLD
Erfurt expects to have added 4,000 migrants to its population of 208,000 by year’s end, a challenge one official calls the biggest since World War II.
Published: September 11, 2015 at 08:00PM
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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caroline Vumbunu believes that exercising among the dead helps prolong her life.
Published: September 11, 2015 at 12:29AM
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