
Stoke City player Matthew Etherington, who says their addiction to gambling made him socially withdrawn. a study that is new athletes may be more prone to be issue gamblers.
Problem gamblers are far more represented among top level athletes into the UK, a fact which could be a hidden epidemic of alarming proportions. That’s according to a new study that’s according to private interviews with 350 Uk soccer players and cricketers.
The research, which was carried away by social research experts NatGen on behalf of the Professional Players Federation, the umbrella body for players’ unions, spoke to 170 expert footballers from the English Premier League down and casino-online-australia.net 176 professional cricketers, from international level down, and found that the frequency of problem gamblers among the group was slightly over three times greater than that of young in the basic population.
Of the total sample size, 6.1 percent had been deemed become problem gamblers, while an additional 12 per cent were regarded as being ‘at risk.’ Then, when the data is extrapolated, the analysis suggests that around 200 pro soccer players and cricketers have serious problems, and 440 in addition to that are ‘at risk of gambling problems and [have] patterns of not seeking help. if the test size is truly representative of all top level athletes,’
Nature or Nurture?
‘This research shows there exists a notably higher level of gambling issues among professional recreations individuals compared to wider population,’ said analysis Director at NatCen Heather Wardle. ‘It is interesting to question why this could be. Can it be as a result of culture that is betting? Is it something about athletes’ characters or perhaps a mix of these two?’
It is definitely a question sports governing bodies must certanly be thinking about, particularly as it is believed that players with gambling issues are more vunerable to match-fixing approaches.
The English Football Association (FA) announced that through the 2014/15 season all players in English soccer is banned from gambling, not just on tournaments in which their team is involved, as was previously the case, but from all football matches all over the world. Last year Spurs and England winger Andros Townsend and Norwich striker Cameron Jerome had been both fined by the FA for breaching its gambling regulations.
Duty of Care
‘There is an urgent need to break the stigma down attached with problem gambling in sport. Sportsmen are a definite ‘at danger’ team and the whole of professional sport includes a responsibility of care to these teenage boys,’ says Brendon Batson, chairman of the Professional Players’ Federation. ‘We all need certainly to work together to expand and enhance the practice that is good exists on education and treatment for problem gambling.’
Various EPL soccer players attended clean in days gone by about their betting habits, including Newcastle forward Michael Chopra, who has admitted to blowing millions on gambling and was also charged with race manipulations by the British Horseracing Authority. Stoke’s Matthew Etherington meanwhile confessed to losing £1.5 million on greyhounds, horses and poker, and said his gambling addiction made him socially withdrawn.
‘There are several issues here,’ claims General Secretary regarding the PFF Simon Taylor. ‘There is a duty of care to the players. In addition want players playing well so that you need to appear after them. You need effective education, and treatment in place for those who need it and may request help … Sport needs to look at the culture it’s starting around young players.’
Paul Phua Pleads Not Guilty in Nevada Sports Betting Case, Feds Want $13M
Paul Phua and his son Darren will plead not guilty to charges which they helped run an illegal sports ring that is betting of a Caesars spot villa in Las vegas, nevada. (Image: AP)
Paul Phua and his son Darren plan to enter maybe not responsible pleas this week, while they vow to carry on fighting charges that claim they helped operate an illegal sports betting ring out of a Caesars Palace villa in nevada during this year’s World Cup event.
The two men had been alone on the list of eight defendants that are initial the case. Five other people are determined to plead guilty and the eighth defendant has had his case dismissed.
‘We are not bad even as we constantly maintained,’ said David Chesnoff, the attorney representing both Phuas. ‘It is our intention to fight the unconstitutional conduct of the government that is federal our clients and for the public.’
Phuas Will Challenge Evidence, FBI Procedure
The Phuas’ protection may sleep more heavily on just how proof was collected and used, rather than on claims that they weren’t mixed up in sports ring that is betting se.
In July, FBI agents worked with casino and A internet service provider to cut the Internet connection off to the property suspected of hosting the gambling ring. That caused the defendants to call for tech support, after which agents pretended to be service personnel so as to enter the villa and simply take video clip.
That video was then used as evidence to get a warrant for a raid that is later which led to the arrest of the defendants. Defense lawyers maintain that manipulating the problem by cutting off access that is internet a breach of these consumers’ Fourth Amendment rights against illegal search and seizure.
In newer filings, lawyers also have said that the government claimed that Paul Phua and fellow defendant Richard Yong had been members associated with the 14K Triad, one worldwide’s largest criminal companies, without much actual evidence to back that claim up. But exactly what ‘flimsy’ evidence they did have was utilized to greatly help convince a judge that is federal allow the raid that led to their arrest.
Officials also allege that the Macau casino junket that was used to help settle bets with some customers is connected with Cheung Chi-Tai, a guy who’s reportedly a frontrunner of the Wo Hop To Triad located in Hong Kong.
Five Agree to Plea Deals, One Offers Charges Dropped
Even though the Phuas have outlined their defense, five other defendants have decided to end their cases after negotiating plea agreements. Richard Yong, Yan Zhang, Yung Keung Fan, and Herman Chun Sang Yeung struck deals that will allow them to plead bad to misdemeanors before US District Judge Andrew Gordon later this week.
Hui Tang will plead guilty to also a felony gambling charge.
All five are expected become sentenced this week, with probation being the most likely phrase. That would make it possible for them to go back to their homes, most of which have been in Southeast Asia. The final defendant, Wai Kin Yong (son of Richard Yong) has had all charges against him dismissed.
It is likely that the resolution of this case will also involve the forfeiture of significant assets by the defendants. Federal prosecutors say that they hope to recover as much as $13 million from the seven staying defendants. That could include more than $650,000 in casino and cash potato chips along with cellular phones, iPads and computers, all of which was seized throughout the raid on the villas.
December Trump Taj Mahal Delays Closing Date to Late
The Trump Taj Mahal may still shut, but the date for that shut down has been forced straight back until at least December 20. (Image: Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)
The Trump Taj Mahal still plans to close in December, however the final day of operations has been pushed straight back by eight days to December 20. That delay comes as moms and dad company Trump Entertainment Resorts continues to negotiate on a few fronts, including using the continuing state of the latest Jersey, the town of Atlantic City, and the union that represents a lot of its workers.
As has been the situation for a few weeks now, both Trump Entertainment Resorts and investor Carl Icahn, whom could potentially turn the financial obligation he has into control of the casino, say that they would be prepared to keep the Trump Taj Mahal open, but only on their terms.
That could include having Local 54 for the UNITE HERE union drop its appeal of the bankruptcy court ruling that will let the casino to break their contract with employees. They would also need tax that is significant through the town and state.
‘The Trump Taj Mahal is involved in a final ditch effort to obtain extra financial assistance from Atlantic City and/or the State of New Jersey,’ said Senior Vice President for Marketing Operations Kathleen McSweeney in a statement. ‘We remain hopeful that the contract can be reached enabling the Trump Taj Mahal to remain open.’
Operations Winding Down Despite Delay
Still, there are signs that the Taj Mahal still expects to turn off regarding the new date, at least for the minute. Early final week, the resort closed one of its hotel towers and stopped issuing credit to gamblers who had been nevertheless playing into the casino. McSweeney also said that some workers are now working fewer hours as being a total consequence of operations winding straight down throughout the Taj Mahal.
Regarding the other side, bankruptcy filings from Trump Entertainment Resorts included information that suggested the closing date could yet be revised again to continue to go out of room for all parties to negotiate.
‘The debtors continue to make progress with respect to different efforts that are critical to your success of these chapter 11 cases and their ability to keep the Taj open, and therefore it stays possible that the present proposed closing date for the Taj…will be further extended,’ the company had written.
Tax Stabilization Bill Could Meet Demands
Perhaps the most source that is likely of could be a tax stabilization plan that is currently being reviewed into the state legislature. That plan was approved by the State Senate budget committee after Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian testified in favor of the bill monday.
‘ we do believe this legislation is likely to save the Taj from closing,’ said Guardian. ‘It’s just what the proposed new owner has been seeking.’
Each of the next two years, and then $120 million for each of the next 13 years, with possible adjustments should gambling revenues change dramatically under the proposed plan, Atlantic City casinos would pay a total of $150 million in lieu of taxes.
This would allow both the casinos to be certain inside their taxation costs, while the populous city may have more certainty in cost management for the future. The bill would also redirect some funds to help pay off the city’s debts, and would guarantee at least a minimum amount of health advantages for Atlantic City casino workers.
Leave a Reply