NBA Free Agency Frenzy in Philly

 The first day of NBA Free Agency is 24 hours old and the Philadelphia 76ers are winners for one day! The Sixers acquired Paul George,Andre Drummond,Eric Gordon and resign Kelly Oubre.George was definitely the best free agent available,after Lebron James. He is a perennial All Star and an upgrade over the likable but underachieving Tobias Harris. George's playoff scoring average is approximately 19 points a game. Harris playoff average over his career is 16,3. Harris did not score in the Sixers final playoff game in 2024.

The excitement of signing George had his name trending on Twitter/X. The odds for the Sixers to win the NBA Title improved as well. There were 7 teams ahead of the Sixers on BetMGM prior to the signing. The Sixers have vaulted those teams and are now near the top,trailing the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.The Sixers odds are +800.

The addition of Drummond solidifys the backup center position.When the Sixers subtittute Joel Embiid for a rest,load management or injury,they will be cohensive on defense and with rebounding.Gordon id s proven 3 point shooter and will spread the floor. He averages 37.1 for his career. The resiging of Oubre allows Head Coach Nick Nurse the flexibility to start him or make him the 6th man off the bench.

While decisions will be made regarding some of the free agents that the Sixers have on the roster,this team is an improvement over the 2023-24 team. That team was 31-8 with Embiid. Tyrese Maxey will get a max deal after the margibal free agents are addressed.The Sixers win on Day One!

Here is my video reaction to the Paul Goerge acquisition.

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The sports betting coverage of the New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC markets will have the thousand of viewers looking for an edge. I would normally just focus on Las Vegas, Philly and Atlantic City.I expect this to be the most action ever wagered on professional sports over the next calendar year. So I will expand with my Gaming Guy News minutes into the 3 top cities on the East Coast.

The New York Giants play the Washington Football Team on Thursday Night Football. The Giants are getting 3 and the total is 41. The Giants lost to the Denver Broncos and were not able to establish a running game. Giants only gained 60 yards on 20 carries. I am not expecting a great deal of production from Saquon Barkley. This will be two games in 5days after a major injury. Daniel Jones must eliminate the turnovers, Washington lost QB Ryan Fitzpatrick for several games due to a hip injury.

                                                   Eagles +3.5 vs the Niners- Total 50

                                                   Jets +5.5 vs the Patriots - Total 43

The surprise of the week was he play of the Eagles. I thought the Birds could win but I was not thinking domination. I am not as confident with the Niners coming in. It is the 2nd straight road game for San Francisco.

Jets must protect  QB Zach Wilson better in Game 2 against the Pats. The Panther's sacked Wilson 6 times. New York did close with 5 with under 2 minutes to play. Jet have lost 10 straight to the Patriots,

                                                       In The NBA

The Brooklyn Nets improved their team by adding several free agents. Patty Mills, James Johnson and DeAndre Bembry will add depth to the star studded lineup.They will be better defensively. Grade B-.

The Sixers signed Andre Drummond and George Niang to replace Dwight Howard and Mike Scott. While Howard brought energy,Drummond will be more level headed.  Niang is a better shooter than Scott. Grade B+.

The New York Knicks made the biggest impact in free agency with the signing of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. The resigning of Derrick Rose means the guard play will improve dramactically. Grade: A.

The Washington Wizards signed Spencer Dinwiddie. If he return to his 2019 numbers of 20.6 points and 6,8 assists,the Wizards are getting a steal of a player.Grade B.

                                                       And now, A Sports Betting Tip

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The Metro Report: Sports Betting in Philly,New York & Washington DC

 

The sports betting in the New York,Washington DC & Philadelphia markets is about to explode with the start of the NFL. I will share how I think the teams in those regions will fare in their repective divisions.

The New York Giants will finish second in the NFL East. I have them winning 8 or 9 games. If Daniel Jones can eliminate the turnovers and interceptions,they could challenge for the division title.  Sports Illustrated is predicting the Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC East. 

The Washington Football Team will finish third with 8 or 7 wins. I am not convince that a 38 year old Ryan Fitzpatrick will be able to improve this ream signifigantly. No NFC East team has repeated as champion since 2004. This statistic eliminate Washington Football.

The Eagles win finish last with 8 or 7 wins. Philly will be better than last year but not enough to make the playoffs. They will be a run oriented team and Jalen Hurts will operate from the pocket.He will run enough to keep the defenses honest. Expect a good year from Miles Sanders.

The Jets will finish last in the AFC East. I have them winning under 4 games and losing to every team in their divison for the 2nd consecutive year.

Now I will look at individual accomplishments. Which of these teams will have a 1000 yard rusher.It is a little easier to achieve because of the 17 game schedule.

                                                                    Eagles - Miles Sanders

                                                                    Giants- Saquon Barkley

Which one has a quarterback that throws for over 4,000 yards?  

                                                                          None of them

                                             The best reciever on each respective team is

                                                      Washington Football - Terry McLaurin

                                                                     Eagles - Zach Ertz 

                                                                     Giants - Kenny Golladay

                                                                      Jets - Elijah Moore

I am getting ready for the NBA season early. I plan to go to the Barclay Center to see the Nets play the Los Angeles Lakers on 1/25/22. The story lines in that game are exceptional. Russell Westbrook against Kevin Durant. Lebron James and kyrie Irving on opposing teams 5 years after winning a championship together. Add in Anthony Davis against the stat line of James Harden. I chose this game over seeing the Lakers against the Sixers because of the uncertainty of Philly's roster.

 Follow me for more in depth coverage on NFL and NBA on Twitter and Bettors Insider My website   is Smart Responsible Gaming.

The Metro Report: Sports Betting in Philly, Washington DC & New York

The sports betting coverage of the New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC markets are essential to prognosticators. I would normally just focus on Las Vegas, Philly and Atlantic City but times have changed. So I will expand with my Gaming Guy News minutes into the 3 top cities on the East Coast.

The wins totals projected for the NFL season is a very popular wager. These are the projections for the Eagles,Washington Football,Giants & Jets.

                                               Eagles 6.5 Over -150 /Under +120

                                               Washington Football 8.5 Over -120 / Under +100

                                               Giants 7 Over -130 /Under +110

                                               Jets 6 Over +100 / Under -120

I have the Eagles over the 6.5. I project them to beat the Jets,Carolina,Denver, Dallas, Washington,Atlanta and Detroit. 2 possibles with Las Vegas and Giants at home. If the offensive line can stay healthy, the Birds will improve their win total by at least 3. Philly record last year was 4-11-1.

I have Washington under the 8.5. Their schedule is extremely difficult. They play each of last's year playoffs semifinalists, Those 4 games are losses. I have the Giants beating them twice and Eagles & Dallas taking them once. Possible losses to Seattle & Denver on the road.

I have the Giants over 7.  Giants were 4-2 in the division last year. I expect the same record this season.If Saquon Barkley returns to 2019 form, the offense will improve.  I project them to win against Carolina, Miami,Chicago and Atlanta.

I have the Jets under 6. They were 2-14 last year.A new coach and  starting a rookie QB is not the recipe for a 5 win improvement over last year. Jets have won under 5 games in 4 of the last 5 seasons.They go 0-6 in the division again. Jets go 1-3 against the NFC South. Losses to Eagles,Denver,Colts and Tennessee give them 13 L's. Book it!

                                                             Surprise Cuts

                                             Eagles - Jordan Howard RB, Travis Fulgham WR

                                             Washington Football - Peyton Barber RB

                                             Giants - Corey Clement RB, David Sills WR

                                             Jets - Ronnie Blair DL, Josh Adams RB

 

Looking at the NBA matchups in 2021, I am excited about attending the Sixers and Nets on October 22nd at the Wells Fargo Center. I will preview the game on Bettors Insider. These teams are projected to be two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.  My question to you. Will Ben Simmons still be on the team?

My gaming video tip of the week is about the NBA and In Game Betting.

Follow me for more in depth coverage on NFL and NBA on Twitter and Bettors Insider My website is Smart Responsible Gaming.

Back to Sporting Events and Casino Entertainment

Last week,I went to my first sporting event in over a year. I attended the Sixers and Phoenix Suns game at the Well Fargo Center.   I was not sure what to expect but I was prepare to execise all precautions that the venue has in place. Since there was a capacity on attendance the traffic going to the game was non existent. What would normally take about 20 -24 minutes took about 15. 

Parking was easily accessible with only certain lots being utilize. Entering the facilty was similar to any other time attending a game. Everyone was wearing a mask. There is a mandatory tempature check.There were no programs that highlight the team and the opponent's game information. Seating was set up to conform with social distancing. There was no one on the row with us.  

If you plan to purchase something from the concession stands or gift shops, prepare to wait in line. There is no social distancing regarding the line. You must have a credit or debit card because all transactions are cashless. I did not see any vendors bring food or drinks to the patrons at their seats. I imagine if you were in a suite that amenity would be available. Time to avoid the restroom is during halftime and a break between quarters. 

I was told that the Phillies have a unique way of enforcing the mask on policy. They have an usher on patrol that will hold up a sign requesting that you keep your mask up if you forget or neglect to do so. While the capacity at the baseball games are larger, the precautions are still in place for you to have an enjoyable and safe expierience.

If you are planning to attend a casino for the first time since the pandemic shut hotels and gaming operations down over a year ago, expect a reduction in gaming spots. Table games that would have accomodated 6 people are now set for 4 patrons.  Casino shows are about to return soon with Dave Chappelle at Foxwood Resort in Connecticutt on June 25th. Usher will begin his residency in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace on July 16.  I would look into booking a flight now to save money. As the summer approaches, airlines will raise prices to meet the demand of more people flying domestically.

I''m looking forward to this fall when the G2E will return Oct 4th thru the 7th. I plan to arrive early and take in a show while I am in town. I will let you know who is headlining as the conference approaches. As more people are vaccinated the level of normalcy will return and the interactions will resume. Keep adhering to the CDC guildlines and we will prevail against COVID- 19.

Follow me on Twitter where I discuss #sportsbetting and #gaming entertainment.  Check out my articles in Bettors Insider and in the January edition of Igaming player. 

The Metro Report: Sports Betting & Sports Business in New Jersey , New York and Philadelphia

Since the advent of Sports Betting the coverage of the New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia markets are essential to prognosticators. So I will expand with my Gaming Guy News minutes into the 3 top cities on the East Coast.

The Nets are playing well with the addition of James Harden. Harden had a triple double in his debut with the team. He finished the game with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists. Brooklyn has won four games in a row. This has been accomplish without Kyrie Irving. Irving has been apart from the team for the past 7 days for personal reasons. While there are questions as to if this group can co-exist together there is no doubt that they are a popular choice to win the NBA championship. The odds of the Nets winning the NBA Championship before the Harden trade was +250. The odds are now +130.

The Sixers are expecting Joel Embiid to return tonight. He has missed the last two game with a sore knee. The team has indicated the injury is not serious. The team is always precautious with Embiid and Ben Simmons. In this season with so many games in a short period of time this is a prudent path. Load management is being exercise with most of the NBA marquee players, The Sixers faced the Celtics for the 1st time this season. Celtics eliminated the Sixers from the playoffs last year. The Sixers are -5.5 and the total is 216.5. 

The Wizards are rumored to be entertaining talks to trade Bradley Beal. Beal is leading the league in scoring. Several teams that have been listed as a possible destination include the Lakers, Celtics and the Sixers. The Nets have teams looking at adding a player that would give them a big three. This would make the Wizards a rebuilding team. There would be  uncertainty as to if Russell Westbrook would want to buy in to that type of situation. The Wizards have the 2nd worst record in the NBA Eastern Conference. 

The Eagles are still involved with their coaching search. Josh McDaniels is the hot name that is being cited this week. McDaniels met with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie on Sunday. Unless the Eagles are waiting to interview someone that is involved with a team still in the playoffs, McDaniels would seem like the front runner because of his championship resume. 

The Jets have announced Robert Saleh as their new head coach.  Saleh is best known for his role as defensive coordinator for the Niners during 2017 thru 2020. The Niners defense was feared during most of that period and led them to an appearance in the Super Bowl. Jets could be in a position to make a run at Deshaun Watson. Watson is seeking a trade from the Texans. 

Sports Business: Pennsylvania and New Jersey reported casino revenue was down 22% &17% in 2020. Tax revenue from gaming in New Jersey increased in 2020. The revenue from online gaming impacted the Garden State in a positive way. The taxes on internet wagering are slightly higher than bets made at the casinos. This trend shows a growing propensity to play poker, tables games, slots and wager on sports online. New York is strongly considering moving into the online gaming space. 

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The Metro Report: Sports Betting in Philly , New York and Washington DC

The Eagles turn the page from Doug Pedersen and fired him on Monday. It was rumored that he would return along with GM Howie Roseman. Only Roseman remains with the team. Owner Jeff Lurie gave the reason as a difference in philosophy on what was needed to fix things. The approach is Lurie is looking at appears to be more long term. The person mentioned as a candidate to replace Pedersen is Todd Bowles. defensive coordinator  for the Tampa  Bay Buccaneers.

Washington Football lost to the Bucs in the opening round  of the NFL Wild Card Playoffs. The score was 31-23.The quarterback, Taylor Heinicke  played an excellent game. Coach Rivera indicated that settling the QB position would be an off season priority. Alex Smith wanted to wait a couple week before he decides his future about continuing to play. He is under contract for next season.

The Jets have two picks in the 1st round of the NFL Draft 2021. They have the 2nd, 23rd  and 34 picks. This bodes well for the Jets because this draft is deep in talent. If they plan to move on from Sam Darnold then a QB is the way to go with the second pick. If they still want to commit to Darnold, then DeVonta Smith ,Heisman Trophy receiver from Alabama would up grade the offense immediately.

The Sixers broke a 3 game losing streak last night by defeating the Heat 137-134. Joel Embiid played a monster game. He led the team with 45 points and 16 rebounds. The Sixers are still without the services of Tobias Harris, Shake Milton and Seth Curry due to COVID protocol. Sixers play the Heat again on Thursday. Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic did not play last night. Butler has been ruled out for Thursday game. 

The Brooklyn Nets will be without Kyrie Irving for the balance of this week. He has cited personal reasons for his absence. The team is not commenting on the situation. There is a video that appears to show Irving not adhering to COVID protocols .Watch the video. If a player is found to miss games due to a violation , each game missed can result in a reduction of salary for each game missed. Nets are 6-6 and 7th in the conference standing. 

The Nets continued to stay in the headlines with the acquisition of James Harden from the Houston Rockets.It involved a 4 team trade to complete the deal. While the loss of Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince will decrease the depth of the team, having the multiple time scoring champion will make up for the point production. The Nets included 4 first round picks so they are all in.

The Wizards continue to be exciting but unable to win or defend. They have a record of 3-8.  Bradley Beal is the leading scorer. Russell Westbrook is continuing to get triple double numbers every night. Thomas Bryant suffer a torn ACL and is out for the season. Westbrook is out for a week due to a left quad injury.

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The Metro Report: Sports Betting in Philly, Washington DC & New York

Since the advent of Sports Betting the coverage of the New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia markets are essential to prognosticators. So I will expand with my Gaming Guy News minutes into the 3 top cities on the East Coast.

The Washington Football Team are in the NFL Playoffs after clinching the NFC East. They defeated the Eagles 20-14. They will play against Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. The Bucs are favored by 8 and the total is set at 45.

The Eagles have reportedly retained Head Coach Doug Pedersen to return next season. Jim Schwartz is stepping down as Defensive Coordinator. Carson Wentz has allegedly stated the relationship between Pedersen and him is "fractured". My  assumption is that Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts will have a QB competition in training camp in 2021 to determine the starter. Not sure who would be the favorite after watching Hurts for 4 games. 

The Giants are eliminated from the playoffs even though they handle the Cowboys 23-19. Daniel Jones was not overly impress. There should be some thought about if he is the QB of the future. They will be better next season because of the return of Saquon Barkley. The Giants questioned the way the Eagles played the 4th quarter of a winnable game. Had the Eagles won, the Giants would have been the NFC East Champions.

The Sixers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now. They are 6-1 . They have won 2 games on the road so far. In past season the road was their Achilles heel. Tobias Harris is playing aggressive by driving to the basket and hitting from 3 point range. He was named Player of the Week in the Eastern Conference. Ben Simmons had his 1st triple double of the season against the Hornets. I am looking forward to Thursday game against the Nets. I will preview that game in Bettors Insider.

The Knicks are playing better than anticipated. Their record is 4-3. Julius  Randle continues to lead the team in 3 offensive categories. He is averaging  22.1 points, 11.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists. They play the Jazz on the road tonight. The line is Knicks +6 and the over/under is 214.5.

The Wizards are a disappointing 2-5. Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook are putting up exceptional numbers but the team is bottom five in the league defensively. They hope to get revenge on the Sixers tonight for the loss they received opening night. The line is for tonight's game is Washington +6.5 and 231. In their last game, they defeated the Nets 123-122.  

In Sports Betting and Sports Business: New York can anticipate a move to legalize sports betting via mobile by the 3rd quarter of the year. That would conveniently coincide with the start of the NFL season 2021. The majority of the bets on professional sport are place on football so it would make perfect sense to have a platform in place to capitalize on the upcoming season.  This would be a boom to the brick and mortar casino properties that have online platforms in other jurisdictions. Rush Street Schenectady would increase their market share by having the expertise of Rush Street Interactive promoting them throughout the entire state of New York. Rush Street Interactive / RSI rang the opening bell yesterday at the New York Stock Exchange.

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Metro Report: Sports Betting in Washington DC, New York & Philly

Since the advent of Sports Betting the coverage of the New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia markets are essential to prognosticators. I would normally just focus on Las Vegas, Philly and Atlantic City but times have changed. So I will expand with my Gaming Guy News minutes into the 3 top cities on the East Coast.

Nets had their season opener on Tuesday Night. They defeated the Warriors 125-99.  Kyrie Irving had 26 points. Kevin Durant scored 22 and had 5 rebounds. The Warriors were led by Stephen Curry who scored 20 and had 10 assists. I see the Nets winning the division and having the best conference record. They should get a better test against the Celtics on Christmas Day.

The Sixers open tonight against the Wizards. The defense did not look formidable in the Wizards pre season games. The Sixers are favored by 7.5 and the total is 229. Joel Embiid looked sharp in his one preseason game. His prop bets total are 26.5 in points and 11.5 in rebounds. I am looking at the chemistry of Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook. Great players can figure things out.  

Washington Football is still leading the division with 2 games left. Dwayne Haskins is starting as of this report. He will go against the Carolina Panthers. Panthers just held the the Packers to 3 points in the 2nd half of their game on Saturday. The extra day of rest will help them. Haskins threw 55 times against Seattle. Keep that in mind when you look at his projected attempts this week. Washington is favored by 2.5 and the total is 44.5.

Giants are in 2nd right now a game in back of Washington. The Giants can't score with Colt McCoy under center. He showed he can move the team but they are poor in the red zone. This week they play the Ravens. Ravens are playing lights out and are favored by 11. Total is 45. Lamar Jackson is playing at the MVP level of last season. Giant chance of winning the division is 16%.

Eagles and Cowboys will play with the loser being eliminated from contention. Jalen Hurts will make his 3rd consecutive start. Cowboys have won two straight. Both teams need to win and get help to make the final game of the season be meaningful. The Eagles are -2.5 and the total is 49.5.

Sport Business and Wagering News: Rivers Philadelphia posted strong numbers in November. The Sports Betting Handle was approximately 27.4 million with 70.8% generated online. Due to COVID 19 restrictions, the retail operation will be closed until after the New Year. I would anticipate the handle to increase with some of the retail play shifting over to mobile, 

Follow me on Twitter for conversations and watch my videos on Instagram. Merry Christmas!

Metro Report: Sports Betting in New York, Washington DC & Philly

.

Since the advent of Sports Betting the coverage of the New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia markets are essential to prognosticators. I would normally just focus on Las Vegas, Philly and Atlantic City but times have changed. So I will expand with my Gaming Guy News minutes into the 3 top cities on the East Coast.

The Giants are now in 2nd place in the NFC East. The Cardinals handle them easily and Daniel Jones did not look comfortable coming back from a hamstring injury. They are playing the Browns this week at home. Browns are favored by 3.5 in the opening line. After a thrilling loss to the Ravens on MNF in a game considered one of the best of the year, expect the number to go up.

The Washington Football team took over 1st place in the NFC East. After Dwayne Haskins came into the game for injured QB Alex Smith, the Washington defense rallied and took an interception to the end zone. They play the Seahawks at home this week and are 5.5 underdogs. While both team need the game, the betting public makes this number go to 6 or higher by game time.

The Eagles won for the 1st time in 5 weeks with Jalen Hurts having his 1st start as QB. He provided the spark the team needed and kept them in the race for the division. They are 1.5 games back with 3 to play. They have an 11% chance of winning the East. Their best scenario is to win out and Washington lose at least 1 of their next two games. They face the Cardinals this week and are getting 6.5. That line should stay static.

Sixers played a preseason game against the Celtics. They won 108-99 with the starters playing most of their minutes in the 1st half. No news on the James Harden watch. If the Sixers do go in on Harden ,the pieces they would have to consider moving are Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Mike Scott. The depth on the team would be lessened considerably. The addition of Harden would make the Sixers a championship contender. The Sixers have a projected win percentage of 58.5%. They would have to win 43 games to surpass that projection.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving looked impressive in his preseason game against the Wizards. Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal  sat the game out. After the game, Westbrook and KD embraced and spoke briefly. That was good for both of them considering how their relationship frayed when KD left OKC 4 years ago. The Wizards have a projected winning percentage of 45,5%. To exceed that projection they would have to win 33 games.

Sports Business and Sports Betting in DC is doing well on the retail side. William Hill & Monumental Sports and Entertainment  are increasing their handle every month. The average bet on a kiosk is approximately $125.  Parx Casino in Philadelphia had a combine retail and online gross revenue in October of 3,2 million before taxes. Those numbers will increase when the NBA returns to action.

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The Key Takeaways from the Bet on Sports America Conference

I was so impressed with the Bet on Sports America Conference that I wanted to follow up with 5 key takeaways for anyone that is working or interested in gaming, media and sports betting.

The advent of sports betting is in it's infancy. Sports betting has been legal in states outside of Nevada for just under 3 years. So many states have yet to legalize it. More over so many people are not aware that you can do it legally. Most sports books are populated by men. Hmm!!  Educate and Advertise. 

The pandemic has prompted an increase in online gaming and mobile sports betting. In October, Nevada books set a monthly record for betting handle at 659.6 million. 376.9 million was wager via mobile. Since we can't gather due to COVID the way to stay engaged with your players is remotely. Use all mediums available to you. Be consistent with your content and attempt to respond as close to real time as possible.

The partnerships between the media outlets and professional sports teams now have sports betting operators as a common denominator. Imagine if Google or Facebook enter the equation. They have the followers and could generate liquidity. Yahoo is involved and has it's own Sports division. Yahoo's sports betting platform is powered by BetMGM. 

Some of the professional teams that participated in the conference were the Sixers, Eagles, Flyers and New Jersey Devils.

The time is perfect for entrepreneurs and developers. If you can come up with an app or program that is easy to navigate and appeals to a gaming centric audience,  major corporations will find you. If someone comes up with a way to monetize Esports on a betting platform that makes gaming legislators and operators comfortable, they will be rich!  Nearly half a billion people play Esports or watch others play by streaming.

Don't be afraid to fail. If you're not taking risk on new technology and concepts now, when will you? I'll give you one concept. Meet with other industries that you can partner with. Make sure the partner aligns with your mission statement and core values. Don't sleep on small local businesses as a way of helping generate interest in what you are doing.  

This is the 4th conference that I have attended this year. 3 of them were after the pandemic shutdown in March. Add that to my expertise about casino operations along with my education regarding sports betting and you get a composite view of gaming  If you want more information or insight, we need to talk. In closing I want to quote Ben Franklin. "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."

If you want a recap of the entire conference click here.

My website is  smartresponsiblegaming.com.  Follow me on Twitter and Facebook for conversations & Instagram for photos/videos.

Sports Wagering and Business This Week

This will keep you current with the industry. These post will include trends about the sports betting market and information about what state is planning to offer it next. This will be a winning situation for a sophisticated operator and his constituents. 

This week SportTechie 2019 State of the Industry took place at the Barclays Center in New York. The theme of this year's conference was Sports Betting. Here is the link to the post that was part of the coverage from Bettors Insider. It include a quote from Rob Manfred, the commissioner of MLB.

The Sloan Sports Conference was held in Boston on Friday and Saturday. Some of the notable participants included Adam Silver, Commissioner of the NBA, Josh Harris and Scott O'Neil owners of the Sixers, Doug Kezirian , sports analyst from ESPN and Kip Levin, President of FanDuel. The panels about Sports Legacy and Sports Betting captivated interest. This Conference focuses on the balance between Sports Business and Analytics. The opportunities for an innovative mind are limitless. You can view some of these panel discussions on YouTube.

ESPN will start a new show call The Daily Wager on March 11. Kezirian will host this hour long show that will provide gambling content on ESPN News every night at 6PM. He will have guest analyst that are outside experts and ESPN personalities give their views.

                 Next week we will resume the Sport Betting 101 Series with a post on Future bets.

Sports and Business Wagering This Week

If you are looking for the latest in Sports and Business Wagering, you are at the right place. We plan to give you all of the trends and breaking developments that occurred. You will stay current on the hot topics that involve the operators and the people that like to bet on sports. Any state that is proposing Sports Betting will be highlighted. 

The NFL announced that it is partnering with Caesars Entertainment. Caesars will become the official casino that will have rights to NFL trademarks in the United States and the United Kingdom.  The trademarks can not be used in a Caesars Sports Book. The partnership is for casino gaming only.

The big bet of the week was made at Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City. Someone put down 300,000 on the Ravens during Wild Card Weekend. That bet was a loser! Four days later ,it was reported that Ocean is looking for a buyer less than a year after a grand opening. Sport Betting alone is not the cure all for a gaming operator. 

In Philly, the opening of the South Philadelphia Turf Club that is owned by Parx Casino, will increase the handle in Pennsylvania. The location is less than a mile from the sports stadium complex that serves as homes for the Phillies. Eagles, Flyers and Sixers. 

Two major players to watch in the casino industry are Kambi and Tangam.  Kambi provides the software and platform for sports betting at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia and the aforementioned Parx. Tangam provides data analysis that help make effective decisions for the casino floor. This information is critical and provides revenue generating suggestions in real time.

                                                  Enjoy the NFL games this weekend!

Recap of the PBJ Business of Sports Seminar in Philly

We attended the Philadelphia Business Journal Business of Sports Seminar last month at the Ballroom at the Ben.The major Philadelphia Sports teams participated in this event. They included the Eagles, Sixers, Flyers, Phillies and Union.  Each team shared their views about sports betting, media and marketing.

When the question was posed to the audience as to what team would win the next world championship in Philly, the response was split between the Sixers and the Eagles.

The second panel was dedicated to E sports and the evolution of the gamers over the past three years.

While there is still room for improvement in areas concerning language and civility, the E sports  participants on the panel were supportive and pledge to make that a priority. The participants on the E Sports panel were John Fazio of  3RD St Gamers and Mike Prindiville, CEO Team Dignitas.Temple University was represented admirably by Anthony Pizzo, School of Tourism and Hospitality.

Spike Eskin

Two additional panels rounded out the event and they were devoted to Sponsorships/Partnerships & Media. Media was of great interest to the crowd that remain at the event because everyone wanted to know how to reach their audience. Spike Eskin, Program Director; Sports Radio 94 WIP stated "find what people are interested in and share how it feels to them."

We will give our opinion on what we see as the best way to reach your niche. You should utilize all mediums but use most of your resources where they are. You should look for new content and innovation that will bring attention to you. That content should be consistent with your brand or it will not resonate with your current customer. You should also deploy part of your media budget to new market cultivation.

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NBA Playoffs - Round 2

Here is a recap of the hits and misses of the 1st round predictions.
Hits were Jazz over Thunder. Sixers over Heat and Cavs over Pacers.
The amount of games the Sixers and Cavs took was slightly off but they won.

Misses were the broom alerts for the Spurs and Timberwolves. Each won a game on
their home court. The over in each game of Pelicans and Blazers hit 50%. Prediction
was set at 100%.

In the 2nd Round, Philly will beat the Celtics in 6. Philly will run on Boston. Something
the Bucks were not able to do. They play defense and will not let Boston score inside.

Cavs over Raptors. Lebron will continue to dominate and lead the Cavs over the Raptors in
6. Toronto comes up short again.

Warriors and Rockets will win their series over the Pelicans and Jazz in 4 and 5 respectively.
A broom alert is set for Pelicans. Durant and Harden meet in the conference finals.

                                         #GTLivechat will be daily thru the playoffs.
                                         #SportsBetting and Entertaining Predictions

                                  Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for updates!
                                  Check out my app, Smart Responsible Gaming at thegamingguym.com/

NBA Playoffs 2018

We will give our take on some of the 1st round games.

Sixers and Heat. Sixers in 6. Even without Embiid. Better defensively and superior bench. Miami may resort to fouling Simmons and slowing the game down to use Whiteside more.

Best 4/5 series. Cavs and Pacers. Lebron and Lance meet again. Same result in 5 games. Cavs win.

Broom Alert - Rockets over Timberwolves. Warriors over Spurs. One of these will end in 4.

Best Offensive Series - Portland and Pelicans. Take the over in every game.

Upset likely to happen. The series where a lower seed defeats a higher one. Jazz over Thunder.

                                         #GTLivechat will be daily thru the playoffs.
                                         #SportsBetting and Entertaining Predictions

                   Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for updates!
                   Check out my app, Smart Responsible Gaming at thegamingguym.com/