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

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,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.

Getting Ready For the NFL,E Sports & G2E

Labor Day is less than 3 weeks away! So I have to get ready for the best time of the year for me. What time is that? My answer is always when the NFL is about to start and my anticipation of attending the G2E. So I want to prepare you for some of the things you can expect this fall.

I will continue to preview the Thursday Night Games starting on September 9th. My post will appear each week on Bettors Insider. I will share videos that will highlight some of the top fantasy football players every week on Instagram

The Metro Report will return this fall with NFL conversation about the teams in Philly, Washington DC & New York, When the NBA returns on Oct 19, the coverage will expand to the respective teams in the aforementioned cities. This will post every Wednesday.

The Monday Motivation and the Throwback Thursday segments on LinkedIn,Facebook & Twitter will continue. You will reach encouragement and mentorship to start your work week. On Thursdays, expect history concerning gaming & entertainment. If you want to be part of either of these formats as a way to expand your audience, you should check out my website.

GTLHottopics remains on Twitter every Tuesday with a new format. Most of the tweets will be a retweet of the trending sports news item with my commentary along with members of the GTLivechat crew. GTLHottopics and/or GTLivechat will start everyday on Twitter at Sunday thru Thursday at noon. Look for the hashtag #GTLivechat & #GTLHottopics.

The G2E 2021 will start October 4th and end October 7th. I plan to attend and provide coverage of this prestigious event. I will go on record that I will visit and share my opinion about the two newest Las Vegas properties, Circa Las Vegas Casino & Resorts World Las Vegas.

Esports is making it's way back to my website with articles and tournament information. If you or your children are gamers, you will enjoy the bi-weekly commentary.

The things that I am involved in  my role at Rivers Philadelphia Casino would take another blogpost to cover. I can tell you to expect exciting new stuff when it comes to sports betting,slots and table games play.  The team of General Manager Justin Moore, Vice President of Gaming Shawn Harris with the addition of Bennie Mancino (Table Games) & Paul Toennes (Marketing) is going to rock! Go to Rivers Casino Philadelphia for updates.  

                                                                   GET READY!

5 Takeaways from the SBC Digital North America Conference

 

These are some of the takeaways of the SBC Digital North America, an online event that was held June 9^th and 10^th.
I Gaming and Sports Betting are moving the needle in the Gaming and Casino Industry. While there will always be a need for a land base casino hotel, there is a need for the convenience factor that playing online gives to a player. The mobile apps that replicate the brick-and-mortar facilities will resonate with the existing customer.
The use of Social Media is a great opportunity to engage with your clientele and attract new patrons. Using push notifications and tweets that give information are ways that have the public interested in your promotions, if sent at the right time as well as to the right customer.
Innovation will separate successful operators from the masses.
I participated in two panels at the SBC. The 1^st was From the Gaming Floor to Online Slots: Harnessing the Omnichannel Opportunity. I was able to share my expertise in casino operations and how important the loyalty program is. I suggested that the digital wallet program and the brick & mortar should work together. This will keep the player with your organization longer because you are working collaboratively to fulfill their needs. This type of marketing will ultimately increase the lifetime value of the player to your organization.
The second panel address the careers in gaming and sports betting. I was on this panel with George Diemer, associate professor at Temple University. George and I concurred about internships, regulation, and responsible gaming. The industry could be doing more to increase our labor pool and alleviate employment concerns. An increase in flexibility regarding shifts and hours should be a consideration. 

I plan to do my part to help in a recruitment endeavor. I will be going to colleges and universities this fall to advocate what gaming has to offer. I will also have at least one video per month that highlights a job that a college student or job applicant with an aptitude for learning could fulfill. I will not limit my scope to jobs just in one region because of the size and growth of the gaming industry. If there are any casinos that are having recruitment and retention challenges, reach out to me and I will highlight the position that you are trying to fill.  

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 Casino Outlook for the Summer 2021

The wait is over. Casinos have been  given the green light to increase the number of guests they can  accommodate to pre Covid 19 levels. This is welcoming news for the gaming and entertainment industry.The gaming operators have been forced to be resilient over the past 14 months. Most have found challenges with employee retention and acqusition. While that was eased because of the reduction of gaming space,the effort to attract employees must now intensify. Casinos on each coast are offering job referral incentives to current workers and propective hires. One consideration could be to reach out to former employees to gauge their interest in returning in a flexible or part time capacity.

There will be several revenue streams that will recieve a spike in the next 3 months. The Food and Beverage departments along with  hotel  occupancy will approach the historical month to month numbers of 2019. Entertainment will also be a draw to customers looking to go out to shows and concerts. The professional teams are going to full capacity for indoor events so the casinos should be looking to follow suit. Looking at local talent would be a win - win as a gate attraction. 

FYI for those looking for the two hottest concerts in Las Vegas. First is Usher at Caesars Palace. Here is a glimpse of what to expect from the IHeart Radio Awards 2021 and his residency . 

Performance: Usher Sings "Confessions/Love In This Club/My Boo/Yeah" | iHeartRadio Music Awards 2021 - YouTube 

Sports is the vertical that the casinos are betting on. Partnerships with professional teams will boost the use of mobile gaming and sports betting apps.  The marketing opportunities are not just related to wagering on the pre match odds. Extended options involving futures and in game betting should be explored. 

Atlantic City's  revival will be peak during the summer season. Las Vegas will see an increase in their mid week business. The covenience markets like Philly,Washington and Baltimore will have to become creative because they will be competing with other comericial venues for the entertainment spend in those respective cities. 

The leader in all of the aforementioned markets must find their niche and promote themselves effectively. Determine who your customer is and keep that person connected to you. I could expand and give concepts but it would behoove me to share those thoughts in a conversation. For now, you can follow me on LinkedIn and Twitter. 

I will have some exciting news to provide to all you very shortly. Enjoy your summer.

The second performance is Bruno Mars who will be performing at the Park MGM in July. 

Performance: Silk Sonic Sings “Leave The Door Open” | iHeartRadio Music Awards 2021

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

  

 

Take a shot at a new Career

 

This is a unique opportunity for anyone that lives or works in Philadelphia. If you are looking for a new career or one of the many Americans that are open to getting a coronavirus vaccine but have not manage to do so, keep reading.

Rivers Casino Philadelphia is opening the gateway to both scenarios. It is no secret that Rivers is one of the best places in the region to work. The commitment to the staff and patrons is to provide a safe work environment. Hence, the coronavirus clinic.

So where do you fit in?

Rivers is hiring in several departments.

Bryan Meloy,the Food and Beverage Director, has been with Rivers for 10 years. Bryan's career has several highlights that include opening the Wild Wild West in Atlantic City and opening the Rivers Casino Sports Book. He is looking for culinary employees. He would be a great mentor to a food and beverage worker.

Sheri McQueen is a “Day One Leader” joining the Rivers Family in 2010. Sheri was chosen from a group of stellar applicants to be the Table Games Instructor for new dealer candidates. She has taught hundreds of dealers that have went on to supervisory positions with Rivers. The classes are on going and are available on the weekends. A dealer starting hourly rate is approximately 20-23 dollars an hour including tips. This may be a come up for somebody. I forgot to mention the classes are free.

Mike Mastrangelo is our H/R specialist that specializes in matching you up with the position that matches your skill set. If your background involves banking or cashiering, Mike can direct you to a casino cage position. If you have other interest,Mike will find a fit. Rivers wants you to maximize your area of expertise.

So, on Wednesday, May 26 between 2PM and 6PM, Rivers Philadelphia will have a recruiting area at our COVID vaccine clinics “Take a shot at a new Career”.  A Shot, A Career or both. Click this link to see what positions are available.

If you are 12 years old or older (between 12 -17) and are accompanied by a parent or guardian, you can be vaccinated. Free parking is available.

Here is the scheduling link for the vaccine. I look forward to seeing you!