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Police are looking to identify a pair of suspects in a Cambridge business break-in earlier this month. Waterloo Regional Police said the incident occurred Dec. 14, just after midnight, in the area of Hespeler Road and Avenue Road. Investigators said two suspects broke a glass door and stole merchandise. Police released surveillance images of the suspects on social media on Monday. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 519-570-9777, ext. 8255. Anonymous information can be provided to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at .
This bull market has been running rampant for more than two years, but it's an unusual one. Most bull runs don't have to share time with inflation crises, and the monetary pressure that started to build in 2021 is finally easing. The macroeconomic boost from that shift could keep this bull running longer than usual. While the bullish trend has been having a broad impact on the stock market, some stocks can be expected to benefit more than others as the investor-friendly run continues. These two supercharged tech companies could deliver market-beating returns over the next few years. Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » How to play the digital advertising turnaround in style Anders Bylund (Criteo): One of the most game-changing aspects of this bull market is the ongoing return to normal consumer spending behavior. People largely reined in their discretionary spending when inflation surged a few years ago. The list of industries that faced lower sales in that tight economy has a lot of overlap with the sectors that do a lot of brand-oriented marketing. From luxury goods and travel services to cars and smartphones, consumer demand tightened up and brand advertising slowed down. Why spend big money on targeted ads when people aren't willing to buy anything? So digital advertising was pushed into an extra-deep downturn. Now, the leaders of that industry are poised to come back swinging as consumer spending recovers. Criteo (NASDAQ: CRTO) is a fine example of this rebound opportunity. The Paris-based marketing campaign manager's stock is down 22% from recent highs, but the business is poised to perform in a healthier economy. Speaking during the October earnings call , retiring CEO Megan Clarken outlined a thrilling growth opportunity. "Retail media facilitates the targeting of high-intent shoppers by brands primarily on retailer sites and extending reach across the open web," she said. "Performance media focuses on targeting high-intent shoppers for direct-to-consumer brands, primarily on the open web and social platforms. In other words, our solutions have a hyper focus on addressing or advertising to consumers who are on their buyer journey. " So Criteo should benefit greatly when luxury brands and brand-oriented advertisers boost their marketing budgets again. And that's already happening, just in time for the holiday shopping season. Meanwhile, the stock is trading for just 1.1 times sales and 9 times expected forward earnings. These valuation ratios would be cheap for a tired old retailer -- they're dirt cheap for a tech stock with proven growth chops that is arguably heading into a game-changing sector turnaround. Down 34%, Micron can deliver wins for long-term investors Keith Noonan: Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) is a leading provider of memory-chip solutions. The company's business has been posting huge performance improvements in conjunction with artificial intelligence (AI) trends, but some investors appear to be betting that the good times will soon come to an end. On the heels of recent pullbacks, Micron stock is down roughly 34% from the high it hit earlier this year. While the company's future sales and earnings will almost certainly be uneven and shaped by cyclical industry trends, its recent performance points to the emergence of catalysts that will have positive long-term impacts on the business. Micron's revenue increased 93% year over year to $7.75 billion in the fourth quarter of its fiscal 2024, which ended Aug. 29. That explosive growth was spurred by AI-driven demand for the company's DRAM and high-bandwidth-memory solutions. Along with the surge in sales, strong demand for its higher-end products helped the business post a non-GAAP (adjusted) net profit of roughly $1.34 billion -- improving from a loss of roughly $1.18 billion in the prior-year period. Micron stock is now valued at roughly 11 times this year's expected earnings. Given the cyclical nature of the company's business, it doesn't make sense to put too much weight on the company's price-to-earnings multiple when assessing the stock. However, it could still signal an attractive risk-reward profile for investors who approach the stock with an understanding of the cyclical guesswork involved. Depending on demand and pricing trends in the memory chip space, the company's performance can make big shifts in short order. Along those lines, some Wall Street analysts are concerned that weakness in the consumer market and oversupply in the high-bandwidth memory segment will soon lead to softer sales and earnings results. But the company's current valuation suggests that investors are being too bearish about Micron's near-term and long-term outlooks. Spending on data-center infrastructure to support the training, deployment, and scaling of AI applications is likely still in a relatively early stage of its long-term growth trajectory. While Micron's business will remain heavily cyclical and its results will be shaped by industry trends, it appears that the market is underappreciating the company's potential to be a lasting beneficiary of the AI revolution. Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $368,053 !* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $43,533 !* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $484,170 !* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 18, 2024 Anders Bylund has positions in Criteo and Micron Technology. Keith Noonan has positions in Micron Technology. The Motley Fool recommends Criteo. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . A Bull Market Is Here: 2 Supercharged Stocks Down More Than 20% to Buy Right Now was originally published by The Motley FoolAndy Murray will coach Novak Djokovic through the Australian OpenNoodles and wine are the secret ingredients for a strange new twist in China's doping saga
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The seabed has increasingly emerged as a significant and contested domain in recent years, drawing global attention due to unprecedented events and developments. In 2022 alone, incidents such as the breaking of the Svalbard subsea communication cable, the explosion of the Nord Stream 1 & 2 subsea gas pipelines and the breakage of the SHEFA-2 communication cable underscored the vulnerability of underwater critical infrastructure (UCI). This trend persisted into 2023, with similar disruptions affecting subsea communication cables, such as the one connecting Taiwan. Even in 2024, Pakistan had only gone through four incidents of submarine cables, which cost the nation millions of rupees. These events have not only highlighted the fragile nature of UCIs, including oil and gas pipelines, power transmission cables and submarine communication systems, but they have also spurred significant political, military, and scholarly interest in what is now termed "seabed warfare." Historically, seabed warfare is not a new concept. Navies have long conducted operations on the seabed, particularly during the Cold War, when the U.S. and the Soviet Union developed extensive acoustic surveillance systems for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and strategic intelligence. Notably, the U.S. Navy's Operation IVY BELLS in the 1970s involved tapping Soviet subsea cables, yielding critical intelligence. Seabed warfare has evolved into a complex, multi-dimensional field, incorporating advanced technologies and strategies to protect and disrupt Underwater Critical Infrastructure (UCIs), reflecting its growing importance in defensive and offensive naval operations. The last two decades have witnessed a major boom in the energy distribution sector through the seabed. Various oil and gas pipelines run on the seabed in different oceans, which ensures energy supply among other countries and regions; they hold vital economic importance. Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines transport Russian gas to Europe and run on the seabed of the Baltic Sea. Within Europe, there is also a network of underwater gas pipelines that transport Norwegian gas to the U.K., France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Poland. These gas pipelines run on the seabed of the North and Baltic Seas . In the East, the subsea Ichthys Export Pipeline (Timor Sea) transports gas from the Ichthys field to mainland Australia. Yacheng 13-1 gas pipeline transports gas from the Yacheng gas field to mainland China, and the list goes on. Subsea oil pipelines are also being extensively used to transport oil from offshore terminals to land. According to surveys, the web of 2,381 operational oil and gas pipelines spread across 162 nations back in 2020. Similarly, offshore drilling for new energy resources on the seabed of different oceans around the world is also witnessing a boom. Keeping in view projects such as the Trans Caspian, subsea energy transportation is likely to have an upward trend. Subsea communication cables also hold significant importance for the world’s economic growth and stability. More than 97% of the world’s internet data flows through the ocean. Let alone subsea communication cables enable money transactions worth $10 trillion per day across the world. Any disruption to these cables is considered socio-economically catastrophic. Politically, growing subsea connectivity and dependency on energy and information are being considered lucrative foreign policy tools. Subsea pipelines and cables have gained unprecedented strategic importance. Safe operations of subsea pipelines and cables are crucial for socio-economic stability, but at the same time, their blockage and disruption can impose significant strategic effects. New international relations (IR) terms such as ‘pipeline diplomacy’ reflect the same political thought. For military strategists, seabed warfare capability to protect (defensive) and even disrupt (offensive) subsea pipelines and cables has become a priority area. Seabed warfare is inherently attractive for the hybrid military strategy; therefore, it has great potential to grow in "no war-no peace" and "low-intensity conflict" environments. Based on an analysis of seabed operations in naval history, recent events and development strategies of different navies, the scope of emerging seabed warfare can be divided into benign, defensive and offensive operations. Benign operations will be mainly aimed at oceanographic research, search and rescue (SAR) and salvage operations. Defensive operations will focus on the protection of UCIs. Emerging concepts like Seabed-to-Space Situational Awareness (S3A), Distributed Remote Sensing (DRS), the Great Underwater Wall, etc., will define the framework of defensive seabed operations. Similarly, offensive operations will focus on the destruction or disruption of UCIs and the tapping of digital data flowing through subsea communication cables. Technological advancements enabled seabed access more than ever. Modern hydro-mechanical systems, advanced electronics and artificial intelligence are enabling the maritime industry to produce ships, submarines and UUVs (uncrewed underwater vehicles) that would carry out activities on the seabed. So where research, exploration and productive machines can go, there will also be military vehicles accessing the seabed to turn it into a new battlefield. Seabed warfare is a technologically intensive field. Artificial intelligence is reckoned to be the backbone of all enablers of seabed warfare. Enablers of seabed warfare can be divided into three categories: launch platforms (submarines, ships, extra-large UUVs), execution vehicles (UUVs, ROVs, and AUVs) and remote sensors (underwater buoys, ocean data buoys, and air/satellite-based sensors). It is interesting to highlight that there is significant technological progress in each category. The Belgorod Class Submarine (Russian Navy) is designed to address this requirement for seabed operations. Though U.S. submarines have the capability to carry out similar operations at present, it has decided to develop the VA SSW (Modified Virginia Subsea and Seabed Warfare) submarine. The same trend is followed even by conventional submarines; the latest Swedish A-26 Class submarines have specific features such as rapid and straightforward bottoming and UUV launch and control capability for seabed warfare. The Italian NFS (Near Future Submarine) project and the German-Norwegian Type 212 CD have similar claims. UUV technology is considered the linchpin of seabed warfare. A long list of special ships will be mainly used for benign and defensive seabed operations. UUVs are becoming more capable in terms of operating depths, endurance, power and propulsion day by day. UUVs are the world’s leading defense companies' top priority. Data from remote sensors such as underwater hydrophone networks, ocean buoys and even satellites can be fused together for robust surveillance. As seabed warfare continues to evolve, driven by rapid technological advancements and strategic competition, it is becoming an increasingly sophisticated and high-stakes arena. The development of seabed warfare capabilities, such as the Russian Belgorod Class Submarine and the U.S. Virginia-class submarines, reflects the growing emphasis on controlling this new battlefield. Until clear international rules are established to govern seabed warfare, the potential for conflict in this domain remains significant, with implications for global security and stability. Moreover, in the context of Pakistan, a country with a strategic vicinity and growing dependence on undersea cables, it is imperative to assess its preparedness and resilience against emerging threats of seabed warfare.
Argentina's Racing wins its first Copa Sudamericana championship by beating Brazil's Cruzeiro 3-1The immediate past group managing director of FBN Holdings Plc, Urum Eke, recently celebrated his 60th birthday in Lagos with a book launch. It was a great time as family members, friends, and well-wishers poured praise on the man who has dedicated his life to impacting people around him and making a life-changing influence. All roads led to Ikoyi, Lagos, the venue of the event. Welcoming him to the 6th floor, goodwill messages poured in, and the auditorium was full of praises and eulogies for a selfless man who made a remarkable difference in all spheres of his life—at work, family, friends, colleagues, and the less fortunate. It was a twins event—the celebration of life and the launch of a book which revealed the applaudable journey of Eke. Reviewing the book ‘IMPACT – A Life of Urum Kalu Eke, the chief reviewer, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi, expressed that the essence of the well-written non-fiction book is felt through its underlying message. He noted that the knowledge-embedded book encapsulates the last sixty years of the celebrant under four impact areas: personal life, professional journey, people/community, and practised faith. “The book’s title is simple but intriguing and captures the essence of a man known for his professionalism, rigour, and ‘impact’ on matters he chooses to handle. “UK,” as he is popularly called, has fought many a battle in the trenches of Nigeria’s gripping financial service industry. Like his Abiribaforbearers, he has sumo-wrestled social prejudice, kickboxed professional incompetence, and shoulder-blocked organisational drift,’’ he said.
Andy Murray is to take over as coach for his old rival Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Here, the PA news agency looks at the seven Grand Slam finals contested by the pair. Murray turned in a poor performance in Melbourne, failing at the third attempt to win a set in a Grand Slam final as Djokovic broke serve seven times and hit six aces to claim a comprehensive win 6-4 6-2 6-3. “You had an unbelievable tournament and deserved to win,” the Scot said in reference to his opponent. “I look forward to playing against you in the future.” It took five sets for Murray to claim his first Grand Slam title, becoming the first British man to achieve the feat since Fred Perry in 1936. The final clocked in at four hours and 54 minutes as Murray prevailed 7-6 (10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 to end a wait of 287 tournaments in British male tennis for a victory. “I want to congratulate Andy on his first grand slam, he thoroughly deserves it,” said Djokovic. “I really tried my best. I gave it my all. It was a tremendous match.” Congrats @DjokerNole . Incredible athlete. Perfect gentleman. #ausopen — judy murray (@JudyMurray) January 27, 2013 Murray was dogged by injury in Melbourne with a heavily strapped right foot and a tight hamstring as Djokovic fought back from a set down to land a third consecutive Australian Open title, 6-7 (2) 7-6 (3) 6-3 6-2. “His record here is incredible,” said Murray. ”Very few people have managed to do what he has done, a deserved champion.” Murray ended a 77-year wait for a British men’s victory at Wimbledon by defeating his old foe 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in SW19, serving emphatically with nine aces and only two double faults to throw off the weight of history. The Scot had been 4-1 down in the second set as the match threatened to slip away from him and with it the chance to cement his place in tennis folklore, but having wasted three championship points he finally sealed the deal when Djokovic drove into the net with his final shot. A post shared by Novak Djokovic (@djokernole) Djokovic triumphed 7-6 (5) 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-0 and after the 24 matches and five grand slam finals the pair had played against each other across nine years, the Serb had established a 16-8 overall lead and 3-2 in slam finals. “Success is being happy,” said Murray. “It’s not about winning every single tournament you play, because that isn’t possible.” What a journey. Really grateful for everything. I'll keep working hard. Love is the key! pic.twitter.com/CrT7TYRL3O — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 31, 2016 The Serb landed a fourth win over Murray in Australian Open finals and his 11th in 12 matches to land his 11th major title, whilst the Scot made it five consecutive final losses in Melbourne, a new record in the Open era. “I feel like I’ve been here before,” said Murray after a 6-1 7-5 7-6 (3) loss. “Congratulations Novak, six Australian Opens, an incredible feat, and incredible consistency the last year.” "This is something that’s so rare in tennis... it’s gonna take a long time for it to happen again" Andy to Novak ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LN7dW8ZJED — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2016 This was Murray’s first final at Roland Garros but it brought a familiar conclusion as Djokovic triumphed against him for the fifth time in seven Grand Slam finals. The 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 success was a first win for the Serb in Paris and saw him hold all four slams simultaneously. Murray went on to win Wimbledon the following month and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year but, addressing Djokovic in Paris, said: “This is his day today. What he’s achieved the last 12 months is phenomenal, winning all four of the grand slams in one year is an amazing achievement.”Cowboys Top Seton Hall in Big 12-Big East Battle
College Football Fans Are Giving Kirk Herbstreit A Hard Time On SaturdaySHANNON Sharpe took aim at Kirk Herbstreit which left Stephen A. Smith stunned on First Take. The NFL Hall of Famer sent a warning to college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit following his remarks on the live ESPN show's criticisms of Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day. Toward the end of the Buckeyes' 42-17 win against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the College Football Playoff, the color commentator Hebstreit called out First Take for their past comments about Day. In November, Ohio State lost to Michigan for the fourth straight season and some people believed that Day should either be fired or his job will only be secure until the team wins the national championship . "'First Take' tried to fire him. They thought he was done, so I'll be excited to see what they talk about on Monday after this performance," Herbstreit said on the ESPN broadcast. "They had him out, trying to find replacements. But here he is, he still has his hat on. He's still coaching." Read More on First Take First Take reacted to Herbsreit's strong words about their program, and Sharpe wasn't afraid to respond. "I’m gonna be a good teammate. I’m gonna let it slide. Everybody’s at ESPN. Because had you not taken the route you’ve taken, I would’ve lit their (expletive) up," Sharpe said. "If we’re going to be on the same team, if we’re gonna work for the same network, don’t do that. Kirk, Chris Fowler, I promise you, if you ever mention any platform that I’m on again talking about 'I wonder what they’re going to say as negativity,' "I promise you, ESPN ain't got enough bosses to keep me off y'all for what I'm going to say... don't play with me." Most read in American Football Stephen A. had admitted that he should be the only First Take star to take the blame for his past criticisms of Day before Sharpe's tirade. The 57-year-old was shocked at Sharpe's rant. Social media users, meanwhile, reacted to the sequence and seemed to take Herbstreit's side on the matter. "Sharpe has a big mouth on him. Kirk ain't scared," one wrote. "Sounds like Shannon can't handle any criticism," another commented. "Sharpe always crying about something for real," a third added. There were plenty of fans who pointed out that Herbstreit seemed to be biased during his rant about Day. Herbstreit is a former Ohio State quarterback. Read More on The US Sun It'll be worth monitoring if Herbstreit will respond to Sharpe's choice of words. Day and his Buckeyes squad still have business to take care of as their next game will be the quarterfinal matchup against the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
Anderson's 14 lead Furman over Charleston Southern 67-46NoneAlibaba Divests Its Intime Store Chain
PHOENIX – Sports gambling operators are using artificial intelligence to track and limit problem gambling exposure for their users, but the introduction of this technology and the use of personal data also raises questions about whether it could be used for the wrong reasons. The sports gambling world is still largely unregulated, relying mostly on self-governance, which raises the possibility of a conflict of interest when it comes to responsible gambling. Access to bettors’ data, behavior and habits opens the door to the potential for predatory behavior by sports-gambling operators. Timothy Fong, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, believes that AI could spell trouble for gamblers susceptible to addiction, who could be easier targets for sportsbooks. “It’s really the use of AI that creates predatory scenarios, where people who are already vulnerable because of mental health issues or a gambling addiction could be manipulated or targeted without their knowledge,” Fong said. Sportsbooks are looking for ways to utilize AI, and among them is to personalize the betting experience for users through incentives or by providing specific information based on that person’s gaming habits. Shane Kraus, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at UNLV, is skeptical about the use of AI to promote safe gambling and added that he is unaware of this practice. “AI in the gambling space tailors incentives and better understands a player’s interest, so they’re ensuring the options that they are feeding to a player are going to resonate with them,” Kraus said. “It’s going to want to, A, make them engage and, B, stay on longer again.” In fact, AI can be used to essentially attract new bettors. Emerging AI technologies like SharpLink’s C4 Sports Betting Conversion engine, for instance, are used to convert sports fans into bettors, which is done by determining the best personalized betting offers and experience for the user based on their behaviors, past and present. For example, a user might receive wagering offers that are based on their favorite team, sport or player. In a guest column published on Sportico by SharpLink CEO Robert Phythian, he said that SharpLink, a company previously partnered with the now-defunct SaharaBets and currently with BetMGM, utilizes AI in their C4 engine to keep users engaged longer. Phythian said that in a sports betting category such as “Bets for You,” the technology might suggest “Because you bet on X,” to prompt a similar wager. Or, “Those who bet on X, also bet on Y,’ to suggest another bet. “Fans will be presented with a personalized experience based on the preferences they either explicitly state in their profile or implicitly demonstrate by their behavior and consumption patterns,” he said. Studies have shown that personalizing user experiences is beneficial for organizations that are trying to drive revenue. Research from European sports data organization LSports shows that 72% of sportsbooks surveyed listed a “personalized player experience” as the biggest factor in retention rates. Cost of problem gambling Fong sees a pitfall with keeping players engaged longer on platforms. While longer engagement translates to a bigger profit for the sportsbooks, the longer gamblers place bets, the more likely it could be that they develop a gambling habit, which can lead to gambling disorders. “The real story, of course, is what percentage of profits generated by the casino industry is on the backs of people with this disease?” Fong said. “I’ve seen ranges anywhere from 10% up to 80% of the bottom line profits are on the backs of people with (a) gambling disorder.” A 2018 survey report conducted by the Minnesota Department of Human Services claimed that gambling revenue generated by individuals with gambling problems seemed to rest anywhere between 15% and 33%, based on outside data. It is hard to accurately quantify the scope of the issue because it is not a tracked metric, but a significant increase in calls to national problem gambling lines have been tracked, and that trend is also reflected in Arizona. Based on data obtained from the Arizona Department of Gaming, there were 280 problem gambling calls in 2021 between March and December. In 2023, the first full year of legal sports gambling in Arizona, there were 512 problem gambling calls between January and September, which is an increase of more than 82% over the 2021 sample – and in one less month. Further data provided by Telus and LifeWorks shows 185 helpline-specific calls between July 2020 and June 2021 to the Arizona Office of Problem Gambling, which increased to 619 calls from July 2022 to June 2023 – a 234% spike. The number of calls jumped to 687 in 2024. Research released in 2023 and conducted by Dr. Lia Nower of Rutgers University found that sports gamblers in New Jersey were more likely to develop anxiety, depression, substance abuse issues and problem gambling compared to non-sports gamblers. It also found that a small percentage of bettors, around 5%, were placing 70% of the bets, which Nower concludes “means the people losing the most money are the most essential to operator profits.” Nower found 14% of sports bettors from this study to have suicidal thoughts, while 10% acted on those thoughts. Coupled with the psychology of being a sports fan, personalization for sports gamblers can be troubling. Brianne-Doura Schawohl, a leading policy consultant on problem gambling issues, finds sports gambling is distinguished from other forms of wagering because sports is in its own realm. “What separates sports betting from so many other forms of gambling out there is it entices a consumer based on this concept of skill, based on ego and arrogance,” Schawohl said. “Then when you incentivize that with things like free play and bonus offers and attractive promotions that make it seem like there’s little to no risk – when gambling always has risks – it can become a dangerous scenario for people.” A 2013 study published in Science Daily found that betting experience or knowledge of a particular sport does not improve betting outcomes. “Their identity is tied to sports but that becomes a risk factor for people taking risks,” Kraus said of sports fans. “The emotional connection and their knowledge often comes back to bite them.” Sports betting regulation FanDuel CEO Amy Howe has been an advocate for using artificial intelligence, saying the company is making “huge investments” in the technology to detect problematic gambling. Critics are skeptical. “The reality is, more often than not, there is a lot of chatter or empty promises where operators will highlight things that they are capable of, but in the absence of mandatory regulations, they don’t do it,” Schawohl said. The Responsible Online Gaming Association, a coalition formed in early 2024 by most of the major sportsbook operators in the U.S., looks to support independent research and educational tools to prevent problem gambling. Each operator has pledged $20 million toward these efforts, which will help to develop a database of problem gamblers and to promote programs that address the issues. Questions remain about how independent this research will truly be, as self-regulation presents an opportunity for non-action, and how it will be used. Many sportsbooks have developed and integrated “responsible gaming” tools but there is evidence that those tools are rarely utilized by gamblers. Data from DraftKings and PSI on online bettors in Massachusetts in 2023 revealed that less than 3% of users utilize any type of responsible gaming tools, which corresponds with national data showing similar numbers. Nower claims less than 1% of bettors ages 21-24, a rapidly rising betting population, uses responsible gambling tools available on sites. States are also seemingly lagging behind when it comes to setting the tone for responsible gambling. A report released by the NCPG on state adherence to the Internet Responsible Gaming Standards found that, on average, only 32 out of 82 player-protection measures were fulfilled through state law and regulation across the United States. The IRGS is a comprehensive set of standards and guidelines for states to follow to promote safe gambling practices and protection for users from sportsbooks. The data indicates that states could be passing more laws to protect users from sportsbooks. Right now, the United States federal government does not recognize, fund or support anything to research, prevent or treat problem gambling. The NCPG estimates that around 9 million Americans suffer from gambling addiction and the “annual social cost” is about $14 billion. “The trends I’m seeing in the U.S. market are utilizing machine learning and AI solely for customer acquisition and retention, and I think that’s really caused the political climate to percolate to the surface,” Schawohl said. U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat from New York, recently initiated a comprehensive bill called the SAFE Bet Act that would set federal sports gambling standards for advertising, the use of AI and financial efficacy. If passed, sportsbooks would not be able to advertise during games or use “bonus” bets and “no sweat” bets as a way to engage users. It would also ban the use of AI to track behavior, provide microbets or individualize promotions. Another pending bill called the GRIT Act, proposed by Democratic U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas of Oregon and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, would set aside 50% of the federal excise tax that comes from all sports gambling activity to spend toward problem-gambling research. This would be the first time the federal government would create a source of funding to research and treat issues related to gambling. But just like Tonko’s bill, the GRIT Act may not pass and is publicly opposed by the American Gaming Association. Sports betting regulation is also murky since states make money from sportsbook operations. Last year, states made a combined $2.5 billion from sports gambling tax revenue, which is an increase from $1.8 billion the previous year. In 2023, Arizona brought in around $34 million in sports gambling tax revenue, which is up from $28.5 million in 2022. This tax revenue is generally allocated to a state’s general fund that helps operate health services, human services, education, law enforcement and public safety, and other major day-to-day governmental operations. If the money from sports gambling does not go into the general fund, it can be used for specific purposes like problem gambling services and resources. Legalization of sports betting theoretically minimizes the harm done by off-market sportsbooks, allowing the government to control, or at least benefit from, the flow of money – which continues to grow each year. Fong believes the government would rather have a person lose money to “an above board gambling operator,” where it can at least recoup money through taxes that benefit the state, rather than allow the money to go straight to unlawful sportsbooks. Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. 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Celebrating the Holiday Season in Space
Iowa followed its lowest-scoring game of the season with a 110-point eruption the next time out. The Hawkeyes will be one week removed from that scorching effort when they host Northwestern in Tuesday's Big Ten opener in Iowa City, but rust won't be the only roadblock for a potential repeat showing. Iowa (6-1) also is bracing for stiffer competition in conference play while navigating an injury to Seydou Traore. The reserve forward suffered a sprained ankle midway through the first half of a 110-77 home rout of South Carolina Upstate on Nov. 26. Also missing frontcourt contributors Even Brauns and Cooper Koch, the Hawkeyes still flexed their resilience and depth. Brock Harding notched a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds and Owen Freeman netted 17 points as five Iowa players scored in double figures. "Coming off a loss, going into Thanksgiving break here, we've got a couple days off coming, it'd be easy to kinda (think), ‘All right, let's relax for this one, guys sit out,'" Harding said. "But I think we really locked in." Northwestern (6-2) overcame 40.8 percent shooting to defeat UNLV 66-61 in the third-place game of the Arizona Tip-Off on Friday in Tempe, Ariz. Brooks Barnhizer, a preseason All-Big Ten pick who was sidelined by a foot injury during the Wildcats' first four games, had team highs of 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. He has scored at least 20 points in three of four games. Northwestern limited UNLV to a 42.1 percent effort from the floor. Matthew Nicholson propelled the defense with two of the Wildcats' seven steals to go with two blocks. "We're a defensive-minded team and, you know, our identity is just getting stops," Barnhizer said. "Everything else will take care of itself. So, the older guys were trying to come out here and do that tonight and I think we did a pretty good job of it." Strong ‘D' helped Northwestern's ball movement, too, as the Wildcats assisted on 15 of 20 made field goals. Northwestern went 8-for-18 (44.4 percent) from long range to improve to 3-0 this season when connecting on 40 percent of its 3-point shots or better. --Field Level Media
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