Gambling in the USA
PLAYOFF RACES, COVID, AND WINTER WEATHER WILL ALL FACTOR IN NFL’S WEEK 17 ODDS, ACCORDING TO THELINES.COM

The penultimate week in the NFL season will offer some oddities, including four of the widest point spreads of the season. Late-season blowouts are to be expected as struggling teams finish out their years with little to play for, but pandemic concerns are throwing a wrench at oddsmakers, too, according to TheLines.com, which tracks odds in the U.S. regulated sports betting market.
As of Monday morning, the New England Patriots (-15.5), San Francisco 49ers (-15), Buffalo Bills (-14) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-13.5) all are significant double-digit favorites over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, and New York Jets, respectively, according to a consensus of that nation’s largest legal online sportsbooks — including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, and PointsBet. All four games feature matchups of postseason contenders against teams with little at stake, a common theme in the final weeks of every regular season.
But oddsmakers are also factoring the potential havoc that Covid could have on some team’s rosters, especially when key players are involved. That will keep scoring expectations relatively low, with 13 games with a projected point total of 46 or less. In fact, the matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys features an over/under of 50 points, which is just the second time in three weeks that a game has reached that threshold. By contrast, the first week of the NFL season featured five games with point totals of 50 points or more.
“Bettors need to be vigilant in the last few weeks of the season,” said Brett Collson, lead analyst for TheLines.com. “Whether it is struggling teams playing out the string, Covid continuing to affect rosters, or inclement weather that can hold down scoring, oddsmakers are factoring in a lot of moving parts.”
The consensus point spreads for Week 17 games, as of Monday, Dec. 27:
- Atlanta Falcons at Buffalo Bills (-14); over/under 44.5
- New York Giants at Chicago Bears (-6); over/under 38.5
- Kansas City Chiefs (-4.5) at Cincinnati Bengals; over/under 49
- Miami Dolphins (-3.5) at Tennessee Titans; over/under 41
- Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts (-7.5); over/under 45.5
- Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots (-15.5); over/under 42
- Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints (-7); over/under 38
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-13.5) at New York Jets; over/under 45.5
- Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5) at Washington Football Team; over/under 45
- Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers (-6); over/under 45.5
- Houston Texans at San Francisco 49ers (-15); over/under 45
- Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys (-5); over/under 50
- Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks (-7.5); over/under 42.5
- Los Angeles Rams (-3) at Baltimore Ravens; over/under 46
- Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-7); over/under 48
- Cleveland Browns (-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers; over/under 41
To access updated lines and a betting guide for every NFL team, visit www.thelines.com/betting/nfl. To access Week 17 odds, visit www.thelines.com/nfl-week-17-odds-2021/.
Gambling in the USA
Major Casino Operators Ready to Invest if Georgia Lifts Casino Ban

As discussions about legalizing gambling in Georgia gain momentum, major casino operators like Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming are poised to lead the charge if the state changes its restrictive laws.
During a recent Georgia House study committee meeting, Christopher Gordon, president of Wynn Resorts’ development arm, expressed keen interest in building a multibillion-dollar casino should legal barriers be removed. Similarly, Boyd Gaming’s government affairs vice president Ryan Soultz highlighted Georgia’s market attractiveness.
Wynn’s model would be similar to its $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor, suggesting that a new Georgia casino could employ up to 4000 workers and contribute substantial gaming tax revenue.
Although specific locations have not been chosen, both companies have indicated they would need constitutional changes to move forward. Their willingness to invest heavily in the Peach State demonstrates a strong belief in the untapped potential of the state’s gambling market.
Such developments offer a compelling argument for lawmakers to consider gambling expansion, marking a shift toward economic incentives as a primary motivator for legislative change.
Should Georgia proceed with legalizing casino gambling, the legislative language will be crucial in shaping the industry’s landscape. Key proposals may include requiring casino companies to invest at least $1.2 billion per resort and generate a minimum number of jobs, often set at around 10,000 per license. This ensures that any developments bring tangible benefits to the local economy.
Additional legislative demands include rigorous background checks for key personnel, proven industry experience, and adherence to strict technical and financial standards. Only companies with substantial capital and robust infrastructure, like Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming, are likely to meet these stringent requirements.
Gambling in the USA
Plaza Hotel & Casino to welcome the U.S. National Champions Summerlin South All Stars to be TNT Ignitors for Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks, next Friday, Sept. 5

The Plaza Hotel & Casino will welcome the U.S. National champions, the Summerlin South All Star team to be the special guest TNT Ignitors of the property’s Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks show, next Friday, Sept. 5 at 9:15 p.m., taking place on the Plaza’s rooftop pool deck.
“Getting to ignite the Plaza’s amazing fireworks show is a great honor for the team,” said Chris Mallory, president of Summerlin South. “And we thank the Plaza and Jonathan for the warm welcome and fun celebration planned for the team, including a pizza party for them and their families.”
“All of Las Vegas is proud of the accomplishments that the Summerlin South team made in the All Star postseason,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “We look forward to hosting the team and their families, and we hope all of their fans come out to celebrate with them and enjoy the fireworks show.”
The summer fireworks shows are staged from the top of the Plaza’s South Tower every Friday at 9:15 p.m. from May through September.
The public can watch the Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks Show for free at the rooftop pool, at Carousel Bar under the Plaza’s iconic dome, and from in front of the Plaza on Main Street, which will be closed to vehicular traffic during the show for viewing the fireworks from Carson Avenue to Ogden Avenue.
The Plaza’s fireworks will be dependent on weather conditions and are subject to change or cancellation. Updates will be available on the Plaza’s social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Gambling in the USA
New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Revenue Hits $24.8M in July

New Hampshire charitable gaming revenue has reached $24.8 million last month, up from the previous year’s figure of $14.5 million, boosted by the opening of new casinos.
The latest figures come from the New Hampshire Lottery and Gaming Commission, which shows that of the 15 casinos, only four saw losses, while four others were not in operation last July.
The Nash Casino, which opened in March, generated the highest revenue of all the casinos – $5.8 million.
The highest year-over-year increase was seen by the Revo Casino Lebanon, which opened in a new location in December, and saw revenue rise by 321% from $387,836 to over $1.6 million.
Other notable rises were seen from the Lakes Region Casino, which generated an increase of 24% year-over-year and The Brook, which saw a 17% rise from $4.7 million to $5.5 million.
The biggest declines came from The Lucky Moose Casino, where profits dropped by 79% from $666,454 to $139,748, and the Gate City Casino, which saw profits fall by 16% from $2.7 million to $2.3 million.
Historic horse racing revenue rose by 85% year-over-year, from $10.6 million to $19.7 million, while games of chance revenue increased by 53% from $3.3 million to $5.1 million.
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