
Stoke City player Matthew Etherington, who says their addiction to gambling made him socially withdrawn.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