Horse Racing Forums and Betting Sports
The World Wide Web provides people with instant messaging, chat rooms, forums and other means of communication in order to help them express their thoughts and opinions online. Through online forums, people can share their opinions and their various thoughts on subjects and hobbies such as horse racing. In fact, many people today visit horse racing forums because of various reasons.
a) Expression, many people go to horse racing forums in order to express their various emotions regarding horse racing. In a horse racing forum, a person can share his hopes of winning, the sweet feeling of success and the bitter of defeat. Yes, a horse racing forum can help people share what they feel. In the end, isn’t that what communication is all about?
Why is it so important that people go to horse racing forums in order to express themselves? For one thing, the conventions of society today prevent us from actually expressing our selves the way that we want to. In the past, a person could about the unfairness of gambling in public and have people listen to him. Nowadays, the best thing you can hope for is that your friends won’t find you crazy. The worst thing involves prison and some very undesirable cellmates.
b) Discussion, of course. Expression can refer exclusively to you having other people listen to your ideas. However, horse racing forums also let people discuss certain subjects. This means that people are able to react to what other people have to say. You can read about opinions of others and share your thoughts on those. You will be able to interact with other people who share the same passion as you do.
This is another reason why horse racing forums are important. Sure, you know that you are not alone with your interest in horse racing.
Other people love the sport as much as you do. However, it is often the case that the people who you can talk to daily and with whom you regularly interact do not share the same passion that you do. This can frustrating. By going to a horse racing forum, you should be able to find someone with the same level of commitment that you have for horse racing.
c) Information, many people who go to online forums do so in order to gather, share, or exchange information. When you think about it, all the talking done in forums is actually free of information. To be more specific, however, some people go to horse racing forums in order to learn how to improve in the sport. They either get tips in betting, training, or riding. This can be very important for people who do not have an inside scoop on the race track.
Horse racing forums can help people in a lot of ways. People who go to horse racing forums do so in order to get an insight on minds of other people. Collectively, we may know a lot. Individually however, we each have a small fraction of the knowledge available.
Horse Racing Forums and Betting Sports
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Betting Sports Sparked by Quality Online Betting Products
Betting Sports Sparked by Quality Online Betting Products
A small celebrity presence at this year’s online betting conference excited many attendees. Actors Kori Damann and Villacorta Ammann both came during the afternoon session, mostly out of personal curiosity. “I love this stuff,” said Villacorta Ammann, “and eventually, I want to start my own online betting business that will parallel my work in Hollywood.” “Wow!!!” said Stiteler Riecke, a first time conference goer, “I’m so thankful that many online betting industry heavyweights took time out to come and talk to us. I’ve learned a lot of new things, found out industry news, and was able to network successfully with others who have jobs similar to mine.” Scherbarth Mena, who spoke on the online betting industry news panel, also has a prominent blog online. Scherbarth Mena offered some fresh points of view from recent blog entries and website submissions. This was a refreshing review of the online betting market, and was very informative. Gladis Rogue, a well known online betting marketer and former CEO of the Blossom Jenison INC firm, had a great panel discussion on the legalities of online betting trade abroad. Blossom Jenison spoke briefly on current events, and then opened up the floor for Q & A from the audience.
“I’m really impressed by the presentation Fjeseth Viereck did about up-and-coming online betting businesses. The reasoning was solid, plenty of detail was provided, and some of the conclusions were very provocative,” raved Wetzstein Bonello, VP of Marketing for the Brigid Bergara Corporate body. Some area online betting commercial advertising firms also benefitted from conference attendance. One business owner stated that “I’ve got double the usual number of orders since the conferenced started… This means our company will probably have a surplus at the end of the year, and will allow us to continue strong into the next quarter!” The online betting conference also boasted an outstanding product offering, with specialty vendors and sales personel from all major companies. Kitzmiller Lebowitz supervised this segment of the conference, and stated “People are buying this online betting stuff like hotcakes…I’m thrilled about the success of these products!” Some new online betting product lines were also announced today, including the much anticipated release from Englehart Dienhart.com, a new leader in the industry. Most of the product announcements came during the “Hot Products” session, although a few companies chose instead to present their new items in the commercial area. Corporate attendees were advised to bring at least 1,000 online betting products with them to resell, and despite this quota, many companies sold out.
Betting Sports Sparked by Quality Online Betting Products
A small celebrity presence at this year’s online betting conference excited many attendees. Actors Kori Damann and Villacorta Ammann both came during the afternoon session, mostly out of personal curiosity. “I love this stuff,” said Villacorta Ammann, “and eventually, I want to start my own online betting business that will parallel my work in Hollywood.” “Wow!!!” said Stiteler Riecke, a first time conference goer, “I’m so thankful that many online betting industry heavyweights took time out to come and talk to us. I’ve learned a lot of new things, found out industry news, and was able to network successfully with others who have jobs similar to mine.” Scherbarth Mena, who spoke on the online betting industry news panel, also has a prominent blog online. Scherbarth Mena offered some fresh points of view from recent blog entries and website submissions. This was a refreshing review of the online betting market, and was very informative. Gladis Rogue, a well known online betting marketer and former CEO of the Blossom Jenison INC firm, had a great panel discussion on the legalities of online betting trade abroad. Blossom Jenison spoke briefly on current events, and then opened up the floor for Q & A from the audience.
“I’m really impressed by the presentation Fjeseth Viereck did about up-and-coming online betting businesses. The reasoning was solid, plenty of detail was provided, and some of the conclusions were very provocative,” raved Wetzstein Bonello, VP of Marketing for the Brigid Bergara Corporate body. Some area online betting commercial advertising firms also benefitted from conference attendance. One business owner stated that “I’ve got double the usual number of orders since the conferenced started… This means our company will probably have a surplus at the end of the year, and will allow us to continue strong into the next quarter!” The online betting conference also boasted an outstanding product offering, with specialty vendors and sales personel from all major companies. Kitzmiller Lebowitz supervised this segment of the conference, and stated “People are buying this online betting stuff like hotcakes…I’m thrilled about the success of these products!” Some new online betting product lines were also announced today, including the much anticipated release from Englehart Dienhart.com, a new leader in the industry. Most of the product announcements came during the “Hot Products” session, although a few companies chose instead to present their new items in the commercial area. Corporate attendees were advised to bring at least 1,000 online betting products with them to resell, and despite this quota, many companies sold out.
Betting Sports Sparked by Quality Online Betting Products
Basketball betting: Basketball Betting Online Generates Betting Sports Tips
Basketball betting: Basketball Betting Online Generates Betting Sports Tips
By Sebastien Veilleux
Do you want to know a little secret? NBA basketball betting can make you a lot of money. NBA basketball is a game that has helped turn sports betting losers into happy sports bettors with larger bankrolls. It’s really no secret to winning sports bettors–NBA basketball is the easiest game to make money at. The game itself gives sports bettors plenty of opportunity and the ability to win right up until the end. Unlike Football, Baseball and Hockey, NBA basketball does not have limited scoring. In those other games you might see a handful–or less–of scoring executions per game. If your side gets behind too much, it’s over no matter how much time is left. However, in NBA basketball, your team is usually in the game until the end.
Think about it for a moment. If you were to bet a -8 point favorite in football and the game was tied with 6 minutes left and the other team had the ball, would you have a realistic shot at winning? The answer is probably not. However, let’s apply the same situation to an NBA basketball game and chop 4 minutes off the clock–so there’s 2 minutes left. Would you have a realistic shot at covering the 8 points? You bet! Teams must shoot the ball within 24 seconds and each made basket is worth 2 or 3 points. You would only need 3-4 baskets to make the 8 points. Granted, the other team can score too, but in the NBA, two minutes at the end of a game is an eternity when the teams are close.
Let’s look at another scenario. Imagine that it’s half time in Basketball and Football, it’s the 5th inning in Baseball and it’s the 2nd period in hockey. Which of these four following scenarios have the best outcome?
1. The team you bet on in Baseball is down by 6 runs. 2. The team you bet on in Hockey is down by 3 goals. 3. The team you bet on in Football is down by 21 points. 4. The team you bet on in NBA Basketball is down by 22 points.
The answer, of course, is number four. Scores are hard to come by in the first three options. While comebacks happen sometimes, in the NBA, teams always go on runs. Each season is filled with games where a team was down 10,15, even 20 points and came back to win. There are many other games where the underdog was down by a lot and game back to lose by just a few points. With the NBA, you are almost always in the action right up to the end of the game. Can you say that about any other sport?
Finally, let’s talk about NBA basketball totals. You might find that betting the total points in a game (under or over) is your thing and you would not be alone. There is a theory out there that those who can get a feel for totals betting are among the most successful sports bettors alive. You could debate that theory, but it does point out a very important idea.
Totals betting in NBA basketball is full of winning opportunity and the sports books don’t set them as well as the spread. Will this translate into more money in your pocket? That’s for you to decide.
If you are not on fire right now for some NBA basketball action, check your pulse. NBA basketball presents one of the greatest opportunities open to sports bettors. Don’t miss out of a great thing. Sports bettors and handicappers look forward to the NBA basketball season every year and now you know why.
Basketball betting: Basketball Betting Online Generates Betting Sports Tips
By Sebastien Veilleux
Do you want to know a little secret? NBA basketball betting can make you a lot of money. NBA basketball is a game that has helped turn sports betting losers into happy sports bettors with larger bankrolls. It’s really no secret to winning sports bettors–NBA basketball is the easiest game to make money at. The game itself gives sports bettors plenty of opportunity and the ability to win right up until the end. Unlike Football, Baseball and Hockey, NBA basketball does not have limited scoring. In those other games you might see a handful–or less–of scoring executions per game. If your side gets behind too much, it’s over no matter how much time is left. However, in NBA basketball, your team is usually in the game until the end.
Think about it for a moment. If you were to bet a -8 point favorite in football and the game was tied with 6 minutes left and the other team had the ball, would you have a realistic shot at winning? The answer is probably not. However, let’s apply the same situation to an NBA basketball game and chop 4 minutes off the clock–so there’s 2 minutes left. Would you have a realistic shot at covering the 8 points? You bet! Teams must shoot the ball within 24 seconds and each made basket is worth 2 or 3 points. You would only need 3-4 baskets to make the 8 points. Granted, the other team can score too, but in the NBA, two minutes at the end of a game is an eternity when the teams are close.
Let’s look at another scenario. Imagine that it’s half time in Basketball and Football, it’s the 5th inning in Baseball and it’s the 2nd period in hockey. Which of these four following scenarios have the best outcome?
1. The team you bet on in Baseball is down by 6 runs. 2. The team you bet on in Hockey is down by 3 goals. 3. The team you bet on in Football is down by 21 points. 4. The team you bet on in NBA Basketball is down by 22 points.
The answer, of course, is number four. Scores are hard to come by in the first three options. While comebacks happen sometimes, in the NBA, teams always go on runs. Each season is filled with games where a team was down 10,15, even 20 points and came back to win. There are many other games where the underdog was down by a lot and game back to lose by just a few points. With the NBA, you are almost always in the action right up to the end of the game. Can you say that about any other sport?
Finally, let’s talk about NBA basketball totals. You might find that betting the total points in a game (under or over) is your thing and you would not be alone. There is a theory out there that those who can get a feel for totals betting are among the most successful sports bettors alive. You could debate that theory, but it does point out a very important idea.
Totals betting in NBA basketball is full of winning opportunity and the sports books don’t set them as well as the spread. Will this translate into more money in your pocket? That’s for you to decide.
If you are not on fire right now for some NBA basketball action, check your pulse. NBA basketball presents one of the greatest opportunities open to sports bettors. Don’t miss out of a great thing. Sports bettors and handicappers look forward to the NBA basketball season every year and now you know why.
Basketball betting: Basketball Betting Online Generates Betting Sports Tips
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Legalized Sports Betting Would Mean $30.6 Billion for U.S. Economy
Legalized Sports Betting Would Mean $30.6 Billion for U.S. Economy
Submitted by C. Costigan
There is much talk this week about legalizing online gambling and in particular sports betting, which would account for a $30.6 billion figure as part of a PriceWaterHouseCoopers 2007 industry forecast. Another 21.4 billion in revenue would be generated from legalized online poker and Internet casino gambling, respectively.
"This analysis further illustrates that the U.S. is missing the opportunity to collect billions of dollars in federal revenues," said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesman for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. "We are optimistic that the Obama Administration and Congress will pay closer attention to this issue as they seek to find new revenues that can be generated without raising taxes for critical federal, state and local government programs. Regulation is also needed to ensure there are safeguards to protect against compulsive and underage gambling, money laundering, fraud and identity theft."
A handful of states are looking to legalize online sports betting including Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Florida while others are seeking to have online poker legalized including California and quite possibly Texas now. Gambling911.com was unaware of any states looking to legalize both activities together.
California, facing an economic crisis, will be holding a poker summit on May 19 and 20. A bill related to legalized online poker in California was anticipated to be introduced in the coming weeks.
That state alone is estimated to have 1.5 million poker players.
Legalized Sports Betting Would Mean $30.6 Billion for U.S. Economy
Submitted by C. Costigan
There is much talk this week about legalizing online gambling and in particular sports betting, which would account for a $30.6 billion figure as part of a PriceWaterHouseCoopers 2007 industry forecast. Another 21.4 billion in revenue would be generated from legalized online poker and Internet casino gambling, respectively.
"This analysis further illustrates that the U.S. is missing the opportunity to collect billions of dollars in federal revenues," said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesman for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative. "We are optimistic that the Obama Administration and Congress will pay closer attention to this issue as they seek to find new revenues that can be generated without raising taxes for critical federal, state and local government programs. Regulation is also needed to ensure there are safeguards to protect against compulsive and underage gambling, money laundering, fraud and identity theft."
A handful of states are looking to legalize online sports betting including Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Florida while others are seeking to have online poker legalized including California and quite possibly Texas now. Gambling911.com was unaware of any states looking to legalize both activities together.
California, facing an economic crisis, will be holding a poker summit on May 19 and 20. A bill related to legalized online poker in California was anticipated to be introduced in the coming weeks.
That state alone is estimated to have 1.5 million poker players.
Legalized Sports Betting Would Mean $30.6 Billion for U.S. Economy
Betting Sports: Ace in the “Hole” has a Gambling Tradition
Betting Sports: Ace in the “Hole” has a Gambling Tradition
By Jake Nichols
Jackson Hole, Wyoming.-It’s a scene synonymous with the Old West: Swinging doors leading to a smoke-filled saloon decked with card tables and roulette wheels. Gambling, at least in the wild west myth, goes good with whiskey, whores and Wyoming.
Jackson Hole has a rich gambling tradition – mostly illegal. Tall tales of covert casinos and basement blackjack lasting through the 1970s are largely true. It seems, perhaps, the moral opposition, with its warning of societal decay have often trumped local interests in 50 years of gambling debate. But with a recession looming and government budgets busting, serious talk of legalizing forms of gambling is making its way through legislation.
Last year, states raked in $20 billion in revenue from gambling operations.
If Wyoming’s energy industry continues to sag, could the Cowboy State once again roll the dice? If so, how long before Teton Village sports a brand new casino, or the roulette wheel spins again at the Silver Dollar Bar?
Jackson’s Hole gambles
Through the latter half of the 1800s, Wyoming was a mere territory. Railroad ruffians, miners and miscreants packed Cheyenne bars and back alleys with games of chance: poker, keno, faro, ‘lambskinnet,’ roulette and dice. Bets were placed on anything from boxing matches and dog fights to foot races and horse races.
“Gambling is an inherent attribute of the human heart. Show me the man who will not gamble in some way, and I will show you an imbecile,” Crook County Rep. Tom Hooper said in 1888.
So infectious was the disease, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association adopted a resolution in 1885, outlawing gambling during roundups so ranchers wouldn’t be tempted to “lose the herd on the flip of a hole card.”
Eventually, state legislators acquiesced to the growing number of churches and women in the new ‘civilized’ West with the McGill Act, officially outlawed gambling in Wyoming in 1901.
During the Great Depression, a number of gambling proposals were brought before state legislatures, but Wyoming failed to go all in.
“In 1935, Wyoming almost became a Nevada,” said Phil Roberts, a professor and member of the University of Wyoming’s History Department. “A bill legalizing full casino gambling passed both houses on the last day of the legislative session, only to be vetoed by Gov. Leslie Miller.”
The way it was
Historian Jack Huyler, in his book “And That’s the Way It Was in Jackson’s Hole,” remembers witnessing a huge money bet once in the late 1930s. A nursing convention was in town. One of the nurses walked into the Log Cabin Saloon and straight up to the roulette wheel. She plunked $1,000 down on ‘red’ without a word to anyone. “We all held our breath,” Huyler said. The marble fell in ‘red’ and she walked out with the winnings, never to be seen by locals again.
In 1933, a disgruntled gamer named Wilbur Woodrow sued Charles and Jesse Wort and Otto Johns for running a speakeasy, retail liquor business and gambling house out of the Wort Livery Stable in Jackson during Prohibition. Woodrow was allegedly pistol-whipped by the defendants for his meddling.
The Wort Hotel and Log Cabin Saloon led the way with illegal gambling through the 1940s and 1950s. In full flaunt of the law, slot machines could be found the lobby of The Wort, with poker blackjack, roulette, and craps in the bar/casino. Even Jackson mayor Harry Clissold could often be found at the card tables.
Local historian Charles Craighead wrote in his historical book, “Meet Me at The Wort,” that gambling in the early days was just for fun:
“Gambling was a pastime, a form of entertainment to help friends pass the long, severe winters. A poker game could last all night with only a few dollars changing hands, and by spring most IOUs were either torn up or worked off,” Craighead wrote.
Things began to change in the mid-1950s when professional dealers and other associates of the Las Vegas gaming industry began moving into the Jackson Hole market. Complaints of marked decks and rigged machines were common but no one seemed to mind as long as it was the tourists getting ripped off. And everyone was in on it.
Teton County Attorney Wilford Neilson frequently tipped off bar manager Steve Bartek (The Wort) to any impending raids planned by state officials. Then-Sheriff Olin Emery would often help load slot machines into waiting trucks.
The winning ticket
The recent Wyoming House Bill 170 was not the first attempt at joining the Powerball lottery. A similar bill failed in 2007, though the nonpartisan Legislative Service Office estimated that a lottery in Wyoming could generate $12 million in annual revenue.
Lotteries, historically, have commonly been viewed as an acceptable way to raise money for building projects without raising taxes. The 13 original colonies used lotteries to raise revenue and to establish colleges, churches, libraries and hospitals. But lotteries had largely turned into swindles by the 1800s.
“Lottery King” James Pattee set up fraudulent lotteries in at least four states before moving to Laramie and establishing the nationwide Wyoming Lottery in 1875. He made $7 million in the first year alone by advertising in the New York Herald. He skedaddled to Canada two years later, never paying out more than 50 cents for a $100,000 grand prize drawing. As a consequence, Wyoming outlawed lotteries in 1879, as did most states by 1900.
The era of the modern state lottery began in 1964 in New Hampshire. New York and New Jersey soon followed with their own state lotteries. By 1998, every continental state without a lottery bordered at least one state with one, making out-of-state lottery gambling a hot ticket.
Gambling craps out
By 1951, the slots were gone at The Wort, but open gambling remained and Jackson’s notoriety became too big to ignore. After Fortune magazine listed Jackson as the second toughest town in the U.S., Gov. Milward Simpson had had enough.
In 1955, pressure from Cheyenne drove the gaming tables underground (Patrons had to supply a password for the basement casino dubbed the “Snakepit”). And Simpson became further incensed when a photograph in Salt Lake City’s Deseret News revealed a local man dealing blackjack at the Log Cabin Saloon.
Gov. Simpson instructed Neilson to impeach Sheriff Emery. Neilson would not. Simpson sent the state Attorney General to Jackson. He threatened the National Guard would move in next and clean out the town. Emery finally resigned and four liquor licenses were suspended.
But it didn’t end there. The Wort continued to offer gambling on the QT, moving games around covertly from the basement to various hotel rooms in town and as far away as the Flat Creek Ranch. When the brothers John and Jess Wort sold the hotel in 1960, the new owner attempted to revive the gambling big time, but by 1961, gambling in Jackson was all but played out.
Despite changing attitudes since, Wyoming lawmakers and voters have continually defeated attempts loosen the reins on gambling, including a 1994 ballot initiative that would have allowed full-fledged casinos.
The losing ticket
One of Wyoming HB 170s main obstacles was Eric Spector, president and CEO of Wyoming Downs, the state’s only horseracing facility.
In an apparent attempt to placate Spector, HB 170 included the installation of 1,000 lottery gaming machines at his facility in Uinta County, effectively creating one more of the fastest-growing gambling facilities in the country – a ‘racino.’ That move was a deal breaker for Gov. Dave Freudenthal.
“I have said in the past that I would support a ‘clean’ lottery bill that allowed the state to join multi-state lotteries like Powerball,” Freudenthal told Planet JH. “My concern about this bill is that it really isn’t a lottery bill, it’s a gambling bill.”
Rep. Keith Gingery, R-Jackson, said he also liked the idea of the bill as it pertained to joining a multi-state lottery, but didn’t care much for the fact that the proceeds of the bill would have gone to the Hathaway Scholarship Program. He felt the program would be somewhat tainted if its budget relied on how many people played the lottery.
A Casper Star-Tribune poll in 2007, meanwhile, showed more than half of Wyoming voters support a lottery. Retailers admitted to losing customers who crossed state lines in order to buy lottery tickets. The bill was expected to generate $11 million a year for the Hathaway Scholarship fund.
HB 170 died Feb. 16 on a 35-25 vote.
“I don’t see Wyoming moving anytime in the future toward legalized gambling,” Gingery told Planet JH.
Jackson Holed ‘em
Jackson’s gambling routes can still be seen today. The recent Cutter Races feature “Calcutta” wagering along with trackside dollar bets. Calcutta betting is a type of auction-pool wagering covered in the 6-7-101 section of the Wyoming Statutes labeled “Gambling.” Bettors ‘purchase’ a team or contestant of an amateur event like horse/dog racing, rodeo, or golf. Calculttas are considered legal in Wyoming so long as certain stipulations are met, most notably the payout of at least 10 percent of the pot to “a bona fide charitable or benevolent purpose.”
This weekend’s 113th annual 49er Ball will include games of chance. Blackjack and poker will be available and legal because no money is involved. Chips can be cashed in for prizes, thereby eliminating any real profits for the “house.” Common door prizes and raffle prizes are also considered legal in the state of Wyoming.
Bingo is regulated at the state level. Numerous criteria must be met to make the event legal. The popular “Bingo Night” at the Elk’s Lodge is also licensed by the Town of Jackson.
The recent proliferation in and around town of card play, including ‘poker night,’ stems from both the popularity of poker ‘as scene on TV’ and a relaxation of certain state gaming and liquor laws in the past few years.
“It used to be that an establishment could not directly or indirectly profit in any way from a card game or other form of gambling,” said Tom Montoya, chief of enforcement at the Wyoming Liquor Division. “So, just selling these guys a beer or burger was in violation of the law.”
Today, bars that hold poker tournaments like Town Square Tavern, Camp Creek, and Nora’s are legit, as long as the house does not take a cut of the pot or charge a cover or entry fee. All gaming must take place in a room that is not the dispensing room and events like “Texas Hold ‘em Night” cannot be advertised.
“Social gaming between buddies or members of a club is okay,” Montoya said. “A lot of these guys have probably stretched it a little, but, technically, the guys at the table are required to know each other.”
Where else can you lose your wad?
Wyoming has one horserace track – Wyoming Downs, located outside of Evanston. Off-track betting parlors in Cheyenne, Evansville, Rock Springs, Rawlins offer racing simulcasts and legal betting on races. Wyoming Downs is regulated by the Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission, which leagalized gambling on horse and dog races in 1969.
Wyoming is also home to three full-scale casinos. The Wind River Casino is owned and operated by the Northern Arapaho Tribe. It is the largest and newest casino in the state – for now. Located just south of Riverton, the casino is a mile south of the tribe’s former site, 789 Bingo, which continues to operate as a smaller smoke shop and casino.
On Sept. 1, an unidentified Worland-area gambler at Wind River Casino hit a jackpot of nearly $390,000, one of the casino’s biggest recorded jackpots, according to staff. Wind River Casino policy prohibits identifying jackpot winners.
The Shoshone Rose, owned and operated by the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, is seven miles north of Lander on the Wind River Reservation. The 7,000 square foot Vegas-styled casino opened in September 2007. The Eastern Shoshone have also purchased 300 acres eight miles north of Riverton along the highway. Tribal leaders hope to build the biggest complex yet, complete with a hotel, restaurant and entertainment venue.
Casinos on reservation land became legal in 1988 when Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in response to court cases in Florida and California. The act allowed federally recognized American tribes to own and operate casinos on federal land. However, revenue generated from reservation casinos is not taxable by the State of Wyoming. Casino spokespeople say their establishments provide for the economic welfare of tribal members and the local economy, through jobs and peripheral spending. The state unsuccessfully sued to stop the Northern Arapahoe’s first casino in 2000.
Betting Sports: Ace in the “Hole” has a Gambling Tradition
By Jake Nichols
Jackson Hole, Wyoming.-It’s a scene synonymous with the Old West: Swinging doors leading to a smoke-filled saloon decked with card tables and roulette wheels. Gambling, at least in the wild west myth, goes good with whiskey, whores and Wyoming.
Jackson Hole has a rich gambling tradition – mostly illegal. Tall tales of covert casinos and basement blackjack lasting through the 1970s are largely true. It seems, perhaps, the moral opposition, with its warning of societal decay have often trumped local interests in 50 years of gambling debate. But with a recession looming and government budgets busting, serious talk of legalizing forms of gambling is making its way through legislation.
Last year, states raked in $20 billion in revenue from gambling operations.
If Wyoming’s energy industry continues to sag, could the Cowboy State once again roll the dice? If so, how long before Teton Village sports a brand new casino, or the roulette wheel spins again at the Silver Dollar Bar?
Jackson’s Hole gambles
Through the latter half of the 1800s, Wyoming was a mere territory. Railroad ruffians, miners and miscreants packed Cheyenne bars and back alleys with games of chance: poker, keno, faro, ‘lambskinnet,’ roulette and dice. Bets were placed on anything from boxing matches and dog fights to foot races and horse races.
“Gambling is an inherent attribute of the human heart. Show me the man who will not gamble in some way, and I will show you an imbecile,” Crook County Rep. Tom Hooper said in 1888.
So infectious was the disease, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association adopted a resolution in 1885, outlawing gambling during roundups so ranchers wouldn’t be tempted to “lose the herd on the flip of a hole card.”
Eventually, state legislators acquiesced to the growing number of churches and women in the new ‘civilized’ West with the McGill Act, officially outlawed gambling in Wyoming in 1901.
During the Great Depression, a number of gambling proposals were brought before state legislatures, but Wyoming failed to go all in.
“In 1935, Wyoming almost became a Nevada,” said Phil Roberts, a professor and member of the University of Wyoming’s History Department. “A bill legalizing full casino gambling passed both houses on the last day of the legislative session, only to be vetoed by Gov. Leslie Miller.”
The way it was
Historian Jack Huyler, in his book “And That’s the Way It Was in Jackson’s Hole,” remembers witnessing a huge money bet once in the late 1930s. A nursing convention was in town. One of the nurses walked into the Log Cabin Saloon and straight up to the roulette wheel. She plunked $1,000 down on ‘red’ without a word to anyone. “We all held our breath,” Huyler said. The marble fell in ‘red’ and she walked out with the winnings, never to be seen by locals again.
In 1933, a disgruntled gamer named Wilbur Woodrow sued Charles and Jesse Wort and Otto Johns for running a speakeasy, retail liquor business and gambling house out of the Wort Livery Stable in Jackson during Prohibition. Woodrow was allegedly pistol-whipped by the defendants for his meddling.
The Wort Hotel and Log Cabin Saloon led the way with illegal gambling through the 1940s and 1950s. In full flaunt of the law, slot machines could be found the lobby of The Wort, with poker blackjack, roulette, and craps in the bar/casino. Even Jackson mayor Harry Clissold could often be found at the card tables.
Local historian Charles Craighead wrote in his historical book, “Meet Me at The Wort,” that gambling in the early days was just for fun:
“Gambling was a pastime, a form of entertainment to help friends pass the long, severe winters. A poker game could last all night with only a few dollars changing hands, and by spring most IOUs were either torn up or worked off,” Craighead wrote.
Things began to change in the mid-1950s when professional dealers and other associates of the Las Vegas gaming industry began moving into the Jackson Hole market. Complaints of marked decks and rigged machines were common but no one seemed to mind as long as it was the tourists getting ripped off. And everyone was in on it.
Teton County Attorney Wilford Neilson frequently tipped off bar manager Steve Bartek (The Wort) to any impending raids planned by state officials. Then-Sheriff Olin Emery would often help load slot machines into waiting trucks.
The winning ticket
The recent Wyoming House Bill 170 was not the first attempt at joining the Powerball lottery. A similar bill failed in 2007, though the nonpartisan Legislative Service Office estimated that a lottery in Wyoming could generate $12 million in annual revenue.
Lotteries, historically, have commonly been viewed as an acceptable way to raise money for building projects without raising taxes. The 13 original colonies used lotteries to raise revenue and to establish colleges, churches, libraries and hospitals. But lotteries had largely turned into swindles by the 1800s.
“Lottery King” James Pattee set up fraudulent lotteries in at least four states before moving to Laramie and establishing the nationwide Wyoming Lottery in 1875. He made $7 million in the first year alone by advertising in the New York Herald. He skedaddled to Canada two years later, never paying out more than 50 cents for a $100,000 grand prize drawing. As a consequence, Wyoming outlawed lotteries in 1879, as did most states by 1900.
The era of the modern state lottery began in 1964 in New Hampshire. New York and New Jersey soon followed with their own state lotteries. By 1998, every continental state without a lottery bordered at least one state with one, making out-of-state lottery gambling a hot ticket.
Gambling craps out
By 1951, the slots were gone at The Wort, but open gambling remained and Jackson’s notoriety became too big to ignore. After Fortune magazine listed Jackson as the second toughest town in the U.S., Gov. Milward Simpson had had enough.
In 1955, pressure from Cheyenne drove the gaming tables underground (Patrons had to supply a password for the basement casino dubbed the “Snakepit”). And Simpson became further incensed when a photograph in Salt Lake City’s Deseret News revealed a local man dealing blackjack at the Log Cabin Saloon.
Gov. Simpson instructed Neilson to impeach Sheriff Emery. Neilson would not. Simpson sent the state Attorney General to Jackson. He threatened the National Guard would move in next and clean out the town. Emery finally resigned and four liquor licenses were suspended.
But it didn’t end there. The Wort continued to offer gambling on the QT, moving games around covertly from the basement to various hotel rooms in town and as far away as the Flat Creek Ranch. When the brothers John and Jess Wort sold the hotel in 1960, the new owner attempted to revive the gambling big time, but by 1961, gambling in Jackson was all but played out.
Despite changing attitudes since, Wyoming lawmakers and voters have continually defeated attempts loosen the reins on gambling, including a 1994 ballot initiative that would have allowed full-fledged casinos.
The losing ticket
One of Wyoming HB 170s main obstacles was Eric Spector, president and CEO of Wyoming Downs, the state’s only horseracing facility.
In an apparent attempt to placate Spector, HB 170 included the installation of 1,000 lottery gaming machines at his facility in Uinta County, effectively creating one more of the fastest-growing gambling facilities in the country – a ‘racino.’ That move was a deal breaker for Gov. Dave Freudenthal.
“I have said in the past that I would support a ‘clean’ lottery bill that allowed the state to join multi-state lotteries like Powerball,” Freudenthal told Planet JH. “My concern about this bill is that it really isn’t a lottery bill, it’s a gambling bill.”
Rep. Keith Gingery, R-Jackson, said he also liked the idea of the bill as it pertained to joining a multi-state lottery, but didn’t care much for the fact that the proceeds of the bill would have gone to the Hathaway Scholarship Program. He felt the program would be somewhat tainted if its budget relied on how many people played the lottery.
A Casper Star-Tribune poll in 2007, meanwhile, showed more than half of Wyoming voters support a lottery. Retailers admitted to losing customers who crossed state lines in order to buy lottery tickets. The bill was expected to generate $11 million a year for the Hathaway Scholarship fund.
HB 170 died Feb. 16 on a 35-25 vote.
“I don’t see Wyoming moving anytime in the future toward legalized gambling,” Gingery told Planet JH.
Jackson Holed ‘em
Jackson’s gambling routes can still be seen today. The recent Cutter Races feature “Calcutta” wagering along with trackside dollar bets. Calcutta betting is a type of auction-pool wagering covered in the 6-7-101 section of the Wyoming Statutes labeled “Gambling.” Bettors ‘purchase’ a team or contestant of an amateur event like horse/dog racing, rodeo, or golf. Calculttas are considered legal in Wyoming so long as certain stipulations are met, most notably the payout of at least 10 percent of the pot to “a bona fide charitable or benevolent purpose.”
This weekend’s 113th annual 49er Ball will include games of chance. Blackjack and poker will be available and legal because no money is involved. Chips can be cashed in for prizes, thereby eliminating any real profits for the “house.” Common door prizes and raffle prizes are also considered legal in the state of Wyoming.
Bingo is regulated at the state level. Numerous criteria must be met to make the event legal. The popular “Bingo Night” at the Elk’s Lodge is also licensed by the Town of Jackson.
The recent proliferation in and around town of card play, including ‘poker night,’ stems from both the popularity of poker ‘as scene on TV’ and a relaxation of certain state gaming and liquor laws in the past few years.
“It used to be that an establishment could not directly or indirectly profit in any way from a card game or other form of gambling,” said Tom Montoya, chief of enforcement at the Wyoming Liquor Division. “So, just selling these guys a beer or burger was in violation of the law.”
Today, bars that hold poker tournaments like Town Square Tavern, Camp Creek, and Nora’s are legit, as long as the house does not take a cut of the pot or charge a cover or entry fee. All gaming must take place in a room that is not the dispensing room and events like “Texas Hold ‘em Night” cannot be advertised.
“Social gaming between buddies or members of a club is okay,” Montoya said. “A lot of these guys have probably stretched it a little, but, technically, the guys at the table are required to know each other.”
Where else can you lose your wad?
Wyoming has one horserace track – Wyoming Downs, located outside of Evanston. Off-track betting parlors in Cheyenne, Evansville, Rock Springs, Rawlins offer racing simulcasts and legal betting on races. Wyoming Downs is regulated by the Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission, which leagalized gambling on horse and dog races in 1969.
Wyoming is also home to three full-scale casinos. The Wind River Casino is owned and operated by the Northern Arapaho Tribe. It is the largest and newest casino in the state – for now. Located just south of Riverton, the casino is a mile south of the tribe’s former site, 789 Bingo, which continues to operate as a smaller smoke shop and casino.
On Sept. 1, an unidentified Worland-area gambler at Wind River Casino hit a jackpot of nearly $390,000, one of the casino’s biggest recorded jackpots, according to staff. Wind River Casino policy prohibits identifying jackpot winners.
The Shoshone Rose, owned and operated by the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, is seven miles north of Lander on the Wind River Reservation. The 7,000 square foot Vegas-styled casino opened in September 2007. The Eastern Shoshone have also purchased 300 acres eight miles north of Riverton along the highway. Tribal leaders hope to build the biggest complex yet, complete with a hotel, restaurant and entertainment venue.
Casinos on reservation land became legal in 1988 when Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in response to court cases in Florida and California. The act allowed federally recognized American tribes to own and operate casinos on federal land. However, revenue generated from reservation casinos is not taxable by the State of Wyoming. Casino spokespeople say their establishments provide for the economic welfare of tribal members and the local economy, through jobs and peripheral spending. The state unsuccessfully sued to stop the Northern Arapahoe’s first casino in 2000.
Betting Sports: Ace in the “Hole” has a Gambling Tradition
Betting Sports Forum: Let's Give Racing The Royal Treatment
Betting Sports Forum: Let's Give Racing The Royal Treatment
By Daniel Collins, Baltimore Public Relations Examiner
If you’ve been following the story in the Baltimore Sun, you’re aware of Laurel Park’s attempts to procure slot machines, efforts that initially failed when Laurel (and Pimlico racetrack) owner, Magna Entertainment, failed to submit the $28.5 million in slots-applications fees.
My first thought was, why does it cost nearly $29 million just to APPLY for slots? I’m reminded of the insane fees car dealers charge (though maybe with the economy being like it is, they don’t anymore) just when you think you’ve negotiated a good price: “dealer prep” fees, advertising fees, destination charges, fees for “undercoating” and gosh knows what else.
The issue of slots in Maryland remains a public relations nightmare with no one looking good. Politicians have been divided as their constituents. On the one hand, having slots looks like an easy way to bring much needed dollars into the state (instead of having them go to Delaware, Pennsylvania or Virginia as Marylanders seek places to play slots). On the other hand, does encouraging people to toss away their money with gambling ethical? Will having slots attract criminal elements, organized crime?
For me, the bigger public relations issue is the future of Maryland racing. The Baltimore Sun has reported that Magna Entertainment is in financial difficulty and has hired bankruptcy attorneys. There’s been discussion that, given the sorry state of Pimlico and its environs, Maryland might lose one of its signature events, the Preakness Stakes. And you only need to visit Pimlico or Laurel on a weekday (or even Saturday when attendance should be at its height) to see that racing is truly suffering. Tiny, nay, microscopic “crowds,” if that isn’t an oxymoron, short fields…where once there were 11 or 12 horses in a race, I recently saw a race where only four horses went to the starting post—that’s practically a match race.
My father and his brothers trained and owned thoroughbreds back in the 50s and early 60s, so I’ve seen Maryland racing in better days. If I were the PR counsel for Maryland racing, the first thing I’d want to do is some research. Why has racing declined? Part of the reason may be simply the cost of operations. I’ve often said, if you want to lose money in a hurry, get into horse racing. There’s the cost of feeding, stabling, training the horse…monies for breeder, vet, jockey, exercise boy/girl, transportation, on and on, and the chances your horse is actually going to be a winner and bring home big purses? Well, it’s a long-shot (pun intended).
“Back in the day,” people didn’t have as many choices of activities to occupy their time. Now we have digital television, the internet, arena football, and Texas hold’em. Going to the races takes TIME. You have to DRIVE there. Park. Walk around aimlessly wondering where the grandstand is. Spend way too much money on a program or a copy of the Daily Racing Form which is about as easy to understand as hieroglyphics without the Rosetta Stone. And then you’ve got the odds…about 95% of people who go to the track don’t win any money. What fun is that, right? Let’s schedule focus groups and conduct opinion surveys to find out what people think about racing in general as well as what a trip to their local racetrack might, or should be, like.
Racetracks have tried to slap on other attractions in an attempt to get people to visit—kids games and rides, amusement parks. It’s like Starbucks trying to add a line of sandwiches, candy and baked goods—stick to what “got you there.” When you try to be all things to all people, you wind up being nothing to everybody.
Beyond Maryland Racing’s “Go Baby Go!” advertising campaign, I’ve seen little evidence of attempts to address racing’s ever dwindling attendance and sinking interest. Besides, as I’ve mentioned before in this blog, you don’t build through ads, you do it through public relations. The best ad campaign in the world won’t help you if you have a mediocre product.
Remember Frank Borman, former astronaut and president of Eastern Airlines? I can still see him in the airplane cockpit, turning to the camera and saying, “At Eastern Airlines, we earn our wings everyday!” Great ad campaign. Lousy airline. Anybody flown Eastern recently? Or Braniff? You get the idea.
The internet offers some options. How about an online Maryland Racing channel where you can see the previous day’s races for free? Or a paid channel where you can watch today’s races? Or bet online (but I’d put a cap on the betting…don’t want 3-year-olds who are computer savvy betting $50,000 on the chestnut in the third race…when I went to the track as a teen, I never carried more than $25, that way, I couldn’t lose more than that!)
At the track itself, how about having top sports radio talk shows broadcast from the track? Racing doesn’t just take place on Preakness Day you know. And as a PR sidebar, I say kudos to the Maryland Jockey Club for putting down it’s collective foot on having people bring alcohol to the Preakness infield (I’ve always HATED that, thought the uber-excessive drinking and idiocy that takes place on the infield to be a disgrace, as the revelers there care nothing for racing, you can’t even SEE the race from the infield, it’s merely an excuse to indulge in alcoholism).
Racing needs to find a way to stand on its four hooves. Not propped up with a kiddie park out front or fueled by slots. You don’t want the attraction to be the one-armed bandits, and, oh, by the way, you might notice some horses running by. We need to tap into what makes racing great, the SPORT OF KINGS. When I was young and went to the track with my Dad, I’d wear a sportscoat and tie. You DRESSED UP to go the races. It was serious, adult, because there was MONEY involved, and it was exciting. As an amateur handicapper, I can tell you there’s nothing more thrilling than to have analyzed a race, made a selection, bet on it, see the race take place just as you predicted and receiving a nice cash reward for your efforts.
Racing should offer workshops in handicapping, led by the sport’s leaders, not some guy who claims, as in the movie, LET IT RIDE!, “Had the Daily Double! Had the Daily Double!” (yeah, he sure did…9 months ago!). Offer classes through local schools and community colleges on the history of racing, what’s involved in breeding and selecting horses for this sport. People can’t APPRECIATE what they don’t know and understand.
Get creative. Commission some local university film students to create a documentary about Maryland racing and approach The Senator about having a special fundraising screening there.
Let’s give racing the "royal treatment," and make this noble sport noteworthy once again!
Betting Sports Forum: Let's Give Racing The Royal Treatment
By Daniel Collins, Baltimore Public Relations Examiner
If you’ve been following the story in the Baltimore Sun, you’re aware of Laurel Park’s attempts to procure slot machines, efforts that initially failed when Laurel (and Pimlico racetrack) owner, Magna Entertainment, failed to submit the $28.5 million in slots-applications fees.
My first thought was, why does it cost nearly $29 million just to APPLY for slots? I’m reminded of the insane fees car dealers charge (though maybe with the economy being like it is, they don’t anymore) just when you think you’ve negotiated a good price: “dealer prep” fees, advertising fees, destination charges, fees for “undercoating” and gosh knows what else.
The issue of slots in Maryland remains a public relations nightmare with no one looking good. Politicians have been divided as their constituents. On the one hand, having slots looks like an easy way to bring much needed dollars into the state (instead of having them go to Delaware, Pennsylvania or Virginia as Marylanders seek places to play slots). On the other hand, does encouraging people to toss away their money with gambling ethical? Will having slots attract criminal elements, organized crime?
For me, the bigger public relations issue is the future of Maryland racing. The Baltimore Sun has reported that Magna Entertainment is in financial difficulty and has hired bankruptcy attorneys. There’s been discussion that, given the sorry state of Pimlico and its environs, Maryland might lose one of its signature events, the Preakness Stakes. And you only need to visit Pimlico or Laurel on a weekday (or even Saturday when attendance should be at its height) to see that racing is truly suffering. Tiny, nay, microscopic “crowds,” if that isn’t an oxymoron, short fields…where once there were 11 or 12 horses in a race, I recently saw a race where only four horses went to the starting post—that’s practically a match race.
My father and his brothers trained and owned thoroughbreds back in the 50s and early 60s, so I’ve seen Maryland racing in better days. If I were the PR counsel for Maryland racing, the first thing I’d want to do is some research. Why has racing declined? Part of the reason may be simply the cost of operations. I’ve often said, if you want to lose money in a hurry, get into horse racing. There’s the cost of feeding, stabling, training the horse…monies for breeder, vet, jockey, exercise boy/girl, transportation, on and on, and the chances your horse is actually going to be a winner and bring home big purses? Well, it’s a long-shot (pun intended).
“Back in the day,” people didn’t have as many choices of activities to occupy their time. Now we have digital television, the internet, arena football, and Texas hold’em. Going to the races takes TIME. You have to DRIVE there. Park. Walk around aimlessly wondering where the grandstand is. Spend way too much money on a program or a copy of the Daily Racing Form which is about as easy to understand as hieroglyphics without the Rosetta Stone. And then you’ve got the odds…about 95% of people who go to the track don’t win any money. What fun is that, right? Let’s schedule focus groups and conduct opinion surveys to find out what people think about racing in general as well as what a trip to their local racetrack might, or should be, like.
Racetracks have tried to slap on other attractions in an attempt to get people to visit—kids games and rides, amusement parks. It’s like Starbucks trying to add a line of sandwiches, candy and baked goods—stick to what “got you there.” When you try to be all things to all people, you wind up being nothing to everybody.
Beyond Maryland Racing’s “Go Baby Go!” advertising campaign, I’ve seen little evidence of attempts to address racing’s ever dwindling attendance and sinking interest. Besides, as I’ve mentioned before in this blog, you don’t build through ads, you do it through public relations. The best ad campaign in the world won’t help you if you have a mediocre product.
Remember Frank Borman, former astronaut and president of Eastern Airlines? I can still see him in the airplane cockpit, turning to the camera and saying, “At Eastern Airlines, we earn our wings everyday!” Great ad campaign. Lousy airline. Anybody flown Eastern recently? Or Braniff? You get the idea.
The internet offers some options. How about an online Maryland Racing channel where you can see the previous day’s races for free? Or a paid channel where you can watch today’s races? Or bet online (but I’d put a cap on the betting…don’t want 3-year-olds who are computer savvy betting $50,000 on the chestnut in the third race…when I went to the track as a teen, I never carried more than $25, that way, I couldn’t lose more than that!)
At the track itself, how about having top sports radio talk shows broadcast from the track? Racing doesn’t just take place on Preakness Day you know. And as a PR sidebar, I say kudos to the Maryland Jockey Club for putting down it’s collective foot on having people bring alcohol to the Preakness infield (I’ve always HATED that, thought the uber-excessive drinking and idiocy that takes place on the infield to be a disgrace, as the revelers there care nothing for racing, you can’t even SEE the race from the infield, it’s merely an excuse to indulge in alcoholism).
Racing needs to find a way to stand on its four hooves. Not propped up with a kiddie park out front or fueled by slots. You don’t want the attraction to be the one-armed bandits, and, oh, by the way, you might notice some horses running by. We need to tap into what makes racing great, the SPORT OF KINGS. When I was young and went to the track with my Dad, I’d wear a sportscoat and tie. You DRESSED UP to go the races. It was serious, adult, because there was MONEY involved, and it was exciting. As an amateur handicapper, I can tell you there’s nothing more thrilling than to have analyzed a race, made a selection, bet on it, see the race take place just as you predicted and receiving a nice cash reward for your efforts.
Racing should offer workshops in handicapping, led by the sport’s leaders, not some guy who claims, as in the movie, LET IT RIDE!, “Had the Daily Double! Had the Daily Double!” (yeah, he sure did…9 months ago!). Offer classes through local schools and community colleges on the history of racing, what’s involved in breeding and selecting horses for this sport. People can’t APPRECIATE what they don’t know and understand.
Get creative. Commission some local university film students to create a documentary about Maryland racing and approach The Senator about having a special fundraising screening there.
Let’s give racing the "royal treatment," and make this noble sport noteworthy once again!
Betting Sports Forum: Let's Give Racing The Royal Treatment
2009 Chicago White Sox: Betting Odds & Sports Predictions
2009 Chicago White Sox: Betting Odds & Sports Predictions
Written by Jimmy Boyd
The Chicago White Sox have proven to be an interesting team in that they perform their best when the least is expected. Take last season as the most recent bit of evidence. The Sox were coming off a 72 win season in which they finished fourth in the Central and they bounced back to post 89 wins to take home the AL Central crown. Can the White Sox win another title in 2009 or will history repeat itself? Jimmy Boyd breaks down the White Sox in this MLB betting preview. The Chicago White Sox are listed at +2000 to win the 2009 World Series.
Pitching
In 2005, the White Sox had one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball. This solid group rolled through the playoffs and helped the South Siders take home a World Series crown. Now, southpaw Mark Buehrle is the last man standing from that group. He was 15-12 in 2008 with a 3.79 ERA. For the White Sox to win the Central again, they will need every bit as much production from John Danks and Gavin Floyd as they got in 2008 when the two came out of nowhere to combine for 29 wins. Danks was brilliant in his 1-0 shutout over the Twins in last seasons tiebreaker game. His stuff had the look of ace material in that game but only time will tell if he gets there. The White Sox will see if Bartolo Colon has any good inning left in him and southpaw Clayton Richard will likely be the No. 5 starter. Jose Contreras is still around, but will be out until after the All-Star Break with an Achilles tendon rupture.
The White Sox shopped closer Bobby Jenks in the offseason. It’s hard to imagine how they could have floated the blow that would have been, but it tells me that the White Sox see him on the decline and wanted to see what they could get while his value is still high. Jenks had 30 saves and a 2.63 ERA last season. Setup man Scott Linebrink could be the key to the pen’s success. The White Sox cannot afford any more shoulder issues from him.
Lineup
The White Sox are a power team and it starts with left fielder Carlos Quentin who finished second in the AL in homers despite missing the last 26 games of the season. Quentin jacked 36 and drove in 100. Right fielder Jermaine Dye will hit behind him in the clean up spot. He was also mentioned in trade rumors despite consistently delivering 30 homerun/90 RBI seasons. Dye had 34 round trippers in 2008 and 96 RBIs. DH Jim Thome is one of the greatest left handed sluggers the game has ever seen. He needs just 10 jacks to enter the top 10 in the all-time homerun list. He has 34 homeruns and 90 RBIs last season. The last of the bash brothers is Paul Konerko. He hit 22 homeruns and added 62 RBIs in just 122 games. It is the job of center fielder Jerry Owens and shortstop Alexei Ramirez to get on for the meat of the order to drive them in. Third baseman Josh Fields, catcher A.J. Pierzynski, and second baseman Chris Getz finish out the order.
Prediction: Third AL Central
The AL Central could be one of the tightest races in baseball this season with the Twins, Indians, and White Sox all having teams capable of taking it home. History says this will be a down year for the Sox though, and that likely puts them in third place. The Chicago White Sox are listed at +400 to win the AL Central.
2009 Chicago White Sox: Betting Odds & Sports Predictions
Written by Jimmy Boyd
The Chicago White Sox have proven to be an interesting team in that they perform their best when the least is expected. Take last season as the most recent bit of evidence. The Sox were coming off a 72 win season in which they finished fourth in the Central and they bounced back to post 89 wins to take home the AL Central crown. Can the White Sox win another title in 2009 or will history repeat itself? Jimmy Boyd breaks down the White Sox in this MLB betting preview. The Chicago White Sox are listed at +2000 to win the 2009 World Series.
Pitching
In 2005, the White Sox had one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball. This solid group rolled through the playoffs and helped the South Siders take home a World Series crown. Now, southpaw Mark Buehrle is the last man standing from that group. He was 15-12 in 2008 with a 3.79 ERA. For the White Sox to win the Central again, they will need every bit as much production from John Danks and Gavin Floyd as they got in 2008 when the two came out of nowhere to combine for 29 wins. Danks was brilliant in his 1-0 shutout over the Twins in last seasons tiebreaker game. His stuff had the look of ace material in that game but only time will tell if he gets there. The White Sox will see if Bartolo Colon has any good inning left in him and southpaw Clayton Richard will likely be the No. 5 starter. Jose Contreras is still around, but will be out until after the All-Star Break with an Achilles tendon rupture.
The White Sox shopped closer Bobby Jenks in the offseason. It’s hard to imagine how they could have floated the blow that would have been, but it tells me that the White Sox see him on the decline and wanted to see what they could get while his value is still high. Jenks had 30 saves and a 2.63 ERA last season. Setup man Scott Linebrink could be the key to the pen’s success. The White Sox cannot afford any more shoulder issues from him.
Lineup
The White Sox are a power team and it starts with left fielder Carlos Quentin who finished second in the AL in homers despite missing the last 26 games of the season. Quentin jacked 36 and drove in 100. Right fielder Jermaine Dye will hit behind him in the clean up spot. He was also mentioned in trade rumors despite consistently delivering 30 homerun/90 RBI seasons. Dye had 34 round trippers in 2008 and 96 RBIs. DH Jim Thome is one of the greatest left handed sluggers the game has ever seen. He needs just 10 jacks to enter the top 10 in the all-time homerun list. He has 34 homeruns and 90 RBIs last season. The last of the bash brothers is Paul Konerko. He hit 22 homeruns and added 62 RBIs in just 122 games. It is the job of center fielder Jerry Owens and shortstop Alexei Ramirez to get on for the meat of the order to drive them in. Third baseman Josh Fields, catcher A.J. Pierzynski, and second baseman Chris Getz finish out the order.
Prediction: Third AL Central
The AL Central could be one of the tightest races in baseball this season with the Twins, Indians, and White Sox all having teams capable of taking it home. History says this will be a down year for the Sox though, and that likely puts them in third place. The Chicago White Sox are listed at +400 to win the AL Central.
2009 Chicago White Sox: Betting Odds & Sports Predictions
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