Category: News

The 1992 US men’s basketball team might be the greatest basketball team ever assembled, and they put the rest of the world on notice. It was the “Dream Team” that proved to the world just how dominant this country was at basketball, and it has been that way virtually ever since.

Things appear to be changing a bit, as the rest of the world is quickly closing the gap on the United States when it comes to basketball. The United States didn’t even medal at the most recent event, but this was a team without the biggest stars representing the team.

The next big international event won’t be until the 2024 Paris Olympics, and there is now pressure on the United States to deliver. The betting odds for that event are out, and there is no surprise as to what country is the betting favorite.

Check out the basketball odds over on Bookmaker

USA is Favored to Win

The betting odds to win the 2024 Paris Olympics have been changing since they were originally announced, but the favorite has remained the same. Team USA is favored to win in Paris, as the betting odds currently have them set at -220.

The roster for the United States is going to be changing in a major way heading into that event, as LeBron James has already made it clear that he is going to play. Even adding him to the roster is going to give Team USA a better chance to get the job done, but he is also expected to be joined by other stars.

Those betting odds are much closer than expected, though, as they were not this close when they were first announced. Now might be the time to bet on Team USA, as you aren’t going to see those odds with more value than this, especially as the roster continues to get put together.

Best of the Rest

The rest of the world is coming for the United States, and those countries are coming fast. The betting odds are going to tell you that, and there are some serious contenders that are expected to be in the mix.

Before discussing some of the top challengers to the United States heading into the 2024 Paris Olympics, here are the betting odds that you are going to see at BetOnline:

• Serbia +400
• Canada +600
• France +800
• Germany +900
• Australia +1400
• Spain +1600

It should come as no surprise that Serbia is the next team on the list when it comes to the betting odds, as they will be led by Nikola Jokic at the 2024 Paris Olympics. That country has emerged as a serious contender, but they won’t be the only strong team in the event.

Canada and France are two other countries that will have a shot in Paris, and there is plenty of NBA talent on each roster. You can really go all the way down the list of teams listed above and see NBA talent on each roster.

Stars Get it Done

There were a number of reasons that Team USA failed to medal at the most recent event, but not having any real superstars was a big part of the reason. That’s not going to be the case in Paris in 2024, and that is going to make them a serious threat to win the title.

If LeBron James and company are really going to suit up and play in Paris, then Team USA is going to be impossible to deal with. You aren’t going to get a ton of value when betting on the favorites, but going with Team USA at -220 is the best way to wager.

Bet on basketball at Bookmaker!

TIME Magazine started naming a “Man of the Year” in 1927, and part of the reason for it is that they felt so much shame about not having Charles Lindbergh on its cover that they decided they had to make it up to him – and the public – somehow. So they gave him the first award, and of course, the cover.

Since then it has evolved to a “Person of the Year,” although it is sometimes given to a group of people, like the American soldier in 1950. And it is given to people in general as well, as it was in 2006, when it was named, well, “You” in honor of the spirit of do-it-yourself creation on the internet (a memorable issue, it had a mirror on the cover). Inanimate objects are not disqualified; “The Computer” took the honors in 1982 for ushering in the information age.

The honoree has, “for better or for worse … has done the most to influence the events of the year.” It is not a popularity contest. And there is something that is widely misunderstood; there is nothing that says the “winner” is to be well-loved. For example, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and the Ayatollah Khomeini have all been Persons of the Year.

So who will wind up being the “Person of the Year” for 2023? Well, there’s quite a bit of 2023 left, but BetOnline has offered some sportsbook futures odds on who it’s going to be. Let’s take a look:

Time Person of the Year 2023

Elon Musk +150
Joe Biden +333
Volodymyr Zelenskyy +350
Vladimir Putin +800
Xi Jinping +1000
Donald Trump +1200
Jeff Bezos +1200

Since this “award” has been instituted, almost every United States president has been named. In the case of Biden, he was named in tandem with Kamala Harris in 2020, for winning the election. But that doesn’t mean they can’t win again. Franklin D. Roosevelt, for instance, has won three different times.

And when you consider the “for better or worse” part of Time’s explanation, you know he’s right there in the running. Is there anyone whose grocery bill is LESS since he’s been elected?

The inclusion of Zelenskyy and Putin in this field should be self-explanatory. Putin, by the way, got it in 2007, while Zelenskyy, the former comedic actor, is the “defending champion” of sorts, winning it with the “Spirit of Ukraine” in 2022.

Xi Jinping is the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, so his influence on world events is going to be inevitable and unquestioned.

Bezos and his creation (Amazon) has an effect of the daily lives of tens – or even hundreds – of millions. Trump, like Bezos, has been a Person of the Year in the past. But we’re not sure that his recent declaration for president is going to be the thing that has enough of a considerable effect, even after creating a “cause celebre” with his (in his view) persecution by a liberal Manhattan judge.

Musk, the 2021 recipient, is the justifiable favorite. Even though his purchase of Twitter was finalized in 2022, the sweeping changes he is making are the source of much controversy as they seek to transform the way that free speech is, for lack of a better word, governed in the social media world. It is a powerful and influential platform to control.

Musk, it goes without saying, also makes news with anything he does with SpaceX, and he was one of the original founders of Open AI, which, through Chat GPT and other offerings, will change the world. Musk is no longer associated with that business, which has moved from non-profit to for-profit status, but he does have some AI interests of his own, as they relate to Tesla, and when he speaks about the potential benefits and dangers of artificial intelligence, people are listening.

At the moment, there are 50 seats in the United States Senate that are occupied by members of the Republican party. The Democrats have 48 seats, and they also more or less control the two independent members. That brings things dead even, except that Vice-President Kamala Harris has a tie-breaking vote, meaning that the GOP has to gain at least one seat in the 2002 elections to assume control.

And there have been high hopes that the candidate who could swing things back the GOP’s way was Herschel Walker, a Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Georgia who decided to challenge incumbent US Senator Raphael Warnock, who had beaten Kelly Loeffler in a special election two years ago that was marked by a lot of nastiness, including the full participation and protest by the WNBA Players Association, which we might add eventually led to plenty of ill feeling on the part of conservatives toward Brittney Griner, a vocal member of that group who now languishes in a Russian jail.

Can Walker, a hero throughout the state, break through and give the Republicans an advantage again in the Peach State? At BetOnline, he is the favorite to win Tuesday’s election, but is by no means a solid favorite:

Herschel Walker (R) -165
Raphael Warnock (D) +125

This race could hardly be closer. An Emerson College poll had Warnock with a 49-47 edge. The Marist College poll had it dead even at 48 points apiece, so it is truly up for grabs.

And by the way, if neither candidate gets a majority, that creates a runoff election on December 6.

Warnock was a pastor at Martin Luther King Jr.’s Ebenezer Baptist Church. But Walker is the candidate who has tried to take the moral high road. He presented himself as a staunch opponent of abortion, yet two women have stepped forward who have claimed that Walker impregnated them, then paid for their abortions. There have been other controversies, including one where it was revealed that Walker had four children, though he only claimed three.

It has certainly not helped Walker that Donald Trump, for whom he played with the New Jersey Generals in the old USFL, has been an unwavering supporter. The left-leaning media has been relentless in its efforts to discredit the former Georgia running back and ignore any and all skeletons in Warnock’s closet.

Some of the statements Walker has made about his opponent have smacked of eccentricity and / or exaggeration. For instance, he has claimed that Warnock “wants to abolish the family. He wants to abolish the police. He wants to abolish the court system. He wants to abolish this United States of America.”

Some Georgia Republicans, who may not be fans of Warnock, have expressed that they would love to support the GOP, but that Walker may not be the most appropriate or prepared candidate.

If you want to take a look at the odds on total Republican seats when the dust clears, it appears that even if Walker doesn’t win, the tide may shift somewhere else:

50-52 Inclusive +105
53 or More +110
Under 50 +500

If things don’t go completely as planned for the GOP, particularly with a contentious race between Mehmet Oz and John Fetterman in Pennsylvania (where Oz is a -175 favorite), we may not know the definitive answer until December.

If there’s any p;lace that has you covered when it comes to the 2022 elections, it’s BetOnline, where you can place a wager on just about every significant race. Oh yeah, lots of Donald Trump betting too!……. It’s easy to get an account opened – just use your credit card, or any cryptocurrency you can imagine. Yes, it’s EASY!

Gambling in the United States has become increasingly popular ever since the Supreme Court abolished PASPA in 1992. In 2021, Americans spent around $52.7 billion on gambling. Each of the four major American professional sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL) and the MMA (Ultimate Fighting Championship) have official sportsbook operators. Furthermore, Maryland has recently allowed gambling, which may imply that the state has reached a breaking point. Everything points to the fact that the Maryland online gambling industry still has a long way to go.

Fans who have been waiting for live entertainment to come back to their former and exciting selves may finally get their wish in 2022, thanks to the massive investment in brand-new stadiums, racing tracks, and theaters in Maryland. A month ago, the state’s lottery revealed that gambling had brought in a historic $1.5 billion over the previous fiscal year. Gambling, daily fantasy sports betting, and the state’s six casinos contributed to the new record. The lottery reported that its earnings for the most recent fiscal year were $120 million more than the previous fiscal year’s. A Maryland fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends the following June 30.

More money was brought into the state than at any time before by the lottery and casinos. The lottery made a total of $673.7 million in revenue. An estimated $832,3 million came from the gaming industry. In 2021, the state’s share of lottery revenues reached a new high, breaking the previous year’s total by $6.9 million. A total of nearly $2.67 billion was earned in revenue, a rise of $51.5 million over the previous high achieved in 2020. Scratch-off tickets are largely responsible for the recent expansion of the lottery.

The record-breaking sum of $832.3 million earned from casinos represents a rise of $108.9 million from the previous fiscal year. The $611.6 million allocated to the Education Trust Fund is the largest sum ever put aside for this purpose. Only over $2 billion was made from gamblers, an increase of nearly $242 million over 2021’s record-breaking $1.88 billion. Lottery and casino earnings of $1.5 billion were above the previous fiscal year’s total of $1.39 billion.

Another $5.6 million was collected in Maryland with the launch of gambling and sports betting Bets worth a total of $174.8 million were given to charities and nonprofits in Maryland. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which helps pay for public schools, received $3 million. fantasy contests. The month of December saw the debut of five retail sportsbooks in the state of Maryland. Bets worth a total of $174.8 million were given to charities and nonprofits in Maryland. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which helps pay for public schools, received $3 million.

It is anticipated that more brick-and-mortar and virtual sportsbooks will launch in 2022. When the gambling program is fully up and running, it should bring in about $30 million a year to help public schools.

After sales, income, and corporate taxes, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming is the state’s fourth-largest revenue generator.  Maryland uses the revenue generated by the sale of lottery tickets to support a variety of important public services, including those related to education, public welfare, and environmental protection. The state invests the money it makes from the casinos towards the educational system. Communities hosting casinos, the sports betting sector in the state, and small and women-owned companies all get a cut of the casino’s profits. Funds from sports betting and fantasy leagues are also used to support academic initiatives.

Squeezing Out the Competition

Opponents of casinos often raise concerns that they will negatively impact other markets. One term for this phenomenon is “industry fragmentation.” Truth be told, every new company that seeks to compete with established companies will inevitably follow suit. This occurs naturally in market economies. Existing businesses have a valid gripe: competition is never welcoming. Yet, ultimately, a new casino gives customers more variety. Customers won’t spend money at casinos if they don’t have fun there.

The effects of casinos have been studied in various ways by policymakers throughout the nation. While some states, like Maryland, have commissioned extensive studies, others have moved on without a lot in the way of data to support their policies. Casinos have many different effects on the areas where they are located, some of which are good and some of which are bad. However, even the most passionate supporters and critics of the industry are likely to downplay the importance of these effects.

Concluding Thoughts

While there are some positive economic effects from casinos and other types of legalized gambling, the potentially detrimental community effects have largely been reduced over the last 30 years as gambling has become more prevalent throughout the United States. Historically, states that allowed commercial casinos also saw an increase in tourism as gaming became more of a localized monopoly. As more people have access to gambling options and many are planning to regulate gambling, the development of commercial casinos is likely to boost economic growth.

Sports bettors are always looking for a way to make deposits and execute withdrawals at sportsbooks that are fast and offer a high level of safety and security.

BetOnline Sportsbook knows that very well, which is why they place a heavy emphasis on doing business through the digital currency of Bitcoin (BTC).

New users can get 100% bitcoin deposit bonus up to $1000 at BetOnline sportsbook as well as 35% reload bonuses!

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How Bitcoin Works At BetOnline

This is a unique “cryptocurrency” indeed, in the sense that it operates not only as money but also as a protocol. And as a player, you can find a great deal of usefulness both ways.

These are transactions that are made on a peer-to-peer basis, with no reliance on a third party or a financial institution. As a result, you don’t have any banks nosing in one what you are doing. And you aren’t “geo-tracked” either.

So it has really become a “way to go” for sports betting and casino gambling enthusiasts.

There are a number of ways to acquire Bitcoin. You can open up an account at a regulated exchange and “trade” that way. You can do the “peer-to-peer” thing, executing transactions other individuals who are using Bitcoin.

You might also be able to find a Bitcoin ATM to buy the currency using cash. It won’t be an anonymous transaction, but it can be convenient, if you find one of them in your area (check out CoinATMradar.com to find locations). PayPal is now integrating with services like Coinbase. You can also use a number of other methods, including gift cards.

Regardless of the way you acquire BTC, you are going to need a “Bitcoin Wallet.” This is essentially where you store your Bitcoin and the vehicle through which you would conduct your transactions.

Getting one is very easy. You can go through the iPhone App Store or Google Play to download one into your smartphone. Or, you can type “Bitcoin wallets” into Google and find a number of different services of high quality.

Once you do all this, how do you make your transaction with BetOnline?

Well, again it’s relatively simple. You will go to the “Cashier” for methods of deposit and choose “Cryptocurrency.” From there you click “Bitcoin,” which will take you to the next screen. Just enter the amount you want to deposit, along with whatever promo code you may be using (more on that in a minute) and then click another button that says “Deposit Now.”

You’re going to see a long address that you will right-click and copy. That is the Bitcoin address at BetOnline where you are going to send the funds. Then you open your Bitcoin wallet and, well “Send Funds” to that address. Just “paste” it where they ask you to. This can also be used (if you are using a desktop) with a QR Code.

Once you have gone through this easy process, your account will be credited quickly, usually anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours.

And you need to know ahead of time that you are going to be rewarded. These good folks want your Bitcoin business, and to show you they are absolutely for real, they offer a 100% First-Time Crypto Bonus. That’s 100% on your first deposit when using a cryptocurrency (they also accept Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Dash and Litecoin).

BetOnline Promo Codes For Bitcoin

For this bonus, you would use the promo code CRYPTO100.

They continue sweetening the pot as well.

On each subsequent (and qualifying) deposit using Bitcoin (or other cryptocurrencies, for that matter), you will receive a 35% Reload Bonus.

The promo code for this is CRYPTO35.

There is also a “BTC Deposit Leaderboard” which can bring you up to $5,000 in free chips for their Live Casino if you get to the top. That’s a nice perk, but you’ve got to earn it.

Requirements and restrictions on deposits using Bitcoin are very user-friendly. You must put at least $20 worth in and can deposit as much as $500,000 at once (if you’ve got that kind of “coin,” God bless you).

Withdrawals can be processed as quickly as an hour (that’s FAST), you can withdraw as much as $25,000 at one time ($20 minimum).

And there no transaction fees associated with these Bitcoin transactions.

Nobody makes it easier to get out there and play than BetOnline!

The 5% Bitcoin Boost is back and better than ever at BetOnline Sportsbook because it comes during the week of UFC 261. What better time could there possibly be to sign up for a new account and deposit with Bitcoin.

The best part? The 5% boost goes right into your cash balance and is NOT a free play bonus.

The new best part? The 5% boost has been extended through April.

Here at BangTheBook, we’ve talked a lot about how Bitcoin is now the preferred method of deposit and withdrawal when it comes to online sports betting. Most sportsbooks offer a variety of promotions centered around Bitcoin. One such sportsbook is BetOnline Sportsbook and they are offering a whale of a deal right now.

All customers, new and existing, are eligible for this promotion from BetOnline. It is simple and really doesn’t require anything from you, unless you don’t have a Bitcoin wallet set up. The promotion is the BTC 5% Boost. What this promotion entails is that you will get a 5% Boost on the price of Bitcoin when you make your deposit with BOL.

Opting in to the promotion is easy. There is simply a switch on the deposit page with the choice to “Boost my deposit 5%” that is right below the deposit amount. It looks like this:

If you opt into the promotion, you will see the Boosted to (X Amount) and the switch will light up red to show that you have decided to participate in this offer:

As you can see, it says that Boosted deposits are subject to a 3x rollover. What that means is that you have to bet three times your deposit amount before you can withdraw. If you deposit $500 and it gets boosted up to $525, that means you would have to make $1,575 in wagers before you can withdraw. As far as bonus offers and boosted deposits go, that is a very reasonable rollover requirement. Some bonuses require up to 10x rollovers.

One of the key terms and conditions about this promotion is that your 5% Boost does not go into your account as part of a Free Play bonus. It goes into your cash balance, so there are no restrictions on how you decide to use that extra money.

Also, you’ll see another box there that says “Promo Code”. You can combine this 5% Boost with another promo code to get an even better sign-up bonus, such as the bonus code BTB, which will get you a 50% Sportsbook Bonus up to $1000.

One of the best parts about BetOnline Sportsbook is that you can use one bankroll for everything, so you can also partake in the Online Casino games, including slot machines and table games. You can also use the industry-leading poker client as well.

Be aware that you will have to fulfill both rollover requirements if you pair the 5% Bitcoin Boost with something like the BangTheBook promo code BTB, but you’re still getting a great head start to your account and it is easier to reach a rollover than you would think.

Comprehensive instructions on how to set up a Bitcoin wallet are available in the Deposits section at BetOnline Sportsbook, so don’t be worried if you’ve never used it before. The process is easy and simple and they walk you through each and every step to make it even easier.

This is a good time to sign up for BetOnline Sportsbook. The 5% Bitcoin Boost runs through this month at arguably the best sportsbook in the world.

Did you know that Bovada was a lot more than just a sportsbook? This is an online gambling site that promises a Las Vegas-style experience for each and every customer. Las Vegas isn’t just made up of sportsbooks, even though that may be where you spend most of your time when you go out there.

There is a bustling online casino at Bovada as well. While you may not find all of your favorite slot machine titles, you are going to find the “generic” versions of those games. Copyrights and licenses are expensive, but it isn’t hard to recreate a favorite title and put your own spin on it.

Table games are mostly universal in nature and there are a ton of those available at Bovada as well. The casino experience from Bovada is pretty much unrivaled and you are going to find exactly what you want, right when you want it.

Another big benefit to playing with an online casino is that you get bonus offers. Imagine walking into a major corporate casino and asking for a 100% bonus on your bankroll. You’ll get laughed at. Not only do you not get laughed at with places like Bovada, but even bigger bonus offers are available than 100%.

Furthermore, imagine walking up to a craps table with your phone out to tell them that you want to buy in with Bitcoin. Again, that isn’t an opportunity afforded to you in Las Vegas.

But it is at Bovada and it is the preferred method of deposit for all of your gambling needs.

The 125% Bitcoin Match Bonus

That brings us to the 125% Bitcoin Match Bonus currently being offered at Bovada. Click the link to sign up through us and then enter the promo code BTB to get a 125% Deposit Match Bonus up to $1,250.

Here’s the best part. Let’s say you run bad. Or let’s say you run good, but still want to up the stakes that you are playing for. You can double down on the 125% Deposit Match Bonus up to $1,250. That offer is also available if you use that BTB promo code.

Not only does that code double your second deposit, but it will actually double your THIRD Bitcoin deposit as well. Your first Bitcoin deposit and then your next TWO Bitcoin deposit bonuses.

That is quite an offer to say the least. Your three deposits could net you $3,750 in Bitcoin deposit bonuses.

Remember to click our referral link. As an affiliate marketer for online sportsbooks and casinos, we have the opportunity to offer and promote these deposit bonuses. We also review places like Bovada to ensure that they check the right boxes for us. Bovada is an honest, trustworthy, user-friendly place that fulfills all of your online gambling needs.

Bovada Sportsbook Bonus

Maybe you aren’t interested in the big casino bonus and want to stick to sports. If you sign up for the sportsbook with Bitcoin, you’ll get a 100% Match Bonus up to $750. If you aren’t familiar with Bitcoin, have no fear. They’ll give you step-by-step instructions on what to do, including how to set up a Bitcoin wallet if you are unsure of what to do or don’t already have one.

Depositing with Bitcoin is the way to go these days and you’ll see a lot of sportsbooks offering exclusive bonuses for using BTC. Most of them just don’t stack up to what Bovada is able to provide.

Sign up now!