Twice weekly, we’ll comb through as many articles, tweets and podcasts as we can find related to the world of sports betting and daily fantasy sports, and publish the good stuff here.
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Alabama opened as an 11-point favorite in its College Football Playoff semifinal against Washington, and early action pushed it to more than two touchdowns.
By the time the initial rush of money slowed, the Crimson Tide were a 14.5-point favorite. Of the first $12,000 bet on the game Sunday, approximately $11,000 of it was on Alabama, according to CG Technology vice president Jason Simbal.
At MGM’s sportsbook, seven of the first nine bets on the national semifinal were on the Crimson Tide, with an average bet size of $1,800.
“I think it’s an indication of what the public is going to do,” Jay Rood, vice president of MGM race and sports books, said of the early wagering
Las Vegas sportsbook operators are rooting against frontrunner Lamar Jackson to win the Heisman.
“I think our chances of maybe an upset occurring are pretty good actually,” Rood said. “But if he wins the Heisman, it’s going to be like losing a fairly decent NFL game.”
Rood said he took a $1,000 bet on Jackson at 50-1 early in the season, a ticket that would net $50,000. “Everything else is $10,000, $15,000 winners here and there,” he added.
A South Mississippi man is facing prosecution for his involvement in an illegal sports betting ring.
It’s unclear if Schmitt was placing bets, accepting bets, or providing information on access to the sports books.
The conspiracy involved the set-up of illegal web-based sports books and a network of agents and others to oversee different groups of gamblers, according to the charging document.
A U.S. Secret Service task force seized $3.4 million from a money processor that was transferring money for online sportsbooks.
The undercover detective had joined the online casino and sportsbook as part of an investigation into companies that move its money. A Western Union check to the Philippines funded his gambling; a wire transfer into a dummy bank account paid by his winnings.
Lebron James showed up to the Cavaliers’ road game against the Chicago Bulls in a Cubs uniform — his punishment for losing a bet against Dwyane Wade.
The moment has FINALLY arrived! @KingJames rocking the @Cubs gear to honor his World Series bet payoff to @DwyaneWade. 🐻 pic.twitter.com/9WCgGAILt2
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) December 2, 2016
The Raiders have rewarded sports bettors at their potential future home throughout this NFL season.
Carr’s two touchdown passes in the second half rallied the Raiders to their biggest comeback in 16 years in a 38-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills, who failed to pay off for the wiseguys in a classic sharps-versus-squares betting game.
The Raiders are increasingly popular in Las Vegas — where they are becoming the adopted home team — mostly because they continue to cash tickets.
“It was a good game for the bettors. We needed the Bills,” Sunset Station sports book director Chuck Esposito said. “The Raiders are really good on both sides of the ball. The progression of Carr from three wins to seven wins to 10 wins is impressive.”