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The San Antonio Spurs, now featuring LaMarcus Aldridge, are the faves to win one of the deepest division in the entire league. Can they fend off competition from the likes of Memphis, Houston and New Orleans?

Covers Expert Steve Merril breaks down the best ways to bet the NBA’s Southwest Division:

Dallas Mavericks (2014-15: 50-32 SU, 36-44-2 ATS)

Odds To Win Division: +5000
Season Win Total: 38.5

Why Bet The Mavericks: Dallas has assembled a deep and talented roaster that has a lot of experience for the 2015 season. The Mavericks are a veteran-laden team, so they know how to navigate through the grind of a NBA season. The team should gel quickly as there are no big ego players on the roster.

Why Not To Bet The Mavericks: Because of their team makeup, the obvious concern for the Mavericks is staying healthy. Older players tend to breakdown more often, and Dallas’ longest tenured player, Dirk Nowitzki, seems to be tailing off. Interior defense will also be an issue this season, so Dallas will be at a disadvantage against young, fast paced teams and teams that have dominant paint players.

Season Win Total Pick: Under 38.5 Wins

Houston Rockets (2014-15: 56-26 SU, 48-34 ATS)

Odds To Win Division: +300
Season Win Total: 54.5

Why Bet The Rockets: Houston has an explosive offense that can outscore their opponent on any given night. The offense will play even faster this season with the acquisition of speedy point guard Ty Lawson. Houston also has a very good three-point shooting team, so defenses will be hard-pressed to slow this offense down. The Rockets have as deep and talented roster as any team in the NBA.

Why Not To Bet The Rockets: The biggest concern for Houston once again this season is injuries. Dwight Howard is almost certain to miss time with some kind of lingering injury, and his absence makes the Rockets vulnerable around the rim. Houston ranked 29th in free throw shooting (70.1%) last season, and that’s an issue for the Rockets late in games.

Season Win Total Pick: Over 54.5 Wins

Memphis Grizzlies (2014-15: 55-27 SU, 40-40-2 ATS)

Odds To Win Division: +700
Season Win Total: 50.5

Why Bet The Grizzlies: Memphis is one of the best frontcourt teams in the NBA.  Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are a formidable duo inside the paint, and added depth off the bench was an outstanding move by management.  The Grizzlies’ core has been together for awhile, and with one of the best defenses in the NBA, Memphis is a tough out in each and every game.

Why Not To Bet The Grizzlies: Offense doesn’t come easy for Memphis. Scoring the basketball consistently has held the Grizzlies back from getting to the next level. The Grizzlies do not hit enough three pointers, and that puts too much pressure on their defense. Memphis certainly has the talent and defense to win, but a lack of offense is their biggest culprit.

Season Win Total Pick: Over 50.5 Wins

New Orleans Pelicans (2014-15: 45-37 SU, 45-37 ATS)

Odds To Win Division: +800
Season Win Total: 47.5

Why Bet The Pelicans: Anthony Davis is the best young two-way player in the NBA. Davis is a difference maker on both ends of the court, and as long as he’s playing, New Orleans has a chance to win. New head coach Alvin Gentry will speed up the tempo and turn the Pelicans into a very good offensive team this season, especially since they have terrific inside-out scoring balance.

Why Not To Bet The Pelicans: New Orleans must avoid the injury bug, but that has been a major issue in the preseason so far. Davis can’t stay healthy; he has missed 14 games or more every year. The roster is full of injury prone players, and that is going to hurt their depth throughout an 82-game schedule.

Season Win Total Pick: Under 47.5 Wins

San Antonio Spurs (2014-15: 55-27 SU, 41-39-2 ATS)

Odds To Win Division: -160
Season Win Total: 58.5

Why Bet The Spurs: San Antonio is simply one of the best teams in the NBA. The Spurs are fantastic on both ends of the court because they have an incredible front court that was bolstered with the acquisition of LaMarcus Aldridge. Their team depth is the best in the league, and their on-court chemistry is second to none.

Why Not To Bet The Spurs: The Spurs have aging veterans at two of the most important positions on the court; Tony Parker at point guard and Tim Duncan at center. Health is also a major concern for a veteran team, so the Spurs will have to hope to avoid the injury bug.

Season Win Total Pick: Over 58.5 Wins

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Read More... [Source: Covers.com: NBA News and Stories]

ALL COUNTRIES CAN PLAY @ ATLANTIS GOLD CASINO!

Already facing numerous financial challenges, Atlantic City casinos now have union issues as hotel workers' labor contract expired.

If Atlantic City casinos were not already caught in a perfect economic storm, the deteriorating labor situation will soon make it so. The New Jersey gambling mecca is suffering monthly double-digit losses on earnings, as the recession and competition have drained many customers, and the labor issue may drive even more operators toward bankruptcy.

The contract for bartenders, waitresses, and hotel workers expires today, leaving 15,000 emplyees without a labor deal. Both union leaders and casino officials say a new contract will quickly be arranged, but attempts to produce a working deal between the casinos and the United Auto Workers, representing dealers at certain resorts, has led to impasse for years.

Services will continue for now. The demands of either side are not known, but it is certain the casinos will look to prevent any cost increases while the gaming palaces are still in free-fall, economically.

Trump Entertainment has gone into bankruptcy already, carrying three of the eleven Jersey casinos with it, although day-to-day operations have continued. The Tropicana was run by a trustee for over a year until a buyer could be found for pennies on the dollar. And Resorts Atlantic City, the town's original casino, could soon be shuttered if lenders do not receive regulatory approval to replace owners.

So, both sides carefully eye the need to resolve the labor issue while realizing the precarious position they all are in. One wrong move, and it's a long way down.

Published on September 15, 2009 by JulieWong

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Read More... [Source: Atlantic City Casino News]

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ALL COUNTRIES CAN PLAY @ ATLANTIS GOLD CASINO!

The final table is set!

While the cash tables were buzzing with players chasing the royal flush jackpot, those on the tournament floor were looking for a huge score of their own.

When play began we had 63 poker hopefuls return to the Crown poker room and we were off to a flying start as the shortstacks gambled for their tournament lives.

After eight and a half hours of play we've finally made it to our last-ever AZNPT final table. Those lucky nine will be back tomorrow before we crown a champion!

The plan starting the day was to play down to seven but when time lingered on and the action slowed down as we approached the end, a decision was made to conclude things nine handed.

Play would conclude only a few minutes into Level 24 when start-of-day chip leader Kenn Langcake eliminated Adam Monaghan. It folded around to Monaghan on the button who pushed all in for his last 195,000 in chips. Next to act Langcake moved in over the top with enough to cover and with the big blind out of the way the cards went on their backs.

Monaghan: Q♥8♥
Langcake: A♦4♣

Monghan needed help and he celebrated after finding it on the Q♠3♥K♠ flop. He was trying to fade an ace to stay alive but couldn't do it as the A♣ turn rolled off and the 9♣ river bricked. Monaghan would have to be content with his 10th place finish for $11,725 while the other nine guaranteed themselves $19,120.

Bubble boy - Adam Monaghan

Leading the way for tomorrow's return after a great day on the felt is Peter Matusik. The Brisbane local emerged as chip leader about half way through proceedings and is currently out in front with 2,430,000.

Matusik put a stop to Day 1B end-of-day chip leader Hyeong Wook Choi into the late stages of the night after the dealer fanned out an action flop. The 3♣8♠6♠ board saw a jam from Choi and a snap-call from Matsusik before players revealed their hands.

Matusik: 6♥6♦
Choi: Q♠9♠

It was Matusik's middle set up against Choi's flush draw and with the K♦ turn and T♦ river appearing Choi would fail to spike one of his outs to instead find the rail. Matusik would continue chipping up as play went on before ultimately finishing with the lead going into the final table tomorrow.

Current chip leader - Peter Matusik

Following Matusik on the chip stack podium are Lin Shi (current second place) with 1,865,000 and reigning Aussie Millions champion Manny Stavropoulos (third place) on 1,570,000. By reaching the final table here this week Stavropoulos has already guaranteed himself the ANZPT Player of the Year title and will be hunting for the last ANZPT Main Event title to top it off.

ANZPT7 Melbourne Final Table Draw
Seat 1: Manny Stavropoulos (Australia) - 1,570,000
Seat 2: Kenn Langcake (Australia) - 650,000
Seat 3: Mile Krstanoski (Australia) - 525,000
Seat 4: Carl Knox (New Zealand) - 860,000
Seat 5: George Balandinos (Australia) - 990,000
Seat 6: Erich Stadler (New Zealand) - 490,000
Seat 7: Peter Matusik (Australia) - 2,430,000
Seat 8: Lin Shi (Australia) - 1,865,000
Seat 9: Nikolce Trajkovski (Australia) - 800,000

So that's all for tonight! The remaining nine players will return tomorrow from 12:30pm to battle it out for the ANZPT Main Event title! In the meantime you can find out about our final tablists by reading there player profiles. We hope you can join us tomorrow - Stay tuned!

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Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Australia New Zealand Poker Tour]

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ALL COUNTRIES CAN PLAY @ ATLANTIS GOLD CASINO!

The likely last chance for Delaware's full sports betting program to be able to legally proceed was denied as the US court of appeals responsible refused to rehear the case.

Delaware took it on the chin again from the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals as the full court refused to rehear the case decided against Delaware sports betting by a panel of judges. The state had asked that all fourteen review the case heard by a three-judge selection from the court, only to be denied what may be the last gasp at legal, single-game sports betting in the state.

The only venue left to which Delaware may turn is the US Supreme Court, and attorneys for the state acknowledged it would be difficult to persuade the highest US court to hear the case.

"We realize asking the Supreme Court to grant a petition for certiorari is a significant thing," says lead attorney Michael Barlow. "We are unlikely to pursue it."

The appellate panel had been assigned to decide on whether the lawsuit by assorted US sports leagues should be heard on an expedited basis, so as to prevent uncorrectable damage to the sports associations by Delaware conducting gambling while the case awaited trial. The original court had found no significant damage could be done by hearing the case well into football season.

But the panel disregarded the time frame and ruled on the case on the merits, saying Delaware was bound by federal law to only offer parlay sports betting, and only on NFL games, as was the system which was grandfathered in by Congress.

Parlay sports betting at Delaware casinos has been a major disappointment so far.

Published on September 30, 2009 by K.C.Carmichael

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Read More... [Source: Sports Betting News]

ALL COUNTRIES CAN PLAY @ ATLANTIS GOLD CASINO!

PokerStars has joined forces with a number of California tribal casinos and cardrooms to launch an online poker coalition in an effort to promote an open and fair market for any future regulated internet poker market in the state.

The new ‘Californians for Responsible iPoker’ group features five tribal-gaming groups as well as the Commerce, Bicycle and Hawaiian Gardens cardrooms.

Each member of the group has already reached an agreement with PokerStars to use the online poker operator’s software should the state opt to regulate internet poker activities.

PokerStars said the group will enable it to demonstrate in state-level hearings the consumer respect for itself as an operator as well as for well-regulated and protected open-market policies that the group promotes.

In order to fit in with this aim, the Californians for Responsible iPoker coalition has published a lengthy list of policies that demonstrate its goals.

Such policies are categorised under main headings that cover consumers having access to trusted online poker brands, the extension of California’s consumer protections regarding intrastate online poker, ensuring residents in the state benefit from regulation and the need for operators to undergo a vetting process before being issued with a licence.

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