As with other countries (well, the US to be more specific), sports betting has experienced a surge in the recent years.  However, concerns have been raised, time and again, regarding the integrity of sports which can be wagered on.  Of course, one of the main (and legitimate I would say) concerns of many is the fact that professional athletes may be able to manipulate the outcomes of games they are involved in.  As the case in the NBA showed us, it does not even have to be athletes.  Referees and other sports officials may be put in a compromising position due to the insider knowledge that they have about the sport.

So under the Gambling Act, anyone – player, referee, trainers, managers, and even journalists! – can go to jail if found guilty of cheating or helping someone cheat in order to get favorable results in sports betting.  The concern now is that there might be some interpretations of the Act that may not be clear to players and other concerned people.  As a PPF spokesman said “A footballer could tell his mates that so-and-so is going to play well or score, and without realising it potentially be in breach of the law. We would like to see proper education on the implications of the act.”

We’ll see how this one turns out soon enough.

•    #1. BASEBALLODDS TO WIN 2007 MLB WORLD SERIES
•    Favorite pick is [1916] MINNESOTA TWINS +2000
•    #2. BASEBALLINDIANS @ TIGERS
•    Favorite pick is [916] TIGERS +1½-155 ( J WESTBROOK-R / N ROBERTSON-L )
•    #3. FOOTBALLODDS TO WIN THE SUPERBOWL XLII
•    Favorite pick is [1018] NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS +320
•    #4. BASEBALLCUBS @ GIANTS
•    Favorite pick is [905] CUBS -130 ( ACTION )
•    #5. BASEBALLWIN 2007 NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT
•    Favorite pick is [2109] NEW YORK METS +450
•    #6. BASEBALLDODGERS @ PHILLIES
•    Favorite pick is [901] DODGERS -128 ( ACTION )
•    #7. FOOTBALLODDS TO WIN THE AFC
•    Favorite pick is [1050] BALTIMORE RAVENS 10.50
•    #8. BASEBALLWIN 2007 AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT
•    Favorite pick is [2007] MINNESOTA TWINS +1000
•    #9. BASEBALL PIRATES @ ROCKIES
•    Favorite pick is [904] ROCKIES -139 ( ACTION )
•    #10. GOLF WIN THE BARCLAYS
•    Favorite pick is [109] K.J.CHOI +2800

Of course this is just a sample and not conclusive.  At the very least, this top ten list can give you insights as to the hottest picks.  For more specific and updated information, you can just visit Bookmaker.

What do people have to say about this?  There is no official word from Commissioner Stern as of yet but U.S. Attorney Roslyn Mauskopf  says “The participation of an official of one of the world’s premier sports leagues in an illegal betting scheme involving his own sport demonstrates the corrupting allure of easy money. Today’s guilty plea and charges serve as a warning that seemingly easy money often comes at a high price.”

It should not cast such a shadow over the sports betting scene, though.  There are perfectly legitimate sports betting operations wherein ordinary people like you and me participate.  We should not be punished for what one person has done.  However, we have to be realistic.  With such a highly publicized incident, we can expect some sanctions on the sports betting side.  We might have to face more restrictions.  I have no idea what they may be but I am pretty sure that repercussions would follow.  I just hope that whatever they implement would not make the innocent suffer just because someone else messed up.

So how is sports betting different in this respect?  It is simple, really – there is no house edge when it comes to sports betting.  More so, the odds in sports betting are not as huge as that of different lotteries.  In sports betting, you need to approach the whole thing as an investment and thus you should keep a cool head and be disciplined.  With that combination, you can easily profit from sports betting.

Of course, there are certain things that you need to bear in mind when betting on sports.  Just like other gambling activities, it is best not to chase your losses.  Despite the fact that there is no built-in house edge in sports betting, there are still times when your picks will have losing streaks.  Walk away from that.  There will always be a next time.

The people of Uganda are no different from millions and millions of people around the world – they have a passion for sports, specifically, soccer.  Recently, though, Sports Betting Africa announced that they are expanding their operations into East Africa, of which Uganda is part.  They are introducing their “Soccer 1×2” game which, they believe, will add some zest into the soccer fans’ experience.

How to play?  “One has to obtain an applicable fixture list for the 1X2 game and consider how each of the 12 pre-determined fixtures will end. The player must play a minimum of two board games of sh300 each. One marks (1) for a home team win, an (X) for a draw and a (2) for an away win.

The player who predicts right at least nine of the 12 games is an instant winner with sh2.78m as the highest jackpot.”

Check out these management issues:  how long has the sportsbook been in business, how financially secure is it, and what kind of management does it have?  The first question is easily answered.  The second one would entail looking at listings such as the Stock Exchange.  The third one would entail more research.

One of the best measures for a sportsbook is customer service.  Check if they have service 24/7.  Try giving them a call.  Do their reps speak good English?  That is, is there no language barrier?  Are they helpful?  Courteous? Patient?  You want to know these things because if you encounter problems later on down the line, you would have to deal with them.

Last, evaluate their wagering rules and their bonuses and promos.  Though these things may not really give you a good gauge as to whether the site is legit or not, it is assumed at this point that you have a good idea regarding that already.  It is time to make sure that this site is going to give you your money’s worth!

Check the payment options.  One way to check if the site is in good financial shape is whether or not they offer credit card payments.  If they do not, it may be a sign that they are not in good financial standing.  Credit card companies are quite strict when it comes to partnerships, so this is a good measure.

More to come.

This is, of course, good news to all sports betting enthusiasts out there who are always on the lookout for online venues to play in.  Existing members of CasinoUnreal do not need to create new accounts to be able to gain access to the online casino.  However, they may be in for a huge surprise as everything will be different from what they are used to.  Upon logging in, players will not be greeted merely with the casino homepage but will be given three options and the choice between poker and sports betting.

They have a wide selection of poker variations, from 5 Card Draw to 7 Card Stud to Omaha, and of Texas Hold ‘em Poker.  For sports betting, of course, you can take your pick from different sports such as baseball, football, golf, hockey, rugby, and tennis.

You can choose to play either by downloading their software or using the flash mode.  The latter is actually a much appreciated update by their players who do not want to have to wait for the software to download.  The flash player makes it easier for anyone to just enter the site and play immediately.

I believe that the main thing to remember is the fact that there is no one way to succeed at sports betting.  There are many different systems and strategies and not all of them work for everyone in the same way.  That is why it is important for you to find your own strategy or adopt one which works for you.  This is probably the hard part.  In the beginning you would have to keep on trying our different systems and methods.  This would be akin to the trial and error method.  When you hit upon a system that seems to work for you, try it out for a while – measure the long term success.  If it lives up to your expectations, stick with it.

All the while that you going on with your sports betting activities, do not overlook a simple yet powerful thing – doing your homework and keeping notes.  These go hand in hand.  Search for information and keep track of your activities.  This way you can go back and look through your notes for future reference.

Hawes says he “loves” Arnold, and that he brought True Lies with him on the trip to New York, with plans to watch it on the flight home. “Now it has a little extra meaning for me,” Hawes said.

Before we expect some kind of right-wing, basketball-and-politics partnership to form, though, Hawes might need to change his stance on global warming. Schwarzenegger, who most recently discussed the issue with world leaders during a tour of Europe, has become a leading figure in the fight for action against climate change. Hawes has a different view.

When I spoke with Hawes at the league’s predraft camp on May 31, he talked about a recent Public Debate class exercise at the University of Washington. In it, he said, he denied the entire existence — and human cause — of global warming. When asked for his take on Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, Hawes said, “It’s one big lie. I talked about that in my opening speech — it’s the media’s liberal overexaggeration of just about everything.”

I wonder how Hawes will be in his opening game in the NBA?  We have yet to see if his passion for politics will be anything like his passion for the game.