#Sports Betting Market Size

[bitchycrusadeking]

Sports Betting Market  2024-2032 Report Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Demand and Price

“ Sports Betting Market Research Report 2024” provides a unique tool for evaluating the Market, highlighting opportunities, and supporting strategic and tactical decision-making. The Sports Betting market research report serves as a cornerstone for the advancement of businesses, irrespective of their scale. Employing unparalleled and established methodologies like SWOT analysis and Porter’s Five Forces analysis, the report facilitates forecasting, analysis, and estimations. It encompasses competitive analysis of key market players, empowering businesses to make informed decisions to bolster their products and sales. Grounded in SWOT analysis, the market insights and analysis provided in the Sports Betting market survey report instill confidence in businesses.

Get Full PDF Sample Copy of Report (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) https://www.econmarketresearch.com/request-sample/EMR00547/

The global Sports Betting Market report by wide-ranging study of the Sports Betting industry which covers comprehensively all aspects of the different industry verticals. This includes its past performance analysis, latest market performance estimation for the current year based on the Drivers, Challenges & Trends.

Global Sports Betting Market Breakdown:

By Type:

Based on type, the global sports betting market is divided into fixed odds wagering, exchange betting, live/in-play betting, pari-mutuel, e-sports betting, and others. The fixed odds wagering category dominates the market with the largest revenue share in 2023. Bettor placement at predefined odds established by the bookmaker is known as fixed odds wagering. Regardless of future fluctuations in the odds, the possible payoff is known at the time the wager is made and cannot be altered.

By Applications:

Based on application, the global sports betting market is segmented into draw games, instant games, lotto, number games, and others. The draw games segment dominates the sports betting market. Participants in draw games choose numbers or combinations, and random drawings are used to determine the winners.  Instant games usually use scratch-off tickets or their digital equivalents to deliver outcomes instantly.  In order to be eligible to win rewards, players of lotto games usually have to choose a certain set of numbers.

Based on regions, Sports Betting Market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia- Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America

Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt)

North America (United States, Mexico, and Canada)

South America (Brazil, Argentina etc.)

Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)

Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)

This Free report sample includes:

A brief introduction to the Sports Betting Market research report.

Graphical introduction of the regional analysis.

Top players in the Sports Betting Market with their revenue analysis.

Selected illustrations of Sports Betting Market insights and trends.

Example pages from the Sports Betting Market

Who are the key Top Competitors in the Global Sports Betting Market?

Following are list of players: 

888 Holdings Plc

Bet365

Betsson AB

Churchill Downs Incorporated

Entain plc

Flutter Entertainment Plc

IGT

Kindred Group Plc

Sportech Plc

William Hill Plc, and various others

Crucial Research:

During the first survey, we interviewed various key sources of supply and demand to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to Sports Betting report. Key supply sources include key industry participants, subject matter specialists from key companies, and consultants from several major companies and organizations active in the Sports Betting market.

Minor Research:

The second study was conducted to obtain key information on the supply chain of the Sports Betting industry, the market’s currency chain, pools of major companies, and market segmentation, with the lowest level, geographical market, and technology-oriented perspectives. Secondary data was collected and analyzed to reach the total Global Sports Betting market size, which was verified by the first survey.

Competitive Landscape:

Mergers & Acquisitions, Agreements & Collaborations, New Product Developments & Launches, Business overview & Product Specification for each player listed in the study. Players profiled in Sports Betting market are 

Some Notable Report Offerings:

– We will provide you an analysis of the extent to which the global Sports Betting acquires commercial characteristics along with examples or instances of information that helps you to understand it better.

– We will also help to identify customary/ standard terms and conditions, as like offers, worthiness, warranty, and others for the Sports Betting industry.

– Also, this report will help you to identify any trends to forecast Sports Betting growth rates.

– The analysed report will forecast the general tendency for supply and demand in Sports Betting market.

For More Information or Qurey, Visit @ https://www.econmarketresearch.com/industry-report/sports-betting-market/

Key Highlights of Report

Overview of key market forces propelling and restraining market growth

Offers a clear understanding of the competitive landscape and key product segments

An analysis of strategies of major competitors

Detailed analyses of industry trends

A well-defined technological growth map with an impact-analysis

Provides profiles of major competitors of the market.

Details of their operations, product and services.

Recent developments and key financial metrics.

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[mysticalpersonakingdom]

Online Sports Betting Market

[todays-xkcd]

Hint: If you ever encounter this puzzle in a crossword app, just [term for someone with a competitive and high-achieving personality].

A Crossword Puzzle [Explained]

Transcript

[A square 15x15 crossword puzzle is shown. Only 21 of the 225 squares are black. The black squares are in a pattern that are 180 degree rotationally symmetrical. Three black squares down from the 11th column and similarly three black squares up from the 5th column. Three black squares out from the right in row 7 and then two more black squares diagonally up from the end. Similarly three black squares out from the left in row 9 with two more black squares diagonally down from the end. A single black square is three above the first black square on the diagonal going down to the right and similarly there is a black square three under the first of the diagonal squares going down to the left. (Row 6 column 12 and Row 10 column 4). Finally there are three black squares on a diagonal crossing over the central point by going up from the left through the central point (Row 8 column 8). There are numbers at the top of every column (except the one that is a black square) and similarly at the left edge of all rows (except the one that is a black square). There are also numbers at the bottom of every black segment (except the one that reaches the bottom) and all rows after black segments except the one that reaches the right edge. In total all numbers from 1 to 51 is written. They are written in reading order from 1 to 51.]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

[Below the square there are two rows of clues for each number that belongs to across (rows) and to the right there are one row of clues for each number that belongs to down (columns). Both segments have an underlined and bold title above the clues. ]

'''Across'''

1. Famous Pvt. Wilhelm quote

11. IPv6 address record

15. "CIPHERTEXT" decrypted with Vigenère key "CIPHERTEXT"

16. 8mm diameter battery

17. "Warthog" attack aircraft

18. Every third letter in the word for "inability to visualize"

19. An acrostic hidden on the first page of the dictionary

21. Default paper size in Europe

22. First four unary strings

23. Lysine codon

24. 40 CFR Part 63 subpart concerning asphalt pollution

25. Top bond credit rating

26. Audi coupe

27. A pair of small remote batteries, when inserted

29. Unofficial Howard Dean slogan

32. A 4.0 report card

33. The "Harlem Globetrotters of baseball" (vowels only)

34. 2018 Kiefer song

35. Top Minor League tier

36. Reply elicited by a dentist

38. ANAA's airport

41. Macaulay Culkin's review of aftershave

43. Marketing agency trade grp.

44. Soaring climax of Linda Eder's ''Man of La Mancha''

46. Military flight community org.

47. Iconic line from ''Tarzan''

48. Every other letter of Jimmy Wales's birth state

49. Warthog's postscript after "They call me ''mister'' pig!"

50. Message to Elsa in ''Frozen 2''

51. Lola, when betting it all on Black 20 in ''Run Lola Run''

“Down

1. Game featuring "a reckless disregard for gravity"

2. 101010101010101010101010 [sub]2→16

3. Google phone released July '22

4. It's five times better than that ''other'' steak sauce

5. ToHex(43690)

6. Freddie Mercury lyric from ''Under Pressure''

7. Full-size Audi luxury sedan

8. Fast path through a multiple choice marketing survey

9. 12356631 in base 26

10. Viral Jimmy Barnes chorus

11. Ruby Rhod catchphrase

12. badbeef + 9efcebbb

13. In Wet Let's ''Ur Mum'', what the singer has been practicing

14. Refrain from Nora Reed bot

20. Mario button presses to ascend Minas Tirith's walls

24. Vermont historic route north from Bennington

26. High-budget video game

28. Unorthodox Tic-Tac-Toe win

29. String whose SHA-256 hash ends "...689510285e212385"

30. Arnold's remark to the Predator

31. The vowels in the fire salamander's binomial name

32. Janet Leigh ''Psycho'' line

34. Seven 440Hz pulses

37. Audi luxury sports sedan

38. A half-dozen eggs with reasonably firm yolks

39. 2-2-2-2-2-2 on a multitap phone keypad

40. .- .- .- .- .- .-

42. Rating for China's best tourist attractions

43. Standard drumstick size

45. "The rain/in Spain/falls main-/ly on the plain" rhyme scheme

[justplainwhump]

Bull

Meet B's opponent in his first big fight.

[Dany: Fighting Ring Arc]

This is adapted from an RP with @hackles-up, my beloved B (Beast) is her character.

Content / warnings: illegal fights, forced to fight, threats of noncon, humiliation and dehumanisation, broken bone, shock collar, whumpee x caretaker, bad guy pov. BBU setting implied.

Today's arena was impressive; even though it was as improvised as they all were. Set in the old sports area of an abandoned factory's rooming house, the organizers had invested in quite a bit of equipment and service to make the venue memorable.

Large stage lighting systems were installed on the long sides of the pool, spotlights that would later illuminate the fighting pit on the bottom of the empty pool now dancing over the expectant audience, the caterers flitting between them, and the fighters preparing in a cordoned-off area opposite the entrance.

Bull stood in the fighter's area with crossed arms, his back to the wall, the size of the empty half circle around him a good indicator for the respect he'd earned himself over the past years. He was a favorite; his owner's, but also, the crowd's. Every now and then one of the guests in their suits or evening wear would step in closer to the cordon, look at him, and nod contently before they pulled out their wallets and turned towards the betting stations. He allowed himself a short smile. More money meant more clout, meant more rewards. Bull had started as a desperate street fighter, but he had worked himself up to his own room in his master's house, his own chef, his own physical therapist.

Only thing he'd ceased getting, something other Dogs had, were Chewtoys.

Bull went through them too quickly, Master had said. He'd have to wait for the fights. It was an unspoken law, that everyone who set up an opponent for Bull, everyone who wanted to challenge the champion, added a prize for him as well. He hadn't seen tonight's one, yet. Not that it mattered much. He'd win. He always did. And after, there'd be someone scared and warm waiting for his cock.

Usually, these prizes were runaways, gathered from the street, or discount pets after a third or fourth refurb. Skinny, scarred, pathetic. Most weren't even Romantics. Didn't matter. Bull didn't want to be seduced.

They rarely made it long. Sometimes, spectators of the fights would pay Bull's master extra, to let them watch the aftermath. In those cases, they did last longer. Bull knew how to give a spectacle.

He figured they'd want a spectacle tonight, as well. Bull was the headliner, scheduled for the last fight of the night - as always -, but this time, they pitted him against fresh meat. One of Hank's, this place's head operator's, latest findings. The man was good at spotting potential; but setting his latest toy up against Bull in his very first fight? Risky, to say the least.

From the corner of his eye, Bull saw one of Hank's trainers pointing at him. Ryder. Arrogant, overpriced ass who wouldn't last a second in the pit himself. Only thing he could achieve was mess with WRU products conditioned minds. His Master had brought Ryder in as a trainer for Bull once, because he was meant to be the best. Hadn't worked out well. Bull didn't fight because of weird WRU drugs messing up his brain. Bull fought because he wanted to. Because fighting opened doors for him. Because he couldn't just do whatever he wanted, but was celebrated for it, revered even. His Master had a claim on him, sure, but both Bull and him knew, he could walk away whenever he wanted. He just didn't want it.

Bull's gaze rested on the Dog next to Ryder. Curious, that Hank let Ryder train the newbie. Quite the investment into someone who'd be obliterated. He watched the new Dog with a glint of lazy interest. Big, just like Bull himself. Lot slimmer around the waist, though. Built to be not only strong, but pretty, too. He was younger than Bull, but far older than the usual fresh meat they'd throw on the market.

And obviously pumped on drugs. Bull smirked and gestured at his trainer. Well then. He'd match that. His trainer raced to his side with a drinking bottle. Filled with the good juice. Bull took a big gulp. "What's that guy's story?"

"They call him the Beast. Runaway WRU they found on the trash and built up again."

"Guessed as much."

"There's more though. Something you should know."

"Hm?"

"Bait's his girlfriend."

Bull chuckled. "Pathetic. Dogs don't do relationships." 
"Maybe he's an unusual one. He's going to want to defend her."

Bull watched the pet from hard eyes. "I'll keep him alive then. Let him watch."

The trainer tilted his head, but his reply was drowned out in booming music, tuning over into an announcement.

“Ladies and gentlemen! We have a great line up for you tonight, so get those bets in and let’s get this show on the road!”

The new Dog startled at the noise and the following roar of the crowd.

Bull chuckled half to himself. This would be easy. Still. He could make it easier still.

"Where is that prize?" Bull asked, over the cheer of the audience, unfazed by the noise. It would grow a lot louder, when he came up, later. "Get her here. Pay someone if you must. Gonna push some buttons before we're on."

His glance followed the trainer, wandering over the spectators, who cheered as the first fighters of the day were let down into the ring.

There he was, the ring's manager, Hank, standing next to his boss in the first row.

By their side, kept on a short leash, knelt a young woman in a tight black catsuit, her face pressed against Hank's leg.

From the distance, Bull saw Hank shake his head. His boss put a hand on Hank's arm, saying something into his ear, that caused Hank to lift his arm and throw an with an indignant gesture at Bull.

Bull grinned. He always got what he wanted. He made the money tonight, after all.

It was thrilling, to see the bristling Hank stomp towards him, the bait dragged behind him, struggling to keep his pace as she crawled on all fours.

The girl could've been conventionally attractive, Bull guessed, if that was what one was into. Tall, skinny, soft, cute little cat ears nestled in her short hair. She was also humiliated, terrified, and drugged just enough to make that terror plain obvious but render her unable to do anything. That certainly was something Bull was into. He smiled, flashing all his sharpened teeth.

"Don't do anything stupid, Bull." Hank kept the girl on a tight leash, as he arrived just on the other side of the cordon. It wasn't only rope keeping them in, though.

Circuits were embedded in the floor, that would set off the collar of any Dog who crossed it before the time for their fights. Bull knew precisely where these are, and how to avoid them when he sauntered towards her.

He grinned, ignoring Hank's speech.

He could swear the bait was shivering already.

"So, Kitty," he snarled instead, making sure the new guy overheard. "I hear you're used to taking Dog cock?"

It was enough already. From the side, he heard an animalistic roar, alarmed screams from the handlers.

The new guy was lunging forward, gnashing his teeth together, all but dragging the two handlers desperately trying to pull back his leash.

"Dany!" His voice was harsh and raw.

"Dany," Bull all but purred. "They give names to the fucktoys? What a waste."

"Beastie! Stay!" Ryder was running towards his charge.

"Catch poles! Get the catch poles-" Hank yelled orders at the handlers.

The commotion in the fighters' area had stirred the audience, enough for their attention to shift from the fight down in the pit to tonight's main contestants. Murmurs and laughter erupted, even a cheer or two for Bull.

He grinned, taking in his surroundings.

Hank had pushed himself between the Fighters and the girl.

Not far enough though.

At the other end of the area, the WRU pet had shaken off the handlers trying to pull him back and charged towards Bull, letting out a guttural roar.

Bull knew exactly where he could step, and his arms were long enough. His left arm pushed Hank away, his right wrapped around the girl's leash and yanked.

The whore wouldn't have been any match for him in any state. Drugged as she was, she all but fell right into his arms with a hoarse scream, just as he spun back towards the charging idiot, the girl pressed firmly against his front, right in the Beast's path.

The other stopped dead in his tracks, inches in front of them.

"Easy, buddy," Bull taunted. "We're not on yet."

It sounded like the fight had been interrupted down in the pit. All eyes were on them now. Perfect.

Bull fastened his hold of the fucktoy, acknowledging the press of her warm, tense body against his, her frantic heartbeat against his chest, that caused a pleasant stir in his groin. She'd be fun, later. He leaned in the slightest bit, licked a slow, long strip over her neck, making sure his sharpened teeth caught the light just right.

"You've fucked her before, too, haven't you? Don't you think I too deserve a taste of what I fight for?"

"Bull," Hank hissed. "Step down."

Bull ignored him easily. Hank would acknowledge the rustle of bills around him just as much as Bull did. And even if he didn't - Hank's own boss sure did. All attention was good attention.

The other Fighter took another slow, predatory step towards Bull.

Behind him catch poles were silently, hastily being snatched up. Fingers hovered over controllers. Nobody dared to make a move though. It seemed as if everyone held their breath.

Then, the wannabe-Beast lunged forward, eyes glaring with unbridled fury, his first crashing towards Bull's face.

He had no idea what he was getting himself into. Too bad for him that Bull did.

The bitch screamed, when the pet's fist came crashing towards her. Bull had to leave it to his opponent - he was fast. Good to know. No chance for Bull to wrestle his girl in the line of attack, just to throw himself back and dodge. The "Beast"'s fist brushed over Bull's cheek, but failed to fully connect.

Before he could even withdraw his arm, his eyes widened. His body spasmed. He fell over like a felled tree.

For the tight fracture of a second, Bull expected a shock of his own. None came. So he just watched his opponent crumble in front of him. The whore's heart against him was racing, her shiver a tantalizing distraction on Bull's skin. He gently lowered his mouth over her neck, pulse under his enforced teeth. Her breath stilled. As did the audience's.

"Intermission," the announcer's voice crackled over the speakers. "We've decided to interupt tonight's program, and pull forward our main fight. Please, refill your drinks, adjust your bets, and be ready to see Bull vs Beast, starting in no less than five minutes!"

Bull locked gaze with his Master, in the first row, slight panic in his eyes, gesturing for him to let go. Bull rolled his eyes. Idiot. As if Bull would risk disqualification like that.

He slowly pulled back from her neck, felt the tension of the audience dissolve, just like his Master's.

"I'll finish with you soon enough," he murmured into the whore's hair, loud enough for those spectators around him to brighten up in anticipation.

"Fighters, step back," another announcement cracked.

Bull nodded his head in faux deference and set the prize down to her feet, ready to toss her back to Hank.

Not without a little signature, though.

A slight twist of his arm was all it took.

He felt her bone shift under her skin, heard it crack, just as he let go of her with a swift push.

She landed in a heap in front of Hank's feet, screaming in pain.

*

The audience slowly retreated, ushered back by Hank's security. Handlers rushed in to look after Hank's sorry ruffled Beastie, already sitting up, pale from the shock's aftermath, rendered unable to do anything but growl. What a throwback for the upcoming fight these shocks would prove to be.

Bull's own trainer appeared by his side with a bag of ice for his face, and he reached out to take it. 
His gaze rested on Hank though, and he relished the way the manager's lip formed an asshole. He'd never say it out loud, though. Hank knew where his boss' money came from.

And so he seethed in furious silence as he signalled for a medic to look after his pathetic fucktoy's broken arm.

"Waste of time," Bull mouthed, grinning at Hank and lifting a finger to draw a line across his throat. "She's done. They both are."


----

Dany tag list (let me know if you want to be added or removed): @distinctlywhumpthing @Whumping-on-the-ridge @queenofthenoobs @ocean-blue-whump

[halfstack-smp]

The Lion's Share

It’s a man, or something like one. A small tengu in dark wings and a darker coat that gives its body a round, soft shape. Pipe smoke rolls out in sparks of color, the sunset fade of its clothes and hat-tassels stark against the encroaching night.

TW- Child abandonment, implied human trafficking, past child neglect, non-graphic violence.

Content- Hurt comfort, slice of life, nonbinary child pov, the horror of being stuck in a farmer's market with a chinese grandpa AND a mexican grandpa

Screen reader's note: Contains passages in Hokkien english, Spanish. Use of gender neutral it/they pronouns.

You're at the beginning.

Read Halfstack stories

Read other Halfstack writings

Support the Halfstack SMP

Kelpies don't deal in children.

Too tender. Too bony. Too small. Such pitiful meat for all too much effort that would be better spared on a full sized drowned. Besides, children- and their parents- make for very sore losers.

It's just bad sport.

But this particular kelpie, it seems, doesn't care much for sport. Not enough to keep refusing Lynel's request to substitute their mother's life with their own after she wagered too much to walk away from.

That’s how it always starts. A wager- a wager of a waterhorse, and whatever dumb motherfucker is desperate enough to bet their own living meat for coin.

(Like Mother did.)

It’s- it’s a fair trade, is what it is. One life for another. Their little brothers still need Mother to come back home tomorrow, and she'll have one less mouth to feed. It's not like Lynel really regrets the whole thing. They just hope they'll at least get to go to bed first. Or have some food. Dead people are supposed to get last meals, or something like that.

(Lynel isn’t counting on it.)

It's nightfall now, and it seems like this kelpie isn’t interested in making an easy meal out of the night creatures that’ll be crawling out of the woodwork soon. Lynel supposes that’s fair. If they had a choice between eating zombies and literally anything else, they’d go for the latter. Besides, the kelpie had been kicking up that big fuss earlier about not wanting to get their nice clothes ruined. They’re barely even willing to touch Lynel at all. In the growing darkness, their presence is reduced to nothing but a clawed hand digging into Lynel’s shirt.

The kelpie’s grip spasms. They turn around, an irritated snarl pulling against their too-long lips as they pull Lynel closer. “Business is closed. There are no more refunds.”

“Na?” A figure steps out into the fading light. “What refund do y’ think I might be de-mandin’? That’s no child o’ mine.”

It’s a man, or something like one. A small tengu in dark wings and a darker coat that gives its body a round, soft shape. Pipe smoke rolls out in sparks of color, the sunset fade of its clothes and hat-tassels stark against the encroaching night.

The kelpie snorts disdainfully. “There’s always some bleeding heart that wants to beg for my debtors.” Their clawed hand clenches down on Lynel’s shoulder. “This whole night has been a waste of time. Let me pass before the locals think I have a taste for bad meat.”

The tengu’s smile turns sharp, flat. “Oh, I don’t plan to beg, le. I’ll trade you fair and square.”

The tengu takes off its coat, arms rolling with the movement of its wings as it shrugs the fabric off its body. But the soft bright hues of its shirt does fuck all to hide its full chest, broad shoulders, and powerful arms- there’s a lithe, practiced ease to its movements, and the stark black feathers around its wings and face glint like copper and gold, the warm tones singing with a soft richness of magic.

The kelpie’s defensive sneer shifts with perked ears and a sickeningly curious head tilt. The disdainful curl of their mouth warps into this leering softness, frightening and hungry, and for some reason, it feels like that's exactly what the tengu wants.

“Shuai ge, here’s what’s gonna happen.” The tengu’s head jerks to the dock. “We’re takin' that last ride outta town, and you an’ I are gonna play an ea-sy game o’ cards. Hao le ma?”

“In exchange for the child, I imagine,” the kelpie teases.

The tengu lets out a coy hum. “I think you wouldn’t mind too terr-i-bly if we let ‘em go either way.”

“That remains to be seen.”

Lynel hears the click of the tengu’s cane as they walk up to the incoming ship. It’s an odd thing to have. The tengu sounds… not young, really, but not quite old enough to be needing a cane, especially with that all too literal skip in its bouncing step.

It's hard to keep track of the details after that. Lynel never really had time to play those kind of games, and it's not like they can see what the two are playing anyways.

What's so special about kelpie games, anyway? The only two endings are getting a boatload of money or just dying. Why did Mother even need money so bad in the first place? Everything was fine before she got so paranoid. But no, she'd packed off while all Lynel's little brothers were out for school, and Lynel had been stupid enough to follow her.

Stupid enough to take her place. Stupid, stupid, stupid. If only they'd been a little less tired, a little less hungry. What was even the last thing Lynel ate? A corn chip. Their last meal on this godforsaken earth is a corn chip. That's what they'll be dying for, a single corn chip-

“Oh, you thieving little MAGPIE-”

Lynel barely has time to flinch as the kelpie surges across the table, clawed arms lunging forward to pin the tengu against the wall. But it’s the kelpie that looks threatened, not the tengu- the kelpie’s fine suit is disheveled with rage, while the tengu limply leans against the wooden surface with a languid smile and laughs. The motion pulls against the red markings on the edge of its eyes like a delighted, blood-tinged squint.

Sightmarks. The tengu’s an honest-to-Ortet diviner.

“Y’ really didn’t see what was on my face from the be-ginning?” The tengu tilts its shadowed head, letting out a coy sound. “Ke ai, le.”

“Most people who want to try their luck know better than to cheat,” the kelpie growls.

“I said it’d be easy,” the tengu laboriously articulates. “I didn’t say it’d be easy for you.” Its eyes flick back to Lynel, the first hint of nervousness it’s dared to show this entire round. “An’ I know you ain’t fixin’ t’ keep the child an-y-ways. Y’know what happens to kelpies that start puttin’ young meat on their ledgers.”

The kelpie relinquishes their hold, like the touch of the tengu’s body burns. “Bloody fucking fortune tellers.”

The kelpie starts to leave the room. Lynel shakily gets up to their feet. “Wait, wait-” They trail after the kelpie uneasily, following them onto the deck. “What’s going to happen to me?”

“What do I care?” the kelpie rhetorically asks as they walk off the edge of the boat. “Have a life, human child.”

“But-”

The water splashes. Lynel and the tengu watch the damp shadow of the kelpie disappear.

After a moment, the tengu lets out a loud wheezing sound, chest suddenly heaving with clicking, rattling breaths.

“Aiyo.” A sturdy, red-taloned arm braces across its chest. “Kiasi le.” It looks down at Lynel with a worn smile. “Good t’ see that one leave, eh? Big man with their big words.”

“Why are you acting so scared all the sudden?” Lynel sputters. “I’m the one that was gonna get eaten!”

The tengu frowns. “Gin na, I don’t want you to be eaten le. Wo hui ben si le, ma? Whole time, I’m tryin’ to get that one away from you. Why else d’ya reckon I’d get so close to a water horse?”

Lynel can barely understand half the words coming out of the tengu’s mouth, and maybe it shows, because the tengu freezes in place a little bit and slows its next words. It’s a nice thought, probably, but it really just points out that the guy is barely moving its mouth when it talks, and it’s kind of creepy.

“You gave yourself away, yes?” the tengu slowly asks. Lynel nods, and the tengu mirrors the motion. “That okay, le. You are not in trou-ble. Too young. Is there someone I can give you back to?”

“My- my mother brought me here,” Lynel haltingly answers.

The tengu closes its eyes and takes a deep breath. “If I take you t’ your mother, she wants you back?”

“Of course she does!” Lynel shouts. “It weren’t her fault!”

The tengu raises its hands. “Okay le! Okay. Then I take you home, okay?”

Lynel nods. It’ll be fine. They’ll go home and be done with it and be fine.

=[]=

It was not, in fact, fine.

Things were so not-fine, in fact, that Lynel ended up never really going home at all. Because they didn’t want to go home anymore, ever again.

That’s how not-fine it is.

Fadir Ravenslove perches on the train seat next to Lynel. Fadir Ravenslove- this is the name of the tengu that saved Lynel’s life, and Lynel’s starting to think that maybe it’s not quite a tengu at all. Not with that shadow over its face and the odd lilt of its sentences, like speech was some kind of novelty it doesn’t quite understand.

They’re sitting close enough to touch. Neither of them do.

Lynel looks up to find the larger… raven… thing staring directly into their eyes. Lynel startles, just a bit, and Fadir draws back slightly, eyes turning away. 

“Paisei,” Fadir mutters. “Paisei.” It clicks to itself. “Ah- ni- ni hui-” 

It stumbles and stutters over its words, mouth opening and closing out of sync with its odd little sounds. 

“D’you want t’ talk about it?” it finally manages.

“No,” Lynel lies. “Why did you give my mother all that money?” they ask instead.

“She don’t deserve t’ go hungry on ac-count of coins,” Fadir easily answers. “An’ she has kids to feed, besides.”

“You need to eat, too,” Lynel quietly insists.

Fadir chuckles. “I don’t need money t’ do that. Besides, I can just get more, le.”

A silence passes.

“It’s cus she stopped,” Lynel suddenly says. “She- she waited- she-”

“Hes-i-tate.”

“That. You showed up in that house with me and a bunch of coins spillin’ out your sleeves like broken jug, and she- she hesitated.” Lynel’s voice turns small. “Like she wasn’t sure she wanted me back, even if you paid her for it.”

Fadir tilts its head. “I think she is very stressed all the time. Only her in that house to take care o’ y’all.” It gestures with its fingers. “Y’leave anybody alone like that too long, their brains get cruel, le. Makes ‘em think things they don’t want to. It ain’t her fault.”

“I don’t care.” Lynel curls up against themself in the seat. “She still thought it. I just- how am I supposed to back home, if I’m always gonna know she did that?”

Fadir’s smile gains a sad tilt.

“I don’t care if she didn’t mean it,” Lynel shakily whispers. “I don’t care if she loves me. It wasn’t enough.” Their eyes start to flood with tears. “I wasn’t enough.”

Fadir stares at Lynel for a bit and lets out a sigh. “I’m not tellin’ you t’ go back home for anything, am I?”

“I’m not going,” Lynel insists. “I don’t care where you put me, just not there.”

“Okay, le.” A taloned hand hesitantly rests in Lynel’s hair. “I know somewhere you can stay.”

“Just for a little bit,” Lynel promises. “And then I’ll- I’ll leave. I promise.”

(And they never did.)

=[]=

There’s a routine falling into place at Ravenslove Tower, and it goes something like this.

Lynel wakes up in a room they don’t share with anyone else, in a clean bed with a blanket that doesn’t have holes in it. The window does have holes, but they’re like… on purpose holes. Lattice? Something.

There’s also a full staircase of chests and drawers that Fadir said they could use. A full staircase! It doesn’t have a lot of stuff in it, but Fadir said they could work on that. Lynel’s… almost counting on that, actually.

(Almost.)

They go down their staircase, past the workroom and towards the hearth. Fadir passes a quick bowl of fruit towards them across the table and asks them to check if the chickens have any eggs.

“Alright, just this once,” Lynel allows. “You can’t make me do it again.”

And it never did. (It never does.) Fadir never really gives Lynel chores, just… things to do if they have the time. There’s a lot of things to do around the house. Fetch the eggs, fill the trough, turn the chickens out, check the garden hasn’t done anything odd, see if the sniffer’s brought anything in for the pantry.

Fadir absolutely doesn’t ask Lynel to do much more in the house than keep their own room clean or wash up their dishes if they aren’t busy. In fact, Fadir seems pretty insistent on Lynel not fussing around with anything inside, especially not the work room.

(Lynel doesn’t know what’s inside the work room and they’re too scared to ask.)

There’s also the… guy(?) who lives in the walls. A fluffy haired imp in a crop top that swaggers around outdoors in a leather jacket, chaps, and tiny white boots, judging Lynel’s chicken related ventures with a scrutinizing black gaze. His name is Kibble. (Allegedly.) He doesn’t seem to do much more than bother chickens, bother Fadir, and steal deli meat from the ice box.

He also shows up when Fadir goes shopping, so there’s that. Shopping is…

…it’s gotta be one of the events of all time.

“Zhe ge, ne?” Fadir’s knobbly hands lift a papaya out of a cardboard box. “Gei ni hui kan.”

“Fuckin’ uhhhh-” Kibble squints at the fruit’s freckled surface. “It looks a little too green. There’s definitely some better ones in the box.”

Fadir lets out a short hum and puts the fruit back, hand hovering over the pile. Kibble hops off its shoulder, bouncing off the wood of the stall to disappear into a nearby barrel, only visible by the remnants of his long tail.

“You go pick something out,” Fadir offers suddenly. “Anythin'. I pay for you.”

Lynel points questioningly to themself.

“They’ve got nearly everythin’ ‘round here,” Fadir insists. “Bound t’ have somethin’ you like.”

Lynel ducks their head between their shoulders. “Can’t you pick it out with your…” They gesture vaguely at the black shadow covering up Fadir’s face.

Fadir’s expression seems to freeze for a moment. A statue held in place. And then its eyes stutter back into motion, and the moment is gone.

“I want t’ see what you choose.” Its hand briefly taps at Lynel’s knuckles. “What you choose. Ne?”

Anything, it said. Anything at all? That’s, uh- that’s sure a lot of thing. Lynel’s not really sure what to do with that. But… Fadir didn’t say they had to pick something out right now. (Right?) So- Lynel’s just going to look around a little bit. They don’t want to go too far away.

Just a little off to the side, there’s a candy stand, its boxes piled high with every sort of sugary thing it could manage. Candied flowers, rose jams, pumpkin slices, even candied meats. And right in the corner, nestled between some candied nuts and colorful chocolates, was a little box of marshmallows.

Lynel was never allowed to have marshmallows before. Mother bought plenty of candied fruits and meats when she could (it lasted longer than anything fresh), but never marshmallows. Large, fluffy, and devoid of substance. Fadir would never let them eat something like that, not while it fusses over how thin it thinks Lynel is. Surely not.

And yet, and yet, and yet. Lynel’s hands still end up wrapping around a little box of frog shaped marshmallows.

“Wa!” Fadir sidles up behind Lynel to stare at the candy cart. “Powder sugar le! I can sugar my basil flowers.”

“You candy your flowers?” Lynel asks. “I guess it makes them easier to sell…”

“Sometimes, le,” Fadir concedes before its smile gains a coy squint. “But! They are just good t’ have, ne? Not very good, but-” It lets out a sharp chirp. “Y’ don’t need everythin’ t’ be all well n’ good all the time-”

Its body suddenly stiffens, feathers puffing out like an angry cat’s hackles. Lynel follows its gaze to find…

…Kibble. Just standing there. Holding a single avocado and the smuggest possible grin on its face.

“No,” Fadir tersely says.

“It’s on sale, señor,” Kibble teases.

“No sale,” Fadir denies. “Only death.”

“It is in season!” Kibble insists, pushing the avocado closer. “You deny Ortet’s bounty?”

Fadir clutches its cane and hisses. “I de-ny you want to kill me! Poi-son me!”

Kibble hoists the avocado over his head. “The power of Ortet compels you!”

Fadir lightly bats Kibble away. Instead of just dropping the avocado like a normal person, Kibble decides to fly backwards into the supporting wall of the stall and ricochet directly into Fadir’s face, allowing the offending fruit to drop directly into Fadir’s hand.

A single weary golden eye looks down at Lynel as Kibble scrabbles for purchase on its hat.

“Every day I wake up,” the raventhing ominously mutters.

Lynel wheezes out a loud laugh.

“Aiiiyi, wo tai lao le,” Fadir sarcastically despairs. “No face. Children laugh at me.” It offers the avocado to Lynel. “You want my poison? Human fruit, good for you.”

Lynel simply offers up their marshmallow box like a meager shield. “Can I just have this instead?”

Instead of saying yes or no, Fadir places another marshmallow box on top of Lynel’s.

“So you don’t run out,” it offers.

“I’m not even gonna stay that long,” Lynel mutters. “I probably won’t even be here by next week.”

“And then you won’t run out while you’re gone,” Fadir simply says.

“R-right. Until it runs out.”

(And it never did.)

[wherewhereare]

Several points of discussion about the new LC Ryman venue:

-It seems that Ryman/Opry has been trying to grow the country music event audience beyond Nashville, particularly focusing on international fans and tourists, for at least 6/7 years. There was a NYC Times Square Opry venue that opened in Dec 2017 but only lasted 9 months due to low revenue. When they transferred this idea to the Ole Red concept, they chose locations that were heavy on international tourism and had a live music or events presence already (Orlando, Las Vegas). Gatlinburg is an exploding tourist destination but live event venues, besides Dollywood, aren’t as common yet. There was also the Ryman deal in Austin that fell through in 2020 because of the drop in tourism at the beginning of the pandemic. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them focus on Austin again next, especially since CMT and ACM both moved to Texas this year too.

-Going with this idea, Colin Reed (he’s still executive chairman and spokesman) in the media releases for the new venue, emphasized Luke C’s international appeal (he has a world tour scheduled this year) and the new venue bringing the international focus to downtown Nashville. We already know Blake isn’t willing to tour outside of N America. It seems clear they were seeking someone that would work the international market. Did Blake announcing he was pulling back/semi-retiring also factor into this decision? They were probably looking for someone willing to be more active in the Nashville music scene, tour internationally, and more willing to do promotion.

-One question is will Ryman continue to grow the Ole Red brand or will they instead grow this new brand outside of Nashville? It was smart to not tie Ole Red directly with Blake and include his name. That way it can last beyond his involvement if necessary. The new venue though seems a little more personally focused on Luke C. Colin Reed in TOC article said the idea was hatched at an Opry duck hunt 6 years ago. They haven’t announced a name yet. Wonder if it will be a direct tie in to Luke?

-Final observation is that Ole Red claims their venue is 26,000 sq ft total capacity. New venue claims 69,000 sq ft total capacity including roof addition. So it is almost double the size. It also includes sports betting and seems to be banking on full concert events. Ole Red is more scaled for bar, intimate concerts and private events rather than true concerts or events. Maybe they saw the potential for bigger events because of the Barmaggedon filming, the newish partnership with NBCUniversal, the upcoming Vegas presence, etc and decided to pursue something on that scale in Nashville in order to take advantage of future events. They already had the Wildhorse venue. It just amounted to renovating it and getting Luke C on board. Thoughts?

==

[darthsydnious]

Every Girl Needs a Bra

The market seems busier than last time. Omega’s eyes were as wide as dinner plates as she took in the new sights. Maybe it’s just because we’re going to a different part, you thought, straying from the food and general supplies in search of a clothing store. You fought the urge to hold onto Omega like a toddler, afraid she was going to run off to look at something. “Stay focused, Omega. We have a time limit.”

“I am focused,” Omega said as she leaned behind you to look at the jewelry stand as she passed. You rolled your eyes. Affectionately. Maybe you was picking up too much from Crosshair.

Finally, you made it to a clothing store. You looked around to make sure that they would have something appropriate for Omega, since she was the whole reason you went on this shopping trip anyway. Satisfied, you let Omega loose in the store. You shuffled around, looking at the various items the store carried. Crosshair could probably use another pair of pants, you thought to yourself. You picked up a pair of denim pants and held them up. “Ugh. Too short.”

“Hey!” Omega called out from across the store. “I have a question!”

“Be right there!” You folded the pants back up. You hated when people left clothes for the workers to fold. You made your way over to where Omega was standing in front of the underwear section, eyeing a colorful sports bra.

Omega turned to face you, one hand reaching up towards the rack. “Can I get a bra?”

“Uh, yeah, of course. Bras are essential.” You started looking through the rack for one that you thought might be Omega’s size.

“Oh. Cool.” Omega smiled and started looking at the different colors. “Whenever I ask Hunter, he always says no.”

You stopped and stared at Omega. “What do you mean, he says no?”

Omega shrugged. “He says that they’re too expensive and I don’t need it.”

You closed your eyes and took a deep breath. I’m going to fight that man. “Omega, that’s just silly. Every girl needs bras. They’re just like underwear.”

Omega looked up at you and said, “I’m a girl, but I’m not a girl like how you’re a girl.”

You raised an eyebrow.

Omega sighed. “I’m a girl, but I’m also a clone. An unaltered clone.”

Then it clicked. That’s why Hunter thought it wasn’t essential. You blinked a couple times and said, “Well, like I said. Every girl needs bras. Pick out whatever you want.”

Omega slammed into you and hugged you so hard you couldn’t breathe. “Thank you so much!”

“No problem, kid.”

~~~~~~~~~

Omega carried her bag with all her new clothes in it, smiling all the way back to the ship. As you got close enough to see the fire pit that the boys had built, Omega skipped ahead to go show everyone what she got.

Hunter met you halfway at the edge of camp. “She seems happy,” he said, a slight smile on his face as he looked back at her.

“She is,” you said. You put your hands on your hips. “I bought her a bra. She said you’ve never let her get one.”

Hunter sighed and crossed his arms. “It’s not like she needs it,” he whispered. “We need that money to buy food and supplies right now.”

“Are you serious right now, Hunter?” You could feel your temper flaring. “If I have to go without a couple of meals to make her feel better about her body, then so be it. Since you’re so worried about money.”

You huffed and attempted to walk around Hunter before he grabbed your arm and pulled you back. “We can’t just go spending money on things that we want when we should be saving for things that we need.”

You yanked your arm out of his grasp. “Do you remember what going through puberty was like for you?”

Hunter seemed taken aback. And confused. “Yeah? Not a super fun time.”

“I bet! All of a sudden you’re growing hair in weird places and your voice cracks because it’s getting deeper.” You crossed her arms and cocked your head. “Now put yourself in Omega’s shoes. If all that wasn’t fun for you, imagine how Omega’s going to feel. And then tell me she doesn’t need a bra.” You rolled your eyes and looked over at the fire pit where Omega was showing Tech her new shirts.

“I didn’t… think about it like that.” Hunter took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to me,” you huffed. “Apologize to your sister.”

[nickgerlich]

The Shape Of Things

I have a lot of fun during “blogging season” each semester. For 12 weeks I take deep dives each and every day to find relevant topics ripe for discussion, with the added challenge of somehow finding a common thread to share to all of my classes. Most of the time I am able to do that.

And then there are times like today in which the subject has marketing legs of its own, but offers a few chuckles too. Because why not? We all need to laugh a bit.Like when I read recently that socialite Kim Kardashian was expanding her line of Skims shapewear to include products for men. Feel free to chuckle if you like.

Now men’s underwear is a funny subject. It has long been said that women buy the majority of men’s underwear to begin with, and that men only buy their own underwear for a small portion of their years on earth, leaving that duty to Mom and then wives and girlfriends. We’re bad like that. Lazy. Trying to get every ounce of value possible from them.

And why not? No one sees them.

Men’s underwear has long been a non-starter when it comes to fashion and all that. The pilot episode of Breaking Bad showed Walter White in his signature tighy-whities out in the desert, he being the archetype of suburban middle-class manhood. We expected it.

But shapewear? Isn’t that newspeak for a girdle? Sara Blakely made her billions by reimagining the girdle, as well as its predecessor the corset, as shapewear. They all achieve the same thing, and ladies bought Spanx by the armful to help conceal bulging realities. I bet there isn’t a woman alive who doesn’t one or more of them tucked away in the dresser.

I know. It’s a cultural ideal point. Our culture chides women into fits of guilt if they don’t maintain the appearance of their girlish youth. Guys, though, are cut a lot of slack, with even the “Dad bod” being popular. You know. Love handles and the inability to see one’s belt buckle (and maybe their toes as well).

Kardashian is not the first to try to break into the men’s market, because Spanx has had men’s items for several years now. I saw them once at the local Dillards, gathering dust. I don’t know a single guy who would wear a man girdle.

I do, however, confess to having several base layer long-sleeve shirts that effectively accomplish the same thing. All of my cycling jerseys fit much the same way too. If you accidentally get the wrong size, you wind up feeling like a sausage.

While Kardashian is hoping that men buy her new undies, I’m guessing that it will be women buying them for the men in their life. “Here, honey. Try these on. Your old ones are starting to look a little ragged anyway.”

Then again, maybe Kardashian can usher in a new era of underwear-buying men, guys who care as much about their undies and overall appearance as women do. Instead of having to hold it in whenever trying to impress the ladies, you can just stand there confidently knowing that your stretchy skivvies are doing it all for you.

I do think that the advertising for products like these needs to change, though. They always show studly male models wearing them, but they are guys who don’t need them in the first place. You know, like those Peloton ads showing fit and trim models pounding the pedals.

They need to show before-and-after pics of rather plump men all of a sudden looking pretty good, like they just graduated from basic training. That might sell more boxers and briefs. I for one don’t want to look at a pro athlete sporting these duds. He gets paid to be fit. I get paid to teach. I don’t have to be ripped to stand in front of a classroom, or type blogs.

Sorry, Kim. I’m good over here. Like most men, I’ve probably got a few good years left in what I own. But if someone wants to gift me some new drawers, I’ll gladly accept them.

Dr “Suck It In” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[virtual-quill]

SABOTAGE

The day of the NCAA National Championship for Gardening began in a celebratory mood, with Beige University seemingly owning an insurmountable lead due to the size and quality of the produce they’ve grown all year. To get to the stadium the team members had to dodge the sports media hoping for exclusive interviews. Everyone expected the actual harvest to be a mere formality.

Of course, nothing in our family’s life goes as expected. Apparently George’s gopher clan hollowed out the team’s massive vegetables, making sure to do their dirty work while Fiona was home asleep. They didn’t destroy everything, but enough to throw the title to their opponent. (That explains the late movement of the sports betting markets against Beige.)

That said, the gophers didn’t just want a gambling windfall or the satisfaction of denying Beige the crown. They wanted to turn the team against Rudy. They left his produce alone, intending to incite the others to attack him in an act of rage and fury.

Next week I’ll explain why this was incredibly stupid.

[dexchange1]

Sports Betting Strategies: Tips and Tricks to Maximize Your Winnings

Sports betting is a thrilling activity that allows you to combine your love for sports with the excitement of gambling. However, to succeed in sports betting and maximize your winnings, it's important to have a well-defined strategy. In this article, we will explore some valuable tips and tricks that can help you make informed decisions and increase your chances of success. So, let's dive into the world of sports betting strategies!

Understanding the Importance of Sports Betting Strategies

Sports betting strategies are essential for bettors looking to gain an edge over bookmakers like reddy book club and others. Without a clear strategy, betting becomes a mere guessing game, leading to inconsistent results and potential losses. By implementing effective strategies, you can make more calculated decisions and improve your overall betting experience.

Unleash Your Winning Potential: Proven Sports Betting Strategies 

1. Bankroll Management

One of the most critical aspects of successful sports betting is proper bankroll management. Your bankroll is the total amount of money you have set aside for betting. Here's how you can manage it effectively:

Set a Budget: Determine the amount of money you can afford to allocate for betting without affecting your daily life or finances. This will be your betting budget.

Stake Sizes: A common rule of thumb is to never bet more than 1-5% of your total bankroll on a single bet. This way, you minimize the risk of losing your entire bankroll on a single wager.

Avoid Chasing Losses: It's important to resist the temptation of chasing losses by placing bigger bets. Stick to your betting plan and avoid impulsive decisions.

Record Keeping: Keep track of your bets, including the amount wagered, odds, and outcomes. This will help you analyze your performance, identify areas for improvement, and track your overall profitability.

2. Research and Analysis

Successful sports bettors understand the importance of research and analysis. Here are some key points to consider:

Study the Teams and Players: Gain in-depth knowledge about the teams, players, coaches, and their performance history. Look for factors that may impact the outcome of a game, such as injuries, home-field advantage, weather conditions, and recent form.

Analyze Statistics and Trends: Utilize statistical data and trends to identify patterns and make informed predictions. Look for trends in team performance, head-to-head records, scoring patterns, and other relevant statistics.

Stay Updated with News: Stay informed about the latest news and developments in the sports you're betting on. Follow reputable sources to get insights into injuries, team strategies, lineup changes, and other factors that can affect the outcome of a game.

3. Value Betting

Value betting is a strategy that involves identifying bets where the odds offered by bookmakers are higher than the actual probability of an outcome. By finding value bets, you can potentially increase your long-term profitability. Here's how to spot value bets:

Compare Odds: Compare odds offered by different bookmakers to identify discrepancies. Look for situations where one bookmaker offers higher odds for a particular outcome than others.

Analyze Probabilities: Assess the probability of an outcome occurring based on your research and analysis. If you believe the probability is higher than what the odds imply, you may have found a value bet.

Be Selective: Value bets may not be abundant, so be selective in your choices. Patience is key when it comes to finding value in the betting markets.

4. Line Shopping

Line shopping involves comparing odds from different bookmakers to find the best possible value for a particular bet. Bookmakers may offer slightly different odds for the same event, so it's important to explore multiple options. Here's how to line shop effectively:

Utilize Online Comparison Tools: Online platforms like saffron exchange provide comparison tools that allow you to compare odds across different bookmakers quickly. Use these tools to find the best odds for your desired bet.

Have Multiple Accounts: Open accounts with multiple reputable bookmakers to have access to a wider range of odds. This gives you the flexibility to choose the most favorable odds for each bet.

Take Advantage of Promotions: Bookmakers often offer promotions and bonuses that can enhance your potential returns. Keep an eye out for these opportunities and take advantage of them when they align with your betting strategy.

5. Emotionless Betting

Emotional betting is a common pitfall that can lead to poor decision-making and unnecessary losses. It's crucial to approach sports betting with a rational mindset. Here are some tips to stay emotionless while betting:

Stick to Your Strategy: Develop a clear betting strategy and follow it consistently. Base your decisions on research, analysis, and predetermined criteria rather than emotional impulses.

Avoid Chasing Losses: If you experience a losing streak, resist the urge to chase losses by placing large bets. Stick to your bankroll management plan and trust your strategy.

Take Breaks: If you're feeling frustrated or overwhelmed, take a break from betting. Clear your mind and return to betting when you're in a calm and rational state.

Accept the Ups and Downs: Understand that losing is a part of sports betting. Even the most successful bettors experience losses. Embrace the inevitable ups and downs and focus on the long-term profitability of your strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions beginners often have about sports betting strategies:

Q: How important is bankroll management in sports betting?

A: Bankroll management is crucial for long-term success in sports betting. It helps you protect your funds, minimize risks, and ensure sustainability in your betting activities.

Q: Can I use the same betting strategy for all sports?

A: While some strategies can be applied across different sports, it's important to consider the specific characteristics of each sport. Factors such as team dynamics, playing styles, and rule variations may require adjustments to your strategy.

Q: How much time should I spend on research and analysis before placing a bet?

A: The amount of time spent on research and analysis can vary depending on the complexity of the bet and your level of expertise. It's advisable to allocate sufficient time to gather relevant information and make informed decisions.

Q: What is the best way to identify value bets?

A: Identifying value bets requires a combination of research, analysis, and odds comparison. Look for situations where the odds offered by bookmakers are higher than the actual probability of an outcome based on your assessment.

Q: Should I always bet on the favorite team/player?

A: Betting solely on favorites is not a guaranteed winning strategy. It's important to assess the odds, research team dynamics, and consider other factors that may impact the outcome. Sometimes, underdogs can present valuable betting opportunities.

Q: Can I rely solely on statistics to make betting decisions?

A: Statistics provide valuable insights, but they should be used in conjunction with other information. Consider factors like team form, injuries, motivation, and home-field advantage to make well-rounded betting decisions.

Q: How often should I review and adjust my sports betting strategy?

A: It's advisable to regularly review your strategy to ensure its effectiveness. Adjustments may be necessary based on changes in your betting patterns, market conditions, or new insights gained from research and analysis.

Q: How can I manage my emotions while betting?

A: Managing emotions in sports betting is important for making rational decisions. Stick to your strategy, avoid impulsive bets, take breaks when needed, and focus on long-term profitability rather than short-term results.

Q: Can I use sports betting strategies to guarantee profits?

A: No strategy can guarantee profits in sports betting. The outcome of sporting events is inherently uncertain. However, employing effective strategies can enhance your chances of success and improve your overall profitability.

Q: Is it possible to make a living from sports betting?

A: While it is possible for some individuals to make a living from sports betting, it requires extensive knowledge, experience, discipline, and a long-term perspective. It's important to approach sports betting as a form of entertainment and manage your expectations accordingly.

Remember, sports betting involves risks, and responsible gambling practices should always be followed.

Conclusion:

Implementing effective sports betting strategies can significantly improve your chances of success and maximize your winnings. By managing your bankroll, conducting thorough research, analyzing value bets, line shopping, and betting without emotions, you can gain a competitive edge in the world of sports betting. Remember, consistency, discipline, and a rational mindset are key to long-term profitability. Now, armed with these strategies, it's time to put your knowledge into practice and make informed betting decisions. Good luck!

[kingsapps]

SportsbetKings

SportsbetKings

Whether you're a veteran sports bettor or a newcomer to the sport, the best sports betting sites can make your experience more rewarding. They offer a wide variety of markets and bet types, as well as ongoing promotions and bonuses. Choosing the right sportsbook can save you money and give you peace of mind. DraftKings is one of the most popular sports betting sites on the Internet. It offers the largest and most extensive NFL betting markets, as well as a live betting feature. They also have an intuitive mobile app that's easy to navigate. In addition to the desktop site, they also have an incredibly functional social hub that's perfect for sharing picks and tailing friends. You can even play in private or public pools for free. FanDuel is another legal US online sports betting site. The site's homepage is packed with information about the major sports and sporting events. You can also find links to their online racebook and online casino. The site features a rolling promotional banner that is smaller than other sportsbooks'. Despite its small size, it's a sleek site. There's also a handy bet slip that's simple to use. You can also earn rewards by participating in the site's loyalty program. BetRivers is one of the newest legal US online sports betting sites. They offer the iRush Rewards system, which rewards members with loyalty points. Players can earn bonus store points and loyalty level points that can be exchanged for rewards. There are also no-deposit promotions and free bets. You can earn up to $1,000 in bonus store points with a $25 minimum deposit. PointsBet is a variant of spread betting that allows you to make multi-leg wagers. It also offers -105 odds on NFL spreads. You can also sort by point spread, moneyline, and total bets. It's easy to navigate the site and find all the information you need. You can also see the latest games by browsing through the leagues listed on the homepage. The site's homepage also features trending sports markets. You can also find a link to the site's daily fantasy sports site. There's also a cool stats hub that's a great way to learn more about specific games. Lastly, the site offers free pools that can be used for fun or wagering. Depending on the state you live in, sports betting is legal. The majority of states allow online wagering. Some states, however, only allow retail betting. There are also states that prohibit sports betting entirely. However, the online sports betting market is a thriving industry and is growing. Most of the top US sportsbooks offer thousands of dollars in free bets. The main benefit of legal US online sports betting is that it's safe to play. You won't be subjected to the same kinds of scams and hacks that you'd find at illegal sites. In addition, you'll have peace of mind, knowing that your funds are safe and that you're not putting yourself at risk for account theft.

[sportsbetkingssites]

SportsbetKings Sites

Whether you're a veteran sports bettor or a newcomer to the sport, the best sports betting sites can make your experience more rewarding. They offer a wide variety of markets and bet types, as well as ongoing promotions and bonuses. Choosing the right sportsbook can save you money and give you peace of mind. DraftKings is one of the most popular sports betting sites on the Internet. It offers the largest and most extensive NFL betting markets, as well as a live betting feature. They also have an intuitive mobile app that's easy to navigate. In addition to the desktop site, they also have an incredibly functional social hub that's perfect for sharing picks and tailing friends. You can even play in private or public pools for free. FanDuel is another legal US online sports betting site. The site's homepage is packed with information about the major sports and sporting events. You can also find links to their online racebook and online casino. The site features a rolling promotional banner that is smaller than other sportsbooks'. Despite its small size, it's a sleek site. There's also a handy bet slip that's simple to use. You can also earn rewards by participating in the site's loyalty program. BetRivers is one of the newest legal US online sports betting sites. They offer the iRush Rewards system, which rewards members with loyalty points. Players can earn bonus store points and loyalty level points that can be exchanged for rewards. There are also no-deposit promotions and free bets. You can earn up to $1,000 in bonus store points with a $25 minimum deposit. PointsBet is a variant of spread betting that allows you to make multi-leg wagers. It also offers -105 odds on NFL spreads. You can also sort by point spread, moneyline, and total bets. It's easy to navigate the site and find all the information you need. You can also see the latest games by browsing through the leagues listed on the homepage. The site's homepage also features trending sports markets. You can also find a link to the site's daily fantasy sports site. There's also a cool stats hub that's a great way to learn more about specific games. Lastly, the site offers free pools that can be used for fun or wagering. Depending on the state you live in, sports betting is legal. The majority of states allow online wagering. Some states, however, only allow retail betting. There are also states that prohibit sports betting entirely. However, the online sports betting market is a thriving industry and is growing. Most of the top US sportsbooks offer thousands of dollars in free bets. The main benefit of legal US online sports betting is that it's safe to play. You won't be subjected to the same kinds of scams and hacks that you'd find at illegal sites. In addition, you'll have peace of mind, knowing that your funds are safe and that you're not putting yourself at risk for account theft.

[mitsubishifever]

Why Buy A Mitsubishi ASX Now Before It's Too Late

Mitsubishi Motors will unveil an all-new ASX sometime in the near future, but it will be nothing like the current Mitsubishi ASX for sale that has become one of the biggest success motoring stories over the past decade.

This is already casting some doubt as to whether the newcomer can replicate its predecessor’s sales performance, and even over the viability of importing it given the extent of change the model is undergoing.

As reported in late January during the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s announcement stating its intention to introduce 35 new electric vehicles to market by 2023, the long-awaited replacement for the 12-year-old small SUV will be derived from one of “Renault’s bestsellers”.

All bets point to that being the Renault Captur II that landed a few years ago, but the implications of this raise far more questions – and eyebrows – than answers for consumers.

As with the closely-related but British-built Nissan Juke II that launched in 2020 as well as the recently released Renault Arkana from South Korea, this means that the 2023 ASX is set to switch to the CMF-B (for Common Module Family – B-segment vehicles) modular platform by the French manufacturer rather than Mitsubishi.

This changes everything, beginning with packaging. Will it be big enough?

The current ASX is based on the GS platform that first saw the light of day in 2005, underpinning scores of C- and D-segment models from various manufacturers, with the most pertinently for Australians being Mitsubishi’s now-defunct Lancer small car, two generations of the Outlander mid-sized SUV (until the latest model arrived in late 2021) and today’s Eclipse Cross.

So what, you say? Well, the MY22 ASX’s length/ width/ height/ wheelbase measurements are 4365/ 1810/ 1640/ 2670mm, while the latest Captur II’s equivalents come in at 4227/ 1797/ 1567/ 2639mm. Or, in other words, the future ASX could be substantially smaller in every dimension and thus will shrink a segment size down, from the C SUV to the B SUV class.

The consequence of this is that, while we can’t say for sure as yet, the next-gen version may end up being significantly less spacious inside. Think going from a Mazda CX-30 to a CX-3… or Holden VF Commodore to ZB Commodore. This would have major ramifications for people seeking a family-friendly SUV. The fact that Australians buy the ASX because it offers one of the bigger interiors for the money cannot be underestimated. This has been a key unique selling proposition against key opponents for years, and one that the next ASX is on track to lose.

Then there’s the question of pricing and exchange rate issues. Will it still represent compelling value for money?

The ASX will most likely have to be imported from Europe (probably Spain, since the Captur II is sourced from Renault’s Valladolid facility) rather than from Japan like today’s version, so it’s best to forget about the rock-bottom pricing that has been the lynchpin of the existing ASX’s success in recent years. 

Why is the Mitsubishi currently so comparatively inexpensive? Considering it was globally unveiled in Japan as the third-generation RVR in December 2009, the current ASX has had years to amortise its initial investment, making it now very cheap to produce and market.

Of course, the next ASX’s relationship with the also-CMF-B-based Renault Arkana could lead to less-expensive South Korean sourcing – courtesy of Renault Samsung Motors, which also supplies us with the established Nissan X-Trail-derived Renault Koleos – to serve non-European markets like Australia and North America (where the ASX is sold as the Outlander Sport). But this is pure speculation, with no confirmation from the Alliance.

However, regardless of where it’s imported from, part of the anticipated extra expense is down to the ASX stepping up in technology and sophistication, adopting more modern safety and updated, advanced petrol powertrains. Mitsubishi isn’t saying, but the Alliance’s circa-84kW/180Nm 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo or 118kW/270Nm 1.3-litre four-pot turbo engine (shared with Mercedes-Benz) are very strong possibilities, along with various electrification options further down the track.

Along with requiring better-quality and higher-octane fuel, these turbo powertrains use efficient, if complicated, dual-clutch transmissions, making them a far cry from simple and proven 110kW/197 2.0-litre and optional 123kW/222Nm 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated units offered today, sending torque to the front wheels via either a five-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT). Besides driving and feeling very differently compared to today’s ASX, rising servicing and upkeep costs may also impact buyers’ wallets.

Ultimately, for all the advancements that come with it, embodying a much-more modern Renault (or Nissan) ultimately undermines the Mitsubishi-ness of the ASX.

Besides connecting with brand pillars like the Lancer, the current model adheres to a decades-long company policy of persisting with reliable, reputable and durable vehicles that proved their mettle over time, even if they ended up being outdated as a consequence. It happened with the Australian-made Sigma and Colt in the 1980s and Lancer and Magna in the 2000s. That’s how cash-strapped organisations survive, garnering legions of loyal Australian consumers along the way.

Maybe the best thing that Mitsubishi South Africa could do is change the name to manage consumer expectations. With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps Holden would have been wiser to do the same when it stuck on the wholly-unsuitable ‘Commodore’ badge on the imported 2018 Opel Insignia that replaced the locally-made icon.

Of course, the next ASX is still at least two years away from any local launch activity that might be being planned, and in that time, maybe Australians might tire of its age-related deficiencies against far-newer alternatives.

Finally, there’s the Eclipse Cross factor.

Mitsubishi may choose to concentrate on this last vestige of pre-Alliance engineering, with sharper pricing and minor updates to help boost this 2017-vintage small SUV crossover’s appeal to South Africans.

And why not? After all, using the same GS platform down to an identical 2670mm wheelbase, the Eclipse Cross was originally created as the ASX’s replacement back in the middle of last decade, before the latter’s unexpected popularity surge worldwide coupled with mounting company financial woes led to the decision to run old and new concurrently.

While managing fewer than half of the 14,764 sales accumulated by the far-older ASX last year, the Eclipse Cross’ 6132 registration tally represents a 36 per cent rise over 2020, aided by that year’s much-needed facelift.

Whatever Mitsubishi decides, and despite falling far behind the best in its segment, the ASX is now regarded as a pioneer, being one of the first small SUVs on the market when it arrived in mid-2010 to be pitched as an alternative to regular small car hatchbacks like the Toyota Corolla. Back then, the larger Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester were classed as ‘compact SUVs’, with only oddball models like the Suzuki SX4 offering something truly urban-sized.

Of course, since then, copycats ranging from the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 to the Hyundai Kona and MG ZS have proliferated, but with regular improvements and updates, the ASX rose from a sales outlier to segment champion heading into the 2020s.

Is there even hope that the Renault Captur-based replacement can achieve the same degree of success?

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Originally posted by https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/