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America’s Sports Betting Bonanza Explained

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Until quite recently, Americans could only legally bet on sports by traveling to a brick-and-mortar sportsbook in Nevada and exchanging physical currency for a slip detailing their wagers.  That was then.

In a landmark 2018 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which previously restricted wagering on sports other than horse and dog racing (which employ parimutuel systems akin to peer-to-peer pools) to Las Vegas, Reno, and other Nevada locales. The court’s decision cleared the way for every state to legalize sports betting. New Jersey was the first to do so in 2018 and, since then, about 30 more have followed suit.

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But as with marijuana laws, sports betting takes on different shapes, depending on the state. Some, like Washington, restrict such betting to tribal gaming properties. Others, like Tennessee, only offer mobile sports wagering, with bettors forced to use their phones or computers to get bets down instead of visiting a retail sportsbook. Most fall somewhere in between, and some really big ones, like California and Texas, have yet to legalize sports betting. (Naturally, Florida continues to be a nanny state.)

If you live in a state where sports betting’s not legal, it’s perfectly permissible to hit the interstate until you cross into a state where such wagering is legal, pull off at the first exit, download an authorized sportsbook app like DraftKings or FanDuel, place bets on your phone, and drive back home. That really, truly happens — a lot. And until New York launched mobile sports wagering shortly last month, Big Apple residents often biked to the middle of the George Washington Bridge, where they were technically in New Jersey, to get their bets down in a de facto al fresco sportsbook before pedaling back to their abodes.

As for the betting itself, it’s best to crawl before you (hopefully) sprint to the bank. In fact, if you have the mobility and means, it’s probably best to place your first bet in person at a sportsbook — namely Circa or the Westgate SuperBook — in Las Vegas, where patient, professional oddsmakers and tellers will be happy to walk you through the process and what all those numbers mean. Short of that, if you have access to a brick-and-mortar sportsbook within driving distance of your home, head there and have someone show you the ropes.

But if you’re determined to shun the IRL experience and bust out your phone to bet on the Super Bowl, remember that “risk-free bets” are typically anything but. By all means, take advantage of the plethora of mobile sportsbook promotions; they’re in the midst of a massive customer-acquisition cockfight, and unafraid to dole out free money to bludgeon rival birds. But if you don’t know what you’re doing — like, if you make a parlay bet without knowing what a parlay is, or wager with an offshore sportsbook without realizing you’ve just entered a very gray (bordering on black) market — it’ll soon be your money, not theirs, that you’re sacrificing.

Some helpful pointers heading in: Plus money — i.e., taking the Bengals on the moneyline at +170 — will pay far more handsomely than negative juice (i.e., taking either side of the Bengals-Rams spread at -110). And if you’re picking the moneyline, you’re picking the Bengals to win the game, period, regardless of what the point spread (Rams by 4 to 4.5, depending on what sportsbook you visit) is. That’s why you’re getting the plus money, because betting on the underdog to win is riskier than betting on them to lose by less than four points.

RELATED: 5 States That Could Allow Sports Betting In 2022

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Parlays — where two or more betting events have to happen in order for your ticket to cash — might be where the big bucks are made, but smart money always wins. Start slow, be responsible, and don’t chase your losses. Predetermine how much money you’re willing to lose in one sitting and stop wagering when you reach that amount. Study what you’re betting on before you bet on it. 

RELATED: Legal Marijuana Probably Not As Profitable As Sports Betting

Do all this and, eventually, sports betting could become a lucrative hobby or, at worst, a fun, low-cost diversion on par with a Friday-night bar tab.  Today, roughly 43% of Canadian and Americans do it.

Mike Seely is an associate editor with Better Collective, which owns several sports betting websites, including Sports Handle and US Bets.



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Fun And Easy Easter Cocktails

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It is a wonderful holiday market

Easter is a time to gather together with friends and/or family.  While some start the day in church, many others will enjoy a libation while celebrating. The holiday is behind Mardi Gras, Christmas, Black Friday and St. Patrick’s day as a drinking holiday. But why not add a little something boozy and colorful to the day’s agenda.  All of these pairs well with eggs and candy. Here are some fun and easy Easter cocktails!

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The Lent Buster

Lent is a 40 day season commonly practiced by giving up something beloved (drinking, chocolate, social media) as a sign of faith and sacrifice. This cocktail was created by at the 5 Point Cafe in Seattle, Washington.  Mixologist Sean Dunlap wanted something festive, fun and smooth. Regular patron Dan Luczkiewicz said the only thing wrong with this drink it is delicious and you want another!  Cafe owner David Meinert agrees and it will be featured at the famed dive bar during the holiday.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz tequila perhaps a blanco
  • 4 oz pineapple juice
  • Splash of cranberry

Create

  • Add add to a highball glass
  • Pour in tequila and pineapple juice
  • And a splash of cranberry juice for color
  • Stir and enjoy!

The Peep-a-lious

Peeps are iconic to Easter since the Just Born company premiered the colorful confection in the 1950s.  Why not combine a classic with vodka and make it even more enjoyable.  Consider reviving a childhood tradition but instead of dying eggs, you color champagne.

Ingredients

Create

  • Put ice in a highball glass
  • Combine first three ingredients in a glass and stir
  • Garnish the side of the glass with a blue peep

Colorful Mimosas

The favorite drinks of brunches, mornings and early day drinking.  Festive, fun and flavorful – mimosas. Consider reviving a childhood tradition but instead of dying eggs, you color champagne.

Ingredients

  • Chilled champagne or prosecco
  • Juices – consider Ruby Red Grapefruit, Mango, or Guava

Create

  • Pour the chilled bubbles into a champagne flute
  • Add enough juice to add color and a whisper of flavor
  • Drink and enjoy

RELATED: The Most Popular Marijuana Flavors

Hot Boozy Bunny

Easter celebrates spring, but the weather doesn’t always contribute to the fun atmosphere. Here is a simple cocktail at anytime of day.  It is fun and can bring back a sense of childlike wonder with the big marshmallow!

Ingredients

  • Granulated sugar
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Milk
  • Vanilla extract
  • 1-1.5 oz. of Baileys, Frangelico, Grand Marnier, KahluaWhiskey
  • 1 big marshmallow

Create

  • Whisk the sugar and cocoa powder together in a small saucepan
  • Add the milk and whisk the mixture over medium-low to medium heat until the sugar and cocoa are dissolved and the hot chocolate is heated through
  • pour into a mug
  • Add shot of alcohol
  • Top with the big marshmallow!

May these spring cocktails put you in a blooming good mood.



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The Best Tips For A Flexible Body

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Work at home, work at office, driving, all things which puts our body in awkward positions for long period of times.  Flying coach, doing tech work, or the couch is doubling as the office, all ways your back and body pays the price.  So how do you get your body back to where you can move it without hurting? Well, here are the best tips for a flexible body.  Your body and brain will appreciate it.

RELATED: 5 Morning Activities To Help You Feel Happier

Being flexible and open to new experiences allows people to learn new things. It also helps people adapt to changing circumstances, which can help people function more effectively in their environments. People can better let go of negative or unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns by staying psychologically flexible.

How to start

It is not hard to start stretching and moving.  Making it a point to take a mini walk every couple of hours or going online and taking some simple starter stretch or yoga class, anything is better than nothing.

One of the best ways  is static stretching. This is where you come into a stretch and hold it without movement for a certain period of time. Even adding static stretching into your routine on its own can make a powerful difference in how your body feels.  It opens your body and restores some muscle movement.

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Stretching is boring for most people because you have to hold these positions for long periods of time for them to have an effect. Try to hold your stretches for a minimum of 30 seconds, really feeling the strain in your muscles. To make this process more manageable, focus on completing that amount of time and on not pushing your muscles too hard. If you can’t hold a pose because it hurts too much, try applying less pressure.

RELATED: What You Should Know About CBD Massages

Consume your proteins

Foods and shakes that are rich in proteins can help your body post work out, preventing pain and muscle loss during the recovery process. These elements are also necessary for building muscles and repairing the tissue that was damaged. Proteins are filling and help you stay mobile as you age and lose body mass.

Don’t skip on the cool down process

It’s very common for people to walk out of a spinning or boxing class before completing their post-workout stretches. This is bad for your joints and muscles, and will likely leave you in pain during the day after. Stretches help in speeding up your recovery process while also increasing your mobility and flexibility. Once you’ve completed your cardio, your body is warm and more likely to stretch than during other times of the day.

Take a warm bath

'Bathleisure' Is Now A Fashion Trend And We Don't Know Why
Photo by Sarah Pflug via Burst

RELATED: 5 Cheap Ways To Practice Self-Care

While warm baths alone won’t help you become more flexible, they will trick your body into feeling relaxed, which is key for developing flexibility. When trying out a new stretch or  putting strain on a muscle you rarely use, your body’s natural response will be to clamp up. A warm bath can help you stay relaxed and put your muscles in a more willing mood that will allow you to push yourself when you stretch at the end or beginning of your day.

Try new workouts

The easiest way to work on your flexibility is to practice a workout that targets these muscles and skills, such as yoga, Tai Chi or pilates. These exercises can add some variety to your workout schedule and can even add more to your performance on other activities, improving your jogging, boxing or spinning skills.



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What About Experimenting With Marijuana

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All of Canada and over 50% of the US have access to legal cannabis, and people seem to have changed their opinion about it.  Fox News covers it as a legit business and 85+% of the population think it should be legal.  From Gen Z to Boomers, people are headed to dispensaries to try it out.  So what about experimenting with marijuana?  Will you get addicted the first time?  Is it life changing?

The old myth is marijuana is addictive and a gateway drug. Addiction is more common in alcohol or cocaine. But it’s possible to get hooked on marijuana, also known as cannabis. Studies show about 1 in 10 adults who use marijuana can get addicted.

RELATED: 8 Ways to Enjoy Marijuana Without Smoking It

Healthwise, marijuana is easier on the body than alcohol.  Used in moderation, marijuana allows you to avoid weight gain, hangovers and body damage.  Alcohol can be rough on the body.  Also, there is zero cases of someone overdosing on marijuana, the worst case is they fall asleep. Gen Z is drifting away from alcohol and heading over to the marijuana camp.

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How you experiment is also a consideration.  If you are passed a joint, a bong, or a vape, you are likely to have a high fairly quickly. As it fades, you can make a decision on whether to continue in the moment or reflect if you would try it again.  One hit doesn’t really make you a consumer or stoner.  If you use an edible, start low and slow, a gummy might relax you, but don’t expect to buzzing like two martinis.  Give it 45 minutes and then see how it goes.

RELATED: The Most Popular Marijuana Flavors

Why are experiments, are you moving away from alcohol?  Are you feeling stressed? Or just curious?  All are ok reasons, but it good to know why so you can see if it accomplishes your goal.  A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that marijuana reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Researchers found those hoping to reduce stress should use high-CBD/high-THC strains while high-CBD/low-THC varieties best help limit depression.

“Cannabis reduces perceived symptoms of negative affect in the short-term, but continued use may exacerbate baseline symptoms of depression over time,” researchers concluded.

If you have a condition like IBS, anxiety, or another medical condition is helps, it can be life-changing.  Otherwise it could just make you happy and open your mind – and you can decide if it is life-changing.

 



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