The latest monthly revenue numbers from the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) show some good and bad news.

We’ll start with the good. The figures for June, released this past week, ended the 2021-22 fiscal year. Not only was the $689 million in tax revenue more than $107 million – or 18.2% – better than the 2020-21 fiscal year, it also was the best return for the state in nine years, when it collected $752.4 million, according to IGC data.

It’s the first time Indiana collected more than $600 million in total gaming taxes since it received $602.4 million in 2017-18.

In June, Indiana collected $60.1 million in wagering taxes from the 12 licensed commercial casinos. That pushed the total wagering tax for the year to $606.1 million.

The $60.1 million tax was based on taxable adjusted gross receipts of $188.7 million for the casinos in June.

Hard Rock Northern Indiana, the land-based casino in Gary that opened in May 2021, led all the Indiana casinos with $31.4 million in AGR for the month. Horseshoe Hammond, another Northwest Indiana venue, was second with was AGR of $28.3 million. Horseshoe Indianapolis, a racino in Shelbyville, reported $23 million, and Caesars Southern Indiana finished the month with $19.6 million.

Indiana Sports Betting Handle, Tax Revenue Rise

In addition to the wagering tax, which is a progressive tax based on revenues generated by each casino, Indiana also gets a share of the supplemental tax, a $3 tax for each admission that’s split evenly between the state, the casino’s host city, and its host county. The state also levies a 9.5% tax on sports betting revenues.

Speaking of sports, Indiana reported a total handle of $256.3 million from its licensed sportsbooks in June. That’s $10 million more than what was bet in June 2021, according to IGC data.

Compared to May, the handle fell by nearly $52 million. That’s expected, though, since the basketball season ended in early June, and the only regular action now is baseball and golf.

While betting increased slightly for the month compared to last year, the sportsbooks found less money in their pockets. June’s taxable AGR was $15.8 million, or $9.6 million less than June 2021. It’s also nearly $14.9 million less than the sportsbooks won in May.

Online wagering accounted for 93.1% of the June handle, with FanDuel and DraftKings once again easily the top two books in the state. FanDuel’s online app reported a handle of $79.4 million and revenues of $5.5 million, while DraftKings took $70.8 million in bets and won $3.3 million.

For the year, the state’s sportsbooks took more than $4.43 billion in wagers for the 21-22 fiscal year. That’s up from the $2.9 billion wagered in 2020-21. While football reigns supreme in most sports betting states, Hoosiers love their hardwood action. Basketball accounted for $1.29 billion of the wagers, according to the IGC.

Parlay wagers made up another $1.16 billion, while Hooser gamblers (and those trekking in from neighboring states) placed $776 million in football bets.

Indiana collected $31.2 million in sports wagering taxes for the 21-22 fiscal year. That’s an increase of 37.4% from the $22.7 million the state received last year.

Casino Revenues Fall as Inflation Rises

Now, on to the bad news for Indiana. Casino revenues fell for the third consecutive month in June.

The IGC report shows that casinos won $197.2 million last month before free play and other deductions. That represents a nearly 7% decline from the $211.9 million the casinos won in May.

June’s figure is also down more than 16% from the $235.2 million casinos reported in March.

The three consecutive declines at area casinos come as inflation reaches levels the US has not seen in more than 40 years. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 9.1% annual inflation rate for June. That’s the highest the country has seen since November 1981.

Inflation has had a tremendous impact on prices for food and gas as well as other products consumers need on a regular basis. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, spending on fuel and convenience goods went up 55.7% in June, compared to pre-pandemic June 2019 figures. Grocery spending over the same timeframe is up 24.8%.

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A new study probing the 45 states that offer a lottery has arrived at some eye-opening conclusions. The work came from the University of Maryland’s Howard Center for Investigative Journalism.

The Howard Center, launched in 2019 with funding from the Scripps Howard Foundation, investigates national topics that are of significant importance to the public.

The center’s most recent probe took a deep dive into how and why the 45 state-sanctioned lotteries in the US operate. They looked at who is really paying the costs of the tens of billions of dollars in annual sales and profits they generate.

The lottery probe found that while the lotteries are continuing to grow profits for state programs — primarily educational initiatives like scholarships and aid for K-12 schooling — the games of chance with the poorest of odds are also better benefiting multinational companies and at least one Canadian billionaire.

Poor Players Play Most

Lotteries have for decades been negatively labeled a “tax on the poor.”

Underlining that is a 1999 report commissioned by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, a congressional committee formed to study the social and economic impacts of legal gambling in the United States. It found that the top 10% of lottery spenders accounted for two-thirds of sales. And those coveted players, the study found, had lower incomes, were unlikely to hold a high school diploma, and were disproportionately Black and Hispanic.

The Howard Center says such disparity has only worsened over the last two-plus decades. More recent studies commissioned by state governments in Massachusetts and South Carolina have equally dire news. Those found that households with incomes less than $35,000 a year spend more than twice as much on lottery tickets than households earning over $100,000. And knowingly or unknowingly, state lotteries continue to allow more and more lottery retailers to set up shop in low-income neighborhoods, researchers found.

In neighborhoods with lottery retailers, the percentage of the population that lives in poverty is higher than in neighborhoods without lottery retailers in all states analyzed and in Washington, DC,” the Howard Center lottery review explained.

The probe went on to say that each lottery reviews and recruits retailers based on revenue projections for that specific location and the business’ compliance with other state laws.

Lottery Winners and Losers

State lawmakers that continue to support their lotteries typically hype the benefits the games provide. But of the $29 billion lottery players lost last year, more than a quarter of the money — about $8 billion — went to the companies and investors that handle their operations.

The US lottery industry is dominated by UK-based International Game Technology and Canadian-owned Scientific Games. Light & Wonder, formerly Scientific Games, is headquartered in Las Vegas. It sold its lottery division last year to Canadian private equity firm Brookfield Business Partners for $6 billion.

Brookfield will be a major benefactor of US lottery sales moving forward. The asset management group is controlled by Canadian billionaire Bruce Flatt, who Forbes estimates to have a net worth north of $4.5 billion.

“The investigation found that a key promise of lotteries across the country — that they support education — doesn’t hold up. Instead, lotteries often compound inequities by disproportionately benefiting college students and wealthier school districts far from the neighborhoods where most tickets are sold,” the Howard Center study ended.

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On Thursday, July 7^th, 2022 Barcelona’s football club president announced that the Spanish football powerhouse has made a serious offer to Bayern Munich in order to acquire the superstar veteran striker, Robert Lewandowski.

“We have made an offer for the player and we are waiting for a response,” the president of the Barcelona football club, Joan Laporta, exclaimed. “We thank the player for showing an interest in our club.”

Lewandowski made a statement in late May of 2022 that, “my story with Bayern Munich is over,” and that a transfer to a new football club prior to the 2022 – 2023 European football season would be the best solution for him. The now 33 – year – old Poland – born striker is considered to be one of the best offensive footballers in the world, and Lewandowski has only 1 – more season remaining on his current contract with the Bundesliga giant in Bayern Munich.

Contract Extension Discussions

The previous contract extension negotiations between Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich drastically broke down during the this last 2021 – 2022 European football season, and both sides cited different various reasons for being unable to reach an agreement upon terms for a new contract extension between Bayern Munich and Lewandowski.

While the German football club expressed that Lewandowski had rejected their generous offer, Robert’s agent claims that Bayern Munich never made a reasonable offer for a new deal.

Barcelona’s Rebuild

Barcelona is looking to attempt to rebuild their offensive attack just around 1 – year following the departure of one of the greatest footballers of all – time in Lionel Messi. Barca concluded the previous football season without a title of any sorts, and they are coming in an extremely distant 2^nd – place to the absolute and no doubt Spanish League champions of the Real Madridfootball club. Barcelona also disappointed many supporters when they failed to make it past the group stage of the Champions League as well.

The Catalan club in F. C. Barcelona is currently buried in heavy debt. Barca recently had to sell off 10 % of their Spanish La Liga League television rights for the upcoming 25 – years in exchange for just above approximately 200 million euros ($203 million). Barcelona plans to use some of that coin in order to sign new players especially now that Messi is long gone most likely due to the financial issues Barcelona has recently been dealing with.

Just this week Barcelona announced some new significant signings including Franck Kessie as well as Andreas Christensen in order to strengthen and tighten up their midfield and defense. Lewandowski would be an absolute game – changer and major improvement for Barcelona’s offensive attack. Robert is highly – considered one of the best strikers and goal scorers in the game these days.

Robert Lewandowski’s Undeniable Production and Dominance on the Pitch

Lewandowski has scored 312 – goals over the course of 384 – German Bundesliga League games for Bayern Munich as well as his former club in Borussia Dortmund. Robert tallied 35 – goal scores throughout his 34 – appearances during the previous 2021 – 2022 European football season which ultimately made Lewandowski the Bundesliga’s top scorer for the 5^th – consecutive season, and the 7^th – time overall that he has found himself as the leading goal scorer in the German Bundesliga League.

If you don’t realize how great he is just take a nice long look below at all of the amazing accolades that Lewandowski has accomplished over his illustrious professional football career!

Robert Lewandowski’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

Znicz Pruszków

• III liga: 2006 – 2007

Lech Pozna?

• Ekstraklasa: 2009 – 2010
• Polish Cup: 2008 – 2009
• Polish Super Cup: 2009

Borussia Dortmund

• Bundesliga: 2010 – 2011, 2011 – 2012
• DFB – Pokal: 2011 – 2012
• DFL – Supercup: 2013
• UEFA Champions League Runner – Up: 2012 – 2013

Bayern Munich

• Bundesliga: 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• DFB – Pokal: 2015 – 2016, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020
• DFL – Supercup: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021
• UEFA Champions League: 2019 – 2020
• UEFA Super Cup: 2020
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2020

Individual

• Ballon d’Or Striker of the Year: 2021
• European Golden Shoe: 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2020, 2021
• FIFA FIFPro World11: 2020, 2021
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2020
• IFFHS World’s Best Man Player: 2020, 2021
• IFFHS World’s Best Top Goal Scorer: 2020, 2021
• IFFHS World’s Best International Goal Scorer: 2015, 2021
• IFFHS World’s Best Top Division Goal Scorer: 2021
• IFFHS Men’s World Team: 2020, 2021
• IFFHS World Team of the Decade: 2011 – 2020
• IFFHS UEFA Team of the Decade: 2011 – 2020
• UEFA Men’s Player of the Year: 2019 – 2020
• UEFA Champions League Forward of the Season: 2019 – 2020
• UEFA Champions League Top Goal Scorer: 2019 – 2020
• UEFA Champions League Top Assist Provider: 2019 – 2020
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2019, 2020
• UEFA Euro Qualifying Best Player: 2016
• Laureus World Sports Awards – Exceptional Achievement Award (2022)
• ESM Team of the Year: 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• European Sportsperson of the Year: 2020
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 2020, 2021
• FourFourTwo Player of the Year: 2020, 2021
• Tuttosport Golden Player: 2020, 2021
• The Guardian Best Footballer in the World: 2020, 2021
• Goal 50: 2019 – 2020
• Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year: 2020
• Globe Soccer Fans’ Player of the Year: 2021
• Globe Soccer Maradona Award: 2021
• Guinness World Record (x4): 2015
• Ekstraklasa Best Player: 2009
• Ekstraklasa Top Goal Scorer: 2009 – 2010
• Ekstraklasa Goal of the Season: 2008 – 2009
• II liga Top Goal Scorer: 2007 – 2008
• III liga Top Goal Scorer: 2006 – 2007
• Polish Footballer of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021
• Polish Sports Personality of the Year: 2015, 2020, 2021
• Polish Young Player of the Year: 2008
• VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2012 – 2013, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021
• VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2012 – 2013, 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020
• Bundesliga Goal of the Month: March 2019, August 2019, May 2021
• Bundesliga Top Goal Scorer: 2013 – 2014, 2015 – 2016, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2012 – 2013, 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Bundesliga Fantasy Team of the Season: 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Bundesliga Player of the Month: August 2019, October 2020
• Footballer of the Year in Germany: 2020, 2021
• Kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2013 – 2014, 2015 – 2016, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021
• DFB – Pokal Top Goal Scorer: 2011 – 2012, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020
• Bayern Munich Player of the Season: 2019 – 2020

Orders

• POL Polonia Restituta Komandorski BAR.svg Order of Polonia Restituta, Commander’s Cross: 2021

Sources:

The Associated Press News Services. “Barcelona makes offer to Bayern for Lewandowski”. The Associated Press. July 7, 2022.

Football Reference News Services. “Robert Lewandowski”. Football Reference. July 7, 2022.

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Supporters of Proposition 27, the measure to legalize online sports betting in California, announced Monday their effort has earned an endorsement from another tribal nation in the state.

The Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe became the third sovereign Indian nation to support the measure, according to a release from “Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support,” a committee that supports the measure and is backed by $100 million from seven sports betting operators.

Prop 27 is one of two sports betting initiatives that will be on the Nov. 8 ballot in the nation’s largest state. The other is Proposition 26, which asks voters to legalize in-person sportsbooks at tribal casinos and state-licensed racetracks.

The online sports betting measure includes tribal involvement. It says that any online operator must partner with a state-based tribal entity before it can get a license, which costs $100 million. Tribal gaming operators would also be able to apply for licenses at a price of $10 million. However, they would face restrictions on how they can brand their online platform.

The initiative calls for 85% of the revenue generated by a 10% tax on operators’ revenue to go toward mental health programs and initiatives for the unhoused. The remainder will go to tribes that do not participate in sports betting.

Prop 27 will provide us with economic opportunity to fortify our Tribe’s future for generations and protect Tribal sovereignty,” Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe Chairman Leo Sisco said in a statement. “And it is the only measure that will deliver hundreds of millions of dollars each year to help solve homelessness and address mental health in California.”

Last week, the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians and Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians came out in support of the measure. Those two tribes and the Santa Rosa Rancheria all have Class III casinos that operate in the state. The Santa Rosa Rancheria operates the Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, located 35 miles south of Fresno

Most Tribes Behind Prop 26

Despite what Prop 27 offers tribes, the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association have come out against the online sports betting proposed amendment.

The new tribal endorsement for Prop 27 comes after “Californians for Tribal Sovereignty,” an anti-Prop 27 group funded by tribal gaming operators, issued a release with statements from other tribal leaders saying an overwhelming majority of California Indian nations oppose the online sports betting measure.

Group spokesperson Roger Salazar slammed “Californians for Solutions” for what he called a “deceptive” campaign.

“Ninety percent of sports betting revenue goes out of state to the corporations who wrote the measure and are paying for this deceitful effort to fool Californians into thinking our tribal nations support this badly flawed measure,” Salazar said.

A spokesperson for the “Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming,” another tribal-backed gaming group created to support Prop 26 told, Casino.org Tuesday that they knew a few Indian nations would support the online sports betting measure. However, those defections likely won’t influence voters’ decisions.

“Prop 26 is strongly supported by tribes and gives voters what they want: a responsible approach to sports betting in a regulated setting where we can control to make sure underage kids aren’t gambling,” Kathy Fairbanks said. “Plus, it helps support tribes and their continued self-sufficiency which voters also want to see.”

Voters Decide in 18 Weeks

The Nov. 8 general election is 126 days away, and the campaigns both for and against the two California sports betting measures are just now getting into full swing. The next 18 weeks will feature more endorsements, more surveys, more mailers, and more commercials.

While the Prop 27 supporters have unveiled the three tribal nations in the last week, supporters of Prop 26 have put out a statement of support from Dolores Huerta, a legendary civil rights leader and labor organizer in the state.

Another key group that has come out against the online sports betting measure is the California Teachers Association, one of the state’s largest public-sector unions.

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On Saturday, July 2^nd, 2022 the international football superstar sensation, Cristiano Ronaldo, requested a transfer from Manchester United this summer in order to play in the Champions League for the upcoming next European football season.

The native icon of Portugal and the Portuguese captain returned to Manchester United just 1 – year ago for his 2^nd – stint at Old Trafford with Man U, and Ronaldo scored 18 – goals throughout his 30 – league appearances, but unfortunately the historic football club managed to finish in 6^th – place in the English Premier League (EPL) resulting in Manchester United not qualifying for the next football season’s elite European club competition in the Champions League.

The now 37 – year – old Cristiano, is currently under contract with the Manchester United Red Devils through the month of June in 2023. That live contract includes an option for him to extend the agreement for a further year if he so chose to, but Ronaldo has now strongly requested to be transferred.

At this stage of his illustrious football career, I guess he feels that he has every right to demand what he wants, but only time will tell if he ultimately gets his way or not on this matter. My guess is that this move will eventually transpire sometime during this summer.

Currently Manchester United has informed Cristiano that he is not available for transfer this summer, and that Manchester United fully expects Ronaldo to remain with their once legendary football club for the final year of his deal with Man U.

It is common knowledge that Chelsea, Bayern Munich as well as Napoli, along with several other football clubs are highly – interested in signing Cristiano Ronaldo to their team prior to the upcoming 2022 – 2023 European football season.

Even though Ronaldo has declared his unwavering respect and love for Manchester United as well as the supporters of this storied football club, the former big – name superstar of the Real Madrid football club believes he needs the ultimate motivation of playing in the Champions League during the final stage of his masterful professional football career. Cristiano has been known to publicly say that competing in the Champions League and playing for major championship title trophies was his overall number -1 priority, especially this late in his phenomenal football career.

Manchester United has assigned the head coach of Ajax, Erik ten Hag, to replace the interim head coach of the Manchester United football club, Ralf Rangnick, and while Erik ten Hag was officially introduced just a month ago, he explicitly stated that Cristiano was an intricate part of his game plans for this upcoming professional European football season.

Ronaldo initially joined forces with Man U from the Portuguese side Sporting CP way back in the year of 2003.

Cristiano netted 118 – goals over the course of his 292 – matches prior to leaving Manchester United for Real Madrid back in 2009, where he ultimately remained before joining Juventus to play in the Italian Serie A League several years ago in 2018.

He unfortunately came up just short in winning the Champions League with Juventus throughout Ronaldo’s 3 – seasons with the Turin football powerhouse giants, but he was able to manage lifting that elusive trophy with Manchester United all the way back in the year of 2008, as well as an additional 4 – times during his stay with the Spanish La Liga League tyrants in Real Madrid.

Ronaldo just so happened to be the absolute top scorer in the Italian Serie A League for the previous 2 – seasons that he could be found playing his pro football in Turin where he ultimately scored an amazing 101 – goals over the course of his 134 – match appearances.

The ex – Real Madrid playboy football superstar has won an incredible 32 – overall championship titles throughout his historic professional football career, and that includes 7 – league titles as well as 5 – Champions League championship titles.

Ronaldo captained the Portugal national club to Euro 2016 glory as well as the 2019 UEFA Nations League.

Cristiano is now a 5 – time Ballon d’Or award winner, and he is the men’s world – record holder for the most goals scored (117) during international competition with a staggering 117 goals scored.

Cristiano is presently set to captain the Portugal national football club throughout the quickly approaching 2022 World Cup tournament which will be hosted by Qatar later on this year.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

Sporting CP

• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2002

Manchester United

• Premier League: 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008, 2008 – 2009
• FA Cup: 2003 – 2004
• Football League Cup: 2005 – 2006, 2008 – 2009
• FA Community Shield: 2007
• UEFA Champions League: 2007 – 2008
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2011 – 2012, 2016 – 2017
• Copa del Rey: 2010 – 2011, 2013 – 2014
• Supercopa de España: 2012, 2017
• UEFA Champions League: 2013 – 2014, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018
• UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2017
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017

Juventus

• Serie A: 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020
• Coppa Italia: 2020 – 2021
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2018, 2020

Portugal

• UEFA European Championship: 2016
• UEFA Nations League: 2018 – 2019

Individual

• FIFA Ballon d’Or / Ballon d’Or: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2008
• The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2016, 2017
• The Best FIFA Special Award for Outstanding Career Achievement: 2021
• European Golden Shoe: 2007 – 2008, 2010 – 2011, 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015
• FPF Portuguese Player of the Year: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008
• Premier League Player of the Season: 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008
• Premier League Golden Boot: 2007 – 2008
• La Liga Best Player: 2013 – 2014
• Pichichi Trophy: 2010 – 2011, 2013 – 2014, 2014 – 2015
• Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2019, 2020
• Capocannoniere: 2020 – 2021

Orders

• Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (Portuguese Royal Family)
• Grand officer of the Order of Prince Henry
• Commander of the Order of Merit
• Cordão Autonómico de Distinção

Sources:

Garcia, Adriana. “Cristiano Ronaldo requests Manchester United transfer to play in Champions League – sources”. ESPN. July 2, 2022.

Football Reference News Services. “Cristiano Ronaldo”. Football Reference. July 3, 2022.

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