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San Francisco is experiencing a resurgence in investment and economic activity, driven by factors such as the AI boom and rebounding real estate demand. Home sales have increased, foot traffic is on the rise, and companies like Visa and Nintendo are opening new offices and stores in the city. While San Francisco still faces challenges such as a high office vacancy rate and budget deficits, there are reasons for optimism, including the region's wealth and the return of non-tech companies to the market. The city is also seeing cultural revitalization, with events like night markets and street parties drawing crowds and bringing new life to neighborhoods. [Extracted from the article]

The article comments on how legal sports gambling has shaped sports coverage. It expresses disappointment with the link of sports coverage with wagers which has removed the credibility of sports media outlets. It criticizes the incursion of gambling into sports such as the case of Jontay Porter, former forward for the Toronto Raptors who was banned from the National Basketball Association for life for betting on games he played in and sharing insider information with other gamblers.

The recent record divorce settlement of a South Korean billionaire is causing a surprising increase in his company's stock. SK Inc., the holding company for South Korea's second-largest conglomerate, experienced a significant surge in its stock price after a court ordered its chairman to pay a 1.38 trillion won ($1 billion) divorce settlement. Speculators believe that the chairman will take steps to boost the company's value in order to pay his estranged wife. The high-profile divorce has attracted public attention as the chairman holds a 17.7% stake in SK Inc., which includes businesses such as SK Hynix Inc., SK On Co., and SK Telecom Co. The chairman plans to appeal the ruling. [Extracted from the article]

Three Australian league soccer players have been arrested for alleged betting corruption. The players are accused of manipulating yellow cards in four games between November and May. It is believed that a senior player received instructions from an offshore individual in South America to orchestrate the yellow cards in exchange for profit. The investigation involves multiple law enforcement agencies and sports organizations. [Extracted from the article]

Nomura Holdings Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. are facing potential losses of over $100 million due to failed stock trades made by investment fund All Blue Capital. The fund, led by trader Matt Novak, made incorrect short bets earlier this year and was unable to settle the trades. Nomura could potentially lose 14 billion yen ($89 million), while Mizuho claims that All Blue owes it $19 million. This situation raises concerns about risk management practices at the two Japanese banks. Both banks declined to comment on the matter. [Extracted from the article]

PremjiInvest, the largest Indian family office managed by software tycoon Azim Premji, plans to invest more money into artificial intelligence (AI) companies and refine its proprietary AI investment tools. The company is one of the first large Indian asset managers to use AI tools in private equity and is now developing an AI quant model for its public market investments. PremjiInvest has already hired 14 AI engineers and has seen significant returns from its AI investments. The firm uses AI to analyze data from over 10,000 companies globally to identify investment opportunities and stay ahead of peers. PremjiInvest focuses on technology and financial services sectors in India, while in the US, it invests in healthcare and technology sectors. The family office was established in 2006 by Azim Premji to generate profits for philanthropic endeavors. The managing partner and chief investment officer, TK Kurien, is seeking investment targets in the US with the latest technologies that can be brought to India. The firm's assets are allocated as private investments, publicly traded equities, and investments in other funds. PremjiInvest returns about 5% of its capital to Premji's philanthropic foundation each year. [Extracted from the article]

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is considering a ban on using derivatives to bet on US elections as part of a crackdown on event contracts. The CFTC's proposal would increase oversight of contracts that allow people to wager on real-world outcomes, such as monetary policy and music awards. The regulator may also prohibit contracts on sports and calamities like global health crises. The CFTC's rule proposal is currently being reviewed internally and may be subject to changes before seeking public comment. Republican lawmaker Tommy Tuberville has expressed concerns about the potential rule, stating that it could stifle innovation. [Extracted from the article]

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, plans to increase its spending on artificial intelligence (AI) by billions of dollars this year. The company is investing in AI to compete with rivals like Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corp. in the rapidly developing technology. However, the increased spending has raised concerns about whether these investments will pay off for investors. Meta also projected lower-than-expected sales for the second quarter. Despite a strong first quarter with increased revenue and profit, Meta's shares dropped by 19% in after-hours trading. The company's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has been focusing on AI and the development of the Metaverse, a virtual world. Meta's Reality Labs division, which oversees futuristic bets like VR headsets and smart glasses, reported a loss of $3.85 billion for the first quarter. Despite the short-term costs, Zuckerberg believes that the long-term possibilities of AI will outweigh them. Meta plans to spend $96 billion to $99 billion in 2024, with a significant portion going towards infrastructure costs and augmented and virtual reality. The signing of a bill by President Joe Biden that could force TikTok's parent company to sell the popular video service may benefit Meta's advertising business, as its short-video offering Reels is similar to TikTok. Meta has experienced ups and downs in recent years, with a surge in users during the COVID-19 pandemic followed by a decline in advertising in 2022. The company also underwent significant job cuts in 2023. [Extracted from the article]

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, reported a revenue of $36.5 billion in the first quarter, beating analysts' expectations. However, the company projected second quarter sales below Wall Street's estimates and increased its spending estimates for the year. Meta is investing heavily in AI research and product development to compete with tech peers like Microsoft and Alphabet. The company's stock tumbled 11% in extended trading following the announcement. Despite this, Meta remains committed to its long-term bets on augmented and virtual reality, with plans to spend $96 billion to $99 billion in 2024. [Extracted from the article]

DraftKings, a sports betting website, is facing a class-action lawsuit for allegedly misleading new users with their "risk-free" bet promotion. The lawsuit claims that customers who won with the credited "free bet" were paid less than if they had used cash. The plaintiff argues that DraftKings targeted new or inexperienced gamblers with this promotion. The complaint also states that DraftKings did not disclose that the risk-free bet would become a less valuable free bet. The case is seeking unspecified damages on behalf of DraftKings users in New York who lost their risk-free bets. [Extracted from the article]

Almost 1 billion Indians are beginning to vote in a massive election that will last over six weeks. The election will determine whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be granted a third term to continue his economic and Hindu nationalist policies. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is campaigning on his popularity, the strength of India's economy, and a pro-Hindu agenda. The opposition, led by the Indian National Congress, argues that Modi has eroded democratic institutions and neglected the jobless and the poor. The election results will be announced on June 4. [Extracted from the article]

Global financial markets experienced a rebound after a selloff driven by expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain higher interest rates for a longer period. Bond volatility decreased, and two-year yields dropped below 5%. While equities struggled to gain traction, experts at UBS Global Wealth Management believe that the US central bank is still likely to cut rates twice this year, making quality bonds an attractive investment. The S&P 500 remained steady, and the Nasdaq 100 underperformed due to Nvidia Corp.'s impact on big tech. [Extracted from the article]

Brightline, a private passenger railroad backed by Fortress Investment Group, is seeking to refinance $4 billion in debt as it aims to increase operations and attract more riders. The rail, which is the first new private passenger railroad in the US in over a century, is looking to replicate Amtrak's Acela service in the Northeast without government subsidies. The success of Brightline depends on convincing travelers to take the train to Orlando, and the company is also planning a high-speed rail line connecting Southern California and Las Vegas. However, train ridership has fallen short of expectations so far. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the author's concerns about the legalization of mobile sports betting in New York and its potential negative impact on society. The author criticizes the belief that casinos can drive economic growth and argues that money spent on gambling does not benefit local businesses. The author also highlights the addictive nature of gambling and the ease of access through smartphones, which can lead to financial ruin for problem gamblers. The article suggests that banning mobile sports betting and promoting physical casinos may be a better solution to mitigate the negative consequences of gambling addiction. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports that various forms of gambling in the U.S. predates the American Revolution, horse racing is often considered the first form of legal gaming in the U.S., starting during the late 19th century. Topics include Nevada legalizing gambling riverboat casinos operated by Native Americans expanded legal gaming opportunities; and gaming attracted criminal elements with illegal operations and motivated many states to make gaming legal.

A former senior supervisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Robert Brian Thompson, pleaded guilty to insider trading and making false statements, potentially facing 25 years in prison. Thompson made over $770,000 in personal profits through trades based on confidential information he had access to in his role. The Securities and Exchange Commission identified two financial institutions, New York Community Bank and Capital One, in their lawsuit against Thompson. Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, with potential penalties of up to 20 years for insider trading and up to five years for false statements. [Extracted from the article]

The American Film Market is moving to Las Vegas after 44 years in Los Angeles, with major indie studios like A24, Lionsgate, and Neon setting up shop at the Palms Casino Resort. While horror and action genres dominate, there are unique offerings like an adult animated musical featuring singing sperm and art house dramas with Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. The event aims to reignite the industry with a mix of traditional and unconventional projects, catering to a diverse range of buyers. [Extracted from the article]

Canadian Justice Minister David Lametti announced on Thursday that Canadians will be permitted to legally bet on single sporting events starting on August 27 as the country's long-standing requirement for [...]

The author discusses love of Australians to gamble and mentions that pokies are crack cocaine of gambling. Topics disucssed include why Australians enjoy betting money in all sorts of ways by generating kind of relationship between person and machine, revenue from its poker machines and responsibility bear by gamblers for their chocies.

Presents tips on which American congressional and gubernatorial candidates to bet on for the 1978 elections. Sources of information on the election prospects of candidates, such as pollsters, insider political newsletters and political consultants; Estimation of probable voter turnout; Finding that 95 percent of House incumbents who run again, win again; Election prospects of Howard Baker, Jerry Brown, Strom Thurmond, Hugh Carey, Ed Brooke and Arch Moore.

TRAVIS OKULSKI: R&Ts editor-in-chief, tasked with setting lap times at Thunderhill West. Runs on cold-brew coffee and yacht rock. BOB SOROKANICH: Deputy editor, snack wrangler, prone to sweeping proclamations and [...]

Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter lost $4.5 million with an illegal bookmaker even though wagering on sports is legal in 38 states. Here's why the odds are good that bookies are here to stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DraftKings Inc. shares experienced a decline after NCAA President Charlie Baker announced his intention to ban college proposition betting, a type of side wager that is not directly tied to the final result of a game. The National Collegiate Athletic Association is working with state legislators to remove college prop bets across the country in order to protect student-athletes and the integrity of the game. This announcement coincided with federal lawmakers seeking more oversight on gambling companies. While the ban is not expected to significantly impact DraftKings' financial performance, the industry as a whole has faced recent challenges with gambling scandals and potential regulation. [Extracted from the article]

Shohei Ohtani, the baseball player who signed a $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has denied allegations of gambling and using a bookmaker. Ohtani stated that he was unaware of his interpreter's gambling problem and never knowingly sent money to a bookmaker. The controversy surrounding Ohtani has raised concerns, as he is seen as a symbol of Major League Baseball's global expansion efforts. Betting on sports is illegal in California, where Ohtani has played since 2018, and Major League Baseball prohibits players from betting on its games. The Dodgers have fired Ohtani's interpreter, who is under investigation for accumulating $4.5 million in gambling debts. Ohtani's lawyers have stated that he was a victim of theft and are turning the matter over to the authorities. [Extracted from the article]

This section offers news briefs from the business sector as of March 2024, including the legal bets estimated by the American Gaming Association that will be place on the National Collegiate Athletic Assocition (NCAA) men's and women's basketball tournaments in 2024, gross domestic product growth projected by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis for the fourth quarter of 2024, and inflation rates reported by France and Iraly.

The yuan has fallen to a four-month low as traders speculate that China may allow the currency to depreciate. The onshore yuan breached the 7.20 per dollar line it had held since November, causing drops in other Asian currencies and affecting sentiment towards China-linked markets. The People's Bank of China lowered its daily reference rate for the yuan, signaling a willingness to allow some weakness in the currency. However, a sharp depreciation could lead to pushback from the central bank. [Extracted from the article]

Cathie Wood and ARK Investment Management are once again facing off against activist short seller Grizzly Research. Wood's firm has increased its stake in air taxi developer Archer Aviation Inc., despite Grizzly's allegations that the company misrepresented its business and product readiness. This is the second showdown between ARK and Grizzly, with the previous one involving self-driving tech company TuSimple Holdings. ARK eventually sold its stake in TuSimple after the company delisted from the US stock exchange. Despite the risks, Wood's speculative approach and successful bets on companies like Tesla have attracted a following of individual investors. [Extracted from the article]

Cathie Wood and ARK Investment Management are once again facing off against activist short seller Grizzly Research. Wood's firm has increased its stake in air taxi developer Archer Aviation Inc., despite Grizzly's allegations that the company misrepresented its business and product readiness. This is the second showdown between ARK and Grizzly, with the previous one involving self-driving tech company TuSimple Holdings. ARK eventually abandoned its stake in TuSimple after Grizzly released a report on the company, causing its stock price to decline. [Extracted from the article]

Chicago's distressed property market is attracting investors seeking bargains, with values having dropped by over 50% in recent years. Developer Michael Reschke and Quintin Primo are in talks to purchase several office buildings in the city, and they have also proposed repurposing five buildings on LaSalle Street as part of a government program to revive downtown. Chicago has faced challenges in recovering from the pandemic, including high-profile corporate departures, violent crime, and disagreements between politicians and the business community. However, the new deals and revitalization plans are expected to restore confidence in the city's central business district. [Extracted from the article]

Two Seas Capital LP's global fund achieved a net return of approximately 22% for investors in 2023, according to a letter obtained by Bloomberg. The New York-based investment firm focuses on event-driven special situations with legal and regulatory catalysts. The fund's performance was attributed to events and regulatory changes in the healthcare, technology, and energy sectors. Investments in Talen Energy Corp., Argentina GDP warrants, and Esperion Therapeutics Inc. were highlighted as contributors to the fund's success. The fund currently manages around $380 million in assets and has generated an annualized net return of about 19% since its inception. [Extracted from the article]

Penn Entertainment Inc.'s interactive gambling unit experienced a loss of $333.8 million in the fourth quarter due to expenses related to the launch of its ESPN Bet sports-wagering product. Despite the significant loss, the service attracted over 1 million new customers in the first two months, surpassing management's expectations. The company's shares fell by 13% following the announcement. Analysts noted that while investors were prepared for losses, the actual amount was surprising. Penn Entertainment Inc. expects the loss to decrease by half in the next quarter and anticipates breaking even in the online gambling business by 2025. [Extracted from the article]

This section offers news briefs on the business sector as of February 2024. An appeals court rejected the claim of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump that presidents are immune in criminal cases. Israeli Minister for National Security Itamar Ben Gvir claims that U.S. President Joe Biden was hindering the offensive against the Hamas militant group. Adam Neumann, co-founder of the co-working company WeWork, is exploring an offer from fund manager Third Point to buy WeWork out of bankruptcy.

A record number of Americans are expected to place bets on the Super Bowl this year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rishi Sunak, the UK's Prime Minister, sparked outrage in the House of Commons with a comment about Labour Party leader Keir Starmer's stance on gender identity. The mother of a murdered transgender teenager, Esther Ghey, was present in the public gallery when opposition lawmakers demanded an apology from Sunak. Ghey's daughter's murder was cited as having "hostility to transgender identity" as an aggravating factor in the case. Sunak's comment came during a heated exchange with Starmer, in which he accused him of flip-flopping on spending plans. The remark drew immediate condemnation among MPs, but Sunak's spokesperson stated that he would not be apologizing for the comment. [Extracted from the article]

Sinclair Broadcast Group purchased 21 regional sports networks from Walt Disney Co. in 2019 for $9.6 billion, hoping to build a larger sports conglomerate and develop a digital streaming service. However, Sinclair failed to anticipate the impact of cord cutting and the rise of streaming platforms, which led to a decline in cable-TV subscribers and eroded profits. The company's plan to obtain direct-to-consumer rights and gambling rights from sports teams also faced challenges. As a result, Sinclair's subsidiary, Diamond Sports Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023. Recently, Diamond reached a restructuring deal with Amazon.com Inc., making Prime Video its primary streaming platform, but the deal is still pending court approval. [Extracted from the article]

Rishi Sunak, the UK's Prime Minister, sparked outrage in Parliament with a comment about Labour Party leader Keir Starmer's stance on gender identity. The mother of a murdered transgender teenager, Esther Ghey, was present in the public gallery when opposition lawmakers demanded an apology from Sunak. The comment referred to Starmer's response to a question about the definition of a woman, and it drew condemnation from MPs, particularly given Ghey's presence. Sunak's spokeswoman stated that the prime minister would not be apologizing for the remark. [Extracted from the article]

The Bank of England is expected to provide a more positive outlook for the UK economy, potentially leading to interest rate reductions that could stimulate growth. While economists anticipate that the central bank will maintain its lending rate at 5.25%, they believe that accompanying forecasts will indicate when monetary policy may be eased. The Bank of England's decision will be influenced by factors such as the vote split among the Monetary Policy Committee, forward guidance, inflation outlook, growth forecast, and the impact of the budget. [Extracted from the article]

The Biden administration plans to reinstate sanctions on Venezuela's energy sector if the country continues to bar opposition candidate María Corina Machado from running for president, according to two US officials. The move could strain recent efforts to improve relations between the two countries. The US had previously issued a license in October allowing oil and gas sector transactions in Venezuela as a goodwill gesture, but stated that the license would only be renewed if the Venezuelan government adhered to an agreed electoral roadmap and other commitments. Restoring the sanctions in April would provide time for negotiations between the US, the Maduro regime, and the opposition to potentially include Machado on the ballot. [Extracted from the article]

Over bettors - we hope you didn't place a wager on Saturday's Browns-Texans Wild Card matchup. Through just over a quarter of play this afternoon, 31 points have been scored in the battle featuring the AFC's No. 4 and No. 5 seeds.. With 8:42 left in the first half, it's 17-14 in favor of the... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

See odds, stats and predictions for all of the day's A-10 men's college basketball games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]