Latest news with #COVID-affected
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Inside the seven-figure business of proxy betting in Las Vegas
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. So, you want to be a pro sports bettor. The place to be, then, is Las Vegas. NFL season contests such as Circa Survivor, Circa Millions and Westgate Super Contest offer massive paydays — upwards of $6 million — at buy-in rates of $1,000, as the world's top professional bettors compete for bragging rights on top of big money. 'This is the crown achievement as a bettor to show you are the best,' Matty Simo, a founder at Football Contest Proxy, told The Post. 3 Big money is on the line at these Vegas contests. Getty Images Beneath all of the glitz and glamour of the contests, which include dreams of winning big and competing with some of the sharpest bettors, are the runners who make their picks at the counter of a Vegas betting operation. At Circa Sportsbook, picks need to be made at the counter, meaning the bettor needs to be in town. Even with the advent of smartphones and the growth of mobile sports betting, what seems like an easy task isn't readily available, paving the way for a whole different option. Proxy businesses have popped up throughout Sin City, allowing bettors to pay a fee — usually between $200 and $300 per season — to go to Circa, Westgate or other sportsbooks to make Survivor or against the spread picks each week. The odd ecosystem is worth in the seven-figure range each season. 'Twenty years ago, we only had 12 clients,' co-founder Toni Law said. 'Now, we have 3,000 and growing each year.' 3 Maxx Crosby stands at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Getty Images Participants need to be in Las Vegas to sign paperwork at the sportsbook for their desired tournament and then give permission to the proxy service to make picks on their behalf. The Circa Survivor contest had 13,000 entries last year, a total only expected to rise in 2025. It's not always easy, however, with non-football life happenings getting in the way at times. Betting on the NFL? During the COVID-affected 2020 season, bettors missed entries or didn't get what they were expecting as the virus wreaked havoc on NFL players and bettors, with spreads sometimes moving as much as six points in either direction. 'Wonky things happen sometimes,' Simo said. 'There are thousands of emails, tickets go in, picks are made, and it's a grueling schedule.' The fee for making picks varies by day of submission, with Saturday being the most expensive day for proxy picks, but also giving the player the most time to make a decision. 3 Jalen Hurts and the Eagles won the Super Bowl. AFP via Getty Images The schedule is through holidays, and oftentimes on Thanksgiving the casino treats the large set of Thursday and Friday games as it's own week, making it an even busier time for the proxy services. The 2025-26 football season should be a landmark one for the contest goers, as Circa announced a new contest for extreme sharps, with a $100,000 buy-in that guarantees a minimum $1.5 million prize pool. The Post's Doug Kezirian placed 14th in the 2023 Circa Million, among other strong finishes in the vast sports betting tournaments. Why Trust New York Post Betting Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he's showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
NBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- NBC News
Oklahoma City Thunder advance to NBA Finals
Just three years after finishing with one of the worst records in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are now best in the West. The Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, 124-94, to win their conference finals in five games and advance to the team's first NBA Finals since 2012. Oklahoma City will face either Indiana or New York; the Pacers currently hold a 3-1 series lead. No matter its Finals opponent, Oklahoma City will host Games 1 and 2 by virtue of their top playoff seed, on June 5 and June 8. It would also host Games 5 and 7, if necessary, on June 16 and June 22. Oklahoma City led by as many as 39 points to turn an otherwise tense, deciding game Wednesday into a blowout, led by 34 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who last week was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Even by the standards of the NBA, where franchises' fortunes and windows to win a championship can change quickly, Oklahoma City's rebuild that has returned it in the Finals has taken place with stunning speed. In 2021, it won 22 games during a COVID-affected shortened season, the fourth-worst record in the NBA and the franchise's fewest victories since moving from Seattle to Oklahoma in 2008. The following year it won 24 games — 40 fewer than Phoenix on its way to the West's No. 1 playoff seed. Every year since, Oklahoma City has gradually taken another step forward, with 40 wins in 2023 followed by 57 last season, the most in the conference, only to lose in the playoffs' second round. This season, Oklahoma City's upward trajectory continued with 68 wins, tied for fourth-most in NBA history. Of the six other teams who won at least that many times in a single season, four went on to win the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City will have the opportunity to join that select club. Oklahoma City has never won an NBA championship since relocating in 2008. In 2012, the Thunder made the Finals behind a roster with three future Most Valuable Players but lost to the Miami Heat. The current Thunder features one MVP in Gilgeous-Alexander and a roster, unique for its depth and versatility, that was built intentionally during its lean years. In addition to Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City received a haul of draft picks from the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019 in exchange for superstar Paul George, a trade that served as a pivot point for Oklahoma City's franchise. One day after the trade, the Thunder made a far more under-the-radar roster decision by signing an undrafted Arizona State wing named Lu Dort, who has since become a perennial all-defense candidate while underpinning what has become the NBA's best defense during both the regular season and postseason. Three years after acquiring Gilgeous-Alexander and a mountain of draft picks, one of those selections from the Clippers became Jalen Williams, who this year earned All-Star honors while becoming the Thunder's second-leading scorer. And the losing in 2022 helped secure the second overall draft pick Oklahoma City used to draft Chet Holmgren, the team's third-leading scorer who scored 22 points Wednesday. Oklahoma City opened the 2025 postseason with a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies before outlasting Denver in seven games during the conference semifinals. Facing Minnesota with a berth to the Finals on the line, Oklahoma City took a 3-1 series lead before routing the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
India Today
23-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Andhra Health Department issues fresh Covid advisory amid rising concerns
Amid reports of rising cases of Covid-19, the health department in Andhra Pradesh issued an advisory to the Directorate of Public Health & Family Welfare, Andhra Pradesh, in a comprehensive advisory, urged people to adopt stringent precautions in response to emerging health advisory calls for public cooperation and adherence to preventive measures to curb the potential spread of the As part of the advisory, the Health Department emphasised that the heath authorities should educate the public on the suspension of all mass gatherings, including prayer meetings, social events, parties, and other public stations, bus stands & airports have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with Covid-19 appropriate behavior at crowded transit hubs such as railway stations, bus stands, and attention has been drawn to the safety of vulnerable groups, with the advisory clearly stating: 'Elderly persons (above 60 years) and pregnant women are strictly advised to stay indoors.'The public has also been reminded to practice good hygiene practices, including regular handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding face-touching. The advisory further recommends the use of face masks in high-risk areas, particularly in crowded or poorly ventilated remains a key element in containment efforts. Citizens displaying any Covid-19 symptoms are urged to get tested immediately. Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, fatigue, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, headache, muscle aches, runny nose, and gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea. Those returning from COVID-affected countries are also advised to undergo testing.'If symptoms are observed, individuals should visit the nearest health facility for confirmation and treatment,' the advisory public has been urged to stay at home if feeling unwell to prevent spreading the infection to preparedness efforts, the health department has instructed all healthcare facilities to maintain adequate supplies of masks, PPE kits, and triple-layer masks. Testing laboratories are expected to operate round-the-clock, equipped with all necessary several Asian countries, including India, have reported a resurgence in Covid-19 cases. The authorities have assured that the situation is under control in the country and that the people do not need to InTrending Reel
United News of India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Himachal: HC dismisses UPSC aspirant's plea for extra attempt over Covid disruption
Shimla, May 4 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court has dismissed a plea by a civil services aspirant seeking an additional attempt to appear in the UPSC examination, citing COVID-19 disruption in 2020. A single-judge bench of Justice Ajay Mohan Goel recently held that the petitioner, having already exhausted all permissible chances, could not be granted special relief without any valid or exceptional ground. Petitioner Raja Ram Sahu had filed a writ petition contending that he could not prepare effectively for his last attempt in 2020 due to the pandemic. He urged the court to direct the Union of India and UPSC to allow him another chance in the 2025 examination. He also claimed that not framing a policy for COVID-affected aspirants violated his constitutional rights under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 29. However, the court rejected his arguments, terming the plea "completely misconceived." Justice Goel observed that the petitioner had not missed the exam due to COVID-19 or any other unforeseen event but had in fact appeared in the 2020 examination like thousands of other candidates. While distinguishing between inability to appear due to genuine hardship and mere unsuccessful participation, Justice Goel further noted that many candidates who faced the same pandemic-related challenges succeeded in the 2020 exam. The petition was dismissed along with all pending applications, sending a clear message that extraordinary reliefs in competitive examinations must be backed by equally extraordinary circumstances. UNI ML SS
ABC News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
AFL Anzac Day live blog - Collingwood, Essendon in traditional encounter at packed MCG
It's time for the biggest day for the AFL outside finals, as tens of thousands gather at the MCG for the Anzac Day match between Collingwood and Essendon. Later this evening, there will be a second on-field commemoration when Fremantle and Adelaide meet in the Len Hall Tribute Game in Perth. But first, the 30th edition of the Anzac Day encounter between the Magpies and the Bombers will feature a joint run-through of the banner before an emotional observance ceremony with the Last Post in front of an expected crowd of more than 90,000. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to Submit a comment or question Log in to comment Live updates Latest Oldest 1m ago Fri 25 Apr 2025 at 4:26am The MCG before the crowds came in A By Andrew McGarry Loading Twitter content React React 12m ago Fri 25 Apr 2025 at 4:15am Welcome to AFL action on Anzac Day A By Andrew McGarry It's time for football on Anzac Day (Getty Images / AFL Photos) Hello and welcome to ABC's live coverage of AFL action on Anzac Day . Thirty years ago today, Collingwood and Essendon joined with the RSL to stage a game to pay tribute to the men and women who had served Australia, including those who gave their lives on various continents. That day featured so many highlights, including nine goals to the Pies' Saverio Rocca , and a heart-pounding finish that left honours even. Since then, every April 25 — except for the COVID-affected year of 2020 — these two sides have met, and the stirring Anzac Day commemoration now extends to every game of the round as the community comes together for football, respect and remembrance. Today the Magpies and Bombers will meet again, the Last Post will be played, and a perfect silence will give way to the roar of 90,000-plus at the MCG. Then later this evening, attention will swing to the west, where Fremantle will host the Adelaide Crows in the Len Hall Tribute Game at Perth Stadium. For the first time the Arthur Leggett Medal will be awarded for best-on-ground, in honour of WWII veteran Arthur Leggett, who died earlier this month at the age of 106. My name is Andrew McGarry and I will be bringing you the action this afternoon, before Chris De Silva joins us later for Fremantle vs Adelaide. React React
