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A 73-year-old man from Chapin, South Carolina, has been sentenced to five years of probation after it was uncovered that he intended to “engage in illegal” gambling businesses. James O. Helms helped run a “large-scale gambling organization” in Lexington, Kentucky.
Helms pled guilty to conspiracy to engage in the illegal business, which reportedly drew in up to $100,000 per week at its peak. However, Helms was not alone in the gambling ring, as he worked with Fred McCary, who was separately arrested and sentenced to six months in prison and then six months of house arrest.
The scheme involved running a video poker operation, which was run out of McCary’s properties and home. Between 11 am and 2 am, two shifts would be run, requiring separate workers to keep it going.
Helms has avoided prison entirely and hasn’t been fined in any capacity. Effectively, as long as he remains out of trouble for five years, Helms has avoided any other legal headaches this brings.
South Carolina remains one of the few states enacting total gambling ban
A vast majority of gambling is illegal in South Carolina. State lottery, charitable gaming, and Daily Fantasy Sports are allowed. Even though online gambling is banned in one of the few states that still block the activity, despite its ever-growing hold over America.
Currently, there’s a push to get the first casino licensed in the state. A new proposal from January 13 would redirect 35% of all casino revenue to land conservation, in an attempt to make the act of gambling used for good.
There’s also a proposed 15% tax on casino revenue, which could push the state’s overall gains to a maximum of $39.3 million. That figure might look paltry compared to other states, but this is for a theoretical single casino.
Featured image: Peter Mai via Wikicommons / CC BY-SA 2.0
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Playtech, the company behind the tech that powers many online gambling platforms, has announced that it intends to expand its presence in South Africa via its partner LottoStar. The gambling tech company will now take on “more than 100” games from Playtech’s roster.
LottoStar will gain live dealer games and promotional tools to “maximise player engagement.” Outside of gaining more territory to provide gambling to, Playtech sees this as a way to enhance its “overall strategy.”
Speaking in the press release, the Managing Director for Playtech’s African arm said:
“We are excited to announce our new partnership with LottoStar, one of South Africa’s most recognisable and popular iGaming operators.
“We have seen how strongly Playtech’s games and promotional tools resonate with South African players and anticipate even more success this time around.
“It is a source of great pride to be working alongside LottoStar to ensure its players enjoy a safe, innovative, and engaging gaming experience.”
Adding to this, LottoStar issued this statement via a spokesperson:
“Introducing over 100 Playtech games marks a pivotal moment for LottoStar. We’re committed to offering our players world-class variety and quality.
“This partnership brings a new level of excitement to our players’ betting experience, while maintaining both brands’ shared desire to uphold the highest standards of player protection.
“These innovative games reflect our ambition to deliver the very best to our players.”
Playtech success surrounded by controversy
Playtech has recently been implicated in the ongoing Evolution private intelligence scandal. In October, it was revealed during the discovery process in court that Playtech had hired private investigation firm, Black Cube, to spread a report that Evolution claims is “highly inflammatory and knowingly false claims.”
In November, the company partnered with SkillOnNet to provide more bingo experiences in the UK and Mexico. Zingo Bingo was launched, while flagship names such as PlayOjo and PlayUZU was included in the exclusive deal.
Featured image: LottoStar / Playtech
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Rapper Snoop Dogg has set his sights on the gambling industry as he partners with the iGaming technology provider TRIVELTA to launch the online casino ‘Dogg House Casino.’
According to the announcement, this aims to be a first-of-its-kind artist-led casino experience that will merge iGaming, music, and culture. They say it has been built to Snoop Dogg’s creative vision, bringing his style and sound into a fully immersive casino environment, with gameplay, original music, and design.

Follow @dogghousecasino on X & drop your username For the chance at winning FREE Dogg Cash @dogghousecasino #DoggHouseCasino pic.twitter.com/cCEWkPeQ19
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) January 15, 2026

“For the first time, players can step into a casino built exactly the way I wanted it,” said Snoop Dogg. “The music, the vibe, the games. I wanted something innovative, immersive, and fun, and Trivelta worked with Deathrow Games to help me bring that to life.”
What is Snoop Dogg’s Dogg House Casino?
The music in Dogg House Casino promises to be all original with new drops planned regularly. The visual experience is also set to feature custom graphics inspired by Snoop’s West Coast playful reimaginings of classic games.
The casino will be powered by TRIVELTA’s mobile-native iGaming engine. Speaking on the partnership, the CEO of TRIVELTA Carson Hubbard said: “It’s rare to work with an artist who is this deeply involved in the product.
“Snoop shaped the look, sound, and feel of Dogg House Casino to create something that sits at the intersection of iGaming, music, and culture.”

The Dogg House Casino is OPEN
Like, repost & comment your username for a chance at 500 Dogg Cash
Pull up & play NOW! #dogghousecasino @dogghousecasino pic.twitter.com/uViUi9jlgQ
— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) January 15, 2026

Features of the casino include Snoop Blackjack, where the reappear acts as the dealer and it’ll feature his exclusive song, Snoop Dogg Blackjack. In Snoop Crazy Dogg Cross, an arcade-style classic, the aim is to guide the artist as he drives his ‘64 Impala across a busy Los Angeles highway.
There will be Snoop Dogg Poker too where people can play with friends through TRIVELTA’s plug-and-play poker platform, while having the chance to join public tables too.
The announcement says there will be an extensive robust library of over 500 games across multiple categories, including classic slots, crash games, RNG table games, and 24/7 live dealer experiences such as Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat and Craps.
Featured Image: Via press release
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