Techme101.com

Just days after the arrests of Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier related to the NBA gambling scandal, news has emerged that the pair will not receive their salaries during the FBI investigation. 
In what is a live, developing case, law authorities are probing what has been described as a criminal gambling operation that utilized inside information to wager illegal bets.
At a news conference in NYC, FBI Director Kash Patel spoke of “historic” arrests, which also included the La Cosa Nostra crime syndicate. 
Altogether, 31 individuals have been charged so far.
The fresh blow for former Portland Trail Blazers coach Billups and Miami Heat Guard Rozier has evoked a strong response from the NBA Players’ Association, with the duo’s attorneys denying any involvement with the gambling ring.  
Rozier’s salary will be held in escrow, with the full amount to be paid out if he is cleared in the investigation, while Billups will not be paid during his period of enforced leave.
A spokesperson for the NBA Players’ Association confirmed their intention to fully challenge the suspension of pay, in a statement to CNBC: 
“While we are in agreement with the league that upholding the integrity of the game is of the utmost importance, their decision to place Terry on leave without pay is counter to the presumption of innocence and inconsistent with the terms of our Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“We plan to challenge their decision via the proper channels,” they added.
No impact on NBA team spending
Rozier’s salary for this season is thought to be around $26.6 million, with Billups said to have earned roughly $4.7 million throughout the 2024-25 season. He signed a multi-year contract extension earlier this year, for an undisclosed amount.
Miami Heat will not be directly paying out on Terry Rozier’s significant salary until further notice, with the next installment due to be paid this week. 
Despite this, the Heat will not be granted any kind of salary cap benefit or spending boost as a result of the individual sanction.
This has been explained by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) most recently agreed by the NBA that allows the league to act in situations like this, to place the due funds in a safe account until the conclusion of the investigation. 
ReadWrite has reached out to the NBA Players’ Association for comment.
Featured image: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0
The post NBA to withhold Billups and Rozier salaries during live FBI investigation appeared first on ReadWrite.

Poker is often pictured as having wily players with bluffing faces. It is considered to be a game that people get better at with experience in reading people. There’s indeed a psychology behind things.
But numbers play a much bigger part than most people realize. This could come in the form of quick calculations or even deeper strategies. Mathematics sits quietly at the heart of many decisions players make during a hand.
A Modern Poker Landscape
The poker scene today is far bigger than its early days. Many tables run around the clock with video streams showing every development. Texas Hold’em leads the pack, especially across North America. It has become the game most people think of first. Many of the best poker players in the world have hailed from the United States and Canada.
Several people playing poker online in Canada will be logging in to play Hold’em (which includes a mix of strategy and luck). The top casinos across the North American region offer a variety of different poker games. We’ve even seen more specific variations and options for things like cash games and stake limits.

Variations like Omaha and Stud games all have loyal communities in the same areas. The games all have their own rhythm and approach, and variations within them.
That variety means there’s space for casual players who want a relaxed game and for strategists who pore over hand histories looking for statistical input. Some people are hugely statistical in the way they think about the game. Other people trust skills like people reading.
That reflects the number of options in poker. Different games can be played with different stakes and variations. People even debate what the correct chip values are for the game!
Please embed the link:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DJPZ_1rx9Sw/
Where the Numbers Begin
Every poker hand hides a set of probabilities. The simplest is understanding how often certain cards will show up. Odds of pairing a starting hand and the chance of hitting a flush by the river. People even consider the likelihood of an opponent holding a better set. All of these come from straightforward calculations.
Players who love the math side talk about “outs.” An out is any unseen card that will improve a hand. Trying to work out their likelihood can help someone decide whether to keep betting or fold.
Here’s an example: If you’re one card away from a straight, you might have eight outs. Knowing how likely those cards are to appear can help make the decisions. This all relates to game theory and mathematics in poker.
Pot Odds and Break-Even Points
There’s also the concept of pot odds. This compares the size of the pot to the cost of calling a bet. They consider the potential reward. Some players make these checks instinctively – others keep the formula clear in their minds and run through it as the action unfolds.
Break-even thinking is another layer. When someone knows they need to win a hand at least 30% of the time to justify a call, they’re applying a slice of game theory to a card table. It doesn’t guarantee a win. What it does is frame decisions with a cool head rather than pure guesswork.
Strategy: Numbers Meet Psychology
Math alone won’t conquer poker. Reading people and balancing risk are just as important. Numbers give structure to all that intuition. Tournament players sometimes use calculations to manage chip stacks and adjust as blinds rise. Cash-game specialists might memorize common odds so they don’t need to pause for long equations mid-hand.
Not everyone digs into spreadsheets or solver software. Some players enjoy a looser style, focusing more on timing and body language than the arithmetic. The interesting thing about poker is that both approaches can find success. Nobody needs to get a degree in mathematics before they start playing.
The Mental Gym of Poker
Poker’s mix of logic and creativity can be appealing to certain players. Even a friendly game forces the mind to weigh possibilities quickly. Should you chase that inside straight or hold back for a better spot? Can you represent a strong hand even if the cards don’t back it up?
Those puzzles sharpen focus and pattern recognition. They may also teach patience within the game. Folding several hands in a row is often the smartest play. It can involve a lot of practice as well as knowing some mathematical basics. Luck is always a factor in determining outcomes.
Some of those versions of poker we discussed earlier are less involved in this way. They might focus more on fortune than they focus on strategy. Some versions of poker stud games reveal different numbers of cards at the start. This can change the whole outlook. Different players have their own preferences for which they want to play.
The range of poker players is as wide as its variations. Some people love the charts and formulas – others go based on their ​​instincts and experience.
The post How Much Math Is in Poker? appeared first on ReadWrite.

Community funding through the Online Casino Gambling Bill has been introduced in New Zealand, as the minister of internal affairs says they are ‘listening to New Zealanders.’
Brooke van Velden, the minister of internal affairs, announced the introduction on Wednesday (October 29) as she said: “The message from communities was loud and clear – if we’re regulating online gambling, they want to see benefits flow back to local sports clubs, community groups, and grassroots organisations.
“I have listened, and now as a Government, we are delivering on what matters most to communities across the country.”
What is the new Offshore Gambling Duty bill in New Zealand?
The proposed change increases the Offshore Gambling Duty from 12% to 16%. A total of 4% has been ringfenced specifically for community returns which will create an entirely new funding stream for New Zealand communities.
“While I am confident the regulated online casino market will provide new community funding opportunities for New Zealand sports clubs and community organisations, I do acknowledge that predicting the exact impact on existing Class 4 [pokies] returns creates some uncertainty,” Brooke continued.
“Cabinet has agreed on a two-year review after implementation of the community returns policy to assess the impact of online casino gambling on other forms of gambling and community returns.”
The bill attempts to address a gap in New Zealand’s regulatory framework. “Right now, Kiwis are gambling on thousands of overseas websites with no safety nets, no spending limits, and no recourse when things go wrong. That’s unacceptable.
“This Bill brings those operators under New Zealand law, with proper consumer protections, harm minimisation measures, and now – community benefits.”
Van Velden confirmed that this would be new money on top of existing funding from ‘pokies, Lotto, and TAB.’ She added that they’re not taking anything away, but adding to what’s already there, and reiterated this point in a recent LinkedIn post.
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
The post Gambling in New Zealand could fund local community groups appeared first on ReadWrite.