Tag: Las Vegas

Not a question of if, but when Las Vegas hosts College Football Playoff or Final Four

College football is bringing its national championship game to New Orleans on Monday for the fifth time, cementing its status as America’s preeminent venue for big sporting events. In the modern era, no city has hosted more Super Bowls, more …

College football is bringing its national championship game to New Orleans on Monday for the fifth time, cementing its status as America’s preeminent venue for big sporting events. In the modern era, no city has hosted more Super Bowls, more BCS/College Football Playoff title games or more Final Fours.

But as we enter the 2020s, America’s sports host of the future could be up for grabs because of Las Vegas, which suddenly has two major professional teams, more than $2 billion worth of new facilities and a strong desire to attract the same events that regularly come through New Orleans. The only question is, will the Final Four or the CFP championship game get there first?

“I’ll be in shock if they don’t come to Las Vegas,” said Jim Livengood, the longtime former athletics director at Arizona and UNLV, who has spent significant time in his retirement lobbying for big college sports events to come to Las Vegas. “It has to be the right event for the right site for the right time of year, and it doesn’t fit for every sport. But for five or six it works really well.”

Last May, the NCAA finally rescinded its policy that banned championship events from being played in states that offered sports gambling, which previously only applied to Nevada but was suddenly going to eliminate more than 10 states that immediately legalized it in the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark 2018 decision.

Of course, the NCAA rule never made sense in the first place. Beyond college programs coming to play at UNLV and Nevada for decades, Las Vegas has hosted a bowl game since 1992, the Mountain West basketball tournament since 2000 and the Pac-12 tournament since 2013. Moreover, with online and offshore sports gambling becoming prevalent over the last decade, the stigma of college games being played in close proximity to casinos and sports books is no longer tethered to reality.

Still, it’ll be a big moment for college sports when the NCAA or the CFP eventually bring their championship events to Las Vegas. But when’s it going to happen, and once it does, will Sin City become as much a part of the regular rotation that hosts these things as New Orleans, Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas and Indianapolis?

“We know that Las Vegas is an attractive destination for championships and we fully believe we are becoming the epicenter of sports,” UNLV athletics director Desiree Reed-Francois said. “In conjunction with our community partners, we’re being aggressive in trying to host championship events.”

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The biggest issue, at least in the near-term, is availability. Though the NCAA men’s basketball committee met and toured venues in Las Vegas last summer and has a delegation visiting again in the coming weeks, Final Four sites are booked through 2026, though Las Vegas could bid on NCAA tournament regional sites as early as 2023.

As an independent organization, the CFP is not bound by whatever decision the NCAA makes with respect to Las Vegas and the basketball tournament but only has two unawarded championship games in 2025 and 2026, which marks the end of the Playoff’s current 12-year contract with ESPN. The bidding process for those games is yet to begin, but Las Vegas has already indicated it will make a strong run at holding one of them in the new $1.8 billion Allegiant Stadium, which sits just across Interstate 15 from the South end of the Strip.

Bill Hancock, the CFP’s executive director, wrote in an email that he expects a number of cities to be interested hosting for 2026 and 2026 and noted that “it has been good for college football” that they’ve awarded the game around to 10 different places for the first 10 years of the event.

“It wouldn’t be right for me to speculate about any potential host,” Hancock said. “I don’t want to handicap the field, except to say it will be a fascinating race.”

Las Vegas should be a no-brainer for one of those two slots, though, and the CFP should be positioning itself to get there before the Super Bowl (2025 is the NFL’s next open slot) and the Final Four, as there could be significant cachet that comes along with being first.

But there are a couple potential complications.

Also see:

– When and where to watch LSU vs. Clemson National Championship game

The CFP is going to Miami in 2021, Indianapolis in 2022, the new Los Angeles stadium in 2023 and Houston in 2024. Would going back out to the Pacific time zone in 2025 be too soon after L.A.? Also, the Consumer Electronics Show, which brings 170,000 people to Vegas annually, often takes place in a similar window to the CFP championship game around that weekend after New Year’s. The CES has not posted dates for 2025 and 2026 yet, but that could be a potential complication to keep in mind.

If that hurdle could be worked out, though, Vegas could very well establish itself as the absolute best venue for the game period. As fans have discovered over the first six years of the CFP, it is not a bowl week type of event. Fans typically come in at some point the weekend before the Monday night game and leave the next day. Also, because the travel plans for the winning semifinal teams are made on somewhat short notice, availability of affordable flights and hotel rooms is paramount.

From that standpoint, places like Dallas and Atlanta work exceedingly well. For entertainment options and good weather, cities like New Orleans and Miami come to the front of the pack. But it’s hard to imagine anywhere combining ease of travel with logistics like Las Vegas.

“There’s so many similarities to New Orleans,” Livengood said. “Everything is so darn close. The stadium, there isn’t anything you can’t do just by walking to it. It checks every single box. And the big thing is Vegas wants it. Vegas has really stepped up in terms of realizing this can be a market for athletics.”

This weekend in New Orleans, tens of thousands of LSU and Clemson fans will be taking over the French Quarter prior to the national championship on Monday night, a tradition that dates back decades for college sports fans. Hopefully, it will continue for decades more.

But the momentum is there now for Vegas to provide the same kind of platform for the biggest events in the coming years. Hopefully it won’t take college athletics much longer to embrace it.

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News: Woodson snubbed again by HoF, Garrett decision still looms

A Dallas assistant may be a college coordinator candidate, several players head to Las Vegas, and the original Hail Mary is up for a vote.

Day 4 of the Jason Garrett-Dallas Cowboys lovefest standoff was seeming to come to an uneventful close, and then ESPN happened. One assistant sat down with a rival team to talk about their head coaching job and another staffer is being touted as the frontrunner for a college coordinator gig.

Also, a yellow-jacket snub for a Cowboys legend, end-of-year bonuses for two defensive standouts (and a career decision in the offing for one), and a call for votes regarding the most famous play in team history. Next year’s opponents have been finalized, this year’s offensive prowess is put into painful perspective, and an early look at free agency puts the talents of two Cowboys on display.

All that, plus a posse of starters take the Vegas Strip, the best audio captured during Week 17’s big win, and a former Cowboys coach says goodbye to the game. That’s on tap in this edition of News and Notes.

ESPN joins speculation Jason Garrett will not be part of Cowboys future

Ed Werder said something, ESPN bosses claimed he said more than that and Thursday morning arrived with Jason Garrett still on the Cowboys’ payroll.

Giants interview Cowboys coach Kris Richard for HC gig :: Giants Wire

Kris Richard has had a sit-down session with the New York Giants about their head coaching position. The Cowboys’ passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach met Thursday with Giants president John Mara, general manager Dave Gettleman, and team vice president Kevin Abrams as the team begins its search for Pat Shurmur’s replacement.

Dallas has won the last six meetings with Big Blue; Richard has been on the Cowboys’ coaching staff for the past four. Richard’s unit helped hold New York to under 275 yards in two of those games, and 18 points or less in three of them.

Past/Present: Hall of Fame finalists set :: The Mothership

The list of Modern-Era finalists to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame has been announced. Cowboys Ring of Honor safety Darren Woodson, the franchise’s all-time leading tackler, was one of 25 semifinalists. Once again, though, the five-time first-team All-Pro did not make the cut.

Linebacker and Texas native Zach Thomas, who played one year in Dallas  after a 12-year stint with the Dolphins, was named one of the 15 Modern-Era finalists.

Several other former Cowboys are 2020 finalists for Canton in various categories. Jimmy Johnson and Dan Reeves are finalists in the Coaches category, while Drew Pearson and Cliff Harris are among the Senior finalists. Team founder Clint Murchison is a Contributors finalist.

The 2020 Class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be announced February 1.

Sean Lee will wait on career decision :: The Mothership

Tight end Jason Witten was the one noticeably shaking hands with teammates at the end of 2019’s season finale, but he’s not the only longtime Cowboy who may have played his final game in a Dallas uniform. Linebacker Sean Lee may decide to hang up his cleats or even move on to different NFL pastures.

After agreeing to a reduced role in 2019, Lee played in all 16 games for the first time in his 10-year career. But the game has taken a toll, and the Penn State alum says he’ll have a decision to make.

“I’m going to take some time, talk to the wife, talk to the family and see where I’m at physically in a month or two and make a decision then,” he said.

Lee is set to be a free agent in March.

Sean Lee, Jeff Heath earn 2019 bonuses :: ESPN

According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, veteran linebacker Sean Lee netted a million-dollar incentive bonus for playing in 59.1% of the team’s defensive snaps in 2019. Safety Jeff Heath collected $250,000 for playing more than 65% of the snaps.

Archer also notes that the team ended 2019 with approximately $19.5 million in cap room that can be carried over to 2020, citing NFLPA figures.

Cowboys exceptionally bad at being good :: Cowboys Wire

Fans still looking for answers on exactly how the Cowboys’ season could possibly be over won’t find any helpful answers in this piece. That’s because if you look at just the numbers, this Dallas squad ranks among the best ever in a few select categories.

Take, for example, teams since 1960 with the most wins of 30+ points, 400+ yards, and a 10+ point differential in a season. In other words, teams who had a habit of demolishing their opponents. Of the 14 teams atop that list, the 2019 Cowboys are the only bunch to not make the postseason. Most went quite deep into the playoffs. Take away Dallas, and the average team of that group boasted a 13-win record.

Crunch the numbers with Tony Thompson and see precisely where these Cowboys rank among 8-8 teams throughout history.

Five names to know in Washington’s offensive coordinator search :: The Seattle Times

“Here’s your frontrunner.”

That’s what they’re saying in the Pacific Northwest about Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and the open OC slot at the University of Washington. Chris Petersen, Moore’s collegiate head coach at Boise State, stepped down as the Huskies’ coach in early December, and now new coach Jimmy Lake has let go of his offensive coordinator after UW defeated Boise State in the school’s recent bowl game.

Moore, who grew up in the state of Washington, would certainly be an attractive candidate after boosting the Cowboys offense to big numbers in the 2019 season, his first as an OC at any level.

Sounds from the sideline :: The Mothership

In the season’s final installment of this popular segment, listen in as microphones pick up on-the-field chatter during the Cowboys’ blowout win over Washington.

Among the highlights are linebacker Sean Lee doing some coaching up of the defensive unit, great team reactions to wideout Michael Gallup’s acrobatic second touchdown catch of the day, and running backs coach Gary Brown offering some heartfelt proclamations to his guys in the midst of his own uncertain future with the organization.

Cowboys 2020 schedule: List of home, away, AFC and NFC, 2nd place opponents :: Cowboys Wire

Dallas’s list of 2020 opponents is set, based on the Cowboys’ second-place finish in the NFC East as well as the rotation of divisional pairings across the league.

At home in AT&T Stadium, Dallas will host Philadelphia, Washington, the New York Giants, Arizona, San Francisco, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta.

The Cowboys will travel to take on Philadelphia, Washington, the New York Giants, Seattle, the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, Cincinnati, and Baltimore.

Dates for the games will be announced in April.

Cowboys’ ‘Hail Mary’ up for Greatest Moment in NFL History :: NFL.com

As part of the league’s centennial celebration, fans are being asked to help choose the single greatest moment in NFL history. Each team has one signature moment in the running, with an online vote to help narrow things down round by round.

The 32 clips make for the ultimate highlight reel: John Elway’s helicopter run, The Ice Bowl, The Immaculate Reception, The Catch, the Patriots’ 28-3 Super Bowl comeback, the Chargers-Dolphins Epic in Miami in the 1981 playoffs, David Tyree’s helmet catch, and the Music City Miracle, to name just a few.

The Cowboys’ moment? The original “Hail Mary” pass from Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson that moved Dallas past the favored Minnesota Vikings in the 1975 playoffs, advancing them to the NFC championship game and, eventually, Super Bowl X.

Voting is open now. The Greatest Moment in NFL History will be revealed during Super Bowl LIV.

The top 10 non-quarterback free agents on offense of the 2020 season :: Pro Football Focus

Dallas wideout Amari Cooper tops this list of free agents who don’t play quarterback. Despite a memorable number of drops, a frustrating dip in output in away games, and an apparent laundry list of minor maladies that kept him operating at less than full capacity, the quantifiable lift Cooper still brings to the team’s offense “is the best explanation for quarterback Dak Prescott’s increase in production and Cooper’s spot atop the offensive free agent list.”

A polarizing Cowboy also leads the list of best defensive free agents. “Many will point to [cornerback Byron] Jones not picking off a pass over the last two years, but his 74.1 coverage grade in single coverage is 11th-best during that time and Jones has also shown the ability to match up against tight ends when called upon.”

Cowboys players heading to the desert :: @rjochoa (Twitter)

The season is over, the lockers are cleaned out, the offseason has begun. And for a group of Cowboys starters, it’s getaway time.

Cowboys fans are hoping what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. And off TMZ.

Lions DC Paul Pasqualoni steps down amid staff shake-up :: ESPN

Paul Pasqualoni has stepped down in Detroit. The 70-year-old defensive coordinator, one of coach Matt Patricia’s first hires when he took over in the Motor City, says he is stepping away from football.

Pasqualoni spent time on the Dallas coaching staff over his storied career. He served as tight ends coach in 2005 and is credited with helping to guide a young Jason Witten to his second straight Pro Bowl that season. In 2006, he moved to linebackers coach and was instrumental in DeMarcus Ware’s development as a second-year player. He left Dallas after the 2007 season, but returned for 2010 as the team’s defensive line coach. When head coach (and defensive coordinator) Wade Phillips was fired halfway through that season, Pasqualoni was tapped to serve as interim DC for the remainder of the season… under interim head coach Jason Garrett.

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Eddie Hearn: Tyson Fury risks opening cut if he spars with Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury is at risk of rupturing a healed wound above his right eye if Joshua spars with Fury.

Anthony Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury is at risk of rupturing a healed wound above his right eye if in fact Joshua joins Fury as a sparring partner for the rematch with Deontay Wilder on Feb. 22.

Hearn told iTV Monday that he wouldn’t be surprised if Joshua in fact did spar with Fury, who is expected to train in Detroit with new cornerman SugarHill Steward.

“Doesn’t matter what I or (Joshua trainer) Rob (McCracken) will say, he’ll just go,’’ Hearn said. “I wouldn’t want to open up that cut.”

There were some of the same concerns when Fury jumped into pro-wrestling in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 31. He emerged from that Halloween show with no reported issues with the cut, which required 42 stitches in surgery on the day after Fury suffered the nasty wound in a decision over Otto Wallin on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas.

Fury, who also sustained a cut on his right eyelid against Wallin, was cleared to resume sparring this month. However, boxing isn’t scripted like pro wrestling.

Accidents happen, in sparring and fights. Wilder has already promised to test the cut early and often in their ESPN/Fox pay-per-view fight at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

“I’m going to find out just how good his plastic surgeon is,’’ Wilder said at a news conference in late September.

Frank Warren: Anthony Joshua should give up belts, fight Wilder-Fury II winner

Frank Warren suggests that Anthony Joshua give up his titles and wait to fight the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II winnner.

Tyson Fury promoter Frank Warren is already looking beyond the Fury-Deontay Wilder rematch on Feb. 22, urging Anthony Joshua to relinquish his belts and wait for the winner.

Warren says Joshua’s mandatory title defenses could get in the way of putting together a fight between the unified heavyweight champion against the winner of the Wilder-Fury fight at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand on pay-per-view.

“If I was Anthony Joshua, I wouldn’t fight again until we know the winner of this fight and then make them make the fight,’ Warren told the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph. “I’d let them strip me of my titles and not fight anybody until the big one.”

Joshua, who holds three of the titles, is considering a mandatory defense against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in March, April or May of next year. But an upset is always a danger, especially in the heavyweight division. To wit: Andy Ruiz Jr.’s stunner on June 1 over Joshua, who went on to reclaim the belts in a rematch on Dec. 7 Saudi Arabia.

‘The one thing about Pulev is that he can whack,’’ Warren said. “So, for me, I would say: ‘You know what. I want to fight the winner of our fight (Wilder-Fury II).’

“Get all the parties together, work something out, maybe with some step-aside (money), because that’s what the public want.

“They want to know who’s the No. 1. The No. 3 and the No. 4 fought in Saudi. The No. 1 and No. 2 are fighting on Feb. 22.”

Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II: 6 early questions to ponder

Many questions surround the rivalry of Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. Here are six questions going into their Feb. 22 rematch.

The Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury rematch is now official for Feb. 22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on pay-per-view.

We’ll have plenty of time to discuss the ins and outs of the matchup in the coming weeks, as the hype figures to hit a fevered pitch. For now, here are five early Wilder-Fury II questions to ponder:

Did Wilder learn lessons in the first fight that will lead to victory in the rematch?

Wilder has suggested that he was unable to knock out Fury in their first fight because he tried too hard to do so. That’s plausible. Perhaps Wilder’s knockdowns last December came late in the fight – in Rounds 9 and 12 – because he finally settled down and waited for openings to present themselves rather than forcing the issue. Of course, another possibility is that Fury is just a much better boxer than Wilder and, because he was getting tired, let his guard down a few times. One thing seems certain: Wilder won’t rush things the second time around.

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Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury begin promotion for Feb. 22 rematch

The promotion for Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II has begun, after both fighters took to their social media to announce ticket information.

The official promotional campaign for Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II has begun.

After weeks of radio silence, both fighters simultaneously took to social media to announce their highly anticipated heavyweight title rematch on Feb. 22 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, including ticket information.

“After February 22nd there will be no more unanswered questions,” Wilder wrote. “I will finish what I started, and this time @Tyson_Fury will not be getting up off that canvas so quickly. I’ve proven myself time and time again and I will do it again in February.”

The first fight, which took place at Staples Center on Dec. 1, 2018, ended in a controversial draw that saw the hard-hitting Wilder score two knockdowns but get largely outboxed by the dexterous Fury. The fight is famous for Fury’s ability to get off the canvas from what appeared to be a fight-ending punch in the 12th and final round.

“I’m happy and I’m excited that the rematch is finally happening,” Wilder said in a release. “I want to give the fans what they want to see. I’ve been doing it with my last three outings – Fury, Breazeale and Ortiz. They’ve been spectacular events – from my ring walks where I gather all the energy of the people, to my uniforms that I wear to help spread that energy.

“Then I give them what they all come for – the knockouts, and my knockouts have been amazing. I proved myself the first time and I’m ready to do it again. It was a very controversial fight. I promise my fans that there won’t be any controversy with this one. I’m going to finish it.”

“There’s no more ducking and diving,” Fury said in a release. “The date has been set, and the ‘Bomb Squad’ is about to be securely detonated and the real champion crowned as the world watches on for the most anticipated fight in years. This is unfinished business for me, but come February 22, this dosser will finally get what’s coming to him, and I can’t wait!”

The rematch will be a pay-per-view collaboration between rivals Top Rank/ESPN and PBC/Fox. The fight is expected to be heavily promoted on the networks during their respective NFL super bowl coverage. Top Rank boss Bob Arum has gone so far as to say that he expects 2 million buys. However the rematch plays out, various outlets have reported that a third fight is already in the works for the summer.

 

Ohio State vs. Kentucky odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Kentucky Wildcats sports betting odds and lines, with NCAA basketball betting picks, tips and bets.

The Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1, 1-1 Big Ten) and Kentucky Wildcats (8-2, 0-0 SEC) tangle in the CBS Sports Classic Game at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at 5:15 p.m. ET. We analyze the Ohio State-Kentucky odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

The Buckeyes are ranked fourth in the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll. The Wildcats are No. 6.

Ohio State vs. Kentucky: Three things you need to know

1. Ohio State G Duane Washington Jr. (ribs), who averages 11.4 points and 1.8 assists, is questionable to play. He has missed the past two games.

2. Kentucky ranks a dismal 117th with 75.4 points per game, and an even worse 334th in 3-pointer percentage at just 27.5%. Defensively the Wildcats are 26th in the nation, allowing just 60.2 PPG.

3. These teams last met Dec. 19, 2015 with the Buckeyes coming away with a 74-67 victory.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Ohio State vs. Kentucky: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:15 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Kentucky 72, Ohio State 67

Moneyline (ML)

There were no moneyline odds available at the time of publishing.

Against the Spread (ATS)

KENTUCKY (+3.5, -110) heads into this one with just two covers across its past eight games overall. However, the ‘Cats are 4-1 ATS in the past five as an underdog and 13-2-2 ATS in the past 17 neutral-site games as a ‘dog. In addition, they’re 23-11-2 ATS in the past 36 on a neutral court. Ohio State (-3.5, -110) is impressive at 8-1 ATS in the past nine games overall, but Kentucky gets it done here.

New to sports betting? Every $1.10 wagered on Kentucky will proft $1 if the Wildcats win outright or don’t lose by 4 points or more.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 131.5 (-110) is the play here, going 7-2 in Ohio State’s past nine neutral-site battles. The Over is also 5-1 in Kentucky’s past six games following a straight-up loss. Look for the Wildcats to bounce back with a solid offensively showing after falling to the Utah Utes 69-66 on this same Las Vegas court Wednesday.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Utah vs. Kentucky odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s Utah Utes vs. Kentucky Wildcats betting odds and lines, with NCAA basketball betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Utah Utes (8-2, 0-0 PAC-12) and the Kentucky Wildcats (8-1, 0-0 SEC) tangle on a neutral-site floor at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at 11 p.m. ET Wednesday. We analyze the Utah-Kentucky odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Utah vs. Kentucky: Three things you need to know

1. Kentucky G Ashton Hagans rolls in with 16.3 points and 8.7 assists per game across his past six outings.

2. Kentucky freshman G Tyrese Maxey is just 4-for-26 from the field across his past three games.

3. The Utes enter this game with a 29-29 record all-time in Las Vegas, while going 8-8 under head coach Larry Krystkowiak.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Utah vs. Kentucky: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:40 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Kentucky 85, Utah 77

Moneyline (ML)

Kentucky (-769) is heavily favorited to win, but the ML is too chalky to warrant a wager. A $10 bet on the Wildcats to win outright returns a profit of just $1.30.

Against the Spread (ATS)

UTAH (+11.5, -110) will be able to keep it within single digits, mainly due to the erratic shooting of Maxey. While he has been playing lockdown defense, he has really struggled from the perimeter, and that’s his calling card. Until he gets on track, opponents of the Wildcats (-11.5, -110) will be able to reel them in.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 138.5 (-110) is the play here. Expect Kentucky to snap out of its shooting funk a little bit. The Over is 12-5 in Utah’s past 17 against teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better. While it’s all Under all the time for Kentucky, some trends are made to be broken.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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