Sports
Damar Hamlin in their hearts, the NFL pays tribute to No. 3


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Damar Hamlin’s old high school teammate clutched the ball he had just intercepted, jogged to the 30-yard line, gingerly placed the pigskin at the top of the red-outlined “3,” raised his hands over his head and formed them in the shape of a heart.
“I’m just glad I got a chance to go out there and make a play and honour him the way I did,” said Hamlin’s buddy, Colts safety Rodney Thomas II.
Colts safety and Damar Hamlin’s high school teammate Rodney Thomas II honors Damar after his interception 🫶<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/LoveForDamar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#LoveForDamar</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/HamlinIsland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@HamlinIsland</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/Rodney_Thomas26?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Rodney_Thomas26</a> <a href=”https://t.co/Zu2gyQ2tKg”>pic.twitter.com/Zu2gyQ2tKg</a>
—@NFL
Thomas’ gesture might have been the most poignant moment, but it was far from the only shout-out to the Bills safety on an NFL Sunday filled with love for a stricken player whose impact is being felt across the nation.
Hamlin’s number — number “3” — was on display everywhere across the league, outlined on 30-yard lines on fields, worn on special patches on the Bills uniforms and featured on jackets and sweatshirts and even on red hearts dangling from the tailgate tents outside the Bills home stadium.
The highest volume of tribute poured in, naturally, from that parking lot in Orchard Park, New York, where Buffalo’s 35-23 victory over New England was punctuated by a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Nyheim Hines on the game’s opening play.
“OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!,” Hamlin tweeted after the quick score.
The safety, whose recovery after his collapse on the field Monday night in Cincinnati has overtaken every NFL story line, also shared a photo of himself making a heart with his hands from his hospital bed shortly before kickoff with the text “GAMETIME!!! @BuffaloBills.”
Less than a week after Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a game, fans and players showed their support for him and his recovery at NFL stadiums across the U.S.
Before that, in the lot outside of Highmark Stadium, Ryan Magnuson stood in front of a 4-x-10-foot canvas greeting card that he placed at the foot of the Bills stadium entrance for fans to sign. The message on the card: “If you get a chance to show some love today, do it. It won’t cost you nothing” — a reprise of a tweet Hamlin sent back in 2021.
“It’s been very positive. I’ve seen Bills fans, I’ve seen Patriots fans and people wearing other NFL jerseys coming up. I think this is bigger than a team thing at this point,” Magnuson said.
Fifteen-hundred miles away, and three hours later in Denver, the Chargers and Broncos each walked to the numbers and linked arms near their respective sidelines before the game’s first snap while the No. 3s on both teams — Russell Wilson and Derwin James Jr. — met at the 50-yard-line, shook hands and kneeled in prayer.
Philly running back Miles Sanders tweeted a picture of himself, wearing a “Love For Damar” sweatshirt, and flashing the number “3” while FaceTiming with Hamlin from his hospital.
Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin is once again breathing on his own and is even able to have conversations with teammates, following a cardiac arrest earlier this week during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals football team.
Not all was warm and fuzzy.
In Cincinnati, Bengals running back Joe Mixon celebrated a touchdown by mimicking a coin flip — the likes of which could have happened, per a late NFL contingency plan — to decide home-field advantage in a potential playoff game between the Bengals and Ravens.
Cincinnati’s 27-16 win over the Ravens on Sunday staved off that possibility. The Ravens will visit Cincy next week in the wild-card round. But saying all is back to normal in the NFL this week, or for the upcoming playoffs, still feels like a bit of a stretch.
The post-season is bound to be outfitted in “Love For Damar” sweatshirts and others embroidered with “Hamlin Strong,” the likes of which Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes wore during Saturday’s win over the Raiders.
Hamlin selling shirts to benefit first responders
Some might even wear shirts being sold by Hamlin himself, with proceeds going to first responders and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he’s been since he collapsed on the field and had to have his heartbeat restored by medical staff last Monday.
“We all won,” Hamlin tweeted Sunday after the Bills won. “I want to give back an ounce of the love y’all showed me. Proceeds of this shirt will go to first-responders and the UC Trauma Center. Go get yours!”
His tweet included an image of three shirts, each with Hamlin’s hands forming a heart — a hospital ID tag on his right wrist — and “Did We Win?” in big print. Hamlin’s first question after he awoke Thursday was whether the Bills had beaten the Cincinnati Bengals in the game when he collapsed on the field.
GAMETIME!!! <a href=”https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@BuffaloBills</a> 💙 <a href=”https://t.co/PQYClonUHb”>pic.twitter.com/PQYClonUHb</a>
—@HamlinIsland
The post-season is also bound to be filled with reminders that the high stakes of these games are about more than a trophy to be awarded at the end of the Super Bowl.
It is bound to feel a little bit off. If the Chiefs and Bills advance to the AFC title game, for instance, that game will be played on a neutral field, in a city still to be determined.
The heart of this league was beating most strongly in Buffalo on Sunday.


In the vast parking lots circling the stadium, fans wore self-made shirts and jerseys honoring Hamlin.
Sue Sonner wore a former Bills quarterback EJ Manuel’s No. 3 jersey; her husband creatively covered over Manuel’s name and replaced it with Hamlin’s.
“It’s going to be very emotional. I’m taking some tissues with me for sure,” said Sonner, who is from Corning, New York, and was also in the stadium in Cincinnati last Monday.
“We could see the scurry and the trauma and the panic and all of that. So very somber, very somber environment,” she said. “Now that he’s progressing and we think he’s going to be okay, now we’re excited to play football again. And hopefully he’s on the road to recovery.”


Sports
The Booming Online Casino Gaming Industry in Canada


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Canada’s online casino gaming industry has seen significant and steady growth in popularity and acceptance by people in recent years. In fact, available statistics validate this with about 31 gaming websites owned by 18 licensed and regulated game operators in Ontario, who recorded about CAD 4.1 billion (USD 3.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2022.
This was largely made possible with the revolution of online gaming and the convenience it brings to players who can access a wide range of games from a single location, usually their homes. Aside from factors like targeted advertisements that put the word out about online casino games in Canada (as it is legalized here), the growth of this industry has also been hugely influenced by the numerous benefits players enjoy when they play and win games remotely.
Safe and Secure Environment with Advanced Encryption Technology
Playing at an online casino typically exposes players’ sensitive information, such as their name, address, financial details, etc., to the public. But with advanced encryption technology such as SSL (Secure Socket Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) in place, online casinos can encrypt all players’ personal and financial information ensuring their security and privacy.
With the government’s regulations and robust enforcement of best practices on game operators, the online casino gaming industry in the Great White North has steadily made giant strides in protecting players’ information and their transactions with the adoption of these aforementioned data encryption technologies.
Mobile Friendliness
One attribute that the best online casino games in Canada have is the mobile-friendliness of their respective apps. For every feature described above, gamers would have been at a loss if they could not easily navigate the mobile app or a web browser to place bets on their desired games.
Needless to say that this feature alone has added to the growth of online casinos in Canada. While brick-and-mortar casinos still stand the test of time, features such as this have made online casinos a delight, helping to solidify their presence in Canada, and it is not hard to see why this is so.
In conclusion, there is no doubt that the future is bright for the online casino gaming industry in Canada, so long as the industry continues to evolve around technology, while at the same time adhering to government regulations. Though it will not always be easy for these two aspects to agree at all times, with the welfare of gamers determining advancement in the industry, we will most likely witness a steady and sustained boom in the field of online casino gaming.
Sports
A Look At Today’s Best Live Dealer Online Casino Games


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Some of the most popular games you can play at fully licensed online casinos today are live dealer games, such as Live Dealer Roulette, Live Dealer Blackjack, TV Game Show-themed live dealer games, and Live Dealer Slots. Here is a closer look at some of the best live dealer games from three leading software providers – Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play, and OnAir Entertainment.
All of these state-of-the-art live dealer games are now available to play in the real money mode at a fully licensed online casino called Lucky Spins Canada, which is free to sign up to and is currently offering all new Canadian players up to 500 FREE SPINS for Play’n GO’s iconic Book of Dead online slot, plus a 100% matching deposit bonus worth up to C$500.
Top 10 Live Dealer Games in the Spotlight
Here are ten of the best live dealer casino games that you must check out. These games have wide betting ranges that cater to low rollers and high rollers alike (and pretty much all other betting ranges in between low rollers and high rollers), and you can often play one round/hand/spin from as little as C$0.10 to C$0.50 up to C$1,000.00 or more.
The top ten live dealer games from Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play, OnAir Entertainment, Betgames.tv, Ezugi, and eBET that you must check out include the following mixture of live table & card games, live slots, and television game show live dealer games:
- Live PowerUp Roulette from Pragmatic Play
- Live Andar Bahar from Ezugi
- Live Teen Patti from Ezugi
- Live XXXtreme Lightning Roulette from Evolution Gaming
- Live Crazy Coin Flip from Evolution Gaming
- MONOPOLY Live from Evolution Gaming
- Live Wheel of Fortune from Betgames.tv
- Live Airwave Roulette from OnAir Entertainment
- Live Black Sports Arena from OnAir Entertainment
- Bet On Poker Live from Betgames.tv
How old do I have to be to play live casino games?
To play live dealer games at online casinos, such as Lucky Spins, you generally need to be at least 18 years old. However, always check because, in some regions where online gambling is legal, it could be 21 or 20 years old.
What devices can I play live dealer games from?
You can play live dealer games from all of the providers mentioned above using either a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. Just make sure that it has decent Wi-Fi or internet connectivity. Most games can be launched instantly in your web browser, plus you also generally have the option to download and install a free casino app directly onto your smartphone or tablet and then play from within the secure app.
What to remember when playing for real money
When playing for real money, don’t forget to set deposit limits where possible. Don’t ever chase your losses because it may result in you losing even more money, and don’t gamble just for the sake of it. Try and have fun, and always remember to gamble responsibly. Gambling is meant to be fun, so if you aren’t having fun anymore, it might be a good idea to take a break from gambling for a while.
Sports
Gambling in Ireland vs. Canada


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Gambling has traditionally played a significant role in Irish society. Naturally, the advancement of technology has changed how Irish gamblers conduct their business. Because of cell phones, placing bets is now simpler than ever (You could check here for a few trustworthy ones). However, Irish individuals must be cognizant of the country’s licensing laws.
Irish gamers can wager on bingo, lotteries, casino games, poker, sports, and more about the regulated and licensed gambling websites, making internet gambling in Ireland a multi-million-dollar business. This is not so dissimilar from the humongous gambling industry in Canada. For the past couple of years, gambling practices have been on the rise in Canada. So in today’s article, we’ll be looking at how gambling has fared in Ireland vs. Canada.
Ireland
According to the most recent statistics from Ireland from 2022, approximately half of the Irish population (49%) partakes in gambling, while its estimated prevalence for gambling addiction is 0.3%, meaning there are 12,000 problem gamblers in Ireland. Since only a small percentage of those with an issue with betting seek treatment, there is a need to try and understand Irish gambling behavior and treatment adoption.
According to industry statistics, Irish gamblers ended up losing over €1.36 billion the year before last, or around €300 on average for every person, ranking them as the fourth-largest gamblers throughout the EU. According to industry researchers H2 Gambling Capital, Ireland places 14th internationally for the biggest median gambling losses, comfortably ahead of the UK but behind Sweden (€325 per adult), Malta (€334), and Finland (€342).
Revenue rose €51.9 million in conventional betting duty revenues and €40.6 million in online betting receipts in 2019, almost twice as much as the corresponding amounts from the preceding year ($28.9 million & €21.7 million, respectively). Sports betting is the most well-liked online form of gambling, comprising over 41% of the industry and bringing in €10 billion in 2019, claims the European Gaming and Betting Association.
Instead of using desktop computers, over 44% of all internet wagers are placed from a phone or tablet. By 2025, it is anticipated that approximately 6 out of 10 online wagers will be placed using mobile devices. Despite representing just 1.1% of the total population, Ireland generates 2.6% of Europe’s online gambling market in terms of revenue, according to the H2 data.
Canada
Like many other nations, Canada has a large gambling industry. The majority of gamblers don’t suffer any consequences, but a small percentage will. The number of gambling options in Canada has grown over the years, and new gambling innovations like online poker & sports betting have increased the significance of more thorough and ongoing oversight.
A study used information from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) to assess gambling and gambling-related issues among adults aged 15 and over. Those who may be at risk of developing a problem with gambling are identified using a Problem Gambling Index. This evaluates problem gambling behavior and the effects of that behavior on the individual or others.
Of the 18.9 million Canadians aged 15 and over, nearly two-thirds (64.5%) reported betting in the previous year, & 1.6% of those gamblers were exposed to a substantial risk of gambling-related issues. Men were more prone than women to file gambling in the previous year across all age categories. Additionally, men were more likely to have a relatively high risk of developing gambling-related issues.
Though they were more prone to developing gambling problems, people in lower social households were less inclined to wager than those of relatively high-earning households.
For instance,
- 1% of Canadians at significantly higher risk for gambling issues were among the 71.5% of those living in higher-earning households who reported betting in the last year.
- 8% of people from low-income families gambled in the preceding year, and 2.7% of them were at moderate to high risk for developing gambling addictions.
The likelihood of gambling-related issues rose with the quantity of casino games played.
In the multivariate analyses, the majority of factors, such as engaging in various gambling activities, living single (or separated or divorced), being unmarried, and possessing poor or fair mental well-being, remained independently related to gambling problems.
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