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How I Turned Four Card Keno’s “Worst Odds” Into My ‘Casino Cash Machine’
Imagine this: You’re sitting at a Four Card Keno machine, heart pounding, as the numbers light up. Suddenly, you’ve hit a 7-spot jackpot—$7,000 in cold, hard cash for a single dollar bet. [Read more…] about How A Simple Four Card Keno Strategy Changed Everything—and It Can for You Too
A tragic act of desperation unfolded just outside the Kansas Star Casino Saturday morning when a man fatally shot himself during a live Zoom interview with police. The graphic act not only shocked law enforcement officers but also reignited a decade-and-a-half-old murder mystery tangled in gambling debt, hidden money, and unresolved questions.
According to a report from local media outlet KWTV-DT, the man, identified as Michael Thomas, an insurance agent from Edmond, was a long-time person of interest in the unsolved 2010 murder of Julie Mitchell, a mother found brutally beaten in her Oklahoma City home. Following up on this old case, the Oklahoma City Police Department had invited Thomas for an online interview.
Julie Mitchell’s death in November 2010 was a shock in and of itself: she was found bludgeoned in her bedroom with her infant daughter in the room but unharmed. The kicker came when detectives unraveled the double life of her husband, Teddy Mitchell, who was running an underground gambling ring. He was subsequently convicted in federal court and spent over two years behind bars.
Police have always believed that gambling was involved in Julie Mitchell’s murder. More than $30,000 in cash, linked to Teddy’s illicit gambling operation, was missing from a safe in her closet. Suspicion immediately fell on individuals in Mitchell’s inner circle, including those who owed him money. One of them was Michael Thomas.
Thomas was a habitual gambler and had a complex financial relationship with Mitchell. Although he was never charged, law enforcement deemed him a person of interest with a motive, proximity, and necessary knowledge. Although initial investigations uncovered no definitive evidence, suspicion never fully faded, even after years of silence.
Thomas had agreed to meet virtually with Detective Bryn Carter, the lead investigator on the Mitchell case, along with his attorney, Ed Blau. What began as a typical conversation ended in horror as Thomas took his own life during the interview. Detective Carter had a list of questions prepared for Thomas, hoping to shed some light on the decade-and-a-half-old murder mystery. However, these will now go unanswered.
“Him taking his own life without answering the questions that I needed answered to eliminate him as a person of interest. It speaks volumes that maybe he couldn’t answer those questions.”
Oklahoma City Police Department Detective Bryn Carter
Thomas’s death may have deprived investigators of answers, but it also put the spotlight on the gambling-fueled undercurrents of the Mitchell case. Carter emphasized the file remains open, and authorities are pursuing new leads in light of the weekend’s events. However, it is ironic that someone who lived in the shadow of gambling debt for years chose to take his life next to a casino.
A lucky player in California has secured the life-changing $207 million Powerball jackpot, lottery officials announced. At the same time, two players scooped up prizes of some $2 million.
According to lottery officials, a player in Florida matched all five white numbers, as well as the Powerball, securing themselves a staggering $207 million jackpot. For reference, the winning numbers for the May 31 drawing were 1, 29, 37, 56, and 68. The Powerball stood at 13.
Lottery officials confirmed that the winning ticket was purchased at a 7-Eleven convenience store located at 8960 Woodman Avenue in Arleta. As of the time of this writing, the winner has yet to come forward to claim their prize and, per the lottery rules, will have up to a year to do so.
In addition to the grand prize, two players succeeded in matching all five white balls. The lucky tickets were purchased in Florida and New Hampshire, securing their buyers prizes of $2 million since both had the Power Play feature active.
In the meantime, a total of 14 players matched four white balls and the Powerball. Nine of them will get prizes of $50,000, while another five will scoop up $100,000 each due to the Power Play feature.
For reference, Power Play allows non-jackpot winners to double their prizes for a small fee.
The May 31 jackpot comes over a month after the last Powerball jackpot. The previous winning ticket was sold in Kentucky in April and was worth $167 million with a cash value of $77.3 million. At the time of that drawing, there were no recipients of $1 million or $2 million prizes.
Earlier that same month, Cheng Saephan, the player who won the mouth-watering $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot in April 2024, commented on his fortune and how the win had changed his life. The player said that he was glad to no longer have financial pressure and be able to focus on his health.
Following the drawing on May 31, the jackpot was reset to $20 million with a cash value of $9 million. The next drawing is set to take place on June 2, within a few hours from the time of this publication.
In other news, a lucky player recently won the $585,900 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot, becoming the 25th lucky player whom the lottery has made rich this year.
Vietnam has become the latest Southeast Asian country to consider gambling, despite its historic aversion. With Thailand poised to become a major local powerhouse, Vietnamese lawmakers also decided to mull over casino opportunities.
The proposal, which was submitted by the Ministry of Finance to the Prime Minister, seeks approval for the creation of a casino resort. The planned property, dubbed the Van Don casino project, would be located in the Van Don district within the Quang Ninh province where it could become a major driver of tourism and economic growth.
Per the proposal, the resort would cover roughly 244 hectares and will cost roughly $2.2 billion. If approved, the casino would have to be constructed within nine years from the date of the approval. Once complete, it will have a maximum operational period of 70 years.
The on-site casino is planned to remain open to tourists and locals alike. To that end, the Ministry of Finance suggested a pilot scheme that would allow locals to play in accordance with local regulations. This could help cement the planned property as a successful resort and entertainment complex as it would not be entirely dependent on foreign money.
This proposal mirrors the advice MGM Resorts recently gave to the Thai government, encouraging lawmakers to adopt a competitive casino tax rate and allow locals to play.
The Ministry of Finance in Vietnam, meanwhile, also recommended authorizing the People’s Committee in the Quang Ninh province to choose a suitable casino resort investor in accordance with local laws and needs. Per the proposal, the investor would have to contribute roughly $296 million of the total sum for the development. The rest will be financed through loans.
While the proposed entertainment resort will be costly, the Ministry of Finance and the Quang Ninh authorities are certain that it will pay off in the long term. According to proponents of the property, it will greatly contribute to the Van Don special administrative zone.
Additionally, projections imply that the casino resort would contribute approximately $10 billion to the budget over its 70 years of operation.
Earlier this year, Vietnamese authorities cracked down on a huge gambling ring, arresting several people in the process. The illegal crypto gambling operation was reportedly operated by four siblings. In addition to the masterminds behind the scheme, the authorities also arrested 30 other people.
Relax Gaming, a leading iGaming content supplier and aggregator, has changed the life of yet another player. According to the company’s announcement, the fortunate fan won the EUR 2.9 million (approximately $3.3 million) Dream Drop Mega Jackpot from a EUR 0.30 spin ($0.34).
Relax Gaming, which supplies games to a long list of international gambling operators, announced that this latest prize was won by a lucky player in Hungary. The supplier further elaborated that the jackpot win occurred at Vegas.hu, the country’s first legal online casino.
According to Relax Gaming, the lucky player was firing up the reels of Money Train Origins Dream Drop, which it described as a “high-octane release that blends the gritty aesthetic of the original Money Train with the legendary Dream Drop jackpot.” The game was released in June 2023 and, as its title suggests, sports Relax’s signature jackpot mechanic.
This was notably the 21st Dream Drop Mega Jackpot awarded by Relax Gaming, which has been gradually increasing its portfolio of jackpot titles. It came shortly after Relax Gaming upgraded the Dream Drop network, enhancing the recipe with fast-paced daily jackpots.
Relax Gaming congratulated the lucky player on their win, calling it “another brilliant moment” for both the company and the winner. Martin Stålros, Relax Gaming’s chief executive officer added that he was very happy that the jackpot was won in Hungary.
We’re especially pleased to see the jackpot drop at Vegas.hu, a key partner and a trailblazer in regulated online gaming in Hungary. With the addition of Daily Jackpots to our network, Dream Drop continues to lead the way in offering the most exciting jackpot experience in the industry.
Martin Stålros, CEO, Relax Gaming
Laszlo Siba, Vegas.hu’s online casino director, was likewise pleased with the win, saying that his team is stoked to have awarded the first Dream Drop Mega Jackpot in Hungary.
Delivering standout moments like this is exactly what we strive for. Long may Relax Gaming’s innovative content continue to engage and excite our players, especially the Dream Drop series!
Laszlo Siba, online casino director, Vegas.hu
Earlier this year, a Paraguayan player at cryptospin.io won the 19th Dream Drop jackpot, securing $3 million on a wager of just $2. Then, on March 10, a player on sportsbet.io scooped up the 20th Dream Drop jackpot, which stood at $3.1 million.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is considering a fresh source of revenue for the District. Tucked inside her 2026 budget proposal is a plan to expand the scope of legalized gaming beyond sports betting. The proposed updates would open the door to poker, blackjack, and commercial bingo, bringing DC’s gambling sector closer to other regulated US jurisdictions.
If the plan clears the DC Council, it would mark the city’s first foray into live, on-site table games. The proposed legislation allows hotels to host blackjack and poker tournaments while restaurants can offer bingo games. A new licensing structure overseen by the Office of Lottery and Gaming will regulate these additions to the District’s gambling landscape, ensuring they comply with the law.
Businesses interested in hosting card games would need to pay an application fee of $5,000 for a two-year license, with an additional $2,000 for each location. The government also plans a 25% tax on gross gaming revenue. The 2026 budget envisions lower barriers to entry for bingo operators, with just a $300 endorsement fee, along with a 7.5% tax on receipts.
While these new measures enjoy substantial momentum, they must clear one more hurdle: the DC Council. Legislators will closely examine the budget during the next few weeks, with a final vote expected in August. Bowser remains optimistic, stressing that this measure could bolster the District’s hospitality sector while providing a fresh revenue stream for the local government.
Speaking for local news outlet WTOP, gaming law attorney Ian Thomas noted that DC’s proposed licensing fees are on the lower end among US jurisdictions, likely aiming to attract small and medium-sized local operators. However, he cautioned that launching these new forms of gambling would come with substantial challenges.
It will be an in-person option, and that is a little bit different in terms of how it’s regulated, how it’s licensed, and the type of oversight that needs to be given.
Ian Thomas, gaming law attorney
Thomas also warned that the mayor’s proposed budget does not allocate funds specifically to problem gambling programs. The Department of Behavioral Health is currently in charge of providing treatment for gambling addiction, with its services available to everyone facing gambling-related harm. However, introducing several new forms of gambling will likely require additional funding for addiction prevention and treatment initiatives.
DC legalized online sports betting in 2020 and has drawn considerable interest from high-profile operators, securing a steady source of revenue for the District. Bowser hopes the addition of in-person table games can generate a similar boost as DC joins other US jurisdictions leveraging such offerings as a tool for economic development.
NetGaming, a leading supplier of solutions to the iGaming industry, announced that it has secured a license to operate in Pennsylvania. This will allow the company to expand its North American footprint, capitalizing on the region’s fast-paced market.
NetGaming confirmed the launch in a post on LinkedIn, saying that it has secured an Interactive Gaming Manufacturer License in the Commonwealth. The company described this as a “major leap forward” in its North American journey, expressing excitement about the opportunity to tackle one of North America’s largest gaming markets.
NetGaming teased that fans in the Keystone State can look forward to playing its cutting-edge titles very soon, promising that they will appear on the platforms of some of the most respected operators available.
The company reiterated its ambition to grow its North American footprint and reach many local fans. It also thanked everyone who made this launch possible.
This achievement reflects our unstoppable momentum and unwavering dedication to expanding in the regulated North American iGaming market. A huge shoutout to our powerhouse team and trusted partners — this wouldn’t have happened without your passion and drive.
NetGaming statement
The launch in Pennsylvania is consistent with NetGaming’s relentless ambition to grow in the Americas. The provider’s first foray into the US was in 2023 when the company secured a license in Michigan. Since then, NetGaming has been working hard to secure entries in other states and eventually launched in the Canadian province of Ontario too.
Nowadays, NetGaming continues to experience rapid growth and currently boasts integrations with BetMGM, Caesars, and other top-tier operators in the Americas.
The company’s desire to champion innovation in North America was further reflected in its recent participation in the SBC Summit Americas. This was the company’s inaugural participation in a North American industry fair and provided it with key networking opportunities and a venue to showcase its latest products.
Speaking of products, NetGaming continues to disrupt the market with unparalleled games that change how players perceive casino gaming. Two of the company’s latest titles include the beautifully- crafted Fireball Inferno Tiki slot, as well as Zeus’s Thunderbolt Plinko, a game that brought a mythological twist to the classic ball-drop format.
Simon Thomas, the executive chair and majority shareholder of The Hippodrome Casino in the UK has weighed in on the country’s ongoing gambling reforms, expressing optimism about upcoming changes to how land-based casinos are regulated.
In an interview with gaming news outlet NEXT.io, Thomas weighed in on the planned overhaul of Great Britain’s land-based sector. The proposed changes, which are consistent with the Gambling Act white paper, were just submitted to parliament by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
The DCMS’s Casinos (Gaming Machines and Mandatory Conditions) Regulations proposal envisions certain changes that, according to Thomas, would make Britain’s casino sector able to compete with the country’s growing iGaming space.
Among other things, the proposed overhaul would raise the cap on Category B machines to 80 per venue. At the same time, the minimum gaming-table area for “small” 2005-Act casinos will be reduced. The changes furthermore propose setting a 5:1 machine-to-table ratio for both 1968 and 2005-Act properties.
Additionally, sports betting will be allowed across all land-based casinos, providing properties with access to an important revenue stream.
In his interview with NEXT.io, Thomas regretted that the casino industry has been “disadvantaged” for years and expressed excitement about the changes. While he admitted that the changes are somewhat “modest” compared to international competitors, he was convinced that they would make brick-and-mortar properties more competitive than they currently are.
Thomas also asserted that the policy amendments would be an important economic stimulus to city centers and high streets as businesses would finally be allowed to modernize and innovate.
Casinos are a vital pillar of the UK’s leisure, hospitality and tourism sector. The industry is delighted to welcome these modest modernization reforms. They’re not revolutionary, but they’re the green light we’ve been waiting for.
Simon Thomas
Thomas applauded the DCMS for submitting this proposal which outlines crucial and “quite complicated regulatory changes” in a clear and concise way.
In the meantime, a recent survey suggested that gambling participation in Great Britain has taken a noticeable dip. Compiled by the National Centre for Social Research, the recent study suggested that in the three months covering September 2024 and January 2025, 46% of adults engaged in a form of gambling. This figure represented a decline of 3%
