The KIA Tigers have suspended manager Kim Jong-kook as the team prepares to depart for spring training in Australia.
“On the 25th, we confirmed that manager Kim Jong-kook is under investigation by the investigative authorities, and on the 27th, we confirmed this in a meeting with him,” KIA said in a press release on the 28th.
“The club decided that he could not fulfill his duties as a coach normally while the investigation is ongoing, so we suspended him.” “The final residence of the coach will be decided after observing the investigation situation, 토토사이트 and the first team spring training will be conducted under the system of head coach Jin Gap-yong,” the club added.
The club did not disclose the exact details of the investigation
But Kim is reportedly suspected of receiving money. Kim has been with the Tigers for 26 years, from player to coach. He was promoted from assistant coach to head coach after the 2021 season. He led the team to a fifth-place finish in 2022 and missed the postseason in 2023. In his third season, he was involved in a scandalous affair that led to the biggest crisis of his baseball career.
Kia will begin training camp on Feb. 1 in Canberra, Australia, and will travel to Okinawa, Japan, for a second camp on Feb. 21. Kim was scheduled to leave for Sydney on Feb. 29 with his coaches. The 47 players will depart a day later on Feb. 30. 안전 토토사이트 This is the first time KIA has been without a head coach just one day before departure.
The team has been touted as a top-tier power after a strong off-season reinforcement. The unexpected turn of events has left the team in a state of disarray for the 2024 camp. While the team will continue to center on head coach Jin Gap-yong as announced, it is expected that the team will make an early decision on the departure of coach Kim Jong-guk in order to resolve the situation early.
A heated debate unfolded in front of the Pennsylvania Senate Community, Economic, and Recreational Development Committee last week as lawmakers, casino industry representatives, and skill game advocates clashed over the potential regulation of so-called “skill games.” The controversial terminals, resembling slot machines but requiring player skill, have flooded bars, clubs, gas stations, and convenience stores across the state.
Proposed Bill Sparks Debate Over Pennsylvania Skill Games Regulation Skill games, often branded as “Pennsylvania Skill,” have become lifelines for small businesses, especially during the pandemic, according to proponents like Pace-O-Matic (POM), the Georgia-based gaming developer behind these terminals. However, the state’s commercial gaming industry claims these unregulated machines are cleverly designed slot machines, bypassing state gaming laws and stealing patrons from casinos.
In May, Senate Bill 706 was introduced, aiming to regulate and tax skill games. The bill, coauthored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, proposes limiting the number of skill games in businesses and imposing a 16% state tax on their earnings. During the meeting with the Pennsylvania Senate Community, Economic, and Recreational Development Committee casino representatives argued that this bill falls short of protecting consumers and the state’s regulated gambling industry, which contributes significantly to the state’s revenue.
Pennsylvania Skill Games Pit Businesses Against State’s Regulated Casinos Eric Schippers, Senior Vice President of Penn Entertainment, expressed concerns before the Senate committee, emphasizing that the proliferation of skill games jeopardizes the state’s gaming tax benefits, capital investments, jobs, and economic development. He pointed out that these unregulated games poach players from casinos since they are more accessible and often located closer to home.
Representatives from Parx Casino and Live! Casino echoed these concerns, emphasizing the lack of consumer safeguards in skill gaming machines. Unlike regulated casino slots, these games are not monitored for fair play or mandated to adhere to a minimum payout rate. Skill games also lack stringent age verification measures, raising concerns about underage gambling.
Skill game proponents, represented by Michael Barley, chief public affairs officer for POM, argued for the industry’s monitoring and taxation. Barley suggested that the decline in casino slot play might be attributed to the state’s 2017 legalization of online gambling rather than skill games.
Paul Goldean, CEO of POM, highlighted the significant benefits skill games provide to small businesses and nonprofits. The Senate committee did not reach a decision on SB 706, indicating that further deliberations will be necessary. The future of skill games in Pennsylvania remains uncertain, with ongoing legal battles and legislative debates shaping the landscape of the state’s gambling industry.
Detroit casino workers are on the brink of a massive strike set to begin at noon on October 17 unless an agreement is swiftly reached between unions and the city’s three major casinos. This development marks the first time in Detroit’s history that casino workers have contemplated such a drastic measure.
Detroit Casino Unions Demand Reasonable Wages Amidst Tech Shift The unions, including UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW, and Teamsters, have been in intense negotiations with casino management since early September, seeking fair wages, improved healthcare benefits, and job protections amid the implementation of new technologies in the gaming industry.
According to union leaders, casino workers demand wage increases in line with the soaring profits reported by the casinos in 2022 and 2023 after the pandemic-induced shutdowns, reported the Detroit Free Press. Workers argue that fair compensation is essential given the rising cost of living and inflation rates.
Susan Gallagher, a seasoned bartender at Hollywood Casino at Greektown, conveyed her worries about the potential threat to their jobs posed by technological advancements. She mentioned that they understood they could not halt the progress of technology but emphasized the necessity to safeguard themselves.
The strike threat has shaken up Detroit’s gaming industry and raised concerns about the potential economic impact.
Patrick Nichols, a dealer at the MGM Grand, shared his worries about the challenging economic climate pointing to the high inflation and cost of living. He noted that the negotiations are a matter of survival.
Detroit Workers Await Fair Contract Amidst Looming Strike Threat The Detroit Casino Council’s decision to strike comes after months of fruitless negotiations. The council accused casino management of being uncooperative and failing to deliver a fair contract for the workers. While significant progress has been made, an agreement has yet to be reached, leaving casino operations in jeopardy.
Representatives from MotorCity Casino Hotel expressed their commitment to bargaining in good faith and achieving a fair contract. A representative commented that although substantial headway had been achieved, they had not finalized a deal with the Detroit Casino Council. The spokesperson emphasized their dedication to negotiating sincerely and securing a contract that treated their employees fairly while ensuring their company’s competitiveness in the industry.
As the clock ticks down to the strike deadline, the fate of Detroit’s bustling gaming industry hangs in the balance. The workers, resolute in their demands, stand united, hoping for a fair agreement that will secure their livelihoods and the future of their industry.
KIA said on the 27th, “We will leave for Australia on the 30th and run spring camps at Narrabundah Ballpark in Canberra and Okinawa, Japan, from February 1st to March 6th.”
The upcoming spring camp will involve 67 players, including 20 coaching staff and 47 players. The team will include 22 pitchers, four catchers, 12 infielders and nine outfielders. Among the rookie players for 2024, pitchers Cho Dae-hyun and Kim Min-joo were on the list.
The upcoming spring camp will be divided into the first round (Australia) and the second round (Japan). Under the three-day training and one-day rest system, the camp will undergo physical, technical and tactical training in Canberra, Australia, before moving to Japan on Feb. 21 and starting the actual training system through March 6 at the Kinmen Stadium in Okinawa.
Meanwhile, the team is scheduled to play five practice games with KBO league teams starting with a practice game against KT Wiz on February 25, and plans to play a practice game with the Yakult Swallows, a Japanese professional baseball team, on the 27th.
The South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Jürgen Klinsmann, will face Saudi Arabia in the round of 16 of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Qatar Asian Cup at Education City Stadium in Alayyan, Qatar, at 1 a.m. on the 31st (Korean time).
Korea advanced to the round of 16 by ranking second in Group E with one win, two draws, and five points. Saudi Arabia ranked No. 1 in Group F by posting two wins, one draw, and seven points to advance to the round of 16. Korea ranks 23rd in FIFA rankings, while Saudi Arabia ranks 56th.
South Korea’s three group games were far from acceptable, but the most shocking game was against Malaysia in the final match.
South Korea, which challenged for the top spot in Asia for the first time in 64 years by shouting “the best power ever,” played a rough game against Malaysia, which is more than 100 spots apart in the FIFA rankings.
He had an overwhelming 81 percent share of the ball, 18 shots (seven malays) and seven shots on target (four malays), but the result was a 3-3 draw. Klinsmann put forward 11 best players, but failed to beat Malaysia.
Coach Klinsmann again stepped up in a 4-4-2 formation. Cho Kyu-sung and Son Heung-min were at the forefront, while Jung Woo-young, Hwang In-beom, Lee Jae-sung and Lee Kang-in were at the center. Seol Young-woo, Kim Young-kwon, Kim Min-jae, and Kim Tae-hwan formed a four-back structure, and goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo defended the goal.
It is a lineup that changed two to three digits from the last game, but Korea has set up the starting list with the best. Coach Klinsmann, who has already confirmed the round of 16, tried to make up for the 2-2 draw with Jordan in the last two rounds and sought to advance to the round of 16 for the top spot in the group.
Korea’s frustrating performance was still there.
Although they won the first round with goals from Bahrain, Hwang In-beom, and Lee Kang-in, they were shaken by giving up a run. In the subsequent Jordan match, it was hard to break through as Jordan defended the back door well. It was easily shaken by Jordan’s attack.
The match against Malaysia was even more serious. The team’s offense, consisting of Son Heung-min, the captain of Tottenham Hotspur, and Lee Kang-in, the starting member of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), was sluggish and its defense was helplessly penetrated by Malaysia’s counterattack. Only Kim Min-jae, the main defender of Bayern Munich, struggled.
As previously pointed out, the Korean team is strong enough to be called the strongest ever. In addition to the players mentioned above, there are also a number of players who have played key roles in the European team, including Hwang Hee-chan, the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ top scorer this season, Jung Woo-young, VfB Stuttgart’s No. 10, and Lee Jae-sung of FSV Mainz 05.
Despite the disappointing group stage performance, South Korea was still “second in the probability of winning.”
On the 26th, soccer content production center “Score 90” reported the probability of winning the championship of countries that succeeded in advancing to the round of 16, with Korea ranking second overall with 18%.
Japan still tops the list. Japan was projected to win the title with a whopping 31 percent chance. Saudi Arabia will play against Korea in the round of 16 strongest teams at 8 percent.
Meanwhile, Korea begins the tournament with regret. As it moved up to second place in the group, the opponent team is Saudi Arabia, the powerhouse in the Middle East, which is a tough match. Saudi Arabia boasts a stable defense and sharp side attacks under the leadership of its great coach Roberto Mancini. It did not concede a single goal in the three group matches, and as the country is a country close to Qatar, it was seen that many fans supported it.
“Opta,” a soccer statistics media outlet, also predicted a tight race that would not be strange to whoever wins. According to the results, Opta calculated using a supercomputer, there is a 51.8% chance that Korea will beat Saudi Arabia to advance to the quarterfinals, and 48.2 percent that Saudi Arabia will advance to the quarterfinals, which is only a 3.6 percent chance. This is the smallest gap among the eight matches that will be played in the round of 16.
After the match against Malaysia ended, Hwang Hee-chan said, “It’s a shame that it was an unexpected result. Still, we made it to the tournament that we first wanted. I don’t know how they would react to say that they are satisfied with advancing to the round of 16, but I think they did a good job.”
“From now on, we have to take care of the results unconditionally. Players are also aware of it. I can confidently say that I can show a better performance in the round of 16,” he said, vowing to show a different performance from the round of 16.
Gambling compacts have been at the core of gambling operations in some jurisdictions around the United States, with New York not any different, and the Empire State also running revenue-sharing agreements with tribal gaming establishments.
Seneca Nation to Continue Running Gambling Business Operations The Seneca Nation in Western New York has a compact with New York through December 9, 2023, which will now be temporarily renewed as confirmed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, with the revenue-sharing agreement extended through March 31, 2024.
This agreement allows the Seneca Nation to continue running all of its three venues in the state, to wit Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino.
The compact negotiation is important, because under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, federally-recognized tribes may operate Class I and Class I gaming, but Class III gaming, which features table games and gives casinos their fully-fleshed look, is subject to additional red tape.
Commpacts have proven to be a very successful negotiation tactic in many places already. Florida, for example, has been able to launch sports gambling, effectively going around the need to amend its State Constitution by establishing an agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to run sports betting out of tribal land to wield the entire online gambling industry in the state.
This was interestingly interpreted to also include online betting platforms that can be hosted on sovereign tribal land, and that have faced severe legal challenges. Yet, most of these have been dismissed with the Seminole Tribe now looking as a shoo-in.
Yet, Seneca Nation has not won a definite extension, but just bought time to continue negotiating with the state, as the governor and tribal leaders are butting heads over the tax payable by the tribe. New York has been known as one of the keenest jurisdictions to collect tax revenue from local gambling companies and business owners.
Negotiating Exclusivity in Times of Fast Market Liberalization The compact is an important win for the tribe nevertheless, as the Seneca Nation wants to retain its exclusivity of table and slot games west of State Route 14, which guarantees it a good influx of revenue and no real competition at least in its chosen geography.
New York is also benefiting as the state claws 25% of the tribe’s gross gaming revenue, which generates a windfall of roughly $100 million for the state every year.
This rate, though, is now the subject to debate, as the Seneca Nation has cited the changing realities of new commercial casinos that are being built closer to its territories and effectively drawing business away from the tribal properties. Seneca hopes to pay a little less than its current 25% rate to remain competitive.
This is a tough sell in a state that already charges sports betting businesses with 51% on their gross gaming revenue.
Gov Hochul was also the subject of some criticism as her husband, William Hochul, was until recently working for Delaware North, a competitor to Seneca Nation’s gambling businesses, which made the governor reluctant to weigh in, recusing herself at first.
Her husband has since quit his position at Delaware North, allowing the governor to weigh in without any speculation about the fairness of her opinion.
As a result, the supplier’s host of innovative and out-of-the-box games will be featured with Betsson Spain. Both companies are determined to expand their market reach and continue to navigate the lucrative opportunity that regulated online gambling brings to businesses in the country.
Betsson and Hacksaw Gaming Double Down on Ongoing Alliance with Spain Launch Furthermore, Betsson Group is hoping to get a serious content injection boost that will consolidate its status as a leading company in the country associated with some of the best gaming options, leading to the customary increase in player engagement and retention.
Betsson Group and Hacksaw Gaming are both determined to continue securing forward positions in what is a promising if challenging market. The two companies are also working together in other markets as well.
Hacksaw has been helping Betsson consolidate its positions in places such as Croatia and Lithuania in Europe over the past several months, and the two partners are determined to maintain healthy collaboration in other markets as well.
Betsson Spain Casino Manager Laura Sanchez was excited about the opportunity to see this trusted partner join the operator’s ranks of suppliers.
“Exciting news – we’re now live with the awesome games from Hacksaw Gaming. Our goal is simple: give our loyal customers a bunch of new and cool games, and this partnership is making it happen,” Sanchez said. The content deal is also signed on the occasion of Betsson’s 60th anniversary.
Hacksaw Gaming Keen to Continue Growing its Footprint Hacksaw Gaming CEO Marcus Cordes was similarly pleased with the opportunity to collaborate with Betsson and establish the company locally as one of the go-to suppliers that operators can continually turn to.
Hacksaw Gaming has been expanding to the West as well, with the supplier securing a partnership with Betplay in Colombia in October, and deploying its award-winning and player-favorite games in the face of Wanted Dead or a Wild, Chaos Crew, or Stack’em.
The supplier has also gained a solid foothold in the United States through its license in New Jersey obtained in November. Earlier this month, Hacksaw Gaming also announced that it’s delivering on this license through a content partnership with DraftKings in the Garden State. The launch is going to happen by the end of the quarter, the company recently shared.
Star Entertainment Group has six more months to regain its license in New South Wales, lest it risk closing. As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, the NSW regulator is not content with Star’s ability to do business without supervision.
Star’s business has been having regulatory trouble for some time now. Its casino license was suspended by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) last year after a probe that uncovered multiple AML and CTF failings.
An independent manager has been appointed to oversee Star’s Sydney property ever since, ensuring that the company implements its remediation plan. However, the NICC does not believe that Star has yet reached a point where its license suspension can be lifted since it does not trust the company to run its casino without supervision.
The NICC spokesperson confirmed that The Star should prove its capability to run its business independently within six months or risk losing its license for real.
This comes just after the NSW and Queensland regulators agreed to extend the terms of the independent managers appointed to oversee Star’s business in two states. Back then, Star also pointed out that this would be the final extension of the manager’s term.
NICC Says Manager Weeks Has Been the Main Driver of Remediation The NICC was very unhappy at the fact that much of Star’s remediation measures had been spearheaded by independent manager Nicholas Weeks, instead of driven by the casino company’s own decisions.
In addition, the regulator has doubts that the NSW remediation plan would be enough to reinstate Star Entertainment’s license. The NICC also expressed its concerns that the operator’s profit-driven culture might return once the independent manager concludes his term, considering that a significant portion of the senior executive team has remained the same.
However, a Star Sydney spokesperson argued that the company is firmly committed to implementing the remediation plan with the “utmost rigor and discipline.” The Star team said that it is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with manager Weeks for so long and is glad that his term was extended three times.
In any case, Star will be fighting an uphill battle if it is to retain its license. The company must make sure that its business is in order and show initiative when implementing remediation measures.
Nick Dunlap (20), who won the American Express, a professional tournament as an amateur for the first time in 33 years on the PGA Tour, expressed his passion in an interview with local media on the 22nd (Korea time).
It is never easy for an amateur player to win on the PGA Tour, which is full of world’s top rankers.
Only four amateurs have won professional competitions since 1950 in the history of PGA Tour. The golf industry was excited over Dunlap’s victory, which had not been won by an amateur player since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
However, his amateur golf career tells us that this victory is by no means an ‘unusual’.
Dunlap won the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship. This record was held only by “Golf Emperor” Tiger Woods of the United States.
In particular, in the stroke play preliminary round of last year’s US Amateur Championship, Dunlap overcame a slump of 5 over par to 7 holes and advanced to the match play finals and even won the championship.
His strong desire to win can also be seen in the 30-2 record of match play over the past two years.
Dunlap competed with professional players at the U.S. Open in major tournaments in 2022 and 2023 and the PGA Tour Bermuda Championship in November last year, but failed to make the cut.
In the third round of the American Express, however, Dunlap showed off his fierce skills by shooting 12-under 60. With this victory, Dunlap has secured a berth to the PGA Tour, but he is unlikely to turn pro right away.
Dunlap won the U.S. Amateur Championship last year and secured a berth to major tournaments, the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the British Open, because he has to maintain his amateur status to participate in the event.
Even if Dunlap does not turn pro in the 2024 season, there is no problem becoming a member of the PGA Tour in the 2025 season if he turns pro only within 30 days after the end of the season.
Kiwoom Heroes announced on the 22nd, “We have completed annual salary contracts with all 44 people (excluding rookies, fostering, military holding, FA, non-FA multi-year contracts, and foreign players) for the 2024 season.”
Kim Hye-sung broke his eighth-year salary record in the KBO League history. Kim signed an annual contract for 650 million won, an increase of 230 million won, or 54.8%, exceeding Na Sung-bum’s previous eight-year salary of 550 million won. It is the highest increase and highest annual salary among those eligible for an annual contract in the team.
Kim Hye-sung led his team’s batting lineup in 137 games last season, posting a batting average of 0.335 (186 hits in 556 at-bats) with seven homers, 104 runs and 57 RBIs. He was the center of the infield and won the Golden Glove Award for the third consecutive year.
Kim Hwi-jip, who recorded the most home runs in the team last season, rose 48.6% year-on-year to 110 million won, making his first billion-dollar salary since his debut. Lee Ju-hyung, who joined in the middle of the season and showed promise, signed an annual salary of 66 million won and recorded a 100% increase rate.
Ha Young-min and Lee Myung-jong, who have added strength to the pitching staff in various positions, have posted increases of W15 million, marking W80 million and W60 million, respectively. Jang Jae-young, who recorded his first start win since his debut last season, signed a W40 million annual contract.
Of the 44 people eligible for the annual salary contract, a total of six people, including one pitcher and five fielders, are paid hundreds of millions of dollars.
The following is the salary contract status for the 2024 season.
