UFC 88 - MMA Betting from Bodog

UFC 88: Breakthrough will take place on September 6th at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. A number of MMA stars will be fighting on the card, including Chuck Liddell, Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson.

As always, you can place your bets on the fights with Bodog Sportsbook. They offer quick payouts, reliable customer services and anything else you might possibly need.

At the moment, betting lines are available for a number of the fights, and more will be added as the fight date approaches. Be sure and check back with Bodog for more information.

UFC 88 - FULL FIGHT CARD

Below, I have listed all of the fights scheduled for UFC 88. My personal picks for the winners are listed in bold print.

PRELIMINARY CARD

(Welterweight) Roan Carneiro -105 vs. Ryo Chonan -125

(Light Heavyweight) Tim Boetsch vs. James Lee

(Middleweight) Jason MacDonald vs. Jason Lambert

(Welterweight) Matt Brown vs. Dong Hyun Kim

(Lightweight) Thiago Tavares vs. Kurt Pellegrino

MAIN CARD

(Middleweight) Nate Marquardt -145 vs. Martin Kampmann +115

(Middleweight) Dan Henderson -205 vs. Rousimar Palhares +165

(Welterweight) Karo Parisyan -260 vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida +175

(Middleweight) Rich Franklin -265 vs. Matt Hamill +205

(Light Heavyweight) Chuck Liddell -260 vs. Rashad Evans +200

RASHAD EVANS VS. CHUCK LIDDELL

The main event of the night features undefeated Rashad Evans taking on former light heavyweight champ, Chuck Liddell.

Evans is 13-0-1, with 3 wins by KO, 3 by submission and 6 by decision. His career in the UFC got started when he won the Ultimate Fighter 2 with a split decision over Brad Imes. The one draw in his career came against Tito Ortiz, and Ortiz would have won the fight on the scorecards had he not been penalized a point for holding onto the cage. While Tito wanted a rematch, Evans eventually ended up handing Michael Bisping a split decision loss, the first of his pro career.

Liddell, on the other hand, has a MMA record of 21-5, with 14 wins by KO, 1 by submission and 7 by decision. Of his 5 losses, 4 have come by KO and 1 by decision.. After losing back-to-back fights against Quentin Jackson and Keith Jardine, Liddell rebounded to win a unanimous decision over the seemingly revitalized Wanderlei Silva.

Liddell is getting a little long in the tooth, but he should still have more than enough punching power to deal with Evans. His takedown defense is also notable, and this should be effective at countering Evans and finishing the fight in short order. Personally, I’m predicting a first round KO in favor of Liddell, as Evans simply isn’t in his league.

For more betting opportunities, check out the following:

Bodog Makes History With Online Poker Tournament

2008 NFL MVP Betting Odds from Bodog

UFC 88 - MMA Betting from Bodog

Hard Rock Brings Poker Lounge to Las Vegas

Fans of poker have something new to cheer about, as the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel prepares to open Las Vegas’ first poker lounge within the month. The Hard Rock Poker Lounge will be a 7,000-square foot poker playing paradise, and it will feature 18 poker tables (including five private, high limit tables).

HARD ROCK POKER LOUNGE FEATURES
Some of the most notable features of the Hard Rock Poker Lounge include:

- A full menu of food will be available to players 24 hours a day.

- A full bar inside the venue.

- A kiosk for sports betting.

- Certified masseuses will be available for players.

- A VIP host staff comprised entirely of hot females.

- High limit slots and video poker machines.

- For bachelor parties and private events, there will be private rooms with large-screen televisions and private iPod docs.

- Men’s and women’s bathrooms will be available inside the lounge.

- Safety deposit boxes will be offered for players.

- The lounge will offer team poker events for local groups such as lawyers, police, firemen, etc.

- Poker lounge comps will include concert tickets, backstage passes and poolside cabanas for the Hard Rock’s Sunday pool party cleverly known as Rehab.

- Completely automated reservation system which will send a text message to players anywhere on the property when their table is ready.

NO LIMIT POKER

The biggest selling point is that the Hard Rock Poker Lounge will offer any limit for any poker game at any time of the day. Limit and No-limit Hold’em cash games will also e available, with stakes ranging from $2-$4, $4-$8 and $8-$16 for limit hold’em and $1-$2, $5-$10 and $25-$50 blinds for no-limit.

Three daily $100 buy-in no-limit tournaments will also be offered at the lounge. Sit-and-go tournaments will also be offered around the clock, so there’s always a game going on.

HARD ROCK POKER LOUNGE LOCATION

The Hard Rock property is located on Harmon Avenue, and it features an 11-story tower with 647 guest rooms and a 30,000 square foot casino. There are also concert halls, nightclubs, spas, salons, fitness centers, cocktail lounges and restaurants. The Hard Rock Poker Lounge will be located on the same property, right across from the Pink Taco restaurant.

For more gambling news, check out the following:

New Bonuses and Games Offered at Bodog

Harrahs vs. IGT - Slot Machine Feud

Hard Rock Brings Poker Lounge to Las Vegas

Dancing with the Stars - Season Seven Cast Announced

Dancing with the Stars will return for a 7th season on September 22nd, and this year there will be 13 couples competing instead of the usual 12. Tom Bergeron will return as the host, and the panel of judges will once again be Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Samantha Harris.

The contestants were announced on Good Morning America, and it’s the usual selection of the athletic, comedic and downright obscure. Actually, the star power for this show seems bigger than most, as previous seasons have often included several “celebrities” who were never big to begin with.

But enough talk. Let’s take a look at this season’s contestants. By the way, if you want to vote for your favorite celebrity to win the competition, be sure and check out Bodog’s sportsbook.

DANCING WITH THE STARS - SEASON SEVEN

Lance Bass - Actor, singer, author and producer, Bass rose to fame as a member of pop group ‘N Sync. He came out of the closet in recent years, although it remains to be seen if they’ll touch on that on the show. He’ll be paired up with Lacey Schwimmer.

Toni Braxton - Braxton has won six Grammy Awards and sold over forty million records around the globe. Her single, “Un-Break My Heart,” is the second biggest single ever by a female artist. She also loves to wear revealing outfits, so male fans may especially be rooting for her. She’ll be paired with Alec Mazo.

Brooke Burke - This sexy brunette is a model and television host. She’s best known for hosting Wild On! and Rock Star. She’s also gotten naked in the pages of Playboy, so that’s always a plus. She‘ll be teamed up with Derek Hough.

Rocco DiSpirito - A celebrity chef and cookbook author, he’s best known for his appearance on the NBC reality show The Restaurant. He’ll be paired with Karina Smirnoff.

Maurice Greene - An Olympic gold medal sprinter, Greene will be paired up with Cheryl Burke.

Kim Kardashian - Best known for her sex tape and reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim is also a model. While she’s not particularly talented, she is good looking (see the pic for this article). She’ll be teamed with Mark Ballas.

Cloris Leachman - She’s won eight primetime Emmy Awards, more than any other female performer, plus one daytime Emmy. She also won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for The Last Picture Show. She starred on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, then got her own spin-off in Phyllis. By appearing on Dancing with the Stars at the age of 82, she becomes the oldest competitor in the history of the show. She’ll be teamed with Corky Ballas.

Cody Linley - At the age of 18, this Hannah Montana co-star is the show’s youngest competitor. He’ll be teamed with the always fine Julianne Hough.

Susan Lucci - Known as “Daytime’s Leading Lady,” Lucci is the highest-paid actor on daytime television. She’s also won a daytime Emmy, although she was nominated over a dozen times before she finally received one. She’ll be paired with Tony Doyolani.

Misty May-Treanor - A gold medalist in beach volleyball (2004 and 2008), she has won more tournament games than any other female player in history. She and partner Kerri Walsh have been referred to as the “greatest beach volleyball team of all time.” She’ll be paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Ted McGinley - He’s starred on a number of television shows, but he’s best known for his role as Jefferson D’Arcy on Married…with Children. He’ll be teaming up with Inna Brayer.

Jeffrey Ross - Stand-up comic, actor and director. Ross will be paired up with Edyta Sliwinska.

Warren Sapp - A former defensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders, Sapp played for 13 years in the NFL. He’ll be teaming up with Kym Johnson.

For more articles of interest, take a look at the following:

Brett Favre vs. Chad Pennington

Six Online Casinos in Trouble

Dancing with the Stars - Season Seven Cast Announced

Ken Shamrock vs. Kimbo Slice at EliteXC on CBS

On October 4th, EliteXC will be holding their next MMA program to be broadcast on CBS. Entitled EliteXC: Heat, the event will take place at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, and the show will mark the return of popular MMA fighters Gina Carano, Jake Shields, Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock.

BODOG ODDS - ELITE XC

Bodog hasn’t released odds for the card yet, but it’s only a matter of time. In the world of MMA, every fighter is just one punch or chokehold away from a win, so there’s no better sport in which to bet on the underdog. As soon as Bodog has odds for the next EliteXC event, you can catch then right here on our blog.

ELITE XC - FIGHT CARD

While the complete card hasn’t been announced yet, here are the fights which are known to be scheduled:

(Lightweight) Edson Berto vs. Mike Aina

(Women) Cristiana “Cyborg” Santos vs. Yoko Takahashi

(Middleweight) Benji Radach vs. Murilo “Ninja” Rua

(Women) Gina Carano vs. Kelly Kobald

(Welterweight) Jake Shields vs. Paul Daley

(Heavyweight) Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock

KIMBO SLICE VS. KEN SHAMROCK

Following his controversial win over James Thompson, EliteXC considered pairing up Kimbo Slice with either Sean Gannon or Brett Rogers. Rogers is the fighter who called Slice out after his last fight, while Gannon defeated Slice during his bare-knuckle days.

Eventually, however, Ken Shamrock was chosen as an opponent. With a record of 26-13-2, “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” is a former King of Pancrase who fought on the very first UFC card. The 44-year-old fighter also wrestled for both the WWE and TNA promotions.

While he’s still something of a draw, his best days are behind him. Tito Ortiz destroyed him three times, and he’s lost his last five matches dating back to 2005. In March of 2008, he was upset by Robert Berry at Cage Rage 25.

In many ways, Shamrock is the perfect opponent for Slice. With his good looks and muscular physique, he looks like what the casual fan imagines a fighter to look like. At the same time, his skills have eroded to the point that Slice should be able to knock him out rather quickly, just the way Ortiz did in their popular UFC series.

The winner, by the way, is supposed to square off against Rogers, and he’s been invited to be at ringside to scout out his opponent. No doubt, the EliteXC officials are expecting a Slice win, and they’re looking to take the opportunity to hype the Slice/Rogers match in front of a national audience.

For more MMA action, click on the following:

Brock Lesnar and Bodog Betting Odds

Affliction Fight Results

Ken Shamrock vs. Kimbo Slice at EliteXC on CBS

2008 Summer Olympics Medal Winners

The 2008 Summer Olympics are in the book, and the event was widely considered to be a smashing success for the host country of China. 10,500 athletes competed in over 302 events, and China and the United States sent the largest teams (639 and 596, respectively). In some cases, countries were represented by only a single athlete, and Tuvalu, Montenegro and the Marshall Islands all competed for the first time.

OLYMPIC EVENTS

There was one event more than Athens, with 165 men’s events being held to 127 women’s events and 10 mixed. Nine new Olympic events were held, including two from the new BMX cycling category. For the first time, women competed in the 3000 meter steeplechase, and longer swimming events were offered for both men and women.

In table tennis, the doubles event was replaced with team events. In fencing, the men’s team foil and women’s team epee were replaced with the women’s team foil and women’s team sabre.

OLYMPIC RECORDS

43 new world records were set during the 2008 Summer Olympics, and 132 Olympic records were also set. In all, 87 countries won medals during the game, and the Chinese led the pack with the most gold medals.

American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals, setting the record for the most gold medals won in one Olympics. He also has more career gold medals than any other competitor in Olympic history. New records were also set in the 100m and 200m dash, as Usain “Lightning” Bolt secured the title of the “World’s Fastest Man.”

TOP 10 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

The following countries finished with the most 2008 Olympic gold medals:

1. China 51

2. United States 36

3. Russia 23

4. Great Britain 19

5. Germany 16

6. Australia 14

7. South Korea 13

8. Japan 9

9. Italy 8

10. France 7

While Vegas bookmakers weren’t allowed to take bets on the Olympics, the good folks at Bodog came through for bettors around the globe. Whether you were wagering on Michael Phelps or the Redeem Team, Bodog had well over 100 different Olympic bets available.

And now that the Olympics are over, why not continue to look to Bodog for all your wagering needs?

For more gambling info and news, check out the following:

No Olympic Betting in Nevada

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2008 Summer Olympics Medal Winners

Mariah Milano - Babe of the Week

This week's babe is Mariah Milano, one of the most promising young porn stars of the last few years.

Mariah Milano - Babe of the Week

New Bonuses and Games Offered at Bodog

Bodog players rejoice! The Internet’s leading online casino and poker room has a couple of new things to be excited about. Of course, if you’re a regular Bodog player, then this comes as no surprise, as Bodog is always on the cutting edge when it comes to games and promotions.

MYSTIC SHUFFLE HI-LO

Bodog proudly introduces their latest game, Mystic Shuffle Hi-Lo. This game of chance allows you to make predictions on the upcoming number, and all you have to do is guess correctly to win loads of cash.

To begin the game, a card is drawn. Then, all you have to do is predict whether the next card will be higher or lower. If you pick correctly, then you’re a winner. It’s that easy!

You can also choose to bet on whether the next card will be red or blue. For each correct selection, your winnings will increase, and bonuses are even offered for specific cards.

To try this game, just visit Bodog’s online casino. You can download their software and play for real money, or there’s a Flash version available just for fun.

BODOG BLACKJACK BONUS

From now until October 1st, Bodog will be offering 10 blackjack players a $100 bonus each week. That’s $1,000 in weekly bonus money! After six weeks, the top five overall players will receive an Apple MacBook computer with a retail value of over $1,600. To get in on the opportunity, just follow the link in our article to Bodog’s online casino.

This competition runs weekly from Wednesday through Tuesday, and at the end of every week, the top 10 players who’ve hit the most natural blackjacks will receive the $100 bonus. The leader board will be reset at the end of each week, and then the competition will begin all over again. There’s no limit on how many times you can win, so there’s a chance of winning up to $600 in bonus money.

On October 1st, the top five players to have hit the most natural blackjack during the entire competition will receive the MacBook computers. And to make things even easier, Bodog Casino has also released an interactive strategy card which suggests how players should play any given hand.

It just doesn’t get any easier than that. With all these incentives, you’d be crazy not to give Bodog a try.

And speaking of Bodog, click on the following links to read more about their exciting offers and promotions:

No Olympic Betting in Nevada - Bodog Has It

Bodog Sends Three to 2009 WSOP

New Bonuses and Games Offered at Bodog

Chan Poker Closes - Online Poker News

Bad news for online poker players over at Chan Poker. As of today, the site fronted by 10-time WSOP winner Johnny Chan will be shutting down operations.

Launched in 2006, the site appeared with lots of fanfare from the online poker community. But later that year, the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act for Chan Poker to no longer accept U.S. customers. This was something they were just never able to recover from.

At the moment, the site is looking for another poker room to take over their database of players and honor their customers’ accumulated player points. Below is the official statement released by Chan poker:

We are sad to inform you that Chan Poker will be ceasing operation effective this Thursday, August 21, 2008. Effective immediately we will no longer be accepting deposits. On August 21 our poker clients will be disabled.

If you have a cash balance with us rest assured that all withdrawal requests will be honored and promptly processed. To facilitate timely withdrawals, limits for certain withdrawal methods have been increased. We will make every effort to accept withdrawal requests through our website for as long as necessary however we strongly advise submitting your request as soon as possible. To initiate a withdrawal now please follow this link to go to your account. Please note that once final withdrawals are processed your account will be automatically closed, no further action is necessary.

The final $50 daily freeroll will be held Tuesday, August 19, 2008. We will not be holding any additional weekly Red Orange Freerolls.

We are actively seeking a partner to provide poker software and honor all Chan Poker player point balances for those that wish to continue playing online poker. We will keep you informed of developments on this front.

As always, if you have questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact us at support@chanpoker.com.

Warm regards,
Chan Poker Customer Support

If you’re looking for a poker rooms that’s not going out of business, why not give Bodog a try? They have great competition, lots of freerolls and all kinds of interesting tournaments. You can sign up to play by clicking right here.

For more poker news, check out the following:

California Casinos to Use Lead-Free Chips

2008 WSOP Main Event Odds from Bodog

Chan Poker Closes - Online Poker News

Bodog Makes History with Online Poker Tournament

Bodoglife.com made history on Sunday night, as they hosted the largest guaranteed prize pool tournament in the online poker room’s history. The $250,000 Guaranteed Online Poker Tournament saw 816 players compete for massive payout, including Evelyn Ng, Jean-Robert Bellande, Eric “rizen” Lynch, Shawn “phatcat” Luman, Magnus “magpe” Petersson, Jose “head2782” Severino, Ari “BodogAri” Engel and Smith “nevertilt22” Collins.

KILL_BILL - PART THREE

135 online poker players ended up finishing in the money, and the first prize of $56,600 went to a German player with the online handle of “Kill_Bill.”

Alwyn Morris, CEO of the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group, has this to say, “We'd like to congratulate KILL_BILL for his win against such a talent-rich field that included some of the biggest names from across the online poker world. We have a feeling we'll be seeing him back atop the leaderboard soon. We're thrilled by the large number of online players who came out on Sunday to be a part of Bodog history. Many of these players took advantage of our daily satellites and were able to play for the $250,000 prize purse for as little as a dollar.”

FINAL TABLE RESULTS

Here are the results from the tournament’s final table:

Kill_Bill (1st - $56,600)

Jobless23 (2nd - $31,400)

DrDankRx23 (3rd - $21,750)

Mark “dipthrong” Helm (4th - $16,875)

Hongboy (5th - $13,625)

CrewRepresent (6th - $10,500)

Hunterare (7th - $7,750)

StonecoldMS (8th - $5,250)

TakeEmOut (9th - $3,000)

WSOP EUROPE

But Bodog isn’t finished hosting great tournaments - not by a long shot. Next up is the online qualifier for this year’s World Series of Poker Europe in London. Qualifiers are held daily, and the buy-ins are as low as only $1.

The tournament will culminate in a September 7th semifinal event, where two lucky players will be guaranteed of winning seats to the Main Event of the WSOP Europe (which, by the way, is an official WSOP bracelet event), along with airfare, hotel accommodations and spending cash. The value of the prize is right around $24,000.

Last year, Matt McCullough of New Jersey qualified through Bodog’s online tournament and finished third in the WSOP Europe Main Event. He walked away with $766,674. Not a bad return for an investment of just a few dollars.

For more Bodog happenings, check out the following:

Bodog Poker Adds New Online Features

Win Seats to 2008 WSOP Europe

Bodog Makes History with Online Poker Tournament

Harrah's vs. IGT - Slot Machine Feud

Recent slot machine news has created speculation about a feud between Harrah’s and respected slot machine maker, International Game Technology. While some industry experts dismiss the whole matter as just a money issue, others insist that the rift between the two giants runs much deeper.

By the way, you might want to try the slots over at Bodog‘s online casino. They never get into feuds with anyone (besides the U.S. government).

HARRAH’S VS. IGT

The whole matter started with participation slot machines - games in which the casino shares up to 20% of the revenue with the slot manufacturer. After reporting losses of nearly $100 million in their second quarter, Harrah’s was said to have wanted to decrease the amount of shared revenue. Needless to say, this did not please IGT one little bit.

In order to reduce expenses, a number of slots have recently been pulled from casinos operated by Harrah’s, particularly Bally’s Casino (but also as far away as Atlantic City). Dozens of participation slots have been pulled, and all of these machines were manufactured by IGT (including the popular Wheel of Fortune slot). The blank spaces were then filled by non-participation slots, which allow the casino to keep all the revenues.

According to Gary Thompson, spokesman for Harrah’s, “We try to offer our customers the games they like to play, which we determine through volume of play and regular surveys of our guests.”

PLAYING HARDBALL

So at this point, Gary and Harrah’s are essentially saying that IGT slots are no longer popular. Of course, anyone who plays slots knows this to be untrue, so this is nothing more than a negotiation tactic by Harrah’s.

Harrah’s will pull the machines. Since IGT relies on the revenue from participation slots, they’ll quickly feel themselves getting squeezed. In the end, they’ll be forced to renegotiate with Harrah’s and agree to a lower percentage of the profits. And there’s really nothing that IGT can do about it.

To make matters worse, other casinos may get the same bright idea. Within months, you might see the majority of IGT machines pulled from Vegas casinos. If you enjoy Wheel of Fortune, you might want to get in a few extra spins, as it might not be around for a little while.

For more gambling news, check out the following:

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Harrah's vs. IGT - Slot Machine Feud

2008 NFL MVP Betting Odds from Bodog

As the 2008 NFL Season continues to draw near, Bodog is offering online customers more and more betting options on their favorite football teams and players. Dozen of prop bets are available, including odds on which NFL star will be voted as the 2008 regular season Most Valuable Player (by the Associated Press).

Before we discuss a few of the top contenders, let’s take a look at the odds (courtesy of the Bodog website).

2008 NFL MVP - BODOG ODDS

The Quarterbacks

Derek Anderson 30/1

Tom Brady 4/1

Drew Brees 12/1

Jason Campbell 75/1

Jay Cutler 40/1

Jake Delhomme 80/1

Brett Favre 12/1

Jeff Garcia 60/1

David Garrard 30/1

Matt Hasselbeck 30/1

Jon Kitna 100/1

Matt Lienart 75/1

Eli Manning 16/1

Peyton Manning 7/1

Donovan McNabb 40/1

Carson Palmer 15/1

Philip Rivers 50/1

Aaron Rodgers 50/1

Ben Roethlisberger 20/1

Matt Schaub 75/1

Vince Young 40/1

The Runners

Joseph Addai 20/1

Marion Barber 35/1

Ronnie Brown 100/1

Reggie Bush 75/1

Frank Gore 70/1

Earnest Graham 100/1

Ryan Grant 50/1

Steven Jackson 60/1

Brandon Jacobs 100/1

Edgerrin James 100/1

Larry Johnson 80/1

Maurice Jones-Drew 50/1

Jamal Lewis 50/1

Marshawn Lynch 45/1

Darren McFadden 100/1

Willis McGahee 75/1

Willie Parker 40/1

Adrian Peterson 10/1

Clinton Portis 75/1

Michael Turner 100/1

LaDainian Tomlinson 8/1

Brian Westbrook 25/1

The Receivers

Larry Fitzgerald 100/1

Devin Hester 100/1

Andre Johnson 100/1

Calvin Johnson 100/1

Chad Johnson 60/1

Randy Moss 20/1

Terrell Owens 30/1

Everybody Else

Field (any other player) 10/1

SAFE BETS FOR MVP

If you’re looking to place a wager, here are a few guys that you can never go wrong with. Consider these players to be very safe bets, and also keep in mind that a quarterback has won the award in 12 of the last 18 seasons.

Peyton Manning 7/1 - A perennial badass, Peyton Manning is a football machine. The Colts offense is still stacked, and nobody lives for football more than Manning. Expect another quality season from Eli’s older brother.

Tom Brady 4/1 - After falling one game short of a completely undefeated season, Brady will return with receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker. He’s got a ton of weapons at his disposal, and coach Bill Belichick seems to enjoy running the score up on opponents. Joe Montana won back-to-back MVP honors in 1989 and 1990, and Brett Favre did the same in 1996 and 1997. Why not Brady?

Brett Favre 12/1 - If he can get the hapless Jets to the playoffs, then Favre stands a good chance of winning the MVP award for a fourth time. He’s in New York now, so you can count on his success being magnified (as well as his failures).

THE LONGSHOTS

If you’re really looking to make some money, here are a few longshots you might want to consider.

Marshawn Lynch 45/1 - While the Bills sucked last year, Lynch looked strong in his rookie year. He’s going to be more involved in the passing game this year, so expect his numbers to rise considerably. The Bills have added weapons on offense, their defense in healthy and the quarterback position is a lot more stable. It’s not likely, but why not take a chance at 45 to 1?

Donovan McNabb 40/1 - If he can just stay healthy (a big “if”), McNabb has the talent to really put up some numbers. With receivers like Kevin Curtis and rookie DeSean Jackson, McNabb may have the deepest receiving corps of his career. Injuries always seem to be a factor with McNabb, but this could be the year he finally avoids them.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Don’t waste your money on these players.

All wide receivers - The Associated Press has been awarding the MVP since 1957, and a wide receiver has never won it. That means Jerry Rice never got it, and Randy Moss was passed over after his record-breaking season last year.

In cases of receivers having monster years, the quarterbacks throwing to them usually got the MVP award (Joe Montana, Steve Young and Tom Brady). Remember, betting on a receiver is just throwing your money away.

2008 NFL MVP Betting Odds from Bodog

Saffron Burrows - Babe of the Week

This week's Babe is Saffron Burrows, a former model and current actress. She's starred in Troy, The Bank Job and Boston Legal (among others). She's also admitted to being bi-sexual, which certainly moves her up in our book.

Saffron Burrows - Babe of the Week

Brett Favre vs. Chad Pennington - Bodog Odds

Brett Favre. Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past few months, it would have been almost impossible to escape his name. You see, Favre, the former Packers quarterback and future Hall-of-Famer, has been involved in one of the nastiest feuds with a front office in recent memory.

FAVRE VS. PACKERS

It all started when Favre told the Packers that he was going to retire in the 2008 offseason. A tearful press conference was held, Favre was featured on numerous magazine covers, and the Packers prepared to move on with Aaron Rogers at the helm.

Then, Favre decided that maybe he had retired to soon. You’d think a guy with his money and a hot wife could find something to occupy his time, but apparently not.

When he wanted to return to his old job, the Packers seemed lukewarm about the whole matter, and that’s when things started to spiral out of control. Before it was over, Favre would accuse the organization of lying to the fans, and the Packers would end up hiring a former White House press secretary to oversee spin control.

OUT WITH THE OLD…IN WITH THE OLDER

After weeks and weeks of wrangling, the Packers were finally able to trade Favre to the New York Jets. This spelled curtains for Chad Pennington, the former starting quarterback who had all but lost his job to backup Kellen Clemens.

Favre was immediately named the starter, and Pennington was released. But he didn’t have to wait long, as Bill Parcells, the man who originally drafted him and current GM of the Dolphins, signed him on to lead their team.

The football gods were surely smiling, as the NFL schedule just so happened to have the Dolphins vs. the Jets during the first week of the season. Suddenly, a game nobody gave a damn about is shaping up to be one of the most highly-anticipated matches of the season.

FAVRE VS. PENNINGTON - BODOG ODDS

Not surprisingly, Bodog’s sports book has a number of prop bets for the match-up between Favre and Pennington. Each of these carries a max bet of $50, but you can wager on as many of them as you wish.

Which player will have more passing yards in their Week One match-up?

Brett Favre EVEN

Chad Pennington -130

Which player will have more touchdown passes in their Week One match-up?

Brett Favre EVEN

Chad Pennington -130

Which player will throw more interceptions in their Week One match-up?

Brett Favre EVEN

Chad Pennington -130

What will the Dolphins record be in Pennington’s two starts against the Jets in 2008?

2-0 15/2

1-1 29/20

0-2 20/37

What will be Pennington’s longest completion on September 7th against the Jets?

Over 25 yards -135

Under 25 yards +105

What will Brett Favre’s completion percentage be for the Jets during the 2008 regular season?

Over 62% -115

Under 62% -115

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Britney Spears at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards?

Britney Spears may once again make an appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards. If so, it will come on the heels of her disastrous 2007 “comeback” where the glazed pop princess walked like a zombie through a lackluster performance.

According to reports, she is currently in negotiations to appear at the September 7th ceremony, but only the Jonas Brothers and Lil Wayne have been officially confirmed. Still, MTV is already using Spears in promotional ads for the show, and I think it’s a safe bet that she’ll turn up to once again steal the spotlight.

MTV can also hope and pray, as her appearance last year boosted ratings by 23 percent. Even though most events for Spears these days are train wrecks, the tabloid-loving masses can’t seem to get enough of celebrity misfortune.

Britney Spears - Bodog Odds

For those of you who like to wager but couldn’t give a rat’s ass about Britney Spears, Bodog is coming through in a big way. Right now, they’re offering the following prop bet about Ms. Spears:

Will Britney Spears perform on the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards?

Yes +110

No -150

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Britney Spears - Bodog Odds

Britney Spears at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards?

Week 2 NFL Preseason - Bodog Betting Odds

The NFL Preseason enters its second week, and NFL fans are chomping at the bit for the regular season to hurry up and get started. Still, while preseason can be a bit dull, that doesn’t mean that some important positional battles aren’t taking place.

RUNNING BACK BATTLES

In Detroit, rookie Kevin Smith (no, not the pudgy director) is battling Tatum Bell for the starting spot. Meanwhile, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams flash their talents over in Carolina. There’s little doubt that rookie runners like Smith, Stewart, Forte and McFadden will take over the starting job, the question is when will they take the reigns. For fantasy football fans, drafting rookies (even running backs) can be an iffy proposition.

QUARTERBACK BATTLES

Things are even closer when it comes to quarterback battles. A number of no-name players look poised to wrestle starting jobs away from more high-profile starters. Troy Smith, a former fifth-rounder, may end up starting for the Ravens, and Rex Grossman may also be in danger of being unemployed in Chicago thanks to Kyle Orton.

As we all know by now, Brett Favre displaced Chad Pennington in New York, but Pennington was quickly signed by Bill Parcells (the man who drafted him in 2000), and he’s now the new starter for the Dolphins.

But the biggest upset may be forming in San Francisco, where J.T. O’Sullivan has been outplaying Alex Smith during the preseason. Smith, as you’ll remember, was a first-round pick in 2005, but he’s been plagued by injuries and general crappiness.

And who said the preseason was useless?

WEEK 2 PRESEASON ODDS FROM BODOG

Bodog presents another crop of NFL preseason odds, and this will continue right into the regular season. When it comes to pro football betting odds, it’s damn near impossible to beat Bodog.

Thursday Games

Steelers -1 ½ @ Bills +1 ½

Panthers +3 @ Eagles -3

Friday Games

Raiders +5 @ Titans -5

Saturday Games

Redskins +3 @ Jets -3

Vikings +3 @ Ravens -3

Dolphins +4 @ Jaguars -4

Colts +3 @ Falcons -3

Chargers +3 @ Rams -3

Texans +3 @ Saints -3

Cardinals +3 @ Chiefs -3

Packers @ Niners (no odds yet, but check back later with Bodog)

Cowboys +3 @ Broncos -3

Bears +2 @ Seahawks -2

Sunday Games

Lions @ Bengals (no line posted yet)

Patriots +2 @ Buccaneers -2

Monday Game

Browns +3 @ Giants -3

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NFL Preseason Betting Odds from Bodog

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No Olympic Betting in Nevada - Bodog Has It!

Betting on the Olympic Games can be a lot of fun, but you won’t be doing it in Nevada. That’s because state law prohibits bettors from wagering on the Olympics. How the hell did that happen? Read on.

SCREW YOU, McCAIN!

Senator John McCain and other politicians had the bright idea to outlaw betting on college sports back in 2000. In order to avoid some of the heat, Nevada bookmakers pointed out that betting on other forms of amateur sports would be made illegal. This included the Olympics, the Little League World Series and high school sports.

BODOG TO THE RESCUE

Luckily, Bodog comes through in a pinch. While those sissies in Vegas won’t touch the Olympic events, you can log on to Bodog and wager until your heart’s content. From swimming and volleyball to sprinting and fencing, almost every Olympic sport is fair game at Bodog’s sports book.

And there’s also the matter of generous odds, fast payouts and superior customer service. Really, why wouldn’t you place a wager at Bodog. Oh, did I mention that they still serve U.S. customers, despite the fascist regime of the Republicans? See, that’s because former Bodog owner Calvin Ayre has balls as big as tomatoes (not that I’ve actually seen them).

Anyway, head on over to Bodog and show your pride in your respective country. Besides, you’re going to need money on the line to make some of those events interesting.

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Cockfighting Illegal in Louisiana

Cockfighting is now illegal in Louisiana, making it the last state to ban the controversial competition. Fans of the sport will now have to journey to distant locations like Mexico, or they’ll be forced to seek out the underground arenas which are sure to spring up.

END OF A TRADITION?

Opponents of the ban argue that it is destroying the culture of Louisiana. According to Chris Daughdrill, a breeder of fighting roosters, “The culture, the custom of the Cajun people, it’s gone. It’s another one of the rights that big government has taken away from the people.”

But most agree that while it is now illegal in the state, cockfighting won’t disappear for good. “They’ve still got cockfighting in every state, “ said Elizabeth Barras, the former owner of a cockfighting facility, “They just hide it from the law.”

BAN ON COCKFIGHTING

The ban on cockfighting comes after pressure from groups such as the Humane Society. After Hurricane Katrina, many officials also began trying to reverse the image of Louisiana citizens being poor and backwards.

While it continues to be legal in places like Puerto Rico, Guam and America Samoa, it is now illegal in all 50 U.S. states. Offenders caught for the first time will face a maximum of $1,000 in fines and six months in jail. And transporting animals across state lines for the purposes of fighting has been upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony.

But many cockfighting pits were already closed, thanks to a law passed last year which made it illegal to bet on the activity.

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Sarah Wayne Callies - Babe of the Week

Long and lean, this week's Babe is Sarah Wayne Callies. She's best known for her role as Dr. Sarah Tancredi on the show Prison Break. While the writers originally killed off her character, fan uproar is bringing her back for another season. I can see why.

Sarah Wayne Callies - Babe of the Week

Bodog Poker Adds New Online Features

Bodog Poker, always on the cutting edge of the gaming industry, just got even better. They recently announced their new poker client, which provides customers with a full-screen mode, resizable tables, game details and a detachable chat box. This comes on the heels of a successful beta test.

The timing is perfect, since Bodog is preparing to host the largest tournament in company history, the $250,000 Guaranteed. That event will take place on August 10th at 4pm EST. The new software can be downloaded by visiting the Bodog website.

NEW BODOG POKER SOFTWARE

Players will have total control over the size of the game window, and this can be accomplished by just dragging the corner of the table. Online poker players will also be able to increase the size of their poker table to fill their entire computer screen. Players can also resize, detach and move windows for notes, profiles, stats, game details, tournament info and chatting.

Overall, this gives Bodog’s poker rooms a sleeker look which enhances the customer’s experience. Players who are “on action” will even be faintly bathed in a soft spotlight, making for an even more elegant gaming experience.

And that’s not all! In the coming months, Bodog will be adding even more features to their online poker rooms, including the ability to play on more than three tables at once. No wonder thousands of people play online at Bodog every day of the week.

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Bodog Poker Adds New Online Features

California Casinos to Use Lead-Free Poker Chips

Twenty-one California casinos will soon be converting to lead-free chips. This comes on the heels of a television expose about the lead content in chips and protests from safety and health groups.

EXPOSE ON LEAD CHIPS

It all started in November of 2007, when ABC Channel 15 in Arizona reported on the lead content of chips manufactured by Paulson Gaming Supplies (now known as Gaming Partners International). The report stated that the heart of each chip contained particularly high levels of lead and indicated that exposure could be harmful to users. The Arizona Department of Health issued a warning, but they later retracted it when their tests could not confirm the station’s findings.

A story ran in the Las Vegas Sun which stated, “Independent tests showed it was physically impossible for either dealers or players to receive a harmful dose of lead by coming in contact with the chips.”

If they would’ve played at Bodog’s online casino, they wouldn’t have had to worry about lead in the chips. Digital chips are completely lead-free, and they’ve never killed anybody.

CALIFORNIA CHIP CHANGE

The station later pulled the story, but the chips (also in use in California casinos) were then targeted by the California Center for Environmental Health, a nonprofit group which monitors health threats to the public. The group claimed that the chips were made in Mexico, and lead was also used in the dyes which provided colors for the chips’ exteriors.

Following protests and bad publicity, an agreement was reached whereby the 21 California casinos using the chips would start using lead-free chips by no later than November 1st, 2008. After that date, the casinos in the state will be required to use chips with less than .005% lead.

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Florida Man Calls 911 About Slot Machine

Watch out, dear readers. Apparently, slot machines will steal your money! At least that’s what a man in Tampa, Florida recently claimed during a 911 call. 47-year-old Carlos Gutierrez was recently playing at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and he was less-than-pleased with the results of his slot machine session.

Of course, since we live in the age of entitlement, Carlos’ losses couldn’t just be the result of bad luck. No, the slot machine was up to something! So like many people in this day and age, Carlos decided to blame someone else for his misfortune - namely the slot machine.

He called 911 and reported the actions of the sinister slot, and he later left the casino and placed yet another 911 call.

Unfortunately for him, the local cops didn’t agree (no doubt on the slot machine’s payroll). They arrived and arrested Carlos, throwing him in jail on charges of making a false 911 call. While he’s being held without bail, the slot machine is still out there….plotting its next move. You’ve been warned.

He should’ve played at Bodog’s online casino. All the slot machines there have underwent a thorough background check, and not a one has ever been convicted of a felony (just a few misdemeanors here and there for indecent exposure).

There must be something in the water in Florida, as I also noticed a report of a Jacksonville man calling 911 to complain that the local Subway restaurant had left the sauce off of his spicy Italian sandwich. Maybe the slot machine was working the counter.

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NFL Preseason Betting Odds from Bodog

The NFL Preseason is finally here, and that can only mean one thing - exciting duels between the likes of Colt Brennan and Quinn Gray. That’s right, the aforementioned Brennan and Gray kicked things off in the annual Hall of Fame game, as the Redskins whomped the Colts by a score of 30 to 16. And anybody who thinks that the Colts are in trouble this season needs to have their head examined.

You see, the NFL preseason is useless to everyone but coaches and maybe a few hardcore fantasy football geeks. Most teams that stink in preseason go on to post strong regular-season records and vice versa. Still, it is pro football, and that means that Bodog’s sportsbook will be offering betting lines on all the games.

NFL PRESEASON - WEEK 1 BODOG ODDS

(Home teams are listed on the right side)

Thursday Games

New York Giants +3 vs. Detroit Lions -3 (see, you know it’s preseason, because the Lions are actually the favorites!)

New York Jets +3 vs. Cleveland Browns -3

Baltimore Ravens +5 vs. New England Patriots -5

Kansas City Chiefs +3 vs. Chicago Bears -3

New Orleans Saints +2 v. Arizona Cardinals -2

Friday Games

The odds for these games haven’t been released yet, but check back daily with Bodog. They’ll have them soon enough.

Eagles vs. Steelers

Seahawks vs. Vikings

Niners vs. Raiders

Saturday Games

Bills vs. Redskins

Colts vs. Panthers

Falcons vs. Jaguars

Buccaneers vs. Dolphins

Rams vs. Titans

Broncos vs. Texans
Cowboys vs. Chargers

Monday Games

Bengals vs. Packers

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Win Seats to the WSOP Europe from Bodog!

The World Series of Poker Europe is right around the corner, and Bodog will be sending two lucky players to the event. The second annual WSOP Europe will be held from September 27th until October 2nd in London, England, and you can bet that all the big names will be there.

Last year, a member of Team Bodog (and an online qualifier), Matt McCullough, finished in third place. For his efforts, he took home $766,674 in cash. Nothing wrong with getting rich on vacation.

This year, you‘ll also have a chance to get your mug on television, as ESPN will be broadcasting this official bracelet event for the first time ever.

BODOG PRIZE PACKAGE - WSOP EUROPE

If you qualify to play on behalf of Team Bodog, you’ll receive the following grand prize package:

- WSOPE Main Event Buy-In (worth over $20,000 USD)

- Limousine service from the airport to your hotel

- Round trip airfare

- Hotel accommodations
- Exclusive swag
- 500 pounds in spending money (that’s the unit of currency, not the unit of weight!)

QUALIFY ONLINE AT BODOG

Online qualifiers will be running daily at Bodog, and buy-ins are often as low as $1. Winners of the qualifying matches will move on to the semifinal event on September 7th, where two players will be guaranteed of winning seats at the WSOPE event.

OTHER BODOG TOURNAMENTS

And this is just the tip of the iceberg! Bodog is also giving away seats to the Asian Poker Tour in Macau. Later in the year, other Bodog tournaments will allow players to journey to Europe and North America as representatives of Team Bodog (just like David Williams and Evelyn Ng).

For more info, just click on the Bodog link in the first sentence of this article.

Win Seats to the WSOP Europe from Bodog!

Jaime Murray - Babe of the Week

This week's Babe is Jaime Murray. This British actress is best known for her roles as Stacie on Hustle and Lila in Showtime's Dexter. You can also catch her in an off-the-wall horror flick titled Botched.

Jaime Murray - Babe of the Week

Illegal Poker Games Raided in Toronto

Illegal poker games were the subject of four different police raids last week in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Suspected gaming houses were entered, and 45 adults from the ages of 19 to 88 were charged. This follows a similar raid in November of 2007 in which more than 60 arrests were made.

Each locations was designated as a business and not a private residence, and three were located in industrial units. The fourth was a well-known sports bar called the Garden of Eden. Three raids took place in Toronto proper, while the last was in the nearby area of Pickering, Ontario. Nine people were charged for keeping a common gaming house, while the remaining 36 were charged with being found there.

The raid was a collaboration between the Toronto Police Service, Durham Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Police. $12,000 was confiscated from players, as well as tables and equipment worth around $23,000.

Citing the growing popularity of Texas Hold’em in Toronto, Det. Emilio DiPoce commented that the raids had just barely scratched the surface. “It’s an epidemic right now,“ he said. Ultimately run by organized crime, DiPoce went on to note that these illegal poker rooms “generate millions for operators.”

People involved with the ring will be facing between $5,000 and $70,000 in fines, while repeat offenders will run the risk of serving jail time.

If you really want to play poker, why not visit Bodog’s excellent poker room? Every type of poker game is offered, and some kind of special promotion is always being offered to entice you to play. Don’t fight it. All the cool people are doing it, and you want to be cool, don’t you?

Illegal Poker Games Raided in Toronto