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The PGA Tour – Monthly Roundup of the Action from May 2018
GamblingSites.com
The PGA Tour – Monthly Roundup of the Action from May 2018
Just like that, May has come and gone. And what an eventful month it was on the PGA Tour. As electrifying as the action was in May, things are only going to get better in June as the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills looms in the not too distant future.
Before I get you hyped up for what’s on tap for the first month of the summer, I want to recap what has transpired over the past 30 days.
We saw four tournaments, each with $7 million or more in the prize pool. Three of the four events were won by major champions, while the other was taken down by a young gun who is well on his way to building quite the professional resume.
Tiger Woods continued on his upward trend, making the cut at the Wells Fargo Championship and finishing T-11th the following week at The PLAYERS.
All in all, if you were hoping that May would produce thrilling golf and give the best players in the world a chance to get some reps in before the year’s second Major, I’d say that the mission was accomplished.
Let’s take a closer look at what happened.
The Wells Fargo Championship
The anticipation surrounding the 2018 Wells Fargo was massive. I mean, take your pick at which storyline captivated your attention.
Was it the fact that the fans were seeing Quail Hollow Club for the first time since Justin Thomas won the 2017 PGA Championship there last August?
Or how about that it was the first time Tiger was back on the links since we had seen him the month prior at Augusta?
Any way you slice it, all eyes were locked on Tiger and the golf course. While all that was going on, 2018 Farmers Insurance Open winner Jason Day quietly went about his business and was 10-under-par heading into the final round, leading by 2 shots.
Despite making four bogeys the final afternoon, Day countered with 6 birdies, including both on 16 and 17 to help seal the deal. If you are curious if the Aussie was feeling the adrenaline when he stood over his ball on the 17th tee, try this out for size.
How’s a mind-boggling 7-iron from 230 yards that hits the flagstick and comes to rest within 3 feet sound? Does that get your blood pumping? Because it sure as heck got Jason and his caddie riled up.
A par on 18 was enough to hold off Nick Watney and Aaron Wise by 2 for the title and a handsome check for $1,386,000. For Watney, this marked his first top 10 in an individual stroke-play event since the 2015 Byron Nelson Classic.
I’m glad to see the former Fresno State Bulldog is back in good form. For Wise, well, more on him a bit later.
The PLAYERS Championship
The PLAYERS Championship needs no a flamboyant introduction. If you are a fan of the PGA Tour, you already understand the magnitude of the year’s “5th Major.”
If you don’t know much, just know that the 11-million-dollar purse is the second-richest prize pool on the entire schedule behind just the U.S. Open.
The field is known as the greatest field in golf, and it’s not even debatable.
The 2018 PLAYERS Championship will be remembered for the dominant exhibition displayed by Webb Simpson. As much as we like seeing a tournament go down to the wire, one can certainly appreciate when one man completely throttles the rest of the field.
Webb opened on Thursday with a delectable 66, good enough for a 6-way tie for the lead. Once he eagled the par-5 second on Friday, he was off to the races.
When Webb got the ball up and down for birdie on 16, he had recorded his 6th consecutive birdie and reached 11 under on his round. Webb was -17 through 35 holes, going absolutely bonkers.
By the time Sunday morning arrived, it was fairly anticlimactic. When a player of Webb’s caliber starts the day with a 7-shot lead and the course is playing tough, the chances of anyone catching Simpson were slim to none.
Webb played “steady Eddy” golf and even had the liberty of making “6” on 18 and still winning by 4 shots. Although the week belonged to the Wake Forest alum, we would be ignorant if we didn’t mention how good Tiger looked over the weekend.
After making the cut on the number, Tiger came out guns blazing on Saturday, making birdie on 12 to reach -8 on the round.
On Sunday, all Tiger did was birdie the 12th to go to 6 under on the day and get as deep as 14-under-par for the tournament.
A water ball on the Island Green kind of spoiled the momentum he had developed, but Tiger left TPC Sawgrass that week feeling extremely positive about his golf game.
If I was another member of the PGA Tour or a fan of the game, I’d have my eyes peeled wide open for the next couple months of the season. We could be in for some vintage Tiger, and it might just be around the corner.
AT&T Byron Nelson
Remember earlier in this article when I alluded to Aaron Wise’s name being brought up again? Well, here you go.
After his runner-up finish at the Wells Fargo and a check for more than $677,000, you could forgive Wise had he returned to his home in Las Vegas during his off week to bask in his glory.
Nearly three-quarters of a million dollars is a lot of money for anybody. Imagine how a 21-year-old rookie in Sin City feels?
Rather than rest on his laurels, the former Oregon Duck golfer used this as motivation to get even better. Nonetheless, never in a thousand years did he envision getting into the winner’s circle his very next week out at the AT&T Byron Nelson.
The golf tournament had been moved to Trinity Forest Golf Club, a brand new venue created by the dynamic duo of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. While nobody knew what to expect from the golf course, Wise went out and made the place look like a cakewalk.
After opening with an effortless 65, the Callaway staff member blistered the course on Friday, shooting a bogey-free 63. Astonishingly, Wise was at -14 through 2 rounds and trailing Marc Leishman by a stroke!
The 34-year-old Aussie and 3-time PGA Tour winner sizzled on Thursday, logging 6 birdies and a pair of eagles to shoot a course-record 61.
Generally, when you open with 61 and back that up with 66-69-68, it would be good enough to get the job done. In this instance, it came up a full 3 shots short of Wise’s total.
Wise and Leishman had a bit of a “mano-a-mano” going on the last day, and Marc played well, shooting 3 under par. It wasn’t nearly enough to keep pace with Aaron’s clean card (bogey-free 65), and by the time Wise walked up the 18th fairway, he knew the tournament was his.
Perhaps his biggest gaffe of the week came during him and his girlfriend’s “awkward non-kiss” on the 72nd green. Given what had just happened, I am more than happy to let this one slide.
Way to go, Aaron. Great playing!
Fort Worth Invitational
Kind of like The PLAYERS Championship earlier in the month, the Fort Worth Invitational was witness to one golfer running away and hiding from the rest of the field.
Englishman Justin Rose used rounds of 66-64-66-64 to bring home the hardware and elevate all the way up to the number-3 slot in the official world golf rankings (OWGR).
It is worth noting that after shooting 62 and coming up a shot short of tying the course record on Thursday, Kevin Na saved his best for last. His 61 on Sunday did match that course record, and Na had registered his second round of 62 or better on the week.
Unfortunately, it was his rounds of 73-70 on Friday and Saturday that left him well off the mark set by Rose.
Talk about a ball-striking clinic – Rose’s act was about as complete a performance from tee-to-green as I have seen in recent memory.
Not only did Justin lead the field in strokes gained tee-to-green, but he was also first in strokes picked up on approaches to the green. “Rosey” hit more than 79% of the greens in regulation for the week, also topping the field.
His 25 birdies? You guessed it: the most by any player over the four days.
Justin said before the week started that he added this tournament in hopes of getting some extra repetition in before the U.S. Open in a couple of weeks’ time. I think it’s pretty safe to say things went according to plan, and then some.
I’ll be looking at Rose as a serious contender when the players embark on C.B. Macdonald’s masterpiece in Southampton starting on June 14th.
For more on the U.S. Open and what’s on the horizon for the month of June, that’s how I’ll wrap this thing up!
What’s in Store for June?
I’ve already mentioned the prestigious tournament coming to Shinnecock Hills in a couple weeks. Not only will the winner be walking away with more than 2 million bucks, but he’s going to get his name engraved on the coveted U.S. Open trophy.
But before any of that happens, they still have a couple golf tournaments to play. June kicks off at “Jack’s Place,” and the Memorial is set up to be a wild ride to the finish.
We’ve got Tiger and Phil, we’ve got 8 of the top 10 in the world, and we have a golf course in immaculate shape.
The next week is sometimes forgotten, as the FedEx St. Jude Classic is sandwiched between the Memorial and the U.S. Open, two highly-acclaimed tournaments. Host course TPC at Southwind is scheduled to take over as the new location for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational starting as early as next season.
That means the 2018 FedEx St. Jude Classic will be the final time the tour pros tee it up at TPC Southwind for a regular season event. It also is an opportunity for Daniel Berger to cash in on a three-peat after winning both the 2016 and 2017 editions.
Then, it’s the U.S. Open, starting June 14th. I can’t wait to see what happens, notably if Tiger Woods can get back in the mix on a Sunday in major. Would that be sweet or what?
After the United States Open, it’s off to Cromwell, Connecticut, for the Travelers Championship before closing out the month a TPC Potomac for the Quicken Loans Invitational.
By the time June comes to a close, not only will someone have won the U.S. Open, but we’ll get a good look at how each Ryder Cup roster is shaping up.
There are tons of points up for grabs over the next 4 weeks. Only time will tell which golfers will seize the moment!
The post The PGA Tour – Monthly Roundup of the Action from May 2018 appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
MGM, Wynn tamp down Boston casino intrigue
Las Vegas Sun Stories: Gaming
MGM, Wynn tamp down Boston casino intrigue
Executives for MGM and Wynn are tamping down speculation the companies are quietly in talks over Wynn's Boston-area casino. MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren said today it would have to be an "extremely unique situation" for officials to ...
Pala to award Audi and $10,000 each Friday
Casino City Times
Pala to award Audi and $10,000 each Friday
From 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday, 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 June, and Friday, 6, 13, 20 and 27 July, $1,000 will be awarded every half-hour to 10 lucky winners, a total of $10,000. The 2018 Audi A5 will be awarded at 11 p.m.
Gambling Industry Payout Report for May 2018
GamblingSites.com
Gambling Industry Payout Report for May 2018
Payout Report Overview
BetOnline A+
Bovada A+
Bookmaker.eu A+
Sportsbetting.agA
5Dimes A
Nitrogen A
MyBookie B+
GTbetsB
Ignition CasinoB-
Topbet D+
Summer is almost here, as the month of May is just about in the books, and that dreaded “dead period” in the online betting world is almost over.
Just as exciting was the recent news that sports betting will no longer be illegal on a federal level. That leaves the decision-making for legal sports betting in the hands of individual states.
Needless to say, in just a matter of months – likely in time for the 2018 NFL season – these monthly gambling payout reports could be far more useful than they already are.
I’ve been looking at a long list of viable betting sites for roughly two years now and have chipped away the more questionable sites as the months have passed.
For the most part, that’s left our readers with a really strong list of gambling websites that not only offer awesome promotions and competitive odds but also pay out your money and do it in a timely manner.
There are still a couple of sites here that we like that aren’t always up to the industry standard, but their elite promotions, wagers, odds, and/or customer service tend to make up for it.
Regardless, summer is arriving, and bettors are looking for a list of betting sites they can safely and comfortably bet at with full confidence they’ll actually get their cash.
Here’s the latest feedback and reports for our favorite sites after the month of May:
BetOnline
April Grade: A+ May Grade: A+
BetOnline remains one of the best sportsbooks online right now. This continues to be one of the top sports betting sites in terms of early lines and prop bets, and BetOnline also has a strong history of fast payouts.
This site is fast, secure, and offers a wide range of payout options. In addition to being a user-friendly site, BetOnline also covers all of the bases with sports, casino, and poker betting available.
Around since 2004, BetOnline has firmly established itself as one of the go-to betting sites online. Even when payout speeds hit snags, this is still one of the top betting options out there.
“We’ll get you your money faster than anyone else.”
Bovada
April Grade: A+ May Grade: A+
Bovada is right up there with BetOnline, and in a lot of ways, it might be the best online betting site you’ll stumble across. This is without a doubt one of the most popular gambling sites on the internet, as they’re known for their competitive sports betting lines and intense poker rooms.
Not every site is as versatile when it comes to both betting options and withdrawal options, but Bovada crushes it in both regards.
The site had previously gotten rid of its poker room, but that is now back. Combined with their excellent customer service, promotions, and fast payouts, this remains a top-5 gambling site.
“Raise Your Game”
Bookmaker.eu
April Grade: A+ May Grade: A+
Trust is the name of the game when it comes to online betting, and few sportsbooks are quite as reliable as Bookmaker.eu.
Around since 1996, bettors are literally looking at a company that has been completely loyal and eager to improve every step of the way for over 20 years.
Bookmaker has proven over the years that they’re among the best at what they do, as they offer a wide variety of betting options, a slew of engaging promotions, and some of the quickest payouts in the industry.
History and continued growth combine to set Bookmaker aside from the rest of the pack. If you’re looking for an honest and reliable book where you can win and get your money, look no further.
“Where the Line Originates”
Sportsbetting.ag
April Grade: A May Grade: A
If you’re looking for an all-encompassing site that has everything you want as a gambler, Sportsbetting.ag could be for you. Not every site offers both sports wagers and casino games, but Sportsbetting.ag does just that, and they also do it all at a very high level.
Sportsbetting.ag is right up there with BetOnline, and the payout speeds are virtually the same.
Bitcoin leads the way here with about a 24-hour window
Checks are basically the same with a 4-5 day wait that can stretch to 7-10 days, depending on the processor
While the site has solid quotes, and the past feedback has been positive, not much new sifted through the cracks in May
That can be considered good, as Sportsbetting.ag doesn’t have super-slow speeds or longstanding issues at the moment
This site not only keeps your gambling experience all in one safe spot, but they also routinely get pointed out for fantastic customer service, unique prop bets, and speedy payouts. It’s never easy to say any one site is “the best” at anything, but Sportsbetting.ag is undoubtedly one of the best “do it all” gambling sites you’ll find.
Started in 2003, Sportsbetting.ag also has a strong history behind it. Longevity combined with elite versatility continue to make this one of the best destinations for all online gaming.
5Dimes
April Grade: A May Grade: A
I probably should have added 5Dimes to this a long time ago, as it’s no secret that this is one of the sports betting staples online. Few sites can match 5Dimes when it comes to their plethora of betting opportunities, while time and time again, this is one of the better sites based simply on competitive odds for bettors.
As if versatile and competitive sports betting wasn’t reason enough to suck you in, 5Dimes is also known for elite customer service and reliable, speedy payouts.
While largely known for their niche in the sports betting part of the online gambling world, 5Dimes ups the ante by also offering bingo, poker, casino games, and live dealer games.
Volume is always impressive, but 5Dimes manages to meet volume with efficiency and substance. You can bet on virtually anything at 5Dimes, and there’s a good chance nobody else is going to beat their price.
“Over 1,000 Wagering Options – Every Day!”
Nitrogen
April Grade: A+ May Grade: A
Nitrogen may very well be the most underrated sportsbook on the web. Die-hard sports bettors won’t find many better sports to wager cash on big games, as Nitrogen has an eclectic array of betting options and has a very wide reach in terms of which events, specials, and props they can offer.
On top of their impressive betting options, Nitrogen is known for quick, reliable payouts. Their customer service also garners rave reviews, while this sportsbook tops it all off with an on-site chat forum and extra gambling opportunities via online poker and their casino.
“The Future of Betting”
MyBookie
April Grade: B+ May Grade: B+
Equipped with a nice $1,000 sign-up bonus and a litany of promotions, MyBookie is without a doubt one of the better online gambling destinations.
Inconsistency can be maddening with MyBookie, which continues to be very competitive in promos, odds, and actual wagers offered
They can go back and forth on payout speeds, but from what I can tell, May was a very good month
Bitcoin is working well here (one user reported an 11-hour wait)
Another user reported a three-day wait, which I can only hope was referencing another payout method
Either way, you know going in that MyBookie offers a great product and does eventually pay. Their speeds are trending in the right direction and were better this month, but even if they’re a little slow, you should be fine.
While MyBookie.ag is loaded with bonuses and promo offers, they also are highly versatile with their betting, and they cast a wide net.
MyBookie is one of the very best spots for sports betting, as they have a laundry list of prop bets and futures, while also covering daily sports events. In addition, MyBookie covers all the bases by also offering a horse racing book and an underrated live casino.
GTbets
April Grade: B+ May Grade: B
GTbets is among the handful of sites we’ve really only been covering for about half a year now, but they’ve passed the eye test with flying colors to this point.
After some solid feedback for GTbets in April, more users stepped up in May to report solid payout speeds
One user had a big $5,000 payout that took roughly a week (no clear payout method). They processed three payments during May and got a second return of $5k in around the same waiting period
Bitcoin is the top option here as well, and you can brace for a 24-48 hour turnaround.
BTC hovered around 24 hours last month, and there are no signs that it’s been taking the longer end of the spectrum in May
Bank wires are also popular here and tend to take the standard 5-7 days
Payout speeds here aren’t amazing, but GTbets does a solid job and offers a wide array of betting opportunities
This is another fairly young site that arrived in 2011, but it has gotten the job done with solid bonuses, promotions, and a nice variety of payment methods.
GTbets is best known as a fantastic sportsbook, but they are another site that is also known for their awesome casino games. This site does take a step back due to lame withdrawal fees, but it’s otherwise been one of the better-performing gambling sites and also offers some very competitive lines when it comes to sports betting.
Ignition Casino
April Grade: B May Grade: B-
We have a few young gambling sites on this list, but Ignition Casino is easily the one that’s been around for the smallest amount of time. Don’t automatically assume it’s a site that isn’t impressive or one you can’t trust, however, as IC has actually quickly risen to prominence in the industry.
Ignition is in danger of being pulled from our monthly list, just because there is infrequent reliable information on their payout speeds
This site aligns with Bovada, and from what we’ve seen, the reliability is similar. You can usually expect to wait about 24-48 hours for BTC, and checks can take over a week
Check speeds are in decline for May, but Bitcoin has remained at least competitive compared to the rest of the industry
This still is a solid casino, but the lack of feedback has me finding it difficult to trust their quoted speeds
There is no denying that this is a young gambling site that needs to prove itself, but thus far, the feedback has been mostly positive. IC bears a resemblance to Bovada, while also providing users with everything a casino site should, from online poker tables to slots and more.
Ignition Casino has only been around since 2016, but this site proves itself worthy of your money with each passing month.
Topbet
April Grade: C- May Grade: D+
Topbet has been accused of some sketchiness in the past, but all we can speak for is the site we’ve been tracking over the last several months. From what we can tell, Topbet has built itself up into a strong sportsbook since its arrival in 2011.
This could very well be Topbet’s last stay on our monthly gambling payout report. They always offer a great selection of prop bets and competitive odds, but their payout speeds remain bad through May
They’ve had some long-standing issues with payouts and have earned low grades across the industry
No precise method necessarily works better than the rest, so just know that while Topbet has always been fairly open about their slow process, getting paid will take some time
There are still some users complaining about payouts they tried getting months ago
eu is a great place to wager, but it really isn’t the best place right now to collect on winning wagers
If things don’t turn around quickly early on in the summer, we may have to drop them from this list
The unique prop bets probably separate TB from the rest of the pack, but this site also doubles as an online casino. The versatility is only propped up by the site’s awesome promotions and ability to issue payouts in a timely manner.
Topbet checks off all of the boxes for us and projects as one of the better overall gambling sites on this list.
That does it for a look back at the month of May. The forums and top gambling review sites were a lot quieter than usual, so if you’ve had personal experiences or payout speeds you want to report, feel free to reply in the comments how things went for you with any of these sites in May.
From what I can tell, the top sites kept crushing it, and there are a few sites that could either enhance their withdrawal method versatility or simply push money out faster.
I’ll touch base again after June and see if we need to alter this list to make sure we’re going over the very best online gambling sites the industry has to offer each month.
Until next time, happy betting!
The post Gambling Industry Payout Report for May 2018 appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
Downtown Cares hosts eighth annual event
Casino City Times
Downtown Cares hosts eighth annual event
Downtown Cares, a day of volunteerism founded in 2012 by Moonridge Group and El Cortez Hotel & Casino, will host its eighth community event on Saturday, 2 June 2018 at Veterans Village.
