Tuesday Morning Scoop: Place Your Bets!
Welcome to the Morning Scoop for May 15, 2018. We’re talking legalized sports betting, Melania’s surgery, and Mike Pence’s political maneuvering. And Facebook is banning apps left and right.
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Supreme Court Decision Opens Door for Legalized Sports Betting
The Supreme Court overturned a 1992 federal law that banned commercial sports betting yesterday, legalizing what is estimated to be $150 billion in illegal profits Americans make each year. The decision to legalize sports betting now lies with individual states and several have legislation pending that could swiftly approve the practice.
The decision, Murphy vs NCAA, will likely bring changes to America’s relationship with sports betting. Participants will no longer have to resort to the black market or illicit bookies, they will now be able to place bets right on their mobile devices.
In previous years, the “gamblization” of sports — fans focusing more on gambling than the teams themselves — was the main concern, but supporters believe that the ruling will be profitable for states and reduce organized crime, without endangering the integrity of sports.
ESPN ranked the chances for each state to legalize sports betting. Go here to see how close your state is to taking bets.
First Lady Melania Trump Hospitalized Following Kidney Surgery
The White House announced Monday that first lady Melania Trump has been hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center following a surgical procedure to treat a kidney condition.
In a press release issued by the first lady’s communications director, the first lady’s “embolization procedure” went smoothly without any complications.
Rachel Chan has more details in her report.
Pence Gathering Supporters in White House
It was revealed Monday that Vice President Mike Pence and his political advisors have formed their own private political unit within the White House, causing anger among some of President Trump’s supporters.
The New York Times reports, “Republican officials now see Mr. Pence as seeking to exercise expansive control over a political party ostensibly helmed by Mr. Trump, tending to his own allies and interests even when the president’s instincts lean in another direction. Even as he laces his public remarks with praise for the president, Mr. Pence and his influential chief of staff, Nick Ayers, are unsettling a group of Mr. Trump’s fierce loyalists who fear they are forging a separate power base.”
Despite this development, most observers feel Trump and Pence remain on good terms, with the president happy to receive Pence’s political guidance.
Today in a Tweet: National Chocolate Chip Day
Yes, it’s #NationalChocolateChip day, feel free to add to cookies. He sure did.
Last But Not Least: Drake and Migos on Tour
Drake announced his North American tour with Migos yesterday, and fans are getting their credit cards ready in anticipation.
The Aubrey and the Three Amigos Tour will begin on July 26 in Salt Lake City, after the release of Drake’s new album Scorpion.
See all the tour dates on Gigi Foster’s report.
This Tuesday Morning Scoop was compiled with contributions from Natalia Kolenko, Gigi Foster,
