Online Gaming Laws In India & Celebrity Sponsorship

NEW INFO 5 Results from share redemption are posted. Less than .2% redeemed. Very bullish as investors are showing extreme confidence in the future of PLBY.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/playboy-mountain-crest-acquisition-corp-120000721.html
NEW INFO 4 Definitive Agreement to purchase 100% of Lovers brand stores announced 2/1.
https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Playboy+%28MCAC%29+Confirms+Deal+to+Acquire+Lovers/17892359.html
NEW INFO 3 I bought more on the dip today. 5081 total. Price rose AH to $12.38 (2.15%)
NEW INFO 2 Here is the full webinar.
https://icrinc.zoom.us/rec/play/9GWKdmOYumjWfZuufW3QXpe_FW_g--qeNbg6PnTjTMbnNTgLmCbWjeRFpQga1iPc-elpGap8dnDv8Zww.yD7DjUwuPmapeEdP?continueMode=true&tk=lEYc4F_FkKlgsmCIs6w0gtGHT2kbgVGbUju3cIRBSjk.DQIAAAAV8NK49xZWdldRM2xNSFNQcTBmcE00UzM3bXh3AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA&uuid=WN_GKWqbHkeSyuWetJmLFkj4g&_x_zm_rtaid=kR45-uuqRE-L65AxLjpbQw.1611967079119.2c054e3d3f8d8e63339273d9175939ed&_x_zm_rhtaid=866
NEW INFO 1 Live merger webinar with PLBY and MCAC on Friday January 29, 2021 at 12:00 NOON EST link below
https://mcacquisition.com/investor-relations/press-release-details/2021/Playboy-Enterprises-Inc.-and-Mountain-Crest-Acquisition-Corp-Participate-in-SPACInsider-ICR-Webinar-on-January-29th-at-12pm-ET/default.aspx
Playboy going public: Porn, Gambling, and Cannabis
!!!WARNING READING AHEAD!!! TL;DR at the end. It will take some time to sort through all the links and read/watch everything, but you should.
In the next couple weeks, Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp is taking Playboy public. The existing ticker MCAC will become PLBY. Special purpose acquisition companies have taken private companies public in recent months with great success. I believe this will be no exception. Notably, Playboy is profitable and has skyrocketing revenue going into a transformational growth phase.
Porn - First and foremost, let's talk about porn. I know what you guys are thinking. “Porno mags are dead. Why would I want to invest in something like that? I can get porn for free online.” Guess what? You are absolutely right. And that’s exactly why Playboy doesn’t do that anymore. That’s right, they eliminated their print division. And yet they somehow STILL make money from porn that people (see: boomers) pay for on their website through PlayboyTV, Playboy Plus, and iPlayboy. Here’s the thing: Playboy has international, multi-generational name recognition from porn. They have content available in 180 countries. It will be the only publicly traded adult entertainment (porn) company. But that is not where this company is going. It will help support them along the way. You can see every Playboy magazine through iPlayboy if you’re interested. NSFW links below:
https://www.playboy.com/
https://www.playboytv.com/
https://www.playboyplus.com/
https://www.iplayboy.com/
Gambling - Some of you might recognize the Playboy brand from gambling trips to places like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Cancun, London or Macau. They’ve been in the gambling biz for decades through their casinos, clubs, and licensed gaming products. They see the writing on the wall. COVID is accelerating the transition to digital, application based GAMBLING. That’s right. What we are doing on Robinhood with risky options is gambling, and the only reason regulators might give a shit anymore is because we are making too much money. There may be some restrictions put in place, but gambling from your phone on your couch is not going anywhere. More and more states are allowing things like Draftkings, poker, state ‘lottery” apps, hell - even political betting. Michigan and Virginia just ok’d gambling apps. They won’t be the last. This is all from your couch and any 18 year old with a cracked iphone can access it. Wouldn’t it be cool if Playboy was going to do something like that? They’re already working on it. As per CEO Ben Kohn who we will get to later, “...the company’s casino-style digital gaming products with Scientific Games and Microgaming continue to see significant global growth.” Honestly, I stopped researching Scientific Games' sports betting segment when I saw the word ‘omni-channel’. That told me all I needed to know about it’s success.
“Our SG Sports™ platform is an enhanced, omni-channel solution for online, self-service and retail fixed odds sports betting – from soccer to tennis, basketball, football, baseball, hockey, motor sports, racing and more.”
https://www.scientificgames.com/
https://www.microgaming.co.uk/
“This latter segment has become increasingly enticing for Playboy, and it said last week that it is considering new tie-ups that could include gaming operators like PointsBet and 888Holdings.”
https://calvinayre.com/2020/10/05/business/playboys-gaming-ops-could-get-a-boost-from-spac-purchase/
As per their SEC filing:
“Significant consumer engagement and spend with Playboy-branded gaming properties around the world, including with leading partners such as Microgaming, Scientific Games, and Caesar’s Entertainment, steers our investment in digital gaming, sports betting and other digital offerings to further support our commercial strategy to expand consumer spend with minimal marginal cost, and gain consumer data to inform go-to-market plans across categories.”
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921005986/tm2034213-12_defm14a.htm#tMDAA1
They are expanding into more areas of gaming/gambling, working with international players in the digital gaming/gambling arena, and a Playboy sportsbook is on the horizon.
https://www.playboy.com/read/the-pleasure-of-playing-with-yourself-mobile-gaming-in-the-covid-era
Cannabis - If you’ve ever read through a Playboy magazine, you know they’ve had a positive relationship with cannabis for many years. As of September 2020, Playboy has made a major shift into the cannabis space. Too good to be true you say? Check their website. Playboy currently sells a range of CBD products. This is a good sign. Federal hemp products, which these most likely are, can be mailed across state lines and most importantly for a company like Playboy, can operate through a traditional banking institution. CBD products are usually the first step towards the cannabis space for large companies. Playboy didn’t make these products themselves meaning they are working with a processor in the cannabis industry. Another good sign for future expansion. What else do they have for sale? Pipes, grinders, ashtrays, rolling trays, joint holders. Hmm. Ok. So it looks like they want to sell some shit. They probably don’t have an active interest in cannabis right? Think again:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2020/09/24/playboy-gets-serious-about-cannabis-law-reform-advocacy-with-new-partnership-grants/?sh=62f044a65cea
“Taking yet another step into the cannabis space, Playboy will be announcing later on Thursday (September, 2020) that it is launching a cannabis law reform and advocacy campaign in partnership with National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Last Prisoner Project, Marijuana Policy Project, the Veterans Cannabis Project, and the Eaze Momentum Program.”
“According to information procured exclusively, the three-pronged campaign will focus on calling for federal legalization. The program also includes the creation of a mentorship plan, through which the Playboy Foundation will support entrepreneurs from groups that are underrepresented in the industry.” Remember that CEO Kohn from earlier? He wrote this recently:
https://medium.com/naked-open-letters-from-playboy/congress-must-pass-the-more-act-c867c35239ae
Seems like he really wants weed to be legal? Hmm wonder why? The writing's on the wall my friends. Playboy wants into the cannabis industry, they are making steps towards this end, and we have favorable conditions for legislative progress.
Don’t think branding your own cannabis line is profitable or worthwhile? Tell me why these 41 celebrity millionaires and billionaires are dummies. I’ll wait.
https://www.celebstoner.com/news/celebstoner-news/2019/07/12/top-celebrity-cannabis-brands/
Confirmation: I hear you. “This all seems pretty speculative. It would be wildly profitable if they pull this shift off. But how do we really know?” Watch this whole video:
https://finance.yahoo.com/video/playboy-ceo-telling-story-female-154907068.html
Man - this interview just gets my juices flowing. And highlights one of my favorite reasons for this play. They have so many different business avenues from which a catalyst could appear. I think paying attention, holding shares, and options on these staggered announcements over the next year is the way I am going to go about it. "There's definitely been a shift to direct-to-consumer," he (Kohn) said. "About 50 percent of our revenue today is direct-to-consumer, and that will continue to grow going forward.” “Kohn touted Playboy's portfolio of both digital and consumer products, with casino-style gaming, in particular, serving a crucial role under the company's new business model. Playboy also has its sights on the emerging cannabis market, from CBD products to marijuana products geared toward sexual health and pleasure.” "If THC does become legal in the United States, we have developed certain strains to enhance your sex life that we will launch," Kohn said. https://cheddar.com/media/playboy-goes-public-health-gaming-lifestyle-focus Oh? The CEO actually said it? Ok then. “We have developed certain strains…” They’re already working with growers on strains and genetics? Ok. There are several legal cannabis markets for those products right now, international and stateside. I expect Playboy licensed hemp and THC pre-rolls by EOY. Something like this: https://www.etsy.com/listing/842996758/10-playboy-pre-roll-tubes-limited?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pre+roll+playboy&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&organic_search_click=1 Maintaining cannabis operations can be costly and a regulatory headache. Playboy’s licensing strategy allows them to pick successful, established partners and sidestep traditional barriers to entry. You know what I like about these new markets? They’re expanding. Worldwide. And they are going to be a bigger deal than they already are with or without Playboy. Who thinks weed and gambling are going away? Too many people like that stuff. These are easy markets. And Playboy is early enough to carve out their spot in each. Fuck it, read this too: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimosman/2020/10/20/playboy-could-be-the-king-of-spacs-here-are-three-picks/?sh=2e13dcaa3e05
Numbers: You want numbers? I got numbers. As per the company’s most recent SEC filing:
“For the year ended December 31, 2019, and the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s historical consolidated revenue was $78.1 million and $101.3 million, respectively, historical consolidated net income (loss) was $(23.6) million and $(4.8) million, respectively, and Adjusted EBITDA was $13.1 million and $21.8 million, respectively.”
“In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s Licensing segment contributed $44.2 million in revenue and $31.1 million in net income.”
“In the ninth months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s Direct-to-Consumer segment contributed $40.2 million in revenue and net income of $0.1 million.”
“In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Playboy’s Digital Subscriptions and Content segment contributed $15.4 million in revenue and net income of $7.4 million.”
They are profitable across all three of their current business segments.
“Playboy’s return to the public markets presents a transformed, streamlined and high-growth business. The Company has over $400 million in cash flows contracted through 2029, sexual wellness products available for sale online and in over 10,000 major retail stores in the US, and a growing variety of clothing and branded lifestyle and digital gaming products.”
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921005986/tm2034213-12_defm14a.htm#tSHCF
Growth: Playboy has massive growth in China and massive growth potential in India. “In China, where Playboy has spent more than 25 years building its business, our licensees have an enormous footprint of nearly 2,500 brick and mortar stores and 1,000 ecommerce stores selling high quality, Playboy-branded men’s casual wear, shoes/footwear, sleepwear, swimwear, formal suits, leather & non-leather goods, sweaters, active wear, and accessories. We have achieved significant growth in China licensing revenues over the past several years in partnership with strong licensees and high-quality manufacturers, and we are planning for increased growth through updates to our men’s fashion lines and expansion into adjacent categories in men’s skincare and grooming, sexual wellness, and women’s fashion, a category where recent launches have been well received.” The men’s market in China is about the same size as the entire population of the United States and European Union combined. Playboy is a leading brand in this market. They are expanding into the women’s market too. Did you know CBD toothpaste is huge in China? China loves CBD products and has hemp fields that dwarf those in the US. If Playboy expands their CBD line China it will be huge. Did you know the gambling money in Macau absolutely puts Las Vegas to shame? Technically, it's illegal on the mainland, but in reality, there is a lot of gambling going on in China. https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2020/10/19/magic-johnson-and-uncle-buds-cbd-brand-enter-china-via-tmall-partnership/?sh=271776ca411e “In India, Playboy today has a presence through select apparel licensees and hospitality establishments. Consumer research suggests significant growth opportunities in the territory with Playboy’s brand and categories of focus.” “Playboy Enterprises has announced the expansion of its global consumer products business into India as part of a partnership with Jay Jay Iconic Brands, a leading fashion and lifestyle Company in India.” “The Indian market today is dominated by consumers under the age of 35, who represent more than 65 percent of the country’s total population and are driving India’s significant online shopping growth. The Playboy brand’s core values of playfulness and exploration resonate strongly with the expressed desires of today’s younger millennial consumers. For us, Playboy was the perfect fit.” “The Playboy international portfolio has been flourishing for more than 25 years in several South Asian markets such as China and Japan. In particular, it has strategically targeted the millennial and gen-Z audiences across categories such as apparel, footwear, home textiles, eyewear and watches.” https://www.licenseglobal.com/industry-news/playboy-expands-global-footprint-india It looks like they gave COVID the heisman in terms of net damage sustained: “Although Playboy has not suffered any material adverse consequences to date from the COVID-19 pandemic, the business has been impacted both negatively and positively. The remote working and stay-at-home orders resulted in the closure of the London Playboy Club and retail stores of Playboy’s licensees, decreasing licensing revenues in the second quarter, as well as causing supply chain disruption and less efficient product development thereby slowing the launch of new products. However, these negative impacts were offset by an increase in Yandy’s direct-to-consumer sales, which have benefited in part from overall increases in online retail sales so far during the pandemic.” Looks like the positives are long term (Yandy acquisition) and the negatives are temporary (stay-at-home orders).
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921006093/tm213766-1_defa14a.htm
This speaks to their ability to maintain a financially solvent company throughout the transition phase to the aforementioned areas. They’d say some fancy shit like “expanded business model to encompass four key revenue streams: Sexual Wellness, Style & Apparel, Gaming & Lifestyle, and Beauty & Grooming.” I hear “we’re just biding our time with these trinkets until those dollar dollar bill y’all markets are fully up and running.” But the truth is these existing revenue streams are profitable, scalable, and rapidly expanding Playboy’s e-commerce segment around the world.
"Even in the face of COVID this year, we've been able to grow EBITDA over 100 percent and revenue over 68 percent, and I expect that to accelerate going into 2021," he said. “Playboy is accelerating its growth in company-owned and branded consumer products in attractive and expanding markets in which it has a proven history of brand affinity and consumer spend.”
Also in the SEC filing, the Time Frame:
“As we detailed in the definitive proxy statement, the SPAC stockholder meeting to vote on the transaction has been set for February 9th, and, subject to stockholder approval and satisfaction of the other closing conditions, we expect to complete the merger and begin trading on NASDAQ under ticker PLBY shortly thereafter,” concluded Kohn.
The Players: Suhail “The Whale” Rizvi (HMFIC), Ben “The Bridge” Kohn (CEO), “lil” Suying Liu & “Big” Dong Liu (Young-gun China gang). I encourage you to look these folks up. The real OG here is Suhail Rizvi. He’s from India originally and Chairman of the Board for the new PLBY company. He was an early investor in Twitter, Square, Facebook and others. His firm, Rizvi Traverse, currently invests in Instacart, Pinterest, Snapchat, Playboy, and SpaceX. Maybe you’ve heard of them. “Rizvi, who owns a sprawling three-home compound in Greenwich, Connecticut, and a 1.65-acre estate in Palm Beach, Florida, near Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg, moved to Iowa Falls when he was five. His father was a professor of psychology at Iowa. Along with his older brother Ashraf, a hedge fund manager, Rizvi graduated from Wharton business school.” “Suhail Rizvi: the 47-year-old 'unsocial' social media baron: When Twitter goes public in the coming weeks (2013), one of the biggest winners will be a 47-year-old financier who guards his secrecy so zealously that he employs a person to take down his Wikipedia entry and scrub his photos from the internet. In IPO, Twitter seeks to be 'anti-FB'” “Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia looks like a big Twitter winner. So do the moneyed clients of Jamie Dimon. But as you’ve-got-to-be-joking wealth washed over Twitter on Thursday — a company that didn’t exist eight years ago was worth $31.7 billion after its first day on the stock market — the non-boldface name of the moment is Suhail R. Rizvi. Mr. Rizvi, 47, runs a private investment company that is the largest outside investor in Twitter with a 15.6 percent stake worth $3.8 billion at the end of trading on Thursday (November, 2013). Using a web of connections in the tech industry and in finance, as well as a hearty dose of good timing, he brought many prominent names in at the ground floor, including the Saudi prince and some of JPMorgan’s wealthiest clients.” https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/technology/at-twitter-working-behind-the-scenes-toward-a-billion-dollar-payday.html Y’all like that Arab money? How about a dude that can call up Saudi Princes and convince them to spend? Funniest shit about I read about him: “Rizvi was able to buy only $100 million in Facebook shortly before its IPO, thus limiting his returns, according to people with knowledge of the matter.” Poor guy :(
He should be fine with the 16 million PLBY shares he's going to have though :)
Shuhail also has experience in the entertainment industry. He’s invested in companies like SESAC, ICM, and Summit Entertainment. He’s got Hollywood connections to blast this stuff post-merger. And he’s at least partially responsible for that whole Twilight thing. I’m team Edward btw.
I really like what Suhail has done so far. He’s lurked in the shadows while Kohn is consolidating the company, trimming the fat, making Playboy profitable, and aiming the ship at modern growing markets.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-twitter-ipo-rizvi-insight/insight-little-known-hollywood-investor-poised-to-score-with-twitter-ipo-idUSBRE9920VW20131003
Ben “The Bridge” Kohn is an interesting guy. He’s the connection between Rizvi Traverse and Playboy. He’s both CEO of Playboy and was previously Managing Partner at Rizvi Traverse. Ben seems to be the voice of the Playboy-Rizvi partnership, which makes sense with Suhail’s privacy concerns. Kohn said this:
“Today is a very big day for all of us at Playboy and for all our partners globally. I stepped into the CEO role at Playboy in 2017 because I saw the biggest opportunity of my career. Playboy is a brand and platform that could not be replicated today. It has massive global reach, with more than $3B of global consumer spend and products sold in over 180 countries. Our mission – to create a culture where all people can pursue pleasure – is rooted in our 67-year history and creates a clear focus for our business and role we play in people’s lives, providing them with the products, services and experiences that create a lifestyle of pleasure. We are taking this step into the public markets because the committed capital will enable us to accelerate our product development and go-to-market strategies and to more rapidly build our direct to consumer capabilities,” said Ben Kohn, CEO of Playboy.
“Playboy today is a highly profitable commerce business with a total addressable market projected in the trillions of dollars,” Mr. Kohn continued, “We are actively selling into the Sexual Wellness consumer category, projected to be approximately $400 billion in size by 2024, where our recently launched intimacy products have rolled out to more than 10,000 stores at major US retailers in the United States. Combined with our owned & operated ecommerce Sexual Wellness initiatives, the category will contribute more than 40% of our revenue this year. In our Apparel and Beauty categories, our collaborations with high-end fashion brands including Missguided and PacSun are projected to achieve over $50M in retail sales across the US and UK this year, our leading men’s apparel lines in China expanded to nearly 2500 brick and mortar stores and almost 1000 digital stores, and our new men’s and women’s fragrance line recently launched in Europe. In Gaming, our casino-style digital gaming products with Scientific Games and Microgaming continue to see significant global growth. Our product strategy is informed by years of consumer data as we actively expand from a purely licensing model into owning and operating key high-growth product lines focused on driving profitability and consumer lifetime value. We are thrilled about the future of Playboy. Our foundation has been set to drive further growth and margin, and with the committed capital from this transaction and our more than $180M in NOLs, we will take advantage of the opportunity in front of us, building to our goal of $100M of adjusted EBITDA in 2025.”
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201001005404/en/Playboy-to-Become-a-Public-Company
Also, according to their Form 4s, “Big” Dong Liu and “lil” Suying Liu just loaded up with shares last week. These guys are brothers and seem like the Chinese market connection. They are only 32 & 35 years old. I don’t even know what that means, but it's provocative.
https://www.secform4.com/insider-trading/1832415.htm
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mountain-crest-acquisition-corp-ii-002600994.html
Y’all like that China money?
“Mr. Liu has been the Chief Financial Officer of Dongguan Zhishang Photoelectric Technology Co., Ltd., a regional designer, manufacturer and distributor of LED lights serving commercial customers throughout Southern China since November 2016, at which time he led a syndicate of investments into the firm. Mr. Liu has since overseen the financials of Dongguan Zhishang as well as provided strategic guidance to its board of directors, advising on operational efficiency and cash flow performance. From March 2010 to October 2016, Mr. Liu was the Head of Finance at Feidiao Electrical Group Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese manufacturer of electrical outlets headquartered in Shanghai and with businesses in the greater China region as well as Europe.”
Dr. Suying Liu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp., commented, “Playboy is a unique and compelling investment opportunity, with one of the world’s largest and most recognized brands, its proven consumer affinity and spend, and its enormous future growth potential in its four product segments and new and existing geographic regions. I am thrilled to be partnering with Ben and his exceptional team to bring his vision to fruition.”
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201001005404/en/Playboy-to-Become-a-Public-Company
These guys are good. They have a proven track record of success across multiple industries. Connections and money run deep with all of these guys. I don’t think they’re in the game to lose.
I was going to write a couple more paragraphs about why you should have a look at this but really the best thing you can do is read this SEC filing from a couple days ago. It explains the situation in far better detail. Specifically, look to page 137 and read through their strategy. Also, look at their ownership percentages and compensation plans including the stock options and their prices. The financials look great, revenue is up 90% Q3, and it looks like a bright future.
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgadata/1803914/000110465921005986/tm2034213-12_defm14a.htm#tSHCF
I’m hesitant to attach this because his position seems short term, but I’m going to with a warning because he does hit on some good points (two are below his link) and he’s got a sizable position in this thing (500k+ on margin, I think). I don’t know this guy but he did look at the same publicly available info and make roughly the same prediction, albeit without the in depth gambling or cannabis mention. You can also search reddit for ‘MCAC’ and very few relevant results come up and none of them even come close to really looking at this thing.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gOvAd6lebs452hFlWWbxVjQ3VMsjGBkbJeXRwDwIJfM/edit?usp=sharing
“Also, before you people start making claims that Playboy is a “boomer” company, STOP RIGHT THERE. This is not a good argument. Simply put. The only thing that matters is Playboy’s name recognition, not their archaic business model which doesn’t even exist anymore as they have completely repurposed their business.”
“Imagine not buying $MCAC at a 400M valuation lol. Streetwear department is worth 1B alone imo.”
Considering the ridiculous Chinese growth as a lifestyle brand, he’s not wrong.
Current Cultural Significance and Meme Value: A year ago I wouldn’t have included this section but the events from the last several weeks (even going back to tsla) have proven that a company’s ability to meme and/or gain social network popularity can have an effect. Tik-tok, Snapchat, Twitch, Reddit, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter. They all have Playboy stuff on them. Kids in middle and highschool know what Playboy is but will likely never see or touch one of the magazines in person. They’ll have a Playboy hoodie though. Crazy huh? A lot like GME, PLBY would hugely benefit from meme-value stock interest to drive engagement towards their new business model while also building strategic coffers. This interest may not directly and/or significantly move the stock price but can generate significant interest from larger players who will.
Bull Case: The year is 2025. Playboy is now the world leader pleasure brand. They began by offering Playboy licensed gaming products, including gambling products, direct to consumers through existing names. By 2022, demand has skyrocketed and Playboy has designed and released their own gambling platforms. In 2025, they are also a leading cannabis brand in the United States and Canada with proprietary strains and products geared towards sexual wellness. Cannabis was legalized in the US in 2023 when President Biden got glaucoma but had success with cannabis treatment. He personally pushes for cannabis legalization as he steps out of office after his first term. Playboy has also grown their brand in China and India to multi-billion per year markets. The stock goes up from 11ish to 100ish and everyone makes big gains buying somewhere along the way.
Bear Case: The United States does a complete 180 on marijuana and gambling. President Biden overdoses on marijuana in the Lincoln bedroom when his FDs go tits up and he loses a ton of money in his sports book app after the Fighting Blue Hens narrowly lose the National Championship to Bama. Playboy is unable to expand their cannabis and gambling brands but still does well with their worldwide lifestyle brand. They gain and lose some interest in China and India but the markets are too large to ignore them completely. The stock goes up from 11ish to 13ish and everyone makes 15-20% gains.
TL;DR: Successful technology/e-commerce investment firm took over Playboy to turn it into a porn, online gambling/gaming, sports book, cannabis company, worldwide lifestyle brand that promotes sexual wellness, vetern access, women-ownership, minority-ownership, and “pleasure for all”. Does a successful online team reinventing an antiquated physical copy giant sound familiar? No options yet, shares only for now. $11.38 per share at time of writing. My guess? $20 by the end of February. $50 by EOY. This is not financial advice. I am not qualified to give financial advice. I’m just sayin’ I would personally use a Playboy sports book app while smoking a Playboy strain specific joint and it would be cool if they did that. Do your own research. You’d probably want to start here:
WARNING - POTENTIALLY NSFW - SEXY MODELS AHEAD - no actual nudity though
https://s26.q4cdn.com/895475556/files/doc_presentations/Playboy-Craig-Hallum-Conference-Investor-Presentation-11_17_20-compressed.pdf
Or here:
https://www.mcacquisition.com/investor-relations/default.aspx
Jimmy Chill: “Get into any SPAC at $10 or $11 and you are going to make money.”
STL;DR: Buy MCAC. MCAC > PLBY couple weeks. Rocketship. Moon.
Position: 5000 shares. I will buy short, medium, and long-dated calls once available.

TWIG #43 [ Indian Retailers undergo PS5 Training, Fanless CPU Cooler, CP77 third person mod, also runs on integrated GPU, Christopher Nolan interested in making video games and more...]

Am I Boycotting Games For The Wrong Reasons?

I found this manifestation success story and wanted to share it

Not very long along, a friend of mine from school, Tanaya Amar, introduced me to the teachings of Neville Goddard, specifically the idea of everyone is you pushed out (EIYPO from here on) as a part of what she herself was a practitioner in. Now, I had earlier tried the scripting method, the whole idea of positive thinking and the like, but I was not successful in the same. When she told me to look into the precious ABUNDANCE we find around ourselves, I had my doubts because I hadn’t known anyone in my proximity who believed in the Law of Attraction, etc. I must remind you that I had a middle class upbringing in India, grew up with a fear- based mindset regarding money, relationships, work and everything you can think of. In addition to this, a lot of my family’s choices and way of life depended on religious inclinations. So, every single act from my end was subconsciously accompanied by doubt, an enormous amount of social conditioning and a stark notion about good and bad. I do believe in God, let me just clarify. Moreover, my belief in the Almighty helped me to achieve everything I wished for by using the manifestation techniques.
Note the words I highlight in this write- up because those have been instrumental in this journey. Miss Amar, in our initial conversations about EIYPO spoke about watching the vocabulary that we use in our daily lives, and this is significant if you are trying to manifest your desires, even the toughest ones.
I have been able to manifest a lot in the past month, shifted my reality, turned the impossible to possible in a few seconds time. Consider these — BETTER HAIR, DESIRED BODY TYPE, EYE COLOR, HEIGHT, SUPPORT FROM FAMILY, CAREER, MONEY, LOVE, PROFITS, FOOD, TRAVEL, SAFETY and TIME when I speak of manifesting EVERYTHING I CAN THINK OF.
Caution: Mute the people who speak the opposite of what you believe in. Do not be superstitious or limit your beliefs. Take a deep breath when you find negative thoughts accumulating, do not panic. Let go.

MANIFESTING A SPECIFIC PERSON (SP) AND GETTING DESIRED BEHAVIOR

I had been seeing this guy for quite some time and developed strong feelings for him in a short period of time. When I first met him and during the first few dates, I noticed that he was self- obsessed, arrogant and argumentative. I had never heard of EIYPO so I had to bow down to what he said or argued because I am a peace loving person. I had cried my heart out when we fought and spent days praying for his change of behavior. The attention he got from women at his workplace and the gym bothered me so much that I had resorted to YouTube channel surfing on HOW TO GET THE MAN, etc., wasted time watching zodiac/ tarot channels/ horoscope predictions, read articles online about cracking the code to a man’s heart, so on and so forth. I must admit that in my early adulthood, I had the worst experiences with men from being cheated on to upsetting physical encounters in public spaces. I had harbored the belief that if I do not act like my SP wanted, I would lose him too. When Miss Amar introduced me to Goddard’s philosophy, the game changed and with effective results. I felt completely powerful, able and secure. Within a couple of weeks’ time, I made my SP express his love for me (I am very sure he would’ve never done that had I been my old self with doubts and limiting beliefs), made him utter the exact words on every meeting, take me out on multiple dates (breakfast, lunch, dinner), made him join a place of work (in my earlier reality, he was too egoistic to listen to a suggestion even), erased his arrogance and REMOVED THIRD PARTY.
THIS IS HOW I DID IT:
I realized I had been putting him up on a pedestal, not considering him as my EQUAL, A PARTNER OR A LOVER. In my reality, he was an attention- seeking, proud and an ostentatious player who could get any woman he wanted. To add to my woes, several people fueled the idea of his disinterest in me because I am ‘not the type he would date’. I shut them up in my alternate reality and in my current reality they changed their opinions too. How exactly?One day, I sat quietly in front of them while they spoke of how my SP is going to break my heart, hurt and cheat me. I was CALM throughout the conversations and didn’t think of them after they had gone. I reiterated the words, “THIS IS NOT MY REALITY.” That very evening, my SP took me out for dinner. The previous evening I had imagined that we were eating together and dreamed about it as well.
If you are interested in learning more, email me manifestgreat00@gmail .com (remove space)
Note: Pay attention to your dreams. If your dreams contain your desired reality, you are CLOSE TO MANIFESTATION. WAKE UP AND JUST REMIND YOURSELF THAT IT’S DONE. ALWAYS LIVE IN THE END, WHICH MEANS ACT LIKE YOU HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED IT AND FEEL THAT SATISFACTION OF AN ACCOMPLISHED DESIRE. Epiphanies ONLY HAPPEN you aren’t trying too hard.
I had a talk with Miss Amar about the people who had been ‘provoking’ me against my SP. Since her emphasis was on EIYPO, she explained that a version of an individual has everything to do with how we manifest that particular version of them. At some point, I must have manifested ENERGIES that were causative factors of disagreements or break-up like situations between my SP and me, she explained. Later that week, I manifested DESIRED versions of the same people who were NOW telling me how ‘good’ my SP is! Isn’t that wonderful?
Let’s come to my SP’s behavior now. I noticed how I treated and chased him, keeping a tab on his activities and noticing his phone calls. The rule is, IF YOU CHASE SOMETHING, IT WILL RUN AWAY FROM YOU. I had a doubt that he might have shifted his interest to another female, which made me stalk his Instagram profile like a maniac! It took some self- control to refrain from the checking. Whenever I found a new female on his following list, I panicked and my thoughts went all over the place, causing me anxiety and panic attacks in the middle of the night. I STOPPED CHECKING HIS INSTAGRAM FOLLOWING list. I told myself, “HE LIKES NOBODY. THERE IS NOBODY WHO CAN CATCH HIS ATTENTION LIKE I DO.” Some days later, he confessed, “I LIKE GIRLS LIKE YOU, AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY TYPE.” To add to my happiness, he even said, “I DON’T LIKE SPENDING TIME WITH MY OTHER FRIENDS AS MUCH AS I LIKE PASSING MY DAY WITH YOU.” I had even imagined him putting me as a priority. Much to my surprise, he visited me on Valentine’s Day and we had dinner, despite his ill health. In my earlier reality, he would have chosen SLEEP over a DATE WITH ME. Never again, I went back to thinking he is IGNORING ME, when my calls were unanswered.
Coming to parallel reality, I reiterate these words, “I AM THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL HE HAS EVER MET” before any meeting with him. This has led him to whisper sweet nothings in my ear every time we hug before we part for the day. One morning I manifested a version of him saying, “We will go for coffee someday.” That very evening, he said the exact words in a random conversation and I had to control my laughter for almost half an hour! Whenever I find him doing something that I might not approve of, I VISUALIZE the opposite, the desired version of him. I could CHANGE him from a SHOPAHOLIC person to a MINDFUL shopper in just two days of constant affirmations in my head!
I had the most terrible incidences of disagreements with him in the first couple of months. He had gone on to the extent of telling me, “I REALLY DON’T CARE IF WE PART WAYS.” I was hurt and extremely upset for the next couple of months. When I re- read about EIYPO, I came to the conclusion that subconsciously I had manifested him saying that we can’t work it out. Apart from the fact that we belong to a completely different school of thought (in my earlier reality), we also have different choices. I SHIFTED MY REALITY by SELF TALK before sleep. I focused on the words, “HE IS ME.”, “HE IS AS I AM.”Miraculously, his choices have now become similar to mine, including our favorite festivals, food, coffee type and travel venues!
I used to have a complaint about his reserved attitude in my presence. When we met for a few coffee dates, he told me his childhood stories and emphasized that HE HAD NEVER BEEN AN ATTENTION SEEKING MALE IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN. I believed him instead of going back to the assumptions I had earlier planted in my mind. A few days later, he told me how a girl had been troubling him and he had to block her due to her antics. I should point out that in our initial days of knowing each other, I had seen him speaking to a lot of women on various social media platforms. To see him BLOCK a female came as a first in my knowledge in THIS CURRENT REALITY THAT I HAD MANIFESTED.
SELF TALK has helped me a lot in achieving the desired version of my SP. thus, we now wear color co- ordinated clothes without informing each other (kind of unplanned twinning in the style department!), uttering the same words during moments of shock, joy, anger, etc., ordering the same food without prior prompting and waking up to a TYPING form of message as soon as our eyes open, first thing in the morning. I can assure it is because of the constant re- iteration that HE IS AS I AM.
This makes me come to the point of my failed relationships. Subconsciously, I had manifested versions of people I loved that were products of my self- doubts, self- pity, under confident personality and lack of self- love. I now understand that if I cannot feel confident in my own skin and the way I am, I cannot be the CREATOR OF MY OWN REALITY. My past was exactly the way I had manifested during that moment, focusing only on the negative aspects, thinking that I am NOT LOVED, NOT ENOUGH, NOT BEAUTIFUL, NOT WORTHY, etc. Since EIYPO, I emitted that energy on to my relationships, which is why they viewed me the way I was radiating a version I believed in firmly. I had drowned myself in the belief that no one would love me for the way I am.
SHIFTING REALITIES IN THE CASE OF YOUR SP is a lot easier when you IGNORE THE CIRCUMSTANCES. There was a heated argument between my SP and me where he said some real nasty stuffs, I had almost lost hope after that incident. Now that I believe in EIYPO, he admitted one day that HE DOES NOT REMEMBER ANY FIGHT WE EVER HAD!Mind you, he REMEMBERS EVERY SMALL DETAIL, just like I had manifested a trait in him. Magically though, he does not remember the fights! When I stopped focusing on the circumstances, I inferred that positive gives way to more positives because then YOU ARE NOT FOCUSING ON THE LACK, YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT IS ALREADY THERE. That in itself is a tremendous force to shift your current reality to a desired reality.
To conclude, I shall say that I am thankful to God for making my will power stronger. I had manifested a solution perhaps, about the problems between my SP and myself, which is why I could reach out to Miss Amar and some major alterations happened in the subsequent weeks.
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. YOU ONLY HAVE TO LET GO AND TRUST THE UNIVERSE. MANIFESTATION IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK. YOU CAN GET ANYONE YOU WANT, CHANGE THE WAY THEY VIEW YOU AND GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT.
If you are interested in learning more, email me manifestgreat00@gmail .com (remove space)

Keyes timeline and potential victims

I have been fascinated by the podcast True Crime Bullshit and am buzzing about the new series.There was a huge amount of information contained in seasons 1 &2 so I have put together a timeline of the missing persons cases considered to be potential victims, with a few basic notes, often with the assistance of Namus and obviously the TCBS episodes. Please let me know about any errors/omissions.
3 March 1996 - Julie Harris (Age 12, Colville, WA) Double amputee Julie went missing while walking to church, then her purse and prosthetic feet were found a month later along the banks of Coalville River. A few weeks later Julie's remains were located 3 miles SW of Colville. Keyes was 18 years old and living 20 miles away at the time...FBI local law enforcement do not think he is involved...Julie's stepdad is a strong suspect, Keyes did not yet have a driving license and may have been at church on the sunday morning. I think this case should be included in the timeline. S4E4.
KEYES MOVES TO OREGON
27 June 1997 - Marlene & Cassie Emerson - (Ages 29/12 - near Colville, WA) Trailer home 5 miles south of Colville was set on fire and Marlene was found in a burned out trailer and Cassie presumed kidknapped, then her decomposed body located a month later near old logging road 3 miles from the trailer. Keyes makes certain admissions to FBI regarding arson and recovered bodies which may fit the Emerson case circumstances. Keyes' ex-girlfriend states that he visited Colville around this time, Keyes admits to an unspecified arson in Colville. S4E4
Summer 1997 - unknown teenage female survivor of Keyes attack - Deschutes river, near Maupin, Oregon. (Covered in Season1Episode5 of True Crime BS)
AUTUMN 1997 - KEYES RESIDING IN CONSTABLE, NY.
15 October 1997 - Canadian Jamie s2E4 when Keyes moves to upstate NY.
2 March 1998 - Suzie Lyall (age 19 - Albany, New York) Suzie disappeared on the way home from her job at a local mall and was last seen at about 9.45pm alighting from a bus at Collins Circle in the centre of the SUNY-Albany uptown campus heading towards her dorm room (from Namus). Keyes was living in the area and Josh located a witness who had previously encountered Keyes in a Marshall’s car park (presumably stalking) less than 2 miles from where Suzie was last seen. Did Suzie meet Keyes on online gaming sites? S1E17
9 JULY 1998 - KEYES ENLISTS IN ARMY, ALBANY, NEW YORK (AGED 20)
Unidentified Turkish exchange student from Norway that Keyes met in Tel Aviv. This was when Keyes was in the Army. It was "not quite" a rape, but she "allowed him" to lose control. This causes him to realize his victims had to be complete strangers. S1E5 at about 35:30. Thanks to u/AndroidAnthem.
1999 - KEYES DEPLOYED TO EGYPT
Sex worker in Israel when was Keyes deployed. Ended up renting suite in hotel with army buddies. Owner sent up a prostitute and she went in room with Israel. Came running out 30 minutes later. Keyes kept preventing her from leaving and woman started screaming and kicking him. She eventually got free. He would not tell buddies what happened. S1E15 at about 15:15. nod of respect to u/AndroidAnthem.
9 March 2000 - Leah Roberts* (Age 23, Whatcom County, WA) Leah was on a solo cross country journey from North Carolina and her jeep was found abandoned down an embankment with no sign of Leah or her pet cat. A person of interest who had spoken to Leah at a diner moved to Canada according to Trace Evidence podcast. *did Keyes have leave from army at this time? EDIT: Josh on TCB Q&A appears to rule out Keyes because he was out of the country.
December 2000 or early 2001 ?? Unknown neighbour - Keyes’ girlfriend, Tammy, recalls death of a male neighbour in Neah Bay who went missing while on a hike. The body was located but death ruled accidental. Tammy told FBI that she did not see Keyes on day or night of neighbour’s disappearance. Name of the neighbour is redacted in FBI file. S1E6 & S4E5
JULY 2001 - KEYES MOVES TO NEAH BAY, WASHINGTON STATE, TO JOIN TAMMY AFTER LEAVING THE ARMY
OCTOBER 2001 - KEYES BECOMES A FATHER
21 November 2001 - Kami Luella Vollendroff & Eugene Hyatt (aged 16 & 18, Depoe Bay, Oregon) last seen at Boiler Bay State Park in Depoe Bay, Oregon. They went to look at tide pools but did not return. Authorities considered that they drowned due to a rogue wave (despite the low tide!) One of Eugene’s shoes was located near Boiler Bay Cove a few days later but that is the only trace of the young couple. Josh suspects that they are buried in a valley in WA state. S1E7.
S2E4 Canada
1 September 2002 - Celia Darlene Barnes (Age 57, Gold Hill, Oregon) disappeared on a hiking trip with her sister along the Right Fork Sardine Creek Road near the House Of Mystery. When Darlene’s sister returned to their vehicle she could not locate her sister. S1E9.
January 2003 to 2004 - Kristine Grace Rodrigo* - (Age 23, Oxnard, California) Namus states that Kristine indicated that she was flying to North or South Carolina to meet a man she met on the internet. Unknown exact date in 2003 or 2004. *Josh considers this case while investigating California Kristine/Christine/Kristen etc in Namus 44.
28 March 2004 - Giovanna Katie Tyler - Went missing from Tacoma, WA, and had family in Neah Bay, lived there 1000 feet from Keyes, was in Tribal police jail the same night as Keyes. S4E5. big shout out to u/jhooksandpucks
13 April 2004 - Tina Mae Cawston - (Age 36, Nespelem, WA) Namus states that "Tina was last seen on Gold Lake Road, four and a half miles north of Nespelem, WA." S4E8
16 August 2004 - Alice Ida Looney (Age 39, Toppenish, WA) Body found by a hunter wedged under a tree on a small island in Satus Creek, 12 miles southwest of Toppenish. No known whereabouts for Keyes at this time. S2E12.
31 August 2004 - Richard Meyers (Age 50, La Push, WA) Last seen in the morning when informing his wife that he was taking his boat out to go fishing.
31 October 2004 - Kimberly Ann Forbes (Age 48, Hood River, Oregon) did not arrive to meet a friend who lived 3 miles away. Ford Explorer was later found abandoned in Gresham, Oregon, with the rear window broken. S2E11
8 February 2005 - Shawn Paul Houston (Age 28, Brinnon, WA) was attempting to take a Sea-Doo pwc on a joyride. He could not start the engine and he drifted from shore. The pwc was found overturned. No trace of the M/P was found. Divers searched the area and could not locate the M/P. S4E9
19 February 2005 - Danielle Imbo & Richard Petrone (Ages 34/35, Philadelphia, PA) Disappeared after leaving a bar in Philly to drive home. The couple and their vehicle have never been located and there has been no activity on phones or bank accounts. Josh from TCB says he is "on the fence" and says if Keyes is responsible then he would have run them off the road, not abducted them from a busy parking lot. Wiki suggests a murder for hire (from Q&A s4 episode).
4 March 2005 - Delmar Wayne Sample (Age 53, Centralia, WA). Keyes supposedly ruled out but in 2015 FBI were investigating and they have not ruled him out. S1E9.
19 March 2005 - Cynthia Jane Marl. (Age 45,Wenatchee, WA) Goes to run errands but never returns. Van found abandoned in another town 6 weeks later. There is a deceased suspect that may have killed Marl for drugs. S1E8/9. Thanks to u/AndroidAnthem
16 April 2005 - Ellen Beth Sloane. (Age 52, Polson, Montana) Car found abandoned in shopping center near airport. Had lot of belongings as if traveling. Was being charged for tax evasion but allegedly cooperating with authorities. S1E8/9. Thanks to u/AndroidAnthem.
22 April 2005 - Wendy Dehoop (Age 44, Eugene, Oregon) Wendy last seen at 7am and did not arrive at a later appointment and her Toyota Corolla was located on 2 May 2005 in South Eugene. (Josh questions if there is enough information to attribute this case to Keyes). S2E14&15
5 July 2005 - Gregrey Seamons Brown (age 48, Ellensburg, WA) went missing from the Rachel Lake trail head. Very few details. S1E9.
7 July 2005 - Kristine Nicole Hamilton* - (Age 18, Moreno Valley, California) Reports of Keyes spotted at Lake Paris 12 miles from where Christine was last seen, walking down her driveway towards a white sedan. Keyes was in Newport Beach on July 10 for his grandmother’s birthday. Josh is unsure if Keyes involved. Christine’s stepfather is suspected. *Josh considers this case while investigating California Kristine/Christine/Kristen etc in Namus 44.
8 August 2005 - Nita Mayo (age 64, Hawthorne, NA) Nita told friend she was going shopping across the state line in California (somewhere near Lake Tahoe) on State Route 108, approx time 11am. Possible sighting at shop in Strawberry, Cali. Nita failed to show for work the next day at work. Station wagon located at Donal's Vista, 15 miles east of Strawberry on 108, containing keys, phone and purse and purchases from Strawberry store. Vehicle at the scene since day Nita went missing - she was not a hiker. Appearance matches a description in Keyes' suicide note. S4E3
6-11 October 2005 - Belize victim? Tomas Perez (Age unknown, Corozal, Belize) failed to return home and his wife reported him missing. Police thought that Perez had returned to Mexico but there was no record of him crossing the border. S2E3.
16 November 2005 - Roy Loren Stephens (Age 48, Crescent, Oregon) went missing near Highway 58 and his Ford Taurus was located 25 November on the Waldo Lake access road off H58. S1E9.
5 December 2005 - Kevin Nordquist. (Age 38, Eugene, Oregon) Left friend's house for pub but never arrived. Witnesses heard gunshots in area. S1E8/9. Thanks to u/AndroidAnthem.
8 December 2005 - Lyn Marie Ohana. (Age 49, Port Townsend, Oregon) Went for a walk and never returned. Left all her possessions, money, debit cards, etc. behind. S1E8/9. Thanks to u/AndroidAnthem.
31 January 2006 - Lucille Hellen Lewis. (Age 54, Missoula, Montana) Moved out to Montana to live with a man she met on internet. When he turned out to be convicted felon, she wanted to return home. Allegedly she was dropped at airport and never heard from again. Boyfriend is person of interest. S1E8/9 Thanks to u/AndroidAnthem.
20 June 2006 - Stephen Michael Mason (Age 52, Sequim, WA) last seen at Dungeness-Forks Campground near Sequim in the Olympic National Forest. Argued with his wife and asked his friend to give belongings to his wife. S1E9.
24 June 2006 - Gilbert Gilman (Age 47, Olympic National Park, WA) "Gilman’s vehicle, a 2005 Ford Thunderbird Convertible, was found at the Staircase Ranger Station. Searchers spent 10 days looking for any clue of Gilbert in the Staircase area and examined nearby trails and ridges in the area, which includes steep, rocky hills, dense forest and the North Fork Skokomish River, and found no trace of him. They used tracking dogs, helicopter and a plane equipped with heat seeking equipment along with 62 searchers on the ground. After 10 days of fruitless searching, he was declared lost by the U.S. Forest Service." strangeoutdoors.com (Josh H states in S4E7 that he does not consider GG to be a victim of Keyes).
5 August 2006 - Lori Ann Boffman (Age 45, Youngstown, Ohio) drove away from her residence and her damaged vehicle was located the following day in Youngstown. S2E2
OCTOBER 2006 - TRIP TO BELIZE
MARCH 2007 - KEYES MOVES TO ALASKA
7 April 2007 - Khoi Dang Vu (Age 25, Vancouver, WA) disappeared after leaving the family home in the early hours without his jacket or bicycle.
1 May 2007 - Myoung Keun Noah (Age 60, last seen in San Bruno, CA) Disappeared picking up car fare. There's a note on receipt in FBI says Keyes may have spent 2 nights at neighboring campground during the time Noah went missing. The campground was within Noah's driving range. thanks to u/AndroidAnthem
23 May 2008 - Helen Suzanne Gracia (Age 45, Anaconda, Montana) Told family heading out to run errands. Later in the day an eyewitness saw Helen at the Rock Inn Tavern in downtown Anaconda. Two days later, Helen's car was located behind another bar one block away, with possessions locked inside. Anaconda is between Rock Springs (where Kimberly worked at this time) and Neah Bay. Keyes also supposedly buried a kill kit in Rock Springs. S4E9
10 June 2008 - unknown lady attacked in East Modesto in driveway of home next to drycreek connecting river to farmland. attacker forced survivor into trunk of car, nothing stolen, then he left without committing further assault...matches Keyes description. 260 miles away saving bank was robbed 5 hours later, description matches Keyes. Followed by arson next to school 7 miles away, matching a Keyes admission in FBI interview.
20 June 2007 - Ryan Michael Schwab (Age 32, Lakewood, WA) Ryan disappeared from Lakewood and his car located 70 miles away at a Lake Rainier National Park trailhead. S4E9
27 October 2008 - Sheila Kathleen McBroom (Age 40, Anchorage, Alaska) left for work and was stopped by State Trooper at mile 106 of the Seward Highway, close to where her vehicle was located on 31 October.
13 January 2009 - Lynn Stafford-Yilmaz (Age 45, Bainbridge Island, WA) was on board the ferry Puyallup leaving from Coleman Dock in Seattle en route to Bainbridge Island and her vehicle was found abandoned on the ferry. Keyes unaccounted for in January 2009. S4E9
8 April 2009 - Debra Feldman (Age 48, Hackensack, New Jersey) Keyes denies that he abducted Debra Feldman from New Jersey and buried her in Tupper Lake, upstate NY. However, when Keyes was shown a photo of Debra by the FBI “his mood and the tone of the conversation changed drastically...and the change was palpable”. Considered in some circles to be a confirmed 4th victim. S2E2
10 April 2010 - Ronnie Paul Cobb (Age 49, Dyersburg, Tennessee) last seen going turkey hunting at the Parker boat ramp on the Forked Deer River and his boat was discovered down river. S2E2
29/30 June 2010 - Linda Haynie (Age 39, Antelope, CA) contacted a friend via cell phone text, indicating she was leaving, gave no reason and left behind four children. 3 months later Lynda's car located at Sacramento International Airport, parked since September 20th. Bank robberies in Santa Rosa, San Jose, Modesto and arson in Sac. Keyes in the area. Could Linda Haynie be the Fort Lewis, WA, Jane Doe? S4E10
7 July 2010 - Donald William Tobin (Age 52, Riverside, CA) last seen on way to his storage facility. Car found on 9 July at a remote dog park a half mile from his home, at a trail head near a lake... S4E2
12 July 2010 - Robert Perry Bissell - (Age 57, Estacada, Oregon) Namus states that "Bissell was last seen on July 12, 2010, when he left his home in Portland, Oregon to go camping in the Roaring River Wilderness Area near Rock Lakes above Estacada, Oregon. His vehicle, a white 1989 Nissan Sentra with Oregon license plates, was found at Trailhead 700 near Rock Lakes. Bissell apparently parked the car there, hiked five miles and set up camp off Trail 512 near Middle Rock Lake. It appears as if he left his campsite intending to be gone only for a day or less. He left his sleeping bag and gear at the site, taking only his fishing rod and tackle. On July 19, Bissell's brother went to his campsite, but Bissell wasn't there. His brother left a note on his car, asking him to contact his family. His brother visited the campsite again on July 24 and again couldn't find Bissell. The authorities launched a search the next day. An extensive search of Mount Hood National Forest turned up no indication of Bissell's whereabouts. The terrain is extremely rough, to the extent that three of the search horses threw their shoes. Bissell is presumed to have become lost or injured in the wilderness, probably shortly after he began his trip on July 12. His body has never been found." S4E8
1 August 2010 - Shane Sprague (Age 34, Mountlake Terrace, WA) Shane is a survivalist and was reported to last be seen in the Granite Falls/Monte Cristo area of Washington. He was last seen wearing a brown or green Carhartt jacket and pants, blue sweatshirt and beanie, carrying a military style green duffle bag and backpack. S4E9
2 June 2011 - Lauren Spierer (age 20, Bloomington, India) Lauren went missing after a student night out and this is a popular internet/podcast true crime case in which much suspicion has been cast on Lauren’s boyfriend’s buddies. According to Josh, “allegedly when confronted with a photo of Lauren, Keyes got visibly upset, denied involvement, and continually tried to veer the conversation away from her.” Josh stated that he is almost certain that Keyes was responsible. Keyes was unaccounted for in Indiana on this date. S1E13.
8 June 2011 - Bill & Lorraine Currier - (aged 50 & 55, Essex, Vermont). Known victims. S1E4;S1E12
27 August 2011 - Marble Arvidson (age 17, Brattleboro, Vermont) "Marble Arvidson was last seen on Saturday August 27, 2011 at approximately 1400hrs by his roommate, who observed Marble leave with an unknown male that came to the house. They left for an unknown destination and unknown means of travel.
Marble left a note on his door stating he was with the “Gremlin Hoard” and would be back in 30 minutes. This was not uncommon for Marble to leave notes for his foster family, advising where he was going. Family describes the “Gremlin Hoard” as Marble’s way of letting them know he was going out to “party” with friends.
Marble is an avid hiker and reportedly took his hiking boots with him. All of Marble’s friends are from the Brattleboro, Dover and Wilmington, VT areas. It may be possible that Marble became a victim of Tropical Storm Irene as this major storm hit on the same day Marble was last seen. There has been some reported sightings of Marble in the Brattleboro area since he was last seen but nothing has been confirmed at this time. The most recent reported sighting occurred in April 2012." vsp.vermont.gov S4E1
1 February 2012 - Samantha Koenig (age 18, Anchorage, Alaska). Known victim. S1E2;S1E3
15 February 2012 - James Lamar Tidwell (age 58, Mount Enterprise, Texas) went missing on his way home from construction job and the next day Keyes is pictured on video robbing a nearby bank wearing a construction helmet. Josh is very confident that Mr Tidwell is a victim of Keyes and is likely buried in or around Lake Pat Cleburne, Texas. S1E16
unknown date - A white girl driving a vintage car with a wealthy grandmother. This was from an FBI press release and not in files from FOIA requests that Josh received. S201 at about 4:45. tip of the hat to u/AndroidAnthem
Skykomish Doe ??Black Diamond Doe ??Fort Lewis Jane Doe ??
13 MARCH 2012 - KEYES ARRESTED IN LUFKIN, TEXAS
2 DECEMBER 2012 - KEYES DEAD

Wrestling Observer Rewind ★ Dec. 2, 2002

Going through old issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and posting highlights in my own words. For anyone interested, I highly recommend signing up for the actual site at f4wonline and checking out the full archives.
PREVIOUSLY:


1-7-2002	1-14-2002	1-21-2002	1-28-2002
2-4-2002	2-11-2002	2-18-2002	2-25-2002
3-4-2002	3-11-2002	3-18-2002	3-25-2002
4-1-2002	4-8-2002	4-15-2002	4-22-2002
4-29-2002	5-6-2002	5-13-2002	5-20-2002
5-27-2002	6-3-2002	6-10-2002	6-17-2002
6-24-2002	7-1-2002	7-8-2002	7-15-2002
7-22-2002	7-29-2002	8-5-2002	8-12-2002
8-26-2002	9-2-2002	9-9-2002	9-16-2002
9-23-2002	9-30-2002	10-07-2002	10-14-2002
10-21-2002	10-28-2002	11-4-2002	11-11-2002
11-18-2002	11-25-2002

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I tried to post this earlier this morning but I guess it didn't work. I just noticed. Said it had to be approved by the mods first. So I deleted that one and re-posting now. We'll see how this goes.

EDIT: Looks like it was the Road Dogg story that got this post flagged and kept it from posting earlier. Dammit Road Dogg, do you ever stop sucking?

I usually try to avoid too much MMA, but the top story this week is a looooooong recap of the Ken Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz UFC PPV so we gotta run with it, if for no other reason than the fact it's one of the most significant fights in UFC history. Besides, half of this is just Dave talking about how UFC did such a better job with this show than WWE has done with anything in ages. The build-up, promotion, and video packages for this fight blew away anything WWE has done in years and exposed all their problems when it comes to an inability to make people care about matches. WWE has a crew of writers whose job is to book enticing storylines and they can't come close to how UFC promoted this real-life story. Fear Factor host Joe Rogan, as UFC's resident color commentator, did a better job of building excitement than Tazz or Jerry Lawler have ever done. Big name celebrities were in attendance. The gate was the largest MMA gate in the U.S. and bigger than all but a handful of Wrestlemania gates. All without TV and without much mainstream media coverage. In WWE, Shamrock was considered a "bad promo" because he didn't cut promos like they wanted. But his interviews going into this fight were the best in UFC history and went a long way towards this show's huge success.
That being said, Shamrock was totally blown out in what Dave feels was a one-sided fight. Shamrock looked good but he's 38 and simply was outclassed by the younger, faster Ortiz. It went 3 rounds of mostly ground and pound, with Ortiz making hamburger out of Shamrock's face. Even when Shamrock was able to escape, he was too gassed to do much else. After 3 rounds, Shamrock's corner stopped the fight. Ortiz put on a shirt that said "I killed Kenny...you bastard!" but the crowd immediately turned on him when he did and his own trainer demanded he take it off. Afterward, Shamrock was respectful and hugged Ortiz and did an interview making no excuses. When they asked Ortiz about a fight with Chuck Liddell, he responded that UFC better pay them more money for it, or they'll take that fight to Japan (presumably PRIDE, though he didn't explicitly say so). Needless to say, UFC officials weren't thrilled about that. Otherwise, it was a great show. They announced the return of Tank Abbott, which was a surprise since rumors had him going to PRIDE. Bradshaw was there in the front row going nuts the whole show but was never identified on camera. And that's as much as we're dwelling on this show.
Linda McMahon had to face the investors this week and try to put a positive spin on the fact that WWE just suffered its first true money-losing quarter since 1997. WWE lost over $1.6 million this past quarter, due mostly to the money they were forced to pay the William Morris Agency for a lawsuit they lost as well as losses from The World complex in Time Square. Linda said that WWE still considers TV ratings to be the key driver of business and blamed falling ratings on males 17-34 allegedly watching less television these days. Sure, why not? She said they expected business to go down with the brand split and predicted it would take 12-18 months for things to get back to where they should be. Well, we're 8 months in and numbers continue to fall and other than Brock Lesnar, not any other new star has been made by it. In regards to The World complex, Linda admitted there've been mistakes and said they plan to rebrand it again soon as "The World of WWE" after previously deciding to remove the WWE name. They're going to rename the restaurant part JR's Bar & Grill. One investor in particular called Linda out on the declining ratings, blaming it on Triple H being the primary focus (who he noted was Linda's daughter's boyfriend) and mentioning the necrophilia storyline and argued that WWE's problems stem from terrible creative. It was the most critical question Linda has ever faced in one of these calls. Linda defended Triple H, first claiming that Triple H and Stephanie's relationship is new and thus can't be credited for his main event push (no one knows the exact timeline, but given that he was cheating on Chyna with her, this relationship goes back at least 2 years, so you can't exactly call it new). Linda listed Triple H, along with Lesnar, Shawn Michaels, and Scott Steiner as their big four stars. The investor responded saying Michaels "is done" (lol) and that Steiner is just another washed up WCW guy (ok, fair) and that WWE still isn't creating new stars. He said that while WWE was better off financially than WCW was at the end, creatively, they're just as bad. Linda responded, "We are not WCW" and talked about efforts to create new stars out of Edge and Test. This was clearly not the conversation Linda wanted to have with all these other big money investors listening.
Linda was also asked about Steve Austin and said they've talked several times and they're "good friends" but that she didn't know if he was ever coming back. Austin made a public appearance later the same day and was asked the same thing by everyone. He said WWE has been trying to get him to come back in January to build for a Wrestlemania match, but he hasn't decided whether to do it or not yet. He talked about wanting to get his home life in order first before he focuses on a wrestling comeback. Jim Ross also did an interview saying he talks to Austin all the time and expects him back eventually. So it sounds like things are maybe warming up between the two sides finally.
And finally, Linda spent a good chunk of the conference call talking about their issues with the World Wildlife Fund. She said that when she and Vince purchased the company from Vince Sr. in 1982, they trademarked the WWF name and logo. At the time, Wake Forest University had an issue with it because the logo was similar, and in exchange for getting the college to drop their claim, Vince made an agreement to never sell WWF merch on the Wake Forest campus. Easy enough. In 1994, the Wildlife people said, "Hey, that's our letters" and a bunch of legal shit happened and they reached an agreement where WWF wouldn't market itself as "WWF" outside of North America. They would have to use the full name "World Wrestling Federation." Of course, they immediately and constantly began violating that agreement, but the Wildlife people ignored it until Vince snatched up the wwf.com domain name, which is in use worldwide, and obviously could create confusion among any web users trying to find one or the other. Thus the lawsuit, which Vince lost handily and they were forced to rename themselves WWE. Then they had until Nov. 10th of this year to stop selling "WWF" branded merchandise, which resulted in them having to stop and reprint a bunch of stuff as well as take all old WWF footage off some WWF Classics TV show that I guess airs in Europe (they're currently airing WCW footage instead).
Well now, the Wildlife Fund is seeking damages, to the tune of $360 million. Linda claimed the Wildlife people offered to drop all further legal action in exchange for a $90 million settlement and they would extend the deadline until next year. WWE refused. As a result, the Fund is now going to court to try to stop sales of a WWF-branded video game that is due out this month, which is expected to be a big Christmas seller. WWE put out a statement calling it a "Grinch-like move to deny wrestling fans around the world the opportunity to receive these products as Christmas gifts." And in typical WWE fashion, they put out another statement attacking the Fund personally, specifically their lawyer who they claim lives in Switzerland but has no Swiss law license. They conveniently leave out the part that he does have a license to practice law in the UK, and that's where this case was decided, which renders WWE's entire "point" meaningless. They also accused him of having involvement with some financial scandals in the UK and even tried to tie his Islamic charity to the 9/11 tragedies, accusing his charity of funneling money to Al-Qaeda. Just the usual Jerry McDevitt bullshit. Anyway, video game maker THQ said all games with the WWF logo were shipped prior to the original Nov. 10 deadline and therefore, they won't recall them. But a British court has said THQ will be ruled in contempt if any WWF-branded games are sold and recommended THQ should—for their sake—recall the games and bill WWE for the damages because, as the judge said, "THQ must look at WWE for the losses which have been caused because it was the WWE that got them into this mess." One final note to all this: Linda McMahon admitted that they did consider doing an angle at the recent UK Rebellion PPV where Vince McMahon would have faced a wrestler in a panda suit on the show and beat him up and pinned him. Dave says, considering the damages part of the lawsuit is still ongoing, that would have been monumentally stupid and luckily, it seems WWE agreed because they didn't do it. Not even sure why they'd admit thinking about it.
PRIDE had a sold out show at the Tokyo Dome that aired on PPV in Japan and the U.S. but were edited to be completely different shows. The Japan version was based around the retirement of Nobuhiko Takada, facing his former understudy Kiyoshi Tamura and was heavily built around their old 90s UWFI rivalry. It was the rivalry that everything was building to back in the 90s, but it never happened because the company closed. Symbolically, this was seen as the true death of UWFI, 6 years after it actually shut down and closed that incomplete chapter. It was an emotional angle that packed the 3rd largest MMA crowd in history into the Tokyo Dome. But in the U.S., that meant nothing to American fans and the Takada match and retirement ceremony didn't even air as part of the show. Instead the American version of the PPV was edited to showcase Fedor Emeliankenko beating the brakes off Heath Herring and setting himself up to challenge for the heavyweight title in the match that made him a star. Takada got knocked out in his retirement match and they had a big emotional ceremony after. And some other MMA stuff.
Long obituary for Japanese wrestler Thunder Sugiyama, who died at age 62 this week. Big star in the 60s and early-70s, was one of the first recruits by Giant Baba when he started AJPW and later had a brief run in NJPW. After retirement, he became a millionaire in other businesses. But in 1999, due to diabetes complications, he ended up having both of his arms and both of his legs amputated, which led to a lot of media coverage since he was quasi-famous and lost all 4 limbs. Well then.
Another obituary for Billy Joe Travis, who died of a heart attack at 41. He went tanning, drove back to his mother's house, walked through the front door, and dropped dead of a heart attack. He was best known for his years in Memphis, and was regarded as one of the most promising stars in the business in the late-80s. But he had a nasty drug problem and, well, it never really happened. Most people remember him best for being the guy who legitimately got arrested on live TV during one of the Saturday morning Memphis shows, due to failure to pay child support. Cops showed up to the show to get him, they asked if they could film the arrest, cops said sure, and they did, but pretended it was for something else and made an angle out of it.

WATCH: Billy Joe Travis gets legitimately arrested during live USWA broadcast

Fuji Network in Japan had Bob Sapp Day on their channel. From 5:30am until 7pm that night, Sapp repeatedly cut into shows, appeared in live interview segments, did talk shows, game shows, etc. All damn day. It's been said that American fans can't comprehend just how big a star Sapp is in Japan right now. Even people who don't follow wrestling or MMA know who he is because he's become something of a sensation throughout the country.
As further proof that anything can happen, this week's issue of Tokyo Sports featured a front page photo of Antonio Inoki shaking hands with Hisashi Shinma. For the unfamiliar, this is the equivalent of Bret Hart and Vince McMahon shaking hands on the front page of the USA Today. Inoki and Shinma were the minds behind NJPW's success in the 70s and 80s, with Shinma being the primary booker when Inoki was the top star. But an embezzlement scandal in NJPW in the mid-80s led to Shinma being fired. He and Inoki remained friends and they even worked together in 1989 when Shinma acted as Inoki's campaign manager for his successful Senate campaign. However, the 2 later had a major falling out, resulting in Shinma publicly revealing Inoki's participation in the embezzlement scandal as well as even reporting Inoki for cheating on his taxes, which led to a lot of legal headaches for Inoki. So it was a pretty serious beef. However, they have squashed it and, with NJPW struggling right now, word is Shinma will be returning to the company to help dig them out of their hole. It's also worth noting that during the 80s, Shinma was close friends with Vince McMahon and acted as the NJPW liaison to WWF during that time. In fact, he was the on-screen figurehead "President" of WWE prior to Jack Tunney, though he rarely did much of note. The relationship is still good and Shinma noted that one of the first things he wants to do when he starts working for NJPW again is send rookie Shinsuke Nakamura to WWE for him to gain more experience (took, like, 15 years but it happened).
Former UFC heavyweight champ Josh Barnett, currently serving a worldwide 6-month MMA suspension for failing steroid tests, is making his pro wrestling debut for NJPW at the Jan. 4th Tokyo Dome show. Barnett has been a wrestling fan for years, particularly NJPW and the old UWFI in the 90s, and has been trying to get involved in wrestling for awhile. He's friends with Bob Sapp and that opened the door for him, though in Japan, most people know him as Sapp's coach/cornerman rather than being a former UFC champ in his own right, because "UFC" doesn't mean much in Japan (not only does Barnett work this show, he ends up main eventing it, losing to IWGP champ Yuji Nagata).
Chyna is scheduled to return to NJPW next week, this time teaming with Masahiro Chono to face Tadao Yasuda and Kazunari Murakami. I only mention this because it ends up being Chyna's last match for almost a decade. She quietly retired afterward, only returning for one final match in 2011 in TNA. But for all intents and purposes, this is the end of the road for Chyna's pro wrestling career.
Hulk Hogan is doing his book tour and it kinda shows the differences between Vince and Hogan. Privately, Vince has been telling anyone who will listen that he's done with Hogan, doesn't want him back in WWE, and is running him down to anyone who will listen. Hogan, knowing it's inevitable that he'll be back some day, has been much more diplomatic in interviews, praising Vince and calling WWE his home. Hogan admitted in one interview that he was supposed to return at Survivor Series, but the deal fell apart due to creative differences, but that's all he would say (creative differences = he didn't want to put over Brock Lesnar again). Hogan talked about how wrestling is predetermined, but argued against it being choreographed. He says guys like himself and Rock can go out there and call a match on the fly. Dave thinks that's a pretty poor example to use, since Hogan, Rock, and Pat Patterson all flew to Florida prior to Wrestlemania last year and spent 2 days rehearsing every step of that match beforehand. Anyway, Dave promises to have reviews of Hogan's and Piper's books in the next week or two. He's read Piper's already and enjoyed it but hints that there's some inaccuracies. He's heard Hogan's is pretty full of bullshit too, but also says we all expected that going in.
Bret Hart's condition post-stroke has improved significantly, and this week, he even got his driver's license back and is allowed to drive again, which is seen as a major step in his improvement.
Vince Russo returned to TNA this week as an on-screen character, appearing under a mask as Mr. Wrestling III and hitting Ron Killings with a guitar and allowing Jeff Jarrett to win the NWA title. The backstage fallout from this resulted in Sean Waltman quitting the company. Waltman doesn't like Russo and even though he was promised Russo doesn't have any hand in creative, Waltman didn't believe it and quit in protest of Russo's return. Waltman had no-showed TNA's previous PPV at the last moment due to injury and TNA was upset, but decided to bring him back anyway because he was extremely apologetic and because, well, they need stars. Also, Waltman being there is pretty much the only reason Scott Hall decided to come back as well. So with Waltman quitting, this leads to questions about whether Hall will be back either. TNA was also hoping having Waltman on the roster would lead to Chyna coming in, but that's probably not happening now either. Waltman has a deep hatred for Russo's booking and also felt having a company work its wrestlers the way WCW used to do isn't healthy for the company, and he felt he was being misled by TNA about Russo's involvement.
In fact, despite management denials, almost nobody in the company believes that Russo is only a talent. Pretty much everyone figures that if he's not involved in creative yet, he will be soon. During the negotiations with Panda Energy, Waltman himself went to bat for Jerry Jarrett, saying he wanted Jarrett in charge and that he wouldn't stay with the company if Russo was in charge. True to his word, Russo showed up and Waltman quit. TNA tried to pacify him, even discussing doing a match that night where Waltman and Curt Hennig would win the TNA tag team titles. Waltman refused, saying he was only staying and working that night's show because he felt he owed it to the company after no-showing the previous week, but he didn't want to win any titles because he insisted he was quitting after the show. And, sure enough, he did (he stuck to his word too. Waltman didn't return to TNA until after Russo left in 2005. At some point though, they squashed their beef and they appear to be on good terms now. But this is the end of the road for Waltman in TNA for awhile. It was also the end of Scott Hall. He also didn't return again until after Russo left. Also worth noting: Waltman was right. Despite TNA's denials, Russo was indeed involved in creative again during this time).
Other notes from Russo's return: aside from the backstage drama, the Jarrett/Killings NWA title match was actually a strong bout, with the crowd more into it, and Jarrett, than anything in the company's short history so far. Most in the locker room were against the Russo angle to end the match, but otherwise, it went over great. Almost nobody in the locker room knew Russo was returning, which led to the familiar WCW-style "working the boys" complaints but Russo and Jarrett were celebrating it backstage like they pulled off the angle of the year. There was thought that Mike Tenay might quit over it as well, because those 2 have heat going back to WCW (Russo once tried to book Tenay to wrestle a match in WCW with Scott Steiner's valet Midajah, but Tenay refused, saying his contract was to be an announcer, not a wrestler, and Russo was furious about it and the 2 haven't gotten along since).
In case you're wondering whether or not Russo has any involvement in creative, Brian Christopher's valet April dumped him for Goldylocks, with the two of them leaving together in what was played up as an "OMG, they're lesbians!" type of angle. This ain't Jerry Jarrett booking, let's just say that. Dave can't confirm it was Russo, but in all the various WWF lawsuits over the years (Sable, Nicole Bass, etc.) it appears Russo asked just about every woman in WWF to participate in a lesbian angle. So having a lesbian angle in TNA the week he returns obviously leads one to assume.
There's also controversy over BG James (Road Dogg) calling Lenny Lane a "faggot" during a promo and also some other homophobic comments towards the Bruce character (who's entire gimmick is predicated on getting heel heat for being gay). TNA is claiming the line wasn't scripted and is saying James used it on his own. Jerry Jarrett apologized online for it the next day on the wrestlingclassics.com message board he posts on. (In case Road Dogg's 2020 social media posts haven't shown exactly what kind of person he still is, here's the full quote he said about Lenny Lane: "This goes for all of you who are politically correct. This won't be a gay bashing, I'm just about to beat the hell out a faggot." Even though I'm quoting someone else, I still feel gross just typing that) There was similar heat a few weeks ago when Brian Christopher called April a "cunt" during the show.
Steve Austin pled no contest to domestic assault charges in San Antonio court this week. Under the plea bargain, he was given 1 year of probation, a $1000 fine, 80 hours of community service, and must undergo counseling and complete a 24-week domestic violence class. Austin also agreed that any further physical or verbal abuse towards Debra would be considered a probation violation. Under the terms of the probation, he's also not allowed to drink alcohol for 1 year. Dave says that one might be tricky, especially if he returns to wrestling. This was brought up in court and the attorney noted that Austin's usual post-match celebrations would technically be considered a violation. But they also said that it likely wouldn't be enforced since it would be considered acting (yeah, when he returned to WWE in 2003, I think he spent most of that year using non-alcoholic beers for his gimmick. Better safe than sorry). Once Austin completes his probation, the charges will be expunged from his record.
After weeks of Hot Lesbian Action, gay weddings, and corpse fucking, Vince McMahon stood up at a booking meeting this week and loudly declared "shock TV is dead!" and insisted it doesn't work anymore and they will no longer be doing it. So maybe that's the end of Russo-style desperate ratings grabs for now. Keep in mind, literally 4 weeks ago, he sent out a memo to the creative team mocking their critics and insisting that more shock TV was the answer. This man is insane.
WWE had a recent tour in India and nobody had fun. It was considered the trip from hell, and had nothing to do with the plane ride this time. The trip was long and uncomfortable and when they got there, the wrestlers were shocked at the living conditions in the country. WWE's stars were staying at a nice hotel, but just outside the front door, they saw multiple people literally drop their pants to shit in the streets and people living in gutters and filth. Several wrestlers also got sick from drinking the water and eating the food, with Lance Storm and William Regal so sick they couldn't work some of the shows. Booker T got so sick as they were leaving that he had to be hooked up to an IV and rushed to the hospital for dehydration as soon as they got back to the U.S., which caused them to have to rewrite some of that week's TV. The shows were a big success, drawing large crowds, but most of the wrestlers said afterwards that they never want to go back.
Notes from Raw: the newly reunited Dudleys challenged for the tag titles. This wasn't planned, since most people feel it's too soon for them to be going for the titles already, but it was a last-minute re-write due to Booker T not being available. The first hour of the show was written around that match and a bunch of backstage skits featuring Booker T & Goldust which had to be scrapped. Match was an overbooked mess, with multiple re-starts due to Eric Bischoff's new rule enforcer, Val Venis (now using his real name Sean Morley). Dudleys stole Christian and Chris Jericho's clothes backstage and threw them out to the crowd and also revealed a jar of "ass cream" in one of their bags. Dave says he flipped over to Monday Night Football during this to see how that game was going because otherwise, he would have split his gut laughing at this masterful attempt at humor (sarcastic, Raw-reviewing Dave is the best. This used to be how he reviewed Nitro near the end and I've missed it). There were also a bunch of jokes about Jericho and Christian experiencing "shrinkage." Christ, Vince McMahon has the sense of humor of a 12-year-old. Elsewhere in the show, Hurricane hit a shining wizard on somebody and Jim Ross actually called the move by name. This has been a running joke throughout the 2002 Observers about how WWE wrestlers have started using that move (stolen from Great Muta) and none of the announcers ever called it by name or even seemed to know what it was. So with JR finally calling it by name, Dave says, "so that storyline has concluded." Batista (no longer Dave) is being managed by Ric Flair now. Rico is no longer an effeminate hair dresser and is now being booked as a tough guy, which the crowd is not buying. And first thing they did after giving him this gimmick change was have him lose clean as a sheet to Goldust in 3 minutes. And main event was Shawn Michaels vs. RVD in what was regarded as something of a dream match by a lot of fans. When ECW was around, "Shawn Michaels vs. RVD" was always the WWF/ECW interpromotional match fans wanted. Well, we got it and....it was a disappointment. It was Michaels' first match on Raw in almost 5 years. It was good, but nowhere near what people were hoping for.
Notes from Smackdown tapings for next week: Bull Buchanan is now known as B-Squared and is teaming with John Cena. Tazz had a family emergency and had to pull out of the show at the last minute, leading WWE to put Ernest "The Cat" Miller in his place doing commentary. This show hasn't aired yet as of press time, but those who heard the live feed say Miller was horrendous, didn't know any of the characters or storylines, and Michael Cole had to prep him on everything during each commercial break. Stephanie McMahon suspended Brock Lesnar for his actions last week, even using the "I didn't screw Lesnar. Lesnar screwed Lesnar" line. Keep that in mind next time WWE claims Bret Hart is the one who won't move on from the Screwjob. Stephanie also made a bunch of period references at some point in the show, claiming it was that time of the month and she was being visited by her Aunt Flo, who visits her monthly. Kurt Angle, playing his goofy dork role, acted like he didn't know what she was talking about. Dave is already dreading watching this show. This, yet again, reeks of Vince McMahon 12-year-old "humor." Scott Steiner pinched Nidia's ass, because sexual assault is hilarious, and this led to Jamie Noble getting obliterated by Steiner. Guerreros vs. Angle/Benoit was good but otherwise, this sounds like a dreadful show.
Notes from this week's Smackdown: this one was a good show. Mysterio/Noble was short but awesome finish. Guerreros complained about an unsafe working environment, leading Dave to talk about the Shawn Michaels/Bret Hart backstage fight in 1997 that led to Shawn briefly claiming he was quitting because WWF was an unsafe work environment. Paul Heyman cut a great promo about Lesnar. They had a backstage segment where you could see Raw announcer JR in the background and Dave says this never would have happened a year ago, but quality control and attention to detail went out the window when WCW died. Edge vs. Big Show in the main event for the title felt like Edge being a sacrificial lamb in the Lesnar feud and exposed Edge as not quite being ready for main events.
Various WWE notes: American Dragon, Paul London, and Michael Shane are all working dark matches at TV tapings next week. In regards to DDP's recent release, he was planning on returning to the ring against doctor's orders, but Vince McMahon made the call to listen to the doctors, who said DDP could be risking paralysis if he wrestles again. So Vince won't let him wrestle anymore and they mutually agreed on his contract release afterward. Undertaker's wife gave birth to a baby girl this week.
Dave reviews the recent episode of Tough Enough and there's something pretty interesting here in retrospect. One of the contestants, Nick, had a bicep injury and went to the doctor for it. The doctor told him he had a partially torn bicep and to take a couple of weeks off to rest the injury and Nick followed the doctor's advice and did just that. As a result, the WWE trainers felt he could never make it in pro wrestling because he refused to work through the injury. They all pretty much treated him like a pussy and he ended up getting cut from the show because of it. Gee, maybe he should just take a handful of pain pills like everyone else and end up dead at 40. This fucking company, I swear.... anyway, Bill DeMott, who is on record saying he's had so many concussions that doctors have told him he's risking permanent brain damage, was one of the most appalled at Nick refusing to wrestle with the injury because Bill DeMott is an asshole.
Jim Ross in his Ross Report on WWE.com talked openly about wanting Steve Austin to return but said he needs to get his marriage issues straightened out first. In regards to Chyna returning, JR said it would be challenging because of Triple H's relationship with Stephanie, which makes him the first person in WWE management to openly admit that Chyna is basically blackballed from the company so long as those 2 are together. He also said he wants Goldberg to come in, but said he's making too much money in Japan and they won't match those offers. He also point blank said Hogan was supposed to return at Survivor Series but it fell apart because he refused to job to Lesnar. He also said WWE doesn't need a 49-year-old guy who's about to qualify for AARP membership to be their top guy and Hogan basically needs to get over his ego and know his place in the business at this point in his career. He also said they would love to have Ken Shamrock back, but only if he's committed to WWE full time, which has always been the hold-up.

NEXT WEDNESDAY: Mr. Wrestling" Tim Woods passes away, Roddy Piper autobiography review, Hiroshi Tanahashi gets stabbed, and more. Only 4 Rewinds left...

The Storming of the Capitol and the New War on Terror

The recent mob action the Capitol has been described by some of the most powerful news and media organizations in the U.S. as a coup and an insurrection. Many liberals have been quick to take up similar articulations, and have generally been receptive to the idea that what seems to have been mostly a ragtag bunch of conspiracy theorists and hooligans that broke into the Capitol building (with assistance from the Capitol Police) are a real threat to Biden’s confirmation as President and to “our democracy.” This raises questions about the actual threat that these forces posed to the political system of presidential and congressional elections in the U.S., and the nature of this system itself; is it really a democracy for the people?
These questions are all the more important because a broad consensus is emerging among many of the U.S. elite that there is a need to roll out more “counter-terrorism” laws in the wake of this incident, with these laws specifically focused on “domestic terrorism.” A broad section of liberal and self-identified progressive people are supportive of this, with some even going so far as to help the FBI and other law enforcement identify those who marched into the Capitol building. However, much like with the Patriot Act—which was hurriedly passed in the wake of 9/11 and nominally aimed at fighting terrorism—it is clear that these laws will be aimed at broadly suppressing dissent. While politicians are quick to promise that these proposed laws would target “violent extremists” and white supremacist forces, the reality is that many of these measure are indistinguishable from the “anti-rioting” bills that were proposed in states throughout the country during the George Floyd uprisings.
All of this requires that we look closely at the events that occurred as well as the larger political situation in this country. This is all the more important as many of the those now calling for new counter-terrorism laws, who decry the use of violence for political ends, have in fact built their careers on systematic violence and slaughter which dwarfs the scuffles and scraps that occurred at the Capitol. These include people like Joe Biden (who supported the 1994 Crime Bill, the invasion of Iraq, and many other such measures) and Jon Brennan (Obama’s head of the CIA who ran the drone-strike assassination program), as well as many Bush-Era officials who pioneered the Patriot Act, supported the use of torture, and oversaw the genocidal invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. When politicians and officials like these—in conjunction with the billionaires who run the Big Tech companies—are presenting themselves as heroic defenders of democracy, and urging us to support new laws and policies which further restrict our rights and civil liberties, it should have us very worried.
Hooliganism by Any Other Name is Still Just Hooliganism
The hysterical and over-the-top reactions to the events at the Capitol show that many Americans are unfamiliar with the nature of coups, despite the fact that the U.S. government has been the architect of some of the most brutal and bloody in modern history. For example, from 1965-1967 the CIA-orchestrated an anti-communist genocide in Indonesia which left several million dead and replaced former anti-colonial leader and bourgeois democratic President Sukarno with the dictator Suharto, who would go on to rule the country for three decades, presiding over the massacre of at least 100,000 people in East Timor in the late 1970s, among other atrocities. Or take the coup in Chile after Salvador Allende won the 1970 presidential election. The U.S. worked with right-wing members of the Chilean military to lead a coup in 1973, which included bombing the Presidential Palace, the execution of Allende, the murder of thousands, and the imprisonment of tens of thousands in the first days of the coup alone.
When compared to these and other coups throughout modern history, the recent events in the Capitol come into better focus. Instead of being a coup or an insurrection—both of which generally involve barricades, armed combat, and a coordinated plan to overthrow the government—the mob at the Capitol more closely resembled the drunken riots that sometime follow after a local sports team losses a major game. A bit of drunken and disorderly conduct, some civil disobedience, a few people hurting themselves or trampling others, some relatively minor property damage, etc. One of the main differences in this case is that this riot occurred in the Capitol building with the tacit blessing of a relatively weak and disorganized president, instead of in the neighborhood around a sports arena.
In a piece written the day after the riot, independent journalist Glenn Greenwald put it well:

One need not dismiss the lamentable actions of yesterday to simultaneously reject efforts to apply terms that are plainly inapplicable: attempted coup, insurrection, sedition. There was zero chance that the few hundred people who breached the Capitol could overthrow the U.S. Government — the most powerful, armed and militarized entity in the world — nor did they try. […] There is a huge difference between, on the one hand, thousands of people shooting their way into the Capitol after a long-planned, coordinated plot with the goal of seizing permanent power, and, on the other, an impulsive and grievance-driven crowd more or less waltzing into the Capitol as the result of strength in numbers and then leaving a few hours later. That the only person shot was a protester killed by an armed agent of the state by itself makes clear how irresponsible these terms are. There are more adjectives besides “fascist treason” and “harmless protest,” enormous space between those two poles. One should not be forced to choose between the two.

While a section of Trump supporters are sympathetic to fascist politics and there were some outright fascists at the riot, it is far from the case that this romp through the Capitol building was an attempt to lead a fascist coup. What’s more it should give many pause many critics of the riot are using the same language to describe the Capitol building as the rioters themselves. Both are calling it the “people’s house.”
This term raises further questions, question about the very nature of the U.S. government itself. If one is willing to accept the idea that the Capitol building is the people’s house—and again, both the rioters and their critics have promoted this idea—then it follows that the present form of society, government, and the overall status-quo is basically just, and that the key thing is to prevent a corrupt and dangerous group from seizing control of this supposed “house of the people.” In the view of the riotous Trump supporters, this danger was Biden and his allies stealing the election and establishing an authoritarian form of government—which they often refer to as “Left wing” fascism—that would steal the power from the people. In the view of the liberals who are now eagerly pushing for the roll-out of new repressive laws, this danger was Trump and his supporters stealing the election and establishing a fascist dictatorship.
The parallel between these two narratives is more than incidental, it reflects an underlying misconception of U.S. society common to the two. It’s helpful to step back and reflect on the nature of the U.S. government and the status quo.
Democracy in the U.S.?
Over the past four years liberal and progressive media have peddled the narrative that Trump and his lackies constitute an existential threat to U.S. democracy. Everyone from major companies like Coca-Cola and Twitter, to George W. Bush himself have lined up behind this idea. Numerous Neocons, Billionaires, and members of the “Intelligence Community,” long reviled by the U.S. left and even liberals, have taken this opportunity to rehabilitate and rebrand themselves as courageous members of the #Resistance, standing up against the supposedly imminent threat of fascism.
However, these supposed freedom fighters are often the same people who have made billions of dollars off of the backs of the poor and working people of this country. They are the architects of the War on Terror, mass surveillance, CIA black sites for torture, the militarization of the police, the system of mass incarceration, and so much more. They are the one who have led the charge of capitalist accumulation in the face of unprecedented ecological destruction and have been more than happy to initiate genocidal foreign wars and sponsor far-right dictators around the world.
These narratives about Trump being an existential threat to “our democracy” have served to distract Americans from the basic fact that this country is not run by the people or for the people. Democracy in the U.S. has never meant the people having real democratic control of society. The so-called “Founding Fathers” envisioned as their model the Roman Republic, which was a slave society in which the vast majority of people were denied basic rights and participation in the political system. While there is no longer slavery in the U.S., and things have changed a bit since the founding of this country, the system of control by a wealthy elite is how the country is run to this very day. With the rise of immense corporate wealth and power combined with a continuous assault on organized resistance and genuine workers unions for decades, democratic privileges and rights are arguably at a low point in America at present.
Of course, it is true that things could always get worse, and we are not yet living in a fascist country or a police state in which the people are stripped of even their most basic rights and civil liberties. However, over the past few decades we have seen one administration after another strip away right after right, and impose new and draconian measures on the people of this country in the name of protecting “our freedom.” The government now spies on all of our phone calls, records every click we make and letter we type on the internet, forces us to be x-rayed every time we get on a plane, tracks our every movement via our cellphones, and more.
These curtailments of rights and civil liberties have been a consistent feature of both Democratic and Republican administration, they are nothing new with Trump. He just continued the decades-long trend in a somewhat more blatant and ham-handed fashion. And looking at the broader picture, in a country where around 80% of people are living paycheck-to-paycheck, we have no real democratic say on the major economic issues of the day. We don’t have the option to vote for better pay and fewer hours, for lower rent and better housing, or for an end to corporate tax breaks—since most major corporations pay nearly no taxes, while working Americans pay around one third of their income in taxes. Working-class workplaces are generally very oppressive, where people have nearly no say in how anything is run, and workers are often forced to endure racism and sexual harassment as part of their daily experiences on the job. Generally, speaking up about these things results in retaliation and a prompt firing, and all the things that come with this (loss of income, risk of homelessness, etc.). So much for democracy.
The situation in the U.S., far from being a democracy by the people and for the people, instead resembles Karl Marx’s famous statement that “The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.” The political system provides us with little say on much else besides this.
In contrast to the common people, the wealthy and the big corporations have immense influence on policy and politicians. They spend billions of dollars lobbying—a legalized form of bribery—and make massive campaign donations—another legalized form of bribery—to ensure that their interests are looked after from one administration to the next. The standard policy for most big companies is to “hedge their bets” by donating to the campaigns of both parties, and doing so is one way in which they protect their interests regardless of who ends up in office.
The Research Unit on Political Economy—based in India—offered a succinct summary of how decisions are really made in the U.S. political system:

The US ruling classes generally adopt a drawn-out process in the course of which they reconcile and resolve the often conflicting demands of their own various sections. Typically, apart from legislators and the press, a proliferation of research institutes, semi-governmental bodies, and academic forums circulate proposals voicing the case of one or the other lobby (leaving the administration free to deny that they constitute official policy). These proposals elicit objections from other sections, through similar media; other powerful countries too press their interests, directly or indirectly; and the entire discussion, in the light of the strength of the respective interests, helps shape the course of action finally adopted, and helps coalesce the various ruling class sections around it. (This process of course has nothing to do with democratic debate, since the people are excluded as participants, and are included only as a factor to be taken into account.)

In one sense, this system is no democracy at all. The interests and wishes of the vast majority are ignored, or even trampled, by a wealthy and powerful elite, as they debate among themselves on how best to preserve and expand their wealth and power. In another sense, the U.S. can be described as a democracy, but a democracy in which only the rich and powerful have any real say. Sure, the common people have the right to vote, but we only get to vote for one representative or another of the elite.
And in fact, the politicians, these elected officials and supposed lawmakers do very little to actually craft the legislation themselves. For example, the $900 billion coronavirus stimulus bill which was passed this past December was part of a 5,600 page document called the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The final text of the bill was released at 2pm on December 21, 2020, and voted on two hours later. Even with any army of aides, there is no way that Congresspeople would have been able to read even a tenth of the bill in that time. And yet it was passed into law by a wide margin. This example is not exceptional, in fact it is quite typical of how legislation is written and passed into law in the U.S.
It’s important to be clear about the nature of the U.S. political system if we are to understand the riot at the Capitol, and figure out how to respond to it. Narratives about Trump’s band of hooligans posing an imminent threat to U.S. democracy are doubly misleading. First, the riot that sprawled into the Capitol building was nothing close to a coup attempt or an insurrection. Second, and more importantly, these narratives serve to obscure the true nature of U.S. society, they cover over the fact that this is a country run by and for the rich, in which the poor and oppressed seen both as a source of cheap labor and a potential threat to the powerful.
Over-simplified narratives that have portrayed Trump as an existential threat to the status-quo cover over just how bad the status-quo really is. They also paint numerous oppressors and members of the ruling elite—many of whom have a long history of repressive actions at home and abroad—as courageous heroes, bravely standing up to the threat of fascism. All of this is quite disorienting for activists and movements seeking to bring about positive social change.
Of course, despite the difficult situation in this country things could always get worse. In fact, at present there is a major danger of a significant crackdown on protests, a further erosion of civil liberties, and the continued development of the police state. However, this threat is not primarily due to Trump; instead, cracking down on Trump supporters is being used to justify this new “War on Domestic Terror.” This is worth examining in more detail.
A New War on Terror, This Time at Home
Anyone familiar with the impact of the U.S. war on terror abroad should be terrified by the prospect of the government launching a new “War on Domestic Terror.” While the official target of the War on Terror was those responsible for the 9/11 attacks, nearly two-decades later it is clear this policy had a far wider impact. The invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan destabilized the countries, left millions dead, and U.S. troops remain in both countries to this day. The U.S. also launched a massive drone-strike program which has impacted dozens of countries, created a system of electronic surveillance aimed at spying on everything everyone in the world does online, and has poured trillions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer money into expanding the military’s capability to slaughter human beings across the globe.
Given this history, it is particularly important to keep in mind one lesson: it was the common people in places like Iraqi and Afghanistan who suffered the most as a result of the War on Terror. Instead of primarily targeting the architects of 9/11 and their allies, the U.S. government used the War on Terror as a justification to invade and plunder these countries, and to launch a series of devastating military operations around the world to secure the political and economic interests of the U.S. elite and associated multinational corporations. For example, during the U.S. invasion and occupation a huge number of Iraqi civilians were kidnapped off the streets, tortured, and in many cases killed. This was revealed in Seymour Hersh’s reporting on the disgusting and degrading forms of sexual torture done by the U.S. military and intelligence in the Abu Ghraib prison. Whole cities in Iraq were destroyed, reduced to rubble in the name of fighting terrorism and bringing freedom to the people of the country. While the War on Domestic Terror will almost certainly not involve the bombing of cities in the U.S., the brutality with which the original War on Terror was waged is quite concerning, as it shows the ways in which the government has been willing to oppress, arrest, torture, and even slaughter civilians in the name of fighting terrorism. It is woefully naive to assume that the government will hesitate to treat American citizens as enemy combatants, especially given the long-record of domestic repression in this country.
It is particularly striking that many of those who were so critical of the War on Terror are now calling for a new one to be launched within the domestic U.S. The specifics of this new policy are somewhat unclear, as terrorism is already illegal, and there is already domestic surveillance of everyone in the country. However, a look at some of the laws now being proposed across the country can give us a sense of who will be the real target of this policy.
Take for example, the anti-rioting bill proposed by Florida governor Ron DeSantis. This law was original proposed by DeSantis during the George Floyd protests and includes a series of new repressive measures, including preventing people who are arrested during protests deemed to be riots from being released from jail before their first court appearance, and creating new felonies for organizing or participating in a protest that turned violent, potentially even if one did not participate in the violence oneself. What’s more, we saw during the George Floyd protests how police repeatedly instigated violence and then portrayed protesters as violent when they took basic measures to protect themselves. The fact that this bill was first introduced over the summer makes it clear that the main target of such laws is not white supremacist and fascist groups (who the police are generally happy to collaborate with), but rather the masses of people in this country, especially those protesting for progressive social change.
Beyond this one bill in Florida, there series of efforts around the country, including to expand the scope of the federal Anti Riot Act which was created in 1968 in response to mass demonstrations in Washington D.C. against the war in Vietnam. What’s more, Biden has promised to make passing a new law against domestic terrorism a priority in the first 100 days of his presidency. In January, 2020 he sponsored an anti-terrorism bill, which while nominally focused on white supremacist groups, also cited the dangers of “masked Antifa supporters” as well attacks on police officers. During the George Floyd Protests, Biden repeatedly emphasized that he opposed left wing protests that were not peaceful, and stated that he thought “arsonists and anarchists should be prosecuted”.
All of this helps to clarify that even if the Proud Boys and members of other fringe groups are targeted by these new laws in large numbers, the U.S. elite will also use these new laws to go after other groups it sees as a threat to its power and existence. Biden and others' responses to the George Floyd protests showed how concerned the elite are about mass movements against police brutality, white supremacy, and related inequalities. The FBI has already labeled anarchists and “Black Identity Extremists” as major existential threats to the existing U.S. political system, and has devoted significant counter-terrorism resources to monitoring and disrupting the activities of these groups. Much like with the original War on Terror, the actual policy of the new “War on Domestic Terror” will differ significantly from the stated aim.
Biden, his allies, and the U.S. elite are happy to use the riot at the Capitol as a pretext for rolling out a series of new repressive laws. Unfortunately four years of corporate media fear-mongering about Trump’s supposedly imminent plans to establish fascism in the U.S. have left many blind to other dangers. While Trump and his hooligans are dangerous, most the U.S. elite has now lined up behind Joe Biden and they are eager to use this opportunity to push for a massive expansion of their repressive powers to quell an increasingly rebellious population. The liberal left’s fixation on the danger posed by Trump seems to have left them paralyzed, unable to understand or effectively oppose the New War on Terror. Some signs indicate that, at least initially, many are unfortunately eager to support it.
About us: We're the Revolutionary United Front, a revolutionary organization in the U.S. organizing in the Greater Boston, New York, and San Francisco areas. We're working to support and advance various people’s struggles ranging from anti-war, immigrant, and international solidarity.

South Africa part 3: Cecil Rhodes

online gaming laws in india video

The answer to this question depends on the game type and the location. When it comes to legislation, the laws mainly focus on “gaming or common gaming houses.” In other words, real gambling at physical locations within the country. A casino, if you may. Gambling, as such, has been illegal in India since the Public Gaming Act. Persons caught breaking the law receive rather mild punishment; up to 200 rupees fine, or up to 3 months imprisonment. The main piece of legislation relating to gambling in India is the Public Gaming Act of 1867. This act initially applied only to the ten states which were under British control at the time, but was subsequently amended to incorporate all other states. In this article, Bhavna Thakur discusses laws regulating Online Gambling in India. Betting is characterized as wagering, gaming or partaking in a lottery. An individual is betting at whatever point he or she takes the risk of losing cash or possessions, and when winning or losing is chosen generally by shot. Digital betting is otherwise called web betting, is a general term for betting utilizing the web. Online Gaming. Since most of the gambling and gaming laws were enacted prior to the introduction of online gaming, they do not address online gaming. Nonetheless, states such as Nagaland and Sikkim have introduced specific legislation regulating online gambling in India. The Sikkim state law pertaining to online gaming sets up a licensing Online Gaming/Gambling laws in India prohibit betting or wagering and any act which is intended to aid or facilitate the same. Gaming/Gambling being a State subject, gaming/gambling in India have laws which differ from state to state . This would mean what is permitted in one State may be an offence in another. The Public Gambling Act, 1867, is the central enactment on the subject, which has been adopted by certain states of India like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh etc. The other Online Gaming is a multi-crore industry in India. Despite this fact, we have no dedicated Online Gaming and Online Gambling Laws in India. This has made the Legal Position regarding Online Games like Rummy, Poker, etc really confusing and murky. Due to diverse legal actions and situations, the matter has reached before the Supreme Court of India. In India, though, there is a lot of confusion over online gambling laws. Let's clear up everything that you need to know about online gambling laws in India. To start, gambling was first prohibited in India under the Public Gambling Act of 1867. The act prohibits operating or visiting public gambling establishments, but it has no mention of Thus, in India online gaming is in desperate need to get a unified statute so that the mode and manner of offering the games and its participation through online platform could be regularized and Online Gaming. In India, online gaming is not prohibited. Online gaming with stakes or real money is allowed in most of the states of India. Therefore, unless specifically prohibited by the state government, it is not prohibited. Online games with stakes/ real money cannot be played in whole of India as the laws of the states of Assam, Odisha and southern State of Telangana specifically Online Gaming Laws in India & Celebrity Sponsorship Liability

online gaming laws in india top

Unlock your gaming channel - YouTube

YouTube is a community. Sometimes, when a video may violate a law or our Community Guidelines, we need to take that video down, restrict its availability, or take other action. Keep your videos and channel in the clear by learning a bit more about YouTube’s policies and some of the important laws that come into play. YouTube Search How our search tool can help you find content you'll love Recommended videos How we recommend content we think you'll want to watch News and information How we provide context for ... Welcome to the official Samsung India channel, a place to discover the latest Samsung brand stories, events, innovative technologies, and more. We pledge to create and deliver products and ... Set your gaming channel up for success with these tools and techniques. Disclaimer: Different game publishers have different rules around how their games can be used and/or potentially monetized on YouTube. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions for any game footage that you plan on uploading. To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass ... We spent 24 hours straight in slab city, aka the city with no laws.New Merch - https://shopmrbeast.com/SUBSCRIBE OR I TAKE YOUR DOG-----... ⭐️ Become a Slogoman Member! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHdMK5Ef2El8KbD3L_WgANg/join😎 Join my discord! https://discord.gg/slogoman👕 MERCHANDISE - htt... They kicked us out of India 🇮🇳Subscribe: https://bit.ly/2DCvRmM 🔔and whack that bell on!Videos every Monday, watch the NEWEST here: https://bit.ly/2QFtDco... We play GTA 5 without any breaking any laws. Is it possible? idk watch the video and find out.SUBSCRIBE OR YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCKNew Merch - shopmrbeast.comJoi... How do we develop new policies and update existing ones? Each of our policies is carefully thought through so they are consistent, well-informed, and can be applied to content from around the world. Ever wondered what India is like? India is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world so it's easy for tourists to embarrass themselves while ...

Online Gaming Laws In India & Celebrity Sponsorship