Latest news with #Caesars
Business Wire
25 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results
LAS VEGAS & RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Caesars Entertainment, Inc., (NASDAQ: CZR) ('Caesars,' 'CZR,' 'CEI' or 'the Company') today reported operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025. Second Quarter 2025 and Recent Highlights: GAAP net revenues of $2.9 billion versus $2.8 billion for the comparable prior-year period. GAAP net loss of $82 million compared to a net loss of $122 million for the comparable prior-year period. Same-store Adjusted EBITDA of $955 million versus $996 million for the comparable prior-year period. Caesars Digital Adjusted EBITDA of $80 million versus $40 million for the comparable prior-year period. Tom Reeg, Chief Executive Officer of Caesars Entertainment, Inc., commented, 'Our Caesars Digital segment posted one of its strongest quarters ever, as momentum continues to build toward the financial goals that we originally laid out in 2021. In Las Vegas, we posted solid gaming results in the face of softer market demand in our hospitality verticals. Net Revenues in our Regional segment increased 4% driven primarily by Caesars Virginia and New Orleans, coupled with strategic reinvestment into our Caesars Rewards database.' Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results Summary and Segment Information The following tables present actual 2025 and 2024 results as well as adjustments to net revenues, net income (loss) attributable to Caesars and Adjusted EBITDA for the effects of our completed divestiture in order to reflect amounts and percentage change on a same-store basis: Net Revenues Three Months Ended June 30, (In millions) 2025 2024 2024 Adj.(a) Adj. 2024 Total % Change Las Vegas $ 1,054 $ 1,101 $ (6 ) $ 1,095 (3.7 )% Regional 1,435 1,385 — 1,385 3.6 % Caesars Digital 343 276 — 276 24.3 % Managed and Branded 74 70 — 70 5.7 % Corporate and Other 1 (2 ) — (2 ) * Caesars $ 2,907 $ 2,830 $ (6 ) $ 2,824 2.9 % Expand Net Revenues Six Months Ended June 30, (In millions) 2025 2024 2024 Adj.(a) Adj. 2024 Total % Change Las Vegas $ 2,057 $ 2,129 $ (12 ) $ 2,117 (2.8 )% Regional 2,823 2,750 — 2,750 2.7 % Caesars Digital 678 558 — 558 21.5 % Managed and Branded 141 138 — 138 2.2 % Corporate and Other 2 (3 ) — (3 ) * Caesars $ 5,701 $ 5,572 $ (12 ) $ 5,560 2.5 % Expand Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Caesars Three Months Ended June 30, (In millions) 2025 2024 2024 Adj.(a) Adj. 2024 Total % Change Las Vegas $ 212 $ 272 $ (4 ) $ 268 (20.9 )% Regional (11 ) (51 ) — (51 ) 78.4 % Caesars Digital 39 4 — 4 * Managed and Branded 18 17 — 17 5.9 % Corporate and Other (340 ) (364 ) — (364 ) 6.6 % Caesars $ (82 ) $ (122 ) $ (4 ) $ (126 ) 34.9 % Expand Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Caesars Six Months Ended June 30, (In millions) 2025 2024 2024 Adj.(a) Adj. 2024 Total % Change Las Vegas $ 389 $ 470 $ (8 ) $ 462 (15.8 )% Regional 9 (10 ) — (10 ) * Caesars Digital 39 (30 ) — (30 ) * Managed and Branded 34 35 — 35 (2.9 )% Corporate and Other (668 ) (745 ) — (745 ) 10.3 % Caesars $ (197 ) $ (280 ) $ (8 ) $ (288 ) 31.6 % Expand Adjusted EBITDA (b) Three Months Ended June 30, (In millions) 2025 2024 2024 Adj.(a) Adj. 2024 Total % Change Las Vegas $ 469 $ 514 $ (4 ) $ 510 (8.0 )% Regional 439 469 — 469 (6.4 )% Caesars Digital 80 40 — 40 100.0 % Managed and Branded 17 17 — 17 — % Corporate and Other (50 ) (40 ) — (40 ) (25.0 )% Caesars $ 955 $ 1,000 $ (4 ) $ 996 (4.1 )% Expand Adjusted EBITDA (b) Six Months Ended June 30, (In millions) 2025 2024 2024 Adj.(a) Adj. 2024 Total % Change Las Vegas $ 902 $ 954 $ (8 ) $ 946 (4.7 )% Regional 879 902 — 902 (2.5 )% Caesars Digital 123 45 — 45 173.3 % Managed and Branded 33 35 — 35 (5.7 )% Corporate and Other (98 ) (83 ) — (83 ) (18.1 )% Caesars $ 1,839 $ 1,853 $ (8 ) $ 1,845 (0.3 )% Expand * Not meaningful (a) Adjustment for pre-disposition results of operations reflecting the subtraction of results of operations for the LINQ Promenade, for the relevant periods. Such figures are based on unaudited internal financial statements and have not been reviewed by the Company's auditors for the periods presented. The additional financial information is included to enable the comparison of current results with results of prior periods. (b) Adjusted EBITDA is not a GAAP measurement and is presented solely as a supplemental disclosure because the Company believes it is a widely used measure of operating performance in the gaming industry. See 'Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures' below for a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a quantitative reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) attributable to Caesars, which the Company believes is the most comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. Expand Balance Sheet and Liquidity As of June 30, 2025, Caesars had $12.3 billion in aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding. Total cash and cash equivalents were $982 million, excluding restricted cash of $104 million. (In millions) June 30, 2025 December 31, 2024 Cash and cash equivalents $ 982 $ 866 Bank debt and loans $ 5,884 $ 5,904 Notes 6,346 6,346 Other long-term debt 42 44 Total outstanding indebtedness $ 12,272 $ 12,294 Net debt (a) $ 11,290 $ 11,428 Expand (a) Net debt is a non-GAAP measurement and is presented solely as a supplemental disclosure because the Company believes it is helpful in understanding our financial position. Net debt is equal to total outstanding indebtedness less cash and cash equivalents. Expand As of June 30, 2025, cash on hand and borrowing capacity was as follows: (In millions) June 30, 2025 Cash and cash equivalents $ 982 Revolver capacity (a) 2,235 Revolver capacity committed to letters of credit (90 ) Available revolver capacity committed as regulatory requirement (46 ) Total (b) $ 3,081 Expand (a) Revolver capacity includes $2.25 billion under our CEI Revolving Credit Facility, maturing in January 2028, and $25 million under the CVA Revolving Credit Facility, maturing on April 26, 2029, less $40 million reserved for specific purposes. (b) Excludes approximately $75 million of additional borrowing available under the CVA Delayed Draw Term Loan. Expand 'On July 8th we applied proceeds from the monetization of $225 million of our WSOP seller note and a revolver draw to fully redeem $546 million of our 8.125% senior unsecured notes due 2027. This note redemption reduces run-rate interest expense by $44 million annually. Our nearest debt maturity is now January 2028 and our weighted average cost of debt is approximately 6.35%. We expect to use free cash flow to both reduce debt and opportunistically repurchase our stock,' said Bret Yunker, Chief Financial Officer. Non-GAAP Measures Adjusted EBITDA (described below), a non-GAAP financial measure, has been presented as a supplemental disclosure because it is a widely used measure of performance and basis for valuation of companies in our industry and we believe that this non-GAAP supplemental information will be helpful in understanding our ongoing operating results. Management has historically used Adjusted EBITDA when evaluating operating performance because we believe that the inclusion or exclusion of certain recurring and non-recurring items is necessary to provide a full understanding of our core operating results and as a means to evaluate period-to-period results. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before interest income and interest expense, net of interest capitalized, (benefit) provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, impairment charges, other (income) loss, net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, transaction costs associated with our acquisitions, developments and divestitures, and non-cash changes in equity method investments. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes the expense associated with certain of our leases as these transactions were accounted for as financing obligations and the associated expense is included in interest expense. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ('GAAP'). Adjusted EBITDA is unaudited and should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss) as an indicator of our operating performance. Uses of cash flows that are not reflected in Adjusted EBITDA include capital expenditures, interest payments, income taxes, debt principal repayments, distributions to our noncontrolling interest owners and payments under our leases with affiliates of VICI and GLPI, which can be significant. As a result, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of our liquidity. The reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) attributable to Caesars is attached at the end of this press release. Net debt (defined above), a non-GAAP measure, has been presented as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it is helpful in understanding our financial condition. The reconciliation of net debt to total outstanding indebtedness is set forth above. Other companies that provide similar non-GAAP measures may calculate them differently than we do, and the definitions may not be the same as the definitions we used in any of our debt agreements. Conference Call Information The Company will host a conference call to discuss its results on July 29, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Participants may register for the call approximately 15 minutes before the call start time by visiting the following website at Once registered, participants will receive an email with the dial-in number and unique PIN number to access the live event. The call will also be accessible on the Investor Relations section of Caesars' website at In addition, supplemental slides will be posted prior to the call start time on the Investor Relations website at About Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) is the largest casino-entertainment company in the US and one of the world's most diversified casino-entertainment providers. Since its beginning in Reno, NV, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. Caesars Entertainment, Inc.'s resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah's®, Horseshoe®, and Eldorado® brand names. Caesars Entertainment, Inc. offers diversified gaming, entertainment and hospitality amenities, one-of-a-kind destinations, and a full suite of mobile and online gaming and sports betting experiences. All tied to its industry-leading Caesars Rewards loyalty program, the company focuses on building value with its guests through a unique combination of impeccable service, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars is committed to its employees, suppliers, communities and the environment through its PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework. To review our latest CSR report, please visit Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER. For more information, please visit Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our strategies, objectives and plans for future development or acquisitions of properties or operations, as well as expectations, future operating results and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the terms or phrases such as 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'projects,' 'plans,' 'intends,' 'expects,' 'might,' 'may,' 'estimates,' 'could,' 'should,' 'would,' 'will likely continue,' and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and with what we believe is a reasonable basis, there can be no assurance that these expectations, beliefs and projections will be realized. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements which are included elsewhere in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (a) the impact on our business, financial results and liquidity of economic trends, inflation, trade tensions and related actions, such as the imposition of tariffs between the United States and other countries, public health emergencies, terrorist attacks and other acts of war or hostility, work stoppages and other labor problems, or other economic and market conditions, including reductions in discretionary consumer spending as a result of downturns in the economy and other factors outside our control; (b) the impact of future cybersecurity breaches on our business, financial conditions and results of operations; (c) our ability to successfully operate our digital betting and iGaming platform and expand its user base; (d) risks associated with our leverage and our ability to reduce our leverage; (e) the effects of competition, including new competition in certain of our markets, on our business and results of operations; and (f) additional factors discussed in the sections entitled 'Risk Factors' and 'Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations' in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unknown or unpredictable factors may also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the forward-looking statements. In light of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available on our website or otherwise, and we do not intend to update publicly any forward- looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which the statement is made, except as may be required by law. We periodically provide other information for investors on our Investor Relations website, We intend to use our website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor our website, in addition to following the Company's press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (In millions, except per share data) 2025 2024 2025 2024 NET REVENUES: Casino $ 1,668 $ 1,557 $ 3,262 $ 3,092 Food and beverage 428 435 863 857 Hotel 509 514 991 1,007 Other 302 324 585 616 Net revenues 2,907 2,830 5,701 5,572 OPERATING EXPENSES: Casino 887 817 1,748 1,669 Food and beverage 275 266 550 529 Hotel 155 139 306 276 Other 105 100 200 194 General and administrative 477 465 960 965 Corporate 84 80 166 158 Impairment charges — 118 — 118 Depreciation and amortization 364 326 721 653 Transaction and other costs, net 34 13 36 19 Total operating expenses 2,381 2,324 4,687 4,581 Operating income 526 506 1,014 991 OTHER EXPENSE: Interest expense, net (579 ) (594 ) (1,153 ) (1,184 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt — (3 ) — (51 ) Other income (loss) 1 (1 ) — 25 Total other expense (578 ) (598 ) (1,153 ) (1,210 ) Loss before income taxes (52 ) (92 ) (139 ) (219 ) Provision for income taxes (13 ) (10 ) (24 ) (25 ) Net loss (65 ) (102 ) (163 ) (244 ) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (17 ) (20 ) (34 ) (36 ) Net loss attributable to Caesars $ (82 ) $ (122 ) $ (197 ) $ (280 ) Net loss per share - basic and diluted: Basic loss per share $ (0.39 ) $ (0.56 ) $ (0.93 ) $ (1.29 ) Diluted loss per share $ (0.39 ) $ (0.56 ) $ (0.93 ) $ (1.29 ) Weighted average basic shares outstanding 209 216 210 216 Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 209 216 210 216 Expand CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO CAESARS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (In millions) 2025 2024 2025 2024 Net loss attributable to Caesars $ (82 ) $ (122 ) $ (197 ) $ (280 ) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 17 20 34 36 Provision for income taxes 13 10 24 25 Other (income) loss (a) (1 ) 1 — (25 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt — 3 — 51 Interest expense, net 579 594 1,153 1,184 Impairment charges (b) — 118 — 118 Depreciation and amortization 364 326 721 653 Transaction costs and other, net (c) 41 26 54 42 Stock-based compensation expense 24 24 50 49 Adjusted EBITDA $ 955 $ 1,000 $ 1,839 $ 1,853 Pre-disposition Adjusted EBITDA (d) — (4 ) — (8 ) Total Adjusted EBITDA $ 955 $ 996 $ 1,839 $ 1,845 Expand (a) Other (income) loss for the six months ended June 30, 2024 primarily represents a change in the estimate of our disputed claims liability. (b) Impairment charges for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 includes impairment within our Regional segment as a result of a decrease in projected cash flows at certain properties primarily due to localized competition. (c) Transaction costs and other, net primarily includes costs related to non-cash losses on the write down and disposal of assets, certain non-recurring litigation reserves, professional services for transaction and integration costs, various contract exit or termination costs, pre-opening costs in connection with our new property openings, and non-cash changes in equity method investments. (d) Adjustment for pre-disposition results of operations reflecting the subtraction of results of operations for the LINQ Promenade prior to divestiture, for the relevant periods. Such figures are based on unaudited internal financial statements and have not been reviewed by the Company's auditors for the periods presented. The additional financial information is included to enable the comparison of current results with results of prior periods. Expand
Axios
a day ago
- Business
- Axios
D.C.'s weirdest lawsuit involves sports gambling and a British monarch
An anonymous group of lawyers is suing D.C.'s sports gambling companies under an obscure 300-year-old law, hoping to win hundreds of millions of dollars. Why it matters: The story gets weirder from here — including a quiet push for the D.C. Council to quash the lawsuit. State of play: D.C. Gambling Recovery LLC, registered in Delaware, calls itself a group of "several public-interest oriented lawyers." They're suing Caesars, FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Fanatics over a D.C. law that originated with Britain's Queen Anne in the early 1700s. Context: The Statute of Anne, as first reported by 51st News, makes it illegal for a bettor to lose $25 or more in a game of chance. The original law was intended to discourage gambling. Similar laws exist in other states. The intrigue: If successful, half of the lawyer group's payout would go to the District. The anonymous lawyers estimate that to be more than $300 million — not bad, especially in a tough budget year. Yes, but: Since suing in April, Mayor Muriel Bowser quietly inserted a provision in next year's budget that would make the law not apply to legalized sports gambling. It would apply retroactively, quashing the lawsuit. And barring last-minute changes, the D.C. Council is expected to approve the budget on Monday, despite the lawyers' pleas to scrap the provision. What they're saying: "The D.C. Council is quietly working to bailout big gambling corporations that owe the District over $300 million," says the lawyers group's campaign website. "Why? It's anyone's guess," the group says. Similar cases include a $1.2 billion verdict in Kentucky against online operator PokerStars, the group's legal counsel told the D.C. Council in a letter earlier this month. They want the provision to be removed, or at least not apply retroactively. Lawyers representing the sports betting companies didn't immediately return Axios' request for comment. The other side: The sports betting companies want the federal judge to throw out the case, per the 51st. In court filings, the groups say that suing under a 1710 law is "absurd as a matter of common sense."
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 Heisman Trophy Odds: Is 'Summer Favorite' Arch Manning a Good Bet?
One of the things I've learned covering sports betting over the last decade is it's not the best idea to bet the Heisman Trophy preseason favorite. Not a single "summer favorite" has won since 2015, and we've seen doozies like Sam Darnold, Leonard Fournette, Spencer Rattler and DJ Uiagalelei sit atop the betting boards as the calendar flipped to August. Conversely, we've seen players like Travis Hunter (50/1), Lamar Jackson (100/1) and Joe Burrow (200/1) defy betting odds to hoist the Heisman, while DeVonta Smith wasn't even listed before the 2020 campaign. Enter Arch Manning. The Texas quarterback with the million-dollar name is this year's favorite with a consensus price of around +600 in the market. Manning possesses insane upside on a team co-favored to win the national championship. That said, he threw for 939 yards last season with 13 total touchdowns. If Arch's last name was "Martin," the price might be double. Arch Manning's 2025 Heisman odds +500 Caesars ($10 wins $50) +500 Circa ($10 wins $50) +500 Westgate ($10 wins $50) +600 BetMGM ($10 wins $60) +700 DraftKings ($10 wins $70) +750 FanDuel ($10 wins $75) "I would throw anybody out at 5 or 6/1," Heisman voter and Pick Six Previews pundit Brett Ciancia told FOX Sports. "I wouldn't touch anything like that. It's such a crap shoot in August every year. "That's the beauty of college football. It's such a mystery how these Heisman races and All-American candidates will play out. Remember, Carson Beck was the favorite last year to win the Heisman and he ended up nowhere close. "I wouldn't touch any Heisman favorite." Ciancia's early darling is Clemson QB Cade Klubnik. "Even that's a little bit chalky at 9/1," he admitted. "He's a pretty safe bet coming in as a playoff contender. [Clemson] is going to be in the playoff mix, given how weak the ACC is. A very veteran roster around him, and they're building off a conference championship. That's my chalk pick. "If you want a lottery bet, I would go with Oklahoma's John Mateer at 30/1. It's going to be a high-powered, new-look offense there. He tore it up at Washington State with this same coordinator. I don't know if it's just the towel or the headband, but he looks like Baker Mayfield out there. "Similar playing style, he's going to get a ton of stats and if the Sooners make a run in the SEC, he'll be looked at as a Heisman candidate." I've buttered my bread with the aforementioned Beck, who transferred from Georgia to Miami to replace Heisman finalist and No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. There's something to be said about a quarterback changing scenery to play in a system that's more conducive to putting up big numbers. FanDuel was dealing Beck at 37-1 a couple of weeks ago and yes, I would still bet him at 25-1 or higher if you're a little late to the party. Please don't bet FanDuel's current price at 18-1. Truth be told, Manning has the ability, name and surrounding talent to take this Heisman race and run with it. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about him throwing three touchdowns against Ohio State in Columbus on Aug. 30 and never looking back. As we've learned, though, it's usually not that simple. Just ask Uncle Eli or Uncle Peyton. Sam Panayotovich is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and the BetMGM Network. He previously worked for WGN Radio, NBC Sports and VSiN. Follow him on Twitter @spshoot. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Calgary Herald
5 days ago
- Calgary Herald
Chorney-Booth: Dig deeper into culinary culture with a guided food tour
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Guests on Alberta Food Tours Iconic Eats. Photo courtesy, Nicole Liboiron-Coles Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Earlier this year, I found myself sitting in a booth in the Fairmont Palliser Hotel's Hawthorn dining room with my mother and a small group of very pleasant strangers. We drank Caesars and ate ginger beef, talked about the history of the hotel and its importance to the city of Calgary and then walked down Stephen Avenue to a few other restaurants, with additional bites of both food and information to digest — literally and figuratively — at each stop. Even though I've lived in Calgary almost my entire life and like to think I know a few things about the city's food scene, I not only had a delightful time full of laughs and clinking glasses, but also learned new things about the city and its culinary history. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors This is the power of a food tour. Fairmont Palliser executive chef Gregor Dunki. Photo, Karen Anderson Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again The tour I was on was the Iconic Eats of Calgary program offered by the locally based Alberta Food Tours. Food tours — where a small group of people join a guide to explore a city or neighbourhood through multiple stops at various eateries — have been an increasingly popular activity worldwide over the last decade or so. The concept is simple: an expert tour guide partners with a handful of food-related businesses that best represent the flavour of a destination or fit a particular theme. Through walking around the area, chatting with chefs and business owners, and benefiting from the expertise of the guide, guests not only enjoy a progressive meal, but also get a better lay of the land and a local take on what makes a place tick. Sure, we could all seek out places to eat alligator in Florida or explore the Jean Talon Market in Montreal on our own with a little help from Google, but nothing beats the experience of hearing a city's culinary secrets from a human guide. Karen Anderson runs Alberta Food Tours. One of the stops on Iconic Eats is the Fairmont Palliser's Hawthorn Room for Caesar's and ginger beef. Photo courtesy, Kaitlyn Basi 'I always say my number one travel tip is to do a food tour the first day you land in a new city,' says Karen Anderson, founder and president of Alberta Food Tours. 'You're going to meet a local, you'll get lots of other recommendations for later in your trip, and they're going to take you to different kinds of places.' A vacation is, obviously, the prime time for testing out a food tour. As Anderson said, a professional tour is an ideal way to hit the ground running, even for a casual gourmand. In an era where we can all read TripAdvisor or Yelp reviews, often written by other tourists who don't understand the nuances of a city's food culture, a well-crafted food tour comes together thanks to close relationships between the tour guide and participating vendors. Often, the offhand conversation about the city in question is as big a takeaway as the food itself. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Typically, you are hanging out with a local who provides a connection to the vendors and can share insider tips and local history and lore,' says Andy Olson, owner and operator of A Taste of Victoria Food Tours, which does food and brewery tours in Victoria, B.C. 'The connection I have with my vendors is the thing I'm most proud of. When I began this company, I was a patron at these places, but over the past nine years, I've become close friends with my vendors and their families.' A Taste of Victoria food tours have stops at some of the many breweries in town. Courtesy, A Taste of Victoria's Alleyways and Ales Craft Beer Tour But here's a wild idea: it's also worthwhile to take a food tour in your own city. Calgary is growing so quickly, it can take newcomers years of living here before even scratching the surface of our food scene, and even lifelong Calgarians can find it hard to keep up with what's new and interesting. In addition to the recently launched Iconic Eats of Calgary tour, Alberta Food Tours offers a brunch tour around the Calgary Farmers' Market West, a self-guided tour of Kensington, and the very popular 'Eat the Castle' tour around the Banff Springs Hotel. The company also runs a Holiday Baking Bus (a.k.a. 'cookie crawl') tour in November that includes dozens of cookies for guests to stash in their freezers for the holidays. Anderson says beyond those publicly available tours, her bread and butter are private tours and team gatherings for corporate groups, birthdays, family reunions, or other times when explorers would rather not have strangers in the mix. This is where customers can also choose different neighbourhoods to explore or customize the stops to suit their interests or tastes. Food Bike Tour leader Vanessa De Oliveira and her dog Roland. Herald files There are a few other food tour options in town: Food Bike Tour offers summertime food tours by bicycle and, for those who want to skip the human guide component, an outfit called Taste the City offers curated tasting routes where users hop from one restaurant to another when prompted by an app on their phones. Whatever people choose, Anderson says she's always happy when people want to experience stories through food. 'These tours are a morale boost,' Anderson. 'We now have serial food tour travellers. Because once they do one, they get it, and they want to do more.' Elizabeth Chorney-Booth can be reached at elizabooth@ Follow her on Instagram at @elizabooth or sign up for her newsletter at
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pro Gambler Placed 30 Bets On Terry Rozier In 46 Minutes In 2023 Which Triggered Federal Investigation
Pro Gambler Placed 30 Bets On Terry Rozier In 46 Minutes In 2023 Which Triggered Federal Investigation originally appeared on Fadeaway World. A 2023 NBA game between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans has resurfaced in headlines after documents revealed a professional gambler placed 30 bets in just 46 minutes, all targeting unders on Terry Rozier's stats. The bets were not only unusually timed but unusually accurate, as Rozier exited the game just 10 minutes in with a foot injury, finishing with five points, four rebounds, and two assists, all beneath their betting lines. The story, first reported by ESPN's David Purdum, has triggered a full-scale federal investigation now tying Rozier to the same betting probe that brought down former Raptors center Jontay Porter. The bets, totaling $13,759, were placed at Harrah's Gulf Coast sportsbook in Biloxi, Mississippi, with 29 of them logged at a self-service kiosk before 10 a.m., and the largest, a $2,700 bet on Rozier under 5.5 rebounds, was made in person using a casino loyalty card. Remarkably, all the bets cashed. Harrah's initially refused to pay out the winnings, citing internal rules against 'rigged' bets and alleging possible use of inside information. The Mississippi Gaming Commission got involved and demanded evidence. Caesars, Harrah's parent company, ultimately paid the full $13,017.70 in winnings to the bettor. The core suspicion hinges on timing. The fact that a rush of betting activity almost entirely on the unders of one player occurred well before game time and before Rozier was listed with any injury immediately raised red flags. Six different sportsbooks in Louisiana and Mississippi noticed the suspicious volume. According to ESPN, U.S. Integrity flagged the action and issued a nationwide alert by 2:24 p.m. that day, causing sportsbooks across the country to halt all Rozier prop bets within the hour. The NBA conducted its own review back in 2023 and found no evidence Rozier violated league rules. Still, two years later, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York has placed Rozier under investigation. His attorney, Jim Trusty, insists that while Rozier has cooperated fully with both the FBI and NBA, he is not a target. "It's unfortunate that he's a big name in sports and is having to endure all this. My hope and expectation is that at some point that they'll be done with their investigation and will be professional enough to let us know that it's 100 percent over and that they reached the same conclusion that was reached in 2023." The case mirrors the infamous Jontay Porter betting scandal that led to his lifetime ban. Porter admitted to manipulating in-game performance to hit unders and help others profit. Now, some of the same betting accounts tied to Porter also reportedly placed bets on Rozier in the Hornets-Pelicans game. Malik Beasley, most recently with the Detroit Pistons, is another player named in the probe. Not only is he under federal scrutiny, but he's also being sued by his barber, his dentist, and his former sports agency, adding layers of financial and legal chaos to his situation. NBA commissioner Adam Silver finally broke his silence recently on the widening scandal, stating that they are not shutting down the market because of a few bad apples. He defended the NBA's gambling partnerships but also warned that players must understand the consequences. But the incident has once again put the integrity of sports betting and player transparency under a harsh spotlight. The NBA, for now, is staying story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
