Majority Leader Lou Greenwald on the Passage of the FY27 State Budget

“I’m proud that New Jersey has once again delivered a responsible budget for the hardworking families we serve, with meaningful property tax relief and the preservation of the Stay NJ program.

“At a time when dangerous, shortsighted federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and Affordable Care Act subsidies are shifting billions of dollars in costs onto states and pulling critical support away from families, New Jersey has stepped up to protect the services our residents rely on.”

National Night Out In Gloucester Township- August 4, 2026

On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, neighborhoods throughout Gloucester Township are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for National Annual Night Out (NNO) crime/drug prevention event. National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and co-sponsored locally by the Gloucester Township Police Department and will involve communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases around the world.

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Arts and history happenings for everyone

From historic museums to modern experiential attractions and world-class entertainment, Center City offers countless ways to spend a memorable day with friends and family. The list below offers a sample of the many programs and promotions now offered on our Experience page.

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Rooftop jazz, matchmaking, and cooking classes

Whatever you’re hungry for, Center City’s restaurant scene is brimming with delicious options like tasting menus, elaborate brunch experiences and much more. Whether you’re dining on a budget, splurging on a special occasion or looking for a great night out, we have a curated list of happenings on our Dine page. 

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NJ Leg. Passes Good Environment and Energy Bills

A suite of critical energy and environmental bills passed the NJ Legislature with New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 27 (FY27) Budget session. 

The following bills have passed both the Assembly and Senate, and head to Governor Sherrill’s desk to await her signature:

  • Data Center Tariff Bill: S731 (Burzichelli)/A796 (Bailey) – This bill is critical to ensuring big tech companies pay their fair share, as it requires electric public utilities to develop and apply special tariffs for large-load data centers to protect ratepayers from increased costs from their massive energy consumption and their possible infrastructure upgrades. 
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Experience Fourth of July in Center City

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation in the city where it all happened. Make it a night at one of the many hotels hosting Independence Day events, take in the rich history that you’ll find at every turn and of course, don’t miss the live show and fireworks! 

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Assembly Passes Katz Bill Package to Strengthen Online Protections for Minors

The General Assembly on Tuesday passed a three-bill package sponsored by Assemblywoman Andrea Katz that addresses the growing youth mental health crisis and strengthens protections for minors online.

“Social media has become a central part of daily life for young people, but we are learning more and more about the risks that can come with excessive use, addictive platform features, and the collection of minors’ personal data,” said Assemblywoman Katz (D-Atlantic, Burlington). “As a mom of three teenagers, I know social media isn’t going anywhere. Our responsibility is to make sure the digital world is safer for kids. This package takes a thoughtful, comprehensive approach by strengthening privacy protections, investing in research, and giving policymakers the information they need to better protect children while helping families and educators support healthier online habits.”

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Maryland Fishing Report – July 1

July 4 is a license-free fishing day throughout Maryland, so if you have a friend or relative who doesn’t currently fish, take them out with you.

Large red drum are providing catch-and-release fishing for anglers near the mouth of the Potomac River.

White perch can be found in the tidal rivers and creeks, sometimes mixed in with spot and croaker.

All the tidal rivers have populations of blue and channel catfish, and the larger female blue catfish are showing signs of being finished with spawning; they are now on the prowl to build up body stores. .

Check out the full report.

How Cryptocurrencies are Revolutionizing the Online Gambling Industry

The advent of cryptocurrency has sparked a modern-day digital gold rush, as investors and industries race to leverage the power of coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. While crypto volatility grabs headlines, a quiet revolution is happening in online gambling. Cryptocurrencies enable fast, private betting unrestricted by regulation or banking bottlenecks.

This perfect storm of anonymity and independence is accelerating the $66.7 billion global online gambling industry’s shift from fiat money. Let’s explore the undercurrent sweeping bookmakers, casinos, lottery, poker, and bingo brands to crypto.

Trustless Transactions Build Trust

Cryptocurrency solves two central issues for the online gambling sector – privacy and speed. For instance, RetroBet players have traditionally relied on banks or payment processors like Visa and PayPal to move money. These financial middlemen demand identity verification, track transactions, and can block payments they deem suspicious.

For passionate online gamblers seeking anonymity, this is unacceptable overreach. Cryptocurrencies operate on public blockchains secured by advanced cryptography, not third parties. Gambling sites leveraging crypto allow fast deposits and withdrawals without collecting sensitive user data. Their decentralized design also makes government oversight extremely difficult.

Most recreational bettors prefer privacy and convenience over brand recognition. A 2021 study showed that 58% of online gamblers use crypto to conceal their activity, while 68% cited faster payouts as the main benefit. As more players experience the perks firsthand, adoption is soaring.

Key Crypto Gambling Statistics

  • – 130 million people play online casino games or bet sports using cryptocurrency as of Q1 2022
  • – The crypto gambling industry will reach $260 billion by 2027
  • – 58% of online gamblers use crypto to hide gambling activity from banks or family members
  • – 68% say faster withdrawals and deposits are the main appeal
  • – 81% of online gambling sites now accept at least one cryptocurrency

Bitcoin and Offshore Sites

In crypto’s early days, Bitcoin was essentially the only game in town. The first regulated gambling site to accept BTC was SatoshiDice in 2012. But Bitcoin’s fixed supply and independence from banks appealed most to unlicensed offshore sites operating in legal grey areas.

Through the mid-2010s, crypto gambling remained an exotic concept. But pioneers like FortuneJack, BitStarz, mBit, and Betcoin.ag built reputations for quick cash outs without onerous “know your customer” requirements. This attracted American players to overseas sites as an end-run around restrictive US gaming laws.

Bitcoin’s semi-anonymous nature (all transactions are public, but wallet owners remain unknown) enabled true global access. Whether seeking big jackpots or sports odds unavailable locally, players used Bitcoin to place otherwise impossible bets anonymously. Crypto gambling sites saw usage and revenues grow steadily through word-of-mouth.

The offshore sector now generates $16 billion in cryptocurrency wagers annually from 30 million players. While still a fraction of fiat totals, it’s growing over 20% per year despite little mainstream promotion. However, Bitcoin’s high fees and slow settlement saw players yearn for better crypto options.

Altcoin Adoption – Lower Fees and Higher Speed

Since 2017, rising transaction costs and congestion have strained Bitcoin’s capacity. With average fees approaching $20, gambling sites adopted lower-cost cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals. This altcoin boom gave players more choice between privacy, speed, or brand familiarity.

The most widely-used alternatives today are Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Tron (TRX), Monero (XMR), and stablecoins like Tether (USDT). Transaction fees are just pennies, while confirmation times range from seconds for XRP/TRX to minutes for BCH/LTC/ETH. Sites typically recommend using TRX or XRP to move funds cost-effectively.

According to CryptoGamblingNews, altcoin support is now mandatory for any credible site:

“Every online crypto casino worth its salt needs to have at least Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, and Tether as options nowadays. Supporting other coins like Cardano, Solana or Polkadot is also becoming more common.”

This flexibility lets gamblers choose their deposit/withdrawal coin based on fees, volatility, wealth growth, or other factors. Lesser-known cryptos also enable betting emerging niches like gaming, sports collectibles, prediction markets, and more via features unavailable using fiat.

Regulation

While most government entities still grapple to define cryptocurrency, much less legislate it appropriately, the EU is pushing forward. In 2021, the bloc advanced a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto assets like utility and security tokens.

More locally, Malta pioneered accepting digital assets back in 2018. The small Mediterranean nation has since attracted significant operations from top global gaming brands like Betsson, Kindred, and GiG. Rival jurisdictions like Isle of Man, Curacao, Gibraltar, and the UK also regulate crypto gambling to varying degrees.

The biggest sign of crypto’s online gambling legitimacy came recently from Sweden. In 2021, state-run operator Svenska Spel integrated cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals across its sportsbook and lottery platforms. Players can now fund accounts in BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, DOGE, and more.

Svenska Spel Sport & Casino CEO Jonas Nygren explained the landmark decision:

“When consumers show increasing interest in other payment solutions than those traditionally offered, we as a company must adapt. It is then natural for us to also open up the opportunity to deposit with cryptocurrencies.”

Look for other European nations and Canada to follow suit in regulating cryptocurrency gaming transactions, either directly or through digital asset legislation. This will spur the next phase of mainstream crypto adoption.

In Summary

Rising from obscure origins on Bitcoin-friendly offshore sites, cryptocurrencies now stand poised to disrupt online gambling. The core appeals of privacy and speed that first attracted players still hold true. But increased altcoin support, regulation, and adoption by traditional brands are set to unlock mass market potential.

As more people realize the benefits of trustless, instant transactions for betting and gaming, expect crypto to challenge fiat currency’s dominance. Much like the gold rushes of centuries past, the early pioneers gave way to big business. But this time everyone with an Internet connection can stake their claim.

 

 

FIFA World Cup 2026™ round-of-16 match this Saturday, at Philadelphia Stadium

The official bus carrying the France soccer team sped by Connie and me early Friday, July 3, 2026 as we drove north on Route 295. Insignias of the France team logo, along with FIFA World Cup 2026 was wrapped on both sides of the vehicle. photo credit Connie Cleary CNBNews photographer

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PHILADELPHIA PA (July 3, 2026)(CNBNews)--To mark the United States’ Independence Day and the nation’s 250th anniversary, FIFA will celebrate the holiday with special pre-game programming at both the FIFA World Cup 2026™ round-of-16 match this Saturday, at Philadelphia Stadium.

The celebration in Philadelphia will honor the city’s history and continued legacy as the United States’ birthplace.

Philadelphia Stadium pre-match highlights will include the following:

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