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NEW YORK, April 18 (Reuters) - Burger King is banking on its viral "Whopper Whopper" jingle to lift sales as part of the flagging fast-food chain's turnaround plan, as broader economic uncertainty pushed two big franchisees into bankruptcy. "I'm optimistic about the trajectory of sales in 2023," said U.S. and Canada Burger King president Tom Curtis in an interview, adding that the jingle's fervent success was "unanticipated." Unlike other fast-food chains like Subway that are consolidating restaurant ownership among fewer franchisees, Burger King is expanding the number of owners in its system. This year, two large U.S. Burger King franchisees that run more than 200 locations across at least 10 states have filed for bankruptcy, citing poor sales atop surging costs for labor and goods. "We don't want to diminish the importance of this crisis, but we also will leverage it to bring in new operators," Curtis said.

☆ A millennial who grew his net worth to $600,000 explains what it took to dig his way out of debt after overcoming a gambling addiction
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ambus Hunter, 36, said he almost went broke when he became addicted to gambling over a decade ago. His net worth is now about $600,000, and he works part time as a financial coach. Over the course of just four weeks, he said he lost roughly $10,000 — almost all his savings — playing roulette. Hunter said he'd had one major hiccup since he committed to quitting gambling but that he was able to get back on track. He said he set out to quickly replace the roughly $10,000 he'd lost.

☆ Here are Wednesday's top analyst calls of the day: Disney, Apple, Amazon, Dutch Bros, Meta & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Bank of America reiterates Disney as buy Bank of America said Disney remains "best-in-class." Piper Sandler reiterates Apple as overweight Piper said its survey checks show Apple is still a top pick for teens. Bank of America upgrades Livent to buy from neutral Bank of America said the lithium company's "value proposition" has increased. " Wedbush upgrades Dutch Bros to outperform from neutral Wedbush upgraded the coffee chain and said it sees more upside. Bank of America reiterates Apple as buy Bank of America raised its price target on Apple to $168 per share from $158 and said it sees iPhone trends stabilizing.

☆ Brazil targets Asian e-commerce giants, local companies in tax push
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRASILIA, April 3 (Reuters) - Brazil will soon unveil tax measures, including a crackdown targeting Asian e-commerce giants and curbs on some company tax benefits, as it looks to raise more than 100 billion reais ($20 billion), Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said on Monday. The e-commerce measures come in response to complaints from local retailers about unfair competition from Asian giants such as AliExpress, Shein, and Shopee. He later told journalists that combating the practice, which Haddad called "smuggling", should generate 7 billion reais to 8 billion reais in new revenue for the government. The most significant impact will come from the government's move to seek approval from the Federal Supreme Court to disallow companies from receiving tax breaks from states on operating expenses, which result in them paying less federal tax. The tax reform proposal should be voted in the Lower House by July and in the Senate by October, Haddad said.

☆ Taxes and adulting: What to know about filing taxes on your own for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Taxes are genuinely confusingIf you’re confounded by filing your taxes, you may think it’s because you’re young and inexperienced. Organize everything before filling out anythingYour tax return is a financial snapshot of your life over a 12-month period, in this case 2022. Above those levels, the child tax credit starts to get reduced. Deadlines matterYour federal tax return is due on April 18. That is the day by which you must have filed your 2022 individual tax return and paid any remaining federal income taxes owed for last year.

[1/2] Starbucks workers attend a rally as they go on a one-day strike outside a store in Buffalo, New York, U.S., November 17, 2022. REUTERS/Lindsay DeDario//File PhotoNEW YORK, March 29 (Reuters) - Starbucks shareholders approved a proposal for the coffee chain to conduct an independent assessment of its labor practices as it contends with hundreds of newly unionized U.S. cafes, according to voting results filed on Wednesday. The city's public pension funds and a coalition of other shareholders, who combined hold about 2.2 million Starbucks shares, proposed the assessment. "It is clear from the vote result in the proposal that our investors share our commitment to our partners," Starbucks said in its regulatory filing disclosing the results. The Seattle-based company said it will use findings of the review to "understand how we can best support our partners."

REUTERS/Julia NikhinsonWASHINGTON/NEW YORK, March 29 (Reuters) - Starbucks' former Chief Executive Howard Schultz defended himself and the coffee chain against allegations of "union busting" at a U.S. Senate committee hearing in Washington on Wednesday. Senator Bernie Sanders, Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, told Schultz that "Starbucks has waged the most aggressive and illegal union busting campaign in the modern history of our country." "These are allegations and Starbucks has not broken the law," Schultz told Sanders during the hearing. His return to Starbucks as its interim leader in April 2022 was "95% focused on the operations of the business" and his involvement in the company's union strategy has been "de minimis," Schultz said. Republicans defended Schultz, praising the company's competitive wages, health benefits, employee stock purchase program and other benefits.

[1/2] Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz looks on during its Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Seattle, Washington March 21, 2012. Senators blasted ex-Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz on Wednesday over the company's "union busting" when he was at the helm. Starbucks has denied allegations that it illegally fired pro-union baristas or spied on workers as hundreds of stores organized unions starting in late 2021. "These are allegations and Starbucks has not broken the law," Schultz told Sanders during the hearing. His return to Starbucks as its interim leader in April 2022 was "95% focused on the operations of the business" and his involvement in the company's union strategy has been "de minimis," Schultz said.

☆ Hedge Fund manager Dan Niles says the banking crisis will get worse. How to invest from here
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The market is still dealing with the potential fallout of the banking crisis and Satori Fund's Dan Niles says it could get a lot worse before it gets better. Investors have been abuzz lately about the possibility that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) would consider providing "blanket insurance" for all banking deposits. The next step in navigating the ongoing crisis starts there, Niles said. "The next phase is we have to expand the FDIC insurance," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" Thursday. Niles also mentioned that 3-month Treasury bills are a good opportunity to get a 4.7% return "with no risk."

☆ A 27-page report breaks down where the money is flowing in sports tech and the investors to watch. Here were 5 key takeaways.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Investment bank Drake Star broke down dealmaking in 2022 and what it means for the year ahead. Sports tech M&A activity in 2022, from Drake Star's Global Sports Tech Report 2022. Drake Star Global Sports Tech Report 2022The fourth quarter saw a surge in M&A volume with 67 deals, the most in the sector's recent history. More sports tech companies could explore public listings in the second half of the year. "Some of the IPO ready sports tech companies are expected to explore IPO/SPAC listings."

☆ Don't lose your life savings on your phone: A millennial with a sports-betting addiction explains how he's cut back as March Madness hype mounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

James said sports betting was a way to "lose your life savings on your phone." But sometimes gambling addiction gets you to do crazy things." While the highs were "exhilarating," James said, gambling began to take over his life. After downloading a sports-betting app, he began by betting roughly $50 to $100 at a time on anything from baseball to hockey to tennis. But then he started winning — at one point winning roughly 14 of 16 bets — which he said was the "worst thing" that could have happened to him.

☆ Betting on WWE matches? 'NFW!' say gaming operators and regulators
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Contessa Brewer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The Colorado Division of Gaming is not currently and has not considered allowing sports betting wagers on WWE matches," they said. It issued a public statement advising WWE to work with the gaming industry. replied Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM, whether he would be eager to accept wagers on the WWE's scripted matches. The American Gaming Association, which represents both commercial and tribal operators, told CNBC: "Both regulators and operators must have confidence in the integrity of the competitions." "Ultimately, most industry stakeholders seem to view WWE betting as even more optically-challenging than betting on awards shows," Sharp Alpha Advisors managing director Lloyd Danzig said.

☆ London fears for its future as companies defect to Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

London CNN —London is used to punching well above its weight in global financial markets. And 70% of global secondary bond market trading happens in the city, according to the London Stock Exchange. Beyond the jobs they create and the tax they generate, financial markets also channel capital into companies to fund future growth. In other words, to safeguard its future, London needs to reinvigorate its stock markets. Those “unicorns” should be listing in London “at an earlier stage,” Haynes argues, “rather than growing through private equity and being sold off to Nasdaq.”Hoggett of the London Stock Exchange puts it this way: “London needs to be young, scrappy and hungry.”

☆ WWE wants betting to become legalized as the wrestling organization lobbies state regulators
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

WWE reportedly wants its fans to be able to bet on its scripted matches just like other sports. WWE has presented betting on other events where results are predetermined like the Oscars as a comparable example. Under WWE's new proposal, it will keep the results of events secret for months by working with an accounting firm. The first states that WWE approached about the possibility of legalizing the bets included Michigan, Indiana, and Colorado, according to CNBC. In the few states where it's legal, some sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel allow betting on events like the Oscars in their mobile app, CNBC reported.

☆ WWE in talks with state gambling regulators to legalize betting on scripted match results
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

WWE is in talks with state gambling regulators in Colorado and Michigan to legalize betting on high-profile matches, according to people familiar with the matter. WWE executives have cited Oscars betting as a template to convince regulators gambling on scripted matches is safe, the people said. Still, while Academy Awards voting results are known by a select few before they're announced publicly, they aren't scripted by writers. Even if regulators allow gambling, betting companies would have to decide if they're willing to place odds on WWE matches even if it's legalized. Gambling regulators in Michigan and Colorado didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Amazon, Arista, Costco, Joby, Netflix & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Northcoast upgrades Costco to buy from hold Northcoast said it sees more upside for the wholesale retailer. " Goldman Sachs initiates Arista Networks and Juniper as buy Goldman initiated several networking equipment stocks, noting they are attractively valued. Deutsche Bank downgrades Joby to sell from hold Deutsche said it sees too many risks for the aviation company. Morgan Stanley reiterates Walmart as overweight Morgan Stanley said its standing by shares of Walmart as the retail giant continues to sign up new members for its Walmart+. Loop reiterates Netflix as hold Loop said its survey checks show that password sharing charging is increasing revenue for Netflix.

In a room full of executives in the sports or gambling industries, she's often one of very few women. But Howe has the spotlight, and a megaphone, as the chief executive of the nation's market leader in sports betting. But in many conversations — off the stage and behind the scenes — it's clear Howe stands as a role model to other women in sports and gambling. "We're working to make sure that we're not just hiring [women], but we're finding them, we're training them, we're providing opportunities for women. Jessica Gelman, who co-founded the MIT Sloan conference, is the CEO of Kraft Analytics Group, a company that provides sports analytics to teams like the New England Patriots.

☆ 9 deals that could shape US sports betting this year, as pent-up demand for M&A could bring operators like Fanatics back to the negotiating table
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sports-betting insiders say there's pent-up demand for M&A in the industry after dealmaking slowed to crawl last year. That may mean fewer media and other deals that don't offer a clear return on investment or cost efficiencies.. That may mean fewer media and other deals that don't offer a clear return on investment or cost efficiencies. One thing we may see less of this year is operators looking to bring their entire tech stacks in-house, like when Bally's acquired Bet.Works and PointsBet bought Banach Technologies. Here are nine potential deals industry insiders are watching in 2023, and how they could shake up the industry:

☆ Flutter profit at lower end of guidance, U.S. outperforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBLIN, March 2 (Reuters) - Flutter on Thursday reported full-year core profit at the lower end of its guidance range but its fast growing U.S. business outperformed expectations as it became the betting company's largest division by revenue. Full-year core profit excluding the U.S. grew 4% to 1.295 billion pounds ($1.55 billion) versus the forecast range of 1.29 billion pounds to 1.39 billion pounds. Customer-friendly sports results hit profitability in December, it said, but $3.2 billion in revenue at its U.S. FanDuel business was at the top end of a range that it upgraded in November. The U.S. operation made a core loss of $313 million, compared with expected losses of $300 million to $360 million. ($1 = 0.8352 pounds)Reporting by Padraic Halpin Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ MSG Networks to launch streaming service for Knicks, Rangers games
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

MSG Networks, James Dolan's cable-TV channels that feature local New York and New Jersey professional sports games, is launching its own streaming service. MSG Networks also said it recently launched a free, ad-supported streaming TV, or FAST, channel called MSG SportsZone, which is available nationally on Vizio televisions and the Plex streaming platform. The FAST channel features MSG Networks' programming centered around sports betting and classic games. MSG+ will only be available in the region that already carries its MSG Networks on cable-TV. MSG Networks' new streaming service will also allow fans to purchase single game streaming feeds for $9.99 per game.

☆ How a new $300 million private equity fund plans to invest and compete in sports media, 'the most valuable last commodity standing'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NBA vet Bobby Sharma and partner Kyle Charters just raised $300 million for sports-related investments. It's led by NBA and IMG vet Bobby Sharma and investment banking vet Kyle Charters, and it just announced it closed a $300 million fund to invest in sports-related media and entertainment. "And there are some sports media, entertainment, business executives who are learning private equities through their fundraising. Sports is "essentially the most valuable last commodity standing in the media landscape," Sharma said. You've got the incumbent media companies that are ensuring their survival by heavily investing as well.

☆ JPMorgan says little-known West Virginia fintech is positioned as 'bank of choice' for online gaming
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

JPMorgan says a little-known microcap financial holding company that began as a West Virginia community bank but is transitioning into a fintech is poised to become "the Silicon Valley Bank" of the online gaming industry. MVB Financial, with a market value of a little more than $330 million, is headquartered in Fairmont, West Virginia, population 18,000, about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh. Yet MVB, headed by CEO Larry Mazza, currently holds an 85% market share in banking for online gaming. "Over time, we see MVB as becoming 'the Silicon Valley Bank' of the online gaming industry," JPMorgan wrote. What's more, MVB Bank also provides banking services to support Credit Karma Money Spend and Save accounts.

☆ Barclays says buy MGM, a 'premium diversified global gaming operator' with nearly 40% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It's time for investors to bet on shares of MGM Resorts International , according to Barclays. Analyst Brandt Montour initiated coverage of the casino operator with an overweight rating, saying that shares should benefit from a recovery in Macao and continued strength in the Las Vegas market. MGM YTD mountain Shares have rise nearly 29% year to date MGM shares have surged nearly 29% after tumbling more than 25% in 2022. Compared to U.S. regional casinos, Montour expects Las Vegas to better weather a softening economy this year, which should bode well for MGM. MGM's "iGaming position is second to none, a business we are bullish on over the next 2-5 years," Montour said.

☆ DraftKings stock surges after sports-betting company boosts outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In this photo illustration, the American daily fantasy sports contest and sports betting company DraftKings logo is displayed on a smartphone screen. Shares DraftKings surged Friday morning after the sports-betting company reported stronger-than-expected revenue and raised its outlook for 2023. The bump in stock comes on the heels of DraftKings being the most downloaded sportsbook app in the U.S. on Super Bowl Sunday, according to the company. Analysts polled by Refinitiv had anticipated a loss of 59 cents per share on revenue of $800 million. DraftKings is raising its fiscal year 2023 revenue guidance to a range of $2.85 billion to $3.05 billion from the range it announced in November, $2.8 billion to $3 billion.

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Tesla, Nvidia, Roku, Coinbase, DraftKings, Disney & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on Friday: Compass Point upgrades Coinbase to buy from neutral Compass said the "long-term opportunities outweigh near-term risks." Goldman Sachs reiterates Tesla as buy Goldman said it's bullish heading into the company's investor day on March 1. KeyBanc reiterates Nvidia as overweight KeyBanc raised its price target on the stock to $280 per share from $220. Daiwa reiterates Disney as buy Daiwa said it sees international growth for Disney which will further drive parks outperformance. Evercore ISI adds a positive tactical call on Walmart Evercore said it's bullish on Walmart heading into earnings next week.

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