Trump-Harris Dramatic Odds Shift

• Brazil crackdown on internet gambling includes allegations of popular singer Gusttavo Lima operating an illegal online gambling business.
• Hurricane Helene gathering strength as betting market believes it will become a Category 4 storm by landfall.
• Donald Trump, Kamala Harris dramatic odds shift.

Gambling News

Brazil Crackdown on Internet Gambling

An appellate judge in Brazil has revoked an arrest warrant issued against the famous Brazilian singer, Gusttavo Lima, who, along with influencer Deolane Bezerra, are accused of money laundering and operating an illegal online gambling business.

Darwin Henrique da Silva Filho, along with his wife, turned themselves into authorities earlier this month. Filho is the CEO of Esportes da Sorte, the gambling company at the center of the sprawling investigation.

The singer received at least R$15.71m (US$2.87m) that prove his ties to illegal gambling, according to Judge Andrea Calado da Cruz. She also claims that Lima is the sole shareholder in these companies and that he received money via companies accused of laundering money from online gambling and jogo do bicho, a popular Brazilian illegal lottery.

Lima is also alleged to have received R$22.23m (US$4.06m) from selling a jet to one of the companies accused of money laundering.

A statement from the singer’s PR office said: “[the singer] would never be complicit in any act contrary to the laws of our country, and neither he nor his companies are involved in the subject of the police operation.”

Weather

90 Percent of Bettors Believe Hurricane Helene a Category 3 or Above at Landfall

Helene had reached hurricane status by Wednesday morning and gamblers at Kalshi believe overwhelmingly (90%) it will reach Category 3 status before landfall some time Thursday. 

The storm was forecast to become a Category 4 storm at landfall with 50% of the betting market backing this to happen.

Wind speeds in the storm are expected to reach at least 130 mph by Thursday afternoon, but the hurricane center noted “additional strengthening is possible” in the hours before landfall.

Maximum sustained winds were at 75 mph as of 7 pm EDT Wednesday evening.

Politics

Trump Vows to 'Take Other Countries' Jobs' in Economic Speech

Donald Trump pledged the US would “take other countries’ jobs” if he returned to the White House, as he laid out his plans to slash taxes and lower energy costs and regulations for manufacturers that made goods on US soil.

At a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia, Trump promised a "manufacturing renaissance", reiterating his pledge to punish American companies that manufactured outside the US, and slap large tariffs on foreign-made goods to protect US industries.

Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris have stepped up efforts to outline their competing visions for the economy in the final stretch of the campaign, highlighting what voters say is a top concern in the 2024 election.

Kamala Harris, meanwhile, gave what was billed as a "major economic speech".

"I am a capitalist," she insisted Wednesday while in Pittsburgh.

"Donald Trump also talked a big game on our trade deficit with China, but it is far lower under our watch than any year of his administration while he constantly got played by China," she said.

And she described Trump as someone who wants to help the wealthy and big businesses, but not average Americans.

"For Donald Trump, our economy works best if it works for those who own the big skyscrapers, not those who actually build them, not those who wire them, not those who mop the floors," she said.

The odds have shifted dramatically Wednesday with Trump and Harris locked in at -110 apiece following several days with Harris sitting around -130.