🐤 Wanna bet?

💸 Billion-dollar blessing: An Oregon man who recently won a staggering $1.3 billion lottery jackpot recently shared the very personal reason he says the prize was such a blessing to his family. Cheng Saephan has been fighting cancer for nearly a decade and said he will use the newfound wealth to “find a good doctor” and provide for his family. Beyond that, the Laotian immigrant said he is unsure whether he will live long enough to enjoy the winnings in the long-term but nonetheless asserted that he is “blessed” and “thankful” for the opportunity.

🎥 Quarter-century comeback: If you remember watching “Star Wars: Episode I” when it was released in theaters, it might make you feel old when you realize that was 25 years ago. And you’ll also probably have a nostalgic reaction to the release of a new lineup of posters for “The Phantom Menace” to commemorate its anniversary. Four versions are currently available online through Bottleneck Gallery, just in time for Saturday’s unofficial “Star Wars” appreciation day, a.k.a. “May The Fourth Be With You.”

📲 Oversharing carriers: The nation’s biggest wireless carriers — AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon — are on the receiving end of a major Federal Communications Commission fine over the practice of selling personal user data to other entities. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the nearly $200 million in assessed fines, accusing carriers of sharing “some of the most sensitive data in their possession: customers’ real-time location information, revealing where they go and who they are.”

⚽ World Cup considerations: A plan was underway until recently for FIFA officials in the U.S. and Mexico to pursue a joint effort to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, but the nations recently announced that they were pulling their bid out of contention. Instead, the potential U.S.-Mexico competition has been pushed back to 2031, thus reducing the field of nations still seeking the duty for the 2027 World Cup. As it stands, Brazil is still in the running as is a collaborative campaign by Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

🏦 Markets: April came in with a bang but went out with a whimper on Wall Street, particularly for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The index lost 5% over the course of the month, marking its biggest monthly loss in more than a year and a half.

The Nasdaq and S&P 500 weren’t far behind, losing 4.4% and 4.2% in April, respectively.

Today’s Federal Reserve meeting is expected to reveal the central bank’s reticence toward slashing interest rates, which doesn’t bode especially well for the first trading day of May.

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It wasn’t that long ago that most folks had to travel to Vegas or Atlantic City in order to place bets, but the past few years have seen a massive spike in the number of states allowing gambling of some form.

The most popular version involves sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings, but a growing number of companies tangentially related to the world of competitive gaming are eager to dip their toes in the water — and that even includes the restaurant/arcade chain Dave & Buster’s.

What’s in the app?

While Dave & Buster’s serves a more grown-up clientele than Chuck E. Cheese, it was still somewhat surprising for many fans to learn that they would soon be able to place bets on the outcome of some of the games offered at locations across the country.

According to reports, the company has partnered with a software company called Lucra to provide new betting features in its existing app … but it’s worth noting that they’ll be reserved to users over the age of 18 and only available in 44 states where such activity is legal.

Lucra explained that “loyalty members” will be able to “digitally compete with each other, earn rewards, and unlock exclusive perks” for an experience that combines “the sports arena and the arcade for an unparalleled, gamified experience.”

Some questions remain

Although Lucra touted its objective to maintain a “safe and trustworthy” environment for those who choose to participate, Dave & Buster’s didn’t immediately address concerns about children accessing some of these 18+ features.

There are already mounting fears about whether the nationwide embrace of gaming will have long-lasting negative consequences, but Dave & Buster’s exec Simon Murray was nevertheless enthusiastic about the chance to offer a “real-time, unrivaled gaming experience” and “elevate our customer experience through innovative, cutting-edge technology.”

As cryptocurrency continues to gain a foothold in the national and global economy, the arrival of scammers and fraudsters was inevitable. And that means, like in previous forms of white-collar crime, there are going to be some very wealthy people charged, convicted, and sentenced to prison.

The guilty plea of former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (commonly referred to as CZ) adds a new dimension to this story. His $43 billion fortune dwarfs that of any other individual ever sentenced to serve time in prison.

A four-month stint

Zhao appeared in court yesterday to learn his fate after admitting to his violation of legal requirements aimed at thwarting money laundering. Prosecutors wanted him to receive a three-year prison sentence, but a judge in the case opted for a significantly shorter four-month term.

As a result of an investigation into Binance’s operations, Zhao agreed to step down as its chief executive … but he reportedly maintains a 90% stake in the crypto exchange. That means his personal fortune could easily continue to grow even as he bides his time behind bars.

How CZ stacks up

Zhao’s attorneys had hoped that he wouldn’t spend any time in prison despite sentencing guidelines for the crime falling between 12 and 18 months. He sent a letter to the judge in February in which he admitted — and apologized for — the “poor decisions” he made at the helm of the company.

That was followed up by the defense team’s assertion that his “lack of criminal history” and “acceptance of responsibility” (not to mention a “devotion” to his family) warranted a probated sentence and house arrest.

But now he’s got the dubious distinction of being the richest man behind bars, with a net worth nearly $20 billion higher than disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried had at his peak.

For many adults who arrange a trip to Walt Disney World, the primary objective is to create lasting memories for their kids. But a few experiences can make it the “happiest place on Earth” for grown-ups too.

One of the most notable is the fine-dining restaurant Victoria & Albert’s. Now there’s an even more compelling reason for foodies to visit the world-famous theme park.

The coveted Michelin Star

If you know much about the restaurant industry, you’re already familiar with the Michelin Star. It’s only awarded to the best of the best, and Victoria & Albert’s recently became the park’s first to earn a Michelin rating.

In fact, it’s the first time any U.S.-owned theme park has operated a Michelin-rated restaurant.

But if you’re expecting the casual, Disney-themed experience of other park food, this ain’t it.

Here’s what you can expect:

• A menu featuring multi-course meals designed by head chef Matthew Sowers
• A wine selection offering more than 500 options to pair with your food choices
• A hefty price tag, with complete meals starting at nearly $300 per person

And despite Disney World’s kid-friendly environment, this restaurant — inspired by Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Celebration — is reserved for guests over the age of 10.

Good luck landing a table

As the Michelin Guide explained in its review, obtaining a reservation is challenging, but “the reward is a kind of magic rarely seen these days.”
The glowing assessment went on to describe an “intimate” setting with a slow pace of service reminiscent of a “three-hour waltz orchestrated by a gracious brigade of veteran servers.”

After two decades in operation at Disney’s Grand Floridian, Sowers says the latest accolade is a reflection of the hard work by the entire team, adding: “We hope to inspire future generations of culinary professionals to follow their dreams.”