Betr Sportsbook to cease mobile sports betting operations in Virginia

Virginia sports betting enthusiasts using Betr Sportsbook will need to find a new platform for their mobile wagers. The company has announced its decision to discontinue mobile sports betting operations in Virginia, effective July 1.

The company stated the difficult decision was made after carefully considering the current market and prospects for Betr's specific business model within the commonwealth.

"We want to thank you for being a loyal customer of Betr,” the company said in an email to customers. “Unfortunately, we have had to make the difficult decision to shut down mobile sports betting operations in Virginia.” Sporting events starting on or after July 1 will not be available for betting on Betr.

The company is providing ample time for customers to manage their accounts. The company will release any deposits locked due to sign-up bonus terms and conditions by 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 20, ensuring customers can access their funds.

Account access will remain available until Sept. 30. This extended timeframe allows users to finalize any outstanding bets and withdraw their remaining account balances. Customers with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Betr's support team.

Despite the closure of the mobile sportsbook, Betr will maintain its Betr Picks platform for Virginia customers. Betr Picks offers a different type of sports prediction game and will continue to be available within the state. The company’s sportsbook went live in Virginia on Sept. 6, 2023.

This announcement marks a shift in the Virginia sports betting landscape, leaving residents to explore alternative mobile betting options currently available within the commonwealth.

Currently, there are 12 online sportsbooks available in Virginia for betting:

• Bally Bet
• bet365
• BetMGM
• Betr Sportsbook
• BetRivers
• Caesars Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook
• ESPN BET
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• FanDuel Sportsbook
• Hard Rock Bet
• Sporttrade

Gold mining stocks shine as market volatility persists: NAK and BTG in focus

As global markets continue to navigate economic uncertainty, gold remains a sought-after asset, drawing attention to mining companies involved in its extraction. Two companies, Northern Dynasty Minerals (NYSEAMERICAN: NAK) and B2Gold Corp (NYSEAMERICAN: BTG), are attracting significant investor interest, each for distinct reasons.

Northern Dynasty Minerals

Northern Dynasty Minerals, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, is primarily focused on developing the Pebble Project, a vast copper, gold, and molybdenum deposit located in southwest Alaska. While still in the exploration phase, the Pebble Project holds immense potential, estimated to contain one of the world's largest undeveloped copper and gold resources. However, the project has faced significant environmental scrutiny and regulatory hurdles, contributing to volatility in NAK's stock price. Investors are closely looking for updates on permitting and potential partnerships that could unlock the project's value.

NAK shares are up 335.71% over the last 52 weeks (June 17, 2024 to Jan. 13, 2025). Shares closed at $1.22 on Friday, down 0.81% for the day. NAK has a 52-week low of $0.27 and a high of $1.36. Currently, the company does not pay dividends.

On the other hand, B2Gold Corp, a Canadian gold producer with operations in Mali, Namibia, and the Philippines, presents a more established profile, but its dividend is on life support.

B2Gold Corp.

BTG boasts a robust production history and a strong balance sheet, making it a potentially attractive option for investors seeking stability within the gold mining sector. Recent quarterly reports have highlighted consistent gold production and cost management, further bolstering investor confidence. The company's focus on responsible mining practices and a clear growth strategy adds to its appeal.

BTG shares are up 48.43% over the last 52 weeks (June 17, 2024 to June 13, 2025). Shares closed at $3.77 on Friday, up 1.62% for the day. BTG has a 52-week low of $2.20 and a high of $3.83.

Dividend History

On May 7, B2Gold's board of directors declared a cash dividend for the second quarter of 2025 of $0.02 per common share, payable on June 24 to shareholders of record as of June 11. At least there still is a dividend, if not much of one.

In January, BTG’s management and board of directors said they had completed a comprehensive review of its existing dividend level and approved a change in its intended quarterly dividend rate from $0.04 per common share to $0.02 per common share.

Since payment of its inaugural dividend in 2020, B2Gold has paid a sector-leading dividend, principally funded through the strong free cash flow generation from its three existing operating mines. In total, B2Gold has paid approximately $870 million in dividends to shareholders since 2020.

The company is scheduled to deliver approximately 265,000 gold ounces from July 2025 to June 2026. The price of gold at 9:20 a.m. EDT on Friday stood at $3,440 per ounce, a jump of $1,107 from a year prior.

Disclaimer: This post is provided for information purposes only and should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. I am neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. Keith Stein has no position in any stock mentioned in this post. DCNewsroom has no position in any stock mentioned in this post.

NASA and NOAA start work on new space weather prediction instrument

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are collaborating on a critical project to improve space weather forecasting capabilities. The agencies are preparing to release a Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Space weather Observations at Lagrange 1 (SOL) X-Ray Irradiance Sensor (XRIS) instrument.

The SOL mission is a joint high-priority initiative. Two SOL observatories are planned. One will provide NOAA with continuous solar wind data and Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) imagery. The second observatory (SOL-B) will house the XRIS instrument, which will provide crucial X-ray irradiance data.

XRIS Instrument

XRIS will measure the energy output of solar radiation, enabling scientists to detect changes in solar activity, such as solar flares, and better predict solar energetic particle events. Monitoring X-ray flares is critical as they can disrupt the Earth's ionosphere, leading to radio bursts that interfere with satellite communication and navigation systems. Solar flares are also sometimes associated with CMEs, which can trigger geomagnetic storms.

Top Priority

Under the planned procurement, NASA will acquire one flight-ready XRIS instrument and one spare. These instruments will guarantee the continuity and resilience of X-ray irradiance observations, a "high availability product" considered a top priority for space weather monitoring by the National Weather Service. The SOL-B observatory, carrying XRIS, is currently scheduled for launch in October 2032.

Contract Details

The selected contractor will be responsible for the full lifecycle of the instrument, including design, development, fabrication, integration, testing, and calibration. Support for launch activities, on-orbit checkout, ground support equipment, ground processing algorithms, and support for the Mission Operations Center at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility are also included in the contract.

The overall contract period is projected to run from the award date through January 2034, encompassing the operational handover of the instrument to NOAA.

Interested contractors are encouraged to review and comment on the Draft RFP upon its release, which is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025. The final RFP is expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2025, with contract award anticipated in the second quarter of 2026.