Video: Super-secret spaceplane will change its orbit using aerobraking maneuvers

The Boeing-built X-37B will soon perform a series of advanced aerobraking maneuvers, taking the spaceplane from a Highly Elliptical Orbit, where it’s been operating since December 2023, and lowering its altitude using minimal fuel.

This will be the first time Boeing, the United States Space Force, and the X-37B attempt to accomplish this novel demonstration.

During aerobraking, the X-37B will use the drag of Earth’s atmosphere to slow it down, reducing the vehicle’s energy and changing the orbit while expending minimal fuel.

In a company press release, Boeing states the vehicle will dispose of a Service Module while the orbit change maneuver is performed “safely and responsibly.” Once aerobraking is complete, the X-37B will resume its test and experimentation objectives. No details are provided on what exactly the X-37B is doing during its mission.

With every mission, the X-37B innovates and breaks new records. The robotic vehicle flies in space without a crew. Managed by the U.S. military, the reusable spaceplane has flown several missions in Earth orbit and can remain in space for years. The spaceplane is now 10 months into its 7th mission, known as Orbital Test Vehicle-7.

Once its secret mission is complete, the vehicle will land back on Earth like an aircraft.

“There is no other space platform as capable, flexible, and maneuverable as the X-37B, and its next demonstration will be another proof point that this test vehicle sets the pace of innovation,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing’s Space Mission Systems.

“This first-of-a kind maneuver from the X-37B is an incredibly important milestone for the United States Space Force as we seek to expand our aptitude and ability to perform in this challenging domain,” said Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations.

Tax revenue from Maryland sports betting nearly triples in September

Maryland’s sports wagering market had the most successful month in its nearly three-year history with the start of the 2024 NFL season.

For September, sports betting in Maryland generated $9.3 million in tax revenue for the state from a handle of over $532 million. A portion of the taxes collected from sports wagering go to the Blueprint or Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs.

The $9.3 million contribution to the state in September was nearly triple the $3.2 million figure in September 2023. Previously, the top-performing month was January, when sports wagering sent more than $8.2 million to the Blueprint Fund. There were 11 mobile platforms and 12 retail locations operating during September; 12 mobile sportsbooks and 13 retail locations operated during September 2023.

Through the first quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 (July 2024 through September 2024), sports wagering contributions to the state totaled $21.2 million, compared to $9.1 million for the same period in FY2024.

“We’re encouraged that the sports wagering market continues to generate additional funding to support schools, and at the same time we also encourage everyone to be responsible about their betting,” said Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin. “Mobile wagering apps have tools that allow you to set limits on your activity. If you bet, please enjoy it in moderation and leave room to simply have fun watching the games and being a sports fan.”

Maryland opened its first retail sportsbooks in December 2021 with online/mobile sports wagering following in November 2022.

Retail Sportsbooks

In-person betting at Maryland retail sportsbooks handled over $13.9 million from bettors in September. Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover had the top handle of over $4 million. The casino hosts a FanDuel Sportsbook.

Greenmount OTB in Hampstead recorded the lowest retail handle at $150,040.50, The sportsbook, betPARX, is located inside Greenmount Station Restaurant.

Online/Mobile Betting

Online/mobile betting reported a handle of over $518 million. FanDuel’s online sportsbook reported the highest handle at $231 million in September.

Veterans Services Corp. (VSC) and its operator partner Bee-Fee LLC had the lowest handle for online/mobile wagering. VSC reported a $376,570.11 handle for September. The betting service is available at LetsBetMD.com.

Online sports betting handles in Maryland for September 2024:

• FanDuel: $231.8 million
• DraftKings $175.8 million
• BetMGM: $39.3 million
• Caesars Sportsbook: $22.9 million
• Fanatics Sportsbook: $22.4 million
• ESPN BET: $15.5 million
• BetRivers: $6.2 million
• Bally Bet: $3 million
• Crab Sports: $653,984.66
• betPARX: $452,955.76
• LetsBetMD: $376,570.11

Hard Rock sets date to open full casino resort in Virginia

Hard Rock International announced on Wednesday that they are in final preparations to open its full resort next month.

The United Company, Par Ventures, and Hard Rock have selected Nov. 14 for the grand opening of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol in Virginia. The venue will host a grand opening ceremony featuring the signature Hard Rock Guitar Smash and a concert by country music icon Blake Shelton at the new Hard Rock Live entertainment venue to commemorate the historic milestone.

Bristol Casino, a temporary casino located at 500 Gate City Highway in Bristol, VA, has been open since July 2022. The full permanent casino will open its doors to the public on Nov. 14 at 12 p.m.

“We are thrilled to open Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol,” said Jon Lucas, COO of Hard Rock International. “Hard Rock’s rich history fits perfectly with Bristol’s distinction as the ‘Birthplace of Country Music.’ Both the Hard Rock brand and the new hotel & casino are rooted in great music. With this property, Bristol — and the entire region — have a new major entertainment destination, filled with gaming, exciting food & beverage offerings, live entertainment, and world class service for all visitors. Hard Rock is proud to open this amazing facility to serve the residents and visitors to the Tri-Cities area.”

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is a 620,000-square-foot resort destination that will feature nearly 1,500 slot machines, over 50 table games, a sportsbook, a 303-room hotel, and multiple dining options, including a signature Hard Rock Cafe, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, YOUYU Asian Dining, Constant Grind, and the Marketplace. The facility also will house a Rock Shop, 2,000-plus seat Hard Rock Live, authentic music memorabilia, and much more.

In a joint statement, Jim McGlothlin, chairman, of The United Company, and Clyde Stacy, president, Par Ventures, shared their perspectives on the opening of the permanent facility.

“The opening of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is such a pivotal milestone for the city of Bristol and our entire Tri-Cities region across Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee,” the statement read. “This project has created new jobs and generated additional tax revenue, serving as an economic engine and bringing hope to our community.”

Casino Tax Dollars

Three casinos are operating in Virginia: Bristol Casino, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, and Danville Casino. Bristol Casino opened in July 2022, followed by Rivers Casino in January 2023, and Danville Casino in May 2023.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth bypassed a temporary casino and opened Virginia’s first full permanent facility with a hotel “coming soon,” according to their website. Danville Casino, a temporary location, will grow into a full Caesars Virginia resort managed by Caesars Entertainment. The grand opening for Caesars Virginia is planned around Dec. 2. An official date has not been announced.

During August, Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) from Virginia’s three casinos totaled $63.1 million. Over $11 million was paid in taxes to the state from August AGR, according to a monthly report from the Virginia Lottery.

The temporary Bristol Casino facility generated $15.9 million in AGR in August, according to the lottery’s casino gaming activity report.

Since opening in July 2022, Bristol Casino has hit impressive milestone numbers:

Welcomed over 3 million guests

Paid over $66,000,000 in gaming taxes to the Commonwealth of Virginia

Donated more than $960,000 to support local community non-profits

Paid out over $260,000,000 in jackpots

Promoted over 600 team members

Processed over 55,000 employment applications 

“I am so proud of everyone who has helped us prepare for the grand opening,” said Allie Evangelista, President, of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol. “Our incredible Hard Rock team has worked so hard to reach this milestone moment, and we have been inspired by the amazing support from the Bristol community. This new facility will offer the world-class entertainment and dining that Hard Rock is recognized for across the globe. We invite you to come check out the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, whether to game, dine or relax.”

Casino Player Development

With the grand opening just months away, Hard Rock had their casino host participate in a Casino Player Development Education program in September. It’s the job of a casino host to maintain regular contact with loyal gamblers and repeat customers of a location and provide complimentary services and incentives to customers.

The player development education program held in September was designed to “educate the casino hosts and VIP reps on how to do exactly what the tile means: Initiate, Locate, Communicate, Prospect, Call, Evaluate, and Close on the prospecting casino gamer.” That’s according to Nick Ippolito, a trainer, speaker, and motivator in the casino industry. Ippolito provided the casino host education program for Hard Rock in September. He has served over 100 native and commercial-owned casinos since 1999.

Casinos award players complimentary services or items based on their average daily theoretical loss (or ADT). Theoretical loss is the amount of money a player is expected to lose depending on what game he/she is playing (slot machines, roulette, blackjack, etc…).

During one of his recent education sessions, Ippolito’s material stated “Comps are not rewards. They are incentives to play more.” Comps can be free hotel rooms, casino play, gifts, or even a full cruise for high-level players.

BetFred Sportsbook says goodbye to Virginia

U.K.-based company BetFred Sports announced Monday they will be leaving Virginia’s online sports betting market later this month.

“As of October 21, 2024, Betfred will no longer be available for online sports wagering to players located in Virginia,” the company said in an email to customers. The company set Oct. 1 as the last date available for new account creation, deposits, and wagers for Virginia Betfred players.

“Please initiate a withdrawal of your funds, by your preferred method from the app or our website by 10 p.m., Oct. 21,” BetFred said in their email. “If you do not initiate a withdrawal by this time, all balances will be issued by check to the address we have for you on file, within 30 days.”

BetFred Sportsbook went live in the Old Dominion on Feb. 1, 2023, providing some unique betting opportunities. The company provided betting odds for football, basketball, hockey, tennis, soccer, and alternate sports such as bare-knuckle fighting and bull riding.

In August, a Virginia Lottery report stated BetFred held a 0.10% share of the online sports betting market in the state.  FanDuel leads Virginia sports betting with a 39.91% market share with DraftKings following at 27.44%.

Leaving U.S. Market Altogether

Earlier this month BetFred announced they plan to fully close service in Arizona by Nov. 4. The news follows shortly after the company exited the states of Colorado and Ohio.

In July, BetFred closed its retail sportsbook and online services in Maryland.

“This was not the first time this has happened in Maryland. I don’t think it’s gonna be the last time,” Maryland Lottery Director John Martin said during a monthly meeting.

CEO For a Year

BetFred USA’s current CEO has been on the job for only a year. A recognized online gaming industry leader, Kresimir Spajic was appointed BetFred USA CEO in September 2023.

Spajic has decades of experience in domestic and international online gaming. He has previously held various executive and principal consulting roles with Great Canadian Entertainment, Apollo Global Management, Hard Rock International, Rush Street Interactive, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, and Bwin. Spajic said he looked to build a sustainable business in the U.S., following his appointment.

The company entered the U.S. sports betting market in 2019 when Betfred USA was formed.

Even with the departure of several sportsbooks, Virginia’s sports betting is very much alive and well.

Continued Growth in Virginia Sports Wagering

Virginia will be left with 11 online and three retail sportsbooks once BetFred leaves later this month. Online sportsbooks currently activity in the Old Dominion include Bally Bet, bet365, BetFred, BetMGM, Betr Sportsbook, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics, FanDuel, and Hard Rock Bet.

Retail sportsbooks are located at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, and Caesars Virginia in Danville. There are no legal online casinos in Virginia.

On Tuesday, the Virginia Lottery released its latest report on sports wagering activity submitted by licensed operators for August.

Between Aug. 1 and Aug. 31, gamblers in Virginia wagered $416,689,217 on sports. That $416 million is 30.6% higher than last August. In return, winning bettors in Virginia won a total of $376,545,350 in August.

State law places a 15% tax on all sports betting activity. An estimated $5,241,930.27 in taxes was paid to the Commonwealth from sports betting in August.

New Phoenix Link slot game a follow-up to international hit Dragon Link

Aristocrat Gaming is turning up the heat with the release of the new Phoenix Link slot machine.

The company says the all-new slot game perfectly complements the company’s landmark player-favorite Dragon Link. The game brings new twists and turns that provide players with more features, entertainment, and ways to win.

Phoenix Link will premiere in the Aristocrat Gaming booth at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas next month. The game will first hit casino floors in North America.

“Phoenix Link and Dragon Link are the ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ to each other,” said Victor Duarte, executive vice president of Gaming Product for Aristocrat Gaming. “While they come from the same family, the Phoenix has its own, fiery personality that brings together game features we know players love, and some new ones we’re excited for them to discover. This game is brought to life in a way that only Aristocrat Gaming can, with industry-leading game design, mathematics, art, sound, and software functionality.”

Check out the latest sports betting picks by DCNewsroom.

Phoenix Link players will enjoy the game’s additional denominations, configurations, and jackpots on each of the launch game theme titles. All four games share two exciting features, the first is Hold & Spin, where classic Hold & Spin gameplay meets the chance for multiple bonus prizes or Major Jackpots on a single symbol. The second is the Phoenix Mystery feature, where all Phoenix symbols landed increment towards a counter with a chance to trigger a free Hold & Spin. The ultimate prize of a Grand progressive scales with higher denominations.

When it comes to exciting Free Games, two game themes feature twin spins for chances at great line wins and increased chances to win the Hold & Spin. Additionally, the remaining two game themes feature wild 2x multipliers for chances at dynamic line wins.

Navy awards contract for flight demonstration of Soviet-era Mi-2 helicopter

The U.S. Navy has awarded a contract to the University of Iowa to acquire flight demonstrations of a vintage Soviet-era Mi-2 helicopter for their test pilot school. The Naval Air Warfare Center- Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) at Patuxent River, Md., announced its intention to procure the flight training in August.

“The contractor shall provide up to 35 demonstration flight hours in an MI-2 aircraft to the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School (USNTPS) student and instructor pilots to support the QE exercise,” the Navy said in contract documents. The flights will begin Sept. 30 and run through Oct. 11. The flight demonstrations will take place at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School which will require the contractor to ferry the aircraft to NAS Patuxent River, Md.

The flight demonstrations will support the USNTPS and HX-21 student and instructor personnel of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Qualitative Evaluation Program. The Qualitative Evaluation (QE) Program institutionalized within the USNTPS is a major facet of the curriculum that provides a wide variety of aircraft with differing flying qualities and performance characteristics to the students.

The Mil Mi-2, also known as Hoplite, is a small, three-rotor blade Soviet-designed multi-purpose helicopter developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant in the early 1960s. Nearly 5,500 were made by the time production stopped in 1999. A few Hoplites remain in service today.

The Univeristy of Iowa's Operator Performance Lab operates two Mi-2 helicopters as flight-proven airborne testbeds for a variety of sensor and instrumentation packages, configurable for vertical lift flight test needs.

The total value of the Navy flight demonstration contract is $126,645.00, according to contract documents.

Iraq orders 12 Airbus helicopters

Airbus Helicopters has been awarded a contract for 12 H225M multi-role helicopters by the Republic of Iraq. The contract was signed in Baghdad by the Minister of Defence of Iraq Thabet al-Abbassi in the presence of the French Ambassador Patrick Durel.

These helicopters will be operated by the Iraqi Army Aviation command replacing older Mi-17s for a wider range of missions: counterterrorism, special operations, tactical troop transport, attack, ground fire support, MEDEVAC, and combat search and rescue.

Deliveries will start in 2025. Iraq already operates a fleet of Airbus helicopters from the H125, H135 and H145 families.

“We are very pleased to welcome a new member in the H225M family,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.

“The H225M is a combat-proven platform used around the world by many operators, including the French Air Force, for combat search and rescue missions,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The H225M is unmatched in terms of range, payload and also mission systems.”

The H225M is now equipped with new avionics, an enhanced main gearbox, airborne communication systems and can be equipped with the HForce weapon system. The maximum takeoff weight has been increased by 160 kilograms to reach 11,160 kg. 

There are more than 350 H225s and H225Ms in service across the world, totaling more than 880,000 flight hours. Military customers include France, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, Kuwait, Brazil, and Hungary.