Velvet Gems

What is Velvet Gems?

US-based airlines collected more money for tickets last month than in any August on record, with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) reporting $9.8 billion in airline sales.

Latest ARC data revealed that US consumers purchased 25.8 million passenger trips in August 2026 (+5%), spending 19% more on air travel than they did a year ago. The average ticket price soared 17% year-over-year to $624, with economy tickets at $569 (+17%) and premium classes at $1,454 (+11%).

August’s totals set a new record for ARC-reported and settled sales, reflecting the continued strength of the U.S. travel market and continued demand,” said Steve Solomon, ARC’s chief commercial officer. “The strong summer trends from June and July carried into August, with travel to both U.S. domestic and international destinations remaining steady from the prior month and above 2025 levels.”

About Velvet Gems

The regulator noted that several inactive accounts remained open long after users requested exclusion. 

Specifically, 156 out of 229 accounts with no pending bets remained linked to BetStop users seven days after self-exclusion registration. Some accounts were non-compliant for periods extending up to 200 days.

Carolyn Lidgerwood, an ACMA member, stressed the importance of respecting self-exclusion decisions, stating “providers must respect that decision” and “must have robust systems in place”. 

How to play Velvet Gems

A centerpiece of the deal is the Circa Dugout Box, a premium hospitality experience placing guests directly adjacent to the A’s dugout.

The Vegas Golden Knights launch their NHL preseason tonight against the Los Angeles Kings at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California—home to the Kings’ AHL affiliate. Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles was unavailable due to UFC 331.

Vegas will lean heavily on younger players for the opening stretch of exhibition games, according to general manager Kelly McCrimmon.