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It's been a strange old World Cup really. Whilst football fanatics are generally disappointed by the nil -nils and low scoring matches, the tournament may have produced many overly cautious and defense-focused games but there are still many talking points on and off the pitch. Online Casino Reports brings you the World Cup Talking Points so far. It's a Continental Thing It seems that continental and not just national pride is at stake in the World Cup, with less traditional footballing nations nudging at the pedigrees for some international acclaim. South America are one continent that can hold their heads up high, with all five teams making the knock outs. Host nation Africa have had a disappointing World Cup with only Ghana remaining in the tournament. European fans were in for a few shocks with France pressing the self destruct button and making an early exit. Defending champs Italy also went home with their tails between their legs. Other European teams, such as Spain and Germany all showed a deadly lack of imagination and confidence in some of their early games. But then all are capable of shaking off a poor start and turning on the magic for the knock out round. A Few Surprises The World Cup may have given a few teams some nasty surprises but it's great to see a few upsets too. 'Softer' teams such as New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and US surprised the critics whereas expected stars such as Brazil appeared to have lost their sparkle in the qualifying round. On Everyone's Lips Other talking points of the World Cup so far have been the Jabulani ball, which falling teams never fail to blame for their demise and the noisy vuvuzelas, which are a major cause of irritation for viewers at home and no doubt bug many a player too. The current bone of contention is the refereeing gaffes that had a serious impact on both of yesterday's games - both Mexico and England will no doubt be ruing 'what could have been' and will rightfully feel aggrieved. Plenty may knock it but we're all watching the World Cup spectacle and with the final 16 now battling it out, there's more at stake every day. Live Betting By far the best World Cup betting aide so far has been William Hill's "Widget". This feature from Will Hill gives you the latest odds and news about all the players and teams - and all a simple click away from a special landing page where you can bet on the match you click on. So click, and bet!
The French government has finally got around to legalizing online gaming in France and opening up the country's online gambling market to competition. French concerns over the safety of internet betting have not, however, diminished. On the contrary, some rather bizarre measures have been taken to protect French gambling addicts from themselves: as of June 14, 2010, they can volunteer to be banned from online casinos. Opting Out Yes, it's strange but true - the new banning legislation has been published in France's official law book and is in force. Under the terms of the new regulations, French gamblers can apply to be barred from all forms of gambling for three years. This includes playing at online as well as bricks-and-mortar casinos. Visit Online Casino Reports France for more French online casinos. Gamblers must apply personally and in writing to the French Ministry of the Interior. They need to be sure though - because once the ban is in place, it cannot be reviewed or reduced until the three year period is over. An Effective Measure? The very essence of an addict is someone who is not in control of their own behavior; therefore only those problem gamblers who've already begun to recover would have the self-awareness or self-discipline to apply for a ban. If powers to have someone banned were extended to a friends or relatives, that would be different; however, that would be to enter a labyrinth of civil liberties issues. All in all this seems to be more a paper exercise than practical measure to combat gambling dependency. The motivation behind the law is good, but it remains to be seen if it will work. William Hill Jumps Ship Addicts are not the only people opting out of online gambling in France - William Hill has announced a total pull out of its online betting and casino services in the country. The British betting provider recently announced that it was following in the footsteps of Betfair, who said the new French regulations did not provide a lucrative market situation for foreign competitors.
The Netherlands triumphed against Slovakia yesterday in a game that continued their confident run. Slovakia saved their blushes with a penalty strike in injury time but it was too little too late; the 2-1 score line sending them packing. The second game of the day was an all South American affair, with Brazil facing Chile. Brazil turned on the magic with a stunning performance that showcased the skills of Robinho, Fabiano and Kaki. Brazil and The Netherlands are now set for a fiery face-off in the final eight. Today's World Cup Action Today's first match features the Japanese who have surprised many with wins against Denmark and Cameroon, as well as impressive play against The Netherlands. It is Paraguay, however, Group F's table toppers, who are the faves to progress, having shown strength in defense, sound game tactics and team cohesion. Whoever reigns supreme will make a World Cup record as neither team have made the final 8 before. Spain vs Portugal is an interesting match between two sides favored by the pundits. With international stars such as Torres and Ronaldho on opposing sides, this match might spark some spectacular football, as both sides battle for a quarter final place. The quarter final action commences on Friday. World Cup Promo Noble Casino are currently running a World Cup promo with a difference. Every single day of the World Cup tournament they are ranking the highest value bettors on their online casino. The player who has wagered the most will be deemed the winner of a stunning prize; a luxury vacation break to a choice of destinations, including free flights. Even if you don't end up with the luxury break Noble reward new sign ups with a crazy $4,000 4-tiered match bonus so really, everyone's a winner here.
One month away, the 41st San Diego Comic-Con International is already creating a buzz online. Comic-Con, which began in 1970, was the scene for comic enthusiast and fans and has grown over the years to become an industry in its own right. Last year, for instance, about 126,000 visited the event. This year comic fans need not even wait for the event to actually begin (Preview night on July 21, 2010). You can find your comic heroes - Marvel Studios' Thor, Captain America, The Avengers, Dr. Strange and others - on select online casinos. AS far as Comic-Con is concerned, Marvel, like its parent company Disney, is rumored to make its big splash by releasing several short films at the event staring their lead comic characters. News of future movies will surely be among the headlines coming out of San Diego too. Kenneth Branagh's name is linked to rumors too... Meanwhile, you can find The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, and other Marvel heroes on Playtech Casinos. The green goliath and the red & gold character are the first and second games based on Marvel figures, following the Playtech/Marvel matrimony. They are both among the most popular casino games online, and on Class 1 Casino in particular. Visit the casino and you can even enjoy a 300% welcome bonus - one of the biggest bonuses you can find online. Boost your balance with 3x times your initial deposit for more of the 5 reel slots and other games. Continue to follow Marvel's rumored Comic-Con plans, but don't wait. You can meet The Hulk and Iron Man already on some of the finest quality games online.
It's quarterfinal time at Wimbledon, and that means that eight men and eight women are in the running to win world tennis's most lucrative Grand Slam tournament. Five of the top six seeds remain in the running in the men's tournament, which means the top prize is well and truly up for grabs. Number one seed and six-time Wimbledon winner Roger Federer remains the steady favorite, 5/4 at William Hill, ahead of Rafael Nadal, 3/1, local hero Any Murray, 4/1, Robin Soderling, 8/1, and Novak Djokovic, 25/1. Rounding out the betting are Tomas Berdych, 25/1, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 33/1, and the only unseeded player remaining, Taiwan's Yen Hsun-Lu, 66/1. The two top seeds in the ladies' singles - Serena and Venus Williams - remain in the tournament, but it is slim pickings after that. Serena is an odds-on 4/5 favorite for the tournament, followed by Venus, 9/4, and eight seed and two-time Grand Slam winner Kim Clijsters, 5/1. All other contenders range from 20/1 to 125/1. Meanwhile more than £11 was wagered at British bookmakers on the result of the record-breaking first round match between 23rd seeded American John Isner and unseeded Frenchman Nicolas Mahut. The match which lasted more than 11 hours and was played over three days, finished 70-68 to Isner in the final set. There is more to sports and sports betting than the World Cup. There's Wimbledon on William Hill.
Playtech, the world leader in online gaming software, has released four brand new five-reel slot games with familiar themes. The Archer slot is based loosely on the theme of Robin Hood and has been released at an appropriate time given the latest film adaptation of the classic starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. Archer features no specific pay lines, but rather challenges players to match symbols on consecutive reels, meaning that there are 243 possible winning combinations. The Rocky Slot Game looks to capitalize on the longstanding success of the six movies of the same title starring Sylvester Stallone. The 25 payline slot finishes with a bonus round where players can choose Rocky's opponent, including Ivan Drago and Apollo Creed, for a ten round fight. The Discovery, a 20 payline slot, revisits the 15th century with explorer Christopher Columbus as the scatter. Pocahontas is the highest coin paying symbol in this game. For something more futuristic, The Punisher War Zone video slot machine features characters from the Marvel film of the same title. All four of these slots, which were released in June, can be found at Class 1 Casino and other online casinos powered by the Playtech brand. Class1 also offers a 300% Welcome Bonus to all new players.
In the cutting-edge world of online gaming, 888.com has moved rapidly to secure its place as the leading provider of top-notch mobile and social gaming. That it recently acquired $18 million worth of assets from Real Dice Inc. is testament to how serious this gaming provider is. The acquisitions include Mytopia social games development studio. This allows for the development of a cross-functional gaming platform for a multitude of social games including Facebook, MySpace and other social media markets. Indeed the recent purchase will allow for more social gaming options on mobile gaming devices and smartphones, among others. Greater gaming quality Bingo is also big on 888's agenda. It has moved quickly to seal a deal to acquire Bingo Island 2 which ranks among the most popular bingo applications currently being enjoyed on Facebook. Among others 888 is cultivating its famed poker brands by adding more social poker applications as well as real-time multi-player mobile poker games. These are set to work on Apple iPhones 3 and 4, Windows Mobile and J2ME handsets, Google Androids version 1 and BlackBerry phones. The goal is to have 888 increase its market share in the social gaming realm - which remains the gaming industry's most untapped market. And these growth potential and brand development initiatives can have staggering outcomes. As 888 casino moves deeper into the many facets of online gaming, it is rapidly developing niche markets for itself and its millions of global online players. These selfsame products will be offered by 888s Dragonfish Business-to-Business partners too. The deal kicks off with a $12 million cash payment from 888 to Real Dice Inc, followed by $6 million payable in cash upon reaching specific targets. All the financial deals will be signed, sealed and delivered before January 1, 2012. And judging by its 2.01% share price increase on the London Stock Exchange, 888 Holdings PLC is looking to surge in coming months. Social network gaming is indeed the next level in the gaming domain.
Yesterday's games kicked off with cagey, defensive performances by Paraguay and Japan. The cautious tactics stifled play and despite a few shots on goal, the match remained goalless after both full time and extra time. In the end Paraguay booked a place in their first ever World Cup quarter final after the penalty shootout resulted in them scoring 5 against Japan's 3. In the second game of the day, Ronaldo and Torres both failed to live up to their billing and a single goal by Villa was enough to see Spain through to the quarter finals. The match saw missed chances for both sides but it was Spain, whose determination and continuing attacks gave them the edge against an overly defensive Portugal. Last Eight Battle it out for Place in Semi Finals The quarter final action commences on Friday, the first match being Uruguay v Ghana. All eyes will be on Luis Suarez, Ghana's super striker who plays for Ajax and has really turned on the style during this World Cup. However, it is Uruguay who are the sportsbooks' favorite to progress. Striker Diego Forlan is taking nothing for granted though, commenting, "It's just one game.. an elimination game... we know it's going to be tough." Despite winning all their games to date, commentators have criticized the lack of style in the Netherlands side, who normally play attacking football. However the team is confident that the clash with Brazil will bring out their best. Brazil are reportedly hungry to lift the cup for a 6th time and have their hearts set on a place in the final. This match should be a lively affair. Live World Cup Wagers withTitan Bet Want to place a bet or two to liven up the quarter finals even more? Titan Bet have got the World Cup covered with all the excitement of live in-game betting to keep things lively for the whole 90 minutes of each match. If you're new to this online sportsbook, why not take the opportunity to sign up and pick up a great welcome offer in the form of a hefty 100% match deposit bonus up to$/€/£250 followed by an extra $/€/£10 on your first deposit. With your account you can then switch - when the World Cup ends - to Titan Casino, poker or bingo sites.
A recent mistake made by a store clerk in Lexington, Ohio, USA, bagged her a Mega Millions lottery prize of $250,000. Naomi Mauller, aged 51, who works at the "Woolfe's Huff and Puff" mini mart made the error when she was printing a local customer's Mega Millions lottery ticket. He asked for a Kicker added to his game, but she forgot to include it. She printed him another ticket with the same numbers and the Kicker, and then bought the unwanted ticket for herself. When the lottery draw was made, Naomi and the customer scooped a quarter of a million dollars each! A Lucky Mistake "You can't cancel the Mega Millions ticket." Naomi explained, "So I thought, what the heck, I'll buy it. That was a mistake I'll never forget." Well, mistake it may have been but she's certainly the richer for it. She realized she'd won only thanks to her boss, who called her at home to ask if she knew anything about two tickets with identical numbers which had come up trumps on the lottery draw. When she checked her numbers - 12, 17, 21, 23 and 30 - she realized she was a winner. The Mysterious Customer The name of Naomi's fellow Mega Millions winner hasn't been released, but we're told that he did come back to the store to meet Naomi again and celebrate their good fortune. We don't know what his plans are, but Naomi says she hopes to buy a "decent" car and pay off some debts. Naomi was lucky, but don't leave your luck to chance - buy a ticket today.
"Poker for the People" calls out the Cool Hand Poker tournaments schedule, and indeed the poker room stands behind its slogan. Players are invited to take part in a large, private, free entry, password protected, poker tournament tomorrow. All you have to do is visit Cool Hand Poker, sign up and download the software, then log in on Thursday, July 1, at 18:30 GMT. The Open III tournament is free, but you must use the following password to enter. The tournament password is: PPPL. Prizes Not only is the tournament free. Not only is it large. It also offers massive prizes! The tournament first place winner gets a shot at a €100,000 GTD guaranteed tournament this Sunday, July 4. The top 100 players are not forgotten - not at all. All top 100 players will be paid more than €3,000 in cash and bonuses. What To Do Next Visit the poker room and download the software. Then look under the private tournaments tab to find the tournament. And mark it in your calendars: Thursday, July 1, at 18:30. Entry absolutely free! Cool Hand Poker Tournaments Although quite a big one, the Open III is not the only poker tournament held at CHP. A sample of TODAY'S tournaments includes - and this is only a sample, mind you: 40 Player Sit & Go Holdem 10 Seat Ipod Satellite Freeroll Feeder, Holdem tourney Play Money Holdem Freezeout, Holdem tourney again €200 Added Freeroll Feeder Holdem tourney Play Money Holdem R+A, Holdem €200 Freeroll Holdem €50 Freeroll, Omaha High/Low The College Poker Championship - Qualifier Series, Holdem And many, many more.
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