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Swedish online casino games developer Net Entertainment (Net Ent) has revealed that they are looking to crack the US market by the second half of 2015. Net Ent Financial Results The latest financial results form Net Ent have revealed a 34% year on year growth in profit to nearly SEK100m, which equates to around £8.5m. Overall revenues increased by some 32% to SEK393.4m, or £33.9m, reflecting the rapid growth of this innovative company. Some of this growth is due to new agreements to provide games to major operators including William Hill and Full Tilt, with several other licensing agreements to smaller companies also signed. US Push for Net Ent The CEO of Net Ent, Per Eriksson has stated that the time is now right to look at entering the US market. With regulations changing, particularly in New Jersey where online gambling is now legal, several games suppliers are to seek licenses to operate in both the USA and Canada, and the company is planning to launch in North America later on in 2015. The MD of Net Entertainment Malta, Bjorn Krantz, is to head up the project to gain a US license, with his deputy Enrico Bradamante taking over his position. Commenting on the US move, Eriksson has said ''Net Ent has been evaluating the developments in North America and believe the prerequisites and timing is right to intensify the preparation for an entry into both the US and Canada.'' Other Suppliers Target the US With Quickspin also announcing that it is due to seek a US license, Net Ent becomes the second Swedish supplier in a month to declare that it wants to operate in what could be a highly lucrative territory. Quickspin has also signed an agreement with bwin to supply games for both mobile and desktop casino platforms, and this saw their share price rise by around 4% in early trading.
The UK National Lottery has crept its way up to £2,100,000 and will be drawn again on Wednesday, July 16th. Last week the UK National Lottery was drawn as usual on Saturday night but no one was lucky enough to win first prize (3, 19, 23, 28, 37, 43 and 34). There have been record numbers of players buying tickets to recent draws as the lottery has been marketing very well, successfully drawing new players to the bi-weekly jackpots. The UK National Lottery has made more millionaires than any other lottery game in the UK which makes it even more attractive for new players. How to Play This lottery game is as easy as they come and all players must do is choose 6 numbers from 1-49 and a bonus ball is also selected to sort out secondary prizes. The draw takes place every Wednesday and Saturday and is the most-popular game in the UK. Where to Play Since the advent of online lottery tickets, lottery aficionados have been able to play the UK National Lottery right from the comfort of their own home or on their mobile device. Online lottery agents like TheLotter provide the biggest lottery games in the world, breaking down borders and offering them to players everywhere. The reason for the popularity of online tickets is first and foremost their convenience. Players can log in and get tickets to lotteries half a world away and even purchase subscriptions to games like the US Mega Millions, US Powerball, EuroMillions, SuperEnalotto and many more. Getting started is just the same as with any online operator. All it takes is a few minutes and your basic personal details and you'll be able to play the games you want, when you want to. Mobile devices are now completely compatible with most online agents so tickets can even be purchased from your mobile while stuck in traffic. Once registered, pick a game, pick your numbers and pick a new place to live if you're a winner!
Cutting edge games developer Yggdrasil Gaming has agreed terms with CO-Gaming on a new deal on what is only the first of a flurry of deals that the online casino provider is engaged in. CO-Gaming Portfolio Expands As a result of the deal, CO-Gaming's multi-vertical online and mobile gaming site Comeon is set to add the wide range of unique casino games and lottery content of Yggdrasil’s unique casino games and lottery content. New Progressive Jackpot The Yggdrasil casino gaming portfolio contains an array of currently popular casino games such as the new Fruitoids release; the rapid high-roller video slot Winterberries; the previously established Jokerizer slot also available on mobile; and Lotto7, a state-of-the-art daily lottery draw offering a €2.5 million progressive jackpot. Yggdrasil expands Yggdrasil just opened its third office in Gibraltar, adding to the two it already had in Malta and Poland. The expansion is being implemented via the large number of agreements the company is signing this summer. A recent deal with online casino giant Unibet was the largest Yggdrasil had signed to date. Yggdrasil Strategy Yggdrasil Chief Executive Fredrik Elmqvist explained the new strategic direction: “It’s time to take things up a gear and our deal with Co-Gaming is another sign that we’re going in the right direction. Elmquist also expressed his excitement at the prospects of working with ComeOn's “experienced management team.” CO-Gaming Strategy CO-Gaming Spokesman Martin Nakkim clarified their strategy as well, saying that “Being one of the fastest growing online gaming companies, we are committed to supplying our brands and their customers with fresh content and innovative games.” Deliverables In addition to the PC and mobile games that CO immediately gains with this deal, Nakkim points out the future delivery expectation of 10 to 12 more titles per year from Yggdrasil as well, expressing confidence in their reception by the company's core Northern-European markets. One thing is clear: with this deal and others completed so far, Yggdrasil is just getting started. No slow summer around here.
In Brussels, the European Commission has called for tighter regulation of the rapidly expanding online gambling industry with the goal of better protecting minors and integrating what is currently a highly fragmented market. Fragmented Regulation Each country adopting online gambling regulation has its own particular set of nuances to its legal structure that are being resolved, leaving a vacuum in interstate jurisdiction which is particularly relevant to a regulatory climate where customers can easily access sites online from other countries. Proliferation of Online Gambling in Europe Online gambling today ranges from poker to sports betting and all manner of slot and casino game in between. The EC is especially concerned because of the proliferation of online gambling across Europe—merely a reflection of a worldwide upward trend in online gambling overall. The Large European Market The European market remains the largest in the world, with seven million Europeans gambling online in 2012, a whopping 45-per cent share of the world market. According to industry statistics, that share equates to US$33 billion for that fiscal year. European Online Gambling The European explosion originated in a small group states where gambling was popular. Gambling operators in Britain and Malta drew gamblers from all over the world. States' Resistance Other states such as France and Netherlands resisted gambling in the interests of protecting consumers and preventing a tendency towards lucrative state gambling monopolies as well. EU Priority Taking into account the concerns of resistant countries, EU internal market and services commissioner Michel Barnier asserts this goal: “We must better protect all citizens, and in particular our children, from the risks associated with gambling.” Barnier called on a cooperative effort from all involved in the industry and regulation process, saying “We now look to the member states, but also to online gambling operators, to match our ambition for a high level of consumer protection throughout the EU in this fast growing digital sector.” Measures Proposed Protective measures include clearer warnings on websites, rigorous registration procedures to weed out minors, and rapid access to helplines for gambling addicts or those exhibiting problem behaviors.
As we near September, the traditional month in which Apple releases its new iPhones, more and more rumors and speculations pop up about the newest member expected in Apple's family: The iPhone 6. The Rise of the "Phablet" One thing about Apple's next flagship product most speculators agree on is that it's going to be bigger – much bigger. As of right now, rumor has it that the iPhone 6 will come in two sizes: 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch. This has already earned the upcoming iPhone 6 the name "phablet". If their big competitors Samsung do not precede them, Apple might herald the first device managing to find the sweet spot between the size of a tablet and that of a smartphone. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is said to be ready for launch and it's very possible we'll be seeing it in September, while estimations for the 5.5-inch release date put it somewhere around November. Impact on Mobile Gaming If and when the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 hits the market, the online mobile gaming world could meet a shining opportunity for something akin to a revolution. While technologies like HTML5 today allow for smooth mobile gaming experiences on both tablets and smartphones, the appearance of a "phablet" would require special attention from mobile software developers. Current games will work on the new iPhone 6 when optimized for iOS 8, but the new "medium" size will give developers something totally new to play with. Size Does Matter Naturally, the bigger sizes in the iPhone 6 will also affect the device's display. This is the most elusive detail among predictors and tech journalists, but one thing that's almost sure is that we're going to see higher resolutions – something which means good news for mobile gamers as it could further upgrade their graphical experience.
With the exception of the World Series (and possibly opening day), the Home Run Derby/All-Star Game is the pinnacle of the baseball season. Big Stars, Big Plays Played at the Minnesota Twins' Target Field, this year's festivities were no exception, as baseball was able to send one of the game's greatest players and a shoe-in Hall of Famer off with a heartfelt farewell. It might not quite have been the same as last year when baseball said goodbye to its greatest ever closing pitcher, Mariano Riveira, a magician with a ball in his hand - but it was raucous nonetheless. And Jeter being Jeter, didn't disappoint. He showed that he was there on merit and not just as emotional or nostalgic choice. In the first inning of the game Jeter dived full-length at his familiar short-stop position and threw to first, just missing the out. Going 2-for-2 in his final All-Star Game, Jeter showed that his big-game demeanor has not diminished with age. At the other end of the career spectrum, Los Angeles Angels' 22-year-old star, Mike Trout, scooped up the MVP award with an outstanding batting display - he was 2 for 3 with one run and two RBI. He was also impressive in the field. The American League, as they have done for 13 of the last 17 years, won the game - the final result was 5-3. Home Run Derby In the Home Run Derby on Tuesday, Yoenis Cespedes retained the title he won at Citi Field in 2013. The Oakland Athletics outfielder powered his way to a 9-1 success against Cincinnati's Todd Frazier. Cespedes finished with 28 homers, four fewer than he managed last year - but his technique was very sound throughout. Speaking through an interpreter, the Cuban remarked that he did not try and hit the ball too hard - so imagine how sweet a contact he must have got in hitting the night's longest homer, a 452 foot blast into the third deck above left field. The regular MLB season is in full swing and watch out for our live, in-play sports betting articles on your favorite teams.
The Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round gets underway tonight (7:45 pm UK time) with games across the board. After an exhilarating first round it's time to separate the winners from the losers and get closer to finding out this year's winner. There were 6 sides that joined the league for the second qualifying round and AIK is one of them. Linfield is still in and looking strong with great team performances from their roster. Live from Friends Arena Tonight's game is the first time since last year that AIK gets to show what they are made of. After rising to second place in the Swedish League (Allsvenskan), AIK is looking strong and being the home team tonight has made them the outright favorite. Eero Markkanen has been hot at Forward for AIK as well as Nabil Bahoui in the Midfield both with 6 goals already this year. In recent months AIK has improved drastically in comparison with last season. This has to do with a couple of factors. First is the new stadium that they received which is the same as the Swedish National Team stadium, and secondly because of the fact that they have the biggest following of any Allsvenskan team. Linfield has won 1 game and were held to a draw over the first 2 games in the Europa League. Arguably the best team in Northern Ireland, Linfield's players are working like a well oiled machine this year. They have two names on "top ten" lists in different Europa League categories including Michael Carvill, tied for 6th top scorer, and, Aaron Burns whom is tied for second in assists. To get a win tonight, Linfield will need to overcome the fans at Friends Arena and a fast AIK squad that is looking to make an entrance into the Europa League at their expense. Online Sports Betting Markets bet365 Sports has all the Europa League markets for all of the games tonight. After a short search it is evident that bet365 has the best lines and odds for the Europa League 2nd qualifying round which includes Linfield vs AIK. The visitors from N. Ireland are at 3.40 to win outright while the Swedes are at 1.90. There are also markets for amount of goals scored, correct score and much more.
The broad aim of rummy is for players to throw away they cards they pick up by creating compatible groupings termed as melds. To be the winner, all you have to do is shed all of your cards first. The challenge lies in forming the optimal melds with the cards you have been presented. Of course, this depends entirely on which version of rummy you are playing. Here are the broad strokes of the most common types. Traditional Rummy Starting with traditional rummy, this can be played with two to four players. There will be two decks used, giving you 104 cards to play with. The outright winner of the game will be the first player to lose all of their cards by creating melds. And creating sets and runs can make this happen: Set – Three or the same card (e.g. jacks) Run – Three cards in a row of the same suit At the end of each turn, players get to discard a card. Players can select their next card from either the deck or the discarded pile. Remaining players add up their remaining cards to decide final positions – lowest scores win. Gin Rummy Where traditional rummy uses the points as a penalty, this variant views them positively. The challenge is typically to be the first to reach 100 points – or another agreed value. Scoring points can be achieved by creating sets and runs. Aces are worth one point, face cards are worth ten points, and the remaining cards are worth their numerical display value. Oklahoma Rummy Oklahoma rummy adds a new wrinkle in that players have to reduce their deadwood count, which is a reference to the cards they possess that cannot create melds. Each hand will let the player choose a card from the deck or else the discard pile. They can then throw a deadwood card into the discard pile. Kalooki 51 Kalooki 51 uses two decks of cards plus two jokers. In contrast to most forms of rummy, Kalooki 51 plays aces either high or low. This is helpful because the first melds from players in Kalooki 51 must be worth 51 or higher. It is possible to add to your own melds as well as those of fellow players. The winner is the first to meld all cards and discard their final card. Remaining players add up their penalty points. Kalooki 40 Kalooki 40 has a similar scoring system to Kalooki 51, with face cards worth ten points and numbered cards worth their display value. Aces are always worth 11 in penalty points and jokers are worth 15. The turn starts by taking a card, after which melds are created or built upon, and then a card can be discarded. The first player to shed all cards will be declared winner, with the runners up determining their penalty points. Where to Find Games For a popular place to play online rummy, Rummy Royal Casino is a solid choice. The site can offer you all of the online rummy games outlined above, plus there are in-depth guides to teach you even more.
Well, the field is set: a seven day poker marathon stretched out over a week and a half has whittled the 2014 World Series of Poker down to its final November Nine. Fall Championship Spots Decided When the chase continues in the fall, Jorryt van Hoof of the Netherlands will be in pole position with the overall chip lead as just the second Dutchman ever to sit at a WSOP Main Event final table. Joining him at the table will be Mark Newhouse, the first player to return for a second consecutive final in over a decade. At third position behind van Hoof and Norway's Felix Stephenson, Newhouse will find himself in a much stronger position than last year, when he entered short on chips. Instead of trailing the table like last year, in 2014 Newhouse will be followed by the three Americans Dan Sindelar, William Pappaconstantinou, and William Tonking; then Sweden's Martin Jacobsen. Last but not least in the front nine will be Bruno Politano, the first Brazilian to ever reach a SOP final table. The Last Repeat Performer The last player before Newhouse to appear at two consecutive WSOP final tables was Dan Harrington, who made two consecutive WSOP Main Event final tables, finishing 3rd out of 839 in 2003 and fourth out of 2576 in 2004. Many More Competitors Now Though he placed lower last year, Newhouse is actually wading through a much deeper pool, beating out a field of 6,352 for a spot at the final table last year and beating out a field of 6,683 this year for a cumulative total of 13,017 players, about 4 times more than Harrington had to best in his two runs to the finals.
Italy-based GTECH has struck a deal to acquire Las Vegas equipment maker International Game Technology (IGT) and bring the enterprise to the UK's tax-friendly market. Biggest Operator Ever The deal for $4.7 billion in cash and stock includes the assumption of approximately $1.7 billion in debt by IGT as well. The deal gives rise to the largest lottery operator and gaming equipment company in the world, and provides GTECH with the increased exposure it has been seeking for some time. Tax-favorable mergers The merger is undergoing a series of deals to improve tax conditions for the partners. A similar deal has just been struck by US pharmaceutical giant AbbVie Inc. ABBV is purchasing Ireland-based Shire SHP.LN for $54 billion agreement this week, and the new company will also move to the UK, where lower tax rates exist. Inversions These types of deals made to reach more favorite tax climates are called inversions, and have mostly consisted thus far of U.S. companies buying into more favorable tax regimes by buying a foreign company and then moving that company into the UK. The GTECH-IGT deal represents a switcharound, in that a European company is purchasing a U.S. one, with the newly formed group relocating to the U.K. To a tax environment that is preferable to either of the merging companies original markets of America and Italy. Tax Reduction As a result of the merger, the new taxing rate that the companies are experiencing is expected to fall from the high 30% percentile to the mid-30 percentile. IGT Chief Financial Officer John Vandemore acknowledges the added benefits of operating in a tax-friendly environment, but insists this is not the sole motivation for the deal. "We had to domicile the company in the EU because of obligations Gtech had and if you think of all the factors and the U.K. being an English-speaking country it made sense to do it there," explained IGT's Chief Executive Patti Hart. Scrutiny and Abortive Legislation The deals are drawing increased scrutiny with calls from the Obama Administration to rapidly draft legislation to curtail this maneuver further. How this plays out remains to be seen, but the skepticism suggests that the flurry of deals may accelerate ahead of potentially likely legislation.
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