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Online gambling is a multi-billion dollar industry, with an estimated 51% of the global population partaking in some sort of online gambling activity every year. And unlike some industries that predominantly appeal to either males or females, online gambling is just as attractive to both men and women alike. In fact, recent surveys in the UK show that 43% of online gamblers are female, a significant number which cannot be ignored. Online Casino Games for Women Studies show that while women do in fact play every type of casino game, they tend to gravitate more towards bingo, slots and poker. Europa Casino reports that over 60% of online bingo players are female, and suggests that the reason for this is the social element of the game, which online casinos encourage with quality chatting features. Of course, slots is not known for being a social game, but conflicting studies suggest that women are more anxious than men when it comes to gambling; thus they choose to play a solitary game in which they don't have to worry about competing in a social atmosphere. As for poker, a recent study conducted by International Game Technology shows that between 2012 and 2013, there was a 22% increase in female poker players online. Some say that the reason for this is that old-fashioned, land-based poker rooms were not made especially hospitable to women, but online gambling changed all that. Women can now participate in poker games without feeling like they are entering a “boys' club;” poker also provides the option of socializing. Online Casinos: The Focus on Women 888 Ladies is an example of an online casino that focuses on women; it would be hard to mistake it for anything else with its pink and white background! In fact, the entire site has a different ambiance than other online casinos; while many home pages have flashy images showing attractive women in low-cut dresses (appealing to the male demographic!), 888 Ladies has a distinctly calmer feel, with the message that this is a safe environment where women can have fun and even win some money responsibly. 888 Ladies offers a number of classic casino games, but its main focus is bingo. Pink Lady Casino is another online casino geared towards women – again, as its name implies! The site's color theme is pink, purple and white, with images of classy women socializing, contemplating wagers and generally enjoying themselves. Pink Lady offers all the perks of any online casino, including promotions, loyalty points, accessible customer support and a variety of casino games. Maria Casino, while sporting a red background instead of pink, also has the same calm feeling that the previous two casinos have. While glitz and flash seem to be the predominant factors that appeal to men, calmness and serenity seem to be the factors that appeal to women in online gambling. Maria Casino focuses on slots, bingo and scratchcards, and also offers a live casino, which increases the social element of games such as roulette and blackjack.
The casinos in China's Macau roll billions of dollars yearly, giving sworn gambling cities like Las Vegas and Atlantic City a serious run for their money. It is estimated that the gaming revenue in Macau is at almost four times bigger than that of the entire state of Nevada. Macau draws millions of gamblers every year, Chinese nationals and tourists from all over the world alike. Chinese Playing Habits It's interesting to look at the gambling habits of Chinese players who frequent Macau's 33 casinos. One thing spectators have noticed is that Chinese prefer table games, specifically baccarat, over slots. There are some reasons which are attributed to this interesting preference. One claim is that Chinese enjoy casinos because of their social nature; this is something which cannot be experienced with slots as they are single player games (although people can spin slots together). Another claim has to do with suspicion - Chinese players are untrusting of slot machines: They prefer table games where they see a dealer and other players as well as the chips and dice. This is something which might be changed by what anthropologists call "cultural adaptation." For whatever the reason, baccarat is the game of choice for Chinese players. The popularity of the game can be seen in the land-based casinos, where the tables are filled and the slots machines sit vacant on the side. Huge Jackpot Win Might Help A catalyst of said cultural adaptation might come in the shape of the whopping $3.2 million jackpot claimed by a slots player at Macau's Sands Cotai Central last year. This extraordinary $3 million booty will definitely not lessen the opportunity of Chinese players to "discover" the potential of slot machines. Online Gambling in China The gambling and tourism boom in Macau can help in explaining the rising popularity of online casinos in mainland China in the last few years, something which is all the more interesting when taking into consideration that online gambling is technically illegal in China. Online gambling legality has been an issue in China for a long time, but with a population of over 1.3 billion people it's hard to believe that these sanctions will last for long especially given the numbers coming from Macau: China would benefit from a functioning regulated online gambling market. While online casinos offer full table game features including live dealers (some which are resembled after Macau dealers), slots of all kinds are among the biggest offerings online casinos pride themselves on. Some leading online casinos like Dafabet, 888 Casino and Vegas Red Casino are already prepared to welcome players from China, entirely available in Mandarin and Simplified Chinese.
Football match fixing is not a new phenomenon, but it is something which has become a bigger problem lately with cases of match fixing being checked in domestic leagues, the Champions League and even the World Cup. Only last year the Europol has made public the statistic that more than 700 international matches have been rigged since 2008 alone. Recently just prior to the kick-off of the Brazil World Cup two months ago, FIFA released reports about betting syndicates involved in match fixing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, both in the competition itself and in the matches which preceded it. The Big Fix The 2010 World Cup is one of the settings for The Big Fix: The Hunt For The Match Fixers Bringing Down Soccer, a new book released just earlier this year. Written by investigative journalist Brett Forrest, The Big Fix takes readers deep into the underworld of football match fixing –a racket which is believed to compose the major bulk of organized crime profits from an international betting market which rolls an estimated $1 trillion per year. Not Only for Football Fans The Big Fix follows the story of Chris Easton, an Australian who serves as an Interpol director with a close understanding of the match fixing underworld due to his former service as the head of security for FIFA. After witnessing the magnitude of the underworld of match fixing in the 2010 World Cup, Easton delves into the world of worldwide nefarious deals where individual players get bribed, referees and officials get influenced with big Asian criminal syndicates pulling the strings in the background. An international bestseller, the book received critical acclaim from reviewers and readers alike, praising Brett Forrest's ability to captivate even those who have never watched a full football match.
The popularity of online casinos has long been on the rise, with industry profits simply going higher and higher into the billions. But the new rage within online casinos? Live-dealer games and casinos. Live-dealer casinos combine the comfort of playing at an online casino from home with the excitement of playing in a land-based casino. In other words, players can play at land-based casinos without leaving their living rooms. All they need to do is click on the online casino's live-dealer or live-casino option, and they are automatically joined into a game with a real live-dealer. Streaming Dealers Into Your Home Live-dealer casinos work the same way that any online casino works: by using the latest technology. In this particular case, online casinos use the most advanced methods of cameras and streaming so that players and dealers can interact in real-time. Where You Can Find Live-Dealer Games Euro Grand is just one online casino that is taking advantage of the rising trend by offering a large selection of live casino games, including Live Roulette, Live Baccarat, Live Casino Hold'em and Live Blackjack. The casino's site includes a helpful guide for each game, so that players can be 100% sure of how to play. Euro Grand also includes their live-dealer games in their VIP program, which is something players should look out for in any live-dealer casino they choose to play at. This means that when playing any live-dealer game, the points accrued will go towards a player's VIP status. Get To Know Your Live Dealer Generally, players should choose a live-dealer option that offers regular promotions or bonuses for the specific game they want to play. They might also choose their live-games based on the dealers; most online casinos use the same dealers for their games so that players can build relationships with them. Euro Grand has about 20 live-dealers who regularly deal the hands for all their live-casino games.
Manchester City had an excellent season last year and finished it off with the top honors over the Premier League. Their defense of the title begins today at 4:00 pm as they travel to Newcastle to face last year’s 10th place finisher. Tonight will be the first glimpse at City for the 2014-15 Premier League season and all eyes will be on Manuel Pellegrini to see if his side has recovered from the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in pre-season action. In that game, Frank Lampard and Sergio Aguero were both unable to play but they have been seen practicing with City this week and could be on the roster for tonight. Pellegrini feels like he has a deeper connection with his squad after last year, “'Last year we were in a different position than now. Now maybe I know the players a little more. They know me; they know the way I want to play.” An enormous issue they are facing this year is actually from Financial Fair-Play constraints, which means he will need to cut some talent from his team. For Newcastle, tonight will be an uphill battle. They finished last year in 10th place and never looked as if they had what it takes to improve on that. They haven’t been able to move from mid-table for a few years now but with some new players and the home pitch, tonight could be different. William Hill is your home for the Premier League Lines have been posted at William Hill Sports for tonight’s Premier League match and Manchester City is the outright favorite. Newcastle may seem like an attractive bet but City is far too strong and it could be a high-scoring game. Other lines include Over/Under, Correct Score and much more. New users are eligible for some attractive bonuses and promotions upon registration at William Hill that could turn into lucrative cash pending the right markets are played.
Casino giant Caesar's Entertainment announced it lost almost half a billion dollars in second quarter 2014, primarily due to a drop in gaming revenue and increased interest payments. Gross Revenue Up, Net Profits Down Overall gross revenue did grow 3% over the same period to $2.18 billion. However, gaming revenue dipped 1.9% to $1.38b as the interest on the industry high debt Caesars is carrying of $24.2b rose 21.1% to $653.7m. This translated to a net loss of $466.4m, a figure well over twice the $204.2m loss recorded in the same period of 2013. Caesars CEO Gary Loveman chose to focus on the positives, emphasizing that Las Vegas operations were responsible for much of the gains, due primarily to increased VIP baccarat turnover and improved win rate. Loveman also lauded the half-a-million patrons who have experienced the 550-foot-high High Roller Ferris wheel since opening in Vegas in March. However, it's hard for these positives to compensate for interest payments taking one-third of revenues, and reducing that rate and the debts upon which it is based is the mountain Caesars is faced with climbing. What Goes on Outside Vegas The Vegas gains do not fully reflect overall performance anyway, as Atlantic City and other regional markets continue to be stalled by what economic reports characterize as “persistent softness.” In light of these challenges, Loveman explained that Caesars seeks to “maximize earnings on lower revenue,” via measures such as lowering operating capacity “to appropriately align supply in certain markets with the levels of demand.” Some of these reductions include the closure of Harrah’s Tunica in Mississippi and the announced impending closure of Showboat Atlantic City at the end of August, bringing the amount of Caesars’ AC properties down to three. AC Exemplifies Struggles In general, AC casinos will be down from 12 to 8 by September. There is hope that opening casinos in northern Jersey can facilitate support for AC and bring revenues up to hoped for levels in New Jersey, even in other gambling hot spots such as AC, but the reality is that outside of Vegas, the struggles of Caesars indicate that casinos continue to face an uphill battle to achieve the added revenues that the states hoped they would bring by allowing them to operate in the first place.
Independent online gaming testing and accreditation agency eCOGRA has united with digital security support specialist PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to enhance its information security services to a larger range of operator and software supplier clients in Europe. eCOGRA CEO Explains Benefits eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge explained the strategy by pointing out that the extensive experience his organisation has in implementing information security reviews online gaming operators and software suppliers will be augmented by PwC's specialized expertise and proven track record in assessing security requirements and establishing compliance operating environments. Beveridge was pleased to point out the added benefit of increased knowledge regarding existing and new security risks, "We understand the value of our clients’ investment in information security, and by collaborating with PwC in this area, our customers will have increased access to the latest knowledge on emerging risks relating to current levels of security protection." PwC did work extensively with eCOGRA when the organisation was launched in 2003, so this new agreement represents a reunion of sorts. About eCOGRA With a rapidly amassed wealth of experience in the field, London-based eCOGRA has emerged as the independent organization recognized most capable of implementing international best practice standards and ensuring those requirements are maintained through periodic review and regular monitoring. More than 200 of the most established and successful internet gaming websites are currently accredited and monitored by eCOGRA, which is comprehensively staffed by BIG 4 member auditors, information system experts and responsible gambling specialists. With several agencies, eCOGRA has been accredited by the high-ranking United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) ISO approval ISO/IEC 17025:2005: General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, one of a select group of approved European quality control groups. About PwC Uniform standards and implementation of cybersecurity are now available through PwC, a company group of approximately 100 professionals specialising in cyber security. Specialty tasks include expertise in the areas of threat intelligence, detection and prevention to regulation, legal matters and the broader implications of all. A further 400 professionals at PwC support cyber security and provide broader IT protective services.
With an economy in crisis, state governments are struggling mightily to find new sources of revenue. Online gambling is seen as a new breath of revenue. When New Jersey state passed and implemented a bill to allow online gaming, Governor Chris Christie boldly predicted $160 million in fresh revenue from its first year. No Quick Answer The skepticism which this prediction drew was justified when Fitch Ratings Service calculated actual results at almost 45% below those optimistic expectations. Of course, gambling is illegal in most states, but allowing virtual online gambling to take place is much easier than legalizing land-based gambling, which requires construction and operation of physical sites. However, land-based casinos are costly to operate, and obviously require a large amount of overhead that takes away from net profits, which is spurring private casino operators to shut down operations across states where gambling is legal, such as in New Jersey and Mississippi. Online Casino Benefits Online casinos have far less expenses, but would not approach the ambitious revenue figures predicted by Christie. Profits may be proportionally higher because of minimal operating costs, but the volume of proceeds would be much lower than land-based casinos. Online casinos are also more convenient, played from mobile devices or home pc's from which players can change games with the click of a button. Land-based Casinos Benefits First off, the online environment requires gaming operators to rigorously confirm the location of their players before allowing them to enter games. Further, land-based casino benefits are more substantial and readily visible in a state's economy. For example, in Mississippi, the 29 operating casinos employ approximately 23,000 professionals, ranging from blackjack dealers to slot technicians to law enforcement. More employees equates to more taxable income, and more revenues for states—despite the fact that private organizations that operate casinos would prefer to reduce the operating costs that employees represent. States Interests versus Casino Operators' Still, most people prefer the experience of the land-based casino, so trying to crack both nuts at once is a time-consuming task that financially prudent individual operators will recognize as inefficient. And the preferences of state government and casino operators may not be identical.
The stage is set in Barcelona to present the 2014/15 ‘first team’ to a sold out Camp Nou. Luis Enrique now at the helm of the Spanish side looks to make a statement and show how hard the team has been conditioning of late. This will be the first match at Camp Nou, following four friendly away games, just before the beginning of the La Liga regular season beginning for Barca on August 24th against Elche. Leon has traveled far from Mexico for this game but for Rafa Marquez it’s almost a homecoming as he played for Barcelona before moving to Leon in 2012. Earlier this year, Leon won the Mexican Closing Championship by beating Pachuca in the final 4-3. This will be the ultimate test for Leon as they face arguably the best team in the world at Camp Nou. Barcelona Honors its Greats Two of the players that helped Barcelona become the powerhouse soccer club it is today are to be honored tonight at the game. Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol, who left the team last season, will be honored in front of the sold out stadium. The action for tonight will be intense as the home side want to impress their fans so expect a fast game with multiple goals. Live In-play bet365 is the home of live in-play sports betting, and were one of the first online sportsbooks to offer these types of bets. Punters will have the chance to make bets on a number of live in-play markets that will appear on the site as the game unfolds. Prior to the match, bet365 Sports has posted their pre-game markets and as suspected Barcelona are the outright favorites. Additional lines include correct score, first team to score, half time leader, over/under and much more. Help Barcelona celebrate their all-new first team and tune in for the Joan Gamper Trophy match tonight.
England's Premier League is back in full swing and it looks like football fans are up for a very interesting season. Saturday saw the official debut of Louis van Gaal as Manchester United boss when the Red Devils hosted Swansea in Old Trafford. The high hopes for the Dutch to save United were erased after Swans won 2-1. van Gaal has to improve quickly if he wants his team to stay relevant for the title this season as the usual competitors did well in their fixtures: Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 2 to 1 at the Emirates, although not without sweat – Aaron Ramsey brought the winning goal to the Gunners in injury time. Over at Anfield, Liverpool managed to beat a strong Southampton 2 to 1 thanks to a goal by striker Daniel Sturridge in the 79th minute. Reigning champions Manchester City impressed with a 0-2 victory over Newcastle at St. James' Park. Will Chelsea Keep Up? Given the successes and failures of the "big four", it'll be exciting to see how the fifth team in the equation Chelsea fares in its first fixture tonight at 8pm UK time. The Blues travel to Burnley's Turf Moor stadium to face the local team which made its long-awaited comeback to the Premier. While Jose Mourinho's side is a clear favorite, Burnley is no stranger to giant slaying and they'll want to impress for their festive return at home. Bet Live Winner Sports has been tightly covering the return of the Premier League and tonight will be no different. In full time result bets, Winner has 8/1 on Burnley, 4/11 on Chelsea and 15/4 for a draw. Tune-in Winner Sports tonight and all throughout the Premier League season for a wide range of pre-match and in-play betting markets on the world's best football league.
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