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Norway currently has some of the tightest online gambling laws in Europe, with only two local state-owned operators allowed. The Culture Minister has expressed an interest in opening up the market to free and fair competition. Current Situation Anyone looking to gamble legally in Norway can only use two operators, Norsk Tipping and Norsk Riksoto. Both sites are extremely limited in there games, with Tipping offering lotteries, keno and sports bets to a restricted number of players, at certain times of day, and Riksoto only covering horseracing. Proposed Changes Thorhild Midvey, Norwegian Culture Minister, and the Culture Committee have instigated a report on the possible impact of an open gambling market. This has been an on-going process, with Widvey appearing keen to liberalise Norway's laws, with possible changes due to be passed by the government next year. The assessment will look at how open markets like the UK, Denmark and Sweden have coped. The changes could effect not just the number of online gambling opportunities available to Norwegian citizens, but also how they fund their games, as locals cannot use Norwegian banking facilities to pay for gambling. This can lead to a situation where locals who travel abroad and stay in casino resorts may have trouble paying their hotel bills as there is gambling on the premises. The precise details of the proposed changes are still unclear, but there has been a particular softening of the governments position on Poker, which is very popular in Norway, even though the Norwegian Poker Championships have to be held abroad each year. It has been estimated that $120 to $180 million in gross revenue comes from Norwegian citizens gambling abroad, which is money that would be taxed by Norway if people no longer had to travel to play. Any changes to the laws would impact this situation, and Thorhild Midvey has said, ''I hope we can have a regulatory framework in place in time for a Norway Championship of Poker to be held in Norway in 2015.'' This suggests that the government has recognised the current situation isn't working, and that the changes will be implemented swiftly.
The Financial Partners Expo will be co-located at the Barcelona International Convention Centre with the Barcelona Affiliate Conference 2014 (BAC). This conference is the biggest exhibition for binary options brokers, introducing brokers and affiliates in the retail finance industry. It is scheduled to take place from October 23-26, 2014. Purpose of the Conference This event allows brokers and affiliates to build new partnerships and it enables attendees to learn about the business from industry leaders. The conference is unique in that it caters to affiliates and brokers in the financial industry. It is also geared towards bringing together people and companies from a variety of different businesses and industries, including online casino affiliates and binary options brokers. Speakers at the Financial Partners Expo There will be a number of noteworthy speakers at the Financial Partners Expo including Frank Ravanelli, a Master Affiliate; CEO of Traders Education Ran Cohen, and CEO and owner of Inspired Publishing Tiziano Gambacorta. These speakers are leaders in their field and have extensive knowledge of their industry. They will discuss important topics in the financial and affiliate industries for the benefit of brokers and affiliates alike. The topics under discussion range from building a successful marketing business will little or no starting capital, to successful SEO practices and techniques, forex marketing strategies and more. Benefits of the Expo The Financial Partners Expo is being hosted by CONVERSION PROS and IGB Affiliate with the goal of providing a networking and educational platform for both introducing brokers and affiliates. These speakers will discuss the latest topics in the affiliate and broker industries so attendees can stay up to date on the latest happenings, develop working strategies and meet other players in the industry. All in all, there will be many educational and networking opportunities available at the Financial Partners Expo.
Next week sees the convention of the 3rd Russian Affiliate Congress and Expo (RACE), an annual conference which brings together online gaming and entertainment professionals from Russia and CIS countries. RACE 2014 will convene October 3-4 at the Moscow Exhibition and Convention Centre. Votes Open for RACE Awards In the frame of the event, the second annual ceremony of the RACE awards will take place. The RACE 2014 awards are awarded for contributions and achievements to development in the region's affiliate industry. RACE has announced that votes for the awards are now open at a special website. Covering a great many sectors in the online gaming and entertainment world in Eastern Europe, there will be awards given to nominees in 16 different categories this year at the RACE 2014 awards. The categories cover the affiliate programs market, finance, insurance, online stores, marketing, SEO and of course online games and gambling. The winners of the awards will be given a symbolic figure which RACE says will serve as a guarantee of quality and successful operation – a seal of trust and approval by clients and partners. Interesting Nominees For this year's awards there are some interesting nominees. For Best Super Affiliate (Webmaster), a strong contender is Socialtools – a prominent promoter of websites offering products and services which is active in social networks, blogospheres and forums as well as other places. ClickFrog™ is a leading nominee for this year's Best Innovation in Affiliate Marketing. The ClickFrog™ service blocks clicks of fake advertisers, audits client traffic and analyzes the efficiency of resources. A prominent nominee in the Best Innovation in Affiliate Marketing category is Admitad which is used for ad offers for traffic in networks of various affiliate programs. Take a look at the 2014 RACE awards site for a full list of nominees.
The Giants travel to Washington to take on the Redskins tonight in what will be each team's fourth game of the season. So far, both of these teams have started the season on a down point only winning one game apiece and losing two. A win tonight will mean second place (for now) in the NFC East and both New York and Washington fans know how much it is needed with the Eagles and the Cowboys in the same division. Redskins vs Giants The Washington Redskins are in a rebuilding time with a new coach and a number of injuries, which have plagued both their offense and defense. Most significantly, Robert Griffin III their star QB went down with a dislocated ankle against the Jaguars. Now it is Kirk Cousins taking the snaps and following the RG3 injury, Cousins came back and beat Jacksonville ending the game with 250 yards and 2 TD's. The injuries continued to pile up with corner DeAngelo Hall, running back Alfred Morris, right tackle Tyler Polumbus, center Kory Lichtensteiger, linebacker Brian Orakpo, safety Duke Ihenacho, defensive end Jason Hatcher and guard Shawn Lauvao are all out for various amounts of time. The New York Giants finally showed signs of positive life in Sunday's win against Houston on Sunday. Eli Manning was exceptional throwing 234 yards and 2 TD's, ending the game with just 7 incomplete passes. The Giants' injuries are not significant but they will need a big game on both sides of the ball in order to walk away with the win. Live Betting Odds Winner Sports has a number of online sports betting markets for the Week 4 opener and this could be an excellent opportunity for punters to capitalize on the underdog. The Redskins are the favorites at 1.50, while the Giants are at 2.65. There is also attractive Over/Under lines and handicap markets as well. If you ask me, this game should go to the Giants, as the injuries to the Redskins will be too hard for them to overcome. Giants 34-Redskins 27.
The 40th Ryder Cup golf tournament tees off today at 7am UK time at the PGA Centenary Course at the Gleneagles Hotel not far from Auchterarder in Perthshire, Scotland. A biennial competition, the Ryder Cup pits two teams of golfers from the United States and Europe. Two years ago it was the Europeans who won the cup on US soil at the Medinah Country Club at Illinois after storming back from a 10-4 deficit to win 14½-13½ and this time the Americans are looking to win on European soil – an event that has not happened for 21 years. Europe Clings to Rory McIlroy The Americans have one big problem and that is Rory McIllroy who will play in the ranks of the hosting European team. The world's current top-ranked player, McIlroy has had an amazing 2014 season winning three out of the year's four major championships. McIlroy will be led by Europe team captain Paul McGinley who will look to replicate the success his predecessor Jose Maria Olzabal left off in 2012. Americans Want Revenge The American team led by the 65 year old Tom Watson, the oldest captain in the Ryder Cup's history, is not hiding its desire for revenge after the dramatic climax and defeat at the Medinah Country Club two years ago. Watson is targeting Europe's McIlroy, having said: "When you beat the stud on the other side, it gives a boost to your team." Full Coverage at bet365 Sportsbook bet365 will be giving full live coverage to the Ryder Cup. In pre-competition odds it had 8/13 on Europe to win and 7/4 on the Americans. New players at bet365 can enjoy a 100% initial deposit bonus should they open an account. Log-in bet365 this weekend to enjoy this spectacular display of golf between the two continents.
Prospects for regulation of betting in Germany have hit a serious snag as a result of an 11th hour suspension of the licencing process by the Wiesbaden Administrative Court in Hesse. Holding the Bag Leading operators Bet-at-home, Bwin, Digibet, Ladbrokes and Betfair were among a group of 20 leading global online gambling operators left holding the bag when the court caved in to a group of unhappy operators who were denied licences in their initial applications. This dealt a serious blow to online gambling in canceling the licencing process by which the Hesse Ministry of the Interior and Sport was to award successful applicants. Mybet Holding, one of the successful applicants, summed up the concerns of all the scuttled licencees, saying “It is not foreseeable for mybet Holding when exactly the licences will now be issued.” Objections The objections came in the form of protests submitted to the Court of Wiesbaden challenging the Hesse Ministry’s procedures by which it was issuing the new licences, fast on the heels of the September 3, 2014 award of 20 new licences by the The Hesse Ministry thereof. In addition to the global operators, the licencees included domestic bookmakers as well. Bet365, Lottomatica, Tipico and BetVictor were among those operators who appealed the decision, based upon a legal claim of unjust and uncommunicative grounds upon which their licencing applications had been denied. The protesting operators also criticized a lack of transparency in the application process. One Year Setback After issuing what it called an interim order, the Administrative Court of Wiesbaden provided no further insight into when and how the licencing process will be reviewed again. Sources in Germany estimate a delay of at least 12 months.
Ultimate Gaming has decided to exit the New Jersey online gambling market after performing poorly in 2014. Thus far, Ultimate Gaming has generated the lowest revenue of all six online gambling operators licensed in the state. Compared to PartyPoker’s $30m in revenue, Ultimate Gaming has taken just $4.9m. Focus on Nevada Market As if vindicating the decision of Ultimate Gaming, new reports have indicated that global gaming giant PokerStars will soon be entering market in New Jersey. Company chairman Tom Breitling announced that they are currently winding down operations and will respond by focusing their efforts on the Nevada online gambling market. Trump Taj Mahal Also to Close What seems to have had a major impact is the decision of the Trump Taj Mahal to file for bankruptcy protection after also failing in New Jersey. Coincidentally, Ultimate Gaming had an agreement in place with the parent company of Trump Taj Mahal to provide online gambling services in the state. Now both entities have been forced to admit defeat. Contract Breaches Implicated As the name would suggest, Trump Taj Mahal is aligned with the business interests of global businessman Donald Trump. Following blame of contract breaches by Ultimate Gaming, parent company Trump Entertainment refused to comment. A further source of embarrassment occurred this month when Trump Plaza was forced to give up its casino license. Betfair Seeks New Partnership Another partner impacted in the turmoil has been Betfair, who, like Ultimate Gaming, also wants to cease dealings with Trump Entertainment. A disappointing year has seen Betfair and Trump Plaza generate just $5m in revenue. Betfair will be giving a chance to form an alliance with another gambling operator. Money Owed to Ultimate Ultimate is listed as a creditor due approximately $1.5m in the bankruptcy filing of Trump Entertainment. However, Trump has only listed assets of $500,000 in the filing, which doesn’t bode well for Ultimate.
Slotland Casino is known for its proprietary games. It recently featured the new, retro-style “Grand Fortune” slot. A fruit machine slot game that has a feel of a jukebox from the 50s, Grand Fortune is a 5 reel, 15 payline game with a free spins feature, a 7x multiplier, an expanding wild, and mostly importantly – a progressive jackpot. One may wonder, how big do progressive jackpots get with proprietary games? As progressive jackpots grow into huge numbers through a network with many players all competing for a jackpot at different casinos, it seems that it is a given that the progressive jackpots at Slotland don’t grow nearly as large as networked progressive jackpots like Mega Fortune or Major Millions. $150 000 Jackpot Grand Fortune’s jackpot is now at $150 000 – like most of the slot games at Slotland, Grand Fortune is tied to the site-wide progressive jackpot. It means that there are plenty of games sharing one jackpot – so players can play a multitude of different games and still have a chance of hitting it big. And although smaller, the jackpot gets hit more frequently. Winning With a Different Logic And it’s not a bad logic – although players are not eyeing a jackpot in the millions, they seem to be more than happy with this set up – a few extra hundred thousand dollars from out of the blue is significant enough to treat yourself nicely and to clear any debts, as a Canadian player who won $169 072 jackpot back in July, said “I guess I’ll go shopping, pay off my credit cards.” This particular player had been spinning for a little bit and with some small wins over $1000 before he hit the jackpot. Other notable wins include an American father who won over $266 000 in Spring 2013, and a mobile player who won over $159 000 while playing on his iPhone in early 2014.
The Premier League kicks off today for an exciting weekend with many quality fixtures which will yet again re-shape the interestingly disarrayed table. Merseyside Derby The action begins 12:45pm UK time when Liverpool meets Everton for the Merseyside derby. The last derby ended a 4-0 in favor of the Reds and they will be keen on taking the three points from this match as well, given their standing at the table. Positioned 11 with 6 points only, Liverpool had a luckluster beginning to the 2014/5 season with three losses and two wins; they must step up their game today if they want to stay relevant for this year's championship race Chelsea vs. Aston Villa At 3pm, Chelsea will host Aston Villa. The Blues are currently leading the Premier League with 13 points composed of 4 wins and 1 draw with Manchester City last Sunday. Aston Villa was defeated at home by Arsenal 0-3 last Saturday but their spirits will be boosted by the return of star striker Christian Benteke who came back from an Achilles injury. Manchester United Still Struggling At the same time, the struggling Manchester United will welcome West Ham at Old Trafford. The Red Devils are not finding solace with new boss Louis van Gaal and will still lick their wounds after the shocking 5-3 defeat to Leicester last Sunday. At 5:30pm all eyes will turn to North London as Arsenal hosts Tottenham. Betting Action at bet365 Online sportsbook bet365 will be covering all of the Premier League fixtures live with many pre-match and in-play betting markets. Punters can enjoy bet365's 100% Euro Soccer Bonus as well as the traditional Bore Draw Money Back offer which will see them off with refunds on Correct Score, Half-Time/Full-Time and Scorecast bets on any game that ends a goalless draw.
Elray Gaming has signed a resale agreement with Playtech which will bring Playtech's gaming technology to Asia on a large scale. Playtech Offerings Coming to Asia Moorgate Commercial brokered the deal, a master software agreement which also enables leading gaming consultancy Elray to access the full range of gaming products offered on the Playtech platform. Elray will extend Playtech's gaming offerings deep into Elray's prominent territories in Asia so that the regional market will now enjoy the full range of Playtech's offerings, which include sports betting, casino and poker. Playtech, Elray and Moorgate are further expected to continue to work closely in consultation to implement the deal as effectively as possible and grow online gaming across the continent. Elray's limited gaming offerings to date in the Asian market and its other markets included a virtual horse racing product acquired in April as well as a casino management solution and a trademarked binary for its trading platform. Ongoing Cooperation The two companies are no strangers, as they worked together previously and recently on a consulting contract in a 12-month agreement from June 2013-14 supporting Golden Galaxy, one of Playtech's online casinos. Founded in February 2011, Elray is led by an Australian chief executive, Brian Goodman, but also maintains offices in New York and London. The current resale agreement with Playtech is just one component of Elray's current expansion strategy, with rumours swirling of a potential acquisition by Elray of an existing online casino, with experts hinting at Golden Galaxy as that acquisition. Revenue Needs for Elray The main benefit of the deal for Elray would be a revenue boost into the black to offset early losses, including the $1.7 million loss the consultancy posted for the six month financial period ending June 30, 2014. In a beta type phase, the company brought in just $75,000, with total operating expenses topping out at $1.8m. The reseller agreement with Playtech may be just the solution to get through the growing pains as quickly as possible.
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