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The legislative committee of Andorra has at last finished its draft of a bill intended to regulate online poker in the small mountain country, which is situated on the border between France and Spain. Discussion of the Andorra online poker bill began back in 2013, but now it appears that the bill will be ready for voting and will pass into law early in 2015. At present, the approximate 85,000 population of Andorran residents are currently unable to access online gambling or land-based casinos. However, all is set to change, with Andorra to permit one external gambling operator to set up a land-based casino. The expectation is that the millions of tourists who visit every year might help to generate tax revenue through gambling at a casino. Antoni Riberaygua, who holds the position of minister of the presidency, described the casino prospect as “potentially attractive to future visitors.” In discussing the overall bill, Riberaygua explained that the government taking great care to ensure that gambling in Andorra would have an overall positive social impact. Licensing Insight Meanwhile, the new bill will allow for Andorran residents to access an array of online gambling and poker sites once the law changes. Again, this is a change that has been made to try and increase tax revenues, a similar strategy that was implemented in recent years by the US states of Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey. As for the bill itself, it has been revealed that games involving luck and skill, such as poker, will have to apple for a class D licence. Therefore, any leading online poker operators seeking to enter the market will have to apple for such a market before being permitted to share their experience with the people of Andorra. Foreign operators will not submit applications for online gambling licenses until early 2015.
Senator Harry Reid, once an active proponent of legalizing online poker, has suddenly changed his tune. He was recently quoted as telling the Las Vegas Review Journal that, “I think the proliferation of gambling on the Internet is not good for our country. I think it is an invitation to crime. I think it is hard to control for crime when you’ve got brick-and-mortar places, let alone something up in the sky someplace, and it is very bad for children.” Senator Harry Reid, former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, currently represents the state of Nevada, which boasts Las Vegas as the biggest gambling site in America. Most Las Vegas casinos would welcome online gambling, which Reid knows. Moreover, Reid has supported the legalization of online poker for years, and even tried to pass through a number of bills towards this end. What Has Changed? Rumors around Capitol Hill are that Reid has entered into an “understanding” with Sheldon Adelson, the most outspoken opponent of online gambling. Adelson, who has spent millions of dollars on his campaign against the federal legislation of online gambling, had been pushing for the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA) bill to be added to the omnibus spending bill during Congress’s lame duck session. (It wasn't.) So in a mutually beneficial agreement, Adelson offered to help Reid get reelected to his position in the 2016 elections, and Reid offered to help Adelson pass the RAWA bill. Of course, this is all speculation. In Denial Reid has denied that any such agreement with Adelson took place; instead he claims that the only way online poker will be legalized is if all other forms are gambling are banned, and poker made the exception to the rule. If that sounds strange to you, you are not alone.
The Czech Republic is not willing to let gambling continue to be a regular part of their day to day lifestyle. Instead of exploring the positive outcomes that many forms of gambling could provide, they will soon be treating it like it would serious illicit drugs. CTK Czech news agency has recently broadcast that national anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil will be enforcing measures that will restrain the public's access to gambling, alcohol and of course drugs. New policies will only be explored after 2018, the year in which the current strategy is valid. They have even chosen to stop using the word "drugs" and have changed it to "addictive substances and gambling”. Gambling will not completely be outlawed in the Czech Republic, but as Vobořil pointed out, the citizens have much more exposure to gambling machines than do the citizens of neighboring countries. Online Gambling Still Big Business The Czech Republic saw a total of $653 million in bets to licensed online casinos but also saw around the same amount go to foreign, untaxed online gambling platforms. Problem gambling has been a big issue for the Czech Republic, with over 170,000 adults at high-risk for problem gambling and half that amount with gambling addiction issues. For now, this is the direction the country is headed and it won't fully understand the impact of the strategy until the program is evaluated at the end of March 2019. The change will definitely change the countries economy and could be more harmful than anything as gambling has provided revenue for a number of government initiatives and community projects. The people of the Czech Republic may not take this new mission very seriously, as there are still an average of 7.5 machines per 1,000 Czech residents.
The Bulls have had a great run so far in the NBA standings this season. Chicago are in first place in the Central Division, currently at 15-9, ahead of Lebron James and the Cavaliers. Surprisingly the Bulls have been much better on-the-road than at home in United Center but the way things are looking now, Chicago should have an excellent season. The Knicks are on the other side of the spectrum. They are in second to last place in the Atlantic Division at 5-22 and haven’t been able to get things together so far this year. Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks superstar might be kicking himself for not going to Chicago rather than New York, after he cancelled the last year of his contract to opt in for free agent status. He closed with the Knicks for a five-year, $124 million contract but the team is not likely to be anywhere after the regular season, except maybe the golf course. Tale of the Tape Head to head action between the Bulls and the Knicks is always fun to watch. Their shared rivalry, may be one of the most beloved in the entire NBA as the Windy City and the Big Apple have met on the hardwood 249 times and Chicago has the winning record by a margin of 139-110. The first time they met was back in 1966 and the contests are always a thrill. Bet365 NBA Betting With so many games in the NBA regular season, it is amazing that online sportsbooks like bet365 can make time to post markets for each game. They have done it again and are offering a number of attractive sports betting lines for pre-game bets. The Bulls are outright favorites and the Knicks are in the underdog spot, but punters can win with a number of props like Point Spread, Over/Under and much more. Don’t miss the NBA action live from United Center in Chicago, Illinois tonight at 1:00 in the UK
The rapidly expanding London Affiliate Conference (LAC) is upon us again. This Year's Conference This year is the 9th year of the event, which will be held from January 31 to February 3, 2015, promises to be the largest version ever. Four days of conferences, exhibitions, and networking will be highlighted by new features as well as the parallel conference Financial Partners Exp, the largest dedicated exposition for retail finance affiliates. Another popular event is the iGB Affiliate Awards which will also take place during LAC, in which industry members determine nominees and vote on winners. Essential Activities Included Essential LAC activities taking place will include a Strategic Conference Program, the London 2-day conferences offering a wide array of panels and presentations; Networking in a relaxed atmosphere with over 3,800 expected attendees of all experience intermingling with affiliates, affiliate managers, operators and speakers; the introduction of Acquisition zone as a new dedicated area for service providers from email service providers and tech to performance marketing and creative agencies; a wealth of parties, taking place after the many exhibitions where attendees can have fun and close deals at the same time; and free admission to all affiliates and introductory brokers to maximize exposure and attendee access to opportunity. SEO Speakers and Workshops Highlighted The speakers will lead all kinds of workshops and panels in the packed agenda that the LAC is offering. The best SEO sessions include “Look ma no links and I'm Ranking!” This conference on day 2 will be quick blast of info led by 90 Digital Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Nick Garner, providing essential information about affiliate sites that are trusted and rank well with minimal sites online; “What's moving search results: A snapshot of what is driving major iGaming SERPS,” led by BlueClaw Operations Director Joel Turner, who will be providing insight into what is driving the most competitive iGaming search results; and “Backing the right domain for international success,” headed by Latitude Digital Marketing Head of SEO Lloyd Cooke, who will show attendees how to position gaming sites for international SEO success.
The 2014 International Gaming App Awards took place on December 8, 2014 at the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in London. The App Awards recognize excellence in the innovate field of mobile gaming, and showcase some of the very best work being done to make the mobile gaming experience an enjoyable one. We weren't surprised to see some of the biggest names in online gambling on the winner's list for mobile apps. Below are some of the big winners. And the Winners Are... App of the Year: Unibet's Spin City Unibet Casino's Spin City app features classic table games and a variety of exclusive mobile slots. Players can collect trophies and tokens as they play, and use them to trigger instant free spins. What's great about Unibet is that they listen to customer feedback and seek ways to improve their product. For example, in the latest version of Spin City, Unibet fixed a bug preventing the bonus rounds from playing out for certain customers. Way to go, Unibet! Best Casino App of the Year: Playtech Playtech is a veteran in the online gaming industry, and since its creation in 1999, has been one of the leading suppliers of internet gambling software. Now, Playtech is at the forefront of mobile development with its unqiue Mobile Hub, an open framework designed to give players a superior experience when playing casino games or sports betting on their mobile device. Some of the top Playtech-powered casinos are Winner Casino and bet365 Casino. Best Bingo App of the Year: Mecca Bingo Mecca Bingo's mobile app gives players the same smooth experience as if they were playing on their computers. It can be downloaded to iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android phone, and players can compete for the same incredible jackpots and prizes that are offered online. Mecca Bingo's app also makes depositing and withdrawing very smooth and simple.
Betfair Casino has inked a potentially highly lucrative deal with Leander games to expand the online casino operator's gaming portfolio. Deal Benefits The deal gives Betfair access not only to Leander's slew of online games, but games available from Leander's 25 partner developers as well. The arrangement will be implemented through LeGa, Leander's powerful and innovative open gaming platform, through which Leander's proprietary slots and third party offerings are integrated. While further enabling Betfair casino game selection to record highs, the new deal also substantially increases Betfair's reach through newly emerging customer environments such as tablets and smartphones. However, the desktop versions will not be ignored: technically superior solutions give rise to advanced graphics and engaging storytelling experiences from the desktop. The LeGa platform generally incorporates Leander's cutting edge technology to offer more speed and versatility than any current gaming systems within the online market. Open Approach Working The open approach to technological implementation and integration allows increased partner-developers participation in the platform to increase developer visibility and the reach of Leander's gaming offerings, so that all stakeholders in this agreement appear in position to benefit significantly from Betfair and Leander's new arrangement. Betfair has already begun a process of expanding online gambling offerings in a recent deal with Net Entertainment, and continues to pursue partnerships with leading developers into untapped markets. Smoothing Out the Rough Spots However, the campaign has not been without its hitches. In New Jersey, Betfair saw the recent closure of a deal with Trump Plaza Casino. Nonetheless, Betfair has maintained its presence in the delicate online gambling market in America though their partnership with land-based operator Golden Nugget Casino. The emerging American market can only be conquered in baby steps, but regulation in other areas of the world such as Australia, Austria, Malta and Germany and a recent expansion into Italy has fostered the growth of Betfair into one of the largest online betting exchanges in the world, with an estimated weekly turnover of $50 million dollars. At any rate, the new deal with Leander is a huge step forward for Betfair.
Undisputed Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich travels to the Coface Arena today to meet home team FSV Mainz 05 (7:30pm UK time). Bayern has beaten Mainz in the last four times they've met and this is the team's first meeting this Bundesliga season. Bayern's Unbeaten Run Bayern Munich is absolutely dominating the league, not losing even one game in 16 matches played since the start of the season so far, the Bavarians have collected points from all games. Pep Guardiola's side possesses an amazing goal difference of 36 – Bayern has scored 36 goals in 16 games, only sustaining 3 in the process. Bayern is currently sitting at 42 points (13 wins and 3 draws). They've beaten Sport-Club Freiburg 2-0 on Tuesday; this is Bayern's last game before the winter break and some have asked whether they'll be distracted, something which Guardiola denied saying that the team is travelling to Mainz in order to win. Mainz Mainz is currently positioned eleventh in the table with 18 points. The team has been displaying unstable performances throughout the season with 3 wins, 4 losses and 9 draws – the highest number in the league at the moment. Mainz hasn't won a game in eight matches and the draws could keep them up only for so long – they can sink closer to the relegation zone and the fans are pressing for a win. To beat Bayern at the current state seems impossible, but Mainz could try and take advantage of Bayern's many injuries with key players such as Alonso and Lewandowski doubtful and Lahm, Martinez and Alcantara sidelined. Bet Live Winner Sports is offering in-play and pre-match betting markets on today's game. Full time result odds had Mainz at 12/1, Bayern at 1/5 and 11/2 for a draw. Tune-in Winner today and tomorrow for a full coverage on all the action in the Bundesliga.
Good actors invest a lot in order to get in character for an upcoming movie: Massive changes in weight that actors like Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey have gone through serve as good examples. However it's the actor and producer Mark Wahlberg who recently got into gambling very seriously in preparation for an upcoming movie. Wahlberg came forward on his recent gambling experience in Macau, revealing that he had lost $45,000 on a single spin of roulette – a sum that he had won just a game earlier. The 43-year-old actor was a guest at Jimmy Fallon's "The Tonight Show" last week when he shared his gambling tales. Part of the Job Wahlberg told Fallon and viewers about his visit to the Wynn casino in Macau as preparation for getting into the character for "The Gambler", an upcoming movie about a literature professor who gets addicted to gambling. According to Wahlberg, when he stepped into the casino he was empty pocketed but he managed to scrap a few dollars from his friends. At his first stop, Wahlberg sat down at a blackjack table where he hit 21 three times, resulting in the win of $45,000. After he hit three blackjacks, Wahlberg turned over to a roulette table where he wagered his entire winnings on black. This time luck wasn’t by his side and he lost everything that he had just won. Wager Smarter than Wahlberg Mark Wahlberg knew he was walking on the edge when he wagered and lost his entire freshly won bankroll on the roulette's black, as he said he that he had left the casino with a smile. Obviously Wahlberg's example is very extreme, but in gambling and specifically with roulettes one must always wager cautiously and never ever bet the entire bankroll on one spin.
Animals are one of the most popular themes in video slot with popular titles like Mega Moolah, EggOMatic and Piggies and The Wolf serving as an example. Over at bet365 Games there are two unique animal themed games worthy of acknowledgment: Photo Safari and Teddy Bears Picnic. Photo Safari Developed by Play'N'Go and built on the classic 5-reel, 20-payline layout, Photo Safari lets players experience Africa's savannah with a camera. The symbols are represented by wildlife recognized with Africa's safari including lions, giraffes, zebras and elephants as well as classic letters and numbers with an African twist. The wild is represented by bongo drums which substitute for winning combinations, and a film reel serves as the scatter symbol which activates the free spin mode when three or more are landed. Players get the full-blown National Geographic experience when three or more camera symbols are landed, activating the slot's bonus which has players take photos of different animals for cash bonuses. Teddy Bears Picnic Built on 5 reels and 25 paylines, NextGen's Teddy Bears Picnic takes place in the woods where a bunch of cute teddy bears are having a picnic. The symbols are just too sweet with cute teddy bears, cakes, coffee cups and yummy-looking letters and numbers. The wild is a honeycomb which substitutes for all symbols except scatters, creating some sweet winning potential. The scatter is a basket filled with goods which activates free spin mode when three or more are landed – any wilds landed during the free spins remain for the remainder of the free spins. Reload Weekend at bet365 Games Players interested to try out these two unique games can benefit from the upcoming 25% reload weekend taking place at bet365 Games. bet365 Games will add an extra quarter up to £100 to all first deposits players make during the weekend of 20th and 21st December.
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