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A war has been raging over the past few weeks without a shot having been fired. It's a new kind of war in which guns and infantry are replaced by botnets, worms, trojans, viruses and many other tools – better known as cyberwarfare. Cyberattacks on Sony The casus belli for the cyberwar was "The Interview", a new film directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg which tells of two American journalists assigned by the CIA to assassinate North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un. North Korea has repeatedly expressed its objection to the release of the film. In late November, Sony Pictures Entertainment's computer networks were hacked, with the hackers leaking loads of internal information and threatening 11/9 attacks on cinemas showing the new film. Responding to the threats, Sony cancelled The Interview's premiere in New York and pulled all television advertising, something which led other theaters to delay or completely remove the film's screenings. Sony's move was criticized by many who viewed it as capitulation to terrorists and a hard hit on free speech. One vocal critic was US President Obama who said that the cancellation was a mistake and that Sony should have consulted him beforehand. On Tuesday, Sony reversed its move in a small proportion, deciding to release the movie on a small number of cinemas on Christmas day. North Korean Internet Hit For the cyberattacks themselves, the US put the blame on North Korea, something which the regime fiercely denied. Western retaliation was swift when in Monday December 22th, North Korea's internet simply failed. This came after President Obama talked about a "proportional response" to the Sony attacks. It is known that American officials asked China to help in halting North Korea's cyberattacks. North Korea's state-run internet provider Star Joint Ventures runs almost exclusively through China. Cyberattacks on Online Casinos Earlier this February, Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands casino was hacked in a cyberattack said to be perpetrated by Iranian hackers. While the scope of online casinos is far from that of the Sands, these sometimes fall victim to cyberattacks as well. The currently raging cyberwar has shown that nobody is 100% vulnerable. Cyberattacks on online casinos can come in different forms, a common one being DDoS attacks which attempt to bring the online casinos down as a whole to disrupt their operation. Other online casino cyberattacks include counterfeiting, theft of chips, abuse of online transactions and cheating. With online casinos operating across different jurisdictions, criminals have also started making increased attempts to use online casino payment methods in order to shift illicit money internationally. Online Casinos Defenses from Cyberattacks Thankfully, the world of data security has made great strides in the last decade and online casinos employ advanced measures to defend themselves from cyberattacks. SSL (Secure Socket Layer) methods are specifically used to protect players' private data, while DDoS protection systems are very common in online casinos. Specifically at Online Casino Reports we make sure that all online casinos on the site are secure and licensed. Online casinos usually list their license information at the bottom of the homepage. For example, we can see at Winner Casino's homepage that the casino is licensed at Antigua & Barbuda and bears different seals vouching for its security; the same can be said for EuroSlots Casino which is licensed in Malta and is certified by DigiCert. Take heed of this information and make sure to play only at licensed and safe online casinos.
Hitting theaters this Christmas day is "The Gambler," a new film dealing with gambling addiction and its consequences. Directed by Rupert Wyatt, The Gambler is a remake of a 1974 movie featuring James Caan by the same name. Professor by Day, High-stake Gambler by Night The new film follows Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a Los Angeles English college professor by day and a high-stakes gambler by night. Bennett is a gambling addict in self-denial who likes taking his bets to the top and finds himself up to with $240,000 in debt to an illicit Koreantown casino. To make things worse, the high-rolling professor takes loans from a snarky gangster named Neville Baraka (Michael Kenneth Williams). The plot then follows Bennett's attempts to clear his debt and climb out the hole that he had dug for himself. These efforts cover his relationships with three students who are aware of his gambling woes including Amy (Brie Larson), who works as a part-time waitress at a casino. Bennett also deals with his wealthy mother (Jessica Lange) and a big-time loan shark named Frank (played by a bald John Goodman). As expected, Bennett's situation spirals out of the control to create a fast-moving thriller filled with gambling, violence, rhetoric and even some philosophy (there's an emphasis on Albert Camus's existentialist novel "The Stranger"). "Dynamite Performance" by Wahlberg When remakes are made, they are almost always those of good movies and that in itself is a risky endeavor, but according to early reviews the strong cast seems to do honor to the original. Specifically, Mark Wahlberg's performance as the professor with a knack for gambling was called "dynamite" by The Guardian newspaper. Wahlberg took his role seriously, managing to win and lose $45,000 at a single visit in a Macau casino while getting into character.
ICE Totally Gaming 2015, the biggest gaming event of the year, will also play host to the exclusive World Regulatory Assembly (WrA) Cocktail Reception aboard the world-famous ship, the Cutty Sark. Kate Chambers, Portfolio Director responsible for ICE, commented, "The Cutty Sark, which is situated just across the River Thames from our home at the ExCeL Centre, is a unique symbol of international trade and commerce and represents a fantastic environment to begin the networking opportunities for which ICE week is famous. The WrA reception is an invaluable event for guests to meet, to discuss the week ahead and explore all the opportunities that ICE and the WrA has to offer." WrA Events In addition to the Cocktail Reception, WrA events include the World Regulatory Briefing, the Annual Regulators Lunch and the IMGL Master Class. The World Regulatory Briefing will focus on important updates in international regulations; the Annual Regulators Lunch will give the international regulatory community the opportunity to network and hear from industry leaders; the IMGL Masterclass will be a free, day-long session in which key regulatory stakeholders share their knowledge on current industry news. How Can You Attend? If you are a gaming professional and wish to attend any of the WrA events, you must request an invite. For more information on how to do this, visit the ICE website. About ICE ICE is the only B2B gaming event that brings together both online and traditional gaming sectors; innovators in various gaming fields are featured, including casino, betting, bingo, lottery, mobile and online. Visitors to the event can discover the hottest areas of growth in the gaming industry and benefit from great networking opportunities. Over 100 international gaming regulators are expected to attend the ICE Totally Gaming 2015 event, which is scheduled to take place on February 3, 4 and 5, 2015.
Since President Obama announced a recent thaw in US-Cuba relations, the air is rife with speculation that this could mean the return of legalized gambling to Cuba. Cuba, once a paradise of sorts with 13 legal casinos, was made into a virtual wasteland for gamblers when Fidel Castro came into power in 1959 and labeled such industry as “sin.” Once he made gambling illegal in Cuba, many casinos relocated to Nevada. Today, if current Cuban president Raul Castro legalizes casinos, the landscape of traditional casinos in the United States can be expected to change significantly as a result. American companies see untold potential in Cuba, which is less than 100 miles off the coast of Florida. Nova Southeastern University professor Bob Jarvis commented, “I don’t think there’s any question every casino executive in the United States and beyond is thinking of a plan to get into Cuba. It was the play land for the United States in the 1940s and 1950s, and it could be again. It’s fabulous.” When Will Cuban Casinos Open for Business? While the prospect of casinos in Cuba is certainly exciting, not everyone is confident that the change will happen overnight. Michael Pollock of Spectrum Gaming cautioned that even if gambling is legalized today, it could take as long as ten years to see the first casino actually open. Factors that can hinder or speed up the process include whether Cuba can maintain a stable administration, whether there will be a regulatory system that will encourage businesses to invest in Cuba's neglected tourism infrastructure, and how much competition Cuba will face from both the United States and other Caribbean islands. Will Cuba legalize Online Gambling? If Cuba legalizes land-based casinos, it may be only a matter of time before online gambling is legalized as well. It's difficult to forecast how the online gambling story will play out; in America it is still a work-in-progress, with certain states heading towards legalization and others staunchly opposed. Perhaps the direction of both American online gambling and Cuban land-based casinos will shape the island's position on internet gambling.
Last week, the financial world was shaken by an economic crisis in Russia. Russia's ruble currency has fallen by 50 percent since January 2014 against the dollar - the exchange rates reaching 80.1 percent. At first, Russian authorities raised the interest rate from 6.5 to 17 percent but this failed to stabilize the situation. Despite President Vladimir Putin's promise that Russia will recover, economists predict that Russia's gross domestic product will suffer a 3.6 percent fall in 2015 and the country's economy will slide into recession. Sanctions and Oil-centered Economy While economists are not synonymous in their explanations of the cause for the ruble's devaluation, it is widely agreed that the war-related sanctions laid on Russia had a big part in the crisis. As remembered, 2014 was characterized by Russia's repeated military interventions in Ukraine while disregarding international pleas for peace. Most notably, the Crimean crisis in which Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula was the trigger for widespread sanctions on the country. One of the major building blocks of Russia's economy is oil and energy related exports. With Russia's economy already unbalanced, the economic sanctions and global turndowns in demands led to a decrease in prices for a single oil barrel, something which hit Russia's economy right in the face. This was joined by the increased oil production by other states which took a bite out of Russia's market share, so to speak. Ruble Stabilized, For Now The hiking interest rates went down to stabilize at 11 percent last Tuesday while the ruble's exchange rate stabilized at 53.50 in Moscow's exchange, but the long-term consequences are yet to have shown. By the end of the year, inflation in Russia is expected to hit 10.1 percent – a stark difference compared to the 5.5 percent Russia's central bank had when 2014 began. With the number expected to reach 12-15 by next year, spectators fear a repeat of the financial crisis Russia suffered in 1998. Financial Markets and Betting The last two weeks were certainly interesting for traders and financial punters, with the ruble's downfall affecting worldwide markets. Financial betting has become very popular in recent years due to its relative simplicity and accessibility; the financial betting options offered at bet365 serve as a good example. Punters can bet every weekday between 08:00-21:00 UK time on a wide range of index markets including FSE, Wall Street, Hong Kong, SENSEX and DAX, with bets also available on many currency pairs. Betting on currencies is very popular and it doesn't affect the real stock market. Getting to know how the global market works gives an added value to the overall experience as can be seen in the ruble's case.
Unfairly overlooked, the EuroJackpot lottery actually runs across more countries than the EuroMillions, and gives players better chances of winning a prize. Since online ticket buying services like The Lotter and Lottery Master started out, people from around the world can take part in the draw without needing to leave home. About The EuroJackpot Participating countries include Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Iceland and since October 2014, Hungary and the Czech Republic. With 16 in total, more nations compete in the EuroJackpot than the EuroMillions draw. To win a prize, players need to select five main numbers from between 1 and 50, plus two bonus numbers between 1 and 10 and as the prizes are less top heavy than other draws, with a more even distribution, there are good odds of coming out a winner. The top prize is capped at a maximum of €90 million, with a guaranteed €10 million minimum, and there are twelve prize levels in all. Draws take place in Helsinki Finland each Friday at 19.00 GMT, and the next is on 26th December, when the jackpot will be an estimated €18 million. There is no need to be a resident of participating countries to enter the EuroJackpot, as online services are now running. Online Lottery Services Buying tickets via The Lotter, or Lottery Master gives people a chance to enter the EuroJackpot draw online. Players choose their numbers in the normal way, and their entries are then scanned. Local agents make the actual ticket purchases in participating countries, and should one win, the player will be notified by email and text message. Prizes up to a certain level are pad directly to the users account, although big wins will need to be collected in person.
iSoftBet, a top mobile and gaming software provider launched its newly rebranded site which is a testament to the growth of the company, and the variety of services and content it offers. iSoftBet powers several online casinos including Leo Jackpot Casino, Casino777, Casino Riva and NetBet Casino. In addition, this provider offers a number of different games such as Nacho Libre, 1,000,000 Cents and Best Things in Life. Implications of iSoftBet’s Rebranding The rebranding of iSoftBet includes a redesign of the website so it is cleaner and more user-friendly thereby supporting the expansion of services provided by the company. In addition, this software provider also sports a new logo. This new website makes it easy for players and operators to access a full catalogue of online casino and mobile casino games directly from the homepage. Users can also easily access important information about B2B services that are available. The rebranding has happened at a good time as iSoftBet recently received accreditation from Alderney. In addition, iSoftBet has released a number of new games that can be played in mobile and Flash formats. iSoftBet offers a collection of HTML5 mobile games and a wide range of online casino games. In addition, iSoftBet has a new sports betting platform. All of the products from the company are designed to provide quality online gaming entertainment. A Word from iSoftBet Commercial Director Commercial Director of iSoftBet Nir Elbaz said that the rebranding is not just about changing the design of the logo and website. Elbaz says that it was important for iSoftBet to rebrand because the rebranding reflects the innovative changes that iSoftBet has undergone. He goes on to say that all departments have been working to improve the offering, including integration methods, account management and game development. Elbaz stated that they believe they have created a working brand identity that highlights the high quality services they can offer to customers. Plus, he says that they work hard to provide the best service and are happy to rollout the fresh brand to new and existing players.
Horse racing punters are excited for Boxing Day as it brings with it the annual William Hill King George VI Chase taking place at Kempton Park (3:10pm UK time). Run over about three miles with 18 fences to master, the King George VI Chase is considered to be one of the year's highlights in horse racing as a whole. Silviniaco Conti Still a Favorite The winner of last year's chase Silviniaco Conti remains a top favorite for today's chase. Last year's chase was marked by a tough competition between Conti and Cue Card who was leading from the get-go but was overtaken by Conti in an intense final-moment move right before jumping the last fence. Online bookie Winner Sports holds last year's winner as a top favorite with 9/4 odds to win. Jockey Noel Fehily who won last year's chase was confident after the horse landed the Betfair Chase on November 22nd. Silviniaco Conti is a Paul Nicholls horse, a trainer who won the King George VI Chase eight times. While Nicholls is always a good bet, Conti's rivals are strong and many. Champagne Fever is 9/2 and is carrying many hopes of an Irish winner in the chase after nine long years. Also trained by Nicholls, Al Ferof is 6/1 to win, while last year's runner-up Cue Card shares the same numbers. Also to be considered are Dynaste and Menorah, both with 7/1; specifically Menorah finished second to Conti at the Betfair Chase. Watch and Wager Live Winner Sports will broadcast the King George VI Chase live through a Channel 4 stream. As last year's competition demonstrated, this race is always filled with thrills and the 20k+ racegoers it attracts stand to bear witness. Winner's faller insurance Boxing Day special guarantees a safe bet for wary punters – don't miss out on this race today!
December is not the only month of the year for giving. Tivoli Casino is planning to release a brand new slot game once a week over the first four weeks of January. In adding the new online slots, Tivoli has turned to three of the leading software providers in the online casino industry. Players will be able to try out new games from Play’n GO, Microgaming, and NetEnt. January 5: GEMiX GEMiX is the first of the video slots to be released, appearing among Tivoli’s games on Monday, 5 January. This glittering slot features an eye-catching selection of gem symbols designed by the game developers of Play’n GO. Special features consist of Crystal Charge, World Pattern, and World Wilds. January 8: Game of Thrones Microgaming is the software developer behind the release of this hotly anticipated slot game based on the award-winning Game of Thrones TV series from HBO. Players have the choice of setting the Game of Thrones slot to feature either 243 ways of winning or 15 paylines. From 8 January, the players of Tivoli will be able to try and claim free spins and multipliers in the lucrative bonus round. January 15: Crazy Cows Crazy Cows is the second January release to come from Play’n GO, and this time players will be able to experience a farmyard-themed game. This three-reel slot game features 15 paylines and will be emerging on 15 January. Free spins can be won while playing the High Dive bonus game, during which there can be an expanded wild symbol on the middle reel. January 22: The Invisible Man Due to be launched on 22 January, the Invisible Man is a science fiction-themed slot from NetEnt. Designed with five reels and three rows, players can win over 20 paylines. Notable features include the win-both-ways functions, two bonus rounds, free spins, Walking Wilds, and substitution of wild symbols.
Today, its no secret the average person spends an increasing amount of time on the web, which is pushing more and more business and commerce towards the web. Online Gambling, A Tech Triumph Gambling is no exception - in fact, iGaming is rapidly becoming one of the largest if not the largest online business today. Combining technology with protective programming, the iGaming industry in many ways represents the state of the art in adapting an industry to the web. At the Social and Mobile Gambling Conference in Moscow March 19th--the first mobile and social network gambling event ever in the Russian Federation--attendees will be brought up to date on the current status of social and mobile gambling as well as industry prospects. The Internet offers a new range of possibilities for gaming options, as well as optimal platforms for accessing those games, making new gaming technologies available to users on handheld devices or home computers. Adapting Gambling to the Web for the Better Giving millions of users the best chance to win through effective gaming technologies and innovative online jackpot systems such as progressives is all part of the adaptive marketing that has taken place to make gambling more appealing online than in casinos. With minimal operating costs and optimal user access, iGaming potentially represents a more rewarding and safer gaming environment as well. All attendees will receive vital industry information through lectures and workshops that will focus on prevailing and future trends in the iGaming industry, how to start a business in the industry today, how to attract and engage players, how to raise one's game offerings to the top of users' preferences, and how to understand the nuances of regulatory rules and remain compliant. There will also be tremendous networking opportunities for those seeking investors and developers. Whether you are looking to grow your iGaming enterprise, or seeking to gain an initial foothold, Moscow is the place to do so, at the Social and Mobile Gambling Conference 2015.
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