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NETELLER is one of the world's most relied-upon ways to make secure online payments, and is specifically popular in the online gambling sector. What many people don't know about NETELLER, however, is its colorful history; namely, its colorful founder, John Lefebvre. That's where Life Real Loud, a new biography by Bill Reynolds, comes in. Life Real Loud documents the life of John Lefebvre, who some have compared to the hero of cult movie, The Big Lebowski: the Dude. Lefebvre launched NETELLER in 1999, and it started out as a small-time business in Calgary, Canada. Fortunately for Lefebvre, the turn of the century was just about the time that internet gambling also got its start, and many online casinos chose NETELLER as their online payment method. With the rising popularity of NETELLER in the 2000s, Lefebvre moved from Calgary to a multi-million beach home in Malibu. With millions in the bank, he was able to practice his true love, music, which he continues to focus on until today. Lefebvre's other calling card is that he smokes a lot of pot, and he has no plans to quit. In fact, he says that the only four words he wants on his epitaph are, “He never stopped tokin'.” Trouble with the Law It wasn't his marijuana habit that got Lefebvre in trouble with the law; it was NETELLER. In 2007, Lefebvre was arrested by the FBI on charges of money laundering and promoting illegal gambling. The unflappable Lefebvre cut a plea bargain and paid a hefty sum to the US government, but was still left with a nice fortune. With his remaining resources, Lefebvre has become one of Canada's biggest, yet unknown, philanthropists. Being unknown doesn't bother him though; in fact, it leaves him free to pursue his music, and to enjoy the millions that NETELLER continues to generate.
Gameweek 17 of the Spanish La Liga kicks off today with a possible new-old name at Atletico Madrid's line-up in its home game against Levante (15:00 UK time). Will Torres Debut? If featured in the starting line-up, Fernando Torres' homecoming will be the center of attention tonight as the striker is on loan from Milan until the end of the next season. Torres began his career at Atletico Madrid where he played for six years until 2007, writing his name in the club's history as a prolific scorer. Having recently moved from Chelsea to Milan, Torres has had problems finding net. Will he find lady luck if he plays today? Atletico Madrid itself is doing quite well without "El Nino" – ranked third in the La Liga table, the reigning champion is just 4 points away from city rivals Real Madrid (lacking one game) and 3 from Barcelona. In the team's last game before the holiday break, Atletico beat Athletic Bilbao at home 4 to 1, with Antoine Griezmann donating an impressive hat-trick. Levante Levante is currently positioned 15th in the table with 15 points composed of 3 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses. Levante allowed 30 goals in 16 games this season so far, the third worst static in the league. At the same time the team does not produce too many goals; main threats in Levante's offense consist of Jose Morales and Victor Casadesus who scored a total of seven goals this season combined. Levante's last win was in late November – it's hard to see them beating the reigning champion. Live at bet365 Sports For this match Atletico Madrid is the big favorite at bet365 Sports with 1/5 against Levante's 16/1 in full time result. Over 75 betting markets are on offer for this match with in-play action available as the game kicks off. Tune-in bet365 today for this game and don't miss out on other La Liga fixtures today and tomorrow.
2014 was a prolific year for video slots, with an abundance of impressive games releasing throughout the year. It sure wasn't easy, but here are the Online Casino Reports Editor's picks for the biggest slot releases of 2014. Aliens Based on the fantastic James Cameron 1986 sequel to "Alien", NetEnt's Aliens immerses players in a storyline taking them through three levels of combat against Xenomorphs on the reels with a max payout of 570,000 coins. This slot's superb graphics and innovative bonus features gave us a glimpse of what's to come for video slots in the future. Aliens can be played at NetEnt powered casinos like BETAT Casino. Game of Thrones The intrigue-filled bloody world of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros is brought to life in this 5-reel slot which lets players alternate between 15 paylines or 243-ways-to-win. The houses vying for control of the Iron Throne are all present in the game's bonus screen, each offering different amounts of free spins and multipliers. Decide if you'll side with the Starks or the Lannisters at Microgaming powered online casinos such as Casino Cruise. Cosmic Fortune Built on 5-reels and 15-paylines, Cosmic Fortune offers jackpots in five different levels – the mega jackpot reached €300,000 only recently. Cosmic Fortune's space-themed symbols introduce players to an avalanche and free fall features which create even more potentials for big payouts. It was definitely a refreshing new name in the world of progressive jackpots this year. Players can play Cosmic Fortune at Slotty Vegas Casino and other NetEnt casinos. Jurassic Park Keep your hands inside the jeep at all times, these dinos are hungry! Microgaming's Jurassic Park is one the coolest and scariest slots we've seen this year, based on the unforgettable 1993 Steven Spielberg movie. Jurassic wins are to be had with the slot's 5 reels and 243-ways-to-win, as well as unique bonus modes such as the T.Rex Alert Mode which brings players face to face with that scary creature. Jurassic Park can be played at Crazy Vegas Casino. South Park Reel Chaos This sequel of NetEnt's original South Park slot features 5 reels, 20 paylines and a superhero twist. Cartman, Kyle, Kenny and Stan wear their superhero suits to battle the super villain Professor Chaos – also known as Butters. South Park Reel Chaos features 4 mini-features and loads of laughs. Players can join the fight at Tivoli Casino among other NetEnt powered casinos. Terminator 2 Another slot based on a James Cameron flick, Microgaming's Terminator 2 throws players into the terrifying battle between the Schwarzeneggerian T-800 and the evil T-1000. With 5 reels and 243-ways-to-win, Terminator 2 features two unique bonus screens based on the two cyborgs with a 1,024 ways-to-win free spin mode which can be triggered in the T-800 Vision Mode. Terminator 2 is available at Microgaming powered casinos like All Slots Casino.
Warren Buffett, one of the world's wealthiest people, has warned investors to stay away from the digital currency Bitcoin. The world's No.1 investor whose net worth is estimated around $63 billion said earlier this year that Bitcoin is not any kind of investment because it has no value. Bitcoin Just a Fad Buffett called Bitcoin a "mirage", saying that it is merely a method of transmitting money. "It’s a very effective way of transmitting money and you can do it anonymously and all that. A check is a way of transmitting money, too. Are checks worth a whole lot of money just because they can transmit money? Are money orders? You can transmit money by money orders. People do it". While the Oracle of Omaha said that he hopes Bitcoin will improve as a method of transferring money, he concluded that the thing in itself doesn't hold any huge intrinsic value because it can be replicated in a bunch of different ways. Not Too Big on Tech The 84-year-old Buffett is known to be somewhat of a Luddite who does not have a computer on his work desk and doesn't use a cell phone. This extends to his investments as it is known Buffett abstains from investments in anything that he does not understand. Bitcoin Online Casinos Naturally, Bitcoin has also made it to the world of online gambling and there are a few Bitcoin online casinos in operation which utilize the digital currency exclusively. Yet, Bitcoin is still thought of as a niche, with different scandals and bans which the currency suffered in 2014 not contributing to its positive image. For the most part, Bitcoin-only online casinos are numerous and most online casinos have not added support for the digital currency. While Bitcoin's status might change in the future, online casinos are currently heeding the advice of Warren Buffett.
A welcome offer is the most common type of offer in the online gambling market, appearing across casino sites, sportsbooks, poker sites, and bingo sites. The purpose of these special packages is to act as a form of digital marketing with which to attract players to sites. As in any marketplace, the types of offers can vary greatly in how they are designed for customers. In this special feature, we will cover the merits of welcome offers and what you need to look out for. Grand Casino Welcome These special packages are used to lure players to online casinos. Across a vast range of consumer products and services, many companies seek to generate interest in their offering by encouraging potential customers to try them out. Essentially, this allows for companies to draw in customers before convincing them with the quality of their product or service. Well, exactly the same can be said of online casinos and gambling sites. For instance, a player might be hesitant to try a new site because they have never tried the software provider before. Therefore, the welcome offer is the solution to letting them try out a potential site with less risk by providing them with free gaming funds. For any site, an introductory offer can provide a worthwhile trial period. Wagering Requirements Wagering requirements are one of the most glossed over factors among gambling sites. Many operators do not list them alongside the welcome offers because they do not want players to be put off. And honestly, who could blame them when wagering requirements can be as high as 100x. That basically means that players have to wager bonus funds 100 times before being able to withdraw them. The lesson to take from this is to click on the terms and conditions before claiming your next welcome package. You can press CTRL and F on your browser to perform a quick search for “requirement” or play through”. This will typically lead you to the wagering requirements attached to the bonus funds. Look for operators who are willing to offer lower wagering requirements, as this can affect your ability to take out winnings. Cashing Out Unfortunately, there are some online gambling operators that simply won’t allow players to withdraw their bonus funds, no matter how many times they can play them through. Again, you can find information on this topic by searching the terms and conditions of the bonus funds you are considering. In the case of a no deposit offer worth just $5, this is not so much of a big deal. The site will have handed those funds out free of charge and want players to try out the games. However, this becomes a much greater issue for deposit offers. When deposits are required for a welcome package, some players will invest large sums to acquire bonus funds. When not allowed cash out or being forced to meet large wagering requirements, it can then be tough to withdraw winnings won with the bonus funds. This can be hugely frustrating, so avoid these pitfalls by checking the terms and conditions.
The last of the wild card games will be played tonight at 21:40 (UK time) between the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams have the opportunity to advance to the next round of the playoffs and based on how they have played so far this year, it’s anyone’s game. Keys to Victory The Cowboys bring a lot of strengths to the game tonight, led by their all-star offense and Tony Romo. Their dynamic offensive attack gave the Cowboys a boost to the top of the NFC East. The combination of their incredible Offensive Line and their trinity of offensive weapons, (Romo, Murray and Bryant) the Cowboys have been rolling over their opponents with a physical running game, and a dangerous play-action game. The Cowboys biggest weakness is their ability to stop high scoring offenses. They need to stop the run and cover their opponents’ receivers from making big plays. The Lions have some of the best offensive players in the NFL, which is the main reason they are in the playoffs. It was their defense however, which proved to be the ultimate thorn in their opposition’s side. Detroit were the regular season leaders in rushing defense and second in total yards allowed. The Lions roaring defensive line led by Ndamukong Suh, whose suspension was overturned earlier this week, and Ziggy Ansah is proving to be the force that was needed in Detroit. To have a chance at winning in Texas tonight, Matthew Stafford, the number 1 overall pick, needs to prove he can produce in clutch games. The Lions are not that successful on-the-road against big name teams, which will pose a problem, as they need three away wins in order to make it to the Super Bowl. Big Online Betting Punters have a unique chance of making lucrative cash on tonight’s game with bet365 sports, as there are a total of 210 betting markets to choose from. The Lions are the underdogs for the Wild Card match-up at 3.35, while the Cowboys are the outright favorites at 1.34. To cover the spread, Lions +6.5 are at 1.90 and the Cowboys -6.5 are at 1.90 as well. There are other interesting props like Total Field Goals 2-way with the over (4.5) at 4.00 and even a very attractive total Touchdown market up to 11-way betting.
Without clear research findings, a lazy assumption would be to state that online gambling has been an aggravating factor for problem gamblers. And that’s because three long-term research studies have determined that problem gambling rates have not increased amid the industry’s growth. The key findings from Harvard University, the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), and the University of Buffalo are outlined below. Harvard Findings Addiction specialist Dr Howard Shaffer presented findings in 2011 from a Harvard research study he performed into online gambling. Shaffer started his research as far back as 2005 with data provided by global gambling operator bwin, before it merged with PartyGaming to form bwin.party. After years of analysing betting data, Shaffer was able to determine that greater accessibility at online gambling sites does not actually result in a higher rate of problem gambling. Furthermore, he also concluded that 75% of online problem gamblers had already displayed addictive behaviour before playing online. CAP Findings A more recent report from UK advertising authority CAP provides perspective on TV marketing. Having evaluated the TV advertising methods of online gambling operators since 2007, CAP found that adverts had no impact, with UK problem gambling rates remaining flat over the past several years. In fact, the report even stated that problem gambling rates among young people had remained static in spite of years of growth in the industry. University of Buffalo Findings The most recent findings come from a 2014 study undertaken by the University of Buffalo, supporting the findings of both Shaffer and CAP. Led by Dr John Welte, his prior research had found a link between problem online gambling and people who lived close to land-based casinos. Consequently, Welte was surprised to discover that his findings actually supported those of Shaffer and CAP. Over the past 10 years, he discovered that problem online gambling rates have remained flat in spite of major industry growth.
The 8th International Gaming Awards (IGA) have been planned for 2 February 2015, with the glitzy event to be hosted in London’s Savoy Hotel. Backed by a daily readership of more than 1,000 readers from all over the world, IGA 2015 will provide an informed critique of the global gambling industry, rewarding the most impressive companies and operators. IGA’s Charitable Efforts Another vital function of IGA is to raise money for charitable causes. Thus far, over £115,000 has been raised through the charitable efforts of IGA. And 2015 will be another year in which thousands will be raised for charities. You can read more about the four charities set to benefit at IGA 2015. CARE International Without CARE International, more than 55 million people from 70 countries would struggle to survive. CARE International is among the first organisations to enter countries when disasters hit, providing shelter, safe food, and clean water to those in need. At present, the organisation is helping to fight the Ebola crisis. Children with Leukaemia Leukaemia is the most common of childhood cancers, which is why this UK-focused organisation exists solely to help in the fight. And, seeing as the UK government provides no funding to Children with Leukaemia, the organisation is entirely dependent on donations raised from events such as IGA 2015. Breakthrough Breast Cancer The next charitable organisation to feature is one of that is completely focused on fighting breast cancer. And, in doing so, Breakthrough Breast Cancer is in need of funds to help fund education, campaigning, and research to help beat this awful disease. Responsible Gambling Trust The Responsible Gambling Trust exists to help those afflicted by gambling and its associated problems. The organisation also uses its funding for education as a means of helping to prevent people from being addicted to gambling later in their lives.
One of the biggest games of the season so far in the Israeli Premier League (Ligat Ha'al) gets underway this evening between Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. and Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C. Tel Aviv is currently in second place in the league with 33 points, while Be'er Sheva is in third spot with 31. The match pits the league's top scorer, Eran Zahavi (16 goals - 6 assists) against Be'er Sheva's all-star Maor Buzaglo (9 goals - 8 assists), and both players will be looking for the chance to outshine the other, on what looks like will be a very stormy night. Tale of the Tape Hapoel Be'er Sheva come into the game as the visitors, but as is well known in the league, when you get Be'er Sheva you also get thousands of their fans. The fans from the southern city are legendary and can take a home field advantage and completely turn the tables in their own favor. The team has won two straight and at the beginning of December they took two points away from league leaders, Kiryat Shmona by drawing 1-1. Maccabi Tel Aviv are no pushovers though, as they have some of the league's most talented players on their roster. Zahavi leading all scorers is just one of many amazing statistics, which Maccabi has to show. Their team is as experienced as they come, led by head coach Pako Ayestarán Barandiarán, whom came over from Spain in August 2014. Tel Aviv are an interesting mix and are always great to watch on the pitch, which should make for a fantastic game. Israeli Premier League Online Props bet365 Sports is offering 56 markets for tonight's match including a number of Team, Half and Score Props respectively. Going with Hapoel Be'er Sheva would be the best odds to play, as they are the underdog at 4.33, while Maccabi is well in front at 1.66. Correct Score is at 13.00 and other lines include Over/Under, Winning Margin and much more. Don't miss one of the biggest games of the year and check out the best in the Israeli Premier League this evening.
As the New Year settles in, football fans are stoked by the exciting set of fixtures taking place this week. From action at the Scottish Premiership and Italian Serie A to the Spanish Copa del Rey and the best Premier League dramas, it will be a good week for watching and punting. Here are a few predictions for selected fixtures this week which are not to miss. Burnley vs. Tottenham Hotspur (Monday, 19:45 UK time) The English FA Cup sets up an interesting third round meet Monday night between two Premier League clubs Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur. The difference is sharp between these two teams when looking at the Premier League table: While Tottenham keeps up with the top five closely having thrashed Chelsea 5-3 just last Thursday, Burnley is struggling at the relegation zone. Tottenham is a clear favorite. Prediction: Burnley 0–2 Tottenham Kilmarnock vs. Celtic (Monday, 20:00) Hot on the heels of Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League's top, Celtic is just two points away from taking the northern leaders. Three points against Kilmarnock would put the Bhoys two points away from Aberdeen with 42 points. Aside from the home advantage, Kilmarnock have won their last two games, but they've lost their six last matches against Celtic, including a 2-0 away loss this season. Prediction: Kilmarnock 1-3 Celtic Everton vs. West Ham United (Tuesday, 19:45) Another quality Premier League meeting at the FA Cup, Everton will use all of its might against West Ham United in this third round game. Everton is on four straight defeats in the league and they need a win at home today for a boost of confidence. West Ham is in a better form and they'll try to take advantage of Everton's woes – it'll be a close fight. Prediction: Everton 1–1 West Ham United Juventus vs. Inter Milan (Tuesday, 20:00) Serie A returns to the explosive derby d'Italia as Juventus host Inter Milan at home. Leading the Serie A, Juventus is having a very successful season with only one loss against Genoa in 16 matches. It's hard to see the Old Lady losing to the underachieving Inter Milan today, a team which had sustained much more goals than it should have this season. Prediction: Juventus 2-0 Inter Milan Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid (Wednesday, 20:00) Sunday marked Real Madrid's third loss this season against Valencia away from home, going from a 0-1 lead secured by a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty kick to 2-1 at the final whistle. This will be on Los Blancos' minds as they prepare to meet neighbor Atletico Madrid for the Copa del Rey Round of 16 match. Atletico is not to be taken lightly, with high-flying Antoine Griezmann and a possible debut of El Nino Fernando Torres, but Real will prevail. Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid Barcelona vs. Elche (Thursday, 21:00) In this Copa del Ray fixture, Barcelona will be keen to bounce back from their 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad on Sunday. Barca looked out of sync with both Messi and Neymar benched from the beginning: they'll want to prove manager Luis Enrique wrong. Prediction: Barcelona 3 – 0 Elche Bet Live Punters can immerse themselves in live betting action as these fixtures take place over at leading bookies such as William Hill Sports, bet365 Sports and Winner Sports. Make sure to stay updated with the latest markets and odds as you log-in before the matches kick-off.
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