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The iGaming Asia Conference 2015 is an official interactive sports betting and online casino gaming conference in Asia that is taking place between March 17th and March 19th 2015 in Macau. There will be more than 250 online casino, sports betting, mobile, social and lottery gaming executives in attendance. This conference gives attendees the opportunity to forge new partnerships, network and learn about innovations, strategies, developments and opportunities in the iGaming industry. What to Expect at the iGA 2015 There are several new additions to the iGA 2015 including a new social and mobile gaming conference. This conference is co-located with the iGA 2015 and it features the hottest developments and innovations in the Asian mobile/social gaming industry. In addition, there will be more networking opportunities and expanded exhibitions that feature additional technology, services and gaming solutions. Speakers and Events at iGA 2015 A number of different speakers will take to the podium at the conference – all of whom are leaders in the iGaming industry in Asia. Many of these speakers are executives of companies involved in online gaming and have specialized expertise in their field. Some of the most notable speakers include CEO of Hero Poker David Jung, CEO of SBTech Itai Zak, and President of Paddy Power Asia Harish Narayanan. The conference will include a variety of lectures about important topics in the Asian online gaming industry. In addition to lectures, attendees will have the opportunity to attend exhibitions to see the latest technologies, developments and products in the Asian iGaming industry. The iGaming Asia Conference will feature multiple networking sessions in between exhibitions and lectures. These networking sessions give attendees the opportunity to meet leaders and major players in the industry. It also gives attendees the chance to generate new business contacts, learn from the industry leaders and even create new business partnerships.
Due to an exclusionary statute of UK and EU law, UK bookmaker Ladbrokes is joining the iGaming exodus from the otherwise vast Russian market. EU Exclusion A UK and EU requirement mandating that all operators applying for UK licenses stay away from countries where online gambling is illegal has caused the departures by iGaming operators, who have been instructed by the UK to limit their involvement in grey market areas to not over 3% of their total revenues if they want their UK licensing applications approved. Ladbrokes Withdrawals By the same logic, Ladbrokes is also withdrawing from other countries with grey area operation such as Finland, Romania and Portugal, after leaving Canada and a number of other European markets, last year including Hungary, Norway and Switzerland. A Ladbrokes spokesperson explained the trend: “We continually review our presence in markets according to legal advice and regulatory conditions. This is an ongoing process and the markets we have withdrawn from are not material.” While the concern over the new stigma that the UK licensing requirement places on grey market regions, to characterize all the markets Ladbrokes has withdrawn from as not material is a stretch when it comes to Russia, representing a national market of 143 million people. However, the economic stability of the Russian ruble and President Putin's increasing anti-gambling stance undoubtedly contributed to Ladbroke's unwillingness to continue in Russia. Other Grey Markets Strong While the loss of a market the size of Russia's may appear as a significant deduction to the global market, there are still significant grey area markets where iGaming providers continue to operate comfortably, undoubtedly because of the confidence they have in these countries effectively adapting gambling regulation legislation (i.e. Australia, Brazil) or allowing it to continue without conflict to the national laws (i.e. China, India).
For football fans, this month will see three meetings between Elche and Barcelona. For fans of Barcelona, that is as good as saying take three wins, as Elche hasn't even scored against the Catalans since April 1978. The fact that they face Elche in the Round of 16 means Barca can basically focus on the next round, against either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid. Barcelona currently sit in second place on the La Liga table, just one point behind Real Madrid. Elche have had a terrible regular season, winning only two games, which is good enough for dead-last place. Barcelona have won their last ten games out of twelve games in all competitions and there are very few people in the world that believe that Elche can win tonight. Unbelievable upsets do happen though, and more recently than one would think, with regards to Barca. Earlier this season, Celta Vigo beat Barcelona for the first time since 1977, their third-ever victory against the Catalans. If Elche can pull it off, the local municipality may just make it a citywide holiday to savor the win. Huge Odds for Underdog Win Elche doesn't really have a lot going for them tonight, and not even their own fans have faith that their team can win. Bet365 Sports has posted some of the biggest underdog odds ever seen, with Elche at 34.00 to win tonight. Messi and the rest of the team are at 1.083, while a draw is also quite attractive at 11.00. Bet365 is offering live audio for tonight's Copa Del Rey game and punters are free to listen and try their luck with over 25 different betting categories featuring tons of markets. There is choose-it-yourself Correct Score market, which is giving 11.00 odds if Barcelona finished the match 1-0. Unsurprisingly, a 3-0 and even 4-0 finish is less attractive, featuring 5.50 and 6.50 odds respectively. Don't miss out on the Copa Del Rey for the last round before the quarter finals.
One of the biggest names in the US gambling industry is Caesars but after the $30 billion deal was made in 2008 by Apollo Global Management and TPG Capital to purchase the operator of several casinos in Las Vegas and New Jersey, things started going downhill fast. With the financial crisis hitting the country and the recession that followed, casinos saw a significant drop in revenue and this left Caesars Entertainment in a hole of $25 billion. There were several attempts to climb out of the debt hole or at least help it fill up but none of them have really shown a lot of promise. Revenue from Online Gambling One of the most promising solutions was a focus on online gambling in the United States. With Nevada legalizing online poker a couple of years ago and Delaware with New Jersey following with the addition of online casino games within their respective state borders, operators could for the first time since 2006 offer legal online gambling in the country. While Caesars held a good positon in the new iGaming regulatory system in New Jersey due to its casinos in Atlantic City and the known World Series of Poker brand for its online product, the industry across the nation is nowhere near big enough to even scratch the surface of the billions of dollars in debt Caesars has. Headed for Bankruptcy Given the drop in revenue for casinos in Atlantic City over the years and the fact that the Las Vegas properties owned by Caesars dropped from $597 million in 2007 to $387 million in 2014, the only solution left for Caesars Entertainment Corp. is to file for bankruptcy. However, this too comes with various complications since a good part of its creditors are invested in several parts of the complex capital structure. Whatever the future holds for the casino operator, it looks like the deck is stacked against it.
The casino industry in the United States is filled with a lot of bumps on the road and while some states are making waves with their online gambling markets, others are showing decreasing revenue or are looking towards casinos as a way to cover a deficit budget. In the latest updates from across the nation, there are a couple of headlines that stand out: Alabama Considering Las Vegas-Style Gambling The situation in Alabama is getting quite alarming as the lack of money forces state lawmakers to consider various ways to increase revenue. It is predicted that the drop will reach $700 million, making it the most serious deficit in the state in over forty years. In order to try to cover the deficit, both parties are willing to put all options on the table and consider them as additional sources of income. This includes a lottery, tax increase and even a gambling industry similar to the one found in Las Vegas. According to Senator Jabo Waggoner, it is unlikely that it will reach the point where taxes need to be raised but that everything has to be considered in March, when the session starts. Nevada Online Poker Revenue Drops Again While Nevada became the first state to legalize and launch online poker in the new regulatory system in the US, things are not looking great for the Silver State as it continues to deal virtual cards within its borders. The revenue report for the month of November was recently released by the Gaming Control Board and it shows that online poker revenue dropped to $641,000. This represents a 42% decrease from the same period last year and a 3.6% decline from October. It is also the fifth straight month in which revenue from online poker in Nevada has dropped but it is the smallest percentage month-to-month despite Ultimate Poker shutting down. Now, WSOP.com remains the leader by far and Real Gaming struggles with a peak of eight players at its tables.
Many eyes will be aimed at Cape Town's Newlands Cricket Ground today as the first of three Twenty20 international matches between South Africa and the West Indies begins (16:00 UK time). South Africa Energized by Test Win The T20 meetings begin after South Africa beat the West Indies 2-0 in the Test series, when in the last game last Friday the Proteas beat the Caribbean Kings by 8 wickets. However, the T20 format and line-up is different from the Test and South Africa will be at a disadvantage. The South Africans were defeated by two runs by Australia in their last T20 encounter against the Australians in Sydney and they'll be looking to fix the impression although they face a strong West Indies team. The Proteas are currently ranked fourth in the T20 rankings with a rating of 121: 2785 points achieved in 23 matches. Winning the game today would see the Africans moving up to the third spot. Different Game for West Indies at T20 The West Indies are considered to be better than South Africa in T20I and they will have the firepower to give South Africa a run for their money today. The team has had it tough last year and they'll look to improve with the onset of 2015. The Caribbean Kings are currently ranked seventh in the T20 rankings with a rating of 110 – 2520 points in 23 matches. A win today could notch them up by one or two positions. The team can open with a win with skilled players like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Captain Darren Sammy – all well known for their good T20 form. Live Betting Winner Sports will cover the game live, offering punters bets on innings runs, fall of wicket, next man out, dismissal and others. In match winning odds, both teams got 10/11 from Winner. It's going to be a good cricket match - log-in Winner today and place a wager!
Lottery supplier GTECH has reached an agreement with Mexico's primary online lottery operator Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública to provide lottery products for six years. Benefits of GTECH's Offerings As a result, GTECH will provide a portfolio of instant ticket and draw-based games to the Mexican populace. The contract forged between GTECH Corporation and GTECH Servicios de Mexico was secured following a competitive process. GTECH Americas president and CEO Jaymin Patel lauded the deal, emphasizing that social programs that would benefit. Under terms of the arrangement, GTECH will initially supply upwards of 11,000 draw-based lottery terminals to replace the machines Pronósticos previously used. Additional Services GTECH will also assume the task of upgrading Pronósticos' communications networks and providing services to online as well as retail locations, through the development of new retail channels, along with maintenance of online terminals, and development of customer service operations. Pronósticos director general Maria Esther de Jesus Scherman Leano praised the continuation of the longstanding partnership as it serves to “modernize Pronósticos’ lottery program and launch the next phase of our growth for the benefit of the communities it serves.” Competitor Complaints Competitors for the contract Sorteo Games and Win Systems complained that GTECH had an unfair advantage because GTECH submitted only after Sorteo and Win Systems bids had been unsealed, thus allowing any subsequent competitors such as GTECH to improve their offers accordingly. An investigation by Mexican authorities was conducted with no results. It is curious that GTECH was allowed to submit after the other submissions were unsealed, but in a country like Mexico alliances can take many forms. Projections GTECH's new terminals will go into service in September, initiating a period in which GTECH projects revenues of over $130 million. Sweeping changes in online gambling regulations are sure to enable revenues to flow more freely as well.
An agreement has just been reached for Ladbrokes to sponsor the Rugby Football League’s Challenge Cup over the next three years of the competition. Kicking off on Saturday 31 January, the 2015 instalment of the Challenge Cup will be entered by 78 rugby league teams. The UK-based multichannel gambling operator will be replacing Tetley’s Brewery in the role of principal sponsor. In terms of visibility, Ladbrokes will be hoping for a TV audience of at least 1.6 million UK viewers. That was the approximate level of viewers who watched last year’s final on BBC1. Alongside the BBC, Sky is another key broadcast partner of the Rugby Football League (RFL). Both provide extensive coverage to what is a growing fan base. As it stands, Ladbrokes will receive hundreds of hours of global TV coverage. In its position as the principal sponsor, Ladbrokes will command headline branding during every stage of the competition. A more unique initiative, however, appears to be the decision to provide an award for the Ladbrokes Player of the Round. Ladbrokes Supporting Rugby League Supporting the decision, Ladbrokes CEO Richard Glynn is of the firm opinion that interest in rugby league is “spreading quickly across the globe.” As well as aiming to play a greater role in building the excitement of fans, Ladbrokes is also eager to lend its support to developing the sport, event at the glamorous grassroots level. Christ Rawlings, a commercial director with the RFL, described the deal as an “exciting partnership”, explaining that Ladbrokes would be a great addition to the league’s exciting commercial portfolio. Alongside all of the razzmatazz surrounding this marketing deal of Ladbrokes, it must also be noted that the sports betting operator will also be providing all rugby league fans, players, and staff members with a guide intended to educate them of responsible gambling.
William Hill takes all manner of intriguing bets on global events, not just on familiar sporting events. For instance, the site is currently accepting Oscars bets from now until this Saturday 10 January, which will be a few days ahead of the nomination announcements on 15 January. After delving within all of the categories, there are some very interesting prospects for movie lovers to consider. Betting Categories As the Oscars is an event with many award categories to be decided, William Hill has limited the options to the more accessible total of six. And within those categories, you can choose to bet on Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. Below, we will cover some of the top prospects as well as outsiders with potentially rewarding odds. Choosing the Best Picture Since the number of nominees for Best Picture was increased from six to 10, this category has become much more challenging predict. At present, the Richard Linklater-directed film Boyhood is the favourite at odds of 2/9. Just behind, the Imitation Game, starring British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, features odds of 11/2. A little further behind, you can have Selma at 8/1, Birdman at 9/1, and Unbroken at 10/1. William Hill Odds At this stage of the betting, there is no better time to pick an outside winner with remarkably long odds. For instance, the wonderfully tense film Foxcatcher, starring Channing Tatum and Steve Carrell, is a surprising outsider for best picture at 20/1. Another category in which you can find value is for Best Actor. Understandably, Michael Keaton at 4/9 and Eddie Redmayne at 11/8 are the clear favourites because of their excellent turns in Birdman and the Theory of Everything, respectively. However, Jake Gyllenhaal could be worth a look at 25/1 for his astonishing performance in Nightcrawler.
This Saturday marks the English Premier League's gameweek 21 which brings forth an exciting competition between even table leaders Chelsea and Manchester City which will both play different fixtures. At the moment, the teams are tied at the top with 46 points each: they've both won 14 matches, lost two and went out with a draw in 4. Both team's games will kick-off at 15:00 UK time today: Chelsea will meet Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge while City will be hosted at Everton's Goodison Park. Revenge for Chelsea? Chelsea began this Premier League season with a storm and it suffered its first loss against Newcastle at St James' Park in the beginning of December, a 2-1 loss that ended an unbeaten 23 game run. Now at home, Chelsea will want to wipe off the bad taste that the loss left, as well as the 5-3 loss against Tottenham last Thursday; the Blues will be motivated by their 3-0 beating of Watford in the FA Cup last Sunday. It's hard to see Chelsea losing this: The odds at bet365 Sports have Chelsea as favorite, offering 1/5 for the Blues and 14/1 for Newcastle to win. Everton Desperate to Beat City Everton is having a rough season: four points away from the relegation zone, the Toffees have lost their last 4 games in the league. While their 1-1 FA Cup draw with West Ham which came by a dramatic Lukaku 92nd minute equalizer might console them, Manchester City has won its last four away games and is generally a better team looking to surpass Chelsea. In full time result, bet365 is offering 16/5 on Everton to win and 17/20 on City. Premier League Live Betting Apart from these two big ones, there will be live betting coverage for all Premier League fixtures taking place today and tomorrow at bet365 Sports, with interesting meetings such as Manchester United vs. Southampton and Arsenal vs. Stoke City.
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