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A record total of 60 sovereign states and self-governing territories will be represented on the show floor at the ICE Totally Gaming Conference in London on the weekend of February 3rd, three more than the bar set at last year's event. Vast and Diverse Representation The list of represented nations is headed by the host nation UK with the most prominent exhibiting countries including license-friendly Malta (31 exhibitors), USA (25), Italy (20), Germany (18), Austria (14), British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Israel, Slovenia, Taiwan (all 10); Isle of Man and Spain (both 9); the Netherlands and South Korea (both 7), and a host of smaller nations representing all continents across the globe, representing a full array of emerging economic and geographical environments in which operator and providers are reaching into. Unrivaled Exposure to Innovation ICE Portfolio Director Kate Chambers calls the opportunity for exhibitors and attendees alike a win-win situation due to hosting not only the widest array of global visitors, but also providing the widest global array of exhibitors on the show floor itself. In effect, above and beyond the far-reaching networking opportunities, attendees will also be exposed first-hand to the latest innovations in gaming technology from around the world. The ICE Opportunity ICE as a conference has already developed, marketed and honed its reputation as the sole B2B gaming event that brings together the online and offline gaming sectors, integrating organizations and professionals from each sector to optimize the marketing reach of both genres in harnessing the power of the complementary appeals of each sector to the rapidly unifying global gaming market. The programs offer unique targeted learning and networking opportunities, with workshops and conferences that can not only educate, but accelerate the pace of strategic partnerships within the context of a level playing field that gives all attendees equal opportunity to exchange ideas, technology, and innovation.
The issue of sports betting in America has been ongoing for years and it presents a tough question that in itself contains some funny contradictions. It is a fact that America is a superpower in terms of sports, with millions of Americans watching the Big Four leagues: MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA. The popularity of these leagues is not confined to the US only as it crosses borders and watched by millions all over the world. And here's another interesting fact: People around the world who watch these leagues actually place bets on the games using online sportsbooks, while Americans simply can't (legally). The PASPA Barrier The 1992 "Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act" (PASPA) effectively outlawed sports betting in the US with exemptions for sports lotteries in Montana, Delaware, Oregon and Nevada which had licensed sports pools. The big professional leagues were among the strongest lobbying forces for the passing of the PASPA. The reasons in a nutshell were a fear of the leagues' reputation which will be harmed and the integrity which could be compromised, as sports betting introduces the dimension of match fixing and other non-kosher activities. New Jersey was one of the combative states looking to change the PASPA but so far the efforts did not go far. Is Sports Betting in America Inevitable? In November 2014, the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that legalized sports betting is just a matter of time in the US. Silver talked about the huge potential of revenues that America is missing as long as it does not legalize sports betting; more so, Silver warned that there are Americans who resort to illegal gambling. One good example for the contrast between America and Europe is the English Premier League, one of the most popular leagues in the world. Just across the pond millions bet on Premier League matches every week. Some of the biggest football clubs have huge contracts with online bookmakers who are licensed and regulated. The Fantasy Sports Case The popularity of fantasy sports could be a good case for actual sports betting regulation in the US, as the number of active players ranges anywhere from 25 to 30 million. The Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) has defined fantasy sports as a game of skill and not of chance – the explanation being that players can use knowledge about the sports in order to win. The weird and funny part is that the explanation is correct when it comes to actual sports betting as well. Fantasy sports bets are of course placed based on imaginary sports leagues and teams, but these are based on real-life leagues and are aimed at being as realistic as can be. The Super Bowl – A Peak for Illegal Gambling The American Gaming Association (AGA) estimates that Americans will make $3.8 billion in illegal bets on the upcoming Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. This, according to AGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman, is proof that the ban on sports betting is failing. The irony is strong in this case as millions of people can bet on tonight's Super Bowl at prominent bookies like William Hill Sports and Winner Sports, while Americans themselves are left in the dark. What's in the Future for US Sports Betting? The November 2013 regulation of iGaming in Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada was a positive step towards gambling as a whole that signaled that there is some moderation in the hardline stance against different forms of gambling in the greater US. Yet, the way to legalized sports betting in America is still long as many strong forces with political and financial power oppose the idea. Perhaps in the future, US lawmakers and powerful lobbyists will learn from the UK that a regulated sports betting market with effective measures to prevent problem gambling can bring big revenues to the coffers as well as joy to people's hearts.
Betway, one of the fastest-growing online sportsbooks in the industry, recently announced that they have secured a number of major UK racing partnerships to add to their Champion Chase deal. They are focused on investing in the ponies with UK races at the center of it all. Horse Racing this Season They will begin the racing season with the Lincoln Handicap on March 28th at Doncaster, followed by the popular Chester Cup at the Boodles Meeting from the 6th till the 8th of May. Their new partnerships have secured to of the high profile races at York, the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup, (13th-15th of May) and later in August (19th) the Great Voltigeur Stakes during the Ebor Festival in Yorkshire. In October 2014, Betway signed inked the deal to take over the Queen Mother Champion Chase for the next three years and with the new partnerships they have a good grasp on the sport in the UK. Definitely focusing on Horse Racing, Betway already had a number of sponsorship's in the National Hunt, the Welsh Champion Hurdle and the Ffos Las. On February 21st, Betway will be sponsoring the Chepstow’s Winter Beer Festival Raceday and on March 7th, the Irish Raceday, as well as the Great wood Charity Raceday at Newbury’s on the 28th of February. All in all, £1 million in prize money guaranteed by Betway in 2015 and are committed to even more pending new opportunities arise. “Betway wanted to continue investing heavily in UK racing after taking over the Champion Chase and are thrilled to be visiting some of the country’s finest courses over the season for a number of the calendar’s most historic contests,” related Betway’s Alan Alger. “It’s an exciting time for us and we look forward to fostering partnerships with racecourses and bringing great offers to our customers in the coming months.” About Betway Betway was launched in 2006 with aspirations of offering top-notch entertainment in a number of sports. They offer sports betting, casino and poker but with the new partnerships, it’s safe to say Horse Racing is now a central aim of the UK Sportsbook. Powered by Microgaming, Betway offers a complete online gambling package, not to be overlooked.
The stage is set for the kick-off of the biggest football game in the world. After a tough regular season, followed by an exciting playoff race, the Seattle Seahawks will face the New England Patriots for the chance to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy and win the title of best football team in the world in front of a sold out stadium and over 100 million viewers worldwide. The Seahawks are looking to make it two straight, while Tom Brady and the Patriots go for number four. It will be an excellent game and experts are calling it a perfect match-up, as no team really has an outright advantage. Road to the Super Bowl New England's Rocky Start For the Patriots, the road to the Super Bowl didn't look clear at the beginning of the season. They were 2-2 after four weeks of play prior to going on their twelve wins in fourteen game rampage. Brady has gone 373 for 582 with an amazing 4,109 yards and 33 touchdowns. The Patriots biggest offensive weapon other than Mr. Brady has to be their star receiver Rob Gronkowski, who has had 82 receptions for 1124 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Patriots defense was not one of the best in the NFL this year, allowing an average of 344 yards per game, good enough for 13th in the NFL and averaged 19.6 points per game for 8th place overall. They have come together quite well in the playoffs though, shutting down the Colts offense in the Conference Finals giving them the Super Bowl berth. Seattle's Strong Season The Seahawks are the strongest defense in the NFL, allowing just 15.9 points on average per game. They led the NFL in numerous defensive categories and other than a tough game against the Packers in the Conference Finals, they have crushed the chances of most offenses. Russell Wilson is also directly responsible for the Hawks Super Bowl berth, although he threw four interceptions in his last appearance. The combined powers of Wilson, Lynch and Sherman on offense has come together over and over again leaving defenses baffled, while scoring the points needed to win important games. Super Bowl Winner Predictions It seems as though everyone has an idea of which team will take the Super Bowl and the way it sits now, the Patriots are slight favorites to win. Even the popular video game 'Madden '15' ran a Super Bowl simulation, which had the Patriots as champions 28-24. Various experts are divided however, all with valid reasons as to which team will win. This makes for excellent odds and betting props with the top online sportsbooks offering hundreds of props for what should be the biggest day of betting in all of 2015. Super Bowl Prop Betting bet365 Sports is offering all the props for the Super Bowl, but much like the rest of the bookmakers, the teams are neck and neck, not leaving a lot of profit margin one way or the other. The Patriots are the slightest of favorites at 1.86 and the Seahawks are at 1.95, but punters are not going to make a huge profit on outright winner. The better lines are definitely Score Props, Team Props and even Player Props, which bet365 has more than enough of. The Over/Under is 47.5 paying out at 1.90 and there are literally dozens of markets available prior to the big show. The Super Bowl kicks off in a few hours, and you should do yourself a favor and tune in at 23:30 for all the hard hits, big scores, and Super Bowl live betting.
Online and land-based gaming operators are about to receive an all-new package with 25 slot games by GameART. The premier gaming developer recently released the new games, in time for the ICE Totally Gaming event in London from February 3-5, 2015. GameART is well-known for their high-end graphics and cutting-edge audio effects, also including new features, making the platform incredibly user-friendly. This has become the standard for all their games and also includes interactive bonus features and marketing banner, which gives player’s a more exciting experience. “We have built the library to segment our theming of titles into cultural sub-segments so we can embrace the fullest player audience possible, said GameART co-founder, Saverio Castellano. The new games are based on proven mathematical models creating a unique gaming experience. “Titles such as Wild Dolphin and Wolf Quest will appeal to traditional European and international markets, while games such as Power Dragon and Phoenix Princess cater more towards Asian players.” Online and Mobile Compatibility Each of the new games can be played on Flash and HTML5 devices, which covers all desktop and mobile devices like iPhone, Android, and tablets. The games will be demonstrated at the upcoming ICE Totally Gaming event held at ExCel in London at their stand S2-262. About GameART GameART is one of the leading developers of casino-style games for land-based and online gaming industries. Their titles include online casino games, video-lottery and brick and mortar casino machines. Their technology offers a true multiplatform capability and their game management system provides high-level bonus, broad-range integration options and CRM capabilities. The predictive business tools also maximize game-player retention, while improving ROI. If you are around London February 3rd to the 5th, try to get to the ICE Totally Gaming event and see all the latest innovations in the world of online gaming.
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced that its new bill, which will ban most forms of online gambling, will go into effect today. The bill, entitled the Remote Gambling Act, was approved by Singapore’s parliament on October 7, 2014, and will officially be enforced on February 2, 2015. Singapore’s government did not waste much time in setting the new standards of the sovereign city-state. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs released a statement saying the following: “The objectives of regulating remote gambling are to maintain law and order and to minimize the potential harm of remote gambling, especially to young persons and other vulnerable persons.” The Remote Gambling Act The bill first got off the ground in November 2014, when Singapore officials realized that the lack of regulation of online gambling was leading to illegal operations, which put the public in harm’s way. And so, the Remote Gambling Act was drafted. The bill will ban all online casino and poker games, and only provides for limited types of online sports betting from non-profit operators based in Singapore. The bill does not cover social games, the Media Development Authority made sure to specify. "The Act will not impede the development of legitimate social media gaming businesses and (we) will continue working with the gaming industry to ensure its continued growth and development.” MDA also clarified that the Act will not ban leaderboards or tournaments in which players can win prizes or money; the Act only takes on “casino-style” games. Practically, this means that popular games Farmville and Candy Crush Saga will not be affected. The passing of the bill also means that all websites that provide or even advertise remote gambling will be blocked in Singapore, as will the methods of payment.
America couldn't ask for a better Super Bowl than that of last night, a game which is going down in NFL and Super Bowl history as a classic. The New England Patriots came back from behind to beat reigning champion Seattle Seahawks 28 to 24 with a heart-stopping last-minute drama. Malcolm Butler Hero of the Day The drama reached a peak in the closing moments of the game with the Patriots four points ahead at the end score. Undrafted rookie Malcolm Butler became the hero of the day and achieved perhaps his biggest career moment when he intercepted Russel Wilson's pass at the end-zone with 20 seconds to go, preventing the Patriots from losing the lead and the Super Bowl. As much as this was a shining moment for Malcolm Butler, it was a bad call by the Seahawks who tried to outfox the Patriots with the throw that got intercepted by Butler, while running alternatives with the likes of bruiser Marshawn Lynch could be much more helpful. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll came under heavy fire for not running Lynch in what commentators are already naming one of the worst calls in Super Bowl history. Tom Brady Wins Third Super Bowl MVP It was a night of champions and the making of legends, especially for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady who scribed his name in Super Bowl and NFL history. Brady joined the Super Bowl elite becoming the third quarterback to win four Super Bowls alongside Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw. Brady also passed the legendary Montana in Super Bowl touchdown passes: His four-yard pass to Danny Amendola in the fourth quarter sealed his name in history as he reached 12 Super Bowl touchdowns, surpassing Montana's 11. Tom Brady completed 37 of 50 passes for 328 years including for touchdowns and two picks. Odds: Madden was Right While the New England Patriots were a little ahead in odds for last night's Super Bowl, it was a simulator that once again accurately predicted the score. The Madden NFL 15 Super Bowl simulation predicted last night's comeback and Tom Brady's MVP, with the final score being 28-24 in favor of the Patriots. Dancing Sharks and Katy Perry And of course, besides for the classic match, the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show was a grand spectacle. Pop star Katy Perry lighted up the stage with Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott, changing into multiple outfits in shows that included a metallic dress, a large golden tiger and dancing sharks. The climax reached when Katy Perry was lifted 50 feet off the ground while singing "Firework" as actual fireworks were going off the field. Walter White's Commercial Comeback The Super Bowl commercial department delivered as well: Viewers got to see Breaking Bad's Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston) coming back as a pharmacist in the ad for Esurance, while Danny Trejo and Steve Buscemi starred in a hilarious Snickers ad set in the Brady Bunch universe. Other funny spots included Kim Kardashian's plea to "save the data" for T-Mobile, "angry" Liam Neeson playing Clash of Clans and Pierce Brosnan fantasizing a return to this James Bond days in a fantastic Kia spot.
ICE is a networking event that brings together the most important operators, developers, and professionals working in the online gambling industry. And with ICE 2015 due to take place this week, a number of companies are fine-tuning their strategies for the event to maximise their exposure. Prowling Panther Slot Ahead of the event, it would appear that software developer IGT is ready to seize the spotlight with the simultaneous launch of Prowling Panther over three platforms, including online and mobile. But what will make the launch extra special is that the third launch will be in the land-based casinos of Genting and Grosvenor. Prowling Panther has already proved to be wildly popular in land-based casinos outside of Europe, so IGT decided to launch it over three markets in the UK. IGT commercial director of interactive Leigh Nissim has identified Prowling Panther’s ‘gripping graphics, impressive audio package, and high-volatility gameplay’ as being key to the player experience for the jungle-themed slot. Game Design Whether on desktop or mobile devices, Prowling Panther displays five reels by three rows. In regard to paylines, it is possible to win in 720 different ways. With so many opportunities to win, it’s little wonder that this slot generate such an enthusiastic following. UK players will also appreciate this feature of the game’s design. Along with 720 different ways of winning, players will also be excited by the fact that it’s possible to unlock up to 256 free spins. Finishing off the slot game are the MultiWay Xtra and Stacked Multiplier features that can unlock further rewards for players. Where You Can Play Prowling Panther will be available to experience at leading online casinos powered by IGT software. Current registered players of bet365 Casino, 888 casino, and Thrills Casino can play it on desktop or mobile in February 2015 and beyond.
In the UK, an ISP ban on “adult content” was applied to gambling sites, but operators insist that filtering fears be allayed. TalkTalk and Sky Blocks Voluntary Two of the UK's big four internet providers, TalkTalk and Sky, have clarified that the blocks are voluntary and left to the discretion of customers. The adult content filers do not block gambling sites automatically, according to UK internet service providers (ISP's). Amid reports that TalkTalk was to follow sky in adhering to a newly mandated filtering process for online adult content, the notion that gambling-websites would be blocked automatically was downplayed when TalkTalk spokesman confirmed to eGaming Review that customers seeking unlimited access to gambling-related sites merely had to manually request the lifting of those blocks. Opt-Out Option Renders Blocks a Non-Issue Upon signing up for a provider, customers will be given an opt-out of the filtering system, while existing customers will be provided with a pop-up alert when first attempting to access an adult-content site under the updated regulations. In fact, the filter is already by and large a non-issue, with 95% of TalkTalk's customer already having made their opt-out preferences known, and only a scant 5% due base due the prompt from said new pop-up message. As for Sky, the UK media giant's internal filtering system HomeShield provides customers with an option regarding content filtering before adult-content blocks take effect, with automatic application taking place only for customers who do not indicate their decisions within a month of the updates. The other two UK internet giants, BT and Virgin Media, have yet to confirm when or if they will add automatic content filtering to their services. Provider Ethics Intact The concept of adult content-filtering was first suggested to providers in 2011 as a means of protecting children from online adult content, with UK Prime Minster David Cameron supporting the movement as a means for ISP's to provide a more ethical brand of service. The UK government has entrusted private providers to protect the communities they serve, and the voluntary block is a significant measure that should not be misinterpreted by iGaming interests within the UK.
Retail lottery agents and store owners have been hitting too many jackpots lately and this caused several investigations in different states to find if these are legitimate wins and they just happen to be lucky or if there are scams involved. According to the findings presented by the Asbury Park Press newspaper in December last year that took a look at the twenty most frequent winners from lotteries since 2009, half of them were actually licensed retailers or people related to lottery agents from different stores. The general auditor in the state of Michigan found that 37 lottery store owners cashed in winning tickets for a total of almost $3.6 million in two years. Retailers Turning In Winning Tickets The most common situation found in these lottery wins by store retailers sees them cash in winning tickets for other people who want to avoid paying back taxes, other debts or are in the country illegally. The retailers would take a fee from the total amount and claim the prizes on their name, before giving it to the actual winners. Another scam used in retail stores takes advantage of unsuspecting customers when they return to the venue to see if their ticket is a winning one. The clerks scan the ticket and say that it has won less than the actual prize and then they pay that amount out of their own pocket, before cashing in the full value of the ticket themselves. Switching Over to Online Tickets A growing trend that offers a way to avoid scams in retail stores is buying lottery tickets online. This option is more convenient for players as they can simply take part in the major lotteries and make sure that everything is straightforward. There are also several ways to make sure you don’t fall victim to lottery scams. One of them is to always be cautious about offering information about credit cards and bank accounts to unknown parties and never agree to pay advanced fees to shady operators.
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