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Millions of eyes will be set to Barcelona's Camp Nou tonight where the home team host Manchester City for the second leg of the round of 16 (19:45 UK time). In the first leg Barcelona managed to squeeze a 1-2 win at the Etihad Stadium – will we see a similar scenario tonight in favor of the guests? Manchester City Against all Odds Manchester City are facing a very difficult battle against the Spanish giants at their home. Statistically, the odds are even grimmer for City that has lost five matches in the last 10 they played in all competitions. City is coming to Barcelona beaten after losing 1-0 to bottom scrapers Burnley last Sunday, something which gave title-runners Chelsea a good 6 point advantage despite a draw against Southampton. Both City and coach Manuel Pellegrini have a lot to prove tonight, they're coming in as underdogs but desperate times might bring out the best in them. Barcelona Barcelona have a good record against English teams, especially at Camp Nou: The last time they lost was in 2007, a 2-1 loss against Liverpool. With Manchester City's condition, it doesn't seem like the Anglo-Spanish rivalry is going to get a new interesting chapter today. But that also has to do with Barcelona's great condition – they have won all of their Champions League games this season but one, and they currently have the hold on the top of the La Liga, even if only one point separates them from rivals Real Madrid. Betting Odds and Markets While Barcelona is the big favorite tonight at Winner Sports (2/5 to win against City's 13/2 in full time result), it's probable that City won't go down without a fight – a positive bet on both teams to score could also be good (4/7). Winner will have full live coverage of all Champions League games tonight with in-play and pre-match markets – tune-in and max your experience with a wager.
In the struggling US economy, it is hardly a secret that the casino and resorts industry is failing. Reversed Profit Margins Increased debts are reversing profit margins for what remains a highly popular industry with a relatively stable and vast global consumership. Unlike most failing industries or struggling companies, the problem here is not a lack of demand. It is merely the costs of operation of a high profile yet controversial service whose publicity and compliance coasts are soaring. However, there is one key to the problem that keeps operating costs high: land-based operations. The cost of property, rent, taxes, and advertising continues to rise, while the ability of consumers to pay usage or playing fees is not rising proportionally by any means; in fact, quite the opposite. Reducing Operating Costs Through Online Gambling The reasons why the individual consumer's fortunes are sagging is no secret; the problem is it directly and negatively affects the profit margin of land-based casinos. The answer to maintaining profit margins for casinos, like any other business, is thus reducing operating costs. And that's where the service of online gambling becomes such a major factor. The emergence of online gambling in the US as an ongoing and expanding legalization process has spurred slot companies in particular to augment their operations with online service. Some slot companies have launched online gambling platforms under the auspices of their own online casino services. Others have hired out previously established online gaming technology providers or forged partnership agreements with independently operating exclusive online gambling companies based primarily in Europe. Online Slot Indicators For online slot machines in the US, the numbers remain modest yet are building, with the charge being led by online slot providers such as Royal Vegas Casino, Ruby Fortune Casino and Spin Palace Casino. State regulation votes and federal interpretation of the Wire Act stand as the most pressing potential barriers to integrated online gambling across America; what is certain is that the financial benefits of online gambling moving forward are the key to sustainability of casinos and gaming customer demand not only in America, but worldwide.
Online gambling stalwart Bwin.party is moving into serious talks to sell a portion if not all of its online gambling enterprise. Not a Harbinger The seemingly surprising announcement is not as shocking as it might seem on the surface. Despite Bwin's being a successful company and industry leader, it is not profitable or viable for a company to continue to have to struggle to adapt to or overcome oppositional legislation from its primary markets. Unfortunately, that is what Bwin is experiencing with the slowing of regulated online poker markets in Europe, where Bwin operates. The Bwin model seemed prime to capitalize on a new wave of opportunity that online gambling represented not more than a few years ago. Created as a merger of sports betting group Bwin and online poker group PartyGaming in 2011, the company acknowledged as of November that it was considering a range of proposals to divest. Bwin Options Being Fleshed Out Canada's Amaya Gaming is one rumored suitor. This would make prefect sense, because of Amaya's recent aggressive buying spree, which last year included acquisitions of online gambling site giants PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. Bwin chairman Philip Yea would not name names, except to say there were secondary discussions taking place with a number of firms. Sign of Market Failure? Any business model relies on an integrated market system. Due to sovereignty of governments, market stability for online gambling in the EU remains unstable and unpredictable, subject to volume fluctuations fixed to results of the regulation process in each member country. The fact is, online gambling providers are going to need the backing to wait out the regulation process globally while countries in each sector of the world work out the kinks in their online regulation process. Solutions Consideration of a model that does not rely on projected expansion but focuses on tangible markets in the countries where online gambling is already regulated could temper unrealistic or overly ambitious projections, potentially protecting against overinvestment to lower operating costs for online providers.
Is online gambling regulation approaching the shores of the Dominican Republic? Steps by lawmakers in the country indicate that might be the case in the future. Regulation Bill in the Works Members of the Dominican Republic's Standing Committee on Finance are in discussion over the creation of a new bill set to create a regulatory authority for gambling in the country. The attention of the discussion focuses on the legalization of all forms of gambling, including online gambling and online poker. The draft covers all important aspects of regulation including responsible gambling, fraud presentation and the implementation of strict security measures. Not only lawmakers are taking part in the discussion, but also members of the Dominican Republic national lottery and other representatives which were invited to the dialogue. A History of Gambling Casinos and gambling are not new to the Dominican Republic, as it is actually the Caribbean country containing the largest number of land based casinos with 34 in operation. The many casinos spread throughout the country are a major attraction for tourists, with millions of people visiting the country on a yearly basis. These casinos operate under licenses that are issued by the country's Ministry of Finance, and the part of the ministry in any future online gambling regulation plan is still unknown. Good for Revenues Will future regulation of online gambling expand this influx of tourists to virtual ones as well? The suggested bill will include ways with which the country will see revenues from taxes etc, as is common in other countries with online gambling regulation. Experience shows that countries can benefit greatly in profits, with good and healthy online gambling laws that place strong watchdogs to prevent from fraud, rogue operators and problem gambling. Time will tell if that will be the case with the Dominican Republic.
It’s finally here, the biggest tournament in college basketball, and the tip-off is tonight with a number of games across the board. To end what is sure to be a wild night of high flying hoops, the Lafayette Leopards (16) take on the Villanova Wildcats (1). Both of these Easter Pennsylvanian schools made it to the tournament, albeit with different paths. Villanova went 32-2 in the regular season, while the Leopards squeezed in at 20-12. Lafayette vs Villanova The Wildcats are obviously favorites tonight and should knock the Leopards out with ease. That is not to say they shouldn’t take their home state rivals seriously, as fans and punters are just waiting for the first upset. Leopards star forward could be trouble for the Wildcats defense, as he averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds during the regular season. For the Wildcats, they have numerous weapons at their disposal like co-Big East Player of the Year Ryan Arcidiacono averaging 10.2 points and 3.5 rebounds, but his ability to control the court is what the Leopards need to be wary of. This will be the 35th appearance for Villanova and they won their last tournament championship in 1985. Hungry for another win, they were last seeded #1 in 2006 but fell short of winning, having been knocked out by Florida in the regional final. For Lafayette, it is only their third appearance at March Madness and they are shooting for their first ever post season win. Easier said than done against a #1 ranked team, especially one that are expected to go very far this year. The last meeting between the two teams was in 2013 in which the Wildcats won 75-59. Big Odds and More Online Gambling Options With so many games this month in College Basketball, it is like a punters dream. The brackets are set and serious online gamblers around the world understand just how much lucrative cash they could potentially take home throughout the tournament. The Spread tonight is +23 for the Leopards and -23 for the Wildcats, both teams at 1.90. Villanova are at 1.015 to win outright, while the underdogs come in at 17.50. As suspected, the Leopards have the Over at 145 and the Cats have the Under, both with odds of 1.90. Live in-play props will be available throughout the night with bet365 sports, as the UK sportsbook has lines and props for all the games this year. Only registered punters can win so if you want to test your College Hoops skill, you’ll need to sign up with bet365 online sportsbook.
Endorphina, the Czech-based online gaming software provider, released six brand spanking new slot games yesterday, and that is just the beginning. Endorphina Marketing Manager, Stepanka Chmelarova, has promised that in addition to the six new games, originally premiered at ICE Totally Gaming in February, there will be many more new releases later on in the year. About the Games Macarons is a 5-reel, 10-line slot game based in Paris, and players will be whisked away on a romantic (and lucrative!) journey throughout the city. In this game, the Wild symbol is a bottle of champagne, and an engagement ring is the bonus. Fairy Tale is every bit as whimsical as it sounds, but it also packs an adventure-filled punch, with its unlimited free games and growing multiplier. Fairy Tale includes a Free Spins feature, which only ends when the player finds 4 keys and lets all doves out of cages. This means that players can accumulate lots of cash and prizes, without putting in more money! Origami was the biggest hit at ICE Totally Gaming, combining the beloved Japanese art with contemporary slot savviness. As Chmelarova said, "Origami just rocked it." The game has 10 lines, 5 reels and the origami cat symbol doles out additional multipliers. Wild Fruits goes old school with its classic fruit symbols, but takes a reckless turn with symbols from the Wild West, putting the "Wild" into Wild Fruits! Stone Age takes players back to the days when cave men roamed the earth and all things stone ruled! Stone Age is a great game for high rollers; it rewards 10 free games and a special expanding symbol when a player gets three Scatters on the screen. Minotaurus is every bit as bold as the mythological Greek figure it is named for! With Wilds and Free Spins, Minotarus is an adventure that is both intriguing and profitable!
Three months into 2015 and NetEnt is releasing its third big slot this year. After Tornado: Farm Escape and Steam Tower, the Swedish software giant is preparing to bring a new branded game next month to desktops and mobiles: Dracula Online Slot. The game is expected to hit online casinos April 23th. Cooperation with Universal Once again, NetEnt has teamed up with Universal Studios in order to bring to online casinos a spooky and fun video slot version of the 1931 film "Dracula" featuring Bela Lugosi as the Count himself. NetEnt's Dracula differs from the film's Dracula appearance-wise, as he was given a more modern look, yet the famous monster remains menacing just the same. Bat Feature Dracula is a 5-reel, 4-row, 40-payline video slot that impresses with 3D graphics and a unique atmosphere – Count Dracula himself sits to the left of the reels throughout the gameplay as players spin the reels, reacting to the happenings on the reels. The slot is full with bonus features including free spins, stacked symbols, stacked and regular wilds and the unique Bat feature. Randomly triggered throughout gameplay, the Bat feature turns Count Dracula himself into a swarm of bats who land on the reels and turn the symbols randomly in a cluster, with the outcome including other symbols, wilds and bonuses. Free Spin Feature The free spin feature in the Dracula slot revolves around the Count's romantic involvement with a young woman. The characters of these two serve as stacked symbols, and when they land together on reels 2 and 4, Dracula reaches out to the lady, activating the free spin mode which gives players 10 re-triggerable free spins which are also subject to the Bat feature – a recipe for a really big winning potential. Where to Play When it hits next month, Dracula will be playable on desktop and NetEnt's mobile Touch platform at top NetEnt-powered casinos such as Free Spins Casino, No Bonus Casino and BETAT Casino.
Elche's Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero serves as the venue for today's home team fixture against guests Valencia (19:45 UK time). The teams met twice last year at Valencia's court, both fixtures ending with a Valencia win, but the last time Valencia visited Elche last season they were beaten 2-1. Valencia's Advantage Valencia is one of the top four teams in the La Liga this season, currently positioned third in the table with 57 points, 7 away from Real Madrid and 8 from Barcelona. They have Atletico Madrid breathing down their necks with 56 points, but the Madrid team failed to win in its last three games, while Valencia beat Deportivo 2-0 last week. Valencia is coming with great momentum after last week's win which completes 5 victories in their last 6 matches – in total they have 17 wins, 6 draws and 4 losses. To add to that, the team sports a strong defense, as the goal difference shows that they've sustained only 22, only table leaders Barcelona precede them with 16 goals against. Valencia is the clear favorite for the game – look for Jonas, Alcacer and Feghouli for goalscorer bets. Elche's Odds Elche is in a much tighter position and they're coming to the game after a painful 3-0 away loss against Sevilla last week. The team is positioned 15 in the table with 27 points (7w, 6d, 14l). Elche have 48 goals against, showing their weak defensive qualities which will be tested and are prone to fail against Valencia's lively squad. The head-to-head statistics between these teams show that Valencia is the team with the upper hand - it's hard to see Elche not losing this game. Bet Live Winner Sports had 10/11 on Valencia and 3/1 on Elche in full time result with 9/4 for a draw. The game will be covered live with in-play and pre-match markets – log-in Winner Sports tonight and tomorrow for betting on fixtures from the La Liga and other top Europe leagues.
As the mobile trend grows, more and more people use their smartphones and tablets for buying online lottery tickets. This prompts online lottery ticket agents, operators and sites to give greater attention to the mobile crowd. Such is the case with the prominent online lottery info site Online Lottery Tickets which has released a new app which brings its wealth of information and directories straight to players' mobile devices. Swipe for Info The new Online Lottery Tickets app provides players with prime info about the biggest lotteries, the jackpots, their results and the net's leading lottery ticket agents. With just a swipe, one can get the drawing dates for the world's biggest lotteries with coverage for the bombastic US lotteries Mega Millions and Powerball, the UK National Lottery, Oz Lotto, El Gordo, EuroMillions, SuperEnalotto and more. The Online Lottery Tickets app lets players check if they hit the jackpot with draw results, promising that nobody will ever miss a winning ticket. Instructions and Information For each and every lottery covered, the Online Lottery Tickets app provides detailed information about the rules, the rollovers, jackpot history and everything else needed including going down to the step-by-step instructions on how to buy an online lottery ticket and take part in the draws. Online Lottery Agents Directory Whichever lottery draw they wish to attend, players using the Online Lottery Tickets app are provided with comprehensive info about leading online lottery ticket agents the likes of Lottery Master and TheLotter. Vital info such as promotions, banking info and special features are presented to players in order to help them make the best decision. Device Compatibility At its current state, the Online Lottery Tickets app is available only on iOS version 6.0 or later. The app can be used with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices.
To get with the times and keep things fresh, it is common for online casinos to refurbish and re-launch themselves with new designs. Such is the case with two veteran online casinos, River Belle and Mummy's Gold. River Belle – Riverboat Cruise River Belle Casino's new design is beautifully themed on a relaxing riverboat cruising down a river at sunset. The combination of black and gold is easy on the eyes, allowing for a comfortable reading of the wealth of information River Belle Casino provides on its main page. Upon hovering the mouse on the different sections, small menus that pop-up provide for simple and quick navigation. A constantly updated jackpot bar shows the total sum running at the casino's progressive slots, which is currently standing at around $8.6 million – the progressive jackpots include the big-time millionaire maker Mega Moolah which wows every time a new with its jackpots. Mummy's Gold – Trip to Ancient Egypt The new design at Mummy's Gold Casino impresses – players are met with the casino's mascot surrounded by pyramids, the sphinx, game cards and chips. There's a soothing purple tile background and the top bar shows sights of a night out in the desert with pyramids and stars shining. There's a progressive jackpot total at the top bar which shows an impressive sum of $8.3 million. Navigation is also very easy with the new design, allowing players to reach every section instantly and get all the info they need. Two New Games Added Both casinos are powered by Microgaming software, and so they have added two new games to their collection this month: Lucky Leprechaun Launched by Microgaming just in time for St. Paddy's Day, this 5-reel, 20-payline slot oozes with Irishness, featuring black beer, pots of gold, rainbows, shamrocks and a happy leprechaun that dances to the sounds of upbeat Irish music. Lucky Leprechaun features stacked wilds, free spins with up to 5x multiplier and a "Trail O' Fortune" bonus screen that has players advance on a trail of multipliers with the ability to reach 1000x multiplier; the max jackpot is 125,000 coins. Golden Princess Built of 5 reels and 25 paylines, Golden Princess takes players to an exotic Aztec temple where a princess sits on the throne accompanied by pumas and leopards. Up to 30 free spins can be triggered with stacked wilds that can bring the multiplier to 10x – these join random wild multipliers on the reels that bring big winning potential. Like Lucky Leprechaun, up to 125,000 coins can be won utilizing Golden Princess' bonus features.
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