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Taking place this Saturday night is the intriguing Champions League final between Barcelona and Juventus (Berlin, Olympiastadion, 18:45 GMT). A match that not many would imagine in the beginning of the season, this game pits two teams that are looking to secure a treble - winning their domestic league's title and cup and finishing off with a Champions League title. Juventus an Unlikely Underdog It's hard not to be an underdog when going up against the great Barcelona, but nobody can dismiss Juventus' odds. The Old Lady has been frequenting the gym, it seems, as it is looking at a possible treble and top players Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez, Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo all looking in great shape. Juve won its fourth successive Serie A championship by 17 points and they beat Lazio in extra time to lift the cup. One of the biggest challenges for the Italians will be the task of dealing with Lionel Messi, and that's before mentioning his friends on the offense, Neymar and Suarez. Messi to Make History? Stopping Messi might prove an even more difficult task this time around, because the Argentinian can make history in this final. Messi has lifted the Champions League cup three times with Barcelona, having scored in the 2009 and 2011 finals. If he scores in Berlin this Saturday, he'll write his name in the competition's history as the first player to score in three Champions League finals. Considering his performance in Barca's Copa Del Rey victory against Athletic Bilbao, Messi is more than ready to net – as well as his buddy Neymar. This by itself presents a very interesting betting market at online bookies. Online Betting Markets Heating Up The Champions League final is a huge online gambling event that attracts millions of online punters, even those that don't watch football regularly. The game will be streamed live at leading bookies like bet365 Sports, William Hill Sports and Winner Sports, with in-play markets taking the central stage, presenting punters with betting markets relating to the events of the game as they unfold on the pitch.
The Netherlands is proposing an interesting regulatory approach: leaving protection of gamblers in the hands of the gambling operators themselves. Regulation Rationale The logic for legalising gambling is certainly there: hundreds of thousands of people are already gambling on (illegal) foreign-based sites, with a proportional representation of Dutch citizens among them. Legalisation would allow the government to play an active role in benefiting tax-wise from online gambling, implementing online gambling, and protecting users from such online dangers as deception, fraud, whitewashing, match fixing and gambling addiction. Protection Challenge Protecting users is much easier said than done, however, because of the fact that so many gambling operators are based abroad, where technology is far less visible and players as users are virtually impossible to trace. In regards to the Netherlands, the concern is that the relatively egalitarian approach reflects potentially underestimates maliciously infiltration of the software. Trust Experiment By trusting internet gambling to the extent that current legislation proposes, operators applying for licenses are required to take action to prevent users from becoming addicted to gambling, which cuts into profit margins to varying degrees of estimate. Further, the proposed legislation only seeks to legalise 80% of the internet gambling market, leaving 20% illegal and unsupervised. This seems like an experimental approach, where the completion of implementation will be based on the effectiveness of the first round of measures and regulation. How Addictive is Online Gambling? The remaining variable seems to be a differentiation in the conduciveness to addiction which the screen offers in the online form. The fact is that the ease of access and convenience of online gambling would seem to suggest higher potential for addiction no matter how hard online operators try to provide support for addiction thereof. The question then becomes how much are online operators willing to invest in anti-addiction programming without some standard of compliance defined by the government, and how long can the government “experiment” if the cost is citizens being lured into further gambling addiction thereof?
Major UK-based online gambling operator William Hill has announced that it is pulling out of the Romanian market, ceasing to accept any business from customers in the country. Hill's message stated that the operator will withdraw all of its online betting and gaming services for all resident of Romania "for the foreseeable future". The reason for the pull out was attributed to recent regulatory developments in Romania. Withdrawing Funds All accounts of Romanian players registered with William Hill were suspended right of yesterday, 2nd June 2015. However, players can check their account and withdraw any outstanding balance that they might have. Hill encourages Romanian players to get in contact with the site's customer service should they have any problems accessing their accounts or withdrawing funds. New Romanian Gambling Laws While the exact reason for William Hill's withdrawal from Romania wasn't clarified, the operator claims that the decision has been taken for regulatory reasons beyond its control with very short notice. The Romanian government has been hastily advancing a new online gambling regulation program in hope to improve the Romanian economy which could be the cause for the pull out. Very High Tax Rates The the new program places very high tax rates over the heads of operators: It was said to raise the licensing fee from RON (Romanian Leu) 400,000 to 448,000, something that amounts to around $112,000. The new laws were also the main reason that prompted the withdrawal of another major UK gambling operator from the country, Ladbrokes, back in the beginning of the year. However, finalized information regarding Romania's laws, fees and taxes under the new regulatory reality still remains not a hundred percent clear. Perhaps we will see a return of big operators like Hill and Ladbrokes to the country once the legislative framework is in place, as it is in the country's best interests to have such major operators active within it.
On Wednesday, June 3rd, five new slot games will be added to Crazy Vegas Casino, the casino that does not rest until its players experience all the best online casino games available! The news slots are: Kitty Cabana, Hound Hotel, Pistoleras, Avalon HD and Legend of Olympus, and Crazy Vegas is sure that their players will enjoy the heck out of them. Kitty CabanaKitty Cabana is a MicroGaming creation, so you know you will be playing a quality game. There are 5 reels and 25 paylines in this feline-themed slot, and features include Wilds, Free Spins, and of course, lots of cats along the reels and in the background. Hound HotelCrazy Vegas Casino also wanted to offer something for the dog-lovers, and this is it! Hound Hotel, another 5-reel, 25-payline MicroGaming slot, offers Wilds, Scatters, Free Spins and Multipliers, and is the perfect slot game for fans of man’s best friend. PistolerasNot a pet-person? How about trying this action-packed, Wild West-themed slot, featuring daring cowgirls who are searching for riches. This Microgaming slot has 5 reels, 25 paylines, a Bonus Game, Wilds, Scatters and Free Spins, and promises to take you on a wild ride. Avalon HDMicrogaming offers a more classic adventure slot with Avalon HD, whisking players away to an enchanted era filled with magic, as well as lots of money-making opportunities! Legend of Olympus Microgaming throws you into the world of the Greek Gods with their latest creation Legend of Olympus, in which Zeus and Hades battle it out. Their prize: the world. Your prize: a bonus round with three treasure chests full of cash. Not too shabby! Crazy Vegas Casino’s MissionCrazy Vegas is out to bring the best slot games to their players, and that means using MicroGaming creations as well as tapping into their players’ interests. Casino manager and spokesperson, Harry Von Schlussel, commented, “We want to ensure that our players have endless entertainment, and by adding another five games to our ever-expanding portfolio, we’re sure that our players will never get bored.”
It’s finally here. The NBA Championships get underway tonight from Oracle Arena in Oakland California. It has been a long road for both teams to get here, the Warriors are looking better with each and every game, while the Cavs have had their share of playoff hardships. This will be an amazing best-of-seven and you should not miss one minute of high-flying NBA action. Golden State The Warriors came into the playoffs as favorites to reach the Finals. They have lived up to their expectations and the way they are playing, it looks like they could be crowned as 2015 champions. Their postseason record so far is 12-3, which is much like their win/loss record from the regular season. True, they missed a bullet having not needed to play the Clippers or the Spurs, they did have some good competition throughout. Cavaliers David Blatt, Head Coach of the Cavs is making history. In his first season in the NBA he has taken a team, albeit with one of the best players ever to hit the hard wood, to the NBA finals with a great chance to take it all. LeBron James has been outstanding throughout the playoffs, setting the bar incredibly high, especially as they swept the Atlanta Hawks to make the Finals. The ultimate struggle for the Cavs has been injuries. Kevin Love will be out for many more months and Kyrie Irving is still limited in his abilities. That being said, I still believe that the Cavs will surprise most critics and will win the NBA Finals in six games. Online Gambling The NBA Playoffs have broken online gambling records this season and the Finals will most-likely be the highest bet sporting event of 2015 so far. Bet365 sports has the Warriors as Game 1 favorites at 1.40, while the Cavs are at 3.05. That is an excellent opportunity for punters, betting on the underdog.
The biggest series in the NHL gets underway tonight from Amelie Arena in Tampa Bay. The Lightning are very happy to be hosting Game 1, in hopes of getting an opening win but face a tough team from Chicago that has surprised critics throughout the NHL Postseason. They are unfamiliar with each other but that will make for an exciting series and boasts attractive odds for punters interested in getting in on the action. The Tampa Bay Lightning are being compared to the Chicago Blackhawks that won the 2010 Stanley Cup. The problem is that they are facing the 2015 Hawks that have been a giant-killer, especially in Games 6-7. The Lightning have a ton of speed and depth, but so do the Blackhawks. The biggest question mark is, which line the Lightning will use to defend Chicago’s top line of Brandon Saad, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is looking for a continuation of Game 7 of their last series in which they beat the Ducks 5-3, but his star players looked terrific on the Power Plays and found the back of the net against one of the best goalies in the league. With two Stanley Cup’s won in the last five years, the Blackhawks are set to prove they are the best hockey team in the world yet again. Ranked fourth going into the postseason, while the Lightning were ranked third, both team was originally thought never to make it this far, but have overcome and shocked the critics. NHL Online Betting Props The odds are tight going into Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals with the home team Lightning, out front at 1.76, while the Blackhawks are at 2.10. Bet365 Sports is offering a long list of props like Puck Line, Time of First Score, Player Props and much more. Win big time money as the best in the NHL go head-to-head tonight.
The research of historic gambling has been given quite the boost last month, when archaeologists from the University of Alberta and Brigham Young University discovered gaming artifacts in a cave on the shore of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, dating back to the 13th century. Among the 10,000 pieces believed to be in the cave, the researchers have dug up primitive dice, carved sticks, trinkets and other items which were used for gambling games. America's First Casinos The alleged gambling items were said to be found near the cave's entrance, in an area that was probably designated as a social space to members of a culture known as the Promontory. Dr. Jack Ives, one of the researchers involved, told West America archeology site Western Digs: "The numbers and diversity of gaming artifacts that we see in the Promontory record are unparalleled in western North America." Gambling as a Social Tool Researchers believe that gambling was used to forge new relationships, settle conflicts and in other cases, to determine who will be assigned certain tasks. It is also believed that women were more involved in dice games, with bets being placed on small items and decisions such as who will do the chores. Carved Sticks to Smartphones It is wondrous to think how far gambling has went from carved sticks and improvised dice to desktops, laptops and mobiles. What was once an undertaking that involved hunting and gathering has become something that millions of people do with a swipe of their finger nowadays at top online mobile casinos like All Slots Casino and No Bonus Casino. Perhaps the location of the cave could also work in favor of US iGaming regulation, as it solidifies the fact that gambling has been around for quite some time in North America, serving as an important social tool apart from pure entertainment.
Malta-based online gaming software provider Prima Networks has made its foray into the freshly regulated Spanish market, launching with Microgaming software and providing 12 licensed operators with the company's popular portfolio of desktop and mobile slots. There are some big names among the operators that signed with Prima Networks, including Paf, Betway, Interwetten and Casino Gran Madrid. Prima Networks has the rights to license Microgaming software to Europe's regulated markets including Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy and Spain. Microgaming Slots Launched Prima Networks went live on the day in which Spain's General Directorate of Gaming (DGOJ) gave licenses to a wide range of online gambling operators. The company has entered Spain back in June 2012, when Spanish authorities allowed 53 operators to offer their games. Recent regulation has made way for the introduction of online slots and financial betting, something that allowed Prima Networks to go live with the wide range of Microgaming online and mobile slots that are played by millions of online casino players all over the world. New Page for Spanish iGaming With the Spanish iGaming market now open for business, it's likely that there will be a lot of activity in the region. Many operators and software providers are flocking to Iberia and it will be interesting to see how the market plays out, and whether we will see Denmark-like success rates. Director of Prima Networks Loraine Schoevers commented on the launch, saying: "Having a large suite of games available in both online and mobile on launch, puts us in a fantastic position to lead the way in slot provision in Spain." "We are proud to have 12 licensed operators signed, many of which are taking Microgaming slot content exclusively, and we hope to grow our presence in this market even further in the coming months."
The Danish online gambling industry has contributed to Denmark's overall gaming market during Q1 of 2015. This information was revealed by the country's national gambling regulator, Spillemyndigheden, in a report that shows noticeable rise in online casino revenues in the past year. The total gambling revenue hit DDK750 million by the end of Q1, a 12% year-on-year rise from DKK670 in Q1 2014. Rise in Revenues Spillemyndigheden has reported a year-on-year improvement in Denmark's betting revenue from online and land based sports betting, showing a change from DDK415 million in Q1 of last year to DDK440 million in Q1 of 2015. Specifically, the revenue collected from online gambling activities has seen a major spike: From DDK225 million in Q1 2014 to DDK310 million in Q1 of this year. Online Poker Still a Problem Despite the nice figures, the Danish online gambling industry still has a problem with poker. A recent survey conducted by the Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA) has shown that an estimated 27% of online poker players in the country play on unlicensed online poker sites. Commenting on the survey, CEO of DOGA Morten Ronde suggested that authorities might need to educate Danes better on which sites are licensed and which fall in the grey market category, and to consider the expansion of games licensed gambling businesses are permitted to offer in the country. The Fruits of Regulation The attitude of Ronde demonstrates why the Danish online gambling is such a prime example for the benefits of regulation. Since Denmark has let go of its state-owned gambling monopoly and regulated the market in 2012, the gross gambling revenue from land-based gambling and online casinos has shown impressive growth. Denmark's openness to iGaming has not gone unnoticed by leading online casinos worldwide, with special attention given to Danish players at leading brands like EUCasino and bet365 Casino. The fact that the famous Danish Tivoli Casino opened a successful international website last year shows that it's a two-way street relationship.
Edinburgh's Easter Road stadium is the venue for today's international football friendly between the national teams of Scotland and Qatar (kickoff 19:45 UK time). This match takes place in a very sensitive timing, with FIFA officials apprehended for bribery charges and President Sepp Blatter stepping down from the presidency. But besides the politics, we have an interesting game before us between two teams that have never met before. Warm-up for Scotland Scotland will use today's game mainly as a warm-up head for the team's trip to Dublin next week, where the team will face Ireland in the Euro 2016 qualifiers. In terms of experience and skill, Scotland is the clear favorite to win the game. The Scots are in good condition, showing good football in their recent performances: They've won four of their last six games, losing one against England and going off with a draw against Poland. In terms of performance at home, Scotland has emerged victorious in 5 of their last 7 home games, something that doesn't bode well for the Qatari visitors. Low Odds for Qatar Qatar is far from being a football power, and its name is brought up mainly because of the controversial FIFA decision to host the 2022 World Cup in the country. This decision could change now that FIFA is under investigation for widespread corruption, and the team's situation on the pitch isn't any better. Qatar lost all of their 3 group matches in the Asian Cup campaign, conceding 7 goals and scoring only one. Bet Live Today's match will be live at Winner Sports which is offering a wide range of pre-match betting markets and in-play bets for when the action gets underway. Full time result placed Scotland as an absolute favorite with 21/50 to win against 6/1 given to Qatar and 16/5 for a draw. Tune-in Winner sports for a wager and consider markets such as Under/Over total goals and Correct Score.
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