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Facing its worst recession in 25 years, Brazil is moving closer to legalizing gambling, with urgency. Economic Bailout? The largest nation in South America's cash-strapped government is currently in negotiations with lawmakers to increase revenues through legalizing gambling, after Congress rejected other tax hikes proposed by President Dilma Rousseff's efforts to overcome the bulging national budget deficit. Rousseff chief of staff Aloizio Mercadante offered the idea to lawmakers last week as an alternative to the government's struggle to pass a hotly contested tax on financial transactions.Casinos have been banned in since 1946, while bingo rooms were outlawed in 2007 to stem money laundering. Federal lotteries and bets on horse racing are the only current forms of wagering permitted in Brazil. A government gambling legislation proponent in Brazil estimate that the county is losing up to 23.5 billion reais ($5.9 billion) in annual gambling taxes, with more to be otherwise lost from the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic games. Localizing Gambling Revenues In a country where many Brazilians already play online casinos such as Dhoze Casino, Casino Cruise and Winner Casino, small center-right Party of the Republic leader Mauricio Quintella has been tabbed as leading the movement to regulate online gambling within national borders. He bemoans the loss of Brazilian gambling profits in the fact that Brazilians regularly travel to Paraguay, Montevideo, Las Vegas to gamble, leaving “all the money there.” Correcting Public Opinion The main hurdle for the government may not be opposition within the government, but public opinion: Brazil is a country where many people associate gambling with corruption, for historical reasons as well as contemporary social ones. The fact is there is a current scandal still running in Brazil over $2 billion plus in kickbacks focused on state-run oil firm Petrobras. Other scandals linking gambling to corruption include an aide to former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva being sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2012 for extorting bribes from an illegal lottery operator in 2004. These scandals have nothing to do with online gaming operators; they are just the root of current general public perceptions.
With Chelsea struggling in the 15th place and apparently out of the race for the championship, a vacuum of power was created at the top of the standings. Manchester United and their city rivals are topping the Premier League but West Ham and Arsenal are within striking distance. The Gunners have an excellent chance at tying Manchester United for the lead as they welcome the Red Devils at Emirates Stadium. The Champions League Distraction Under normal circumstances, such a high profile match in the domestic championship would result in both Manchester United and Arsenal channeling all their resources on claiming the three points. This year, the Champions League campaign started in the worst possible way, with the English giants losing the opening round. Injury concerns are also mounting and with games being played every three days, fatigue needs to be factored in. Arsenal already has four players injured and three more doubtful ahead of this fixture, while Manchester United can’t rely on three out of seven defenders. Their attack is untouched but unlike Ipswich and Sunderland that pose no offensive concerns, Arsenal is deadly on the counterattack. The Pressure Is on the Gunners Anything short of a straight victory would result in Manchester United losing the lead, as their city rivals are expected to triumph against Newcastle. Having said this, Manchester City has its own Champions League campaign derailed by an early defeat and lost three of the last four games. The Red Devils can settle for one point on the road and that’s why odds of 12/5 offered by bet365 Sports on a draw are extremely tempting in this context. The bookmaker offers even odds on Arsenal to prevail, which is hardly value given their inability to keep clean sheets even against weaker opponents. Add to this the fact that the Gunners won just one of the last nine head to head games and these odds need to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Tivoli Casino has certainly become one of the big online casinos in the industry and it continues to expand with the help of new games and better services. In the latter category we find several new currencies recently added to better cater to international customers and make it more convenient to deposit, bet and withdraw. In addition to the available EUR currency, Tivoli Casino has added support for GBP, SEK and NOK. Easier financial transactions for more fun The preferred currency can easily be selected for each account and this shows the key markets for the online casino. While accepting Euros offered it a fairly large covering of the region, the introduction of British Pounds certainly give it a lot more power in the United Kingdom. Tivoli Casino is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and is allowed to accept players from the country so the GBP option can go a long way. Sweden and Norway are big online gaming markets and it is safe to say that the casino is very popular with Scandinavian players. As a result, adding support for Swedish Krona and Norwegian Krone should please a good part of customers, as well as attract new ones to join the fun. As part of the new update, the website also added live chat support in order to better provide assistance to customers when needed. There is also an email option available. More about Tivoli Casino It is easy to see why Tivoli Casino is so popular with European players. The fact that it is themed after one of the biggest amusement parks in the world gives it a reliable brand and it expands on it with leading gaming options. The games certainly make the casino what it is and with the help of Net Entertainment, Microgaming and Play’n GO, Tivoli Casino lives up to the expectations.
Just before the end of October, the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa will be the host venue for the third annual Big Africa Summit. The last two years of this event were incredibly popular and hopes are high that this year will be the biggest one yet. The summit will offer insight into the growing online and land-based gaming industry in Africa. The summit will include top industry officials, CEO's, bookmakers, software developers, investors and many more. Registration is open to all and this year the conference will see the most participants yet. Keynote Speakers There is a long list of keynote speakers that will be offering their knowledge of the budding African gaming industry from the Department of Trade and Industry, Western Cape Gambling and Racing, Gauteng Gambling Board, South Africa National Lottery Board, Sportingbet South Africa, London Gaming Company and many more. Spanning over the three days, these speakers will give behind the scenes information and provide valuable knowledge for operators and players looking into the growing African industry. Highlight Workshops The summit includes many workshops for participants eager to learn about the industry, but they have put emphasis on two of them. The first will talk about iGaming challenges and technology solutions for operating in Africa and the second focuses on future technology and developments in iGaming including mobile, AR, multi-channel payments and security. A must see for players, operators and anyone interested in the cutting edge. The Venue The Emperors Palace Hotel and Casino is the flagship gambling-friendly facility in Johannesburg. Summit participants staying at the hotel will fall in love with the world-class amenities therein and the casino is a gamblers paradise with state-of-the-art technology around every corner. If you plan to be register a place at this year's summit, do so fast because it is filling up fast. For more information visit the Summit website.
2015 can officially be declared the year of the slots. Those who play casino games over the Internet believe that an online casino is only as good as its collection of games. The operators were quick to respond to this perception and the natural response was to enhance their collection of titles with new slot machines. These represent the bulk of all online casino games and major software developers such as Net Entertainment, Microgaming or RTG pay them the attention they deserve. They drew inspiration from multiple sources, ranging from popular TV shows, movies and more recently the celebrated Marvel comics. This approach has a two-pronged effect, on one hand they appeal to the dedicated fans of those popular characters, on the other they bring a breath of fresh air to the industry. Tivoli Casino Reveals Its Own New Games 2015 has been a great year for Tivoli Casino who added dozens of new games and quite often their introduction was accompanied by generous promotions. Casinos simply can’t go wrong with bonus prizes and free spins and they are generously awarded each time a new game is added. Hot as Hades invites players to take a virtual voyage in mythology and challenge the gods. Ariana online slot is also inspired by the legends of antiquity, yet this time players get to explore the underwater kingdom of the princess. All the symbols are inspired by this aquatic environment and the same goes for the scatter and wild symbols populating the reels. Fans of horror movies will find great pleasure in spinning the reels of Dracula, a new slot machine that is centered on the infamous vampire. At the opposite end of the spectrum sit slot machines such as Fruits Warp, inspired by the classic three reel versions, yet cashing in on all the advancements of technology.
The results are in; online gambling is growing in the EU. Report Figures A new EU report shows robust figures for online gambling, online gambling expansion, and the future of iGaming in the slowly but surely regulating European market, where players have already shown a fondness for online casinos such as EUCasino, Casino Cruise and Mr. Green. The European Commission estimates the EU gambling market at approximately 84.9 billion euro with growth of 3% year on year. These figures have been accumulated from roughly 6.8 million EU consumers who play online. Comparison figures date to 2012, when online gambling comprised slightly over 12% of the EU’s gambling market with annual revenues of 10 billion euro plus. That figure is expected to increase 3 billion to 13 billion euro, for a steady billion per year growth rate. EU Encouragement While it is up to each country to choose and approve their own system of regulation, it is safe to say that EU policy overall stands firmly in support of the opportunity for increased revenues from online gambling. In 2012, the European Commission adopted an action plan to adapt gambling through the Communication “Towards a Comprehensive European Framework on Online Gambling.” The plan addressed specific issues of compliance that include national regulatory frameworks within EU law; enhanced administrative cooperation and efficient enforcement; the protection of consumers, minors and vulnerable groups; fraud and money-laundering prevention; and safeguarding the integrity of sports and preventing match-fixing. The Unification Challenge The adoptive definitions are extremely important, because they unify a highly diverse group of national landscapes, cultures and legal systems. Some countries have monopolistic regimes with one government company dominating the market. Others have already established free market systems that entertain a wealth of licensed provider competitors. In a sometimes painstaking process, others have yet to decide, while still others oppose regulation entirely. Sign of the Times One thing is clear: the demand is there, and increasing. The faster EU countries accept regulation, the more revenues will be attracted, and the more the EU member states can prevent fraud and illegal site play. The EU appears pragmatic the report shows a real need for all member states to control the online gambling which is taking place on a wide scale and growing all the time.
Just a couple of years ago both these teams were in the first German league, but unfortunately they were unable to cling to their positions in the second half of the tables. Relegation didn’t come as a surprise to any of them and this season they are trying to return among the elite of German football. Paderborn and Duisburg started their campaign in the Bundesliga 2 on the wrong foot and this match is of critical importance for both teams. Duisburg Stuck in the Last Place The home side is winless this season and only has two points to show for after nine rounds, one of the worst starts in club history. Duisburg conceded a bucketful of goals both at home and on the road, so it comes as no surprise that most punters are unwilling to bet even monopoly money on them. Bookmakers are always quick to respond to such shifts in the punters’ preference and have greatly boosted the odds on Duisburg to win at home. They currently stand at 11/5 and even a double chance wager will result in an excellent return on investment, at 7/11. A Pale Shadow of the Last Year’s Team Paderborn was relegated and immediately after the dream of remaining in the first division was shattered, the players chose to leave the club. Not surprisingly, the replacements didn’t rise to the challenge and despite the lower level of Bundesliga 2 football, they struggle at the bottom of the standings. Seven points in nine matches is simply too little for a club with high expectations and to make matters worse, all of them were secured at home. On the road Paderborn is yet to avoid defeat and even score a goal, so it is clear that they shouldn’t be trusted, even against the last placed team.
In 2006, the United States Department of Justice came cracking down on some of the biggest operators in the country after the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed. This made online gambling illegal in the market by preventing credit card issuers and banks to process any financial transactions related to gambling on the internet. A good part of companies were forced out but several reliable operators moved their business offshore and continued to accept American customers for a grey industry worth $4 billion a year. US players continue to enjoy online gambling Although the current regulations prohibit online gambling throughout the nation, players from the US can still enjoy a wide variety of options from offshore websites. Some of the leading brands are Rich Casino, Vegas Casino Online and Grand Fortune Casino. Everything is safe and reliable but since the operators have to be licensed in other jurisdictions, the USA doesn’t get any money from taxes and licensing fees so the economy loses out on an important source of revenue. It is estimated that by simply legalizing online poker in the country, the new industry would generate $2 billion a year in tax revenue, as well as create around 10,000 jobs. The argument has been used to legalize poker and online casino games in some states with great success but the list continues to be very short, with just three states offering such options as of now. Looking at markets with legalized online gaming The United Kingdom is the leading market with legal online gaming and it has shown a lot of promise over the years. A similar policy in the USA can mean $12.4 billion in revenue every year, while ensuring a more secure environment for players. Various other advantages can come with a nationwide legalization of online gaming but this can take a long time to iron out. Until then, US customers can still enjoy the exciting online casino games at offshore sites.
BETAT Casino has an impressive collection of slot machines and its members are encouraged to go over all these titles. Those who don’t like the idea of randomly testing the games and prefer a more coherent approach, will find the innovative concept of Hot and Cold Games much to their liking. These games are a welcome innovation to online casinos and are likely to be embraced by other gambling operators. What Are Hot and Cold Games? When they spin the reels of slot machines, players are competing against the random number generator and the house edge. The return on investment differs depending on games and genres, with BETAT having some of the best RTP percentage at almost 98%. This acronym stands for return to player and is the average rate at which the slot machine will return the investment. It is also used to distinguish between hot and cold games, by monitoring the rate at which they have been paying over the last three hours. Those games that have been paying about their theoretical return to player ratio are hot games, while the ones that are yet to deliver expected results are cold games. How to Tackle Hot and Cold Games? BETAT provides the figures that players need to have at their disposal to distinguish between hot and cold games. It is the latter who decide how to use this information, as there are two possible ways to proceed, depending on the player’s expectations. Those who are optimistic in the ability of hot games to keep up the excellent returns can focus on the games that pay above their theoretical RTP. At the opposite end of the spectrum, are gamblers who expect the payouts to even out in the long run, therefore prefer cold games. In theory, if you play long enough it is only a matter of time until the return to player ratio will be reached and the games will return to the expected values.
The competition in the online gambling industry is particularly intense these years and the Global Gaming Awards help establish a hierarchy. The event was held during the G2E Vegas event and the prizes were awarded at the glamorous Venetian Palazzo Congress Center. A panel of 50 independent judges with close connections to the industry, therefore tremendous expertise, went over the shortlist once again and crowned the industry leaders. NetEnt Wins the Digital Industry Supplier of the Year Award NetEnt has an impressive ecosystem of online gambling operators, including Winner Casino, BETAT, Tivoli, Slotty Vegas and Cherry Casino to name but a few. They provide the celebrated software and this year their products were celebrated through the Digital Industry Supplier of the Year award. The software developer has released more than 20 new casino games and a dozen of mobile titles throughout 2015 including ones that were created entirely in HTML 5. NetEnt is at the forefront of innovation, with the first slot machine featuring real-time 3-D graphics recently unveiled. Microgaming Hits Two Birds with One Stone Two of its flagship games brought prestigious awards to Microgaming, who won the Digital Gaming Innovation award for VR Roulette. The jury was impressed by this wearable technology product and they also showed their appreciation for the Jurassic Park slot machine, who was rewarded in the Digital Product of the Year category. Bet365 is among the top online casinos powered by Microgaming and also a highly successful bookmaker that won the Digital Operator award for its meteoric rise in the in-play betting market. The software developer also powers Jackpot City Casino and Tivoli, providing most or all their games. Fully compatible with mobile devices powered by various operating systems, they allow a great deal of flexibility, with players getting to choose between wagering real cash or virtual currency.
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