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In Quebec’s 2015-2016 budget, which was released earlier this year, the government proposed blocking all illegal gambling websites. This is to be done by changing the laws of the current Consumer Protection Act and adding a measure of “illegal website filtering.” This measure would require Quebec’s ISPs to block traffic to online gambling sites that compete with Quebec’s lottery corporation, Loto-Quebec. The Internet Society, an international group whose mission is “to promote the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of all people throughout the world,” has come out calling this proposal “censorship,” and Canadian Chapter Chair Timothy Denton has even gone so far as to write an open letter to Quebec’s government, warning of the shortcomings and even dangers of such a plan. Contents of the Letter Denton wrote that the proposed act is “a direct attack on the freedom of movement of thought.” He also pointed out that the government’s proposal will cost more to implement than the revenues that will be gained. He sums up by saying,” “It’s expensive, it’s futile and it sets a bad precedent.” Everyone Can Calm Down (For Now) Quebec isn’t anywhere near implementing the government’s new proposal, and has no concrete plans for moving forward. This means that Canadians can continue their online gambling activity unperturbed, as there are no actual plans to change the status quo. What exactly is the status quo in Canada regarding online gambling? Currently, the Canadian government has an ambivalent stance on online gambling. On the one hand, they don’t grant licenses to site operators (except to some provincially-approved sites), but on the other hand, Canadians are able to play on any gambling site they choose. In Quebec, some of the most popular online gaming sites are 7Regal Casino, Crazy Vegas Casino and bet365 Casino.
Lyon is struggling on all fronts, with its Champions League adventure delayed by early setbacks and the mediocre performance in Ligue 1. Poor results on the road, doubled by a seemingly endless string of injuries have prevented the former champions from putting up serious opposition to PSG. They currently sit in the sixth place, but have the perfect chance to improve their position as Toulouse comes visiting. Busy Schedule Is Hurting Lyon The home side is still pursuing its Champions League dream, but the high frequency of games is starting to take its toll. No fewer than seven players will be absent this Friday, including a pair of offensive midfielders and defenders. The good news is that the offensive is more or less intact and they can start with both Beauvue and Lacazette. They have scored a combined five goals and are expected to put a lot of pressure on Toulouse’s defenses, one that proved to be very permeable. The bigger absentee is midfielder Fekir who has scored four goals in as many games but is currently mending an injury. Two Months of Drought for Toulouse The visitors are mired in an eight-game winless streak and the specter of relegation is looming over a team that used to compete in European tournaments. They can’t even blame injuries for their abysmal results, with just two players missing and none of them are of critical importance. After winning the opening match, their defenses suffered a complete meltdown and the team has allowed an average of 1.5 goals per match. Lyon might be hurt by injuries and players suffering from fatigue, but under these circumstances they are worth a shot. bet365 Sports is still offering juicy odds of 4/7 on the home side to prevail, for the 11th time in 16 head to head games.
The 2016 ICE Totally Gaming conference will be held at London's ExCel Centre on February 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The campaign leading up to the highly anticipated conference began last week in Las Vegas, Nevada and is a very creative. Set in a surreal, virtual gaming city of the future, industry professionals, gamers and anyone interested in attending will be able to see the latest and greatest innovations in the iGaming world and solutions to, 'Enter the Gaming Technopolis', as the campaign suggests. Jo Mayer, Marketing Director in charge of the ICE Totally Gaming campaign is one of the forward-thinkers that helped come up with the idea. "We know from the visitor research that we conduct after each edition of ICE that the single most important reason that thousands and thousands of industry professionals travel vast distances to be in London each year, is the opportunity that ICE delivers to see the very latest innovations and advances in gaming technology. Such is the case that many of our 500+ exhibitor's timetable product launches around the dates for ICE. Our campaign for ICE 2015, which was named AEO Marketing Campaign of the Year, asked attendees to discover the World of Gaming and for 2016 our invitation is to Enter the Gaming Technopolis." The 2015 edition of the conference was the most successful of all time and Mayer hopes for a record-breaking event in 2016. "Whilst we have just experienced the most successful edition of ICE in the event's distinguished history, the team is fully aware that reputations count for very little and that we have to work extremely hard to earn the custom of the 25,000+ attendees that we want and expect to welcome to London in February. The ICE conference will feature many new initiatives and activities for all guests and as is expected, international gaming professionals from around the world, as well as local UK participants will all be at the event.
The online gambling industry is taking it to the next level as in Africa as a must-attend for the international Betting and iGaming communities approaches. Next Level Stuff The BiG Africa summit will offer high profile speakers, the most relevant topics to the industry today, and an increasingly interactive format that is sure to bring out a variety of strong opinions from speakers and attendees alike. The Big Africa precedent has been set in Johannesburg over the last two years, delivering key topics and special prominent hosts to decision makers, executives and key players and bringing hosts of important speakers to Johannesburg to share insights on the rapidly expanding industry of iGaming. Taking place from Monday the 26th to Wednesday the 28th of October the Emperors Palace, attendees will have the chance to listen to 30+ speakers, 20+ exhibitors, 200+ corporate peers, 12 presentations, 4 interactive panel discussions and 2 masterclasses. Prominent Speakers Prominent iGaming names in the staggering multitude of speakers includes South Africa's Shadow Minister of the Department of Trade Geordin Hill-Lewis; African Lottery Association Chairman; Gidani's African Lottery Association and Chairman Vice President Prof Bongani Khumalo; Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board CEO Dr. Maroba Matsapola; Ghana Gaming Commissioner Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo; Peermont Hotels Chief Marketing & Regional Operations Executive Mark Jakins; and Sun International CEO Anli Kotzé; Bettor Logic UK CEO Andrew Dagnall; and Charles Wambia, the Director of the Kenya Betting Control and Licensing Board. Dr. Matsapola will kick off the formalities with a welcome and opening remarks from the chair, followed by an address providing essential insight on the emerging market of African in speech on the Insights on a future gambling framework in South Africa, delivered by South Africa Department of Trade and Industry Chief Director of Policy and Legislation MacDonald Netshitenzhe. Bringing iGaming to Africa The key to this summit is the African take on interactivity, and the conduit that the conference presents into the difficult but prominent African market for iGaming that is more receptive and prepared for entry than most may realize.
The fact that Real Madrid is leading Primera Division after eight rounds is hardly a surprise, given the fact that they are perennial favorite to win the trophy. Celta Vigo is the team flying higher than anyone expected it to, being currently tied for the lead with the multiple champions. They will have a hard time consolidating this position despite having home pitch advantage and are expected to use a defensive team. All Eyes on Cristiano Ronaldo The Portuguese striker has set another record in the Spanish first flight after scoring over the weekend and his morale is excellent. Real Madrid is not the team to defend even when playing on the road and the starting formation will remain unchanged. Benitez is a more pragmatic coach who is less interested about scoring a flurry of goals and emphasizes the importance of claiming all three points. He will have to deal with the absence of Modric and Pepe, while also having fewer options up front, now that Rodriguez and Benzema are mending injuries. Even so, Real Madrid is a force to be reckoned with offensively and odds of 4/5 offered by bet365 Sports are amazing. Celta Vigo Undefeated After Eight Rounds It has been a roller coaster for Celta Vigo in many games, as the team trailed better opponents, but somehow found the resources to claw their way back in the game. The home side has had its fair share of challenges, but all of them pale in comparison with the task of avoiding defeat against Real Madrid. Just three players are missing from the starting formation and the hosts can field an aggressive first 11, but they will stick to the classic 4-4-2. Iago and Wass will spearhead the offensive, while Nolito will start on the bench acting as potential replacement for any of the two strikers.
The world of eSports has increased significantly over the last few years and it continues to grow as more and more viewers watch the major tournaments for the games they like. Counter Strike has always been a fan favorite and with the launch of the Global Offensive version, the title continues its role in the eSports world. In fact, it will soon air on TV in Australia in order to reach even more people. Fox Sports to broadcast full games Fox Sports 1 has set aside a slot in its schedule for Australian viewers and it is reserved for the big tournament on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive scheduled to soon take place. Being one of the big sports broadcasters in the country, Fox will further solidify the importance of eSports in the current viewing landscape and maybe even make room for other games to follow. This will mark the first time when full matches of Counter-Strike are shown on TV, rather than just highlights from the games. International tournaments are increasing from one year to the next and with the help of crowd funding events, the prize pools can reach millions of dollars, allowing the best players in the world to compete for a very significant win. With the competitive nature of games like League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike, watching the tournaments can be very exciting for fans. Betting on the matches Similar to other sports, tournaments for eSports can attract a lot of punters who wish to bet on their favorite teams and win real money from their support and knowledge of the game. Several of the biggest bookmakers on the internet already offer gambling options in this regard and brands like bet365, Winner and Betway have entire sections for eSports, complete with betting options, odds and more. Punters can bet on the matches much like they would on the Champions League events.
Amid growing debates over the legality of daily fantasy sports betting, Nevada has taken a firm stance: Last week the state, one of three which has legalized online gambling, ruled that fantasy sports sites, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, are illegal. Nevada’s Gaming Control Board issued a notice this past Thursday saying that online fantasy sports sites must stop offering their services to Nevada residents immediately. If they are found to be in violation, operators can face felony fines and up to ten years in prison. On the other hand, the Gaming Control Board invited these sites to apply for online gaming licenses, which can then be approved if they meet all the requirements. What’s the deal with online fantasy sports? Online fantasy sports were ruled legal in 2006, at the same time that the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) banned online casino games. Fantasy sports received an exemption in this Act because it was ruled to be a skill-based game, not a game of chance. Today, lawmakers are re-thining this exception, and saying that there is actually more luck involved in fantasy sports betting than skill, which is why it should be illegal. DraftKings and FanDuel are two of the major daily fantasy sports betting sites that have been taking heat, probably because they are both multi-million dollar operators, but they remain adamant that fantasy sports betting is based on skill, not chance. Nevada, along with five others states, disagree. The difference between Nevada and the five other states (Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, and Washington) is that online fantasy sports can enter the gambling market in Nevada - if they receive licensing. The other states offer no such opportunity. More Bad News DraftKings has also been in the news recently due to a scandal in which an employee used insider information to win $350,000 on FanDuel. Not the kind of publicity these companies want.
For the first time in many years, AC Milan is not playing in any European competition and can focus on the domestic championship. Under normal circumstances, this should enable them to give everything on the pitch and make a successful bid at a Champions League berth. For the time being, they are struggling in the second half of the tables and desperately need all three points when they take on Sassuolo. Winless in More than a Month AC Milan didn’t consolidate its roaster during the season break and overall, the players sold and the recently signed ones didn’t change the balance. Given their performance in 2014, this is hardly good news and the team won just three games in eight fixtures. To make matters worse, the former champions haven’t won an official match in more than one month and they need to turn the ship around this weekend The home side is at full strength and will use a 4-3-3 starting formation with Bacca, Bonaventura and Cerci upfront. The Colombian was used as a substitute last week and he barely had the time to score the tying goal against Torino, so this time he will be given a chance to play for 90 minutes. Sassuolo Happy with One Point The visitors don’t have high expectations for this season and their only goal is to finish in the first half, far from the worries of relegation. Not having home pitch advantage means that they will field a defensive minded starting formation with five defenders and a single striker. Veteran Floro Flores was rested against Lazio, but the 32-year-old is expected to spearhead the offensive against AC Milan. He is the team’s top scorer with three goals this season, but he won’t have an easy task at Giuseppe Meazza. Bet365 sports offers tempting odds of 4/5 on the home side to prevail, but they’re expected to drop as kickoff draws near.
247Play Casino is a new online casino that already has a distinguished service in Eastern Europe, with a healthy customer base of Russian customers. Their games can be played on smart phones and tablets without downloading anything and players are eligible to bonuses and promotions. The casino is catering for both professional gamblers and beginners, with tailor-made campaigns meeting their needs. 247Play relies mostly on proprietary software, so if you hope to play unique games, different from the ones populating most online casinos, this is a good place to start. Action never stops in the live casino area, where real dealers are ready to interact with players on many levels. Whether you win or lose, each session promises to be relaxing andentertaining, with players returning over and over again. 247Play caters for Russian players Some of the biggest online gambling operators in Europe are either located in United Kingdom or focusing mainly on this market. If you are paying the same attention to Eastern Europe, but 247Play Casino is one of the few catering mostly for Russian players. To start with, the website is available in both English and Russian, while customer support is offered in both languages. The advantages of interacting with specialists that are not only tech savvy but also fluent in your native tongue are self-evident. The payment methods have also been diversified, so that Russian clients can use financial instruments they are comfortable with, without paying any fees. A wide-ranging mix of prepaid cards and electronic wallets are available and transactions are performed in a few business days. The welcome package, as well as the occasional bonuses and promotions are created with local players in mind and have wagering requirements that are easy to meet. Russians can use local currency as well as Euros to deposit and wager, without being charged any commission when cashing out.
NetEnt's gains in America continue. Another Agreement in New Jersey Leading online solution provider NetEnt has signed a license agreement with Resorts Casino, the renowned casino operator in New Jersey, USA. The new deal calling for NetEnt to deliver its award-winning casino games for desktop and mobile to online casino brands Resorts Casino and Mohegan Sun is a major step forward in further implementation of online gambling between NetEnt and a prominent US-based brand. Deal Impact The new deal is a cooperative licensing arrangement with Resorts Casino which brings a wide array of NetEnt games and gaming services to New Jersey. This comes on the heels of NetEnt signing an original groundbreaking agreement to get them into New Jersey, followed by a related transactional waiver from New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to launch operations with Resorts Casino, while the full license application completes the review process. The NetEnt Example The progress of NetEnt paves the way for more adaptation of online gaming companies in the states, and the particulars of how the implementation takes place in New Jersey make expansion of online gambling in general seem all the more robust. NetEnt Americas Managing Director explained that the partnership with Resorts reflect trust and confidence in his company’s local operational and portfolio capabilities, and further expressed confidence that “Resorts Casino, Mohegan Sun Casino and their respective players will appreciate and enjoy the fantastic player experience that our games offer.” This says a lot about the importance of player experience and engagement that fortifies NetEnt's branding in America, and that other new entries to the states should seek to model themselves after to no small extent. Resorts Casino Hotel president and CEO Mark Giannantonio emphasized that NetEnt games previously performed “extremely well in other markets and we are confident that they will do the same in New Jersey.” NetEnt is currently demonstrating the viability and proper course of iGaming expansion.
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