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After just a short break after a wild Matchday 18, the Premier League gets set for another highly anticipated week of soccer across the UK. Tonight features 8 fixtures and hundreds of betting markets with the potential of making punters a lot of lucrative cash. Will this be the week that Arsenal takes over the table? Can Chelsea find a way to beat Manchester United? All that and more as we look at all the matches. Over the weekend, the Premier League featured some of the most interesting matches of this season. Arsenal had a chance to take over the table, but they were stomped by Southampton 4-0, Manchester United went down at the hands of Stoke 2-0 and Liverpool beat league leaders Leicester 1-0. This season continues to be highly unpredictable and tonight's matches could define the rest of the season. Crystal Palace vs Swansea Crystal Palace has a chance to improve to fourth spot in the standings if they can beat Swansea today at 15:00. They would need Watford to beat Tottenham in order to achieve this, but the odds are in favor of Palace to win. Swansea won its first league match in eight games against West Brom the other night and Caretaker Manager Alan Curtis hopes this may be a turning point for his squad. Crystal Palace are well out front with online odds makers' bet365, posting odds in favor of Crystal Palace at 2.10, while Swansea tries to win from behind at 4.00. 15:00 - Everton (2.00) vs Stoke (4.00) 15:00 – Norwich (2.05) vs Aston Villa (3.80) Watford vs Tottenham Another key matchup of the day is between Watford and Tottenham. Watford are playing incredibly well over the last five matches, not having lost a single game. In fact, Watford was on a four-game winning streak until Chelsea held them to a draw on Saturday. Head Coach Quique Sanchez Flores believes that this is the beginning to a stronger Watford club in the future of the Premier League, but he needs to beat Tottenham before he makes any more claims. Tottenham are on an even better streak, having gone a run of seven away matches without a loss. In fact, Tottenham have only lost once in its last 17 top-flight matches. Watford to win at 3.75, while Tottenham favorites at 2.10. 15:00 - West Brom (2.15) vs Newcastle (3.80) Arsenal vs Bournemouth Inconsistent would be one way to describe Arsenal this season. In fact that is the exact reason why the Gunners are still in second place behind Leicester. After being humiliated on Boxing Day at Southampton 4-0, Arsenal are back to try and take over the Premier League tonight at the Emirates against struggling Bournemouth. Arsene Wenger is sure that his squad will win tonight and if Leicester is defeated, they will take over top spot in the league. The match kicks off at 17:30 GMT and Arsenal are heavy favorites at 1.44, while Bournemouth are at 8.00 to win. Manchester United vs Chelsea If this was any other season, a match between Man U and Chelsea would be considered the match of the night. Tonight's match is important for both teams but a win would not put either in a better position on the table. Manchester United lost to Stoke 2-0 on Saturday, while Chelsea drew with Watford 2-2. Chelsea's interim manager Guus Hiddink wants the Blues to show ambition against United at Old Trafford tonight at 17:30. Now in 15th place on the table, Chelsea must start winning all of their matches and making a statement against United tonight would be an excellent start. Manchester United are slight favorites at 2.60 and Chelsea aren't far behind at 3.00. 17:30 West Ham (3.60) vs Southampton (2.25)
Affiliate marketers from all over the world are taking notice of the first-ever ad blocking report to be published by iGaming Business, a media company dedicated to covering the online gambling industry. The in-depth report is full of statistics and analysis that reveal how ad blocking technology has impacted affiliate sites. Fundamentally, ad blocking technology has the power to force a decrease in advertising revenue for affiliate sites. At the core, affiliate sites need advertising revenue if they are to stay in business. A widespread uptake of the various plugins and software designed to block adverts would be extremely damaging. Fortunately, however, the iGaming Business report has not been damning for the online gambling industry. To summarise, iGaming Business found that affiliates and online gambling operators have not been majorly affected by ad blocking. This goes against an ad blocking trend that has seen mainstream media sites endure a downturn in revenue. That being said, the report is clear in stating that affiliate sites need to take notice in case they are impacted in the future. Cause for Concern Affiliates need to be concerned about ad blocking because of their sites’ dependency on banner advertising campaigns. Basically, banners are used to monetise traffic by encouraging readers to sign up with new casinos. Ad blocking removes the potential to generate revenue from any readers using the technology. A crucial finding of the report was that people aged 18-35 are the most likely to use ad blocking technology. This is an enormous demographic that affiliates and online gambling operators are potentially missing out on, which could result in heavy revenue losses. In outlining the threat, the report highlighted that affiliates and operators can combat the threat by integrating contextual links within written articles. Native advertising, meanwhile, is another possibility, with sponsored content being a key example.
Yggdrasil's year-ending bang is no accident. Six New Slots The six new leading brands going live represent the culmination of a year of careful work and meticulous strategy. Yggdrasil Gaming has achieved rapid growth over the past 12 months which is now being directed through the opening of six leading slot brands comprising the company's full slots portfolio. New Deals On the heels of this year's landmark deals with BetClic, Expekt and Monte Carlo Casino bringing Yggdrasil's games under the BetClic Everet Group umbrella, Yggdrasil's games have been added been to providers Casino Heroes, Sunmaker and Kaboo. The six brands will be spread across 12 video slots for clients, who also will enjoy Yggadrasil's Infinite API technology for gamification, as well as the recently launched Boost technology, a collection of promotional tools including the innovative Super Free Spins, in-game tournaments and raffles. Yggdrasil Gaming CEO Fredrik Elmqvist explained the company's expansion strategy as attracting partnerships via the massive popularity of Yggdrasil's games with customers and their players. Yggdrasil's leading technology is embedded in the company's patented iSENSE 2.0 framework to maximize gaming appeal and integrate most effectively into customer platforms, which clearly enhances the competitiveness of the company offerings. Gamification Focus The recent launch of Boost is a key driver for expansion, change and adaptation in 2016 as well. Elmqvist claims that Boost has served to take the company's gamification focus “to the next level and we’re very proud to be live with so many of these leading operators.” Strength of Partnership Strong growth will be bolstered by the prized partnerships forged with the BetClic, Expekt and Monte Carlo Casino brands, companies who have established holdings across Europe with a strong bases in Northern Europe, where they have been successfully delivering games for almost 20 years. In With a Bang In essence, the big bang of offering six new slots for Yggdrasil Gaming to punctuate 2015 is going to result in more fireworks across the coming year and years ahead.
The Brazilian regulation process is now moving full bore ahead. Fast Track The largest country in South America is now moving towards regulation by fast-tracking gambling reforms through the legislature. In hot pursuit of additional economic benefits available from online gambling revenues, the Senate Commission for Regional Development and Tourism circumvented potential months of legislation by ratifying Bill186/2014 last week to move the online gambling proposal to the country's House of Representative to legalize casino gambling for the first time since 1946. In a country where off-shore casinos like Tivoli Casino, Dhoze Casino and Sun Palace Casino are already popular, the adapted regulatory framework would address regulation of online gambling as well as land-based activity. The online gambling opportunities are the motivator for legalizing gambling again in Brazil. Delays Dissolving A similar bill was approved by the House in July but ultimately vetoed by President Dilma Rouseff. However, Brazil's economic struggles are increasing, and the allure of added revenue may be too strong to pass up this point. The fact is that this year the country has witnesses the worst economic growth in 25 years, causing the rather embarrassing reclassification of the massive country's economic investment grade to “Junk Status” by Moody’s Investment Services. This has turned the economic inertia from a private concern into a public embarrassment, as well as an increasing deterrent to foreign investment. At this point, Rouseff is rumored to have privately warmed to the idea of regulating gambling, with more and more Brazilian politicians acknowledging the outdated nature of current laws. Much to Gain With experts in the country prognosticating potential revenue uptakes of upwards of BRL15bn ($3.7 billion) in revenue, the Brazilian government looks to be fully bending its ear to the mission of reviving the economy through the updating of current laws to legalize online gambling and effectively regulate it.
Leicester has exceeded everyone’s expectations of them this season, as the Cinderella story is still fighting for first place atop the Premier League. Tonight, the Foxes face their biggest threat to their survival, as they welcome Manchester City to King Power Stadium. Leicester is currently in second place, behind Arsenal after the Gunners won their Premier League Boxing Day match against Bournemouth to go one-point over the Foxes. Last season, Manchester City won both league matches against Leicester, but this season Leicester has yet to lose three in a row against City since the 1960’s. The bigger problem facing Leicester is the fact that City have not lost a match at King Power Stadium in their last five trips therein. On Boxing Day Liverpool was able to beat Leicester to end its 10-match winning streak, which was amazing their third loss in 27 matches. Manchester City, currently in a tie with Tottenham for third on the table will need to prove they can win games on the road. City have only been able to score one goal in their last four away games and they have not won a game on the road in their last five. They will most likely be without Captain Vincent Kompany after he suffered another calf injury during their 4-1 romp over Sunderland. Premier League Betting The odds for tonight’s match are incredibly enticing to bet with Leicester at 4.33 by UK online sportsbook bet365. Leicester deserves a bit of credit after having a season like the one they are now and this could be a great chance for punters to win with the underdog. Even a draw is worthwhile at 3.90, which would pay out nicely in the end. For City, bet365 Sports has them at 1.85 to win the match outright, but with Kompany down and Leicester at full strength; tonight could easily go to the home team.
The popular fantasy sports betting operator based in the USA, DraftKings, will not be launching in the UK in December as previously planned. Instead, the international debut will be pushed back to 2016 as the company spokeswoman Pippa Hancock believes everything will be sorted out early next year. Regulation issues in the US Both DraftKings and its rival company FanDuel have been under fire recently in the United States after lawmakers in several states questioned the legality of fantasy sports in comparison to sports betting. An Attorney General in New York, Eric Schneiderman, declared both companies to offer gambling options and thus made them illegal in the state. This came as a huge blow to DraftKings and FanDuel since New York represents the main market in the country. Hancock didn’t offer any reasons for the delay of the launch. Back in November, the international officer for DraftKings, Jeffrey Haas said that everything is on track for the company to make its debut in the UK and that the company was already testing the mobile product for its customers. This took place after DraftKings received the gaming license from the UK Gambling Commission earlier this year and created its team in London. Haas did mention back in October that the company is not planning on launching the same large marketing campaign in the UK which made DraftKings a huge television advertiser in the US. This got the attention of regulators and resulted in various issues and scrutiny. Potential player base in the UK The United Kingdom is known for being a huge gaming market and according to Haas, there are 8.5 million users who would enjoy fantasy sports every season in the country. DraftKings enjoyed a 15% share in the US and if the same percentage would be won over in the UK, the company would gain 1.3 million new players. FanDuel is also looking to obtain a license in the UK, while British punters already have several options to choose from.
Columbia is looking to regulation for increased revenues. Formal Regulation Proceedings In a South American country that is struggling economically, the authority gambling regulator has opened formal proceedings to consider launching a regulated online gambling market. Coljuegos, the Columbian regulator, posted three drafts on its website for public feedback. The posts outline regulatory and technical requirements for online gambling operations. The Requirements In a country where Casino Estrella, Jackpot City Casino and Tivoli Casino head the list of online casinos currently popular with Columbian players, the drafts would open the door for licensed online gambling operators to offer RNG casino games such as slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat and bingo, as well as poker cash games and tournaments. The drafts further suggest permissions to green light real and sports betting (real and fantasy), along with fixed-odds, parlay and exchange wagering. The permissions also allow live in-play betting, but stop at horse racing, an indication of a strict stance against horse racing in the country. Coljuegos has yet to put a cap on the number of licences it would issue, simply requiring all operators to establish a .co domain which would render all other gambling domains illegitimate. The only limits Coljuegos appears to place on operator marketing is the number and types of bonuses they can offer, otherwise allowing operators free reign in marketing. The suggested tax rate is set at a minimum of 17% on gross gaming revenue, or 15% on betting products that offer a minimum 83% return to players. Coljuegos will also collect an administrative fee from operators of not more than 1%. The rather comprehensive framework even goes so far as to stipulate the minimum wage required for licensed operators to pay, though it is necessary to further clarify the exact payouts according to monetary exchanges and regulatory wage laws in Columbia. Economic Band-Aid Columbia's dependence on oil exports looks to be in jeopardy, so the government is moving fast for alternative revenue options. This looks like the most practical and realistic effort for a solution.
After nobody got all the six numbers right on Saturday, the Powerball estimated jackpot is now at $300 million for the draw tonight (23:00 EST / 04:00 GMT). This makes it the third biggest jackpot of the popular lottery in 2015 and represents a cash option win of $184.2 million. Results from December 26th The winning numbers randomly selected during the draw on December 26th were 27, 40, 44, 59 and 65, with the red Powerball Power Number being 20. No player got all of them on one ticket and there were also no matches for five numbers needed to win the $1 million prize. More than 31,900 players got something for their efforts in Michigan and claimed prizes which ranged from $4 to $50,000. About the Powerball lottery Powerball is one of the most popular lotteries in the United States, being offered in 44 regions with tickets costing $2 each. Players must select their numbers for the ticket or have them randomly picked; five from a pool of 1 to 69 and one from a different pool ranging from 1 to 26, also known as the Power Ball. A few months ago in September, a woman from Michigan got all the six numbers right for a jackpot of $310.5 million while in February, three players split a jackpot of $564.1 million from the Powerball lottery. Draws take place twice a week and if the jackpot is not claimed, the amount gets rolled over for another draw, thus leading to a fast growth that can reach very impressive figures. $300 million certainly fits in this category. Buying tickets Tickets are not just available for citizens in the states but can be purchased by interested players from all over the world at online lottery agents like The Lotter, Play Huge Lottos and Play USA Lotteries with just a few clicks. While Powerball is now the biggest lottery available, there are plenty of other options to choose from as well.
If there was ever a time for Sunderland to turn their season around, tonight would be a great starting point. The Black Cats are just four points better than last place Aston Villa and with Liverpool coming to the Stadium of Light, alarm bells must be ringing. Sunderland began to rally in November following back-to-back wins over Stoke City and Crystal Palace, but had a tough December with losses to Arsenal, Watford, Chelsea and finally by Manchester City on Boxing Day. The next three matches are critical for Sunderland in order to gain some momentum moving into the final months of the Premier League and they need to start tonight against Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp has been an improvement for Liverpool, but the Reds are still far off their winning form. Now in 10th spot on the table, Liverpool could move three points closed to 6th place Manchester United with a win tonight. Much like Sunderland, Liverpool in December was not a pretty sight, as they lost matches to Newcastle and Watford and were held to a draw at home against West Bromwich Albion. Albeit the win on Boxing Day over Leicester was the highlight of the week so far and a win tonight would put the Reds within striking distance of the top tier of the standings. Injuries Report Both teams have significant injuries, but for Sunderland they will be without their Captain John O’Shea out once again with a calf problem. The Black Cats will also be without Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Larsson still sidelined with injuries. The Reds are in a bit better shape but need to win without Divock Origi, Jordan Rossiter, James Milner, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Sturridge. Liverpool will have the services of Jordan Ibe once again and Benteke will most definitely get the start after his winner against Leicester. Betting Markets Sunderland will need to overcome huge odds against them at 5.00, while Liverpool are in the driver’s seat at 1.70 listed by bet365 Sports. A draw could be the best bet at 3.90, as neither team has been consistent this season and both are playing for a much-needed win tonight.
Prospect Hall Casino has announced that it made a deal with Odobo. As a result, the game developer will provide more than 60 titles to the list available at Prospect Hall Casino in order to create a better collection for players. This will further improve the player experience provided by the online gaming destination, which already had over 200 games in its portfolio. More games and better tools In addition to the tens of new casino games players can expect to find at Prospect Hall Casino, Odobo will also provide management tools used by the gaming options from around 40 development studios. The casino will benefit from the optimized integration system and the back office system for which the developer is known in the industry. Having advanced tools means that operators can quickly get access to the games from a large pool of brands. Most of the games are already live and these include popular titles like Lucky Gems, Castlebuilder from Rabcat and Gourmet Ranch Riches. Since the content created by Odobo is generally unique on the platform, operators are given the chance to review games in the concept stage and make their own touches to the final product for more flexibility. This can very easily result in unique games at Prospect Hall Casino which can go a long way to differentiating it from its competitors. Going forward in the UK According to the statement made by Odobo’s Head of Business Development, Rob Smith, the deal made with Prospect Hall Casino is very exciting for the fact that it offers a great foothold in the UK market. The casino has been growing at a fast pace and Odobo is believed to be a good match to keep things going forward. It is expected for more news to come from the casino software developer given the recent push for optimization with third parties.
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