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Another installment of the highly informative Casual Connect event starts today in Amsterdam, running from 16-18 February 2016, with the Casino Track beginning tomorrow. Some 2,000 professionals from the igaming world will come together to talk about the industry’s many fascinating topics. The B2B event will have numerous lectures and also feature a Casino Track where companies can set up booths on the conference floor. For 2016, the organisers have arranged an event that has secured the attendance of both Facebook and Google. And then there are various software providers, gambling operators, and companies related to the igaming industry. Among those in attendance are paysafecard, SoftLayer, IGT, Good Game, Playtika, G5 Games, and Pocket Media – plus many more. Social Gaming Discussion Playtika is a world-renowned developer of social gaming software, having created games like Slotomania, Bingo Blitz, and Vegas Downtown Slots, and will discuss the current state of the sector. To offer balance to Playtika’s free-to-play approach, casino software developer IGT will also contribute to the discussion. Many other topics will be covered in the wider lecture schedule, with more than 200 speakers lined up for the event. Attendees can use the various lectures as an opportunity to improve in many different ways, including metrics, analytics, user experience, mobile optimisation, and more. New Technology Explored Virtual reality (VR) is set to grow dramatically in popularity, with Oculus Rift leading a wave of new gaming content. Due to the impending wave of new VR products and software, Casual Connect has arranged for a VR discussion to help educate the various attendees about the technology’s potential. Murka is one of the developers that will lead the discussion about casino games can function in VR from a software standpoint. LuckyVR will then explain how online casino operators can begin planning how to acquire VR casino games. This lecture and many more will take place over the next days at Casual Connect.
The round of 16 is upon us. One of the highlights of tomorrow night will be at Stadio Olympico between home town hopefuls Roma, and Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, under new unbeaten head coach Zinedine Zidane. Zidane will have a tall task on his hands of attempting to win his first ever Champions League match on the coaching side, and he will need to do so against Roma's new coach Luciano Spalletti. These teams have a history in the Champions League, with eight matches between them. Real has won four, while Roma has won three and they have drawn once. The most recent match between them was a friendly last summer in July, whilst former head coach Roberto Benitez coached, and lost his first match as Madrid coach 7-6 on penalties after a scoreless 90 minutes. Roma have not been to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals since 2008 and they are really going to put up a fight in order to get there. It is questionable if they deserve to be in the round of 16, as they qualified behind Barcelona having only won a single match. Roma have lost only once in their last 13 in all competitions, but they have only won six of them, drawing seven times. Real Madrid are ten-time European Champs and are attempting to make the quarter-finals in the Champions League for a sixth successive time. Zidane has led Madrid to six straight wins since taking over on January 4. Ronaldo and Benzema will surely threaten the Roma defense, as the two have 35 goals in their last 12 matches in all competitions. bet365 In-Play Offer and Odds bet365 Sports will be offering punters a chance to get a risk-free in-play wager when placing a pre-match bet for the same stake. Place a pre-match bet, and then an in-play bet after kickoff, if the in-play bet loses bet365 will refund the money up to $50 or currency equivalent according to your largest pre-match bet. In case the punter's bet slip has more in-play selections than one, the first bet on the slip will count as risk free. Please note that this offer is not available for punters from the UK and Ireland.
Second only to the Grand National, the Cheltenham Festival takes place in March every year and brings together some of the best horses and jockeys in the UK. The competition between British trainers and their counterparts from Ireland is intense and the latter are once again counting on the luck of the Irish. It definitely helps that Saint Patrick’s Day will be celebrated on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival. Past performance also suggests that an Irish jockey will emerge victorious, since Ruby Walsh won seven out of the last eight festivals. The most successful jockey is the one who emerges victorious in most of the races over the four-day event. Punters Flock to Sports Betting Sites The number of people betting on horse racing during the year is relatively low, with players from United Kingdom representing the vast majority. In anticipation of major competitions such as the Cheltenham Festival, the interest for horse racing events grows steadily. bet365 Sports, William Hill Sports and 888 Sport are expecting peak activity by punters in the second week of March. They will have plenty of options, as the number of races has changed significantly over the last couple of years and will peak in 2015. No fewer than 278 events are scheduled, which means that punters will have several opportunities to pick winners. Watching the event in real-time is also possible with most bookies, so horse racing fans will kick-start the festival with the famous Cheltenham Roar. More than 200,000 Participants Expected in 2016 The number of people watching the horse races live has increased since 2010 and a new threshold could be crossed this year. While some are rooting for the underdogs, savvy punters are trying to determine whether the odds offered by bookmakers for the big favorites are worth the risks. Min is expected to win the opening race, the famous Supreme Novices Hurdle which is the first event in the whole festival. Another huge favorite to prevail is Yanworth, with the odds revolving around even value on the favorite to prevail in the Neptune Novices Hurdle. These two races take place over the first two days and the one to wrap up the festival is the Grand Annual, scheduled for March 18. Minnela Present and Next Sensation are the main favorites with odds revolving around 14/1, but five other horses are within striking distance and any of them could cause an upset.
The Quarter Finals are on the line for the remaining 16 teams still in the Champions League. Even after a horrible end to Jose Mourinho’s career with Chelsea, he did manage to lead them to the Champions League knockout stages as the winners of their group. Whether or not a round of 16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain was what the Blues wanted, punters around the world now have a repeat of last year’s matches, which went to PSG on away goals after the teams tied both games in 2014/15. PSG vs Chelsea Team News PSG will be calling upon the services of Captain Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Thiago Motta, after the three were rested on Saturday’s draw with Lille, so they would be ready for tonight. They will be without Serge Aurier, who is suspended and Marco Verratti who will not get the start but could be a substitution later on. PSG are unbeaten in their last 23 matches and prior to the scoreless draw with Lille, they won 17-straight. Despite a brutal league season, the Blues are in good form as of late, but they will be without John Terry, which is a huge blow. Some good news for Chelsea, Oscar is back and is ready to fill in wherever needed. Since bidding Mourinho farewell, the Blues are on a 12-match unbeaten streak. Still on a high after crushing Newcastle 5-1 over the weekend, Chelsea will need to play strong and get revenge for last year’s loss to PSG in the same round. Betting Markets The Champions League is one of the most popular wagering opportunities for punters. There are tons of matches that bet365 is offering hundreds of props bets on; and interactive in-play betting, which makes all games exciting. PSG are huge favorites tonight at 1.66, playing at home. This could be the prime time for punters to make an underdog bet with Chelsea at 6.00, or wager on the draw at 3.80. Special Offer at bet365 Sports A risk-free in-play bet on the same stake on tonight's match will be offered to punters from the UK and Ireland at bet365 Sports. All that's required is to place one pre-match bet before the action begins and when it does, to place an in-play bet. If the first in-play bet loses, bet365 will refund your biggest pre-match bet (can go up to $50 or currency equivalent). The betting slip's first bet will count as risk free in case there's more than one in-play selection.
The US Powerball lottery jackpot is often one of the largest in the world, and this week is no exception, with a current estimated prize of $189 million up for grabs. The next draw is tonight, Wednesday 17th February, and it's no longer only US residents who can win, as online services like Play Huge Lottos, Play USA Lotteries and The Lotter have opened up this and many other games to a worldwide audience. About The Powerball Run by the Multi-State Lottery Association, the US Powerball runs across most of the country and is the most popular draw, attracting millions of players each week. Those draws take place every Wednesday and Saturday night in Tallahassee Florida at 10.59 local time. Players need to pick 5 main numbers from a pool of 69, plus 2 Powerball numbers from a smaller pool of 26. The rules were changed in 2015 to give more players winning chances, but as a consequence it has become harder to hit the jackpot which has resulted in multiple rollovers for massive prizes. Famously, it hit $1.6 billion in January 2016, but there is no reason why this Wednesday couldn't see one lucky player scooping the estimated $189 million prize currently on offer. Jackpots are paid out as a lump sum minus the tax that applies to all US jackpots, or the amount can be invested minus an initial payment, and paid out in annual instalments with a 5% increase each year to keep up with any rise in the cost of living. How To Enter The Powerball Draw It is now also possible to buy tickets online from anywhere in the world and have winnings paid directly into a chosen bank account, while major prizes can even be collected in person. One consideration that players must remember is the time difference between where they live and Florida, with the U.K. for example, being 5 hours ahead, and most of Europe being 6 hours ahead.
The 2016 Georgia Gaming Congress will begin on February 25 at beautiful Tbilisi the capital city. Held in high regard as one of the most important events in the industry, the jam-packed one-day show includes leaders from online casinos, investors, software developers, investors and more. After success in 2015, the event is preparing for an even bigger showing covering burning subjects. Many of the industry's best will be attending the congress to hear and discuss what will be happening in the near and more distant market in the European region. Managers of major online casinos and other experts from markets in Georgia and the rest of Europe will be presenting and giving talks about a range of burning issues. Dollars for Cents One of the central themes of discussion will talk about how to make a profit due to dynamic currency conversion in online gambling. When players transfer one local currency to a casino and the operator accepts another, how can this become profitable? Attendees will be able to learn everything about the benefits that some operators miss out on from currency conversion. Igromat stays Golden Recently, Igromat the provider of technologies for online casinos, became a golden sponsor of next week's congress. With over 170 games from a handful of the best developers around the world, Igromat is betting on the Congress for some positive exposure. Their demo-zone is expected to be the place to learn about software and hardware and how to benefit your business. Party, Georgian style As the congress moves into its wee hours, participants will be able to talk, network and mingle at the planned party at one of the hottest eateries in the city. The entire experience is said to be one of the most enjoyable of the year and when considering it is in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, it only makes the congress that much sweeter,
It is no secret that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is for legal online gambling. He, like many other business people in the world, understands that legal gambling leads to huge revenue for the state and as he runs one of the biggest sports businesses in the world, he wants those revenues to grow. Silver backs the digital future of the NBA and the need to make the $400 billion industry regulated. Sports gambling has the potential to create thousands of new jobs, strengthen the economy and stop illegal gambling activity. The commissioner is definitely in the right place at the right time, as US gambling laws are being discussed more openly and in a positive manner after Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware reap the rewards from online gambling profits. When asked if the doors to legal online gambling should be open he replied, "absolutely, because I thing that what's going on with daily fantasy just demonstrates how much pent up interest there is in a legal format to participate and engage with our games". In an interview to Bloomberg, Silver said that sports betting should be brought into the light. Fantasy or Big Business? Fantasy sports have become huge business. There are leagues in every city of every state and many fantasy leagues open to players from around the world. The $400 billion in projected revenues from sports gambling is the number for the US alone, which is more than the entire budget of the US education system. Just think how many new projects the next President could fund thanks to gambling profits. Not all are in favor of legalizing online gambling or fantasy business, with New York's attorney general strongly against the initiative. Florida is discussing the feasibility of regulated online gambling in their state with Governor Rick Scott creating a bill to approve a $3 billion gaming compact extension in discussions with the Seminoles. The future of online gambling in the US could be a story with a happy ending. With help from leading figures in sports leagues like Silver at the helm, it could be sooner than originally speculated to begin.
This evening is full of Europa League clashes from across Europe. One of the most important matches to follow tonight will be between Fiorentina and the Spurs going head to head at Artemio Franchi in Florence. Fiorentina finished the last round in second place behind FC Basel in Group I, and the Spurs in first place in group J. After the round of 32 draws in December, first leg action across the league will be played tonight with second leg matches next week on the 24 and 25 of February. Tottenham has propelled themselves into striking distance of top spot in the Premier League after a huge win on Sunday at Manchester City 2-1. The Spurs are now just two points behind Leicester, but the win at City came at a cost. Hugo Lloris, Spurs' Captain and star goalie, injured his shoulder at the end of the match and did not travel to Italy for the match tonight. He will need to rest in order to play in the second leg next week. Tottenham has three consecutive major cup matches beginning this evening ahead of their next Premier Cup match against Swansea on February 28. Fiorentina beat Tottenham in the Europa League last year in this same stage 3-1 on aggregate, and they are confident they can do it again. Fiorentina Head Coach Paulo Sousa wants to make sure his squad make the Champions League next year and if Tottenham continues to play well in the Premier League, a meeting next year for both teams could be in the Champions League. Europa League Online Betting Bet365 Sports is all over the Europa League, offering competitive wagering markets for punters eager to cast a bet on tonight's action. The Spurs are behind Fiorentina at 3.20, while the Italians are favorites to win at 2.45. A draw, which could be the smartest bet will pay out at 3.30. There will be live audio and live in-play bets available at bet365 throughout the match.
As new technologies have been released to the market, so new ways of playing casino games have been adopted by the general public, and the explosive growth in ownership of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets has seen a resulting shift away from older style desktop computers as a way of accessing them. The Raw Statistics Ever since the first online casinos opened their virtual doors in the 1990's, new developments have continually made the experience more realistic, user-friendly and now with the rise of mobile gaming, convenient. The figures speak for themselves, with just 7% of all online gaming being done on mobiles as recently as 2011, but by 2013, that had risen to 17.4%. 2016 looks like it will be the year that over 50% of internet based casino turnover will come from players using their phones and tablets, but we could be seeing this trend peak in the next few months. It will however, still potentially reach an annual revenue for the casinos of $100 billion. The Spread of Mobiles There are an estimated 104 mobile devices for every 100 US citizens, and while people may buy new ones to replace their old models, and others become old enough to get their own, most individuals that are going to own a smartphone or tablet have already got at least one. What has changed though is the speed of connectivity, with far higher speeds than were possible just a few short years ago, while screen size has gone from just around three inches in 2010 and 2011, to the five or six inches that are now commonplace. Accessibility Quicker and more widely available internet access like Wi-Fi hotspots also means that players who want just a few minutes at their favourite games can log on in a couple of clicks and be wagering in seconds. In the UK it has been estimated that 33% of mobile casino players access games during their commute to work, 27% actually play in work and 23% when they are in the bathroom. At some sites, players can even register, deposit and withdraw funds, collect bonuses and everything else they used to do via desktop computers, plus there is sometimes an option to pay in directly through the users' mobile phone bill. All of these reasons have combined to makes mobile casino games ever more popular, but there are limits to how big the market can grow to. Playing On Mobiles Accessing mobile casino games depends on a few factors, such as where the players live, what platform their phone uses and what software the casino operates on. In the USA for example, gambling online is severely restricted and any significant growth will depend on liberalisation of the market, but in Europe, the UK, and Far East, it is much easier to find a site that has a fully developed mobile version. Some of the more popular online sites such as bet365 Casino, Rich Casino, Jackpot City Casino and EuroGrand Casino offer a wide selection of their games to customers who want to play without being tied to a desk, or having to carry around a bulky laptop. Apple, Android, Windows and Blackberry all have their own stores from which free casino apps can be downloaded, or it may just be easier to register at the site and click on their own links to get the app installed onto a mobile device. Exponential growth cannot continue forever, but there is certainly no doubt that the age of playing online casino games on mobiles is here to stay, and as technology improves even further, this popularity looks unlikely to wane any time soon.
NetEnt expanded effectively in 2015, according to annual figures just released by the Swedish gaming supplier. Q4 Drives 2015 Home Financial results for Q4 as well as the entire year were up substantially. Q4 revenues sprang 34% to SEK323.1 million to bring annual revenues up to SEK1.1 billion, an incredible 33% jump from 2014's SEK851.7 million. Fourth quarter figures showed an operating profit of SEK121.8 million, a huge leap of 51.6% from Q4's profits of 2014. Operating margin stood jumped more slightly, to 37.7% compared to the 33.3% figure for 2014. However, profit after tax leapfrogged a full 50% to SEK115.7 million. Substantial Expansion NetEnt's expansion was skillful as well, as exemplified by the forging of a full 14 new license agreements that saw 16 clients launch new casinos in the quarter ending December 31. Another huge development for Q4 was the establishment of NetEnt in the US, as clients went live for the first time in New Jersey. More expansion of note was the UK launch of NetEnt games by Gala Coral, and the Spanish launch by gaming operator Codere. Year Totals As for the year, NetEnt showed record increases. The figure for total revenue generated for 2015 was SEK1.1 billion was generated last year. Full year operating profit was up 53.5% year-on-year at SEK401.6 million. Operating margin showed the related slight jump to 35.5% in 2015 versus up from an operating margin of 30.7% in 2014. After tax profits totaled SEK374 million for a jump of 53.8%. For the year, the provider totaled a whopping 43 new license agreements, while 37 clients launched new casinos that featured NetEnt games. With top flight casino clients such as Moon Games, Cherry, and Mr. Green already in the NetEnt stable, President and CEO Per Eriksson described 2015 as a “fantastic year” for his company, crediting mobile games for driving growth. Billions of Transactions The increase in activity underscores the figures and Eriksson's enthusiasm. Q4 saw a rise of 34.4% for game transactions to a staggering total of 8.2 billion total transactions. For the year, NetEnt handled an unbelievable 27.7 billion game transactions.
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