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It’s been a while since bookmakers focused exclusively on sports betting, with politics, TV shows and more recently eSports being thrown into the mix. The latter are so popular that leading online gambling operators such as Betway dedicate ample coverage to major tournaments and flagship competitions. These guys have been among the first sportsbooks to launch a dedicated eSports betting site and today are some of its most devoted promoters. Astralis and Fnatic Go Head-To-Head in Betway Fight Night Clash The popularity of eSports is constantly on the rise and some games spend more time in the spotlight. Counter Strike Global Offensive is the second-most popular of all games and Astralis and Fnatic are definitely the best teams in the world. Not surprisingly, with these two squads set to go head to head in a one-off exhibition sponsored by Betway, punters and video games enthusiasts alike are ecstatic. Two of the globe’s premier Counter Strike Global Offensive teams will be competing for a price worth €4000, but also for pride and glory. The losers will have to settle for €1000 and wait for the next chance to avenge defeat, so the stakes are as high as they get. Betway Fight Night is scheduled to take place at 6 PM GMT on February 25 and the Aftonbladet Twitch channel will be the gracious host. Betway Leads the Way in eSports The online bookmaker was the first one to celebrate and acknowledge the surging popularity of the first-person shooter. It offered dozens of markets on the Best of Five’ Counter Strike Global Offensive battle and lead by example among online bookmakers. Since the dedicated eSports portal was launched, the number of daily events available for punters to bet on increased gradually.Counter Strike Global Offensive is just one of the video games to be found in the eSports category, with punters being able to bet on other tournaments at competitive odds.
Manchester City begin their first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tonight against Dynamo Kiev at NSC Olimpiyskiy. City are coming off three back-to-back-to-back losses; two in the Premier League, and a humiliating loss to Chelsea 5-1 in the FA Cup. Manuel Pellegrini came under fire for playing six teenagers in the match against Chelsea, but Pellegrini justified his decision to play the young squad in order to rest his star players for tonight's Champions League clash. The Chilean manager will still have trouble on the pitch with striker Wilfied Bony, midfielders Samir Nasri and Fabian Delph, as well as wingers Jesus Navas and Kevin de Bruyne all out for tonight. Eliaquim Mangala will be back in action for City, and Pelligrini will likely play a similar squad from their loss to Tottenham in the Premier League last week for tonight's match. Dynamo Kiev are well-rested. In fact, they may be way too rested after not having played a competitive game since their last group stage win against Maccabi Tel Aviv on December 9. That is due to the winter break in freezing cold Ukraine, but the squad is ready to leave it all on the pitch against City. Manager Sergei Rebrov almost has his full squad to choose from, with the exception of winger Andriy Yarmolenko, still questionable after a knee injury in the last round of the Champions League. Round of 16 Wagering Markets Even with three losses in a row, and many of their top players out with injuries, Manchester City are still heavy favorites to win tonight. Bet365 has posted markets in favor of City at 2.00, while Kiev are at 4.00. The draw of 3.40 could be the best bet, as Manchester and Kiev will both be playing for a much-needed win tonight. There will also be a ton of live in-play markets throughout the match.
Atlantic City NJ casinos are expected to offer skill-based gaming as a result of new regulations pending from New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE). Adapted Requirements Modifications include the allowable percentage of bets collected and prohibitions against casinos from altering the degree of difficulty of a game in progress. Prevention of any possibility or incidence of collusion or money laundering in multi-player peer-to-peer games will also be addressed in new regulations. The model of adaptive regulation mirrors the course of adaptations in the state of Nevada last year. New Jersey is looking to rely on devices and technologies approved in the Nevada precedent as grounds for its own launch. Implementing Games of Skill Online NJDGE Director David Rebuck emphasized the importance of the new regulations in the state as a major step towards implementation of skill-based gaming in Atlantic City. The NJDGE has had a mandate to implement online gaming for over a year, actively seeking operators since October of 2014. This represents the first time the NJDGE has revealed specific provisions of conduct and protocol for gaming providers. Fast-Track Incentive Rebuck added an incentive to attract operators to the state as well: a fast-track provision to attract gaming manufacturers who bring their skill-based devices to New Jersey before any other jurisdiction: a promise of those devices being in operation on a casino floor within 14 days of approval. Nevada Precedent The first skill games have yet to be released in Nevada, so there is no existing precedent for this provision. The gambling versions of popular titles such as Guitar Hero and Angry Birds are rumored to be among the first titles in development. An interesting note of comparison will be to examine the level of diversity in innovation that New Jersey will achieve as compared to the Nevada launch of original skill-based games.
Cherry is yet another iGaming operator reporting robust growth for 2015. Increases Overall The Cherry Group's full turnover of SEK528.7 million (€55.9 million/$62.2 million) represents an increase of 56% on the SEK340 million achieved in the previous year. The figures cite iGaming business as the driver of Cherry's year-on-year increases in all key financial areas for 2015. Powerhouse brands such as Cherry Casino, EuroLotto casino, and Suomi Automatti in its stable, Cherry showed important gains. Earnings before interest, tax, and amortisation (EBITDA) recovered from last year's loss of SEK17.9 million to the positive gain this year of SEK35.9 million. Earnings before interest also rebounded from a loss of SEK32.9 million to post a respectable positive gain of SEK13.3 million. Online Growth Drivers Online operations drove the growth, providing 69% of total revenue, jumping 14% year-on-year. Online gaming business recorded growth of 91% year-on-year, with EBITDA rebounding from a loss (SEK18.8 million) to a positive gain (SEK21.8 million). Cherry's Yggdrasil online games division posted tremendous growth for 2015, with EBITDA jumping a whopping 357% to SEK5.2 million. Cherry’s full-year performance was boosted by a positive set of results for the fourth quarter, during which revenue was up 72% year-on-year to SEK172.5 million and EBITDA jumped from a loss of SEK6.5 million to a positive showing of SEK23.4 million. CEO Optimism Cherry CEO Fredrik Burvall couldn't have been happier about the exclamation point for 2015 provided by Q4 performance figures, citing a trend of “strong growth and a substantial increase in profits” punctuated by group revenue vaulting 72% for the period. The future looks incredibly bright for Cherry's online business, projected to continue grow faster than the market. Burvall attributed the resilience to his company's diversified platform, which has been optimized to rapidly integrate new features. As for expansion, Cherry is targeting markets where management can expect strong growth, starting with submission of a license application to the UK.
In an incredible turn of events for all three of the remaining Premier League teams, still in the Europa League, they have all been forced into a must-win situation. Luckily, they are all playing at home. 18:00 GMT – Liverpool vs FC Augsburg The Reds are favorites to move onto the last 16 of the Europa League against FC Augsburg tonight at Anfield. Liverpool have had a best of times, worst of times kind of season in the Premier League, and even since Jurgen Klopp took over, the Reds still haven't found their sweet spot. Over the last 10 matches, Liverpool have four wins, three losses and three draws. FC Augsburg are not in any better shape in the Bundesliga, having only won a single match over their last five. Bet365 has posted odds in favor of Liverpool at 1.40, while Augsburg need a miracle at 9.00 and a draw at 5.00. 20:05 GMT – Tottenham vs Fiorentina This match will probably be the most exciting to watch, as both teams are in search of major hardware both in the Europa League and their respective leagues at home. The Spurs are only two points behind Leicester with 12 games to go, while Fiorentina are in third in Serie A competition within striking distance of a title as well. Tottenham were knocked out of the same round last year, by the same team, and Pochettino is eager to get revenge for last year. The odds are a bit closer than the previous match with Tottenham out in front at 1.85 and Fiorentina at 4.50 according to bet365 Sports. 20:05 GMT – Manchester United vs Midtjylland Midtjylland pulled off the shock of the first leg of their round of 32 match against Manchester with a 2-1 win at home. Now, the Red Devils are forced to shut them out, or win by two in order to advance on aggregate. Manchester keeper David de Gea is still out and United will need to make up for other injured players. United are heavy favorites at bet365 at 1.25, while the 3rd place Danish Superliga squad is at 15.00. Expect the UK teams to win their games tonight.
Casino Adrenaline strives to present its members with convenient and unrestricted access to a comprehensive collection of slot machines, table games and video poker. By teaming up with leading software developers, they can deliver the kind of content that modern gamblers take for granted. Betsoft and Gameart are their most recent partners, with the two leading producers of casino games now supplying slot machines. They have a reputation for producing great looking video slots featuring 3-D graphics and running on smartphones and tablets powered by various operating systems. Check out Tesla and Mr. Vegas Slots The partnership with Betsoft and GameArt is an important milestone for Casino Adrenaline and it begins with the introduction of two slot machines. Tesla and Mr. Vegas can now be played on desktop computers as well as mobile devices, powered by iOS and Android operating systems. Tesla is GameArt’s latest creation and it presents science buffs with a genuine passion for slot machines with a chance to enjoy the best of both worlds. Betsoft fires back with its own innovative slot and just as the name suggests, Mr. Vegas invites players to take a virtual trip to Sin City and win sizable amounts. Rock-Themed Video Slots Coming Soon 2016 began with a bang with the addition of the highly anticipated Guns N' Roses slot from NetEnt which has delivered on its promise to give players a rocking experience. Jimi Hendrix and Motorhead have already been announced by NetEnt at ICE 2016 and Casino Adrenaline players will have the chance to spin their reels when they release in April (Hendrix) and September (Motorhead). The online casino has a reputation for celebrating such a festive occasion by offering goodies of all sorts to those who sign up and play the new games. At the time of writing, all those who visit Casino Adrenaline’s Facebook and Twitter pages and follow the steps, will be eligible for 10 free spins.
Another new year has OCR considering which online gambling trends are most likely to occur in 2016. Among the topics to feature are US online gambling, responsive mobile sites, and the widespread uptake of Bitcoin. US Online Gambling Growth is Unlikely Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware were way ahead of the game when they chose to legalise online gambling. After those three states legalised online gambling, many would have expected other states to follow suit. However, that has not been the case, with other prospective states electing to stall on the matter. New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois are three potential prospects for online casino legalisation, while California and Pennsylvania are more focused on online poker. Regardless, though, all three states are unlikely to introduce any form of legislation in an election year when bold decision-making could cost votes. Wait for 2017 before the US online gambling industry expands further. Responsive Sites to Replace Mobile Apps Currently, all leading websites understand how important it is to have responsive sites that reposition seamlessly to look their best on an array of devices. Web developers can make a site look great on laptops, smartphones, and browsers without having to waste time and resources developing several different apps. Many leading casinos realised that they could save resources by developing a single responsive site in 2015, enabling them to move on from rigid apps that can exclude large customer bases. Expect for 2016 to be the year when only the world’s most successful gambling sites continue to support mobile apps. Bitcoin Presence to Increase Historically, the online gambling industry has been a fantastic innovator at virtually every level. For years, the industry has been accepting alternative payment methods like Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, paysafecard, and many others. Therefore, it is highly likely that 2016 is the year when Bitcoin it more widely accepted. Thus far, it has been the smaller, more boutique casinos that have integrated Bitcoin payments. However, this should be expected to change throughout 2016, with some leading casinos eager to steal an advantage on their competitors by catering to their customers’ needs. Bitcoin is highly secure and easy to use, making it a worthwhile addition.
DruckGluck Casino aims to establish a dominant position in Germany and the TV Show airing twice a week serves as an effective tool. In fact, the popularity of this program was so great that the online casino decided to extend the duration of the show to 45 minutes up from 30 minutes. The interactive and live program is broadcasted on the biggest sports channel in the country and reaches millions of viewers every week. No More Disappointed Callers When DruckGluck Casino launched the TV show earlier this year, it expected it to be successful but these expectations were greatly exceeded. The interest shown in the program convinced them that it is worth adding 15 minutes to the existing show, to ease the disappointment of some callers. The phone lines got so busy at times, that many callers were unable to get in touch with the show host in time. It only took six shows for Michael Golembo, Marketing Chief of SkillOnNet , the parent company of DruckGluck . de to make this decision. As the viewing figures increased several times and more callers tried to establish a connection, adding 15 more minutes made perfect sense. Now that the show has a new format, it will also incorporate additional features, making it easier for players to set up an online account. DruckGluck Casino Continues Its Expansion DruckGluck Casino is the proud sponsor of THW Kiel, the champion handball team and the new TV adverts will further consolidate their dominant position. It is powered by SkillOnNet, software giants with an excellent reputation in Germany and also beyond borders. They use cutting-edge technology to produce casino games that look spectacular and run smoothly on a broad spectrum of mobile devices. The software developer only associates its name with the world’s biggest online casino operators and has licenses in Schleswig Holstein as well as Denmark, Malta and United Kingdom.
Bayern Munich is once again dominating the Bundesliga, but the top teams are still competing for a Champions League berth. Previously threatened by relegation, Hertha Berlin is now back in the mix and a victory over Koln would help them consolidate their position. The hosts have lower expectations and would gladly settle for a point after recording more draws than any other German team. High Goals Production on Both Sides Koln has a reputation for being a stringy team, with a strong backline and relying on counterattacks to score both at home and on the road. Recently they managed to score plenty of goals and hope to keep their winning streak alive against Hertha. Modeste is once again their best bet to succeed, as the French player has scored a combined 10 goals this season. Defensively they have got some holes to fill, as opponents frequently found their way to the net, so the backline will be made of four players. Recent results were mediocre to say the least, but overall Koln has an outstanding track record in head to head games against the team from Berlin. Salomon Kalou Brings Hertha to Life The veteran striker has achieved remarkable things since joining the German team and has the merit of scoring plenty of goals in all competitions. He is well capable of scoring against Koln even though his team played on the road and Kalou still has the stamina to last for the entire 90 minutes if needed. Prior to losing against Stuttgart on the road, Hertha was undefeated in five consecutive games and lost just once in 12 fixtures, while scoring a bucketful of goals. Under these circumstances, it is worth taking odds of 9/10 on a double chance wager as bet365 Sports will pay if Hertha wins or draws on the road.
The recent record-setting $1.6 billion US Powerball jackpot is about to become more...common? More Buyers First off, the system for buying lottery tickets has expanded exponentially the amount of participants buying in, drawing entries from all over the world via lottery agents such as The Lottery, Play Huge Lottos and Play USA Lotteries. Still, how does a popular jackpot such as the gigantic Powerball jackpot jump from $800 million to $1.6 overnight—literally? Rules Change A recent change to the rules is the reason. In early October, Powerball players were to choose five numbers from among 59, then choose one Powerball number from among 35, with the mathematical odds of getting all numbers right at 1 in 175 million. However, all that changed in October: the new system has people choosing five numbers from among 69, then the one Powerball from 26. More Smaller Prizes The purpose of the shift was to increase the amount of small prizes players could win from getting some of the numbers right, while also increasing the odds of getting all the numbers right and winning the jackpot to 1 in 292 million. This led to the predictions (and increased likelihood) of billion dollar jackpots. Next Chance for a Billion For all of you who are disappointed about missing out on a seven figure jackpot, you can now take heart in the fact that there will be more chances. Since the size of the jackpot is based on the number of Powerball tickets since the last winner, the jackpot only grows, or rolls, each time there is a drawing for which there is no winner. The two most recent jackpots were a $144M award after nine failed drawings, and the Wednesday jackpot of $1.6B after 19 consecutive failed drawings. All this adds up to less chance to win the Powerball jackpot combined with a rapid upswing in ticket purchases spurred by the optimization of the selling system online to promise another billion dollar jackpot around sooner than later.