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Since Delaware legalized online gambling within its borders in 2012, only two states have followed suit: New Jersey and Nevada. While the door has been open for other states to pass regulations, none have done so since 2013. But will 2016 be the year that other states do pass regulations? Let’s take a look at the two states that are most likely to legalize online gambling in 2016: California California has a complicated relationship with online gambling, because there are so many different interests at play; card clubs, Indian tribes, and race tracks, to name a few. In fact, because there are so many different groups advocating for online gambling, they have been unable to agree on the best way to proceed, which has ultimately been why online gambling has never succeeded. However, because 2015 saw actual bills put forward, and because a number of advocacy groups have arisen dedicated to pressuring elected officials, 2016 looks like it could be the year that California legalizes online gambling. Pennsylvania Pennsylvania came heartbreakingly close to legalizing online gambling last year, but the proposed bill missed being included in the state’s budget at the last moment. But because Pennsylvania has mountains of state debt, they are getting more and more desperate to find new streams of revenue. Online gambling is an excellent way to bring money into state coffers, which is why it seems that Pennsylvania will take up the online gambling cause again this year. However, there will be obstacles, including a comprehensive gaming reform passage that certain lawmakers are trying to pass, which could put the kaibosh on the whole initiative. Additionally, lawmakers who are pushing for online gambling have not yet been able to decide on a set tax rate; they will need to get their act together if any bill is to be passed. What Does the Future Hold? Other states that have promising approaches to online gambling include New York and Massachusetts, but only time will tell how this issue plays out on both a state level and federal level.
The UK Gambling Commission has decided to provide greater clarity in relation to the key trends in the online gambling industry in 2015. In making this happen, the Gambling Commission has released a lengthy report to share a wealth of statistics and analysis. Fortunately, though, the Gambling Commission has also provided headline statistics in the form of digestible infographics that are easier for non-specialists to understand. National Lottery Participation Falls Overall, the most noticeable trend was that gambling participation was 45% in 2015 after declining from 57% of the UK population in 2012. In explaining the drop, the Gambling Commission revealed that the National Lottery’s participation rate declined from 46% to 32% during the same period. Therefore, falling interest in the UK lottery can explain the overall drop. And despite the fall in lottery interest, the Gambling Commission also stated that the National Lottery is still the most popular form of gambling in the UK. Looking beyond the National Lottery, it was also revealed that other lotteries and the various scratch cards are the next most popular forms of gambling in the UK. 25-34s the Most Tech-Savvy The Gambling Commission also provided findings that showed that people aged 25-34 were the most tech-savvy customers. Basically, this age group showed more interest than any other when it came to using innovative features. This could include the use of common mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, while in-play betting was popular among sports fans. In fact, all customers aged under 45 were more likely to use their smartphone or tablet for placing bets. This was a stark contrast for customers aged 45 or over, as this group preferred to use their PCs or laptops. For UK operators, it there could be a greater focus on creating marketing campaigns that encourage more people aged 45 and over to make the switch over to their mobile devices.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a great season up until a couple of weeks ago. Now, just 6-4 over their last ten, the Raptors have managed to close the gap from second place to only two games, and the Cavs problems seem to be much deeper than just the occasional absence of their hometown hero. Without James in the lineup against the Wizards on Sunday, Tyronn Lue's team lost 113-99. It was a terrible night for the entire team, trailing the Wizards by as much as 30 points at certain times during the game. The Cavs, now 41-17, have lost two straight and it is obvious that without James, they are doomed. The performance on Sunday was not up to par of any NBA team. The starters and the bench played without any energy at all, and sharp-shooter J.R. Smith was quick to explain, "'If we're going to play with a lack of energy ... and come out and play the way we did today, we shouldn't be who we are and be in these uniforms." The problems could continue for the Cavs against the Pacers tonight, as James has not played like the MVP of past years we are used to. He shot only 42.2 percent in the two games against Indiana this season and will need to improve against the Pacers, still in the running for a playoff berth. The Pacers are down but not out. They are only one loss away from being out of the playoff picture, but there is still time left to turn things around. If they are able to win, it will be the first time beating Cleveland at home in the last 13 games. Live at bet365 The odds are in favor of the Cavs tonight at 1.27, but the Pacers have a chance to win at 3.90. It may be wise to bet hard with Indiana, and then add some live in play bets throughout the remainder of the game. Winning Margin bets offer the most bang for your buck with odds from 5.25 all the way to 101.00.
We at Online Casino Reports would like to apologize for an erroneous report about the shutdown of FashionTV Casino (also known as BetFTV Casino) which was published on our website last Thursday, February 25. FashionTV Casino is Live and Fully Operational We would like to reassure all players that FashionTV Casino is live and fully operational, accepting new players, deposits and withdrawals as usual. What did happen is that FashionTV Casino and the affiliate group Income Excess have ceased working together, and it was an unfortunate misunderstanding on our behalf that the termination of this partnership also meant that the casino had closed doors. The casino is in the process of moving to another affiliate program. Alive and Kicking with Big Plans for the Future With that said, FashionTV Casino is alive and kicking and reporting great success. FashionTV Casino has big plans in store for the future, looking forward to attending the next Amsterdam Affiliate Conference in June of this year, where a special glamorous event is planned to present the FashionTV Casino brand. Meanwhile, FashionTV Casino continues to welcome new players to its online gaming establishment with a hefty welcome package that can go up to €1,100. Powered by the Biggest Developers FashionTV Casino certainly stands up to its name when it comes to software – it offers players games from the online casino industry’s biggest developers. Big names like Microgaming, NetEnt, Play’n GO, iSoftBet, Betsoft Gaming and Evolution Gaming are all present on FashionTV Casino’s glitzy catwalk. The collection of game spans everything from different types of slots and progressive jackpots to roulette, blackjack, video poker, other card and table games, multiplayer games and a live dealer casino. To go with the impressive line-up of software developers and the games they offer, FashionTV Casino holds regular promotions for players on a weekly basis – offers like the Sunday Super Madness, the Tuesday Fashion Party and the Friday Cashback Craze. The casino runs a professional support team that is available to players 24/7 via e-mail, phone and live chat.
In a landmark integration deal, Microgaming will integrate Playson technology through its Quickfire platform. The Deal In the deal, Microgaming has agreed to launch the latest HD Slot Titles from Playson across Quickfire’s global iGaming operator network. Some of Playson’s most popular titles include Alice in Wonderslots, Dracula’s Family, Bumper Crop, Wild Hunter, and Lucky Pirates. Additional Playson titles that players will be able to find at Quickfire casinos include PocketCasino EU, Royal Swipe Casino and Casino Adrenaline. Playson Managing Director Adam Daniel celebrated bringing this project to the game-release stage, citing Quickfire’s market penetration and team responsiveness as the drivers to increasing the momentum of Playson's game releases on the Quickfire platform. Microgaming's Quickfire Head Tom Chamberlain lauded Playson's rapid and hassle-free integration, explaining that Playson games would be blasted out over the 400 plus online gaming brands already live on the Quickfire platform. About Playson The Malta-based Playson is an interesting new comer on the iGaming scene. The innovative new HD content developer already boasts 30+ Flash and HTML5 games, currently licensed by Alderney, Malta and UK gaming authorities. Playson established itself by rapidly adapting to the needs of casino operators, who are negotiating turbulent times in adapting to regulations. About Microgaming's Quickfire Microgaming's Quickfire is a platform that carries a package of games across its patented platform technology. Quickfire offers subscribing operators instant rapid access to multiple popular titles in order to diversify the holdings that each operator as client can offer their players. Quickfire technology offers the largest progressive jackpot network in the world, and is looking to sustain its leadership role through offering rapid deployment, seamless integration, and intelligent games management. Quickfire technology is owned by Microgaming, developer of the first true online casino in 1994. The company has been breaking new ground over since, leading in innovation in the world of online gaming.
International gambling industry software developer Playtech announced smashing financial results for 2015. Biggest Gains The big gain was in revenue, which increased 38% year-on-year to reach €630.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA gains showed a rate of €251.9 million in 2015 for a jump of 22% from the €207.1 million reported for the previous year. Adjusted net profit jumped 8% year-on-year to €205.9 million. Net Profit Hiccup However, reported net profit was down 3% year-on-year to €135.8 million, meaning that adjustment to new regulations such as Point of Consumption have to be fully integrated into further efforts. Nonetheless, Playtech has plenty to work with, showing a cash balance of €857.9 million at the year's end. Gaming Division Picks up Slack The gaming division drove a lot of growth. Performance figures show a double-digit increase in regulated markets, outpacing the growth of the company's entire .com business last year. From all regulated markets, Playtech's gaming turnover accounted for 41% of overall proceeds, up from 36% of overall gaming revenues in 2014. The essential mobile component brought in 21% of the overall software revenue generated by the company in 2015. With prominent casinos in its stable such as EuroGrand, 777 and Omni, Playtech reported its strongest territorial growth in particularly strong in the UK. A second boost to Playtech's success came from the wealth of new license agreements it forged last year, with over 10 that included Mr Green, win2day, and Sun Bingo. Financial Division Sustains Expansion A key measure came from the newly formed financial division at Playtech, indicating how financials will provide essential metrics for reflecting not just the rate of growth for a top company such as Playtech, but the most fertile areas for further expansion. Playtech’s new financial division, it posted full-year revenue of $100.2 million and adjusted EBITDA of $17.8 million. The EBITDA margin stayed steady at 26% while Playtech adapted its business model to increase compliance in the tightening regulatory environment of today. More in 2016 Despite the shifts, Playtech chairman Alan Jackson expressed his encouragement at the strong results the company maintained, attributing the gains to new omni-channel product offerings and an improved business model.
Over the past few months, the question of the legality of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) has been raging across the United States, with many online casinos calling for either the banning or regulation of its games. While DFS argues that its activities should not be considered gambling as there is considerable skill involved, online casinos don’t agree. They claim that enough luck is involved in DFS to warrant regulation, just as online gambling warrants regulation - and many states, such as Nevada, Massachusetts, Mississippi and New York, are inclined to agree. In New York, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman had ordered the two main DFS companies, DraftKings and FanDuel, to stop all operations. Of course, the two DFS operators are not taking this lying down, and last week filed their most recent paperwork in the ensuing legal battle. Last week also, however, saw a positive development for DFS, with New York state Senator John Bonacic introducing a new bill to regulate the activity. Bonacic’s bill calls for the exemption of DFS from activities considered “gambling” in New York, and would establish a separate division to deal with fantasy sports and consumer protection. At the same time that the bill protects DFS, it also calls for light regulations in the form the taxation of DFS revenue and a deposit from DFS operators against future tax obligations. While Bonacic is pushing for an exemption for DFS, he is also supporting a new bill that would legalize online poker in the Empire State. The bill was approved by a Senate committee earlier this month, and was then forwarded to the Senate Finance committee, which has not yet scheduled a date for a hearing. Bonacic’s online poker bill would allow up to 10 online poker licensees in New York, all of which would have to pay a $10 million license fee and 15% of gross gaming revenue. If approved, New York could become the fourth state to offer regulated online gambling.
Tonight, and the rest of the matches for Leicester this season are must-win games. Just two points separate Leicester from Tottenham with Arsenal falling to five points behind. To say Leicester has been one of the greatest success stories to come out of the Premier League in this season would be an understatement. They have held on to top spot and are fighting for their first Premier League title in the history of the club, having finished runners-up in 1928-29. Last year, if you said that Leicester, then in 13th place would be leading the table with only 11 games to go, people would think you were mad; but this is the situation we are in and it is refreshing. Head to Head It will not be an easy win for Leicester. They have won the past two matches against West Brom, but that was at the Hawthorns. The thing is, West Brom have not lost a single match in their last six trips to Leicester, winning five and one draw. This is a strange statistic, but it is one that Leicester will have to take into consideration, especially with key midfielder N'Golo Kante expected to miss the game to injury. Other than a Valentine's Day loss to Arsenal, Leicester City has won their last four of five. The Gunners have been the thorn in the Foxes side, dealing them their only home loss in 16 matches at home, back in September. If the Foxes are unable to hold on to win the league it would be a rarity, because ten of the last twelve teams in first place after February have gone on to win. Bet365 Premier League Betting The famed UK sportsbook, bet365 Sports is offering attractive and competitive odds ahead of, and during tonight's match. The Foxes have the advantage at 1.72, but with a draw at 3.80 and a West Brom win at 5.50, punters could bet on the draw and then take advantage of a live in play bet during the match.
The US Powerball lottery once again has the biggest prize pool in the world and when the next draw is held tonight, someone could scoop the jackpot which looks like being around $292 million. Following on from the headline-grabbing $1.6 billion draw in January, the US Powerball has begun rolling over and over once more, with no jackpot winners on Saturday. That has boosted the value of the main prize from $265 million, while also boosting interest in the game in the USA and thanks to online ticket services, it has sparked increased sales around the globe. The Lotter, Play Huge Lottos and Play USA Lotteries all offer a worldwide audience the chance to win without them having to travel to America and purchase physical tickets for the draw. With prizes sent directly to the players, and major wins that can be collected in person, anyone, anywhere can play with as much chance of scooping the jackpot as US residents. How To Play The US Powerball The jackpot is won by anyone who matches 5 main numbers out of a possible 69, plus one Powerball number from a possible 26. There are several levels of runner-up prizes, with a fixed $1 million payout for matching the 5 main numbers, while anyone who matched the Powerball takes home a reward. Jackpot winners can choose an instant payout that will be minus taxes, or have a smaller down payment and the rest of it paid out over 30 years, with a 5% annual increase to counter inflation. The tickets cost $2 and they need to be purchased at least an hour before the draw takes place at 10.59 EST (Eastern Standard Time). If the player is in a different time zone then they need to take that into account, as much of Europe for example, is 6 hours ahead of EST and the UK is 5 hours ahead.
The game of roulette has changed very little since it was invented centuries ago, but software developers found a way to keep it fresh. Microgaming has created plenty of roulette versions that can be enjoyed at their online casinos and recently unveiled the first serious VR Roulette game. Through augmented reality and wearable tech, this game is expected to start a revolution and completely changed the way roulette fans play their favorite game. The new game uses the latest technologies and will breathe fresh life into a genre that is already immensely popular among those who appreciate table games. The VR Roulette was unveiled at the ICE Totally Gaming 2016 conference and it swept the audience off its feet with fancy graphics and a totally immersive experience. It will probably take quite a while, but over time as the technology gets more prevalent, the online casinos that are part of the Microgaming network will start introducing this game, opening a new chapter in the Internet roulette saga. Oculus Technology Put to Good Use Virtual reality is no longer a thing of the future and appeals to videogame developers as well as those crafting online casino games. Oculus technology is widely regarded as the best out there, so it comes as no surprise that Microgaming decided to use it in its brand-new VR Roulette game. It uses the Oculus Rift DK 2 headset with Leap Motion 3D Controller to track the movements made by the players’ hands and project them into a virtual 3-D world. Microgaming is famous for knowing how to leave a long lasting impression when unveiling a new title and the VR Roulette game was no exception. The audience at the ICE Totally Gaming 2016 confernece discovered the prototype in a futuristic CRYO lab and took a virtual voyage to outer space. This is just the first step and the software developer plans to become a pioneer in this niche, by bringing virtual reality to more of its games. It's probable to assume that other developers in the competitive market will follow suit.
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