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The news of the passage of a partial online gambling bill in Brazil could not have come any sooner. Rampant Gambling Activity Though South America's largest country has yet to regulate, scores of Brazilian players are already playing in popular online casinos such as Royal Vegas, Casino Epoca and All Slots. Further, an estimated 200k Brazilians travel out of the country each month in order to gamble with 70% of gamblers in neighboring Uruguayan casinos being Brazilian nationals. SB 186/2014 Amended Wednesday, the Brazilian government took a huge step towards harnessing the benefits of providing their players with online gambling sites with Special Committee on National Development (CEDN)’s approval of an amended version of the Brazilian online gambling bill SB 186/2014 in the Brazilian House of Representatives. Approval of a full version would add online gambling to the list of permitted gambling activity in the country which currently includes bingos, casinos, "jogo do bicho" and bookmakers. Added Specs New features of SB 186/2014 include the establishment of tax rates for various gambling activities. Online gambling will be subject to a tax rate of 20% of gross revenue, double the requirement for land-based operators who experience substantially higher operating costs than online operators. Specific changes proposed include the introduction of casinos and video lottery terminals as well as enhanced online sports betting, bingo and casino product options. The Crisis The economic crisis in Brazil stretching throughout South America has accelerated the debate. The approval of the amended version is a clear sign that the government is preparing to best harness the estimated R$15 billion (US $3.7 billion) in annual revenues that online gambling offers. Vying for Position With would-be operators to be required to establish a local office and Brazil’s central bank tasked with blocking payments to and from unauthorized online operators, the positioning has already begun. For starters, multinational AGT is poised to operationalize its dormant office in the Sao Paulo south zone of Brooklin, where operations have been suspended since bingos were banned in 2004. The company with pole position at this point looks to be leading integrated gaming and transaction processing system supplier Intralot, the state lottery operator in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Current operational experience in 55 countries has Intralot eminently prepared to adapt to a national Brazilian market. Another candidate for one of the first Brazilian licenses is a Spanish sports-betting company. Codere of Spain recently launched a new online platform for horse racing bets in Brazil as one of the few current forms of legal betting in the country. Last of the Wealthiest Non-Regulators Brazil is one of a handful of members of the G-20 wealthiest countries in the world still not regulating online gambling.
A staggeringly diverse array of attendees is invited to stands to April's iGaming North America Conference. Diverse Invitees and Presenters Land-based operators, iGaming operators and representatives of lottery, racing, sports betting and skill game representatives are all invited to attend and participate in discussions and workshops. Venue The venue will be Las Vegas' opulent, lively and hip Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, and taking place from Tuesday April 5 until Thursday, April 7. Exhibitors Exhibitors include Betcade, the gaming industry's first dedicated Android app store for the gaming industry, which will be unveiling the premier real money gaming apps in the industry, and made available for download for the first time. Casino City will exhibit their network of strategy articles, news, popularity rankings of operator sites, and a directory of land-based and online gaming properties within a network of sites hosting over three million visitors per month that the company shares. Speakers The diverse list of speakers features is among others Gambling Compliance Senior Legal Analyst Kevin Cochra; YWS Design and Architecture Global Director of Market Research Roberto Coppola, and OnlinePokerReport Co-Founder and Publisher Christopher Grove. An independent consultant and affiliate network founder, Chris will be sharing his expertise in content development; player acquisition and retention; ecosystem management and organic traffic strategy, and talk about the vast affiliate market he founded, developed, and operated that has welcomed thousands of players so far. Other speakers include H2 Gambling Capital Director David Henwood, PokerStars Head of Communications Lee Jones, and Hai Ng, the co-founder of innovative technology and consulting firm Neomancer. Session Topics A few of the diverse session topics include Maintaining Player Ecosystems, Virtual Reality Meets iGaming; and Market Forecast - Starters, Non-Starters and Continuing Trends. Don't Miss If you are interested in any of these topics, or want to get a grip on any aspect of iGaming or affiliate marketing, iGNAC will be the place to be in April.
The Premier League has proved to be one of the most difficult leagues to predict this season. Last year at this same time, Leicester was sitting five points behind Newcastle and ended the season in 14th place. Leicester's season has been an example of hard work, excellent management and the desire to win. Newcastle is having a terrible year and are currently in second-to-last place, in real danger of their next season not being in the Premier League. They recently brought in new manager Rafael Benitez, former Real Madrid manager, and the sole coach to have won the Champions League, World Cup, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup. Newcastle hope he will give them the boost that they so desperately need, but tonight will be his first huge test, and playing the first place team at King Power Stadium will not make it any easier. Head to Head Leicester have beaten Newcastle in their last two matches. The Foxes have beaten the Geordies 3-0 in those games and will most-likely do the same thing tonight. Talk about a turn-around season, Leicester have lost only one match in their last 17 Premier League games. Riyad Mahrez, league leader in goals is fit for the Foxes tonight, which is going to give the Newcastle defense a hard time. Newcastle has lost their last three matches, but they haven't lost four-in-a-row so far this season. Unfortunately, that will all change tonight, as the Geordies' chances do not look good and predictors all over the internet are saying 2-0, 3-0 and even 4-0. Premier League Live In-Play Markets The Barclays Premier League is covered in its entirety by bet365 Sports. The famed UK sportsbook offers competitive props bets and odds for every game this year and tonight, Leicester are obvious favorites to win at 1.57, while Newcastle are at 6.50. A draw is at 4.33, but tonight will be a win for the home team, and if punters want the best odds, go for a Correct Score bet for 2-0 or 3-0.
We've been hearing about substantial progress in all kinds of existing and emerging markets, but the biggest question, and hope, for the expansion of online gambling regulation lies with Africa. Source of Optimism From April 11-12, in Lagos, Nigeria, attendees at World Regulatory Briefing (WrB) Africa will find out what Africa already knows: a young population and immense natural resources are primed for expansion to overcome the traditional barriers of poor governance, civil unrest and widespread corruption. From a purely economic standpoint, the rate of return on foreign investment in Africa is actually higher than any other developing region. FDI Intelligence figures indicate that Africa was the world's fastest growing destination for foreign investment in 2014. Foreign Investment Coming In Nigeria's major African economy is already attracting foreign investment, increasing by 1213.98 USD Million Q3 of 2015. President Muhammadu Buhari affirmed his administration's commitment to new policy reforms facilitating better governance and a healthier business environment with the following statement: "I believe if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria." Reform in Africa Beneath the radar of the global eye, this new spirit of reform is slowly spreading through Africa. For the year, a total of thirty-five out of the 47 economies in Sub-Saharan Africa (74%!) have implemented at least one reform to make it easier to do business within their borders. Economic Integration Coupled with the new African Union's comprehensive free trade agreement and single air transport market going into effect in 2017, Africa is on its way to becoming one of the most economically integrated regions in the world, trailing only Europe and Southeast Asia. Here Comes the Boom With a market of one billion people that includes a growing middle class in love with their mobile phones, lottery games, and wagering on European football as well as other foreign sports are set to boom. International gaming giants already operating in the region include Bet 365, Mybet and Mr Green. High Level Event Incoming WrB Africa will bring Africa's key industry stakeholders including top suppliers, operators and regulators to Nigeria. More on this fascinating event will be revealed as the date nears.
For the 12 months ending September 2014, the UK Gambling Commission revealed that the domestic industry had surpassed £7.1 billion (excluding the National Lottery). That considerable value highlighted how the UK’s gambling industry has evolved to become one of the most important in the world. Rise of Online Gambling In looking back, an initial catalyst for change was the dramatic rise in interest for online poker in 2004. After realising the potential for online gambling, the UK introduced the Gambling Act 2005 to allow for gambling operators to have greater advertising opportunities. Since 2005, online gambling has become a familiar part of everyday life in the UK. From playing video slots or live dealer games to betting in-play or enjoy bingo, there are now numerous sites ready to satisfy every desire. UK gamblers have witnessed greater innovation at an earlier stage than their counterparts in most other countries. The presence of major operators has driven the industry to pursue new breakthroughs, making it possible for more recent entrants like 188BET Casino, BGO Vegas, and Gaming Club to launch with cutting-edge features. Even a new casino like Spin Princess could provide mobile compatibility from the outset. UK Gambling Commission Takes Control During the earlier days, the Gambling Commission did not force UK-facing gambling sites to be licensed in the country. For this reason, many would maintain licences outside of the country in jurisdictions like Gibraltar and Alderney. However, everything changed in winter 2014 when legislation required for all sites serving UK players to be licensed in the country. By making this change, the Gambling Commission was actually able to create a stronger, more quality-driven marketplace for players, who now have access to better sites. The Gambling Commission is only concerned with sites operating in the UK. Thus, there is no question of distraction for a regulator that is driven to maintain a competitive marketplace and also provide vital forms of protection to combat problem gambling.
Manchester City are on the brink of making history in the Champions League tonight if they can beat Dynamo Kiev. It would be the first time for the team to make it to the quarter-finals after having qualified for the tournament in 2011. City's performances in previous years have been lack-luster and inconsistent, but this year, they won their group and are going into tonight's match up 1-3 on aggregate goals from the first leg. City's latest Premier League performance against 18th place Norwich on Saturday night was an example of the inconsistency that City have struggled with all year, having not scored a goal, which ultimately ended in a scoreless draw. One of the main reasons for City's poor performance on Saturday was because Yaya Toure was out. He missed two matches – Liverpool and Norwich. Against Liverpool "without Yaya," City lost 3-0. When Toure is at midfield, the team seems to connect way better and look more assured. He will be starting tonight, which is excellent news for Manuel Pelligrini, whom wishes to exit from his job with City after a good showing in the Champions League. After an injury-plagued season, City have now just three players off the roster. Fabian Delph, Sami Nasri and Kevin de Bruyne are on the road to recovery but will miss tonight's match. Prediction There is little that Dynamo Kiev can do to come back, down 1-3 after the first leg, especially at City. Expect this match to end in Manchester City's favor at 2-1. Champions League Betting Odds Bet365 Sports is all over the Champions League and are offering attractive and competitive odds ahead of each match. Tonight, City are the outright favorites at 1.50, whilst Dynamo are at 7.50. Bet365 are also offering in-play odds throughout the entire match. Interactive in-play betting is the best way to increase the potential for massive payouts and they make all games much more exciting to watch, no matter the result.
Talk about a blast from the past! iSoftBet, one of the leaders in content development for online casino platforms has just released its newest slot game, which has a very cool retro theme that resembles the old-school Mario video games. Mega Boy is the name of the new release and it is sure to be a hit with players that remember the Mario Bros. games, which revolutionized the gaming industry. Where to Play The new game will be released for desktop or mobile gaming and it can be found at the best casinos powered by iSoftBet like 10Bet Casino, LeoVegas Casino and Real Deal Bet Casino. The game takes players to a time where 8-bit and then 16-bit systems ruled the world and the pixelated characters were household names. Even the sounds of this game are reminiscent of Mario and Luigi's quest to save the princess, which will undoubtedly provide hours of nostalgic entertainment for all that remember the famous Nintendo games. The game is part of iSoftBet's latest original games like Astro Magic and Luxury Rome HD, but Mega Boy comes with some unique special features that are sure to be fan-favorites in no time. Mega Special Features Mega Boy features two special game options that are triggered when a special character pops up on the third reel in the middle row. The special modes offer a sweet selection of expanding Wilds, power-ups, multipliers and wild transformations. iSoftBet is so proud of this new release that their Head of Sales, Luci Apostolou related, "iSoftBet’s original content collection continues to grow and improve, and Mega Boy is a true testament to the innovation and expertise of our in-house development team." The game is full of retro 2D graphics and will definitely become one of iSoftBet's most popular games in no time.
Romania has a blacklist, but they know how to clean it, as yearly revenues show. The Market As far as relevance, the country has a top gambling market which cracked the billion pound level in revenues last year. According to figures recently released by the President of the National Gambling Office ONJN, Romania's 488 licensed gambling operators in the country paid over £269 million in taxes, a whopping 71% jump compared to 2014. Of those operators, 19 were online gambling operators, leaving huge room for growth in Romania's online sector. Local media further clarified that instant lottery games, football, dog races and tennis are the preferred gambling sectors amongst players. Revamp Boosted Revenues The revamping of Romanian online gambling regulations just last May opened up the market for international operators, which served to successfully boost tax revenues from operators are permitted to operate in Romania such as 888 Casino, Winmasters, Betfair and Unibet. Blacklist Use The growth of the online licensed and regulated market has not been without roadbumps. Compliance issues resulted in the compilation of the blacklist faithful to the Romanian regulation model, with leading operators “making” the blacklist including bwin.party and Bet365. Avoiding Misperceptions It turns out the blacklist is misleading to an extent. The countries blacklisted were operating prematurely rather than without authorization, as they had already applied for licenses whose issuance was imminent. The situation was resolved between the government and the blacklisted companies through a determination of back taxes to be paid by the “violators” accrued over the times they were operating ahead of final authorization. Operator Respect Retained In a country where the boundaries of operation and IP jurisdiction are still being finalized, it would be a misnomer to think that operators are thumbing their noses at the rapidly expanding Romanian marketplace authority. In a global environment where compliance is key to consistent acceptance of license application, a private online operator's inclusion on a blacklist could earn them a highly undesirable reputation of disrespect for national regulatory requirements. In an rapidly expanding global business environment with huge growth potential, this would clearly be bad for business. Moving Forward Taking the time to understand the three-tier tax system in Romania is likely the best way for operators to avoid the blacklist there. Assuming it is possible to avoid taxes through early entry appears to be the oversight that stands as counterproductive strategy as well
Arsene Wenger faces his biggest chance of the season, and it seems to be like an impossible task. Playing the defending Champions League winners, Barcelona, at Camp Nou, down two goals would instill fear into any team. Instead, the task at hand is clearer than ever before. "We don't have to calculate too much, we know we have to attack and score," related Wenger in an interview earlier this week. "The players are united to give a strong performance." The first leg at the Emirates was going fairly well for the home side, until Lionel Messi turned up the heat and scored a couple of goals in the last 20 minutes. There is not much left to be positive about for Arsenal this season. They are almost completely out of reach of topping the Premier League, and they were knocked out of the FA Cup, so all efforts must be on playing the best possible soccer tonight in Spain and hope the Blaugrana are off their game. Barcelona Set on Making History The La Liga regular season is in the bag for Barca, eight points clear of Atletico Madrid in second place. Head Coach Luis Enrique could make history in the Champions League if he successfully wins the tournament trophy again this year. Enrique's squad are on a winning streak of 37 straight matches, but they will not take one minute of the game tonight for granted. They know that Arsenal are dangerous, but honestly, with Messi, Neymar and Suarez on the pitch working together, few teams can even compete. Champions League Betting Arsenal has been given credit by Barcelona, but bet365 Sports sees it completely differently, as their odds are heavily in favor of the home side at 1.22, whereas the Gunners are at 13.00. A raw could be very possible for tonight's match and for that, bet365 will payout at 7.50, which are great odds by anyone's standards.
EUCasino has been available since 2008 and it has always managed to stay fresh and modern with the help of updates. It recently went through another makeover to make the website look a lot better and also be more functional. While it keeps the blue style, the layout has been changed and there are even some new games added to the collection to make things more exciting. A New Website Design The popular online casino now has a big design created for widescreens that really makes the most out of the space. On the top, players will find the major tabs for Promotions, VIP Lounge, Payment Options, Free spins and a button to download the free software. This is also where the currency and the language can be selected. Most of the main page is taken up by the promotional banner which has six images in rotation meant to present some of the key features players will benefit from. Last but certainly not least, the modern website design presents the games as users scroll down the first page. There is really no time wasted and players can easily check out the hot slots or the newest titles to be added to the collection. The categories on the left make it always simple to browse, while the big jackpots are shown on the right. New Slots Added to EUCasino Having a nice looking design is just half of the battle and the games must live up to the same standards. The good news is that EUCasino is powered by several big providers and has recently added new video slots. These include big titles like Guns N' Roses, James Dean, Koi Princess, Epic Monopoly II and Glow, courtesy of NetEnt and NextGen Gaming. The games can still be played for fun or for real money straight from the website for those who don’t like to download the casino app.
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