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After a January delay, a new motion approved by the Czech legislature has gambling providers preparing to adapt to new tax requirements and a potential onslaught of new competition. The Measures The Czech lower house has approved legislation to raise taxes on gambling firms and open the online market to foreign operators. After a delay in January, final approval was issued last Wednesday. The new measures will take effect next year, pending approval by the Senate, which at this point is considered a mere formality. Current Environment A handful of gambling firms currently operate in the Czech Republic´s domestic gambling market, including Prague-listed sports betting specialist Fortuna Entertainment Group. Foreign Operators Welcomed The legislation opens the door to foreign operators with the caveat of the Finance Ministry holding the authority to shut down any betting website it deems illegal. Economic Impact Gambling represents a decent percentage of Czech economic output. Last year, Czechs spent 138 billion crowns ($5.8 billion) on gambling, translating to approximately 3.5 percent of annual economic output. More than half of the 2014 totals were spent on mechanical and video slot machines. According to Finance Ministry estimates, the bill will bring in estimated increase in revenues of 1.5 billion crowns annually. Safeguarding Against Addiction The new legislation is also implementing preventative addiction measures, with a second bill set to impose stricter rules for the use of slot machines and video-lottery terminals. Slots Hit Slot machine operators are the main unhappy party with the new levies, having been tabbed for an increase of one fifth by the new legislation--from the current level of 28% all the way to 35%. The indignance clearly arises from the fact that the tax for other areas such as sport betting and lotteries will remain the same at a lower 23%, keeping in mind that gambling taxes are levied on top of a standard corporate tax rate in the Czech Republic of 19 percent.
It seems like every month a player hits the Mega Moolah jackpot on Microgaming's progressive jackpot network. Jackpot amounts are usually over €1 million, but this time an enormous jackpot worth €6.9 million was won by a single player at Spin Palace Casino. Microgaming's progressive jackpot network is the winningest of all time, already having paid out a whopping $574 million. How it Happened It all went down on Friday April 8. A player logged into their Spin Palace account to play the immensely popular Mega Moolah progressive slot game. Mega Moolah holds the Guinness Book of World Records' title for the biggest progressive jackpot win of all time at close to €18 million, and it is well known to be a proven winner. The player was spinning the reels when the lights and sounds started going off, which could only mean that the jackpot was hit. To end a day of online gaming to the tune of €6,905,670.81, to be paid out in a lump sum in true Microgaming fashion. The first ones to congratulate the player was Spin Palace: “It is always an incredible feeling to have one of our players become an instant millionaire. On behalf of everyone at Spin Palace, a massive congratulations to our winning player on their near €7 million fortune.” John Quinn, Head of Casino at Microgaming followed up: “It’s not long since we were celebrating our historic and record-breaking win. To be able to crown another millionaire so soon after is brilliant - congratulations to the lucky Spin Palace player.” Spin Palace Spin Palace casino was established in 2001 and is a very popular online casino. Powered by Microgaming, Spin Palace offers some of the best games in the world and they continue to produce winners on a daily basis. The casino is the perfect choice for beginners and professionals, and offers excellent player deals for both.
Bitcoin remains a popular investment option and with the Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference set to take place in Prague in May, the buzz seems to be getting bigger with every week. Recently, the topic of investments into the Bitcoin sphere was launched by the president of GEM Research Solutions And People Tested Media, Jack Tatar, and it highlighted some important aspects. Big Investors Not Interested in the Cyptocurrency Based on the research presented so far, about 90 percent of Bitcoin capitalization doesn’t come from big investors but from small and medium ones. This makes the cryptocurrency a favorite among family investments and similar companies because it can generate big profits for them, as opposed to other assets. Developers are more interested in the blockchain technology. Three of the big questions regarding Bitcoin will be answered by Jack Tatar at the conference on 19 May 2016. These cover the things an entrepreneur should do for investing in Bitcoin, the time it takes for the project to become justified and some of the start-ups that can be beneficial for the investor. Tatar has written a book on the popular cryptocurrency in which he used his experience in the finance field to explain how and why it works. He is now a consultant for entrepreneurs while focusing on digital currencies and the blockchain technology. More About the Conference The Bitcoin Conference will have its stop in Prague in May to discuss about Bitcoin in today's marketplace, the future prospects of the blockchain, security for cryptocurrency, the investment climate, the regulations and its place in the gambling industry. Several expert speakers will join Jack Tatar for the event and the list includes founders of wallets for Bitcoin, IT companies and payment services. Other stops for the conference are in Saint Petersburg, Moscow and Kiev, showing the focus on Europe for use of Bitcoin and its services.
He is one of the all-time legends of rock 'n roll music, whose songs are still played regularly on radio across across the world. The "Big Bopper," Jiles Perry "J.P. Richardson Jr., who died in a tragic plane crash in February 1959 along with Buddy Holly and Mr. Labamba Ritchie Valens, is the base for a hot new rockabilly-themed slot game from Realtime Gaming. The Big Boppers life was way too short, but his music and legacy have stood the test of time. Born in October 1930, only to perish in 1959 at the age of 29, Richardson Jr. was behind timeless classics like Chantilly Lace, White Lightening, Big Bopper's Wedding and many others. It was only a matter of time until his memory graced the iGaming industry, and RTG was right to do so. The Big Bopper Slot This new highly anticipated video slot by RTG is their second release of a six-reel bonus slot. It is also their third "All Pays" game, in which players can win without symbols landing on designated lines to formulate a winning combination. This is a "multi-way" slot, which means that the 243 paylines are always active, but players bet in increments. The minimum bet is only 0.30 cents, but the maximum bet is 25x that amount, a total of $7.50 per spin. The game features two of the best tracks from the Big Bopper's playlist, Chantilly Lace and White Lightning, which are both tied to a special bonus feature. In addition, players will find a random bonus that could be triggered on any spin with the maximum reward of up to 250x bet again until the Bopper stops singing. Where to Play The Big Bopper is brand new, but the hottest online casinos in the industry are already rocking out to the new game. Currently available at RTG-powered casinos like the immensely popular Intertops Casino, Diamond Reels Casino and SlotsPlus Casino, this game will be a classic just like the Bopper himself.
It will take a lot more to convince NBA MVP Steph Curry to stay on the bench tonight in Game 2 of their playoff series against the Houston Rockets. Curry is nursing an ankle injury, but insists that he will be able to play tonight. After the Warriors' 104-78 victory over the Rockets in Game 1, Coach Steve Kerr is confident about his team's chances with or without Curry in Game 2. The best thing about Curry being on the bench is we get to see Golden State's depth off the bench. The backups have played incredibly well all season long and aside from Curry's incredible scoring abilities, they were the reason that the Golden State Warriors broke the 1995/96 Chicago Bulls record for wins in a regular season with 73. Steve Kerr played for that team and knows how important having strong backup players is, even when you have the best player in the NBA on the court. Houston will need to change their strategy against the Warriors. They started the game flat and trailed 33-15 after only one quarter. They were down by 27 points after just 24 minutes, but they are still going out there to win games and trying to stay positive. "It's only one game," James Harden said. "No matter the deficit, you win by 30, you lose by 30, you win by one, it's only one game. Our focus is to come in here and win one game. And we'll have that opportunity Monday night." Easy to say, harder to do, as Harden scored 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting. NBA Playoff Betting Whether making a pre-game or live in-play bet, UK sportsbook bet365 Sports has some of the best and most competitive odds on all NBA playoff games this year. If Curry does not play, punters could capitalize on the one-sided odds in favor of the Warriors at 1.066, while the Rockets are at 10.00.
While New York, Pennsylvania and California have been the frontrunners for being the next state to legalize online gambling, Michigan has now become a likely candidate as well. Last week, state senator Mike Kowall introduced a bill that would legalize and regulate online gambling in the Great Lakes State. About the Bill SB 889 cites three valid reasons for regulating internet gambling: consumer protection, generating revenue and creating jobs. The three states that have thus far regulated internet gambling (Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey) have all found that their regulations have been successful in bringing these three things about. Part of the consumer protection that the bill mentions includes prohibiting Michigan citizens below the age of 21 from participating in online gambling. Revenue would be generated from a $5 million licensing fee that operators would need to pay in order to be approved, plus a 10% revenue tax on gross gaming revenue. Most of the states that have legalized or are considering legalizing online gambling have submitted multiple drafts of bills, so it won’t be surprising if Michigan’s SB 899 undergoes some revisions of its own, which might include the amount of the licensing fee and taxes. One interesting point in the bill is that it does not require wagering to take place within state borders, providing that the wagering is not inconsistent with federal laws. With this clause, Michigan has opened the door to interstate compacts. Of course, it still needs to be approved, and this might be one of the clauses that other lawmakers object to. Online gambling seems to be a natural progression for the direction Michigan is headed; in January of 2015, the state legalized online sales of lottery tickets, one of the first states to do so. Michigan is also looking into regulating Daily Fantasy Sports, which makes it a great candidate for passing regulations for online casino games as well.
CORE Gaming is well known for their incredibly innovative and exciting games. Players continue to create a buzz surrounding each and every CORE Gaming release and the latest one is already making quite a name for itself among players at some of the leading online casinos in the world. Evil (also Evel) Knievel Road to Vegas is a 25-line ultra-modern video slot with five bonus features and a huge maximum jackpot worth £250,000. The game can be found at leading brands Paddy Power Games, Gala Casino and Unibet Casino. Road to Vegas Evil Knievel was well-known for his death-defying motorcycle stunts, which led him to fame around the world. The slot game bearing his name is set in a camp on the outskirts of Nevada, as the stuntman makes the trip to Las Vegas. Knievel talks about some of his biggest jumps at Wembley Stadium and the Grand Canyon, whilst players watch as he flips through some of the most amazing pictures from his unbelievable career. The game has a number of special features and bonus rounds, which are triggered by five 'star' scatter symbols landing on the reels. Each round offers prizes for completing successfully. Bonus Rounds Sky Cycle is the first bonus round that put's players in Knievel's driver's seat down Route 66. Players will be able to jump off dangerous ramps and drive through obstacles, as they win prizes. Memory Bank let's players choose from eight of his most famous stunts, which uncover prizes at random. If star symbols are collected, it will lead to bigger wins. To the Limit will give players a number of free spins, which continue to spin and win prizes as Knievel revs his motor. Spins are random and will reveal prizes as the round goes on. The last feature, Jump for Glory is a replica of Knievel's famous jump at Wembley Stadium. Evil will jump the ramp three times and tries to hit cash that is above the line of buses, giving players the same amount that he caught after he lands.
Online gambling is largely prohibited in the United States, but daily fantasy sports are still tolerated by federal law. The games fall under an exception that unfortunately wasn’t extended to other forms of gambling such as online poker and casino games. After the incidents involving some of the industry leaders, DraftKings and FanDuel, Congressional lawmakers will take a closer look at the games on May 11. DFS Legislation on Congressional Desks Less than one week from now, a Congressional subcommittee will hold a hearing on daily fantasy sports and online gambling. The public discussion is much anticipated by gambling operators, as well as the players themselves because its consequences could reverberate in 2017. Those who support the reform of the law are increasingly active and their movement has gained momentum over the last couple of months. The Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade is the one that will hold the hearings in the second week of May. In the absence of a clear federal legislation, more US states are contemplating the possibility of banning the games, with Tennessee being the latest on the list. Online Gambling Gains Support Among US Politicians Prominent figures such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are pushing for federal legislation that will make online gambling legal. In addition to daily fantasy sports, the former candidate hopes that his state will be allowed to run online bookmakers and online casinos. Americans are still struggling to find loopholes in existing legislation and some are even willing to go around the law to play their favorite games. Only a handful of online casinos accept US players and the short list includes Las Vegas USA Casino, Rich Casino and Grande Vegas Casino. They diligently work towards creating a safe gambling climate for US players who seek this type of online entertainment.
The Spurs may be the only team in the NBA Playoffs that could give Golden State a run for their money. True, it is still only the first round, but both the Spurs and the Warriors are flat out dominating the competition, just as they dominated the NBA regular season. The teams that the Spurs and the Warriors face are stepping-stones on the way to the Western Conference Finals, which in my opinion will be more exciting to watch than the NBA Finals. The Spurs are led by a solid defense that the Grizzlies could not penetrate in the first game. Thanks to the defensive practices of star-forward Kawhi Leonard and his ability to shut opposing teams’ offenses down completely. The Spurs won Game 1 by a score of 106-74. This outcome was well deserved but it was also quite amusing, as Game 1 for the Warriors ended 104-78. Proof at how close the Spurs and the Warriors really are. Spurs’ Head Coach Gregg Popovich is very happy with his team and the way they are playing, but knows that they need to continue to dominate if they are to play at the Golden State level. The Spurs were wise in the fourth quarter and they sat their starters to prepare for Game 2. The only injuries for the Spurs are LaMarcus Aldrige with a sore finger following a dislocation in April, and Boris Diaw with a painful right abductor. Both players should be ready for Game 2. The Grizzlies have lost five games in a row and it was nothing short of a miracle that they made the playoffs, having won just 7 games out of 25 since the beginning of March. Online Betting on NBA Playoffs bet365 Sports couldn't possibly post harsher odds against the Grizzlies with Memphis at 21.00 to win. The Spurs, outright favorites are at 1.006, and the win margin won’t make you rich, but it is a sure bet. Punters can test their skills with Point Spread, Over/Under or a live in play wager, available at bet365 Sports throughout tonight’s game.
The US Powerball lottery jackpot may not have quite reached the dizzy height of $1.6 billion like it did back in January, but at an estimated $227 million, it has still reached a level where more and more people are playing in the hope of a massive win. The next draw is on Wednesday 20th April, and thanks to sites like LottoExpress, LottoBooking and The Lotter, the game has been thrown open to players from all corners of the globe, not just the 44 participating US states. How To Play The Powerball Higher jackpots have become more common since the rules were changed in October 2015, with players now needing to pick 5 main numbers from a pool that increased from 59 to 69, while the single Powerball still needs to be picked from 11 possible ones. This leads to more players winning smaller prizes, but has made the jackpot harder to match and in January 2016 it rolled over 20 times to that new record. Draws take place in Tallahassee Florida at 10.59 local time, with players needing to purchase their tickets 1 hour before, so anyone outside of this time zone needs to take this into account. Play costs $2, or if the Powerplay option is chosen, where lower-level prizes can be multiplied several times over, then it's $3 a go. With Powerplay, wins of $50,000 or less can be multiplied by five times, or if the jackpot has not yet reached $150 million, then a ten times multiplier will be in place. It also has the effect of doubling the guaranteed $1 million prize for matching the 5 main numbers. Like all US lotteries, winnings are subject to taxes, although there is the option to take the jackpot in 30 annual instalments, with each one slightly more than the last to combat inflation. If tickets are bought through online services, winnings are sent directly to the players' bank account, or they could choose to pick major prizes up in person.
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