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Online gaming growth is rapidly bringing Italy´s ring-fence problem to a head. The End of Confusion? In a country where the regulation picture was muddled up through the last quarter, the government has released surprisingly encouraging figures: the €267m tallied by Italian licensed operators for the quarter ending March 31st represented a jump of 21% from the same period last year. Casino Verticals Top Casino verticals checked in with the leading total of €106m earned, for a 38% year-on-year improvement. This gain was a full 7% higher than the growth of casino verticals for all of 2015 (31%). Coming on Strong Online sports betting was not far off. Betting growth topped casinos, jumping 42% to €96m. These gains come on the heels of a fantastic January that saw online sportsbook revenue rise 97% to €36m. More Verticals Grow Bingo moved up 2.9% to €7.5m, virtual sports 8.2% to €2.6m and exchange wagering a whopping 40% to €875k. Adapting Regulation Nicely Though sizeable at 22%, a new flat tax provided a more reasonable alternative to the previous tax based on wagering turnover, enabling Italian providers to enhance their products sufficiently to compete with unlicensed international operators encroaching on Italian bandwith. Operator Benefits Though the Italian tax is still relatively high, any set figure facilitates operators generating stable budgets and reliable strategies for improving their products and drawing more customers. Ring-Fence Thorn The problem is the country still suffers from the decision to ring fence its poker market and cut off its poker players from competition (and rolling jackpots) with foreign global markets. Even while tournament revenue increased 6.6% to €22.4m, the dwindling competing player pool drove cash game poker revenue down at almost three times the rate of 18% to €20.7m. Outlook With all this growth, the government may soon have to capitulate and allow international poker play. The gaping revenue and growth disparity along with player turnoff is otherwise likely to accelerate in the opposite direction, an ever-increasing albatross capable of swallowing up the entire market by offsetting the tax gains the government has in other sectors worked so hard to harness effectively.
In France, the Senate has approved Gambling regulator ARJEL's three proposed amendments to laws governing the country's online gambling activity. Sharing Poker Proceeds The first of three amendments ARJEL has proposed to the country's incoming Digital Bill call for authorizing ARJEL to sign partnership agreements with countries in the European Union and European Economic Area establishing shared liquidity for online poker. The shared liquidity amendment would give ARJEL the authority licensed operators that to allow players from all EU or EEA member states to take part in the same games on designated and approved websites. The French Solution? ARJEL's first proposal represents the French solution to the ring-fencing controversy. Countries who prevent their poker players from participating in international table games and tournaments have experienced a mass exodus of players and operators from respective markets, leading to precipitous drops that severely dent overall online gambling revenues for ring fencing countries. At this point, there are only 9 online poker operators left operating in France. Tax System Integration The biggest challenge to effective implementation of inclusive circle games looks to be integrating the difference taxing systems of each country. French taxes for instance are gathered at various points within the games, such as on the deal and on the river. In contrast, Italy, Portugal, and Spain employ standardized tax calculations, based on the percentage of overall gaming revenue taken in. However, the French government shows no propensity towards updating or reforming its online gaming tax system in the foreseeable future. Approval Process The proposed changes in the Digital Bill still have yet to be fully approved. Following the French Senate’s vote, a similar proposal must presented for approval in vote from the Lower House and other French officials who are likely to approve the changes as well. The Digital Bill and proposed amendments are expected to become law before the end of 2016, which would out the first shared liquidity agreements between France and other jurisdictions into effect in early 2017. First Sharing Candidates The first liquidity candidates have previously expressed interest in the arrangement with France already. Spain and Portugal indicated to France their willingness before the most recent vote Other Proposals The other two amendments address availability of data and uniform mediation of all gambling-related disputes.
Steph Curry is still doubtful for Game 4 in the NBA Conference semifinals against the Portland Trailblazers. Having sprained his MCL, the NBA MVP has been sidelined since April 24 and it could take even more time than originally thought before the Warriors have him back. Golden State has proven to everyone that they can win games without Curry, but having arguably, the best shooter in the NBA on the court is a godsend that the Warriors need ASAP. The Trailblazers won Game 3, 120-108 at Moda Center in Portland on Saturday night after having one of the best second quarter runs of their postseason. Even the surge by Clay Thompson was not enough for the Warriors to hold onto the win. Thompson has been huge this series and has successfully helped to fill the hole left by Curry’s injury, but they have another tough challenge ahead of them with the Blazers at home again tonight. What to do with an injured MVP? Steve Kerr would love to have Steph back on the court, but fully understands that an early return could make his sprained knee a lot worse. The prospect of going 2-2 after tonight and having Curry back for Game 5 is much more appealing than perhaps losing him for the remainder of the playoffs. Curry has let everyone know the truth about how he feels and he will only go back when he is clear of injury. Odds on the NBA Playoffs With the star on the sidelines, punters take advantage of the odds that bet365 Sports has posted in favor of the Warriors. A bet on the underdogs (Blazers) at 2.75 could lead to a modest payout. The Warriors are outright favorites in the Money Line at 1.47 and bet365 has dozens of additional props bets to choose. Throughout the game, punters can also get interactive in-play betting lines, which is a great way to maximize profits.
As the $430 million US Powerball jackpot was won by a single New Jersey ticket on Saturday 7th May, the biggest lottery prize in the world again belongs to the Mega Millions, which is another American-based game. Despite the Mega Millions being aimed at US citizens, this and many other draws can now be played around the world via online lottery ticket agents the likes of LottoExpress, The Lotter and Lotto Booking. When the next Mega Millions draw is held at 11pm Eastern time on Tuesday 10th May, one lucky ticket could scoop a huge prize that's currently estimated to be worth $150 million. That equals a cash option of $98 million after taxes, or an annuity option can be chosen, where the whole sum is paid out over 29 years, with a 5% increase each time. Playing Mega Millions For $1, players get to pick a total of six numbers, with five drawn from one pool of 75, and the sixth from a separate pool of 15 numbers. While the jackpot is won by matching all six, secondary prizes include $1 million for picking the five main numbers and go all the way down to a $1 prize for getting just the sixth number correct. Buying Tickets Online By choosing to enter the Mega Millions draw online, people from all around the world can join in, with the same chance of winning as any local player. Tickets are purchased by local agents and scanned into the system, with winnings sent directly to the players, while major prizes can be collected in person. It's important to buy tickets on time, however, with the UK for example, being five hours ahead of Eastern time, equalling a cut off of 3am on Wednesday for this drawing.
Gambling giant William Hill has announced that they will be pulling out of the Canadian gambling market starting today, the 10th of May, 2016. While this may not be the first online casino to opt out of Canada, William Hill Casino was as sparse with their reasoning as the other big names that chose to leave the country. William Hill Casino made their decision public via a very succinct email sent to all their subscribers where they explained their decision and the repercussion it will have on the players. According to said email, the British operator declared that the withdrawal from the Canadian market was made for “regulatory reasons” that were out of the company’s control. The same mail also reassured players that despite the operator’s departure, they can still withdraw their balance at any point in time. William Hill Isn’t The Only Big Operator To Leave Canada William Hill isn’t the only major gambling operator to pull out of the Canadian gambling market with Ladbrokers, another big British operator leaving the market just two years ago without going into much detail about their decision. The sports betting operator Betfair is another big name that retired from the Canadian market in December 2015 without much notice. Paddy Power also limited its contact with the Canadian market in 2011 only offering B2B services to the provincial lottery service of British Columbia. Legislation Loopholes Allows For Some Wiggle Room For Foreign Operators The Canadian legislation is clear when it comes to gambling, allowing mostly provincial lottery corporations to operate legally. Most companies have so far worked within a loophole of the law that allows internationally licensed operators to be active in Canada as long as none of their servers are actually placed on Canadian territory. William Hill may have not yet finished all business in Canada as it recently contributed financially along with Sky Betting & Gaming in the acquisition of OpenBet by NYX Gaming Group.
It is down to a must win situation for the Washington Capitals, as they head into Game 6 of their best-of-seven series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now 3-2, the Pens have a chance to move a step closer to the Stanley Cup Finals, with arguably the biggest roadblock of the playoffs (Capitals) out of the way. The Capitals switched things around in Game 5 and it seemed to work. Putting all star Alex Ovechkin on a line without Nickolas Backstrom and the Russian forward put in a goal and had one assist. The star players have been fairly dormant in these playoffs so far, but after Saturday night, the Capitals feel like they can come back from being down 1-3 and reclaim the series in their favor. The Penguins shocked their critics by winning three games against the Capitals. Everyone thought this would be a blowout by Washington but that has not been the case. They now have home-ice advantage again and that could be the ticket to success. The Penguins need to see Sidney Crosby donating more to the team and get back to the NHL All Star that he was in previous years. They tried separating Crosby and right wing Patric Hornqvist in the last game, but that did not work as they thought it would. "You have to leave that behind you," Hornqvist related. "It's a new day tomorrow and a new game, a new opportunity. We have to take that one." NHL Online Wagering bet365 Sports is all over the NHL Playoffs and have some incredible odds for punters seeking to get in on the action. The Penguins are the Money Line favorites at 1.74, but the Capitals could very easily win tonight to force Game 7 at 2.15. Punters can get in on the Puck Line at +1.5 and 1.38 for the Caps and -1.5 for 3.15 for the Pens.
Last week, the Michigan Regulatory Reform Committee met to discuss the online gambling bill introduced a few weeks ago by State Senator Mike Kowall. Kowall’s bill, SB 889, and accompanying amendment SB 890, would legalize and regulate online poker and casino games in the state under the title of the Lawful Internet Gaming Act. Nine members of the Michigan Regulatory Reform Committee, including the chairperson, state senator Tory Rocca, listened to testimony from four different people in support of Kowall’s bill, including the president of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), John Pappas. Michigan’s three land-based casinos, MotorCity Casino, MGM Grand Detroit Casino and Greektown Casino, did not come out in support of the bill, but neither did they come out against it. About the Bill SB 899 stipulates that online gambling operating licenses will be restricted to tribal casinos and Michigan commercial casinos that already have licenses. A maximum of eight licenses will be granted, and each license will cost $5 million to obtain. After that, operators will need to pay a 10% gross gaming revenue tax to the state. In addition to the technical aspects of the bill, SB 899 also notes the importance of regulating online gambling as a form of consumer protection. John Pappas also stressed this in his testimony - because online gambling is something that Michigan residents are doing anyway, it is important for the state to provide a safe and secure forum for them to do so, as opposed to the legal offshore sites that leave players open to fraud and theft. Future of the Bill The hearing held last week did not result in a vote, and the state legislature adjourns for the summer on June 16. This means that a decision will need to be made soon, or else it will be put off until the next session. If the bill is approved, Michigan will become the fourth state in the United States to legalize online gambling.
The Brazilian Gaming Congress will return for the first time since 2013, lasting from 11-12 May 2016 at the Windsor Palace Hotel in Brasilia. Arranged by Clarion Events, the congress is close to being a sell-out, with attendees set to engage in discussions on the potential of a Brazilian online gambling market. Congress Attendees At this stage, Brazil is yet to legalise online gambling, but attendees are eager to hear from the country’s Chamber of Deputies. Crucially, members of the special committee will be at the congress after forming in 2015 to discuss options for regulatory models ahead of a possible legalisation. Elsewhere on the schedule, attendee will get to hear from representatives from a broad range of organisations and businesses. These include Caesars Entertainment Corporation, the Brazilian Texas Hold’em Confederation, the Ministry of Sports, the International Center for Gaming Regulation, the Brazilian Game Institute, among others. Event Sponsors In arranging the event, the organiser has sought out a number of familiar sponsors from within the global online gambling industry. From the gaming sphere, Play’n GO and Scientific Games are two recognisable names. Meanwhile, software providers with a more infrastructure-driven approach will also sponsor the event. BetConstruct, BMM Testlabs, CBG, and Crane Payment Innovations are just a few of the companies that will have a presence. Back After Three Years The last Brazilian Gaming Congress was hosted three years ago, in 2013, and organiser Clarion Events will once against work with national stakeholders in the form of SEAE, CAIXA, and various state lotteries. In terms of pedigree, the organiser is known for arranging and operating similar events in other parts of the world. Each year, igaming professionals attend major events like ICE, EIG, GiGse, and WrB. Ahead of the event, congress director Rory Credland explained that the timing of the event is to coincide with the potential awakening of an online gambling market in Brazil.
CORE Gaming has announced the release of its revolutionary new slot game, Jackpotz, an HTML5 creation that offers a whopping seven progressive jackpots and six-figure pay-out - an industry first. Jackpotz is available to play exclusively at Sky Vegas Casino, and will release at other CORE Gaming casinos in the future. About the Game Jackpotz is a 3-reel, 5-line slot; its appeal lies in the simplicity of the game and the magnitude of the jackpots. Players can enjoy the game’s sharp graphics and visuals, as well as its smooth interface on both desktop and mobile. Special features include Wilds and Mega Streak, a series of Win Spins which awards between 4 and 20 free spins. The Mega Streak is triggered when the Mega Streak symbols land on reel 3 in the center payline. And of course, the masterpiece of the game is its seven progressive pots, which come into play when the on-screen game logo randomly lights up and the Jackpotz Trigger is released. Once this happens, players can win at least one of the jackpots, or a consolation prize - so either way, they go home with something. The prize the player wins is determined when the reels come to a halt. If a jackpot has been won, it will automatically reset to its seeded amount. Chief Commercial Officer of CORE Gaming, Mark Rehorst-Smith, commented, “This is just the kind of game that we believe slots fans will love. The beauty of Jackpotz is that it combines the simplest of slots games with the innovation and excitement of the seven progressive pots, from which players can grab huge prizes.” About CORE Gaming CORE Gaming is a UK-based online gaming software developer and a world leader in HTML5 gambling content. Since its launch in 2011, the company has created over 150 casino games. CORE Gaming is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
A player only identified as OIR****** has struck a jackpot payout on the Farm Adventures HD slot game. They harvested a €13,000 prize, which is the second time in just a few months that wins of this size have been paid out to lucky players. Farm Adventures HD is from the World Match developer, and the general manager of the online casino that OIR****** was at has said of the win ''We are aware that Farm Adventures HD has already rewarded the players with several big winnings during the last months and we are always pleased to know that a player has scooped the jackpot gain, Farm Adventures HD has proven to be really worth playing.'' About Farm Adventures HD This 5 reel slot has 20 pay lines, and a wagering range from 0.01 to 20.00 per spin. Filled with cartoon animal symbols, there are also corn cobs, haystacks plus the traditional Bar and 7 icons as well. The Big Bad Wolf is aptly cast as a wild symbol, who helps to complete lines of symbols by substituting for others, while a money bag symbol starts a free spins round, during which all prizes are multiplied in value by 3 times. A bonus round sees chickens laying eggs that crack open to reveal further prizes, which is an extra feature that has added to the popularity of this game. About World Match Running since 2003, World Match has built up a portfolio of some 120 slots, as well as a wide range of table and Video Poker games. Configured for desktop and mobile use, the games need no downloading, and have been incorporated into the ranges at a number of online casinos who can use a cloud gaming centre for ease and reliability. Farm Adventures HD is one of their top titles, along with Horror Castle, Egyptian Wild and Banana King.
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